Issue 1451 by The Courier Online

Issue 1451 Monday 4th December 2023

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Coffee on Campus

Mid-Module Mayhem

A summary of all the best spots for a cuppa...right here on campus! Food | page 22

Balancing deadlines and a social life whilst finding time to relax - how can it be done?

Mario Memory Card

Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games made for a great christmas gift.

Campus Comment | page 7

Gaming | page 31

Levelling up in the North East Paige Rutter - Head of Social Media

Image Credit: Bill Henderson, WikimediaCommons

uccessful bids have resulted in three areas of the North East receiving government funding, through the third round of the levelling up fund. The Prime minister has set out an aim to boost the country’s economy along with jobs and supporting communities. The Levelling Up Fund, created by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is a highly competitive fund in place to strengthen the local economy and invest in areas most in need of support. This includes coastal towns and deprived areas, with the aim of levelling up opportunities across the UK. Through this scheme, areas must bid for investment on the projects they have prioritised leading to local MP’s providing support on two bids before official judgement. Controversy has stemmed from this approach as certain projects may spread over multiple constituencies which can involve MP’s from other parties. In January 2023 the Levelling Up Fund awarded £2.1bn to various projects. The 59 million awarded to the North East

has been split between three projects in South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees and a restoration facility to sustain the use of the River Tyne. £20m will be provided to South Tyneside in order to strengthen the South Shields riverside through three projects. These include the relocation of South Tyneside College closer to the town centre, a net zero centre at Holborn Renewable Energy Network and the redevelopment of Customs House. This would hope to improve the footfall in the city and aims to renew classrooms and performance areas as well as establishing educational visits. The leader of South Tyneside Council, Cllr Tracey Dixon, described the development as ‘fantastic news’ and added “I’m delighted that the government has recognised the strength of our original bid.” Almost £20m will go toward the restoration facility focused on sustaining the use of the River Tyne and access to the Quays. This comes with the aim to create more than 700 new jobs whilst protecting existing ones.

Continued on Page 3

The People’s Kitchen: Feeding hearts and homes this festive season Olivia Carter - Film Sub-Editor s the Christmas holidays steam towards us at an alarming rate and bitter frost takes over the streets, it is often easy to forget about those who are most in need; since the Pandemic, cases of homelessness throughout the North East have risen significantly, increasing strain on the need to provide for charities across the region. A study undertaken earlier in the year by Shelter found that Newcastle, Gateshead, and County Durham currently have the highest numbers of complete homelessness across the North East region, with an estimated 232, 229 and 226, respectively. These statistics lie among last winter’s report in which

1250 people in the North east were reported to be homeless, including 360 children. With such numbers constantly on the rise, charities across the region have felt the pressure, including The People’s Kitchen, one of Newcastle’s leading homeless charities. Since 1985, The People’s Kitchen has been helping the homeless, providing those in need with essential amenities such as regular hot meals, toiletries, mobile phones and sleeping bags. “Help a friend in need” they say, and with supportive donations they are able to provide an amazing 250+ meals a day, 365 days a year, with services available for mental wellbeing as well as help with finding housing. This Christmas period has seen unprecedented tension for their supply and demand as more of their ‘friends’ are reported to be in need. This does not stop them, however, and with increased

public support they can provide a light for those in need in these dark times. As they do each year, The People’s Kitchen are relaunching their “Feed a Friend for a Fiver” Campaign, which gives the public a chance to donate £5 to them as the winter months draw in. As they do each year, The People’s Kitchen are relaunching their “Feed a Friend for a Fiver” Campaign, which gives the public a chance to donate £5 to them as the winter months draw in. Each year they have many Christmas celebrations, including a street party and a ‘live’ advent calendar. The street party will take place on 4 December and will give volunteers an opportunity to have some festive fun with those that they have the pleasure of helping.

Continued on Page 3

Image Credit: Mike Quinn, Geograph

From your Editor

t's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new issue and we're feeling good here at The Courier! We're getting in the festive spirit this week, and this issue is jam-packed with winter warmers to keep you going this chilly season. Whether you're looking for some movie reccomendations or want to see what festive events are going on in and around the toon, then look no further. As this semester comes to an end with this final issue, I just want to re-iterate how proud I am of our editorial team and all the wonderful writers we have the joy of working with. If it weren't for these wonderful volunteers, I wish you the best this holiday season, and look forward to

welcoming you all back next semester in the new year. I'm going to keep this one short and sweet (and slighly less unhinged than last week), so curl up somewhere comfy, grab a cuppa, and get reading! Catch you on the flip side,

Gabbi

See Ya Next Year!

f you're interested in getting involved in student media, come along to our weekly Student Media Afternoons (SMAs)! You'll be able to meet the team, hear from our SMO, attend workshops and pick up as many articles as you'd like! We alternate between article SMAs, and Workshops, where you'll have the chance to learn new skills and become an even better writer. Our SMAs are open to all, regardless of previous experience, and we would love to have you. If you can't make the SMAs, left over articles will be posted to the sections' facebook groups, so keep an eye out!

OUR NEXT ARTICLE SMA After Christmas!

Image Credit: Carson Wong

Inside 4th December 2023 Current Affairs | Campus Comment Newcastle students' big sustainability win! Two teams of Newcastle students win first and second place at the Sustainable Futures Enterprise Challenge | Page 7

Life & Style | Festive Photoshoot! Double Denim, Double the Drip It's that time of year again! Your Courier Editorial Team has dressed up and dressed out for a Festive Photoshoot | Pages 17-20

Life & Style | Travel UK Christmas Markets...The Ultimate Rundown An info-dump and celebration of the English tradition of Christmas Markets | Page 23

Culture | Arts

THE COURIER SECTIONS Editor

Gabbi de Boer mediaofficer.union@newcastle.ac.uk

Social Media

Heads of Social Media: Paige Rutter and Jess Bradbury P.E.Rutter1@ncl.ac.uk / J.L.Bradbury2@ncl.ac.uk

Current Affairs Senior editor: Sam Norman S.Norman3@ncl.ac.uk

News

Amana Khan Izabela Kirschnerova Tommy Atkinson

Campus Comment

Libby Griffiths Grace Boyle Mia Dale

Opinion

Merry little Craftmas A how-to-guide on various Christmas themed crafts that you can make at home yourself! | Pages 28

Sports| Features Our Year in Sport in an Advent Calendar A wrap up of the past twelve months in the sports world with insights and commentary from twelve different writers | Page 34

Image credit: WomensHealth.Net

Deputy Editors

Rachael McCreanor and Ross Bennett R.Mccreanor2@ncl.ac.uk / R.Bennett3@ncl.ac.uk

Adelaide Dodson Rosie Brennan Margaux Martinez

Science

Elisabeth Gores Matthew Barratt

Sport

Senior editor: Arthur Ferridge A.Ferridge2@ncl.ac.uk Mitchell Hall Castor Chan Raff Tindale Dan Balliston

Website

Head of Online: Anthony Welsh A.J.Welsh2@ncl.ac.uk

Life & Style

Senior editors: Daisy Harrison D.M.Harrison3@ncl.ac.uk Samantha Seidu B.S.Seidu2@ncl.ac.uk

Relationships

Rebecca Wright Adriana Newbury

Blind date and Agony Aunt: Charlotte Lee

Lifestyle

Zahra Hanif Jay Barber Marina Snyder

Fashion & Beauty Lana Free Ivy French

Travel

Charlie Reid Ollie Withers

Food & Drink

Roseanna Leconte Anna Nix

Culture

Senior editors: Imogen Smillie I.C.Smillie1@ncl.ac.uk Lucy Bower L.A.Bower2@ncl.ac.uk

Music

Poppy Bedford Madeha Ali

Ella Townson Jenica Davis

Film

Jess McKeown Olivia Carter Ned Carter-Owen

Gaming

Adam Lovegrove James Kellett

Arts

Sarah Tunstall Laura Kasongo

Puzzles

Katie Siddall K.E.Siddall1@ncl.ac.uk

Image credit: pixabay

Happy Holidays!

We at The Courier hope that you get to celebrate the season in style

Spend the winter season with those who matter most, enjoy time with your friends, family and loved ones! It is the season of giving so try and give as much love as your heart can bear! Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night! Image credit: pixabay@anncapictures

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Sub-editors: Amana Khan , Izabela Kirschnerova, and Tommy Atkinson

Monday 4th December 2023

News

The bold plan to 'Level Up' the North East Continued from front page Paige Rutter - Head of Social Media he leader of Newcastle City Council, Cllr Nick Kemp, stated “Shipbuilding is an iconic part of our industrial heritage associated with the River Tyne and today the area has evolved into a global hub for offshore renewable energy manufacturing.” There will also be a further £20m handed to Billingham to revitalise the town centre, with an aim to gain some

control back from private owners. Political conflict on the matter of Billingham sparked as the Conservatives made claims that the Labour-led council had been “sitting on” millions.

"Stockton-on-Tees holds the lowest life expectancy for women in England." This was the third attempt to gain levelling up funding for Billingham as their council had lost out twice before. Councillor Nigel Cooke expressed his

admiration for receiving the funding, “It’s a fantastic town with huge potential and now we have a golden opportunity before us to bring about real transformational change.” Stockton-on-Tees holds the lowest life expectancy for women in England, and citizens from the area have had their say on the fund. A retired decorator, Nick Winn expressed his thoughts saying “The North-East lacks investment and people do resent Westminster. Most of them, if you said where’s Stockton, they couldn’t pick it out on a map.” Winn went on further to label the scheme a “gimmick” adding “levelling up is just a catchphrase.”

Criticism of the Levelling Up Fund came around due to significant amounts going toward affluent and Conservative-held areas.

"Rishi Sunak previosuly had to deny funding favoured the South." The Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove stated that this fund is provided with the intention of delivering change in “overlooked and undervalued” areas. Rishi Sunak previously had to deny that

the funding favoured the South and that the allocations were an attempt to shore up support in Tory areas. Whilst the latest allocation of funding is in place with the hope of improving areas which need it and strengthening the economy, it has been proven that the fund is not enough to benefit all areas in need. This is also not having much of an impact on the cuts to local authorities which have fallen considerably in the last decade. It is hoped in the future, funding will be allocated differently rather than a gambling bid and it will be enough to see through the desired change.

The People's Kitchen Storms hit the Continued from front page

Olivia Carter - Film Sub-editor

he ‘live’ advent calendar will also be brought back; each day a treat will be unveiled for each ‘friend’ that comes in for a meal. A secret Santa service will also be available, ensuring that every child or grandchild of a People’s Kitchen ‘friend’ will receive a Christmas gift bag, each filled with a toy, a game, a book, and a selection box. Members of the public are encouraged to sponsor such gifts, and each sponsor costs £25 per bag. With such huge support across Newcastle, it is no wonder the organisation receives a large number of Christmas cards and well wishes. This year, however, the People’s Kitchen is encouraging those who wish to send such lovely thoughts to donate instead of doing so, helping them spread more Christmas joy as

the winter months get harsher. Having experienced the increased cost of buying and providing food (as many people have), the staff are extra grateful for donations; there has also been an increased number of people looking for help, and as each day gets slightly colder than the last, the need to provide is greater than ever.

"Individual work is just as important in impacting someone's life." There are plenty of ways to get involved with the amazing work they are doing. Volunteer roles are always available and are a fantastic way to feel rewarded whilst providing support within such an important community. If this is not something you can undertake, individual work is just as important in impacting someone’s life. No matter how small a contribution, it is a vital part of the community that makes the People’s Kitchen so powerful.

"Items such as clothing and even toys are greatly recieved over the Christmas period." If you are unable to donate money, supplies are always welcome. Items such as clothing and even toys are greatly received over the Christmas period. The charity does provide an Amazon Wishlist if you wish to have a look further into what they need the most at any given time. Fundraiser events are always a fun way to get involved; whether you wish to set your own up or have a society get involved, every little act of giving helps them on their journey to a better life for their ‘friends.’ To give to their “Feed a Friend for a Fiver” Campaign, simply text KITCHEN5 to 70490 or go to https://justgiving.com/campaign/ peopleskitchen-faffaf2023.

North of UK Jess Bradbury - Head of Social Media

Scotland and the North East of England are expected to experience adverse weather conditions.

he North East has recently been hit by a string of bad weather, leading to adverse conditions and weather

warnings. Storm Debi hit the North East on Monday 13 November, with winds of 70 to 80 MPH and heavy rain affecting the region. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind conditions affecting County Durham, Sunderland, Tyneside and Northumberland. These weather warnings came after the area had just recovered from Storms Ciaran and Babet, which hit the North East coast. Damage was caused to the South Shields lighthouse, with its dome forcibly knocked off by a combination of strong winds and waves, amongst other coastal landmarks.

that the increase in storms is a sign of more frequent extreme weather due to the effects of climate change. Meanwhile, the Scottish government has announced that farmers hit by severe flooding this autumn will be eligible to apply for grants to help repair any damage caused. Farmers based in local authority areas where the flooding was worst will be able to apply for financial aid of up to £30,000. These areas include Moray, Perth, Kinross, Aberdeenshire, City of Aberdeen, Angus and Fife and the grant can be used to help repair man-made flood banks. The scheme will be administered by the Scottish government, with applications opening in December. Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon is expected to provide further details of the funding soon. An estimated £1.8 million is being provided in support to help ease the financial burden on farmers affected by the floods.

"Farmers will be able to apply for financial aid." In Newcastle, people were warned that strong winds could cause potential damage to buildings, with injuries and a danger to life warning placed on flying debris. Additionally, it was warned that weather conditions could lead to the disruption of roads and rail services. Those in rural communities, farms, and dwellings are often more at risk from extreme weather, particularly when there is a string of storms. Storm Debi was the fourth named storm to hit the UK and Ireland in the last two months, and multiple weather warnings were placed across the country. It has been noted Image Credit: @peopleskitchennewcastle on Instagram

Image Credit: RawPixels

Sub-Editors: Amana Khan , Izabela Kirschnerova and Tommy Atkinson

Monday 4th December 2023

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5 News Newcastle City Council retain £13 million in unpaid grants for city centre clean air zone 4

Grace Correia De Campos

New advancements on the clean air zone are creatng diverse reactions.

ewcastle City Council has revealed it has retained more than £13M of grant funding expected to be distributed to drivers upgrading to cleaner vehicles. This comes following the introduction of the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in January of this year, within which commercial vehicles are charged a daily rate for passing through the zone.

“As of September 2023, just £1.82m of the £15m available had been distributed to drivers.” The head of transport, Pamela Holmes, told councillors earlier this month that she was disappointed by the number of grants issued, stating how she “would like to administer more.” As

of September 2023, just £1.82M of the £15M available had been distributed to drivers.

"Newcastle City Council claim the CAZ is improving air quality in the city."

in the city. Figures to support this are yet to be published, however Ms Holmes application for another £8m of government funding is a promising

Ms Holmes suggests these figures are from a series of issues at the council, mainly noting how staffing shortages have created a backlog of applications. The council received 2,500 applications covering 3,475 vehicles, however Holmes revealed that only 490 applicants were successful in securing funding. Older taxi and minibus models are charged £12.50 per day to enter the CAZ, while coaches, buses and HGV’s are charged £50 per day. While the grant scheme has attracted much interest from owners of such vehicles, Ms Holmes cites a lack of evidence in many applications as another obstacle in the way of getting money out. Explaining this, she stated that "we are having a bit more toing and froing on that than we anticipated.” Despite the issues surrounding grant funding, Newcastle City Council claim that the CAZ is improving air quality

sign of the council’s commitment to the CAZ. With more funding, hopes are that drivers from surrounding areas

including South Tyneside, Sunderland, and Durham will also be supported to upgrade to greener vehicles.

Image Source: Twiiter / X @NewcastleCC

The launch of SPACE North East Lili Snoxell

How SPACE North East looks to impact and develop the region.

o r t h u m b r i a University is set to open its first innovative Space Centre hub, in the heart of Newcastle. The UK Space Agency has awarded £10 million to the University to support the development of the North East Space Skills and Technology (NESST) Centre, which will support the creation of 350 new jobs. Opening in 2025, the building will be a ‘national space asset’, bringing £260 million into the North East’s economy over the next 30 years. The space sector has been predominantly concentrated in London and the Southeast, so this new cluster for research announces a host of new opportunities. Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “These projects demonstrate the potential of our thriving space sector across the length and breadth of the UK to develop innovative space infrastructure that helps us to deliver increasingly ambitious missions and capabilities, and champions the power of space to improve lives.” Located on the Northumbria campus, the Wynne Jones building is due to reopen in 2025, as a refurbished hub for NESST. Overlooking Newcastle’scentral motorway, the building will feature a mixture of laboratory and teaching

support the development of the North East Space Skills and Technology (NESST) Centre, which will support the creation of 350 new jobs. Opening in 2025, the building will be a ‘national space asset’, bringing £260 million into the North East’s economy over the next 30 years. The space sector has been predominantly concentrated in London and the Southeast, so this new cluster for research announces a host of new opportunities. Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “These

projects demonstrate the potential of our thriving space sector across the length and breadth of the UK to develop innovative space infrastructure that helps us to deliver increasingly ambitious missions and capabilities, and champions the power of space to improve lives.” Located on the Northumbria campus, the Wynne Jones building is due to reopen in 2025, as a refurbished hub for NESST. Overlooking Newcastle’scentral motorway, the building will feature a mixture of laboratory and teaching spaces, putting the UK at the forefront

for space research. With its aim to boost the space technology industry in the North East, the project will bring together businesses and academics, providing specialist education and creating products that are ‘mission ready’ for the commercial market. A further investment from Lockheed Martin of £15 million means that the leading aerospace company will become the first anchor tenant for the project. The investment is said to benefit and work towards a collaborative approach in research for the university.

Lizzie Kerr, Director of UK SPACE, said: “The national geographic diversity and spread of funded projects is welcomed and applauded by UK SPACE whose members are based right across the UK.” As well as boosting the reputability of the university, the project will help to regenerate surrounding public areas within the city centre, prompted by NESST’s partnerships with local and national organisations.

Image Source: Asian Pacific Defence Reporter

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Sub-Editors: Amana Khan , Izabela Kirschnerova and Tommy Atkinson

Monday 4th December 2023

News

Metro strike halts at 11th hour as workers secure better wage Oran Kirby

Strikers rally and win in the latest of the metro workers saga.

ngineers working in Tyne & Wear Metro’s depot in Gosforth have called off a planned strike after receiving an improved pay offer from their employer, Stadler Rail. Stadler is being contracted by Nexus, who operate the Metro, to build new trains for the network and to look after the trains currently in use. Unite, which represents the workers, claims that Stadler has been given a significant increase in funding by Nexus, which is ran by the local government. This means that Stadler’s increased funding had essentially been paid for by taxpayers. The 35 engineers who maintain the Metro’s fleet had planned to strike if this increased funding was not reflected in better pay.

However, after being offered a 7% pay rise, engineers called off the strike and will return to work. Many of the Metro’s trains have been in constant use since the 1980s, and are in need of frequent repairs. Their planned strike would therefore have likely lead to the Metro’s complete shutdown. However, the improved pay offer means the Metro will continue operating as usual. This will come as a relief to the many Newcastle students who use the Metro to commute into University from Heaton, Jesmond, and Gateshead.

she was ‘pleased Stadler Rail acted in a timely fashion to our demands – a marked contrast to other transport operators in the North East’, likely referring to an ongoing by Go North East’s bus drivers. Labour councillor Carl Johnson agreed, adding that ‘we simply cannot have a Metro strike at the same time as a major bus operator strike’, saying this would have caused ‘utter misery’ to

communities. Go North East is owned by the GoAhead Group, which runs bus services across the UK. Its North East services carry 175,000 passengers per day. However, workers here are paid 20% less than their colleagues working for Go North West. The bus drivers have been on strike indefinitely since October, in an effort to be paid the same wages as their

colleagues in other parts of the country. Unite represents both the Metro engineers and Go North East bus drivers. It is hoped that the success of the Metro engineers will embolden Go North East to follow Stadler’s lead and end the strike in their own company.

“Last year, 29.3 million journeys were made on the Tyne and Wear Metro." Last year, 29.3 million journeys were made on the Tyne and Wear Metro. This makes it the second-busiest light rail system outside of London. Politicians and spokespeople welcomed the new agreement, but made allusions to other local transport strikes that have yet to be resolved. Unite Union’s Sharon Graham said

Image Source: Flickr - Darrin McQuaid

Unprecedented rise in hate crimes within UK universities Benjamin Moore

An unstable political climate is leading to a shocking surge in hate crimes at universities.

n the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, which has gripped the world stage, hatred has spread across the world and fuelled some of the most unpleasant tensions we have seen in a long time. With the death toll in the recent conflict now surpassing 10,000 and the UN describing the humanitarian situation an ‘unfolding catastrophe,’ many have retreated to pointing blame at different ethnic and religious groups. This has been no more prevalent than in Universities across the UK.

"The Community Security Trust has recorded 57 antiSemitic incidents from 7 October to 3 November." University campuses are supposed to be a safe space for students of all backgrounds to debate ideas, express opinions and openly practise their religion. However, this reality has been threatened for Jewish and Muslim students across the UK. The Community Security Trust has recorded 67 antisemitic incidents from 7 October to 3 November at 29 campuses, compared with 12 in the same period last year. With reports of students being

‘harassed’ and ‘intimidated’, the Union of Jewish students said Jewish students were feeling, ‘deeply anxious.’

"Many Muslim students are commenting on a general atmosphere of anxiety and fear." There is a similar feeling of ostracization for Muslim students, with many commenting on the general atmosphere of anxiety and fear. This atmosphere was no more prevalent then during the pro-Palestine March in London on the 11th of November. Where far right groups such as the English Defence League (EDL) counter protested and started riots. Which led to the arrest of 145 people, the vast majority being farright counter protesters. Universities have responded by offering support to students of all backgrounds, as well as doubling down on their no tolerance policies towards hate and the glorification of terrorist groups. However, solving the problem requires getting to the root causes of the issue. The recent war did not create antisemitism or Islamophobia it has merely awoken a tribal sense of fear, that has led to a lack of objectivism within the debate on the conflict and increased zealotry on either side of the argument. Universities should be promoting a more moderate discourse, to build empathy and encourage students to withdraw from the blind support of harmful slogans.

Image Source: Flickr - Mike Guilford

Sub-Editors: Grace Boyle, Libby Griffiths and Mia Dale

Campus Comment

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Monday 4th December 2023

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Reasons why you should be Newcastle students' downloading LinkedIn now! big sustainability Roseanna Leconte - Food and Drink Sub-Editor

The next step in your career ladder is attainable by installing this app.

inkedIn, LinkedIn, LinkedIn. It's almost like a buzzword at this point, "connect with me on LinkedIn!" With over 900 million users worldwide, you might be wondering whether or not to jump on the bandwagon. The short answer is yes, you should. If you want the longer, answer, keep on reading… Let's start with the profile. A LinkedIn profile is an interactive CV and networking platform. You can add pretty much anything and everything you want that makes you look good - your education, work experience, volunteering, awards & certificates, your skills, and more. One of the great things about LinkedIn is that it is relatively easy to use. The structure is already there, all you need to do is fill it in. The 'About' section at the top of your profile is

where you can write your own personal introduction. There is something so satisfying about creating and refining your LinkedIn profile. As the world's largest professional social network, LinkedIn takes 'the world is your oyster' to the next level. You can start off by connecting with anyone you already know that links to your education or career in some way. For example, I have connected to people on my course as well as people who contribute to The Courier. From there, your feed will be filled with content that your connections have posted, liked, shared, commented on, etc. This will expose you to new people that you could connect with if there is reason for them to be in your own professional network. You can also use LinkedIn to find jobs. There is a dedicated job search feature for you to explore. You can also use the platform to reach out directly to potential employers, and you may even have employers reach out to you if you have a profile that meets their candidate search. As well as personal profiles, there are over 61 million company pages on LinkedIn

that you can follow and find employees to connect with. Overall, I think LinkedIn is an amazing way to find interesting people in your industry who have similar career interests who can inspire you. Once you get comfortable with how it works, you can start posting on your feed, and from there your posts might attract the right person's attention to kickstart your career. There are loads more features to explore that I haven't mentioned, so get to it!

Image Credit: Pixabay, Mohamed Hassan, Wiki Commons, LinkedIn

win!

November across all the universities by academic staff as well as industry Sam Norman leaders. Real time solutions - Head of Current Affairs were presented by students that very year the Sustainable universities can look to adopt to Futures Enterprise meet their SDG challenges. In the final outcome, Newcastle Challenge sees small teams of students from University teams respectively won institutions around the both first and second place! The globe work together to improve third-place award was awarded to their enterprise skills and explore a team from University of Andes. winners included the UN Sustainable Development Newcastle’s Goals (SDGs); this year Newcastle the first place team of Ayoub Ouakkaha and Laura Breckon, students gave a near perfect sweep! Newcastle University partnered and second places team Pari with the Singapore campus, as well Balu, Karolina Domaros, Saranya Pakpoom as Universities in the Netherlands, Thanangthanakit, Barbados and Columbia to host Boonprasert and Henry Wong. The winners of the the virtual competition. Sustainable Futures Teams were made of 3-8 Enterprise Challenge students, and they were are given the asked to explore the opportunity to discuss SDGs, and then conceive, making their proposal develop and pitch a a reality on their home project focussed on one, campus, it will be exciting or even two, that supports to see whether Newcastle’s their university’s continued work winners can bring a change towards meeting the SDGs and for good to their campus! being a sustainable campus. Final round entries were Image Credit: ConnyOnny on Open Clip Art presented and judged 8

Seasonal depression: Mid-Module may the impact on studies everything whilst d Jessica Casey

One of our writers busts the myth of seasonal depression.

ts that time of year again: less hours of daylight, cold and wet weather, the chaos of winter holidays and, of course, fast-approaching deadlines. While it’s natural for most people to feel gloomy during winter, some people – myself included – dread this time of year and the effect it will have on their wellbeing.

"The exact cause of SAD is unknown, but it has been linked to reduce exposure to sunlight." Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – better known as seasonal depression – is a type of depression that is triggered by seasonal changes; symptoms often become more apparent in winter and improve in summer, though SAD can occur at any time of year. The exact cause of SAD is unknown, but it has been linked to reduced exposure to sunlight, which is inevitable right now thanks to shorter days. Its symptoms are identical to clinical depression: low mood, lack of energy, feeling uninterested

in things you normally enjoy, etc. Unfortunately, not many people are aware of SAD or take it seriously; I’ve heard “We all feel down at this time of year” too many times to count. While that statement isn’t necessarily false, those who say it fail to understand that there’s more to SAD than merely feeling sad during winter. It has a huge impact

on my day-to-day life, including my studies. Constantly feeling tired and unable to concentrate means that I take longer to complete work than usual. I find it much harder to get up in the morning during winter, making those dreaded 9am lectures even less bearable than they already are. I often feel anxious and insecure – particularly about my academic abilities – which in turn makes me less motivated to study. Although I can live a relatively normal life despite SAD, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make it difficult.

“SAD can be just as debilitating as any other mental health issue and should be treated as such.”

Ivy French - Fashion & Beauty Sub-Editor

Balancing work and a social life can be hard, but here's some tips on what you can do to ease mid-module mayhem!

t’s mid-module season here at Newcastle University and it feels like there’s no time for anything other than assignments. But, that doesn't mean that has to be the reality. Here's how to maintain your balance.

SAD can be just as debilitating as any other mental health issue and should be treated as such. Although I can’t speak for everyone suffering from SAD, I hope that sharing my experience will raise awareness of the condition and shatter some misconceptions surrounding it. If you’re struggling, you can find support at https:// w w w. n c l . a c . u k / wellbeing/our-support/ our-support-guide/ Image Credit: Unsplash, Sherise van Dyk

Image Credit: Unsplash, Priscilla Dupreez

Plan social activities around your library trips

Committing to going to the library can be a real struggle, especially with the cold weather and shorter days. Rather than rewarding yourself after getting that checklist done, why not start off your day with a morning coffee or brunch with your friends, and then head to the library after? Or, after your lectures, grab some lunch and then tackle that to-do list. Being relaxed and energised is a great way to be more productive. And you can always go for a pint afterwards. It might sound silly, but keep hydrated The biggest cause for a lack of productivity is feeling sluggish

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Sub-Editors: Grace Boyle, Libby Griffiths and Mia Dale

Monday 4th December 2023

Campus Comment

The Jesmond, Sandyford and Heaton dilemma: different or duplicates? Zahra Hanif - Lifestyle Sub-Editor

Is Jesmond really the 'promised land' that its made out to be, or are they all the same?

hen the first year discussions divert way too quickly, in my opinion -from "what course do you study?" to "do you want to live together next year?", there's generally one 'ideal' place on a Newcastle student's mind, and that's Jesmond. It's seen as 'the promised land' that all first years are itching to get to once they're fed up of eight-person flats and accommodation fire alarms. But as the house hunting begins and the signing races ensue, other student areas are often overlooked, such as Sandyford and Heaton, which shouldn't be the case. Because , layout and amenities wise, they're all very similar. All three boast

bars, eateries, shopping streets, green spaces, and a community feel. Think Café 1901, Aidan's kitchen, Butterfly Cabinet. Jesmond Dene, Armstrong park, Heaton park. I could go on.

“I no longer have to take out a mortgage to shop at my local, and I'm much closer to university." The only difference is that Jesmond has a lot more preconceptions about it that make it appear more desirable, but this actually works against it as its prices hike up year upon year. One large misconception is that it's seen as where 'all the students go', the heart of the action and the student community, despite actually having a large residential population made up of families and older people to disprove this. Also, you are not limited to Jesmond if you want to be surrounded by fellow students … students are everywhere, from the city centre to North Shields. To clarify, this is by no means Jesmond

slander. I lived there myself last year, and there were things I absolutely loved: Osbornes, Jesmond dene, Subway at the end of my street... but I don't think these perks are as utterly extraordinary and unique as some students make out - every area will have its own alternatives. I live in Sandyford now, and I haven't felt a massive difference. The only things I would say are: I no longer have to take out a mortgage to shop at my local, and I'm much closer to university.

of places to eat, drink, and shop - from Sobremesa to Sainsburys local. So realistically, there's not a massive difference between Jesmond, Sandyford, or Heaton. They all boast a lively student community with similar facilities

- rather than choose solely based on hype, it's best to consider where you'd be happiest. After all, Newcastle is such a walkable city, if you feel like you're missing out the next neighbourhood is a 20 minute walk over, maximum.

“Newcastle is such a walkable city, if you feel like you're missing out the next neighbourhood is only a 20 minute walk." I'm aware that the same doesn't ring true for Heaton as it's further out - but thankfully we're blessed with transport links and capped fares. And it's well worth the journey, as it's home to the iconic Chillingham Road, with a range

Image Credits: Mia Dale

yhem: balancing What's hot and what's not: doing assignments Newcastle's clubbing scene and tired – and that’s probably because you haven’t drunk enough water. While it's true coffee and energy drinks just taste better, but they’ll only temporarily boost your energy. Being hydrated keeps you functioning, and you’ll probably feel less stressed too. Make a realistic to-do list Are you really going to get it all done in one day? Probably not. A good to-do list shouldn’t have more than 6 things on it, and it doesn’t have to be just assignmentrelated. Tidying your room, washing dishes or doing your laundry are great things to put on your to-do list to make you feel more productive. Especially when doing that reading or writing that next paragraph doesn’t sound like something you want to do right now.

mental health. Snacks and more snacks Whoever said chocolate is the key to happiness is a genius. And if chocolate just doesn’t do it for you, get whatever snack just gives you that happy moment. Treat yourself. And lastly, just believe in yourself. You are more than capable. It might feel stressful, overwhelming, and you might need to cry. But you’ve got this.

Jack Evans - NSR Head of Specialist Programming

A list of clubs in Newcastle, perfect for any genre of music with student-friendly prices.

rom Tuesday night discotech to Thursday night indie thrills, Newcastle has quite a lot to offer in terms of nightlife. Here's a few clubbing suggestions to whet your appetite! Groovy Disco Tech (GDT) Now, I'm nowhere near cool enough to go to GDT, the Tuesday night choice for many students. If high-energy disco, house or 'anything that slaps' is your cup of tea make your way down to World Headquarters for back-to-back hits in these low ceiling rooms.

Go on a walk

Soho

Sitting around all day is the biggest motivation killer ever. Going on a walk and getting some fresh air for 20 minutes can wake you up and is great for your

If you play any type of sport you've likely had the pleasure (or displeasure) of visiting Soho on a Wednesday night in fancy dress with your team. A lot of people do love Soho, and it does have a lot of

Image Credit: Unsplash, Bethany Laird

appeal to students. A whopping 4 floors, drinks deals, and a variety of music certainly make for a good (and usually messy) night. The Social Club

One of Newcastle's newer venues, this club offers a good variety for anyone seeking a night out in the week. Tropiloco serves up house and RNB on a Monday, Kult gives you a generous helping of indie on a Thursday and Casa on a Friday night is always a packed-out hit for students. Also pretty cheap, so decent for a student-budget night out in the Toon. Market Shaker Some say it's a club, others say it's a bar, but most

would agree it's iconic. Shaker is a bit like Gogglebox, it can be naff and cheesy, but it always guarantees a pretty good time. It's free entry and cheap during the week - two things that aren't to be overlooked. Do be warned though, if you're someone who doesn't like ABBA you may want to put your fingers in your ears, (or just do the right thing and grow up.)

"The Cut is host to some of Newcastle's best indie nights, with all your favourites being spun every week." The Cut Finishing off is my favourite club in Newcastle, safe to say I've exhausted it one too many times. The Cut is host to some of Newcastle's best indie nights, with all your favourites being spun every week. They love a good themed night too, and who couldn't resist a Catfish vs old Arctic Monkeys on a Thursday night. The cocktails are 2-4-1 most of the time as well, meaning a good time can be had for a relatively cheap price.

Image Credits:Unsplash, Fabio Alves

Sub-Editors: Adelaide Dodson, Rosie Brennan and Margaux Martinez

Opinion

Monday 4th December 2023

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I'm a Politician: Get Me Out of Here! Marcus Williamson

Are politicians using reality TV for reputation rehabalitation?

TV recently announced that Nigel Farage would be joining the cast of this year’s I’m a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here! There are two important questions to ask after hearing this. First, HOW MUCH! And second, why? Well, the first question has a fairly simple answer, £1.5 million, more than double that of the previous highest earner on the show, Noel Edmunds. The second question requires a bit more thought. The obvious answer would be to copy and paste my answer to the first question, but Farage’s reasoning seems to run a little deeper than that.

“This was a perfect fit for a man who had based his political career largely on his personality." As with former Health Minister Matt Hancock, who previously appeared on the show, Farage has a somewhat complicated reputation. Following the

Brexit referendum, he turned to a career in the media, first with LBC and later GB News. This was a perfect fit for a man who had based his political career largely on his personality. His everyman persona allowed him to amass his support and will now help him to rebuild his reputation. This is similar to Hancock, as he went on a spree of reality television to help us forget about NHS contracts that were handed out to the unworthy and unequipped.

to once again highlight his personality to engage with more possible viewers. This would be no surprise as the outlet has attempted to market itself on the back of personalities such as Farage and

Piers Morgan. This isn’t to say we should watch I’m a Celeb with any political ideas at the front of our focus. It is just to say that we should be aware of why figures such

as Farage and Hancock are choosing to make these career moves.

Image: NDLA, Michael Kappeler

“We should be aware of why figures such as Farage and Hancock are choosing to make these career moves.” This is reminiscent of a wider trend in modern politics. The role of the personality has again risen in prominence as figures such as Farage, Boris Johnson and Donald Trump show all too well. This isn’t to say that Farage will necessarily jump back into politics after his TV appearance, but it is clear he is attempting to make himself more palatable to the general public. It is no secret that GB News has not necessarily been the success story, those involved hoped for. In October, they brought in 3,240,000 viewers, compared to BBC News’ 11,417,000 and Sky News’ 8,419,000. It may be that Farage wishes

Is there a 'too late' for a baby?

Should Starmer Resign?

Reflections on the current Labour leader's position on the Middle Eastern conflict.

Barbora Pacherova

he biological clock is ticking! Everything in a person’s life comes off as needing to be perfectly timed and each period of one’s life serves different milestones – getting a partner, finding a job, and starting a family – and achieving just one of those things a little late seems to throw a person’s life completely off the rails. There is immense pressure to achieve certain things at a certain time or before a certain age because at a particular point in life it is ‘too late’. Getting a degree, starting a dream career, having fun or having kids. All of these seem to have an expiration date, and if you have not achieved what you wanted to by forty, it is apparently too late. Yet many people just keep proving these timestamps wrong, especially when it comes to conceiving a child.

"Men are not afraid of fathering a child in 70s." Although there are plenty of examples of people having kids later on in their lives, there is a considerable gap between the latest ages men and women have children. While women generally have their late baby sometime in their 40s, men are not afraid of fathering a child even in their 70s. While a lot of these men have their children with much younger partners, which is one of the reasons that was even possible in the first place, in

general, men do not worry about the possibility of health complications their child might have because of their age. It seems to be common knowledge, that female fertility declines around the age 40-45 and with that the various risks and birth defects that come with pregnancy and birth rise as well. On the flip side, men are believed to be fertile and produce healthy babies in their 60s just as they would in their 20s, and while the decrease in fertility is less significant, it starts to deteriorate around the same age as for women.

"Janet Jackson had her son at fifty and Robert De Niro had his youngest at almost eighty." Despite all this, older parents are able to have healthy children. Jeff Goldblum, an actor best known for the films Jurassic Park and Jurassic World had both of his children in his 60s, Janet Jackson had her son at fifty and Robert De Niro had his youngest at almost eighty. Still, health is not the only concern. At school, these parents will be older than others’ grandparents and might struggle with complications of old age before their children are adults. In the worst case, those kids will lose their parent at a very young age and will be unable to play with them like they normally would due to the lack of energy.

Amana Khan - News Sub-Editor

he Israel-Palestine conflict has produced a variety of differing opinions in the UK, especially across the political spectrum. Both leaders of the two main parties in the UK, the Labour Party and the Conservative Party, have both denied the decision to call for a ceasefire. Unlike The Conservative Party, the Labour Party’s view on calling for a ceasefire is completely divided. This has resulted in multiple groups and communities calling for the resignation of Keir Starmer. Recently, Preston’s city mosque leaders called for Starmer’s resignation after he refused to back a ceasefire, believing that his position was “not the correct position” at the moment. This argument for Starmer’s resignation has been replicated by other communities and groups, including a Welsh Constituency Labour Party, which argued that his resignation was necessary due to his “refusal to support a ceasefire in the ongoing aggression by the Israeli military”. The calls for Starmer’s resignation show that his leadership is becoming a weak one and this was further highlighted by the actions from his frontbenchers recently. On the 15th November, MPs voted for an SNP amendment, which called for a ceasefire, however Starmer urged Labour’s MPs to vote against the ceasefire or risk losing their position. However, 56 Labour MPs, including 10 frontbenchers defied the party

whip, with those on the frontbench resigning from the shadow cabinet. These resignations are not limited to the opposition but also to local Labour councillors, with many resigning due to the Labour Party’s stance, for example in Burnley 11 of the 22 Labour councillors have resigned. The resignations and the disagreements that have been occurring under Starmer’s leadership is a clear portrayal of his weak leadership, as well as a leadership that is dismissing his party’s opinions on this conflict. Many of those remaining in his shadow cabinet have urged Starmer to change his stance on this conflict and take a “tougher line on Israeli military action in the region”. The party is divided under Starmer, as well as looking extremely weak under his leadership.

Image: Rwendland_wikimediacommons

There is no clear party opinion, with the leader arguing one opinion, and the party arguing another. This makes the Labour Party look weak and makes Starmer seem like a leader that is out of touch with those within his party and voters. If Starmer continues to deny calling for ceasefire, it is very likely that he will ensure that the Labour Party lose votes, especially in Muslim communities and from more progressive voters, in the next general election, as well as looking like a divided and weak party. Keir Starmer risks losing the next general election because of his divisive view. Therefore, in ensuring his party’s support and his voters support, Starmer needs to listen to their calls for a ceasefire or question his role as leader of a weak Labour Party.

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Sub-Editors: Adelaide Dodson, Rosie Brennan and Margaux Martinez

Monday 4th December 2023

Opinion

The United Nations and its purpose in today's climate Lois Armugam

Do international institutions function as needed in today's world?

nternational institutions function on foundations of hypocrisy and imperialism and often fail to respond effectively to multiple conflicts at once. The Amnesty International Report of 2022 highlights double standards throughout the world on human rights and how the international community fails to unite around consistently applied human rights and universal values. The Secretary General Agnès Callamard said “states cannot criticise human rights violations one minute and, in the next, condone similar abuses in other countries just because their interests are at stake. It’s unconscionable and undermines the entire fabric of universal human rights.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concern that the war in Palestine will divert attention and resources away from Ukraine. He also drew parallels between Vladimir Putin and Hamas, calling them “terrorists” that “seek to hold free and democratic nations as hostages.” NATO has insisted that they can support Israel and Ukraine at the same time. The forceful western response to the Russian-Ukrainian war is in stark

contrast to their inability to condemn human rights abuses committed by allies such as Israel.

"Member states of the European Union opened their borders to Ukranian refugees." Member states of the European Union opened their borders to Ukrainian refugees, but this was not an option for those escaping conflict in the MiddleEast, despite EU states proving that they are more than capable of providing this. Economic sanctions were imposed on the Russian Federation, military assistance was sent to Kyiv, the International Criminal Court began investigating war crimes in Ukraine, and the United Nations General Assembly voted to condemn Russian involvement in Ukraine as an act of aggression. International institutions have made efforts to hold Russia accountable, and western member states provide support to Ukraine in the form of arms supplies. The genocide of Palestinians has not received the same response, and the success of international organisations in providing aid to Gaza can only be considered a disaster. The Israeli government has continued to restrict fuel supplies, resulting in communications blackouts of Palestinian telecommunications

companies. Aid agencies have stressed that the delivery of humanitarian aid is dependent on fuel supplies. The Israeli blockade of Gaza has cut off water supplies and electricity to the city, and international institutions have limited capacity to mediate this. The UN is limited in the support it is able to provide in conflicts, due to international law, maintaining state sovereignty, and the mechanisms of the institution as a whole. For example, Article 51 of the UN charter defends the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence

if an armed attack occurs against a UN member state. States have been able to bend their interpretations of this for their own political agenda. The UN Security Council has the mandate to uphold peace and security, however with Russia as a permanent member and thus holding veto power, the security council is often paralysed. The UN General Assembly could act instead, but does not hold the same power as the Security Council and cannot mandate peacekeepers or the use of force.

In an international system of increasing bipolarity and western hegemony, current institutions have become highly politicised. As a result, international institutions overlook conflicts and reframe narratives to fit common political interests between western states. With conflicts becoming more intractable and political coalitions overshadowing the status of international institutions, they lack the power or means to resolve them effectively.

Image Credit: Kim Haughton/UN Photos on Flickr

A Cameron comeback can’t cover up Conservative collapse Nathan Dove

The recent reshuffle of the Conservative cabinet has brought controversy.

t is time for a change, and we are it’. These were the final words of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s headline speech at the Conservative Party Conference. Whilst the promise of change certainly raised eyebrows at the time, primarily because the Conservatives have been the ruling party in Britain now for the past 13 years, this rallying cry now echoes with an even more ironic undertone after Sunak’s latest Cabinet reshuffle which has seen the surprising return of former PM David Cameron as Foreign Secretary.

"Tories find themselves walking a precarious political tightrope." The shocking scenes of Cameron’s re-emergence at Downing Street stole almost all the post-Remembrance Weekend headlines. Whilst this is understandable, critics claim that his appointment has been used to divert attention away from the events of the weekend which saw Sunak lose

control of his party yet again after Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s disastrous response to civil unrest in London. Braverman, booted out of her role in favour of James Cleverly, has also had a headline-stealing week. After labelling Pro-Palestinian protests ‘hate marches’, she then called homelessness a ‘lifestyle choice’ before openly criticising the Prime Minister and Metropolitan Police for being ‘too lenient’ on protestors during Remembrance Weekend. With Sunak’s firing of Braverman, the now twice-sacked Home Secretary joins the long list of right-wing Tories who have bitten clean off the hand that is fed-up of feeding them. The dismissal of Braverman illuminates the growing discontent within a faction that emerged during the more populist Johnson administration. This faction, often referred to as 'National Conservatives', claims to defend the values of the 'Red Wall' constituents who propelled them to power in the 2019 elections. S u n a k , tasked with holding together a party torn between t h i s extreme Image: Flickr, Number 10

contingent and more traditional establishment Tories, finds himself walking a precarious political tightrope that he hopes David Cameron can help guide him off of. Whilst many pundits believe Cameron’s appointment to be a desperate grasp at stability during these tumultuous times, others have posited how Cameron’s return signals a potential shift towards a more centrist brand of Toryism, resembling that of the pre-Brexit era. Sunak’s turn

Image: Flickr,

to Cameron could be a move that reestablishes his credibility amongst traditional Tories and the nation as a whole. On the international front, the former PM’s practical experience in global politics is second to none. Given his history as the leader of the United Kingdom for six years, Cameron’s connections with world leaders are extensive. Having a Foreign Secretary who has had high-profile interactions with international figures like Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, is certainly a boon for this government’s global reputation. Critics argue that Cameron’s reemergence in the political spotlight only raises more questions regarding the Conservatives’ newfound c o m m i t m e nt to transparency. The 53rd Prime Minister famously resigned under

Image: WikimediaCommons, ukhouseoflords

ignominious circumstances after his Brexit referendum spectacularly blew up in his face, leaving the nation in a divided state for the last seven years. Since he scuttled out of the limelight, Cameron was implicated in a lobbying scandal during the COVID-19 pandemic, only worsening his already tainted reputation after the Panama Papers Scandal, which revealed that he held offshore bank accounts in a Caribbean tax haven. On top of his personal record, even the nature to which Cameron has returned is dubious. As he is no longer an MP, to be appointed to the Cabinet Cameron has been made a Lord Peer; meaning he cannot face questioning in the House of Commons and will spend the rest of his life with a seat in the House of Lords. Cameron is the first unelected Foreign Secretary in almost half a century and his appointment only lends credence to the argument that the Tories favour a certain class of politician. The return of the man who initiated this 13-year Conservative rule and ushered in the divided political era of Brexit seems completely antithetical to the notion of change in which Sunak seemed so eager to represent. However, the one solace to take in the Cameron comeback, is the prophetic manner in which the architect of this political dynasty has returned back from the wilderness to bare witness to its inevitable collapse and ruin.

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Sub-Editors: Matthew Barratt and Elisabeth Gores

Monday 4th December 2023

Science

The Kiss of Venus: A breakthrough in cutting edge atmospheric science Ada Stockwell

Venus is perhaps the most chaotic landscape of all the planets in our solar system.

enus has the hottest surface temperature of any of our nearby planets and a corrosive atmosphere that pours rain in a sulfuric acid solution. Despite all this, small amounts of molecular oxygen have been detected in Venus' hostile atmosphere. The telescopes, G.R.E.A.T. (German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies) and S.O.F.I.A. (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) took seventeen observations of Venus in November 2021 and measured its atmospheric density, confirming the presence of oxygen.

"Oxygen has been confirmed as present."

By measuring the temperature of this oxygen, scientists were also able to determine that it existed around 100km above Venus' surface. Oxygen has been detected before in Venus' atmosphere, but only on the night side - its dark side. However, oxygen has now been confirmed as present on both sides of the planet. Scientists believe this is due to the build-up of oxygen as heat breaks down carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. This oxygen is transported to the planet's nightside due to convection currents - winds high in the atmosphere - where it gradually reacts with other elements.

“Breathable oxygen consists of two bonded oxygen atoms, whereas the oxygen detected is molecular." Of course, humans would not be able to breathe these small amounts of oxygen. Breathable oxygen consists of two bonded oxygen atoms, whereas the oxygen detected is molecular - single, free-floating oxygen atoms - so it reacts

too quickly with lung tissue and cannot reach the bloodstream effectively. In that case, why is this discovery important? One of the biggest questions facing astrophysicists is the past of planets in our solar system. The fact that Venus has oxygen in its atmosphere hints at a calmer, milder world in the past, which lends information about the formation of planets and our solar system.

“Perhaps this new information will lead us to more details on the formation of our own planet.” One of the theories on this is Venus' runaway greenhouse effect - heat trapping due to insulating gases. As Earth's greenhouse effect becomes stronger, leading to significant climate change, Venus' past may provide insight into our future. Not only this, but Venus is often referred to as Earth's "twin" planet - the two worlds are similarly sized, neighbours, and have similar densities and compositions. Perhaps this new information about Venus will

lead us to more details on the formation and evolution of our planet. Furthermore, there are two upcoming NASA missions to Venus - DAVINCI (2029) and VERITAS (2031), as well as the ESA mission EnVision (2031). The objectives of these missions are to understand Venus' origin and evolution, especially that of its atmosphere. The discovered about Venus, the more mysteries remain. One of the biggest questions is how and why Venus is different to Earth and Mars - and this discovery brings us another step closer to the answer.

Image Credit: Wikimediacommons @ NASA/jpl-CalTech

Past 12 months were Strange Science : a look at the hottest on record mysterious exploding teeth Roseanna Leconte - Food and Drink Sub-Editor

Experts are expecting the hot streak to continue into 2024.

limate Central recently revealed that the last 12 months, between November 2022 and October 2023, were the hottest on record globally. There has also been a rise in heatwaves driven by carbon pollution. This report was published ahead of COP 28, the United Nation's annual climate change conference. One of the main causes of global warming is the burning of fossil fuels, resulting in around 34 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted worldwide per year. 2023 has also seen record-breaking wildfires, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, with 410 million tonnes of emissions, of which 27% came from Canada. Such events of major deforestation also means there are significantly less trees to absorb carbon

dioxide from the atmosphere. Scientists measure global warming by combining measurements of the air above the land surface and the ocean surface, collected from weather stations, satellites, ships and buoys, weather balloons, etc. Experts are expecting the hot streak to continue into 2024. We are currently in the midst of what is called 'El Nino', which is a climate pattern identified by the unusual warming of surface temperatures in the Eastern Pacific. Some of the more drastic effects of El Nino in some parts of the world include limited availability to food and water due to crop losses, droughts, and extreme rainfall which all have a detrimental effect on agriculture. The least developed countries on the planet often suffer the most, despite contributing less emissions. The World Meteorological Organisation believes there is a 66% likelihood that, for at least one year between 2024 and 2027, temperatures will exceed the 1.5 degree warming compared to pre-industrial levels, a level internationally agreed as a benchmark for irreversible effects of climate change.

Barbora Pacherova

Several theories circulated from chemcial pressure to archaic fillings and gas build-up.

his curious dental case remains a mystery to this day. Ever since its first recorded appearance in 19th century Pennsylvania, the case of exploding teeth has been surrounded by several theories concerning its cause. These strange cases were years apart and documented in The Dental Cosmos, the first major journal for American dentists, by a man called WH Atkinson. The patient was a clergyman and reported such intense agonizing pain coming from his teeth it made him slowly lose his mind. All his suffering, however, disappeared abruptly after hearing a loud crack coming from his teeth.

“The explosion of her molar was so strong it almost knocked her over and caused hearing loss”

Image: Credit: Pixabay @PublicDomainePictures

Another case followed thirteen years after to a similar end. The patient’s name was Mrs Letitia D, who reported the same symptoms, followed by relief just after a sudden crack of her teeth. Yet another instance happened in

1871 to a young woman treated by an American dentist J Phelps Hibler, who reported that the explosion of her molar was so strong it almost knocked her over and caused hearing loss for a few days afterwards.

“The third possibility laid in the metals that dentists used to fill cavities.”

metals would create spontaneous electrolysis, and with the filling not done well, a part of the cavity remained, causing a buildup of hydrogen within a tooth. Consequently, the weakened tooth bursts under the pressure and the built-up hydrogen could even cause a small explosion. However, even Sella admits that kind of scenario is far-fetched and unlikely. To this day, the cause for this mystery is unclear. It is possible that the patients’ symptoms could have simply been overexaggerated or inaccurate, but for now, we can only ponder over the true answer.

There were a few more of these cases afterwards, but after the 1920s, there were no more documented cases of this curious condition, and to this day there are speculations about what could have possibly caused these explosions. The dentists were aware of cases where teeth would crack or shatter because of a sugary diet or due to extremely low temperatures. In the case of teeth explosions, however, they couldn’t find a plausible explanation for. Atkinson came up with two possible causes – the pressure from a build-up of a substance called ‘free caloric’, which has been immediately ruled out, or pressure from the gas inside the tooth caused by decay. The third possibility laid in the metals dentists used to fill cavities. According to Andrea Sella, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at University College London, using two different metals together could cause an electrochemical to form, turning Image: Credit: Wikimediacommons @J. the whole mouth into a lowW. M. Bunker and Clair Elsmere Turner voltage battery. The mixture of

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Monday 4th December 2023

Sub-Editors: Rebecca Wright and Adriana Newbury

Relationships

'Let it snow': is it ever right to freeze someone out of the friend group? Charlotte Burley-Hnat

It's inevitable that some friendships won’t be surviving the harsh winter months ahead.

ver found yourself on WikiHow, looking for ways to gracefully end a friendship? We’ve all had a friendship or two that’s had us looking for an escape route. Of course, no one wants to be in that position, but in the whirlwind of university life, where we’re constantly changing, it's inevitable that some friendships won’t be surviving the harsh winter months ahead. First and foremost, the big no-noes. If someone is manipulating you, spreading rumours, disregarding your boundaries, or lying to you, then you have absolutely every right to freeze them out. We tend to hang onto toxic friendships longer than we should, and I don’t use the term ‘toxic’ lightly, but if you’re constantly finding yourself feeling worse after spending time with them, feeling inadequate or that they’re always competing with you – it’s probably time for a freeze-out. It's important to surround yourself with friends who not only support you through tough times but also celebrate your achievements, big or small. Now the juicy stuff, when a friend has done something objectively wrong – this could be anything from leaving you in a dangerous situation to go meet their sneaky link, making hurtful jokes at a friend's expense, or telling people things that you told them in confidence. When should you freeze and when should you refrain? If they are sincerely

apologetic, take responsibility for their actions and are willing to better themselves, there’s hope that the friendship can be salvaged. Take some time away from them, make sure they understand what they did was wrong, but don’t be afraid to help them learn and grow. That being said, although cut-offs are usually traceable to one event, they’re often as a result of many bottled-up emotions. Is this a common occurrence? Are they constantly making mistakes but never actually learning from them? If the answer to these questions is yes, a frosting is probably on the cards.

“It's not uncommon to find that you're both different people from when you first met, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the friendship is unsalvageable.” Friendship breakups can be worse than relationship breakups, and the worst of all is when you’ve been drifting apart for a while. It's not uncommon to find that you're both different people from when you first met, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the friendship is unsalvageable. This is one instance where a freeze-out would probably be the most harmful and the most unnecessary course of action. Nobody is saying you need to be best friends again, but chances are you would regret cutting them out of your life altogether. Possibly the most common cause of a friendship breakdown is the dreaded lack of effort from one

side. Have they been making excuses to skip all group events? Leaving you on sent (or worse, read) for days or weeks at a time? It’s a good idea to have an open conversation with them about how you’re feeling before skipping to the drastic measure of freezing them out. It’s not uncommon for people to withdraw when they’re going through challenging times, and it might be a case of them just needing to open up a bit more and ask for support. So, is it ever right to freeze someone out of the friend group? Unfortunately, there is no concrete answer. In any relationship, there are going to be rough patches and sometimes you’re going to have to make small sacrifices for friends – this doesn’t necessarily make it ‘toxic’ or ‘unhealthy’, life isn’t always going to be about prioritising your own comfort. But, if your friend group is starting to feel strained by a certain friend, it might be time to cut ties. No matter how you do it, it’s not going to be comfortable – so consider making it a conversation rather than a freeze out, because really, the only cool thing about it is its name.

Image: Source (pixabay) @ Clker-Free-Vector-Images

Mistletoe mood or silent night? Sarah Tunstall - Arts Sub-Editor

It can be difficult to be single during the festive period.

uring the "cuffing season" the urge to get back into dating feels more powerful than ever. But is it worth jumping in for the sake of having someone for Christmas? As someone who tried. No. Dating people again after a breakup is one of those difficult things to muster the strength for. You had your everything in that other person and to start all over again feels hard to do so. Even when you feel ready, you're convinced you're over the person, sometimes finding someone else brings back all those feelings. How is this new person not like the person you were with? There is this constant mental comparison. An internal feeling of excitement for the new but fear as well.

“It's almost as if finding someone becomes more of a mission to recuperate some old emotions as opposed to dating for a connection.” It seems the winter, festive season brings all of these feelings stronger. Especially if you ever spent the season with someone else quite consistently before. In that case, it's almost as if finding someone becomes more of a mission to recuperate some old emotions as opposed to dating for a connection. Filling new memories with someone else becomes a reason to help forget the other person you did this with. I will admit I tried this. I dated someone for a month or so on and off from later November into the early New Year. There was nothing heartbreaking in how it ended, it was meant to happen, but as soon as the festive season ended with this person I was dating I realised I wasn't as quite connected to them as I thought. All of the romantic festivities ended and feeling close

to someone became all scary again. The realisation of becoming serious again was frightening but also something I didn't see in that person. But by this point, their feelings were otherwise more genuine - making it harder to tell them "Sorry I'm just not ready right now". A small end to me, was a larger one for them.

"When I tried to get over the person I ended things with earlier in the year, I hated hearing "wait". When I tried to get over the person I ended things with earlier in the year, I hated hearing "wait". I felt ready but always got scared w h e n it came to dating again, even without committing. But in a place of hurt it's harder to realise that when you date someone else to get over someone, that other person still has all capacity to feel more for you. It's true. Just wait. Most, if not all, the most genuine connections you will make are offline, off the apps, and in person (I say this having met my current partner on Hinge... but I am lucky to say we connected just as well if not more in person). Even if it turns out like the rest, it's too much, there's no feeling there, etc. Talking or meeting people face to face before any apps will give you more confidence to see yourself as someone's partner as opposed to them as your new one.

If you rely yourself on dating apps, the perfect profile etc. you are not going to see yourself genuinely for someone else. It will come down more to how you attract views, or appeal to people's eyes. You need that confidence back in yourself. You need to see yourself loved by other people, capable of loving others and yourself. As cheesy as it felt to write that sentence it's unfortunately true. So resist all the urge to find someone to do all the festivities. Go back to your friends and start all from there. My go-to is romanticisng those friendship holidays, like we're all true adults having our own moments away from our parents. You will remember those more than the ones you spent q u i c k l y with people you dated. And the festive s e a s o n will become perfect again when you truly find that person.

Santa, baby! Amelie Baker

How to surprise your partner with a romantic date this festive period...

urprises - hard to organise, but even harder to pull off. I personally am comically inept at keeping secrets, so when it comes to surprises, believe me, I know the struggle. Not blurting out whatever’s on my mind or not laughing whilst trying to cover something up are abilities that lie beyond my reach. However, because of this debilitating ineptitude, I do have some tips and tricks for keeping a surprise a surprise. My number one cardinal rule for secretkeeping is to avoid the topic as much as possible. If you aren’t talking about presents, or what to do for your next date, then you can’t shoot yourself in the foot and ruin it. Sounds simple, right? Well that’s what I thought, and that’s where I have failed miserably in the past. Not only must you try to avoid talking about it, but when you are with the surprised-to-be, don’t even think about it. Banish the topic from your mind - if you aren’t thinking about the hat you are crocheting for their birthday then you won’t start talking about it absentmindedly to them (believe me, I’ve been there). So, constant vigilance! Don’t even think about it! Despite this though, the topic of presents or anything connected to the surprise could come up, and for this situation we have to be prepared. As an atrocious liar myself, and when I have to cover my back, I find it easier to pull off lies that are simply part of the truth but not the whole truth. For example, returning to my crochet-surprisedisaster, I would tell my partner I was trying to crochet a scarf for my mum (this was before I prematurely revealed it was a hat for them). So, if your partner is questioning where you are, what you are doing - give them a little bit of the truth, but twist it. Half a lie is a lot easier than a full lie, especially when you’re put on the spot. My third and final top tip is to enlist the help of friends and family, especially if you’re organising a bigger surprise like a party or a big date. Not only can they help with the organisational aspect, but they can also be an outlet for your excitement and emotions surrounding the surprise - and prevent an overexcited outburst around the wrong person. You need a support network for these things, both emotionally and organisationally. With these three top tips, your surprises should hopefully remain a secret, and hopefully go off without a hitch!

Image: Source (pixabay)@stampf

Image: Source (pixabay) @elisariva

Sub-Editors: Zahra Hanif, Jay Barber and Marina Snyder

Monday 4th December 2023

Lifestyle

On the 'little treat' Martha Lewis

t seems as if the phrase ‘little treat’ or ‘silly little treat’ has been populating our recent feeds and reels. Whilst a byproduct of meme and wellness culture combined, I think the saying can and should be taken somewhat seriously as a reminder that ‘little treats’ and incremental acts of self-care are in fact fundamental for our well-being, rather than frivolous or selfindulgent. The days are growing shorter and the term is nearing its end, causing lower energy and motivation for many, so I would argue there's no better time to treat oneself. Here are some ideas and starting points for those craving a little self-care. A walk and a warm beverage Temperatures have dipped but I still find it rewarding to embark on a bracing walk and then cosy up somewhere warm afterwards to enjoy a restorative drink or meal. It can be really nice for a change to do this alone for some headspace, and find a good cafe to read a new book or magazine, or merely people watch in. Now that Christmas markets are up and running, a festive hot chocolate may be in order. Having an evening of self care/skincare Sometimes an evening in is preferable to going out. Setting aside the time to look after one’s appearance or body is often not a matter of vanity but can help foster a sense of well-being. If I’m feeling especially fancy I’ll take myself to Boots or Superdrug to grab an eye or face mask, then I'll paint my nails, light a candle, with some music on in the background. I find it helps to calm my senses and appreciate smaller moments. Spending a little more on a nutritious meal or fresh ingredients A ‘little treat’ doesn't have to come prepackaged, it can be something you make (or cook!) for yourself. Arguably I would say this is more rewarding than spending lots of money eating out. Perhaps pop to Grainger Market for some fresh veg to sub for something frozen, or use the TooGoodToGo app to grab a deal from one of Newcastle’s many eateries. You can find delicious and cheap options from places such as Pret, Zapatista, and Island Poke. Book a particular exercise class Many students may have gym memberships, are part of sports societies, or be avid runners, but making one’s workout an enjoyable event as opposed to a drudgery is something I find refreshing. So, instead of doing yoga in my room, I may book a yoga or pilates class (which can be done cheaply if affiliated with societies, bear in mind), or a strength training session more tailored to my interests. I truly believe the mental and physical rewards of movement are greater felt when said exercise becomes more of an intentional practice. These are merely a few points of inspiration, but hopefully ones which demonstrate how treating oneself is often most cherished when done in a small but considered way that can be achievable with schedule and budget in mind. Perhaps try some of these suggestions the following week, and see what a change they have the potential to make!

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Sleigh or nay: Celebrity Christmas gift guides Lonnie Bridge

Do we need influencer's input on our shopping or do their guides just prove how out of touch they are?

most infamous list comes from Gwyneth Paltrow and her brand ‘Goop’. From a $39,500 a night Fijian island stay, a $15,000 gold vibrator, and a $396 block of parmesan, Goop’s gift guide details an expansive list of gifts, all possessing an obscene price tag. This begs the question that in a time of the “cozzie livs” crisis, are these celebrities'

he Christmas gift guide is commonplace on social media today, with billionaire celebrities collating a list of ‘must have items’ on their social media or blogs. However, in today’s unstable economic and political climate, do they still serve a purpose, or are they simply a reminder of the sickening wealth of the elites? In the 2010’s, YouTube was flooded with creators, such as Zoella, raving about Maybelline ‘Babylips’ and Lush Snow Fairy bath bombs. With Babylips retailing at around £3.50, and Lush bath bombs averaging at £5, these were fun and affordable gifts to add to your list for Father Christmas. In recent years, the celebrity gift guide has transformed into something far more luxurious, extravagant, and exclusive. The

gift guides necessary or actually a disturbing reminder of the insensitivity and ‘socially tone deaf ’ attitude of the elites? Whilst the items are still shocking and unrealistic, could the guides be used as a ‘guideline’? The Kardashian-Jenner gift guide also ‘broke the internet’ in recent weeks. I know my TikTok for you page was filled with other creators ridiculing the idea that a $2,498 Heat Healer Sauna was an acceptable gift recommendation. Whilst I wholeheartedly agree that these items are utterly ridiculous, some items, perhaps the SKKN $81 face mask, could simply inspire someone to purchase a similar item for a loved one, such as the well-known SKKN dupe product by BYOMA for £13.99.

“Are these celebrity gift guides a disturbing reminder of the insensitive attitudes the elites hold?" Celebrity gift guides do fail to curate an affordable list of products for their fans to purchase at Christmas. However, I do believe if used for influence and inspiration, then there is still be a place for them on the internet and in our culture. Image credit: Pixabay @Pexels

VR anti-sexual harassment campaign visits Newcastle Daisy Harrison - Head of Life & Style Content warning: Sexual Harrassment

A new immersive anti sexual harrassment campaign visited Newcastle Central Station.

n Friday 17 November, I headed to Newcastle’s Central Station to check out an Anti Sexual Harassment Campaign, led by National Rail and British Transport Police. The campaign launched at Waterloo station earlier this year but is now traveling around the country. As part of this, Rail Delivery Group were hosting an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) experience, encouraging bystander reporting. Anyone visiting Central Station was invited to take part and put on a VR headset. Three different scenarios were played, in which you witnessed ways that sexual harassment can take place and how, as a bystander, you can prevent it.

"Three different scenarios were played, in which you witnessed ways that sexual harassment can take place and how, as a bystander, you can prevent it." The first scenario was focused on prolonged staring – it began with a woman sat by herself on a train. A man then came and sat across from her and wouldn’t stop staring. After a while, the woman moved carriages but was followed by the man, who continued to stare at her. When watching the

VR, you could hear the inner monologue of the woman – she was scared and confused. Eventually, another passenger saw what was happening and offered to swap seats with the woman. I was shocked at how real watching this scenario felt – the immersive element of VR made it much more emotionally effective than watching a normal video ever could. Having been in situations very similar to this myself, watching the scenario gave me goosebumps, as it truly felt like the man’s eyes were on me.

"Watching the scenario gave me goosebumps, as it truly felt like the man’s eyes were on me." The next scenarios were similar to this, with the second taking place on a train station platform, in which a man would not leave a woman alone, asking her incessant, invasive questions. And the third involving a group of men, catcalling, and making sexual comments about a woman sat next to them on a train. Both scenarios ended by showing ways that bystanders can help, such as creating a distraction by asking an unrelated question: “what’s the time?”, “do you know what the next station is?”. Or standing/sitting between the harasser and victim. And, if it’s safe to do so, calling out the behaviour of the harasser. If it’s not safe to undertake any of these actions, you can report inappropriate behaviour to British Transport Police by texting 61016 or via the Railway Guardian App. It’s always better to report, even if you’re not sure. Whilst at the event, I spoke to Daniel Mann, Director of Industry Operations at Rail Delivery Group. I was interested to know why the campaign was targeted at public transport – especially since I’ve experienced sexual harassment more frequently in clubs/bars than anywhere else. He

said although Rail Delivery Group recognise that sexual harassment isn’t unique to public transport, they want everyone to feel safe when travelling on their network. The campaign is about raising awareness and empowering people to recognise, intervene, and report any signs of sexual harassment.

"Report inappropriate behaviour to British Transport Police by texting 61016 or via the Railway Guardian App." The campaign is extremely potent and raises much-needed awareness around the issue. Sexual harassment can happen anywhere, so knowing how to spot it, and what how you can stop it, is valuable knowledge, for everyone. And remember, it doesn’t have to be physical to be sexual harassment.

Image credit: Daisy Harrison

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Sub-Editors: Zahra Hanif, Jay Barber and Marina Snyder

Monday 4th December 2023

Lifestyle

Society Spotlight: How to: celebrating the festive season on a budget 20 minute society Jess McKeown - Film Sub-Editor

Got twenty minutes to spare?

oes university sometimes feel repetitive with the same weekly classes and socials? Has it all got a bit dull? If it's time to introduce some spontaneity into your life, 20 Minute Society is the society for you! The idea of the society is simple. You receive a text and email informing you that you have 20 minutes to get to Luther's in the Student Union for a mystery social. Socials in the past have included Junkyard Golf, escape rooms and the dog café. There are some larger events that members are informed about in advance such as the green-themed bar crawl that kicked off this year's socials and 'Pubopoly' which sees teams battle it out Monopoly-style with the various pubs across the Toon. I joined the society last year at the recommendation of my friend, who is now the President of the society. Though my attendance at the spontaneous socials was awful because I lived in Heaton last year, I really enjoyed Pubopoly, so much so, that I even attended this year's, which so happened to fall on my birthday. I even snagged a space on the mystery

holiday last year and Prague was certainly a fun experience. Feeling anxious about going solo? Most people go by themselves as it's a great way to meet new people with a broad range of interests. It's also a great society due to the variety of socials you get to take part in, rather than the same weekly trips to Market Shaker in a silly costume.The society even does mystery weekends and week-long holidays where attendees have no idea where they are going until they get to the destination or the airport in the latter's case. Last year's trips saw the society take on a weekend away to Liverpool and a week-long holiday to Prague in the Czech Republic. I got the opportunity to speak with Swati Subramaniam, the President of the 20 Minute Society, about why you should join the society. "The 20 Minute Society is a fun and spontaneous society in which members get 20 minutes' notice about various socials via email and text. Socials include collaborations with other societies, bowling, mini golf, and nights out: there is something for everyone. What we are best known for are our weekends away and holidays, where members are unaware of the final destination until we arrive."Memberships for the society are £10 on the NUSU website. If you'd like to find out more, their Instagram handle is @20minutesociety.

Sarah Myles

Feeling festive doesn't have to break the bank!

s we all know, Christmas is a very expensive time of year, but there are some festivities which will get you in the Christmas mood without emptying your bank. Pick out your favourites to try this year, and save the list to finish next year! Winter Wonderland, Newcastle Racecourse This is the biggest winter attraction in the Northeast and provides a range of food, drink and fairground rides. Entry to the event is less than a tenner! Newcastle Christmas Markets These will be running from the 18th of November until Saturday 23rd of December on Grainger Street open 10am to 8pm (Monday to Saturday) and 10am to 5pm (Sunday). Grey’s Monument will also see a new performance area for live music, choirs, and other entertainment this year. Check it out on your way to the Christmas markets Edinburgh Christmas Markets Only an hour and a half train from Newcastle, check out the Edinburgh markets, running from Friday 17 November to Saturday 6 January. These markets have been crowned the best in Europe and offer traditional markets, funfair rides, live outdoor events, delicious food and drink, and more. Train tickets are around £20, and entry is free.

The Northern lights trail Nothing quite compares to the magic of a festive light trail at Christmas. This will be running from 23rd Nov to 1st Jan and tickets are £19. Or, for a cheaper alternative, check out The Alnwick Garden Winter Light Trail. This will be running from Nov 13th to Jan 7th and tickets are £14.85. Ice skating at the Centre for Life Under the city's biggest Christmas tree, the rink is the perfect place for a festive date with your friends. This is open from November until February. Durham day out The Durham city centre will host its Christmas festival this year, with more than 200 independent traders selling artwork, decorations, handcrafted gifts, homewares, clothing, and festive food and drink. Grainger Market Newcastle's Grainger Market is the perfect place to experience the build up to Christmas as it transforms into Santa's Grotto. Christmas film bucket list Get started on a November/December Christmas film bucket list and start making your way through them! If you’re feeling extra festive, why not bake some mince pies to snack on while you watch. Decorate a christmas tree Facebook marketplace is a great place for affordable second-hand trees, and B&M has plenty of budget friendly decorations to pick from. Secret Santa Why not organise a low-budget secret Santa with your flatmates to exchange at a house Christmas dinner?

Transgender Day of Living with anxiety Remembrance 2023 Marina Snyder - Lifestyle Sub-Editor

Jay Barber - Lifestyle Sub-Editor Content warning: Transphobia

Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living.

very year on November 20th, LGBTQ+ communities and their allies come together to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). Originating in 1999, the first TDOR was held as a vigil for Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman who was murdered in 1998. At this vigil, organiser and advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith commemorated all the lives lost to transphobic violence since Hester’s murder, and thus began the important tradition of TDOR.

"Originating in 1999, the first TDOR was held as a vigil for Rita Hester." A vigil was held in Newcastle, organised by Be: Trans NB Support and supported by other local activist groups like LGBT+ NSG, North East Against Racism, Pride Action North, amongst others. The service was empowering as it was heart-breaking, with speeches delivered by members of the community, calling for solidarity in the fight against transphobia. Once speeches had concluded, organisers recognised the 320 lives lost to transphobic violence this year alone. The Trans Murder Monitoring report provides an annual list of the lives lost and highlights significant patterns contributing to transphobic violence: 94% of those killed were trans women or trans feminine people, almost half were sex workers, 80% were non-

white, and almost three-quarters of murders were committed in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"Organisers recognised the 320 lives lost to transphobic violence this year alone." The vigil in Newcastle then concluded with a speech from Rev. Kai Millar of Northern Lights MCC, calling for support and love amongst the community, and a performance from trans singersongwriter, Jade Mia Broadhead. When asked about the importance of TDOR, a representative from LGBT+ NSG said the following: “The act of radical solidarity means coming together even in mourning because we create the spaces we can be authentically us. We have always existed, and we will always exist.”

can’t recall if anxiety is something new to me, or if it’s always been there, in the background, all along and it’s only now, as I get older, that I’m becoming aware of it. Retrospectively, there were things I had not thought about, or assumed were normal - things like freaking out when your mum didn’t come back at the exact time she said she would and imagining the catastrophic event that must have happened. Or every time I’d cross the road I would suddenly get images of getting hit by a car flash intrusively in my mind. As I got older, these disguised worries and fears manifested in different, often more powerful, ways. I would lie awake for hours, unable to sleep because I couldn’t stop overthinking. I’d be told by my friends and family how I ‘stress too much’ when I’d panic over homework and school deadlines. When my boyfriend broke up with me, I had panic attacks. When I subsequently met up with my ex a year on, I threw up before seeing him. If I drink coffee on an empty stomach I feel completely restless and on edge, as if I’m waiting for something bad to happen. To me, these things seem normal - I would never have labelled myself an anxious person. In my head, anxious people were nervous wrecks and were shy and stuttered when trying to speak; that’s how it was always presented to me in films and shows, so I assumed because I enjoy talking to new people and can be quite confident at times, surely I cannot be categorized as anxious?

"I would never have labelled myself an anxious person."

Image: Flickr @prachatai

The very first time I experienced a panic attack was during lockdown. The new and unsettling feeling of being unable to breathe made me convinced I must have asthma, it didn’t even occur to me that I may have anxiety. Now that I’m twenty, I’m a lot more aware, and a lot more tired. The constant overthinking, the tense muscles and sleepless nights are all a part of the

daily routine. I’ll assume my flatmates despise me if their tone is slightly off, I’ll push myself to get everything on my to-do list done and if I fail I’ll be in a state of panic and I’m constantly observing people’s body language and tone to determine how they are feeling or what they are thinking.

"Things transgressed after a traumatic experience, resulting in 24 hour long panic attacks." A couple of months ago things transgressed after a traumatic experience, which resulted in twenty-hour-long panic attacks. For days I’d be in a constant state of anxiety - I would go to the cinema and have to leave, I would go to A & E in fear I was having a heart attack and I would try everything from meditation to massages to calling helplines in an attempt to calm me down. And yet, despite my efforts, I would still wake up at 3 am unable to breathe, feeling like the world was suffocating and closing in around me. It was a horrible experience, and one I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. That feeling, where suddenly it's as if your heart has stopped and your lungs have collapsed, is one that only made me panic more, and what was worse was there seemed to be no specific trigger and they would happen at random. Eventually the attacks eased off, I don’t really know how or why but one day they just stopped. But since then I still sometimes feel the anxiousness creep in, hidden in the shadows it every so often emerges, ready to take over my mind and everyday life. I like to think that the anxiety I feel is a separate entity to me, I don’t see myself as an anxious person, but I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that there are times where those feelings of dread and worry take over. If it has taught me anything, it’s that everyone will feel anxious at some point in their lives and it will manifest in different ways. It doesn’t mean you’re unstable or are insane. Sometimes your brain is just hard on you for no reason, but it doesn’t mean you have to be hard on yourself.

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Monday 4th December 2023

Senior Editor: Daisy Harrison

Festive Fashion Shoot

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Festive Fashion Shoot 2023

Directed by Daisy Harrison , Photographed by Carson Wong

Senior Editor: Daisy Harrison

Monday 4th December 2023

Festive Fashion Shoot

Directed & Edited by Daisy Harrison Photographed by Carson Wong

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Monday 4th December 2023

Senior Editor: Daisy Harrison

Festive Fashion Shoot

Senior Editor: Daisy Harrison

Monday 4th December 2023

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Festive Fashion Shoot

Image Source: Pixabay

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Monday 4th December 2023

Sub-Editors: Lana Free and Ivy French

Fashion & Beauty

Star-studded holiday season: celebrity- Charity inspired fashion for the 'IT' girl Shop Hop

Anuska Banerjee

Making celebrity festive fashion your own.

s the holiday season is upon us, it is important to step into the festivities in style, and taking inspiration from our favourite celebrities can be a great way to rock the holiday fashion scene. From glittering red carpets to intimate family gatherings, these stars have always showed up in styles that range from classic elegance to modern chic. The choices are limitless! If timeless elegance is what you are going for, you can channel your inner royalty with Kate Middleton's sophisticated holiday looks. The Duchess of Cambridge is known for her impeccable style, often opting for elegant dresses in rich jewel tones. Embrace her regal charm with a velvet gown in a garnet red or royal blue. Adding a pair of statement earrings and a clutch is sure to add a touch of glam to your look, which, in addition, also effortlessly transitions from a festive dinner to a sophisticated soiree. So, if you are drawn to a more relaxed and contemporary vibe, you could take cues from supermodel Gigi Hadid and embrace the power of monochromatic ensembles by pairing a cosy oversized sweater with matching wide-leg pants. Top it off with a stylish coat and ankle boots for an effortlessly chic look and voila! You exude comfort with style. Harry Styles has been making waves in the

fashion world with his recent sartorial choices. You could totally emulate his gender-bending glam, and express yourself freely by experimenting with unexpected bold patterns, vibrant colours, and unconventional silhouettes. Mix and match textures, like sequins and velvet, for a look that is as daring and unique as you are. Zendaya is one celebrity that has consistently ‘served looks’, year after year on the red carpet. You can capture her essence with a sleek and sophisticated jumpsuit or a tailored suit in a rich, holiday-inspired colour like deep violet or emerald green. Complete the look with sleek heels and minimalistic accessories for a look that screams elegance. But her personal style is just as inspiring. Take a cue and master the effortless art of cosy-chic layers. Opt for oversized sweaters, or ponchos, or blanket scarves that exude warmth and sophistication. Pair these cosy essentials with sleek leggings or tailored trousers for a look that will make sure you look as stylish as you feel comfy.

“Mix and match textures, like sequins and velvet, for a look that is as daring and unique as you are.” For the boho girlies, fear not. Vanessa Hudgens is the ultimate style icon when it comes to acing the bohemian aesthetic. Go for flowy maxi dresses adorned with intricate embroidery or subtle sequins and layer on statement accessories, like oversized earrings and stacked bracelets, to achieve that free-spirited festive look.

Is it time to free the nipple? Keira Gratton

Is Kim Kardashian's nipple bra a statement piece or fashion flop?

nternational MILF and GQ Man of the Year Kim Kardashian recently launched her polarising nipple bra to a totally divided audience. The new shapewear is a push-up featuring faux raised bumps to simulate that braless look without having to forgo any back support. This resurgence of braless chic undoubtedly brings back (your dad’s) fond memories of the 90s nipple craze. From Jenifer Aniston’s iconic nip shots on Friends, to Kate Moss’ lewd Calvin Klein covers, freeing the nipple was absolutely high fashion. Now, through a combination of the trend cycle and lazy pandemic style, we’re SO back to flashing our high beams ladies.

“True to her controversial roots, somehow the nude look is not the most contentious part of Kim's new campaign.” The idea of a bra so overtly sexual treads the line between empowering and dehumanising. Whilst the oversexualisation versus sexual liberation debate has been dividing feminists for decades, and will continue to long after The Kardashians finally stops airing, it is clear that Kim firmly believes that nudity is freeing. True to her controversial roots, somehow the nude look is not the most contentious part of Kim’s new campaign. She launched the product with a sardonic climate changed themed advert, arguing that she wouldn’t let rising temperatures stop us girls from having a tasteful braless moment. Many climate activists were quick to take issue with her flippant dismissal of the real dangers that climate change

poses, alongside the ironic lack of sustainability of the bras themselves (manufactured using non-biodegradable nylon and polyester). That, combined with her known private jet usage and lavish consumerism, made the ad quickly unpopular. Perhaps, as fellow climate-criminal Kourtney Barker likes to remind her, Kim needs to remember that there are people that are dying. On the flipside, Skims has pledged 10% of the profit from the nipple bra sales to the climate non-profit 1% for the Planet to offset their environmental damages. Furthermore, it’s more than a little suspicious that many Twitter users quick to repost an unfunny SNL climate change skit seem to have a problem with the ad. Arguably, the idea that Kim is playing into the bimbo character, both in the advert and for years on her reality show, has gone over a lot of people’s heads. If you squint quite a bit, there is something a little bit dystopianly feminist about a woman skyrocketed to fame via revenge porn earning millions to do a valley girl accent on TV and sell fake-nipple bras in the face of imminent death by rising sea-levels. Maybe Kim is on the right track in deciding that sometimes all we can do is put on a silly voice, buy some new shiny things, a n d laugh.

Image: Source: Instagram @skims

You could channel your inner pop sensation with the timeless elegance of sequins, like Taylor Swift, with a sparkling mini dress or a sequined blazer paired with tailored pants. After all, Swift's penchant for shimmering outfits sets the perfect tone for a night of celebration and festivity. Brave the winter chill with a dash of Hollywood glamor, like the iconic Blake Lively, known for her impeccable taste in outerwear, often choosing statement coats that steal the spotlight. Opt for a bold-colored or patterned coat that complements your holiday wardrobe, making a grand entrance wherever you go. Or bring the red carpet to your holiday celebrations with inspiration from supermodel Hailey Bieber. Choose a sleek, figure-hugging gown in a rich, festive hue. Whether it be a classic black, deep burgundy, or emerald green, let your outfit speak volumes with clean lines and a touch of drama. This holiday season, let your fashion choices be guided by the stars. But make sure your celebinspired fashion resonates with your own personal style, and you are sure to shine as bright as the holiday lights, wherever you go; after all ‘tis the season for glam!’. Image Source: Instagram @gigihadid

Sophie Turner harity shops are the perfect way to shop sustainably, prioritizing reusable clothing over fast fashion!

British Red Cross shop: Starting with one of the more expensive charity shops, the British Red Cross located on Nun Street is a perfect combination of vintage and designer clothing. Newcastle is one of the few cities in which Red Cross stocks Zara, River Island, and other high demand fashion brand. The racks are colour coordinated, making it easy and fast to find your signature colour! Bernardo’s Discount: Located in Heaton, Bernardo’s discount seemingly is a small store, but is full to the brim with exciting vintage and designer clothing, with a large selection for male shoppers. If you’re looking for some cheap, trendy knee-high boots, Bernardo’s is the place to be! Their shoe collection is truly something to behold. The Salvation Army: Salvation Army is one of the largest charity shops in Newcastle, with a beautiful display of clothing and trinkets. They sell every category! Even cozy pyjamas for a cold winter day. Located on Clayton Street, this store is perfect, selling vintage t-shirts, and an array of high-quality sustainable clothing.

The 2024 Met Gala Paige Rutter - Head of Social Media

Will it be a reawakening or another slept on theme?

he Met Gala 2024 theme has been revealed, with a nod to the history of fashion. The highly anticipated yearly event has revealed the theme to be ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’. Fashion’s potentially most-discussed event will no doubt provide us with excitement, surprise, and some outrageous outfits we all enjoy debating. The fundraiser organised by Anna Wintour since 1995 has often raised eight-figure sums, in what is known to be a celebration of art and fashion. According to Vogue, 2024 is set to be focused around 50 historic pieces which will never be able to be worn again due to their fragility – we may not see a Kim Kardashian and Marilyn Monroe mix up. Vogue notes these as the 'Sleeping Beauties’ of the theme, with the exhibition spanning 400 years of history. Including pieces from the 17th century up until the 21st.

to a Disney princess, the agenda being set is historic and focused on reviving and providing life to pieces that will no longer experience it. Whilst a Disney theme may be cute, I hope to see the A-listers providing us with an experience through the designs and embracing the true theme. I feel this theme may be the best one we have had in recent years, with a lot of potential in the way it can be interpreted and executed. We have seen many transformations happen on the red-carpet including Blake Lively’s New York inspired Versace gown in 2022 and multiple light-up outfits. With this in mind I feel this theme is giving a prime opportunity to see something similar happen next year, a true reawakening of an outfit. This follows last years controversial Karl Lagerfeld theme ‘A line of beauty’, which paid tribute to the late designer. We witnessed the redcarpet echo themes of black, white and Jared Leto cats. Whilst it was difficult to go out of line with this theme, we see this happen every year without fail. Next year’s Met Gala will take place on the Monday 6th of May, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art – sponsored by companies such as TikTok and Loewe.

“2024 is set to be focused around 50 historic pieces which will never be able to be worn again due to their fragility” Director and CEO of The Met, Marina Kellen French, referred to the power of fashion and interaction stating “’Sleeping Beauties’ will heighten our engagement with these masterpieces of fashion by evoking how they feel, move, sound, smell and interact when being worn.” Andrew Bolton the curator in charge told Vogue, “One thing I hope this show will activate is that sensorial appreciation of fashion.” Whilst it is likely we will have celebrities taking the theme literally and turning up in pieces relating

Image Source: Claudio Shwartz, Unsplash

Monday 4th December 2023

Sub-Editors: Roseanna Leconte and Anna Nix

Food & Drink

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Festive Food Fight: Xmas traditions ranked

Esther Arnold

Take a look at some Christmas traditions, ranked from worst to best.

he only ranking you need to tune into this Christmas. It’s that time of year again when we take a look at the festive foods that either jingle your bells or bring out the Grinch inside. Whether these are traditions you stick to or this is your first encounter, get ready for a sleigh-ride you’ll never forget. From worst to best: 5. Bread Sauce: Now at home we don’t even try to make this bizarre dish and before coming to Newcastle I didn’t really know what it was. If you are also as clueless as me, bread sauce is a side consisting of breadcrumbs, milk, perhaps a little onion and a variety of spices. In recent years I have had a couple of interesting experiences, and all in all they haven’t been terrible. I just don’t get the point of what is essentially mushed bread paste? I guess it adds to the lovely beige mess that often accumulates when eating your Christmas dinner; however, this so-called tradition really doesn’t sit right with me. 4. Roasted Chestnuts: I have always thought so fondly of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, though after actually trying this Christmas staple, I can safely say it’s a definite pass. Its one of those things that I heavily associate with Christmas, with

countless appearances in festive movies and almost every Christmas Market, though at Newcastle’s I’m not so sure. Cute little stalls tucked away selling these wonderfully tasteless and flourery treats do encapsulate the festive vibe but I still don’t quite understand how people can enjoy them. It’s a definite no from me.

3. Greggs Festive Bake: Since moving to Newcastle and having a wonderland of Greggs bakeries at my feet, I have always been inclined to grab myself a festive bake every holiday season. This personal tradition of mine may be controversial, however the sweet and savoury mix of chicken, sage and cranberry sauce, and a bit of stuffing and bacon thrown in there for extra festive pazzazz, makes my taste-buds tingle in delight. A true winner in the eyes of a pasty lover and if you haven’t tried it yet, get yourself to your nearest Greggs pronto. 2. Yule Log: There's something about a beautifully constructed chocolate log that really makes it feel like Christmas. The blizzard of icing sugar dusted on top certainly gives it the winter edge. Though enquiring after the beloved Yule Log often brings a groan from its maker, which traditionally is my sister, the few hours of hardship always pays off. The fluffy chocolate sponge and cleverly etched wood-like details really are the icing on the cake. What’s not to love! Whether you eat it with a cuppa in the afternoon or add a drizzle of cream to make it a scrumptious dessert, why don’t you give it a try this Christmas? Coming in at number one, a proper treat that really makes you rock around the Christmas tree...

1. The Boxing Day Spread: If there’s one thing that’s perhaps even better than Christmas dinner, it has to be the mouthwatering mishmash that we fill our faces with on the 26th. There may be some variation in typical boxing day blow-outs but our showstopper has to be the giant lattice pork pie that always takes centre stage. Ample jars of homemade pickled eggs, relishes and chutneys are neatly arranged on the table, as the cheese board and vast biscuit selection really gets us going. My mum pulls out all the stops with her delicious mini sausage rolls, and of course the star on top of the tree- her Baileys tiramisu trifle. Gorgeous layers of sponge fingers soaked in a secret boozy mixture are precisely placed, with dark chocolate chunks, toasted almonds and oozing custardy layers truly making all my Christmas wishes come true. Generous amounts of alcohol are of course drunk alongside this carefully brought together meal as we sit down to an evening of Home Alone.

Image: Source: Pixabay, wixin_56k

Christmas in the Toon Coffee on Campus Szuyi Lu

Marketa Schulzova

Newcastle's Christmas market will run from 18 November to 23 December. Here's what's in store!

he Christmas market in Newcastle city centre is up and running until the 23rd of December, open from 10 am to 8 pm Monday to Saturday, and from 10 am to 5 pm on Sundays. This year, the market is bigger than ever before! It is located from the top of Grey Street and Grainger Street and into Old Eldon Square which has a 10-metre illuminated Christmas tree.

All the best places to go for coffee around campus.

D Image: Source: Pixabay@ PublicDomainPictures

“The vibrant market is positively packed with 50 local, independent traders” The vibrant market is positively packed with 50 local, independent traders and they offer unique Christmas gifts and lots of delicious food. This year, there is the giant Grill Tower as a landmark standing in place at the top of Grainger Street, where German sausages will be on sale under the tower which is topped with a display of Nativity figures. Geordie Bangers’ sausage comes with recipes from 3 generations, and they grill every sausage with coals which creates an amazing smell and adds extra flavour to it. The second attractive stall is the Moosenwirt which resides in a giant yurt featuring a huge log wood bar and warming fire pits with live music. They also offer igloos for friends or family gatherings. This is the most suitable place to enjoy festival vibes with Mulled Wine. It's kidfriendly and dog-friendly and it is free entry. In the same street, there is a La Petite Creperie with long queues all the time. This vendor offers authentic French crepes, sweet or

savoury, with various toppings. My friend and I tried Redhead’s Mac & Cheese which is also popular in the market. We ordered the sticky rib flavour, and it was the best Mac and cheese we had before. Although it was covered with thick cheese, it was not greasy and the soy sauce and rib gave a unique taste. The Grainger Market is also part of the Christmas market, and shoppers will be enticed into the festive market by decorated entrances, alongside the multitude of stalls and products on offer. In the lead up to Christmas, a programme of street entertainment will also run at the weekends, and a new performance area around Grey’s Monument will host live music, choirs, and other entertainment, adding to the festive atmosphere.

uring those moody days when the sunlight almost can't be reached and our uni work gets more intense with all the upcoming deadlines, it is a great feeling just to drop by one of the nice cafés around campus when you have a break between lectures. Now, if you feel like there is a couple of those places but you are not quite sure where to start or if it's worthy, let me help you and give you a brief overview of the best places around to explore during the cold afternoons. The Grand Let's start with the place which grabs my attention (and my heart) the most. The Grand happenes to be nicely located at the corner as you approach the main 'court' in front of the arches. Its space is not big but what an atmosphere! Coffee there costs you roughly between £2 - £4, the range of pastry contains savory and sweet (secret tip: grab one of those muffins - makes your day sweeter!) Besides that, you can plug your computers or phones to the nearby charger that each table has and enjoy the surrounding decorations and festive

Claremont House Claremont House seems to be a place out of the student-friendly environment, but you couldn't be more wrong. This lovely and cozy tea house drags you by its wooden furniture, colorful mugs and of course - coffee and tea, which they offer A LOT! It's like a jackpot for anyone who is craving tea more than caffeinebased beverages and simply want to try some loose-leaf options. Plus, pastries there is a must-have thing, especially if you have some free time. Use the place for a bit of relaxation, talk with friends, or do some work and it will surely be worth it. Northern Stage Northern Stage could look like just a theatre from the outside but if you've never been there and tried the coffee or lunch menu, it's as if you've never lived. Personally, I like the open-air space, the hall between the café and theatre space that advertises some of their plays. And again, the food (sandwiches, sweet pastries or lunch menus) tastes so good that I would exchange one of my meals every day for whatever they offer there. I find the place useful for some study time before lectures but don't hesitate to bring your friends there as well and just enjoy the atmosphere of an artsy 'court room'. Anyone Anyone is just a few steps from Blackwells street which means no more than 3 minutes from the campus area. Now, this place may not be as decorated or big as the previous ones but the coffee, the pastries, the soups with toasted sandwiches make you want to stay a little bit longer. Plus, the service there is one of the friendliest you ever experience, so pop in there and try it yourself.

Image: Source: Pixabay@ Engin_Akyurt

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Weekend Wanders Laura Kasongo - Arts Sub-Editor

Spending a long weekend travelling Anthony Bourdain-style.

hen your friends are away on a year abroad, the distance can feel much worse but it also comes with its benefits. In my case, it was almost easier to fly to Belgium to visit mine. Plus, if there’s any excuse to travel, I’m there faster than you can say Ryanair (which isn’t that fast, let’s be honest). On a November weekend, I set out to live vicariously through my friends in Brussels and Ghent. Arriving on the Thursday evening, my first impression of Brussels was the way it lit-up in the darkness, once I stopped panicking about tram directions. This was my first time travelling to another country alone but I think the Belgian transport system isn’t too difficult and they all have card readers, so its simply tapping like TFL once onboard. Save the Bonjours for Boulangeries, trust me. Meeting my friend and her colleagues in the city, we walked through Grand-Place, the central square, which was adorned in blue lights. In true Brussels fashion, we had drinks outside of European Parliament, surrounded by many other interns. It’s such a youthful, vibrant, and multicultural place to be. Aside from Mannekin-Pis, waffles, beer and chips, I didn’t think I knew that much about Belgian culture. Since my friend was at work, Friday was my day to make like Anthony Bourdain – ‘Be a traveller, not a tourist’. The only spot I had in mind, particularly to escape the rain, was the Magritte Museum and so that became the central base for where my wandering took me. From Pâtisseries to parks to antique shops, I explored with French/Flemish music playing in my headphones and little worry for anything else. Coming from a family that makes sure to do as much as possible on holiday, I feel like you can form a different relationship with a city this way. Waking up hungover on Saturday, the main thing on my agenda was to at least try a waffle but other than that I was happy for us to wander aimlessly before heading to Ghent. We didn’t follow it exactly but stumbled along the comic strip trail, seeing the Smurfs and Tintin, before inhaling some famously delicious liege waffles. Just 30-minutes away via train, Ghent is a magical medieval and more traditionally Flemish city. We were shown around by a native friend on an evening stroll and were amazed by its architecture and Dutch influence. With its canals and bikes, it reminded me of Amsterdam, yet still holding its Belgian character with a castle randomly in the middle of it. I’d recommend getting a drink in Het Spijker, its possibly the coolest tavern/bar I’ve been too and is intimately lit by candle-light. Ghent and Brussels are now two of my favourite cities I’ve visited, perhaps because of how artsy they are but I think because I fully emersed myself in noticing my surroundings. It certainly helps to have locals to give you pointers too. And not arguing with complaining family members.

Monday 4th December 2023

Sub-Editors: Charlie Reid and Ollie Withers

Travel

Hostels: finding your perfect lodging Ned Carter Owen - Film Sub-Editor

What makes or breaks a hostel stay?

ostels can make or break a trip. They can start kick-ass parties, connect you with amazing new people and provide a perfect place to crash after a wild night; but on the flipside they can deflate the wheels on your holiday high with drab rooms and a flat atmosphere. In this article I’ll shed light on two hostels which I think embody these two sides. The Wombats hostel in Vienna – where do I start with this soulless Scandinavian-like prison. Modern designed hostels are tricky ones. They can be your best friend with beautiful air conditioning and squeaky-clean toilets, but they can also push you away with a corporate feel and glowing neon “live laugh love” signs. This hostel unfortunately fell into the latter category. Now I want to make it clear that there was nothing about the hostel that didn’t work and the staff were nice enough, but in terms of making you feel closer to the city and providing you the vibes to connect with fellow travellers, it fell short. That closeness and powerful social pulse to me is what makes a hostel great, it’s what they thrive on, so after spending time in the flat-lined environment of this accom, I knew I had to pull the plug on a future that included Wombats Vienna. Now, to restore your faith in a hostel heaven, I’d like to draw your attention to the Wild Elephant Hostel in Bratislava. This party palace has everything you could ever dream of and more (apart from maybe air conditioning). Situated

above a Mexican restaurant and then a Thai massage place (in that order), the Wild Elephant Hostel is open only to those aged between 18-40 – a good deterrent for the cargo shorts-cladded men waiting below for a massage. Run by backpacking volunteers who have been sucked into the crazy fun world that is the Wild Elephant experience, this place has an electric buzz to it with the workers sharing secrets and hanging and partying with the guests. Full of old beat-up armchairs to sink into and walls covered in years’ worth of travellers’ drawings, you get a sense of community and history like no other. It feels awesome to add to and partake in such an active and lively environment. The bar crawls are buzzing, with shots being poured into your mouths like birds at feeding time. They also provide amazing daily activities that force your pounding heads out into the beautiful Slovakian country. I’ll never forget drinking wine with newly met mates on a scorching day by a beautiful lake. It was heaven. Now of course at the end of the day, what you want from a hostel is completely up to you, and if you wanted

a chill or prolonged stay then sure maybe a party hostel like the Wild Elephant wouldn’t be for you. But, considering the transient nature of hostel travelling, why visit a smouldering heap of ash, when you can be part of a roaring fire?

Image: Source (geralswayzzblogspot )

UK Christmas Markets... the ultimate rundown Anuska Banerjee

s the holiday season approaches, we truly feel Christmas waving a magic wand over England, making everything so much more beautiful and radiant. It is almost as if the land is transformed into a winter wonderland with enchanting Christmas markets, dazzling light displays, and a cozy ambiance that beckons both locals and visitors. From historic cities to charming countryside retreats, there is a vast array of things that one could do to celebrate Christmas. And for the travel enthusiast seeking the quintessential magical experience of Christmas, while England offers a myriad of charming destinations, London, truly is a Christmas haven. Its bustling streets come alive with the spirit of Christmas as Hyde Park hosts the iconic Winter Wonderland. With its charming

Image credit: Instagram @cheesematthews

festive market stalls and thrilling rides, ice rinks, picturesque blend of twinkling chalets, artisanal and dazzling light displays in the city's renowned crafts, and the aroma of roasted chestnuts. shopping districts, like Oxford Street and Covent Nestled against the backdrop of the stunning Garden, London provides a picturesque backdrop Bath Abbey and Roman Baths, the market features over 150 chalets selling handmade for a joyous holiday season. For a more traditional experience, one can head gifts, festive foods, and local crafts; offering up to the historic city of York. The York Christmas a truly enchanting festive extravaganza. Edinburgh's Christmas markets with the Market, set against the Dickensian Christmas backdrop of the medieval York Minster, features charming stalls lining the streets, offering over 150 festive stalls offering handmade crafts, unique crafts, seasonal treats, and the warm local delicacies, and mulled wine. The Shambles,Im-glow of twinkling lights feel like they belong a narrow, winding street, adds to to a fairytale. The aroma of mulled wine and the charm with its timber- the joyful sounds of carolers create a magical framed buildings adorned atmosphere, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit amid the in twinkling lights. The medieval grandeur of enchanting Scottish capital. Known for its diverse offerings, Manchester's York during the St. Nicholas Fair makes the cobblestone streets Christmas Markets are also a treat for the come alive with over 100 snug senses. From international cuisines to chalets, offering unique gifts, handmade crafts, the city's festive spirit is festive treats, and a truly magical contagious, making it an ideal destination for a atmosphere that transports heartwarming Christmas celebration. Oxford's Luminaries are definitely something visitors back in time. Venture to the countryside to look out for. The historic Radcliffe Square for a quintessentially English is adorned with thousands of twinkling lights Christmas in the Cotswolds during this Christmas season. The city's where the quaint villages stunning architecture is enhanced by the warm like Bourton-on-the-Water glow, creating a festive ambiance perfect for a and Chipping Campden sophisticated celebration. And if traveling to either of these places come alive with traditional festivities, including carol isn’t an option, Newcastle itself is beautifully concerts, holiday markets, decked up to welcome Christmas. The popular and roaring fires in Christmas markets are back on Grainger Street, the lights adorn Northumberland Street like charming pubs. Bath's historic crown jewels and there is plenty to do in and streets look the around the city to bask in the holiday spirit. most lovely during The Fenwick window with its holiday display, the Christmas or the opportunity to engage in a community season because of experience inside the Newcastle Castle, the renowned Bath watching Elf the movie or A Christmas CarolChristmas Market's or just an idyllic stroll down to Quayside.

Image credit: Instagram @leecartwrightphotograpghy

Sub-Editors: Poppy Bedford and Madeha Ali

Music

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Monday 4th December 2023

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What is the best Christmas song? Image credit: pixabay@MiM236

I Don’t Know What Christmas Is

All Alone on Christmas From a personal standpoint, a song will always resonate with me if it becomes prevalent in a film, and the 1992 single, ‘All Alone at Christmas’ by Darlene Love does exactly this. With the tune originally being composed for Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, the song perfectly complements the scene in which Kevin gallivants around New York City. The melodic saxophone gives one a sense of joy and excitement, but the inclusion of bells lifts this excitement and turns this simple joy into a yuletide joy!

A recent addition to the Christmas canon, this song made a massive impression on me last year. It’s fun. It’s flirty. It’s a fun new way to celebrate the holidays.

There's just something fun about any seasonal duet, and I’ll take any excuse to flirt festively through the power of karaoke. Ruaridh Lee

Santa Tell Me

It’s a song. It’s Christmas. It’s Kate Bush, ergo it is brilliant. Grace Weerakoon

Peace On Earth/ Little Drummer Boy

A Christmas Gift For You

Daisy Harrison Head of Life & Style War is Over

Ross Morton

Let It Snow It reminds me of calm snowy Christmas shopping and Sinatra’s voice is just lovely (luvleh)!!! Iris Rushton

Image credit: pixabay @ElisaRiva Image credit: pixabay @Crissa Image credit: pixabay @Satheeshsankaran Image credit: pixabay @hannahlouise123 Image credit: flickr@suzanneBarry

Step Into Christmas

Image credit: instagram@arianagrande Image credit: instagram@ Image credit: instagram@michaelbuble Image credit: pixabay@AILes

It's a well-known fact that a party isn't a party without a little bit of Elton John, and Christmas festivities are no exception. With catchy hooks, joyful lyrics and enough camp to shake a jingle bell at, there really is no better track.

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

Jingle Bells

Which Christmas song always puts a "great big smile on somebody's face"? Wizzard's 1973 Christmas single 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' is arguably one of the top Christmas songs as it embodies the childhood wish for Christmas to be all year round. My favourite aspect of the song is the schoolchildren contributing to backing vocals and playing instruments in the video. This song came second in ITV's 2012 The Nation's Favourite Christmas Song for a reason.

Fairytale of New York

With one of the most recognisable opening riffs to any song, it would be criminal to leave Fairytale of New York off of this list. As a drunken exchange between lovers regarding their hopes, dreams, and disappointment, it's a Christmas song that entails harsh realities in a fun jig. Fairytale of New York has it all: a slow opening, an explosive chorus, and the ability to get everyone up dancing. Lucy Bower Head of Culture

Zahra Hanif Lifestyle Sub-Editor

Image credit: instagram@biscuiteersltd

Rachael McCreanor Deputy Editor

This is my favourite Christmas song because of the mixture of a powerful voice and a crooner voice makes it so warm and wholesome to the ears.

I chose a Christmas album because I couldn't decide on just one song. The album is A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector and features The Ronettes, Darlene Love, and The Crystals.For as long as I can remember, this has been the album that my mum and I have put on while we’re opening presents on Christmas morning. For that reason, I’d call this the most Christmassy album out there!It has all the classic songs such as ‘White Christmas’, ‘Sleigh Ride’, and ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’. Although my favourites are ‘A Marshmallow World’, ‘Winter Wonderland’, and ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’. Listening to this album is guaranteed to get you in the festive mood. Plus, it gives you 13 songs that you can add to your own Christmas playlist!

I love this song for many reasons, one of them being that it transports me back to being fourteen, feeling the nostalgia that underpins so much of the Christmas experience. Much more simply, it's a bop. A modern day classic, this song manages to chime in with a cutesy, pop princess-y spin on your beloved festive oldies.

Christmas

Poppy Bedford Music Sub-Editor

James Kellet Gaming Sub-Editor

Baby It's Cold Outside

Last

December Will Be Magic Again

Jessica McKeown Film Sub-Editor

Driving Home For Christmas One of my favourite Christmas songs is driving home for Christmas because I always play it in the car with my dad on the way home from my grandma’s to have Christmas eve tea with my whole family. Alexandra Lee

fruitcake review Girls Aloud reunion

Cory Gourley

Aoife Horan abrina Carpenter has positioned herself as a mainstream pop girl and it is her Christmas EP fruitcake that has everybody talking. This deliciously fun EP is an excellent mix of Christmassy instrumentation and classic pop, leaving the listener ready for the holidays. The total 15 minutes and 46 seconds takes us on a sleigh ride of emotions. The first track, ‘A Nonsense Christmas’, lives up to its name. The upbeat tempo and hilarious lyrics call for laughter when listening to this song, but the outro is the star of the show. Carpenter does a new outro on her tour for every city. With its hilarious lyrics, fans lost their minds at this new festive outro. The festivity is carried on into the next track, ‘buy me presents’. It is incredibly catchy and fills you with such holiday glee. Carpenter writes a love-song to Santa and even calls him ‘so hot’, showcasing the unseriousness of the song, making it impossible to forget.

The next track takes a slightly less up-beat tone but is still jam-packed with Christmas spirit. ‘santa doesn’t know you like i do’ encapsulates Carpenter’s desperation for her love interest to let her "give [them] everything [they] want" and leaves you feeling hopeful and sentimental. ‘cindy lou who’ takes a more sombre feel but is equally as beautiful. Carpenter focuses on the heartbreak and jealousy of seeing an ex move on. The use of the ‘Grinch’ character also allows for this ballad to have elements of Christmas, whilst being reflective and emotional. We then take another turn with the almost 80s inspired ‘is it new years yet?’. The jingle bells kick in with Carpenter’s incredible pop flow contrasting her desperation of wanting the holidays to be over, but Carpenter owns this and, ultimately, made an amazing song out of it. We are left on a traditional, nostalgic note as the last song is a cover of Irving Berlin’s ‘White Christmas’. Carpenter’s ‘white xmas’ is unique and takes a turn from the original track giving the listener a new experience of a track they have heard before. It leaves the listener satisfied and full of Christmas joy.

irls Aloud are finally back, so let's take a trip down memory lane and talk about the songs they have to play, so that they can steal THE SHOW. 1) Sound of the Underground Come on this absolute classic has to be their opening number, right? It has the perfect mix of nostalgia, warmth and pure joy. Plus, this was their first single and first number one. Old fans, new fans, even your Nan, who accuses Cheryl of lip syncing the whole two hours, will be on their feet for this one. 2) On the Metro Not only would they be paying homage to the north-east, home for both Cheryl and Nicola, this lesser known techno-pop banger would also be transporting everyone back to the early 2010’s. The days of Alcho-Pops, Ipods and the days before our Chezza got replaced by Tulisa from N-Dubz on the X Factor judging panel, great days for us all. 3) Call the Shots Let’s cover every era

from Girls Aloud, which we could do by just referencing what surname Cheryl had when the song was released (love you Chez), but instead we’ll do it through this track list. This takes us back to the peak of their career and would be great to play just before the interval, see I thought of everything. 4) I'll Stand by You Now, I couldn’t write this article and not mention the late Sarah Harding, her organic flare, Dusty Springfield beehive and her badass nature made her a true icon, and it’s about time Girls Aloud pay a proper tribute to Sarah and this song couldn’t be any more fitting. I just know this will be a moment from the tour everyone remembers. 5) The Promise One of their most remembered hits and quite rightly so. It has a great intro, a great chorus and gives Nadine a chance to take her moment in the spotlight with her amazing belt, oh and it gives them a chance to whip out them pink feathers again. This really would make for a show stopping final performance.

Image credit: pixabay@anncapictures

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Sub-Editors: Ella Townson and Jenica Davis

Monday 4th December 2023

Cat Deeley Best TV shows to watch Invincible during the festive season Season 2 saves This Review! Morning In need of a new show to get Imogen Smillie - Head of Culture

Cory Gourley

Is it time to wave goodbye to reality TV stars on our screens?

at Deeley has saved This Morning, so says every critic on the box. So, with Deeley joining a whole host of presenters from the Noughties, making a return to prime-time telly, it is time we finally wave goodbye to the post Love Island, post Big Brother school of presenting. Sara Cox, Zoe Ball and Dermot O’Leary, have more than just BBC Radio 2 in common. Along with the likes of Deeley, they all came up through the post Chris Evans and Paula Yates world of youth and light entertainment, going on to present prime time hits such as Top of the Pops and The X Factor. However, as we hit the 2010’s and the world of reality TV exploded, they were dropped in favour of reality tv graduates. Take Deeley herself, she is a humorous and organic presenter and yet she was still overlooked in favour of ex Reality stars and models such as Josie Gibson and Kelly Brook, both competent in their own way but they do lack the depth and skill the likes of Deeley have. As viewers, we like to know that the person driving the show has control of the gears, freezing whenever you have to read an autocue, looking at the wrong camera at the wrong time are all things that put us on edge. Now there are a few exceptions to this, Alison Hammond and Rylan Clark, for instance, both plucked from Reality Television, have proven to be real pillars of contemporary broadcasting. Reliable, warm and witty, exactly what we want to see on our screens. However, the likes of Deeley, Ball and O’Leary can’t be beaten and with shows like This Morning allowing them to take centre stage again, it has given us all a chance to remember that they deserve more than a Drive-time Radio Show. Finally, the days of Reality TV are coming to a close, with the winners of shows like Love Island disappearing into the abyss, we are seeing them being given less and less responsibility on our screens, thus giving the likes of Deeley a chance to reclaim the crowns they never should have lost in the first place. Ps. If you are thinking of entering the Big Brother house next year, don’t be expecting a hosting slot on The One Show any longer.

Image Credits: Instagram @thismorning, Pixabay

you into the winter spirit? Look no further...

s the days get colder, and the bed is looking even cosier, here’s a rundown of the best winter shows to get you through the long dark nights.

Strictly Come Dancing A personal favourite of mine, when Strictly starts, it’s officially winter! For as long as I can remember, the glitz and glammer on the TV every Saturday makes the gloomy, rainy nights just a little more glamorous. From a young age, when I was prancing to dance classes myself, to the present, when the prancing has become (more than) less frequent, this show is a Smillie family favourite! So every Saturday night, stick me the kettle on, settle in with a cuppa, and begin the “highly professional” judgement of some dancing celebrities! Dash and Lily (Netflix) For the lovers of cheesy television, Dash and Lily is a heartwarming, Christmas special. Set in New York (how cliché), the

show follows the aforementioned, Dash and Lily, chasing each other through the city. As stalkerish as that sounds, they use their love for books to write each other notes. Having never met in person, they slowly fall in love, despite their highly contrasting personalities, through that one little red book. So if you’re wanting a binge on a snowday, this is a must watch! Julia Donaldson Specials When I was younger, Christmas Day was made special when the Julia Donaldson book adaptations graced the screen. Having had the book as a child, seeing The Gruffalo come to life boosted the magic of Christmas. Even now, I love getting comfy on the sofa with my family, after stuffing my face with pigs-in-blankets, to see the latest from the literary legend. I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here

From terrifying heights, to the eating of animal genitalia, this show has become one of the most iconic shows on telly. Whether its the sunny Australian jungle, or watching celebrities I’ve never heard of being (practically) tortured, this show is the perfect way to countdown to the festive period. Starting in November, why not plan your day around that 9pm start time every night for 3 weeks straight? And as a lover of television, it doesn’t get much better than voting in Nigel Farage for every Bushtucker trial while I’m cosy in bed! Image Credits: Twitter @decider, Pixabay

Robbie Williams: Bad-boy of pop close to revealing all Immy Brown

Netflix's latest docuseries gives us some insight into the world of Robbie Williams.

obbie Williams seeks to entertain us once more in his Netflix fourpart docuseries. Williams reacts to behind-the-scenes footage of his rise, fall, and subsequent return back to stardom during his cycle of addiction and anxiety. Despite appearing before us in nothing but his underwear, Williams fails to understand that revealing his true self is not as simple. With a notable lack of other voices, Williams struggles to break away from his narcissistic characterisation by the British Press. As viewers we are left wanting to, but unable to fully empathise with the “natural born entertainer” Williams’ own words, who simply cannot share the limelight. The series, released on the 8th December, begins by catapulting audiences into the world of Take That, with a sixteen year old Robbie clearly unprepared for the attention, and unable to handle all that comes with it. Williams speaks of how his excitement quickly turned to hatred, as he grew frustrated with Gary Barlow being styled as the main talent. Despite the stripped back Williams (literally) talking to us so openly, this does not create sympathy or pity as it is intended to. Instead, as he explains his hatred for Barlow to his daughter, he is painted as bitter and unlikeable, the jealous teenager he is trying to detach himself from, shining through. The first three episodes follow William’s struggle with addiction and his declining mental health after becoming a solo artist. Whilst working with Guy Chambers to establish himself as a pop icon,

Williams revealed he felt trapped and villainised by the British Press. During his European and UK Tour, his anxiety spiralled, causing him to experience panic attacks on stage, making him terrified to return for the UK leg of the tour. Throughout the series, Williams describes his PTSD, but with no mention of childhood, upbringing, parents or relationships, it is impossible for audiences to connect with Williams on a personal level. Instead, his continuous descriptions of drug misuse and depression become blurred and make the episodes stagnant. The series is screaming out for input from external voices, which would allow us to build a picture of Williams as a man, not just a performer.

“The series is screaming out for input from external voices...”

Ivy French - Fashion & Beauty Sub-Editor

One of our writers reviews the latest season of Invincible. How invincible can you really be?

nvincible follows the story of Mark Grayson, a half-Viltrumite, halfhuman superhero as he finally gets his powers and officially embraces superhero status as Invincible. Spoilers ahead, this is a story which very much follows the moral of don’t meet your heroes. But what if your hero is your Dad, and he’s actually a supervillain disguised as a hero? After season 1 set out getting powers, finishing high school, creating a new Guardians of the Globe after Omni-Man murdered the original team, and Mark Grayson getting a girlfriend – Amber, season 2 looks at moving to college and away from home. But Mark Grayson is also Invincible, and Invincible doesn’t have time to be at college and also be a superhero. However, Mark Grayson did get a little taster of the stereotypical college experience: losing your virginity.

“Invincible creates characters that feel transparent and real.” What about the consequences of OmniMan’s real mission being exposed though? Mark Grayson is dealing with starting a new chapter of his life, whilst also fearing being like his father – his childhood dream. Debbie, his mother, isn’t dealing with the separation or betrayal well and is kicked out of the ‘Spouses for Superheroes’ support group after one of the other members finds out who her husband is. Angry, isolated and heartbroken, Debbie struggles with her identity as a single mother. Other characters also deal with identity problems, like Atom Eve who has a difficult relationship with her parents. Whilst the origin stories for these characters aren’t necessarily original, Invincible creates characters that feel transparent and real. There’s never just one villain, and it doesn’t matter how high you are, or what superhero organisation you belong to – there’s always someone who might not have your best interest at heart.

Only in the final episode does the series have a glimpse of redemption. Williams begin to achieve what he sets out to do; he separates himself from his stage persona. After meeting his wife at his lowest point, Williams gets clean, gets married, and creates music once more. After the final episode we can try to empathise with Williams, as his family’s involvement show him as a man whose priority is not simply making money but providing a life for his wife and children that they would be proud of. I can’t say I would recommend the series as a whole. It feels exhausting to watch, and quite frankly is evidence as to why his relationships with Barlow and Chambers failed - he cannot share attention or praise. Put simply, I’m loving Beckham instead. Image Credits: Instagram @invincible.hq, Pixabay

Sub-Editors: Jessica McKeown, Olivia Carter and Ned Carter-Owen

Monday 4th December 2023

Film

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It’s a Wonderful Life... unless Christmas Classics: can you’re watching it in Summer new X-Mas films be iconic? Jodie Steer

Are there any Christmas movies you can watch yearround?

f I am ever made Prime Minister – which is about as likely as Hugh Grant’s bumbling, slightly lecherous portrayal of the PM being spotted IRL outside 10 Downing Street, celebrating Christmas before December would be immediately criminalised. Unfortunately for all the Facebook mums in June posting: “just watched Home Alone with the kids lol – Xmas countdown starting already only 179 sleeps hehe xx”, this would most decidedly stretch to Christmas films. In my (highly extensive) research for this article, I realised that Christmas films generally fall into two camps: Christmas Movies and films that are set at Christmas time. The former, Christmas Movies, are easy to spot; often overflowing with sparkle and cheer and cheesy mush, like Will Ferrell’s all singing all happy Buddy the Elf. My short list includes, but is certainly not limited to: Elf, It’s A Wonderful Life, The Polar Express, Love Actually, Home Alone, and A Muppet’s Christmas Carol. All of these films (except for Elf, I really do hate that one) are amazing Christmas classics, but should not under any circumstances be watched at any other time of year. Ever. It is now that we are faced with a problem. These 'films-set-at-Christmas-but-aren’treally-Christmassy' films are much more difficult to sort into whether you can get away with them in the last week of November, or whether I wouldn’t

blink an eye at them getting stuck on one random day in March. Die Hard, Trading Places, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, while easily up there as some of my favourite films, also fall into the Christmas only camp. If anything, I think that saving these for those frosty December nights, with a glass of wine or hot chocolate, cuddled up next to the people you want to spend your holidays with, actually makes them much more special. It keeps the magic of Christmas alive even if you’re a miserable cynic like me the rest of the year. Other films, I think you can get away with for varying reasons: The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands transcend the boundaries of Halloween and Christmas too much to be pigeonholed; Little Women and Bridget Jones’ Diary are a needs must when an existential life crisis is looming, and you just can’t reliably time those for December nowadays, so they make the year-round cut too. And for anyone who tries to argue with me that Die Hard isn’t a Christmas film, all I have to say is that I’m sure Hans Gruber wouldn’t have bothered if it was Thanksgiving.

Image Source: IMDB

But ask me to think of any other Christmas film released within the last 10 years, and I’m stumped. Nothing comes to mind. I even tried looking at a list of recent films while writing this article and I Do the shadows of old can’t honestly say I recognise any of them. The problem, I feel, stems from the vast amount Christmas classics trump the of similarities we can pull from every Christmas new flicks released in this film. People have lost their Christmas spirit, Santa can’t deliver the presents on time, someone’s died, festive season? someone’s getting divorced and for some reason, it hristmas is a big time of year in almost always happens in New York. It gets difficult, my household. It has happened even with some of the older films to pick out which where I’ve walked into the sitting one you’re actually watching. Films like Elf (2003), room, and found my Dad watching or Home Alone (1990) are instantly recognisable a Christmas film in September. when they come on TV, because their characters But when it comes to Christmas films, we very are memorable and the story, particularly in the case of Elf is so whimsical that they stick out when much have our favourites and the ones we you think of Christmas films. come back to. A lot of my taste Another key example is the heap of Christmas in Christmas films comes from films based on the character Scrooge. After taking my parents, Miracle on 34th time to think about it, I did remember watching Street (1994) being a prime Spirited around Christmas in 2022, and then I example, a true classic. It’s realised it is just another retelling of Scrooge. While a yearly watch for us, which it still was overall a good film, and I definitely shows how we just don’t bore remember laughing at parts, I can’t remember any of it, even watching it of the specifics that separate the underlying story every year. The same from being anything other than a modern-day can’t be said of more interpretation of Scrooge. recent films. To be able to be put into the echelon of classic The only Christmas Christmas films, they have to be memorable. film in recent years It’s why films like Miracle on 34th Street and that I remember well is Love Actually are still loved so much, because Last Christmas (2019). you actually remember things about them. However, it is not And call me biased, but the only recent without reason. I would Christmas film I can recall is Last Christmas. never deny myself a Given time, could a more recent film become a lovely bit of George classic? Most definitely. But we’ll have to wait Michael, but when your and see, because I’d far rather pick an older cousin is in the film, it’s film that I know is a classic, than take a punt hard not to laugh and smile when he comes on screen. Image Source: IMDB on a new film. George Brownless - NSR Head of Tech

Saltburn - Complications of 'sticking the landing' Matthew Barratt ~ Science Sub-Editor

A washed-up rebranding of tired aristocracy or an innovative transformation of the country house genre?

ith a runtime of just over two hours, Saltburn felt like it was pushing three. Emerald Fennell’s transformation of the country house genre is, at its baseline, a tonally inconsistent but nevertheless entertaining dark comedy elevated by an ensemble of impressive performances who carry the bloated and disjointed script on their weary backs. A film that situates its first act at Oxford University, 2006, Barry Keoghan’s Oliver is a promising young scholar who struggles to fit into the University’s tribalist system of upperclass elitism until, by chance encounter, he lends his bike to the aristocratic Felix (Jacob Elordi), sparking a mutual friendship and one-sided infatuation. Claiming to have nowhere to stay due to a shaky family situation back home, Oliver is invited to stay at

Image Source: IMDB (for both)

Felix’s family home ‘Saltburn’, a sprawling country mansion, for the summer. Over the summer of 2007, the initially reserved Oliver becomes a watchful observer of the house's dynamics, actively meddling in the affairs of the family to ascend Saltburn's hierarchy. Saltburn is, by all intents and purposes, a funny film; hilarious, in fact, especially in its opening act as Oliver awkwardly navigates the intertwining social circles of uber-privileged academia as an outsider. Once 'Saltburn' house becomes the focus of Fennell’s picture, the dynamic amongst Felix’s family, his mother Elsbeth (Rosmaund Pike), father Sir. James (Richard E. Grant), sister Venetia (Alison Oliver) and transatlantic cousin Farleigh (Archie Madekewe) is perhaps the picture’s strongest aspect. Grant and Pike particularly shine and deliver every line with exemplary comedic timing, providing some of the film’s more memorable moments.

"Scenes of complete sexual perversion are interspersed to provoke as opposed to fortifying Fennell's directorial intent" Fennell’s fascination with genre and tone– as seen in Promising Young Woman (2019) - is once again the primary overarching force that permeates every crevice and corridor of Saltburn’s massive country house estate. A monument to class superiority, emotional restraint, and underlying secrecy, Saltburn opts to depict the grandiosity of its manor as relative to the comedic caricatures who inhabit it, making it a hive of excess and debauchery as Fennell attempts to merge the aspects of dark comedy with psychosexual gothic drama to a mixed result. Her inability to smoothly transition between the satire of the country house genre and the unearthing of its transgressive qualities concludes in what can only be described as tonal whiplash

as scenes of complete sexual perversion are interspersed to provoke as opposed to fortifying Fennell’s directorial intent. This aforementioned whiplash extends to that of Saltburn’s pacing and structure which seemingly wants to present itself as more complex than it really is. Fennell deliberately hides character actions and motivation before imposing a tellall grandiose plot twist towards the end that ultimately falls short because of how predictable it truly is.

"Greatly inviting and entertaining if you are willing to look past its flaw and embrace its comedic components" Telling rather than showing, restricting the audience’s access to information to then reveal the reality of the film’s characters at the conclusion, isn’t necessarily a flaw of narrative at all. But Fennell reveals an element of unreliable narration in the film's conclusion which is not properly alluded to nor is it consistent with the character's motivations, especially in the first act of the film. But despite the incoherence of its plot and tone, Saltburn’s flaw is rooted in its predictability. It doesn’t even need to be intentionally or unintentionally incoherent with character reliability or intent for one to grasp its feigned complexity, let alone Fennell’s attempt to pry the non-existent scales from the viewers’ eyes in the final rushed third act. One can predict the ending by the beginning of the second act no matter how disjointed the tone and subsequent narrative trajectory is. The psychosexual elements of Saltburn are when the film’s spontaneity is heightened but as mentioned prior, the disjointed incorporation of these scenes reduces what could be rich thematic exploration to gross-out shock value. Saltburn, like Promising Young Woman, fails to

stick its landing and ends ups meandering within its third act before wrapping everything up in a tired weathered bow in the final few minutes. Saltburn is certainly entertaining, excelling in its comedy but failing in its faux-complexity, tonal inconsistencies, and unnecessarily vapid transgressive overtures. What Fennell’s accomplishes well in terms of directing her ensemble is perhaps Saltburn’s most impressive facet. Her repertoire for genius casting, such as universally appreciated comedians and actors to play the absolutely despicable male characters in Promising Young Woman, is apparent within the casting of Keoghan. An actor with a penchant for slimy, pitiful roles, his chameleonic performance of Oliver is arguably his most impressive unstable, pathetic, and definitely his most outrageous. Saltburn may be exhausting for some and especially grating for others but greatly inviting and entertaining if you are willing to look past its flaws and embrace its most ridiculous and comedic components.

Image: Pixabay

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Sub-Editors: Jessica McKeown, Olivia Carter and Ned Carter-Owen

Monday 4th December 2023

Film

Dream Scenario - A beautifully shot rollercoaster of emotions

Sophie Austen

A comical, absurd and dark movie - is Dream Scenario a new cult-classic?

ream Scenario is the Englishlanguage debut of Norwegian filmmaker, Kristoffer Borgli. It is an absurd and, at times, incredibly disturbing “comedy/drama” that explores tricky, but timely subject matters. At its core, Dream Scenario is a satire of the capricious and harmful world of social media, as well as the rapid viral fame it can bring. This surrealist fantasy-satire follows unremarkable university professor Paul Matthews, played by Nicolas Cage. He has a stable career, a beautiful house, and a loving wife and family. But privately, Matthews is deeply frustrated with his lack of publications and is resentful of the success of his former colleagues. However, overnight Matthews starts inexplicably popping up in everyone’s dreams, globally. Ari Aster is credited as a producer, and it is in these tense and twisted dream sequences that his creative influence is most pervasive. Paul Matthews’ dull, unexceptional persona is consistently emphasised, making his status shift from an NPC in his own life to a global cameo star hilariously ironic.

What peeves Matthews most about these dreams is that in all of them, no matter how peculiar or extreme, he appears incapable of taking action. Acting as a refraction of his decades-long unfulfilled academic ambitions, even in strangers’ dream visions Matthews is incapable of taking initiative. He just idly hangs about in peoples’ dreams like a boring middle-aged Freddy Krueger. This leads Matthews to attempt to leverage his newfound fame to revive his stagnant career by securing a publishing deal for his not-yet-started book. Matthews’ unexpected rise to fame brings with it a host of painfully embarrassing moments that will leave you squirming in your seat. Cage is outstanding in this authentically awkward performance and, as an audience, we are dared to laugh at Matthews’ misfortunes. Matthews is most certainly not a likeable guy, but he is not a villain by any means. However, it is his unfortunate destiny to unwittingly embody this pseudo-Freddy Krueger role as the public’s dreams of him morph into something much more sinister. As the film takes this dark turn, Borgli squeezes existential dread out of each scene, playing on personal anxieties. Whilst watching, I was assailed by so many conflicting feelings that I believe I may have experienced the full spectrum of human emotion. At times I had to stifle my laughter and at others, I felt so intensely disturbed and anxious that I could hardly watch. Never did I think there would be a time I genuinely laughed at a fart joke

in a film, but here we are… In the final act of the film, its message morphs from a commentary on parasocial relationships to one on cancel culture, and this is where I feel it starts to lose its steam a little. The filmlike grain and the cinematographic aesthetic of Dream Scenario are timeless, however, the film’s reactionary quality has the potential to date it as time passes. The final TikTok marketing and product-placement commentary gag falls a little flat for me and its lack of future relevance could render it a product of its time. Ultimately, this is a film about the fickleness of fame and the total lack of control we have over how we are perceived by others. Cage does a brilliant job of portraying this pitifully unprepared man as we watch him stumble down a dark path of self-destruction at the hands of fame. Despite its tonal confusion, Dream Scenario is a surprisingly moving, unconventional gem of a film and I couldn’t recommend it enough.

Image Source: IMDB, Pixabay

Santa Claus in film: X-Mas Movie Traditions who did it best? Multiple Writers

Jess Bradbury, Head of Social Media

Multiple Writers

espite the religious origins of the Christmas holiday, the festive season is defined by the bearded man in a red coat and matching hat. Whatever you want to call him, he is one of the most recognisable figures around the globe. We asked our writers who the most iconic portrayal of Santa is and they delivered a gift this festive season. Adelaide Dodson, Opinion Sub-Editor There seems to be, quite literally, hundred versions Santa in hundreds of films (more and more every year) and so many good ones it seems a little impossible to pick a favourite. However there are definitively a few front runners performance wise: Richard Attenborough in Miracle on 34th Street, the Santa that randomly pops up in Narnia, the bumbling Santa in Arthur Christmas but my favourite must be Tim Allen in The Santa Clause. What more do you need in a Christmas film than sassy elves, a reluctant Santa and a physical embodiment of the North Pole? Plus, the film is always received with giggles in my house which puts us in the Christmas spirit. The highlight of the film though is definitively Allen’s performance. His portrayal of a reluctant Santa, merely playing along until everything stops (which it won’t) is particularly entertaining. The transition from this grown up who doesn’t believe in Santa and barely plays along with the act for his own son to a man who is and embodies Santa better than I think anyone could have expected at the start of the film is heart-warming and unexpectedly wholesome. Christmas, to me at least, is half the present and half nostalgia and this film provides the

perfect route to remembering past Christmases and having a laugh while doing it.

Rosie Brennan, Opinion Sub-Editor To me, the epitome of Christmas is the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special. And no, not the new one. And that is why my favourite portrayal is the one and only Vanessa Shanessa Jenkins (or Nessa, if you’re not an insane person who’s basically memorised the script, like me). Technically this isn’t from a film, or an actual portrayal of Santa Claus. Nevertheless, it’s too iconic in my opinion to be left out of this debate. A Welsh Santa is something nobody knew they needed, especially one that makes you pay a quid for a gift. If somehow you’re one of the only living people in Britain that hasn’t got every word of this episode memorised, here’s a brief summary. Gavin has to speak to Nessa, and finds her working in a hut as Santa Claus on Barry Island (obviously, lol). He finds her boyfriend Dave, a, let’s face it, slightly dodgy ginger Welsh man, dressed in a horrific Rudolph costume. Gavin has to queue outside behind the line of children waiting to see the only Father Christmas in Britain that would utter the words “ your mother’s been through enough this year without you sulking all over the shop”. When he finally gets in, he sees Nessa, not very welldisguised as Santa Claus, and is forced to sit on her knee. There’s something about this whole slightly awkward interaction that feels festive to me. At some point, every child in Britain will have sat on a middle-aged truck driver’s knee with some sort of indistinct, yet very strong, regional accent claiming to be Father Christmas. And if you never experienced this, all I can say is, you’re missing out on a quintessentially British experience (and I’m slightly jealous). This portrayal wouldn’t be complete without the immaculate line that is “OH, OH, OH, Merry Christmas”. It doesn’t get much more festive than that.

As the most wonderful time of the year approaches, it’s time to don your Santa hats and get cosy as ‘tis the season to watch all of your favourite Christmas films. Although I’ll be consuming many Christmas films throughout December, there are always a few I’ll return to each year. In the middle of the festive season, I’ll spend one of my favourite days of the year with my partner watching Christmas films. With enough snacks and hot chocolate to make us both inevitably feel sick, we’ll settle down for the day and binge some Christmas classics. Often, we’ll start with Jingle All The Way (1996) - a hilarious, one of those so-bad-it's-good Christmas films which sees Arnold Schwarzenegger try desperately to get his son a Turbo Man action figure on Christmas Eve. Next, we’ll move on to something like How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) or Nativity! (2009), both absolute classics in their own right. Much to my partner’s dismay, I’ll then stick on Richard Curtis’ Love Actually (2003), which may potentially be one of the cringiest Christmas films of all time but I can’t help but love it. Moments like when Emma Thompson is standing in her bedroom listening to Joni Mitchell’s CD will always get me, and I do love the intertwining narrative between each character (plus I’m sure we all agree that we NEED Hugh Grant as Prime Minister given the state of our current government). Finally, we’ll finish with It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), which I consider to be the best Christmas film. The portrayal of George Bailey as a man caring for his family whilst being let down by the system is as resonant today as it was 77 years ago when it was first released - the yuletide setting only bolsters the message that there is always light in the dark. Jodie Steer Strangely enough, I don’t think that I have ever watched a film on Christmas Day. My family’s Christmas film traditions all take place on the run up, finishing with The Muppet’s Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve (1992). When I was young, we would watch it in our brand new pyjama’s before

putting out a mince pie and huge glass of whiskey for “Santa”. Now I’ll come back from my Christmas Eve shift at the village pub to watch it before going on back out myself. Going to see Love Actually in the independent cinema a few villages away is also a must-do for my mum and I on the week running up to Christmas. Sophie Austen I don’t know if you can call it a ‘tradition’, but every December I like to slowly make my way through what I consider the classic Christmas films. The only ‘rule’ I have is that hot chocolate, cosy blankets, and twinkly fairy lights must be involved – extra points if there’s a tree in the room. First of all, these may not be Christmas films, but November/December are my Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter rewatch months, it just feels right. For me, they are the ultimate comfort movies, especially The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). I will then move on to the underrated animated masterpiece that is Anastasia (1997) - not entirely Christmassy, but just enough to start getting me into the spirit. Also, I’m not sure how Christmasrelated this is, but I really love The Thing (1982) and there’s a lot of snow in it, so I’ll throw that one in too. As we creep closer to the main event, the films I watch get increasingly more festive. Some of my favourites to watch around the mid-point of the month are the fun comedies, namely The Holiday (2006), Nativity, Home Alone (1990), and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989). On Christmas Eve, there is nothing cosier than the animated short, The Snowman (1982); it is pure magic and the epitome of Christmas for me. On the big day, I have to watch my all-time favourite, It’s A Wonderful Life, as well as the absolute classic that is Love Actually – both of which I sob at every year without fail. And no, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993 )is NOT a Christmas film.

Image Source: Pixabay

Sub-Editors: Sarah Tunstall and Laura Kasongo

Monday 4th December 2023

Arts

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An Artistic Refuge: Is art a form of defiance? Amie Cooper

A look at Russian artist Sasha Skochilenko and how self-expression is political.

asha Skochilenko peacefully protested Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by replacing supermarket price labels with information about the warcrimes committed by the Russian army in Ukraine. Her words urged an end to the war and criticised authorities.

“This is a test of your humanity. You've been given a chance to pass it.” Since April 2022, she has been incarcerated for propagating “knowingly false information” about the Russian military, and on the 8th November, prosecutors requested that

Skochilenko be sentenced to eight years in prison. In court, her lawyer quoted Sasha’s own words: “This is a test of your humanity. You’ve been given a chance to pass it.”

“Artistic refuge is lost in a place without the freedom of selfexpression.” Sasha’s art, music and writing is fuelled by her beliefs. So why is her voice being silenced? Artistic freedom is a form of expression and a human right. Her artwork is politically motivated, not only combating themes of anti-war activism, but also: LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, and mental health. As a method of expression, her words take an artistic role in defining her as a pacifist who values human life above all else. Sasha’s art advocates peace and humanity from a place of conflict and inhumanity. Her work is not offensive or aggressive. Her illustrations are primarily in black ink, using moments of colour to focalise the emotion conveyed through each Artistic refuge is lost in a place without the freedom of self-expression. Multiple artists have

Becoming a Student Author: Interview Poppy Bedford - Music Sub-Editor

An interview with Newcastle student Laurie LaRoux about her newly published book, Heartless.

he message of Heartless... Well, it’s about a girl who tries to fit into a world that isn’t hers. She’s too different to be accepted by humans and she’s too human to be accepted by the people of her kind. Through the plot and difficulties, she discovers that what pushed her to be left alone was her feelings; to live in her world she needed to be Heartless.” What inspired you to write the book? “Heartless is a bit different from all the other books I have written. Usually I get inspired from general, day to day life or activities that I do, this one was actually a challenge that my friends gave me. I used to travel a lot and lived in several different countries; my first book is in French. So a lot of my friends told me ‘we can’t read it’ and it became a challenge for me to write it in English. As for the topic, I never really write science fiction so they gave me the idea to try it out. The idea came from a friend who told me about it. She wanted to see an alien coming to earth and it basically unrolled from there. It came quite naturally once the background was set.”

“The most important thing is to remain accessible to everyone.” What’s it like to be a student author? “The most important thing is to remain accessible to everyone, so that people can come and talk to you easily. Writing isn't only about writing a book for yourself,but it's writing the book for others. Whether they read it for leisure or for the messages it conveys, it's about the human interaction between: what can the book bring to the readers? This is why I strongly encourage readers to come back to me for feedback if they wish to do so, because it is always enriching to learn what stood the most out of the book to them"

"It’s quite different. The first time you hold your book in your hands its like magic, but it feels unreal as well. No one would expect to write a book and have it published in such a way. The moment also feels as if I need to have a step back and have a look again.

“The first time you hold your book in your hands its like magic, it feels unreal.”

been forced to leave Russia following the invasion, due to the threat of criminal prosecution because of their anti-war artistic statements. Imprisonment silences even the loudest of protest. Their voices are passionate, courageous, and determined. Their art means that their voices can still be heard. Co-curaters Anna S., Dmitrii Moskovskii and Varvara collaborated to produce an exhibition of Sasha’s work earlier this year at The Koppel Project Station in Hampstead, London. Sasha’s work was also exhibited in Glasgow in July. It is important that, as people with a voice, we elevate and recognise the voices that are silenced. The exhibitions aimed to amplify Skochilenko’s voice from beyond the walls of the prison cell, in an act of humanitarian unity for justice, raising awareness of the atrocities the Russian government has been performing against its citizens. Sasha’s art

Image: Source [Pixabay.Openclipartvectors]

Want to The Snow Woman see more online?

I am born beneath the ministrations Of frozen, aching hands.

Blinking through eyes of coal,

Mouth twisted in its fixed pebble smile. Dazzling white snow adorned with a lover’s caress. Icy limbs constricted in your winding coarse scarf Turned to silk by your touch.

With regards to work, writing books and studies takes a lot of time. Writing a book is tiring - so alongside studies it's difficult. I have to admit that when I study I write much less because I don’t have the time or intellectual energy for it either. Also the marketing process of the book takes a lot of time.” What advice would you give to other student authors trying to break through? “You need to come back to it. It’s like an essay, when you’ve written 3000 words you can’t re-read it straight away. You need to take a break because you can’t see the characters anymore.” Try to choose the publisher that will fit your book, some won’t publish short stories, some won’t publish sci-fi – try to aim for the one where you have the highest chance of being published.” Where is it available? “You can find the book in every library, it may not be on the shelves but can be ordered in. You can also find it online at Amazon International, Amazon UK, Barna books and Google eBooks. Heartless is both paperback and online and is available in the UK, Canada, USA and Australia.”

defies the unhumanitarian violence that exists in her country. Her work is a defence, not an attack and reaches out to promote empathy and raise awareness for war-zone civilians that are suffering.

The crunch of snow hard against my back, Hot breath trailing pools of molten ice In the clefts of my frigid flesh. Is this what it is to become a woman?

Non-Western

voices:

Silencing the paintbrush amidst crisis Zahra Hanif

Entombed in the crescendo of a blizzard, Adrift from the false safety of warmth, Alone with the blazing of your skin A moment; eternity. Somewhere in between. Deadly golden arrows pierce The fragile shield of snow clouds. Scorching, wrenching my fleeting form apart With cruel efficiency. The roads clear. In your wake you leave a puddle of scattered stones; A forgotten scarf, bereft; lost in a gust of

Image: Source Laurie Le Roux

snow.

by Jodie Steer

Image: Source Pixabay

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Sub-Editors: Sarah Tunstall and Laura Kasongo

Monday 4th December 2023

What's Best books for gannin' the winter break on... Lauren Reid

ith assessment season fast approaching - and Winter break - we look at some of the best books to pick up this winter. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the time to read for pleasure, but it is nice to find short and engaging works to help us relax and unwind… 1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky I don’t think a Christmas break has gone by in 4 years where I haven’t sat down with Chbosky’s novel and been utterly immersed into the world of Charlie Kelmeckis. This book has a simplistic but immersive prose-style, creating a work of fiction both easy to read and quick to get through. Perfect for reading alongside any assessment deadlines you may have!

beautifully poignant work of Le Guin. This work is a collection of feminist essays written over the years that carry some meaningful messages I believe everybody should take into the new year.

5. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Finally, despite not being an entirely ‘winter novel,’ Little Women captures the essence of the festive season. Following the four March sisters, this novel explores the themes of family, friendship, and ambition. It is the perfect New Year read, and not too difficult to read (as some nineteenth century novels can be!) .

Ouseburn Xmas Markets Stamp workshop @ Cobalt Studios The Wizard's Tower @ Alphabetti Light-Up Xmas Cards @ The Common Room Star & Shadow Market

2. Garments Against Women by Anne Boyer This short prose-poetry collection offers so much: a reflection on literature as a product, a meditation on survival, and an exploration of class. It is written in a fragmented style, meaning it is easy to put down and pick back up again. It is one of those collections where you can take as much or as little as you wish.

Born Lippy @ Cobalt Studios Glass Bottle Painting @ The Common Room

3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Short, Christmassy, and familiar - Dickens’ classic novella is another quick but engaging story to get through this winter break. Follow Ebeneezer Scrooge as he meets the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. There is a strong sense of nostalgia about this story, and winter carries that exact same sense. Plus - it’s a short one! 4. Space Crone by Ursula Le Guin As one of my favourite reads of the year, I could not compile this list without including the

9-16 DEC.

Showaoke @Alphabetti Scratch Choir Image: Source Pixabay, Cheerfully_lost

@Cobalt Studios

Arts

21-31 DEC. Lub Pub Quiz Xmas Special @ The Lubberfiend The Snowman in Concert @ The Glasshouse 007 In Concert @ The Glasshouse Happy New Quee-Year 2024-D! @Alphabetti

9-20 JAN. Sketch Slap by SoreSlap @ Alphabetti Little Miss Sunshine @ Alphabetti Everybody's Talking About Jamie @ Theatre Royal

Merry little Craftmas! Mia Griffiths

Some festive crafts to test out over the winter break.

f you’re looking for Christmas crafts on a budget, look no further! Here’s a list of crafts you can do with your flatmates/ friends; bring a bottle of wine, some snacks and festive tunes and have a Christmassy craft night! Christmas window decoration 1. Grab some card/ paper and draw bubble letters that spell “MERRY CHRISTMAS”. (or you can find templates online) 2. Get some pens, pencils or paints and get decorating each letter with however your heart desires- if you’re in a group, divide the letters between you. 3.Cut out each letter and use blue tack or tape to stick them up onto your window (or wall if needs be) Toilet roll bunting 1.Take your kitchen roll/toilet roll tube and cut down the middle so the tube opens up flat, then cut little strips out of the tube. 2.Get some acrylic paint and start coating the

strips with whatever colours you like. 3.Once dried, use a stapler or some Pritt Stick to link the pieces of cardboard together in a chain 4.Hang up to display and you’re done! These are such an easy and cheap way to use up waste to create something festive and colourful to decorate with.

Dried Oranges If you’ve always wanted to try drying oranges, this is your sign. 1. Start by very thinly slicing your oranges horizontally and spreading them out on a baking tray. 2. Set your oven to 110C and bake the oranges for between 4060 minutes, keep your eye on them as they make bake faster or slower depending on the oranges and how you have sliced them. 3. They should be firm and crispy to touch once finished drying. 4.The dried oranges can be used as a bunting or even on present tags to make your presents a bit more personal.

Bauble Christmas cards 1.[Personally I created my own stamps for this using a budget friendly lino-cutting starter kit (for less than £10) but it is easier to purchase some cheap 2.Christmas stamps or stickers from Poundland or The Works. (you could even just draw them if needs be)] 3.Fold some A4 card in halves so create a card shape. 4.Use some green paint to paint a branch at the top of the card, this can be super messy. 5.Grab your bauble stamps or stickers and place them wherever you like underneath the branch using different sizes to make the card more interesting. 6.Draw a line connected from the top of the bauble up to the tree branch to look like a string. 7.At this point you can either colour in the baubles or leave them as they are. 8.If you have coloured paper or card you could also line the inside of the card to look more professional. Image: Source Mia Griffiths

Image: Source Laura Kasongo

Sub-Editors: James Kellett and Adam Lovegrove

Monday 4th December 2023

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Gaming Which game should the Legend Relaxing of Zelda movie be based on? Games for a 30

George Brownless

s a huge Zelda fan, I was ecstatic to see long running rumours finally confirmed as a live-action Zelda film is in the works, with Shigeru Miyamoto, Zelda’s creator at the creative helm once again. Part of me thinks something similar to the Super Mario Bros. Movie will happen, where a more original story will be told. However, it would be fantastic to see one of the games be adapted to movie format. Here are my picks for which games would make the best story. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword For the uninitiated, Skyward Sword may feel a left-field pick. In actuality, it is the beginning of the canonical Zelda timeline, the place that sets up the tropes of the hero, the princess and the ancient evil to be reborn time and time again. It does also include Groose, who has a fantastic quiff. This feels like a relevant place to start, however, while Demise is exceptionally evil in his own right, it feels inevitable that the first villain in a Zelda movie would be Ganon or Ganondorf. Skyloft, while an excellent locale, isn’t exactly what people would recognise as Zelda’s traditional Hyrule. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Ocarina of Time was Zelda’s first foray into 3D and could again prove to be the ground-breaking step for the franchise. It’s a relatively standard story for the Legend of Zelda, and the opportunity

for ocarina solos is tantalizing. It also would act as a good introduction to the aspect of sages in the series. It hits off many of the classic locales in Zelda, including the Great Deku Tree and Gerudo Desert. Given the time travel that occurs, it also gives an opportunity to see two unique portrayals of Link, and opens up the rest of the timeline for films. Whether they choose to go with the Adult, Child or Downfall timeline, I'll leave up to them.

of the Kingdom, for the final Hero’s duel between Link and Ganondorf. The final boss is intense enough in-game, the intensity of the sword fight in the depths of Hyrule would be a true sight to behold on the big screen. Though I would be both excited and terrified to see the Goron's in a live action film...

“It hits off many of the classic locales in Zelda, including the Great Deku Tree.” A prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Ok, admittedly this one is technically cheating. But thanks to Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, quite a lot of the groundwork in this idea is already in place. The premise is simple, how Hyrule lost to the might of Calamity Ganon, rather than the alternative timeline offered by Age of Calamity. This would be the ideal way to open up a trilogy of films, a gritty war that ends in tragedy for the heroes. Following this, the events of Breath of the Wild, and Link's revenge tour against Calamity Ganon. Finally, taking place in the time of Tears

t’s been ten years since the release of GTA V and the game industry has changed monumentally. The main money-maker is now platform games, like Fortnite and Apex Legends. Back when GTA V was released (around the time the meteor wiped out the dinosaurs), the industry was invested in mobile games. The most exciting and interesting thing about this new GTA instalment is how different it should be compared to its predecessor. In the announcement tweet Sam Houser, the president of Rockstar Games, says that the studio is excited ‘for the next Grand Theft Auto’. Rockstar is one of, if not the best, entertainment companies when it comes to choosing their words. Nothing this company does is accidental, it is almost always deliberate. When Red Dead Redemption 2 was announced, all that it took was for the company to update its cover photo on Twitter to include the colours of the original game; which consequently sent the internet into a meltdown. So, for the Company’s president to not refer to this next game as GTA VI but just as Grand Theft Auto, has to be indicative of what is to come. So it seems apparent that this game is going to be a foundational game and will not tie itself to a digit. By doing so, this game is becoming the future of the series for the next 20 years. For a studio that has changed what it means to be an online game, an open-world game, a narrative-driven game and so on and so forth, an innovative decision like this is only fitting. So why would their next game not be majorly influential in the space of video games, become the first true series to revolutionise the industry, and become the first open-world foundational game

that is continuously alive and growing? With that being said, if the game is going to become a true foundational online-first game, does this harm the classic narrative-drive style of the series? This is something that Rockstar has become world-renowned for, and with the story of Red Dead 2, they probably established themselves as one of the best storytelling groups in all entertainment, not just in gaming. With this being said, the loss of Dan Houser as one of the key writers for the studio, is quite concerning for what this narrative could be. Houser was the head writer for many of Rockstar’s games including Bully, both Red Dead games, and GTA V. There isn’t much cause for concern yet, if there is any studio that could replace their head writer seamlessly, it would be the company with an infinite pool of money, especially considering they are piling 2 billion dollars into their new development. However, we could be seeing a divergence of the company away from the story-driven games and into a different territory, and maybe this is why Houser left. We don’t know this for certain and we probably aren’t going to know this for sure, possibly ever. But we will be able to speculate on what the truth is, once

Image Source: X, @GTAVI_Countdown

Sophie Turner

s the Christmas season approaches, your hard work this term is deserving of a cozy, winter night with a newfound game to play. Luckily, I have the perfect compilation of some relaxing games for you to enjoy over the break! Stardew Valley Nothing appeals more to me on a cozy afternoon than an engaging, peaceful farming simulator. Stardew Valley has it all! Farming, fishing, mining, and some complex combat. You’ll never run out of things to discover in ConcernedApe’s incredible solo-produced game, unlocking more story as you play. The pixelated art style is exceptional, with a relaxing musical composition to ease you into the slow life of Stardew Valley. The complex character stories of the NPCs will make you begin to love (or even hate) the locals of the town. Available on PC, Switch, Console and even your nifty phone for £15!

Image Source: X, @IGN

Grand Theft Auto VI announced, but what should we expect? Jordan Collard

Cosy Night

we begin to hear more about this and there is a legitimate chance; that this game isn’t narrativedriven and we may see a new era of this studio. Whether this is for good or for bad, is probably down to the personal taste of each person, but it is worth remembering that Rockstar has already changed tacts several times already. The first two GTA games were top-down, follwing this they switched to the third person silent protagonist, then they switched to the charismatic protagonists and added in the online aspect, and finally they became the first studio to ever use three playable protagonists in one open-world game. This studio has built its brand on change and innovation, so if there is anyone who could do it, it’s them. The game and the studio have a tantamount of challenges to face up to, this game will probably be the most-purchased game of all time, and there will be countless other games that will delay their games in fear of being eaten alive by Rockstar. But, in terms of meeting and exceeding the challenges and expectations placed upon themselves by themselves and others, Rockstar is the industry definition for "been there done that". No one would have thought that a Western series would be popular the way it was. No one would have thought that they could follow up the original Red Dead with a second one and still make the narrative fresh and new. Currently, no one thinks it’s possible to make a game worth 2 billion dollars in production. No one would think it possible to make a constantly online and growing game that lasts for twenty years. Personally, I would never bet against the studio that has already defied every expectation and made them look like an ant in their rear view mirror.

“You'll never run out of things to discover in ConcernedApe's incredible solo game.” Life Is Strange Whilst the franchise has a lot of notable entries, Square Enix’s Life is Strange captures the twists and turbulence of uncovering the local mystery of a missing student. If you’re into choice-based games, this one is for you! Set in Arcadia Bay, our protagonist Max harnesses some mystical powers, and it’s your decisions that matter most. Its autumn scenery is perfect for the colder months and is a must-play in terms of choice-based gameplay.

“Protagonist Max harnesses some mythical powers, and it's your decisions that matter most.” Night in The Woods For those of you looking for a short, simplistic yet engaging game to play, Night in the Woods is perfect for you. You play as Mae, the heroine of this game, returning home from university and reconciling with her friends, whilst uncovering the town’s dark mystery. Whilst only eight and a half hours in length, it is rich with beautiful scenery, dry humor, political undertones, and nostalgia. Available to play on Console, Steam and Switch, it’s the perfect cozy game for returning home.

Image Source: X, @NightInTheWoods

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Monday 4th December 2023

Sub-Editors: James Kellett and Aadam Lovegrove

Gaming

Society Spotlight: NCL Video Games and E-Sports Society Adam Lovegrove - Gaming Sub-Editor

A gaming society for all us nerds in Newcastle...

sat down with society president Seth Crowther and his secretary Alfred Golding to chat all things about their society, from the social events and e-sports teams to their fundraisers, and why it’s such a great group to be a part of. While we waited for our drinks in Luther’s, Seth explained to me how him and Alfred first got involved with the Video Games Society in Newcastle. “I went to the first few taster socials last year and really enjoyed it! Me and Alfred actually met on the gaming society last year through the Overwatch e-sports team. We ended up realising that we were on the same course and had somehow never met!” To my surprise, the gaming section doesn’t just consist of socials and meetups. Alfred took the time to explain to me how the society was split up. “The society is split up into two sides: the e-sports and the social side. Our e-sports team play League, Overwatch 2, Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, Counter Strike 2, Rocket League, and, most recently added, Apex Legends. The social

stuff involves things like Mario Kart socials, Smash Bros. tournaments and scavenger hunts to name a few. It’s a really positive experience with so many unique opportunities for everyone!” The three of us had a chat about our favourite games, and I could really see both of their passion for the art form and understood why they were so eager to get involved with the society.

“It's a really positive experience with so many unique opportunities for everyone!” Seth: “My favourite game ever is probably RDR2. The story and the scale are just so incredible. I study Computer Science with Game Engineering, and Rockstar Games are such a fascinating company I’d love to work with.” Alfred: “I’d say Half Life Alyx. It was the firstVR game I played that wasn’t just an arcade game. I’ve played things like Beat Saber and SuperHot VR, but those can’t give you a true story experience like Alyx did for me.” The society isn’t just limited to socials and e-sports though. There have been multiple fundraising events throughout the year, with all funds raised going to charity. Seth: “We held a huge event for Children In Need with the Newcastle United Foundation. They have an e-sports room which we used to play games and

stream on Twitch for Children in Need, and we But the society proves that you can bring all managed to raise £150.” sorts of people together, no matter introverted Alfred: “We also hosted a pub quiz in or extroverted they are. It’s cool to see all collaboration with SockSoc, who contribute all the the range of interests for games all across funds from their pub quizzes towards charities. Newcastle.” The entry fee for that one went to a charity called To close off, I asked them why they would Special Effects, who make custom controllers for recommend someone to join the society, physically disabled people.” which I feel Alfred answered perfectly to end It was incredible to hear how they’ve managed to the interview. use their society to work towards so many positive For those who are into gaming, it’s a great way causes, and it stands as an inspiring example of to meet like-minded people who play the same how gaming can go towards such great things. games as them or have an interest in e-sports. Alfred was keen to mention their Discord server, But even for those who don’t know much about and explained why he finds it gaming, I’d still tell them to be such an integral part of to give it a go, they might Image Source: Instagram, @newcastlegamesoc the society. really enjoy it. At the end “You can speak to of the day, who doesn’t anyone in the society from love Mario Kart?” anywhere, join a voice chat to Thanks to Seth and Alfred play competitive games or just for speaking to me about casually talk about the games their society! It was so cool you love. Even though we only to hear about all the awesome meet like once a week, you could stuff they do, and I’ll say that the society meets every definitely be heading to some day through the server. It’s part of of the Video Games Society’s the reason why I love the society socials at some point soon. so much!” Check them out at @ Seth also spoke a bit on how he newcastlegamesoc on Instagram feels the society disproves some and join their Discord community. common conventional images people And if you’re interested in joining hold of the gaming community. the society, memberships are available “Basically, a lot of people know gamers for only £5 off nusu.co.uk for the year! are considered stereotypically a bit antisocial.

Memory Card: Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games (2009) James Kellett - Gaming Sub-Editor

Slide back into Mario and Sonic's Winter Wonderland...

hristmas morning, 2009, a six-year-old James Kellett lies wide awake in wonder of the gifts awaiting downstairs. Still hesitant as to whether he had made Santa’s good list, there was one gift on his mind, Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games (2009). Coinciding with the success of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2007), Nintendo opted to act on this success and develop a winter instalment due to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

“Coinciding with the success of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2007), Nintendo opted to act on this success.” I myself did not play the first of the collection of Olympic Nintendo games, however I have fond memories of sprinting to my friend’s house to challenge him at a multitude of sports with our favourite Mario and Sonic characters. Christmas 2009 saw the one-year anniversary of my Nintendo Wii thus meaning I had a stretching list covered with games for the Wii, Mario & Sonic being situated firmly at the top. Waking up on the 25th of December 2009 to discover my Christmas dream had come true, I

hopped straight onto my sacred in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Nintendo Wii and plunged The mixture of official events and dream events myself into the Mario and provided a satisfying duality to this game and Sonic winter wonderland. in turn simply provided more depth. Reminiscing on the Each dream event would provide an days of inserting a game additional challenge as compared disc and being able to to an official event, but it Image Source: Flickr, @David Duflos immerse yourself into would simultaneously play the ‘gamescape’ without on the Mario and Sonic having to impatiently fantasies that had been wait for the game to previously embedded download, I hopped into the majority of the straight onto my players. newly acquired O n e game and was additional simply in awe of feature the games opening that made clip. The majestic this Mario soundtrack gave and Sonic goosebumps of instalment so anticipation for enjoyable was the the fun ahead, we inclusion of a are shown multiple shop that enabled Mario and Sonic characters players to make in game competing in a range of winter features customisable. sports which in turn only further The shop within this game heightened my excitement. The game was labelled as the ‘Christmas included all of the traditional Winter Village’, which included five Olympic events, Bobsleigh being a notable unique shops called, ‘The Music favourite due to my recent introduction of the Shop’, ‘The Secret Shop’, ‘The iconic Winter Sport film, Cool Runnings. Sports Shop’, ‘The Boutique An aspect which made this video game all the Shop’, and ‘The Library’. The more enjoyable was the increased emphasis on customisable nature of each shop ‘Dream Events’. Although the sports fan within me would allow players to use the inenjoyed playing each sport at the official Olympic game credit system of ‘Star Tokens’ venue, the wonderous child also within me would to purchase various items from also enjoy playing such sports in locations based each shop. Players could purchase around the worlds of Mario and Sonic. My wonder soundtracks from previous Mario/ for Bobsleigh would only increase when being Sonic games, paint sheets and given the opportunity to play ‘Dream Bobsleigh’ in decals to decorate gear, clothes and ‘Nocturnus Cage’, which made its first appearance accessories for you Mii and much

more. My favourite shop out of the five was easily ‘The Library’. It was here I could use my earned Star Tokens to purchase facts and trivia about previous Winter Olympic Games. It is fair to assume that my passion for sport as a whole was greatly cultivated by this feature. Learning about facts of other sports would only broaden my curiosity of sports in general which is why I believe I have quite a lot to thank for when it comes to remembering this game. In addition to the hours of fun I experienced with Mario and Sonic, I look back fondly on my days with this game, and I am thankful it opened my eyes to beautiful complexities of winter sports, and sport in general.

Image Source: X, @SuperMarioFact

Puzzles Master: Katie Siddall

Puzzles

Monday 4th December 2023

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Dot-to-Dot

Image Credit: Creazilla

QR Code

Do you want to create your own puzzle? Scan the QR code below to submit your very own creation. Also, scan the QR code for more info.

Christmas Word Ladder

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Puzzles Master: Katie Siddall

Monday 4th December 2023

COURIER

Puzzles

STUDENT MADE: Christmas Crossword Down

By Leila Mermelstein 3

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Issue 1450 Answers

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Word Search

Word Ladders

1. What you find under a Christmas tree? (8) 2. The abbreviation of “Christmas” (4) 3. Where does Santa land his sleigh before he climbs down the chimney? (4) 4. Fill in the blank: “The Little _____ ___” (7, 3) 5. Santa’s three-word catchphrase (Part 2/3) (2) 8. The three wise men followed one of these – plural (5) 9. “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by Band ___ (3) 11. What you put on a Christmas tree (6) 12. The alternate chocolate dessert, that isn’t Christmas Pudding (4, 3) 15. What you turn into on Christmas morning after you’ve drank mimosas and bucks fizz before opening presents (4) 17. What keeps Santa’s ears warm (3) 18. Santa’s three-word catchphrase (Part 3/3) (2) 19. What should you not do to Santa? (3) 21. What are they cutting up in the first scene of Frozen (3)

Across

1. A 2004 Christmas film starring Tom Hanks (5, 7) 6. “A Christmas ____” by Charles Dickens (5) 7. What is the first word in the song “Merry P Christmas Everyone” by Shakin’ Stevens (4) R 10. A 2009 film, featuring the hit song “Sparkle and E Shine” aka. The film that annoys Arthur, Head S of Sport (8) 13. Where does Alice E give birth in the Vicar of Dibley Christmas Special? N (4) 14. The first name of Father Christmas (5) T 16. The surname of Father S Christmas (5) 17. Santa’s three-word catchphrase (Part 1/3) (2) 18. “Have a ___, jolly Christmas” (5) 20. The Christmas film “The ____” with JackH Black as a film composer (7) O 22. A winter mode of transport and a term that people use daily (6) 23. The colour of Santa’s suit (3)

Sub-Editors: Mitchell Hall, Castor Chan, Dan Balliston and Raff Tindale

Monday 4th December 2023

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Sport

COURIER

Our Year in Sport Advent Calendar FEBRUARY

ebruary saw major sporting events across the globe on both the international and domestic stage. The month kicked off with the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco that was won by Real Madrid who beat Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal 5-3 in a thrilling final. The next major event was the Six Nations (4th February to 18th March), where Ireland claimed a 15th title, winning all 5 of their matches. Across the Atlantic, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII (12th February); the Chiefs claimed a second victory in just four years. South Africa played host to the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup which saw Australia win an astounding third consecutive title. In another landmark for women’s cricket there were 192 million hours viewed globally, a 790% increase on the previous tournament in 2020. Newcastle United also played their first major final in 3 decades on 26th February, making the trip down to Wembley to face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup Final. Eddie Howe’s men couldn’t complete their fairy-tale and lost the game 2-0 to a much higher quality Man United side.

Tommy Atkinson

NOVEMBER

ovember saw quite the events with F1 races and the end of the Cricket World Cup. I think the most memorable, or maybe not so memorable, F1 race of November is the Las Vegas GP. This was the first time that this particular GP took place and though the build up was phenomenal, the track is something no one would desire. Most famously described as an "upside down pig," the Las Vegas GP saw Charles Leclerc take pole position. Unfortunately for Ferrari fans, Leclerc couldn't hold pole and finished second just 0.171 seconds in front of Red Bull's Sergio Perez. On the same day, we also saw Australia win their sixth Cricket World Cup by six wickets (with 42 balls left). The highlights of the match were: Travis Head batting a century, Marnus Labuschagne hitting 58 and, obviously, India's batting collapse which led them to a total of 240 runs. Few saw these highlights coming, especially India's collapse happening so fast, but fewer saw England (the previous winners) not being able to qualify for the group stages.

Katie Siddall

MAY

n May 2023, Newcastle Women beat Barnsley to earn promotion to the Women’s National Leagues Division One. In this exciting season, St James’ Park has been bouncing as fans supported the women’s team crawl up the league table. It wasn’t such an easy run, with their last match gaining all the pressure for the win. They now play in the Women’s National League Northern Premier Division, and with the support from the men’s team manager Eddie Howe, let’s support the girls for the next year of sport!

Arthur Ferridge

AUGUST

n the international stage, England faced a heavy loss in two World Cups. The Lionesses made it to the World Cup final in Australia and the Vitality Roses to the World Cup final in South Africa, even having lost, having shown women's sport is one to follow. Messi won the Leagues Cup for Inter Miami, as a result transforming one of America's worst teams into their best, in a matter of only a few weeks. A lot happened, a huge win, a few losses for England, and a very strange interruption from Just Stop Oil in the World Snooker Championship.

MARCH

arch was an exciting time in sports, especially for F1 fans because the season started in Bahrain this year. Kicking off on one of the most watched seasons in history, Max Verstappen was coming off a double world championship in 2021 and 2022, and started the year in the same form, winning the first Grand Prix. Later in the month, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, claimed his first win of the year in Saudi Arabia. Their biggest challenger proved to be the surprise contender of Aston Martin, with their lead driver and fan favourite Fernando Alonso taking a podium in both March races. Apart from F1, other large sporting events included ‘March Madness’ - the NCAA basketball tournament, and the extravagant Dubai World Cup for horse racing.

Libby Griffiths

OCTOBER

pooky season came round quickly and delivered us a range of sporting events, we saw Eden Hazard officially retire, the WSL returned, and the lights went out three times on the Formula 1 track. St. James’ Park was lit up for the first Champions League match there in 20 years, drones decorated the sky on what ended as a historic match. A Fabian Schar stunner helped Newcastle secure a 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain, which left them sat top of the table - a match not many will forget in a while. Things heated up at the Qatar GP, which saw multiple drivers suffer from heat exhaustion due to the extreme conditions. Logan Sargeant retired from the race with drivers having to be helped from their cars and Ocon revealing he had been sick during the race.

Paige Rutter

Marina Snyder

pril brought plenty of sporting entertainment to keep us busy while we hid from spring rain. Chelsea supporters, however, were singing in the rain, as Graham Potter was finally relieved of his duties midway through one of the team’s worst seasons in recent memory. Jubilation quickly turned to sorrow, as Frank Lampard’s fairytale return brought loss after loss, their historically bad form somehow even worse under Super Frank’s leadership. On the international stage, England’s Lionesses won the Finalissima on home turf, drawing 1-1 in front of a packed Wembley Stadium before going on to win the penalty shootout 4-2, with Chloe Kelly smashing the winning penalty past Letícia Izidoro to bring football home again. In other news, the Grand National was won by Corach Rambler, a World Snooker Championship match was disrupted by Just Stop Oil protestors, and the Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in what has been hailed as one of the greatest upsets in NBA playoffs history.

Imogen Smillie

APRIL

DECEMBER 2022

ast December treated us to the 22nd FIFA World Cup, with a tense final that saw intense gameplay and Argentina and France going to penalties to determine the winner of the tournament Argentina. This final was monumental for breaking old records, with Mbappe scoring only the second World Cup hat trick in the history of the tournament and Argentina’s first World Cup win in 36 years. While England’s football team couldn’t claim victory in the World Cup, there was better news for their cricket team who had their first Test series win in Pakistan in 22 years, as they beat Pakistan by 74 runs. Sadly, as the year drew to a close, the news of Pele’s passing broke. Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, his memory will live on in the game for years to come.

Zahra Hanif

JANUARY

he year got off to a fantastic start for every sport enthusiast, taking them all over the world. Notably, the year opened with the World Darts championship final in London. England's Michael Smith won his first Championship, becoming World Number 1, while defeating Dutch Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in what has been called "the performance of his career". From January 13th, the Indian state of Odisha hosted the 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup, where Germany won their third title, defeating the Belgian defending champions. One will also remember the Tennis Australian Open in Melbourne. For the men, Serbian Novak Djokovic won, tying Rafael Nadal’s 22 titles. Although banned from representing Belarus after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Aryna Sabalenka won the first major title of her career.

Margaux Martinez

SEPTEMBER

his is a special month for many, with the NFL hosting their season kick-off match, the starts of the World Artistic Gymnastics Championship and the Rugby World Cup, and lastly, my birthday. Taylor Swift put Super Bowl LVII Champions Kansas City Chiefs on the non-football map, but it was Travis Kelce's team that lost out to visitors Detriot Lions in the first game of the season. The US team who took the most medals at the Artistic Gymnastics Championships, with the heavily decorated Simone Biles at the helm. Lastly, the Rugby World Cup stretched from early September to late October, where defending champs South Africa beat New Zealand to keep their title a second year.

Castor Chan

Image: X [@NUFC, @carlosalcaraz, @_miaclaydon, @Elizabethbich, @makoycart, @LoveJacobMurphy, @Chiefs, @notherroomate], Pixabay

JUNE

or fans of the sport, June was the biggest month for football since December's World Cup final. It saw the champions league final in which Manchester City saw off Inter Milan to secure the jewel in their treble winning crown, but far more importantly, it saw West Ham lift their first trophy in decades. Jarrod Bowen nipped behind the Fiorentina back line to send the stadium, the city of Prague, the east end, and the Hackney Wick warehouse where my family and I watched with so many other fans, into rapture. Eternal memories were made that night and for me, my brother and my dad, it is probably the biggest sporting moment of our lifetimes, so it felt only right it made it in for the month of June as well.

Mitchell Hall

JULY

n the height of summer, we saw the closure of a gripping Ashes series, the crowning of a new tennis icon, and an enthralling FIFA Women’s World Cup. England had already lost their first two Ashes matches. With the pressure on, the hosts turned the it around with a 2-2 series draw, with their long-standing rivals having the rain gods on their side to prevent a loss with 3-2 overall. The tennis world would see a brand-new champion crowned as Carlos Alcaraz would go onto defeat four-time defending champion Novak Djokovic, ushering in a new era for tennis. Finally, the Women’s World Cup began with New Zealand beating Norway 1-0. The Lionesses sought to recapture their Euros glory and went onto achieve a 100% record in the group stages.

James Kellett

THE

COURIER

Monday 4th December 2023

Sub-Editors: Mitchell Hall, Castor Chan, Dan Balliston and Raff Tindale

Sport

Ice Hockey vs Figure Skating: Which ice sport should you watch this winter?

Multiple Writers

inter is a pretty grim time of year. The sun sets early, temperatures plummet, and uni work piles up, but there is one solace: winter sport. Whether you're a fan of slalom, ski jump, curling, or bobsled, there is a veritable plethora of sport to keep you entertained when the weather gets too grim to go out. The resurfacing of winter sport, however, always brings back a famous debate: is ice hockey or figure skating more watchable? Two of our writers have their say. Ice Hockey, by Nathan Dove The sport of Ice Hockey has captured the hearts of millions across the globe. However, before becoming the premier sport for snow-capped nations such as Canada and Russia, the sport actually originated on this very island, with the earliest known games of Ice Hockey being played on the frozen lakes of Scotland in the 18th Century. Ice Hockey’s evolution into the global phenomenon it is today begs the question: what makes this bizarre sport so beloved by so many? At its core, Ice Hockey is the fastest team sport in the world, featuring players racing on razor blades and fiercely battling to propel a vulcanized rubber puck into the opponent's net. The high-speed clashes and strategic gameplay make it an unparalleled spectacle which has attracted fans for

many reasons. One of the reasons is the sport’s dazzling displays of skill. From graceful skating manoeuvres that are the envy of Torville and Dean, to slapshots that surpass speeds cricket balls could only dream of, the sport is a showcase of athletic prowess.

speed, aggression, skill, and a tightknit community cements its status as one of the most thrilling sports in the world, and whilst fans of the sport may have their differences, one thing that all agree on is that Ice Hockey is far better than its winter sport competition of ‘Glorified Ice Dancing.’

“Hockey is far better than glorified ice dancing.”

Figure Skating, by Jess McKeown Is there a sport more mesmerising to watch than figure skating? The first winter sport to feature in the Olympics, figure skating is often forgotten about as a sport amidst the popularity of Dancing On Ice. Graceful, physically demanding and dangerous, figure skating is the most impressive and best ice sport. Though there is also speed-skating

Away from the skilful side, Ice Hockey is also renowned for its spectacular shows of sporting aggression. Whether its two players smashing into each other at speeds of up to 30mph, or the legal bare-knuckle brawls which breakout between team’s enforcers, the players often show immense respect for one another, highlighting the unique brand of camaraderie in the sport. This communal spirit isn’t just exclusive to the on-ice action however, the unique culture of the sport creates a loving and s upp or t i ve community. This was exemplified t h i s past month when the Ice Hockey world came together to mourn the tragic death of Adam Johnson, highlighting the genuine care and compassion within the sport. Ice Hockey's blend of

which involves doing laps around a rink at high speeds, figure skating is the most well-known branch of skating at a professional level. Having recreated a scene from Bambi when I tried learning how to ice skate, it is all the more impressive that figure skaters dance on the ice whether it is solo, with a partner or as part of a synchronised group.

“Is there a sport more mesmerizing to watch?” Like most winter sports, figure skating has had it's share of accidents from concussions to skaters getting slashed by another skater's skate. Following the tragedy that has recently befallen ice hockey player Adam Johnson, the danger of skates is even more glaringly obvious. Whilst ice hockey associations have begun to introduce a mandatory neck guard mandate from next year, it makes you appreciate how precise skaters have to be to avoid injuring themselves or others. With the ISU Grand Prix 2023 ongoing, there has been some stunning performances. In the women's free skating, American skater Amber Glenn, who has previously achieved a triple axel, did a performance to 'Exogenesis Symphony Part 3: Redemption' by Muse showing the level of physical strength and precision that goes into the choreography of these routines. I hope that more people consider watching or going into figure skating as it is a beautiful sport.

Image credit: Twitter @ISU_Figure, @Capitals

Ritz to Rubble: Sheff Wed Figure Skating Society endure torrid season start brings the ice to Life

Jodie Steer

heffield Wednesday’s fairytale ending last season, coming back from 4-0 against Peterborough to win on penalties in their rematch before beating Barnsley in the playoff final, now seems like a fever dream to fans as we face the bleakest start to a campaign the club has ever seen. Chansiri on the rocks, two managers in three months, and bottom of the table with a nine-point deficit from safety – is there even an ounce of hope left for SWFC this season? Fans were devastated at the shock exit of Darren Moore over the summer after his management carried us back to the glory of the Championship, galvanising the squad with a purpose unseen since Carvalhal coached Wednesday to the playoffs for the second time in 2017. Following this, Chansiri stalled in the appointment of a new manager, eventually settling on the signing of Xisco Muñoz, whose singular successful season at Watford was then dogged by a reputation for losing the dressing room. Meanwhile, Chansiri endorsed a series of low-rate signings, making no attempt to hide his plan to complete the season on the cheap. This culminated in a horrific opening as Wednesday faced recently relegated Southampton. A sudden shift in formation caused confusions amongst fans and unsurprisingly, Munoz was

quickly sacked after apologizing for his failure to maintain the upward trajectory sparked by Moore. Although the general consensus of fans is a tentatively positive one in response to the signing of newcomer Danny Röhl, relations with Chansiri are in dire straits. His custodianship over the club has repeatedly been challenged and criticised in recent years, catalysed by his role in the six-point deduction which led to Wednesday’s demotion to League One following his purchase of Owlerton, a decision that had already sparked uproar. Chansiri released a statement earlier this season in response to some fans’ insults towards himself and his family, slating the entire fanbase and reiterating his refusal to sell. His retaliation to the entirety of the club has led to the 1867 Group’s petition which calls for Chansiri’s sale of the club in order to save SWFC’s future. This vitriol is particularly poignant succeeding Chansiri’s bizarre statement that fans should each pay £100 in order to settle his tax debt, which he then paid days later. Fans have shared their concerns that Chansiri’s refusal to sell has a malicious motivation: One supporter recently posted on Owlstalk, SWFC’s fan forum, “[Chansiri] is in the process of destroying my football club. I find that terrifying.” All fans can do now is wait in the hope of a clean slate for Wednesday that will restore the team to their former glory.

Castor Chan - Sport Sub-Editor

Figure skating soc have been performing live at the Life Centre!

s we approach the end of the year, everyone starts marking their calendars with festive fun. The winter season is one to spend with friends and family, so what better than to watch your loved ones slip and slide over the ice? Newcastle’s Centre for Life contains a science museum that creates an openair ice rink every November alongside its annual Christmas program. To kick off the show this year, the Newcastle University Figure Skating Society were

invited to perform on opening day. The society whipped together a synchronised group display to Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree in the middle of Times Square. President Anouk Nesbit described the experience: "Our society was very excited to skate at Life’s ice rink and we all had a great time skating outdoors. It was amazing to start the winter period in such a festive way!” Life’s ice rink is open until the 7th of January, so grab your skates before the opportunity melts away! And for those who want to keep skating yearround, the Figure Skating Society run weekly classes on Wednesdays 2-4pm and welcomes skaters of all levels. More information can be found on their Instagram @figureskaingncl, and to book Life’s skating sessions, their website is https://www.life.org.uk/ whats-on/special-christmas-events.

BUCS RESULTS

American Football

O1 V Durham 1 (H)

12-46

M1 V Liverpool 1 (A) W1 V Lancaster 1 (A) M2 V York 2 (A) W2 V Durham 1 (H)

6-2 6-2 6-2 0-8

BADMINTON

BASKETBALL

M1 V Worcester 1 (H) 97-56 W1 V Edinburgh 1 (H) 74-64 M2 V UCLan 1 (A) 82-63 W2 V Leeds 2 (H) 100-37 M3 V Leeds Beckett (A) 55-77 M4 V Sheff. Hall. 3 (H) 72-57

DODGEBALL

M1 V Bangor 1 (H) M1 V Manchester 1 (A) M2 V Durham 2 (A) M2 V UCLan 1 (A)

EQUESTRIAN SHOW JUMPING

MX1 V York 1 (H) 44-36 MX1 V Northumbria 1 (H) 44-68

FENCING

W1 V Edinburgh 1 (H) 109-122

FOOTBALL

M1 V Stirling 1 (H) W1 V Northumbria 1 (H) M2 V Northumbria 2 (H) M3 V Northumbria 6 (H)

0-8 0-4 2-1 8-1

M1 V Nott. Trent 1 (H)

7-5

MIX2 V York 1 (A)

5-1

W1 V Durham 2 (A) W3 V Newcastle 2 (H)

5-18 1-19

1 V Leeds Beck 1 (A) 2 V Sheffield 2 (H) 3 V Durham 4 (A) 4 V York St. John 1 (A)

60-55 51-37 50-50 23-47

FUTSAL

GOLF

LACROSSE NETBALL

RUGBY LEAGUE

M1 V Leeds Beckett 1 (A) 40-6

RUGBY UNION

M1 V Durham 2 (A) 21-25 W1 V Leeds Beckett (A) 24-22 M2 V Northumbria 1 (A) 16-12 W2 V Bangor 1 (A) 45-5 M3 V Durham 5 (A) 22-22 M4 V York 1 (A) 17-32 M5 V Hull 2 (A) 3-93

SQUASH

M1 V Lancaster 1 (H) M2 V Durham 1 (A) W2 V York 1 (H) M3 V Leeds Beckett 1 (A) M4 V Durham 4 (H) M5 V Leeds 3 (A)

5-0 5-0 3-1 3-2 3-0 2-1

W1 V Northumbria 1 (A) M2 V Durham 2 (A) M3 V Durham 3 (A) M4 V Durham 5 (A)

0-5 12-5 16-1 13-4

M1 V Leeds Beckett 2 (A) W1 V Leeds 1 (H) M2 V Leeds Beckett 5 (H) W2 V Liverpool 1 (A) M3 V Sheff. Hall 1 (A)

4-2 6-0 2-4 3-3 5-1

M1 V Sheffield 1 (H) M2 V York 1 (H) M2 V Northumbria 1 (A) M2 V Durham 3 (A)

15-6 6-15 5-15 14-5

TABLE TENNIS

TENNIS

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

VOLLEYBALL

W1 V Derby 1 (H)

WATER POLO Image credit: International Centre for Life

32-2 14-18 16-6 6-18

M1 V Edinburgh 1 (A) W1 V St Andrews 1 (H) W1 V Edinburgh 1 (H) M2 V Manchester 2 (A)

3-0 17-7 7-7 11-19 18-13

THE

Monday 4th December 2023

COURIER

Sub-Editors: Mitchell Hall, Castor Chan, Dan Balliston and Raff Tindale

Sport

Five games from Wembley: Newcastle View from the AU Uni AFC progress in FA Vase against the odds

Dan Balliston - Sports Sub-Editor

Newcastle University’s first team has carved out the beginnings of a cup run to remember.

ewcastle University pride themselves on their sport and its football first team have risen to the top of the Northern BUCS league in what is turning out to be a memorable campaign for the very best of the pool of Newcastle University footballers. Not only has a ten-point gap at the top of table opened, but a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Atherton Laburnum Rovers in the second-round proper of the Isuzu FA Vase secures a historic place in the third round, a feat never achieved by the university before. Victory against non-league step-five side Silsden on Saturday 2nd December would see them reach the last thirty-two of the tournament, just four games away from a trip to the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium. Out of over five hundred trialists, the sixteen players involved in securing a historic cup-tie have certainly proved their worth over the course of the season. Earning a place at the top of the tree playing the most popular sport in the University is an achievement in its own right but this cup run is rapidly gaining momentum around campus and the home-tie against superior opposition, AFC Silsden, will surely bring a crowd of supporters only matched by the fiercely competed derby against Northumbria University. However, it’s been a convincing run to the third round for the West Yorkshire side facing the Newcastle outfit, dismantling Redcar Athletic 4-0 in the first round, and showing no signs of let-up in the following round, seeing off Abbey Haye by four goals to one. What they will not be used to

Kimiko Cheng - Athletic Union Officer an you believe it’s already December? Given how much our clubs have achieved I can! We’re halfway through the BUCS season and nearing the end of the season for teams in higher leagues. It’s been a challenging term. The cost of living crisis is affecting clubs and people who want to get involved. I get to know the clubs and I get invested in their aspirations, but at the same time I can’t fund everything and have to say no sometimes. It’s hard because I wish no one was held back financially but I can’t print money, although I am working on it. To alleviate the burden on clubs the equipment fund, which the previous AU officer Hannah Danks lobbied for, is up and running. Despite the adversity the clubs have come together for charity. Dodgeball Club organised a Movember tournament, which brought together a variety of different clubs to pelt balls at each other in a wholesome and charitable way. Clubs did various challenges like push ups to raise money and awareness for the cause. Women’s football did a food drive for the festive season. You may remember I ran uncontested and it’s such a shame because I’m in a role where I get unique opportunities and have the support to campaign big and bring awareness to smaller sports. I want people to know what I do and I want them to remember it can be fun (that’s why I go out on Wednesdays). I volunteered at BUCS Short Course Swimming and I’ve poorly commentated on a few sports. It’s been fun watching sports and making people laugh. I want people to watch me and want to do the same. Besides this frivolity I’ve been co-chairing the Inclusion and Accessibility campaign group with Postgraduate Officer Chirag Kumar and we went out one Friday to gather feedback on what barriers were stopping people from getting involved. This is crucial information to help us improve the student experience so thank you if you did stop and speak to us! And if you see any other sabbs with a whiteboard, please speak to them, they only want to help! If I’ve inspired you, nominations open on December 8th until noon February 8th 2024.

Image: Twitter [@NewcastleUniAFC]

facing, though, is a crop of extremely talented and younger opposition, characteristics rarely seen in the depths of semi-professional football. Players in the infancy of their adulthood, still reaching their peak potential and fitness levels will provide a stern physical and technincal examination for Silsden who simply will not be used to playing ninety minutes against a team with the natural endeavour and vigour that is only found in the younger amateur outfits. Inexperience, though, is likely to be a factor for the University side. Playing the game and not the occasion, whilst a cliché, is an essential component if they are to have any chance of reaching the fourth round. Blocking out the well-intentioned pressure and support of hundreds of hopefuls is key and once that whistle goes, it’s down to the eleven footballers representing the thousands to produce

Image: Twitter [@OfficialShireFC]

a professional, disciplined and qualityfilled display. Having seen-off Durham University 3-0 just weeks before this fixture, there is more than enough quality in the ranks to continue this miraculous and historic run but their youthful exuberance on the pitch will likely be a double-edged sword. Whilst the yard of pace and minutes in the legs are likely to be superior to Silsden, the streetwise experience of a team so used to playing at this level could quite easily cancel out the lively approach of the Newcastle side. It would be unfair to label it naivety without a ball being kicked, but they could quite easily be caught out if Silsden silence the crowd with an early goal or flurry of chances. That being said, a fast start by the Uni side and suddenly the crowd are up and the momentum could be very difficult to shift. The supporters, many of whom would have trialled for the opportunity to play in this game just two months prior, will watch on knowing that a university side have never reached the final of the FA Vase, with established sides such as Guiseley and Newport Pagnell engraving their names on the trophy in the past five years. It is certainly an avenue into increasing not only the status of the University football level but also their journey into the upper echelons of the nonleague pyramid.

Having only qualified to enter the tournament in the 2021-22 season, reaching the last sixty-four of the competition in which hundreds of teams strive to qualify for earns its own place in the history books of this great university, and whilst any further progress could be viewed as a bonus, there is a genuine shot at a cup run to remember. The ‘magic of the cup’ adage is certainly playing a role in the progress of the team with any ‘Football Association’ tournament famous for its so-called ‘cupsets’, with examples from the very top where the coveted FA Cup sees memorable shocks regularly in each advancing round.

“Reaching the last sixtyfour of a competition which hundreds of teams strive to qualify for earns a place in the history books.” The brisk chill of a north-eastern afternoon will play host to this talkedabout cup tie, with the fans warmed by the festivities entering the city and the hope of a new dawn and era of university football, in which established teams are challenged and beaten, all on the way to achieving a day out at Wembley Stadium. Though in victory or defeat, no matter how extreme, history has been well and truly made from the pitch of Cochrane Park.

INSIDE SPORT THIS WEEK

Figure Skating Society takes over the Life Centre

Hockey or figure skating?

2023’s biggest sporting moments, month by month

Which should you be watching this winter?

Read up on their Christmas show

This Year In Sport

Image credit: International Centre for Life Image credit: Twitter [@Capitals. @Carlosealcaraz, @notherroommate]