Issue 1467

Around

38

further job losses for University staff

What I am wearing to my Master’s graduation

“New Order are conning their fans!” An interview with Peter Hook

Newcastle University Students’ Union changes and restructure: what

Ruby Tiplady - Lifestyle Sub-Editor

The Courier spoke to staff at NUSU about how the restructure will impact students

Newcastle University’s Students’ Union (NUSU) has undergone an organisational restructure after financial projections predicted a £164,000 deficit by the 2026/27 academic year.

To maintain the student-centred services NUSU currently provides, charity expenses needed to be reduced elsewhere. The resolution was a reorganisation of staff positions, which includes newly-defined roles for many, including our sabbatical officers.

The Courier spoke to NUSU’s CEO Lindsey Lockey, who emphasised that the restructure was planned to ensure there was minimal impact on students’ experience. Ultimately, the issue was a decline in income from commercial services (such as Luther’s and Co-op) paired with an increase in National Insurance contributions and living wage.

The University provided NUSU a one-off £100,000 grant this academic year to ensure the charity could continue delivering services whilst devising a new financial plan. While some services will leave NUSU such as the NCL+ Award, nothing will end entirely, as these services will be picked up by the University. Lockey’s goal for the restructure was to secure NUSU’s finances while responding to the needs of the student body.

At the centre of the restructure, student experience aimed to be prioritised and in order to do so, student voice and representation needed to be centred. Thus, while the process was led by the CEO, the NUSU trustee board oversaw the restructure. The trustee board is made up of our seven sabbatical officers, as well as two student and five external trustees. Lockey told us that this was to “maintain a student majority” while balancing “experience in relevant fields such as finance”.

Having joined NUSU in her current role two years ago, Lockey has witnessed many changes to the regulations of Students’ Unions and charities on

a national level by several bodies, including the Charity Commission. Between NUSU’s scale and the everchanging climate outside the University, the old structure was no longer sustainable; change was necessary.

“The restructure will enable the SU to be more dynamic”

Lockey said: the restructure will enable the SU to be more dynamic, as it is now in a “much better position to flex, adapt and respond to student feedback.”

Head of Wellbeing and Advocacy George Watkins will manage the President, Wellbeing & Equality Officer, and the new Academic Officer Sabbatical role. He shared that the restructure will provide many opportunities for students in the long term. This will include allocated resources to fund the recent Student Council motion to review the representation of underrepresented students. Watkins also hopes to extend the opening hours of the Support and Advice Hub, as well as eventually bringing in new, external services into the Students’ Union building itself. There has been an effort to reduce the duplication of services that the University itself already provides, such as financial advice, which releases funds for other endeavours. Watkins believes there are “exciting opportunities” to “work with more external groups to provide a wider range of support for students”. In light of this, the Students’ Union can provide more highly specialised support that the university do not have the capacity to. This is already manifested in their partnerships with

does it mean for

mental and sexual health organisations, but could diversify further as finances improve as a result of the restructure.

Head of Opportunities Chris Drummond will oversee your AU, Student Media, and the refreshed Opportunities Officer. He highlighted his hopes that the new “connected structure” would “enhance our student offer, enabling easier access for students to discover and engage” with our Students’ Union. Drummond aims to enhance the visibility of the opportunities for students at NUSU, broadening access and enabling engagement.

The rebranding of “Activities” to “Opportunities” (and the associated marketing and communications) should “maximise exposure” that different student-led activities gain.

In turn, this will raise the profile of volunteering activities like Student Media, as well as clubs and societies, so students have a full understanding of what they can get involved in through NUSU. The movement of even more external tenants to the NUSU building will also be beneficial for students, as Lockey explained that Radio Tyneside’s move-

in will “provide great opportunities for our students to become involved.”

“The

increase in resources available will enable the sabbatical officers to take on projects”

Lockey shared that the new staffing structure should support the sabbatical officers on a daily basis: “allowing more time for them to spend with the students who elected them.” The restructuring changed the sabbatical officer roles significantly, combining the Postgraduate and Education Officers into the new Academic Officer role and rebranding the Activities Officer to Opportunities. However, the 2024/5 Education Officer Jasmine is excited for the potential impact of these changes. She explained “the problem that NUSU were trying to solve when they created the Postgraduate Officer role before COVID has not been solved”. Since the

students?

postgraduate community is so diverse with such a complex set of needs, Jasmine feels that “representation has been missing, even with that post”. Jasmine highlights the restructure will focus the Academic Officer in line with the 2025/26 ‘Student Representation Review’, ultimately facilitating connection between the Academic Officer and the postgraduate community. The ‘Action Priorities’ this year included Linming’s focus on support for postgraduate students with children, and ostensibly, the streamlining of the sabbatical officers may prevent projects like this from being picked up. Jasmine’s hope is that the increase in resources available will enable the sabbatical officers to take on projects and make a bigger impact, though it is ultimately “hard to predict”. Overall, the restructure was concerned with reducing costs and minimising the impact on students; while students are unlikely to see immediate effects, the reduced financial burden on NUSU will enable them to provide further support, resources, and opportunities for students, which will eventually improve daily life at Newcastle.

Well, it feels a bit surreal writing this but this is officially my final newspaper that I will be working on. Our eleventh, and final, paper of the year! It has been a year full of laughs (and some tears) but I wouldn't have changed it for anything.

How cliche you may say! I suppose there are cliches for a reason then... If I could go back to myself when I was a silly little Fresher (a whole four years ago now), I wouldn't have believed that I even would have gone for this role, let alone win it! I began as a Music Sub-Editor in 2022 and after two years in that role, my natural progression was to Head of

That's a wrap, folks!

Culture, before taking on the big boots of Editor-in-Chief. The skills I have gained have been absolutely invaluable and have ranged massively.

Now, enough about me! What a team I have had the privilege of working with this year. The creativity, innovation, and slightly crazy minds that have made up The Courier - whether you are a writer or an editor - have been totally inspiring. In an age where the fears of AI and technology are ever-looming and the political climate is shaky, it is so reassuring to see how passionate a group of volunteers can be. Without any of the names listed throughout this paper, we would have absolutely nothing.

The Student Media Officer role has been quite a surreal journey, and I am

Article Highlights: 19th May

Meet the scientist trying to cure all of our allergies

One of our writers investigates the effects of our allergies | Page 11

Life & Style | Lifestyle

Cold water, hot debate: USC's ice bucket challenge sparks controversy online

An old trend comes back around | Page 17

Life & Style | Food & Drink

World Bee Day: small creatures, big impact

Help our buzzing besties keep the world turning| Page 25

Culture | Arts

DICK. Newcastle alumni lays it bare Stripped back and unfiltered. Newcastle alumni take DICK to London | Page 36

NSR & NUTV |

Your station managers say goodbye Farewell from Erin & Alicia & our March Spotlight Winners | Page 29

Puzzles! |

Pick your brain with our maze | Page 34

Sports |

Was Lewis Hamilton's 2025 move to Ferrari the right choice?

Was Ferrari's grass greener... | Page 42

looking forward to reflecting back on my time once the pace has calmed down and the sun is it. From Student Council, to MEC, to whatever random meetings I have found myself in it has been the biggest learning opportunity in the world.

I want to properly thank my Senior Team, who have supported me throughout all of the good and bad. You are all extremely talented people and will go on to do really successful things I'm sure.

Hi everyone! My name is Gabbi, and I have the absolute pleasure of being your Student media Officer and Editor-In-Chief this year. Over the summer, I’ve been working hard behind the scenes alongside the Editorial team and NUSU to bring you this Freshers’ issue. Not only will you find loads of incredible articles written by our fantastic sub-editors, you’ll also find a one-stop guide to Freshers’ week, including an introduction to the Freshers’ week assistants who have put together an amazing programme of daytime activities for you all.

Our Station Managers Erin Reid and Alicia McEvoy have been incredible this year. Both stations faced hardship and big challenges this year, but we all bounced back and next year should be absolutely wonderful for everyone involved.

Freshers’ week is a time to get to know more about Newcastle University, but also the city as your new home. After calling Newcastle

Finally, to my successor Libby Griffiths. What a great job you will do! I can't wait to see everything you and the team do -to continue my fantastic legacy ;) (joking...).

Without getting into another cliche, Student Media has really enhanced my University life. From having a safe space to hang out on campus, to working with the great individuals, it has been my favourite part of getting my degree (and beyond). I feel very lucky to have been your Student Media Officer this year, and am constantly reminding myself what a great job this is. I certainly put my degree on hold for it, but what I gained instead was even more valuable!

If any of you are feeling a bit lost at University, Student Media is a great area of NUSU to get involved with. A

community full of supportive people, you certainly won't be losing out from joining!

So, for the last time this year, enjoy our newspaper - we have worked really hard on it and I hope you enjoy all of the wonderful articles that have been written.

Best of luck in your assignments and exams!

Lucy

THE COURIER SECTIONS

Editor

Lucy Bower

MediaOfficer.Union@newcastle.ac.uk

Current Affairs

Senior editors: Grace Boyle

G.Boyle3@newcastle.ac.uk

Anna Nix A.Nix2@newcastle.ac.uk

News

Marcus Williamson

Oscar Jenkins

Safia Adia

Campus

Comment

Amala Parry

Jess Mooney

Scarlet Davies

Opinion

Addie Dodson

Amelie Baker

Margaux Martinez

Science

Charlotte Atkinson

Matthew Barratt

Sport

Senior editor: Adam Tibke

A.S.Tibke2@newcastle.ac.uk

Adam Symes

Dylan Seymour

Megan Grimston

Noelia Fernandez Perez

Deputy Editor

Libby Griffiths

L.Griffiths9@newcastle.ac.uk

Social Media

Poppy Bedford

P.Bedford2@newcastle.ac.uk

Life & Style

Senior editors: Marina Snyder

M.Snyder2@newcastle.ac.uk

Charlotte Burley-Hnat C.Burley-Hnat2@newcastle.ac.uk

Relationships

Jess Hughes

Rosie McKenna

Blind date and Agony Aunt: Abi Ogden

Lifestyle

Abi Ogden

Ruby Tiplay

Emma Hunter

Fashion &

Beauty

Agnes Karbo

Trinity Eadie

Travel

Ellen Pinch

Sophie Jarvis

Food & Drink

Barbora Pacherova

Esther Arnold

Erin Matthews

Culture

Senior editors:

Sarah Tunstall

S.Tunstall2@newcastle.ac.uk

Adam Lovegrove A.Lovegrove2@newcastle.ac.uk

Music

Bertie Kirkwood

Oli Free

TV

Cory Gourley

Kirsty Dow

Film

Alex Paine

Charlotte Thompson

Gaming

Amy Mescus

Milly Thompson

Arts

Keira Gratton

Phoebe Clark

Puzzles

Poppy Bedford

'NUSU saved the radio star': Radio Tyneside on the move to campus

Christine Soloch - Writer of the

Year!!

Local hospital radio station confirms it's move to campus

Local station Radio Tyneside is moving into the Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) building this year.

The station has finalised the relocation from Claremont Road to the NUSU building before the start of the upcoming academic year.  Radio Tyneside is a charity and primarily a hospital radio station that promotes wellbeing of patients. The move is necessary, as its current building on Claremont Road can no longer accommodate the station's needs. For NUSU, the partnership felt like a natural fit. Graham Hattam, Deputy CEO of Commercial and Operations at NUSU, says:

“We are always looking to partner with other charities to better the student experience. Both organisations compliment each other very well. Hosting Radio Tyneside brings a realworld community presence into the student environment.”

“We are always looking to partner with other charities to better the student experience”

Moving into the SU building not only secures the future of the station–which will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year–but also opens up new opportunities for Student volunteers at the university. The decision aligns with the Union’s wider goals and vision in many ways: strengthening community links, providing diverse opportunities for students, and also generating an income to further support the SU financially.

With Newcastle Student Radio (NSR) in the same building, people have questioned how the two stations will co-exist. Dave Nicholson, chairman of Radio Tyneside, shares NUSU’s vision: “The two stations will remain separate entities”. However, there will be opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration, joint events, networking, technical skill training, and even cross promotions, where appropriate.

“There will be opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration”

While NSR is entirely student-led and primarily focused on student life, Radio Tyneside remains committed to serving hospital patients, with an emphasis on their listeners’ comfort. Nicholson affirms: “At Radio Tyneside, you’re broadcasting for an audience, not for your own pleasure”.

Nonetheless, he told  The Courier that

New strike dates are announced for June

sustainable future for our university."

Industrial action is set to continue as job losses remain a possibility

Newcastle University staff are to strike for three more days during the months of May and June. This comes at the heels of the university approving a £20 million reduction in its budget.

The Newcastle University branch of UCU have announced that there will be three additional days of industrial action in May and June, following 14 discontinuous strike days already taken in March.

While the university has tried to address its £35M shortfall by employing voluntary severance schemes, they have been unable to guarantee that compulsory job losses won't take place, leading to a continuation in the strikes.

"Compulsory redundancies will always be a last resort, and we are committed to working constructively with our unions to explore all possible alternatives," a spokesperson from the university said.

"Our priority is to support our colleagues through this challenging period while working towards a more

the station is looking to expand its offers, and is looking to host a local news bulletin and a sports programme–and they’re actively looking for suitable student volunteers to help make this happen.

“There will be opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration”

This relocation marks an exciting new chapter for a radio station that comes

with a proud legacy. It brings invaluable opportunities for anyone looking to get more involved in campus media.

Radio Tyneside relies on its volunteers, and everyone at Newcastle University is encouraged to support this awardwinning station. Recently being named “Station of the Year” at the National Hospital Radio Awards.

Previous volunteers at Radio Tyneside have gone on to achieve successes in broadcast: notably Max Fosh and Emil Franchi who have worked for the likes of BBC Radio 1 and amassed large followings on TikTok.

Over the past year our brilliant news writers have provided coverage of the most important stories here at Newcastle University. Here are some of our highlights:

We've covered all matters Newcastle University, from sabbatical officer elections, to University finances and strike action.

We've published articles that explore the things that matter most to our students, whether that be oncampus student protests or a heartwarming guard of honour for a beloved retiring chemistry lecturer. And we've reported on issues in our local community, such as local council affairs and the growing student presence in Jesmond.

This year also saw the introduction of Universities Challenged, our coverage of university news from around the country.

We look forward to seeing what next year's News team will do, but for now, all that's left to say is thank you and goodbye.

Cyberattack causes Co-op chaos

Charlotte Atkinson - Science Sub-Editor

“A variety of measures have been implemented”

An internal university email previously revealed that the Russell Group institution had found £15M in mitigations, but with a further £20M needing to be identified, a variety of measures have been implemented, such as tighter controls on recruitment, restricting travel budgets, voluntary severance schemes, and promotion freezes, to name a few.

In response, 83% of UCU's Newcastle University branch members voted to take up strike action, with 88% stating they were willing to take action short of a strike in February. Since then, 14 discontinuous strike days have taken place in March in protest of the cuts, with the £20M target equating to almost 300 jobs.

A national decline in the number of international students has been cited as a key cause for the economic burden currently facing Newcastle University, as it has been for universities across the country.

As well as staff, students have been significantly affected by the strikes and the wider implications of job losses and course closures for their studies. Nonetheless, students are showing solidarity and support in being an active part of the conversation.

Hackers have gained access to customer data following a cyber attack on April, 30.

The supermarket giant Co-op has been thrown into disarray following a cyberattack, leaving shelves empty in shops across the country.

Having discovered an attempted attack on the 30 April and with “sustained malicious attempts by hackers” in the following days, the chain was forced to shut down sections of their IT system, revealing in a message that this “necessitated the temporary shutdown of certain elements of our supply chain and logistics operations”.

“The Co-op have admitted that hackers have gained access to a “significant number” of customer data.”

The Co-op have further admitted that hackers have gained access to a “significant number” of customerrelated data. Though passwords and

financial information have not been accessed, names and contact details have, with chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq advising members to “take the usual steps to keep their passwords safe”. This news comes just days after another serious cyber-incident was experienced by M&S, an event still under investigation by the Metropolitan Police cybercrime

unit and the National Crime Agency (NCA), as they commence investigation into this newest attack. Both incidents are being linked to tactics frequently employed by hacker group Scattered Spider and associates such as Lapsus$. Products are now being diverted to more remote communities across the country as they are most affected by the availability issues.

Dhwani Masand

Image credit: Marcus Williamson

Image Credit: Sam Eyre

University Executive Board confirm around 38 further job losses for staff

The Courier

Grace Boyle - Head of Current Affairs

Marcus Williamson - News Sub-Editor

Staff

call for more communication after 38 further job losses

confirmed

Today, May 9, students at Newcastle University received communication from the Executive Board confirming an update on university finances. The University are entering a phase of proposed redundancies which ‘may affect a further 38 roles’ and not all schools will be affected.

Yesterday, May 8, in a separate message to staff from the ViceChancellor and President, it was confirmed that a total of 257 successful applications were accepted to the University Voluntary Severance Scheme (VS) which opened back in February. Many more applied, but due to VS acceptance criteria, several were rejected.

“The University are entering a phase of proposed redundancies”

The Scheme was extended twice for staff who chose to leave Newcastle University voluntarily and who agreed

to a nine-month financial package. The scheme reached the quota of required professional service staff to voluntarily leave, and therefore, the further 38 redundancies are to be academics.

The Executive Board said: ‘There is still a shortfall of £3.8M from the total £20M savings we need to find’ to reduce expenditure. This was agreed with the university governing body and council, and so decided ‘we must now move forward with the next phase of our plans, which includes redundancies’.

“We

The message from the Executive Board said: ‘We believe that, under the current plans, we can preserve the academic character and mission of the University – avoiding the closure of any subject areas and preserving the breadth of our research and education.’

Staff and colleagues expressed that they were not properly informed by the Executive Board that these communications were coming. One staff member shared: ‘It was incredibly difficult and distressing to have received it [the emails] out of the blue’.

The University and College Union (UCU), representing staff at Newcastle University, have previously launched strike action throughout 2025 in response to the financial implications.

In February, they announced 14 days

of strike action, taking place over four teaching weeks throughout March. This was followed in April with the announcement of a further 21 days of strike action, which began on April 28.  These strikes are taking place throughout May as well as June 27 and 28.

The UCU have agreed on a reballot for a marking and assessment boycott, however the current exam period, between May 12 and May 30, will still go as planned. Staff confirm that students should still attend their timetabled exams.

Education Sabbatical Officer, Jasmine Banks said: ‘NUSU remains neutral regarding the strikes as we centrally represent the student's interests. Whether or not they support the strikes, the impact of industrial action has been incredibly disruptive to the student experience and we are here to offer advice and support.’

Jasmine explains NUSU encourages: ‘Students to seek financial compensation for extended periods of disruption as it is their right to do so by the Office for Students’ Take a stance: https://nusu.co.uk/ takeastance. ‘Students can submit a complaint to their school regarding the impact industrial action has had on their educational experience and their university careers. We specifically suggest you request financial compensation or ‘remedy’.’

‘If students are not happy with the results, we recommend they go through the formal case work process which involves raising the appeal to Level 2. NUSU is happy to support students through this process.’

Student Media Awards National disposable vape ban to come into effect next month

Writer of the Year - Christine Soloch

Culture Article of the Year - Bertie Kirkwood Current Affairs Article of the YearMarcus Williamson Life & Style Article of the YearSasha Cowie Sports Article of the Year - Tom Wood

Sub-Editor of the Year - Bertie Kirkwood Section of the Year - Opinion

Creative Visual Designer of the YearSophie Jarvis Spread of the Year -

From June 1 2025, it will be illegal to sell, supply, or possess disposable vapes in the UK. This applies to both nicotine and non-nicotine options, applying to retailers online and in-store. The ban aims to protect young people from the health risks and environmental impact associated with vaping.

In some ways, the ban has achieved its aims, as the percentage of those aged 16-24 using disposable vapes has dropped by nearly half in the last year from 63% to 35%. However, researchers believe that this drop is a result of switching to refillable and rechargeable vapes in anticipation of the ban, instead of giving it up.

the ban, between January 2022 and 2024, vaping amongst those 16 and over increased from 8.9% to 13.5%. In young adults, the 16-24 age bracket, this increased more sharply from 17% to 26.5%.

“In

In anticipation of the ban, more of these users have switched, with production companies also coming out

with rechargeable versions of their best sellers. They are very similar in design, colours, flavour and even in price.

GP Dr Helen Wall has said the NHS advice is 'very clear' that vaping should only be used as a means to stop or help quit smoking. Instead, the idea that vaping is ‘less harmful’ than smoking has caused a lot more young people to turn to this instead.

'Our young people are becoming quite addicted. It’s affecting their concentration, they’re becoming agitated, their capacity to learn is affected, their developing brain can be affected.' .

The proposed ban may therefore only have a limited impact on vaping rates as it found that vaping increase stalled between January 2024 and 2025, after several years of a steady incline. Before

Image credit: Grace Boyle

Underused to unmissable: King's Gate unveils new student hub

Lucy Bower -Editor-in-Chief

Student services is back in business! Our Editor tells us all...

Newcastle University has officially opened its major transformation of its King's Gate Level 1 and 2, unveiling a dynamic new hub designed to provide more space for students. Previously underused with just 19% of the space offered to students, the building has been reimagined with student needs at its heart.

King's Gate looms over campus next to the main set of stairs. Its presence was previously only used for students who required services, and felt fairly clinical. However, the refreshed King's Gate now hosts a wide variety of spaces aimed at fostering innovation, wellbeing, and collaboration. Students can explore opportunities through dedicated startup project areas, browse the University merchandise, or sit with peers to do work in a vibrant central forum. There are also bookable spaces for student societies to use both as both formal and informal meeting rooms. The new space will give students access to a basic kitchen - so you will no longer have to try and make your £3.30 coffee last the day in a cafe. Instead, you can sit

in King's Gate and use the unlimited hot water for tea, coffee, or even a pot noodle.

A key feature of the redesign is the addition of twenty three modern appointment rooms equipped with mood lighting and enhanced ventilation systems. Accessibility has been a priority, with eleven of the rooms designed to accommodate wheelchair users and five featuring electric heightadjustable desks.

“Accessibility has been a priority...accomodating wheelchair users.”

Level 2 has been designed as a dedicated wellbeing floor, offering a calm and comfortable environment for students seeking support and utilising the University counselling system. Walking up the stairs was enough to be welcomed with a wave of serenity, and it will be nice to see the floor in action. Emphasising sustainability, much of the furniture in the new space has been upcycled, creating a unique and welcoming atmosphere.

King's Gate is open to students from 9:30am to 4:30pm daily, with enquiries and support services available from 8:30am. Whether seeking career advice,

wellbeing resources, or simply a space to meet and recharge, students now have a flexible and inclusive space to be in on campus.

“Newcastle University is committing to place student experiences and success at the centre...”

With this transformation, Newcastle University is not only making better use of campus facilities, but also committing to place student experience and success at the centre of university life.

How can Newcastle Uni support Trans and Non-Binary students?

Amala

Parry -Campus Comment Sub-editor

In April 2025, the UK Supreme Court altered its definition of a 'woman' under the law, excluding Transwomen, Non-Binary and Intersex individuals. This monumental decision, spearheaded by Trans Exlusionary Radical Feminists such as J.K. Rowling, has been a massive step backwards in terms of LGBTQ+ rights. We can easily support and uplift the Trans and Non-Binary individuals in our lives, but how can Newcastle University offer the same support systems for these vulnerable students at this time?

The argument of sex and gender definitions has been a central

Rowling, the once beloved author of Harry Potter, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express her resentful views on a COVID-19 article which referred to 'people who menstruate' instead of 'women.' Her response prompted an online discourse about Trans exclusion, leading several LGBTQ+ activists to deem Rowling a 'TERF' (Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist).

Whether you disagree with her opinions or not, there's no denying that J.K. Rowling's sex/gender discourse online and her TERF 'activism' may have triggered the recent Supreme Court ruling. Though for TERFs like Rowling, this changing of the law is a step in the right direction towards 'protecting' cisgender women and preserving samesex spaces, for many others, especially Transgender Women, the ruling feels like a stripping of their human rights,

shifting the meaning of the Equality Act from 2010. This means that now, under the law, Transgender women will be sent to all-male prisons and will be reprimanded for entering womenonly spaces, such as changing rooms or public bathrooms, due to their biological makeup.

“(University) have an LGBTQ+ safe space on campus where students can go for support and a sense of community”

This is not protecting women, it is creating more separation and segregation between them. Transgender women are being denied protection and autonomy over their bodies and lives, simply due to the benign concerns of one group of individuals. These concerns are not even rooted in fact, as most cisgender women are sexually assaulted or harassed by cisgender men, not by transgender women. Most cisgender women would say that they feel more exposed and vulnerable surrounded by cisgender men than by transgender women. The negative experiences of a few do not diminish the positive experiences of the masses. In educational spaces, such as universities, there should be more support networks and spaces for trans and non-binary students, who might feel most affected by this new court ruling. Transgender women are one of

the most vulnerable social groups in our society, more susceptible to sexual assault, hate crime, and even higher levels of cancer or disease. Institutions, such as universities and schools, should be making space for these individuals, providing them with adequate safe spaces and protection from abuse or assault.

Currently, the University does have some things in place to support LGBTQ+ students. For example, they have an LGBTQ+ safe space on campus where students can go for support and a sense of community, with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. There are several gender neutral toilets across campus, namely in the SU, which are helpful for non-binary folk or those who feel more comfortable in genderneutral spaces. Furthermore, the Uni's LGBTQ+ Society and LGBTQ+ Officer are there for trans and nonbinary students, offering community and support in times of need. You can find information about all of these services on the SU website.

“There are

several gender

neutral toilets across campus, namely in the SU”

Now is the time to come together to support those who are more vulnerable than us, and to cultivate safe spaces and supportive communities that combat hate and prejudice. Trans women are women.

Goodbye from us!

SCARLET:

I've had such an incredible year being a sub-editor! From learning how to use InDesign (which still confuses me) to attending SMA's and editing articles, being a part of the Courier community has challenged me to be the best version of myself, and allowed me to meet so many new people. Campus Comment wouldn't have been the same without my fellow sub-editors Jess and Amala, who have been so lovely to work with. Thank you to everyone who wrote for us this year, and I'm looking forward to doing it all again next year!

AMALA:

I've had a great time being a Campus Comment subeditor this year! It's been so much fun to come up with article ideas every week, help design the spreads for print and see our hard-work in the paper. I couldn't have asked for better fellow sub-editors to work alongside- Jess and Scarlet are two of the loveliest people I've met at Uni and it's been a pleasure to work with them! I'm glad I decided to take the plunge and apply for the sub-editor role, and if any of you are considering applying for next year you absolutely should! Thank you to every single person who wrote for our section this year, we've had some incredibly thought-provoking and well written articles. You're all amazing and keep persuing your passions.

JESS:

Thank you so so much to every single person who has contributed to our little section this year. I would not have been possible without you. and have made our year so fun. I want to thank my incredible co-sub editors who have made this year so amazing. You are both so taleted, kind and I am very lucky to have shared Campus comment with you

GRACE AND ANNA:

It has been a privilege to see the Campus Comment team and section flourish this year! Your ideas, creativity and dedication has been incredible to see and the editors have brilliantly made it their own. Thank you to our recurring writers this year it has been wonderful reading your stories this year and we hope to see you all soon

Image: Credit: Newcastle University Student Services

Image Source : Lucy Bower

Is it just a bad time to be a university student in the UK?

Anna Nix

-Head of Current Affairs

The highs and lows of being a university student in the UK...

Another academic year is ending and whether it’s your last or first in university, perhaps you’ve wondered whether being a university student in the UK is worth it.

It’s no secret that this year has been a challenging time to be a university student in the UK. With our second semester impacted heavily by strikes, which are still set to continue, along with preparations for a marking boycott. It’s not been easy, and Newcastle University has not been alone in this struggle

These interruptions to our studies are coming at a time of increased home tuition fees and changes to student loans repayment. Under the Plan 5, which came in effect in August 2023, students are starting to repay their debts earlier and for longer. If you think this is terrible, don’t even let me get started on international student fees, which

are constantly increasing. Paired with the utterly terrible conditions after graduating, it makes one ponder whether coming to the UK to study is worth it.

As someone who is an international student but still jumped on the reduced tuition fees for EU students, I can’t complain too much. But changes to immigration laws, work visas and astronomically high fees, aren’t exactly alluring for someone travelling hundreds of kilometres and paying thousands in tuition fees.

“I've had people ask me if I would make the same choice again...”

I’ve had people ask me whether I would make the same choice again. And my response to that is that I would make the same one, if I had the same conditions as when I first applied. However, in these new conditions with higher fees and immigration laws, which make it impossible for any future outlooks in this country,… To put it bluntly, I’d

stay the hell away from the UK.

If you’re paying thousands in fees for an education that is constantly being interrupted by strikes (as two out of the three years of my degree were), your university has been battling financial issues, and the country is doing everything in its power to kick you out as soon as possible (aka the new conditions for a Skilled Worker Visa), then those are all signs to carefully consider your plans.

To balance all these negatives out with a smidge of a silver lining, I’ve had a great university experience. Yes, I’ve faced some challenges, much like everyone else, but I am glad I crossed the channel and flew up here. For me, even through all these struggles, it was worth it.

And with the danger of sounding cliché, I believe it is up to you to make the best of it. Yes, we’re all facing incredible challenges now and possibly in our futures. But I’ve learned a lot on my university journey and as much as I would urge anyone to do detailed research of their future university, I wouldn’t change a thing about my decisions. With that sappy finish, I would like to say goodbye to my undergraduate degree at Newcastle University and welcome new challenges, experiences and adventures.

An alternative review of the student pubs in Newcastle

2. Five Swans

James Kobasa

Which pubs in Newcastle are the best for student deals?

As a man who's been through a fair few pubs over the past three years, here is an experienced review of pubs Newcastle is proud of.

1. Three Bulls Heads:

My first experience with this pub was my mates and I resurrecting a man from the dead. Shout-out to Derek and his mate Lawrence, who was more interested in his tab than his mate being out stone cold. Through this, we discovered the oasis that is the Three Bulls. Cheaper than Wetherspoons- 2.75 student moretti and many more bargains that would make Martin Lewis scream for joy. On top of this, there are more screens than a Sky Sports studio, allowing live analysis of anything from fishing to football. The regulars are like a GB News live audience, but it's great if you keep yourself to yourself.

The all-time student pub of Newcastle, not too much to say here, but you can meet all the local characters, stemming from the vest, look north and Casino Royale. Where else have you seen people dressed as Ali G interacting with Catholic preachers on a Sunday, and having to stop random people from having a scrap over the disabled toilet? In short, it's open until the early hours, what more could you want?

3. The Hotspur

A recent addition for its £5 pizza deal at lunch, pizza and a soft drink for a fiver on a lunchtime deal puts and Co-op meal deal to shame. Rumour is you can also upgrade to an alcoholic beverage if revising isn't going too well. And if, for whatever reason, your life is monotonous enough to the

Sub-Editors:

extent you can be entertained by bus spotting, then you can feast your eyes on the inner workings of Haymarket bus station from outside.

4. Tyne Bar

The most eclectic selection of pints you'll ever see in the northeast. No matter the mood, there is a pint for you: Stressed- 12% stout,Happy-12% stout. Quiet one-12% stout and for those who are brave enough, cans of ale for a tenner as well.

5. Honourable mentions

Luther's: I'm sure Martin Luther King would be delighted that his legacy is perpetuated through a Student Union Wetherspoons. Cosy Dove- Very rah, but the Hawkstone and Poretti make up for it. I would recommend going outside of term time if you qualify for a student loan.

Free at last: My summer plans...

Amelie Baker

-Opinion Subeditor

My main plan once the season of academic torture is finally over is graduation and leaving Newcastle - but that’s almost as bad as the unending list of deadlines and exams so we won’t talk about that. The brief window before this though is filled with as many plans as possible to make the most of a last June in the Toon.

The biggest event lighting up the calendar is undoubtedly seeing Sam Fender play St James’ Park. There will be many tears, but it will be one of the highlights of my time here in Newcastle, and the perfect way to say goodbye to a great four years. I remember in second year, me and my housemates met him down the pub right before he played St James' that year. I didn’t manage to get tickets that year, so this June definitely feels like a bit of full circle moment.

We are also planning to go see Hamilton in Sunderland later on in June. I’ve never been to Sunderland, so it’ll be interesting to go give it an explore, as well as see

Hamilton live. I’ve only ever seen one musical before in person, which was Les Mis. I lived with Americans in Spain last year and they forced me to watch Hamilton - of course I loved it! Seeing it live will be another first in my last month as a student.

A part from the big events, June will also be the time to just enjoy the normal everyday free from laptop screens and libraries. The beach is top of the to do list, especially if the weather continues to be as lovely as it has been recently. And most of all, I will be reading for fun at the beach - my goodreads to read list is getting intimidatingly long.

Another list that is stretching longer and longer is the cafes and bars to try in Newcastle. And I plan to be sat at those cafes having a coffee laptop-free, with a game of cards going and not a single thought in my head more complicated than what my next play will be.  After exams, life will be all about making the most out of the beautiful place we are all lucky to live in, and seeing as many people as possible before we all leave. It’ll be free from exams, but full of goodbyes.

A LinkedIn guide for every student

Aradhya Neogy Singh

Key tips and tricks students should know

It’s never too early to build your future - my mentor once told me while helping me create my LinkedIn profile— and she was right. LinkedIn has become essential for anyone preparing to enter the professional world.

If you’re a university student wondering when to start ‘being professional,’ the answer is: right now! LinkedIn isn’t just for people with years of work experience—it’s actually one of the best tools out there for university students who want to get a head start on their careers. Whether you're looking for internships, curious about different industries, or just trying to figure out what you want to do after graduation, LinkedIn can help.

At first, building your LinkedIn profile might feel a little daunting. It can seem like a lot to manage, especially if you’re not used to talking about your skills and accomplishments. But don’t worry; once you get started, it becomes easier and even fun. Think of it as your online introduction to the professional world. A good photo (where you look friendly and ‘professional'), a headline that says what you're studying and what you're aiming for, and a short 'About' section can go a long way. Keep it honest and simple, something

like, “Business student passionate about digital marketing and creative strategy.” Don’t stress if you haven’t had a ‘fancy’ job yet. Your campus activities, parttime jobs, volunteering, and even class projects all count. Add them to your experience section and explain what you did and learned.

“Don't stress if you haven't had a 'fancy' job yet.”

LinkedIn’s magic lies in its networking. Start by connecting with classmates, professors, and people you've worked with. Then, branch out. Look for alumni from your school, people in jobs you admire, or recruiters at companies you’re interested in. Networking isn’t just about connecting; it’s about building relationships. Try reaching out for a quick chat to learn about someone’s career path. It’s a great way to get advice and deepen your understanding of the field you're interested in.

Once your profile is up, don’t let it sit there collecting digital dust. Keep it active by liking posts, sharing articles, or posting updates about your work. Don’t forget to list your skills, certifications, and ask for endorsements—they’ll add credibility to your profile.

Bonus: our university offers free access to LinkedIn Learning, a platform full of courses that can help you sharpen your skills and boost your resume. It's a fantastic resource to use alongside your profile! Bottom line? LinkedIn is one of the easiest ways to start building your career. So get on there and start connecting— your future self will thank you!

Source rawpixel

Image Source: Pexels

Is enough being done to attach the North to the country’s economy?

Holly Lloyd-Edwards

North VS South, lost in connection?

The United Kingdom may be a small island, but our economic and social inequalities run all the way from North to South.

Being from Yorkshire, I know very few people who are unfamiliar with the “nearly there” trees, famously associated with a drive down to Cornwall. The staple landmark embodies a significant milestone of a journey that people from both the North and the South can recognise. It feels almost surreal driving down the M5 and witnessing the changing landscape, notable manufacturing belts, smoother roads, and better signage. Not to mention the famous Gloucester Service’s that unfailingly draw in curious commuters.

But how come these shiny infrastructures seem so foreign to Northerners? I’m sure both this experience and question floats through everybody who either commutes or relocates anywhere below Birmingham (wherever the North-South boarder is supposed to be drawn).

Since the infamous “levelling up” agenda introduced by the Conservative Party in 2019, strategies to create more jobs and to drive economic growth in

the North have been prominent in the political playing field.

The classic policy for economic growth is to announce investment plans, pray that trickle-down economics is not actually a hoax, and to apologise when funding only stretches to the end the Prime Ministers’ garden. It happened under Cameron’s government with his Northern Powerhouse Agenda, under Boris Johnson’s official “levelling up” agenda which ended with more symbolic ribbon-cutting than results, and continues under Starmer’s government with Labour’s promise to move away from austerity, whilst also gluing their feet to the floor.

The Labour manifesto introduced ‘a new industrial strategy’ to kickstart economic growth. However empirical research by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that ‘industrial policies can raise regional and industry productivity and regional employment, but on average these effects are small.’

There still lies high ambiguity over the effect Labour’s industrial policies that are situated in eight ‘growth driving’ sectors. The Economics Observatory identifies these as ‘advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative industries, defence, digital and technology, financial services, life

sciences, and professional and business services’.

Success of this strategy relies on

and South of England. I would argue that this inequality is significant because protecting future generations opportunities is one of the most

AI art: planet Earth's silent but deadly killer

Abigail Charnley

This writer explores the destructive impacts of AI art on both the creative industries and the environment.

It was ironic that as I searched for some more exact statistics on how AI is destroying the environment that the first answer that popped up was AI generated. Even someone as passionately against AI as me can’t seem to avoid running into it constantly on the internet today, but does this mean we should just give into its constant appearance on our screens?

Recently social media platforms have seen the many AI ‘art’ trends flood the algorithms. However, is it really art to simply take someone else’s hard work and imagination, and request that a computer uses their idea to create something you can then stick your name on?

As people began to ‘create’

images in the style of Japanese artist Hayao Miyazaki, a debate sprung up, with Miyazaki’s past words on being ‘disgusted’ by the use of AI sparking conversion around whether using AI for ‘art’ was acceptable. Given that these people were not using their own imagination and creativity to make the images produced, it doesn’t seem right to deem what they made art, when they had essentially just typed a few instructions into a computer.

Additionally, this lack of imagination is causing massive damage to the environment. The UN have stated that AI requires huge amounts of raw materials and water to function, with an estimate that global AI related infrastructure may soon consume six times more water than Denmark. This catastrophic amount of damage AI is doing hardly seems justifiable, especially in the case of AI art. Whilst it’s important to nurture and encourage anyone’s desire to create art,

important catalysts in dissolving the North-South divide as we see it today. Following GCSE and A-Level results in 2022 the House of Lords acknowledged that ‘there is regional variation in the average size of the disadvantage gap’. According to a report published in 2021 ‘children who live in the north of England are more likely to live in poverty and be absent from school, both of which are correlated with lower educational achievement’. The Labour government's strategy to tackle these ‘barriers to opportunities’ is to recruit 6,500 new teachers in key subjects. However this policy inducts time lags. Furthermore, recent strike action talks from the National Education Union could potentially threaten the success of Labour’s plans for education. The question of whether enough is being done to reduce the NorthSouth divide is unclear. It is evident that the issue is highly relevant and outstanding in government policy. Whilst the manufacturing sector in Yorkshire and The Humber have been described as a ‘shining beacon’ in terms of workforce growth, promoting a positive narrative for the future of North-South economic integration, social and economic disparities still remain as barriers to northern economic development.

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Viktorvoigt; Nilfanion; Schezar

imagination, and it’s disrespectful to the original artist, especially in the case of Miyazaki who has previously expressed that he thinks AI is an insult to life itself. Does anyone really think it’s okay to use massive amounts of water on maintaining AI systems when much of the world still doesn’t have access to clean drinking water?

Surely we would all benefit more from stepping away from AI in the creative sphere, and instead pushing ourselves to improve in our artistic abilities. Trying and failing is what allows us to get better and it sparks new ideas, as opposed to current ideas simply being regenerated, given AI can only regurgitate existing information, rather than create original ideas. What may initially look like a simple Instagram art post could really be a cog in the machine harming our environment.

f course we are! And that's thanks to you guys: our writers, our supporters, the many many people who nominated us.

On May 2nd, Opinion had the honour of winning Spread of the Year for our spread which focused on the US elections. We also won Section of the Year - something we are very proud of!

We wanted to use this space in our last spread to thank everyone: first our writers who make everything we've done possible. We'd also like to thank Anna and Grace, the best heads of section ever as well as the wider Current Affairs team. Finally we'd like to thank Lucy, who is a fabulous SMO!

This is our last year and we are all very excited but sad to move on. We can't wait to see what becomes of the section next year and we wish our successors the best of luck with

The Supreme Court ruling impacting trans participation in sport

Kate Kennedy discusses the

impact of the Supreme Court ruling on trans athletes

On 16 April, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex (notice that they haven’t ruled on men’s definition). This is going to have significant impacts on trans people in sport, especially as they have already been banned from competing in athletics, cycling and, aquatics. This is going to affect young trans people who want to pursue a career in sport as they will be forced to come out by having to compete on the team of a gender they don’t align with.

So many amazing athletes that will slip through the cracks due this ruling cancels out entire careers for young people in sport. Sport should be for everyone regardless of their gender identity, being transgender does not make someone better at sport.

What will happen is transgender men will need to compete against ciswomen which will cause more argument despite this ruling.

Our bodies are being policed now more than ever. It is unfair to force a transwoman to compete on a men’s team as she will face further discrimination as she will be the only woman. There is no peace for transpeople now due to this ruling as an AMAB (assigned male at birth) woman on a man’s team will face backlash as will an AFAB (assigned female at birth) man on a women’s team. It is claimed that this is about protecting women when, in reality, it is about controlling women and controlling their bodies. The only person who can decide your gender for you is yourself, not the government, not a sports team, not angry people on Twitter, your gender is yours and yours alone to decide.

Despite this awful Supreme Court ruling transgender people and allies must fight to ensure trans people’s place in sports as they have just as much right to compete for their gender as cis people do.

Kate Kennedy

NORTH

SOUTH

Image Source: Openclipart, IconScout, PICRYL, Wikimedia Commons, Luis Alvaz. rawpixel

Image credit: Charlotte Blatherwick

Monday 19th May 2025

Sub-Editors: Adelaide Dodson, Amelie Baker & Margaux Martinez

Blue Origin’s all female space visit - is it feminist or futile?

On April 14th, Blue Origin, founded by the billionaire Jeff Bezos, launched an all-female crew, including pop star Katy Perry, into suborbital space. This trip marked the first all-female spaceflight for more than 60 years, and yet it felt anything but monumental. The brief 10-minute flight has caused major controversy over its out-of-touch nature and capitalistic undertones, prompting individuals to ask: was it feminist or futile?

Images of Katy Perry tearfully holding a daisy in the air while at zero-gravity, or kneeling to kiss the Texas ground, have become memes instead of symbols of a ‘historic day for women.’ Many have criticised the Blue Origin NS-31 flight for its poor timing, happening amid global economic uncertainty and

political tensions. The crazy thing is: it took millions of dollars to develop the New Shepard Rocket, which flew Perry into space, and supposedly, a single ticket for the flight could cost over $200,000, with a deposit of $150,000 required. So really, instead of a 'historic day for women', it was simply another day of reckless spending for a bunch of out-of-touch millionaires.

It begs the question- was this mission really necessary?

The Blue Origin NS-31 flight mission (if you can even call it that?) was organised by Jeff Bezo’s fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, as part of Blue Origin’s ‘space tourism’ program.

The mission gained media traction for the all-female lineup, which included TV presenter Gayle King and pop star Katy Perry. However, Many took to social media to criticise the expense of the flight, with actress Olivia Munn calling the whole event ‘gluttonous.’

It’s understandable why people were shocked and borderline disgusted by such a nonchalant spending of

money, when millions of people across the world are struggling to pay their rent or save enough for their weekly food shop. Furthermore, though the flight was framed from a ‘feminist’ standpoint, as a historical moment for women, it seemed incredibly out of touch with actual feminist issues faced by normal members of society. Katy Perry and her ‘taking up space’ co-passengers could collectively afford to support vulnerable women by donating large sums to feminist charities, which would arguably make more of a statement. Yet, they chose to spend nearly a quarter of a million each to visit space for all of 10 minutes, for no reason at all and with absolutely no benefit to the feminist cause. Gluttonous seems about right. Not only was the mission grossly expensive, but a single Blue Origin trip into space is said to produce copious amounts of carbon emissions. Though Bezos and his engineers claimed that the rocket produces little CO2 emissions, only releasing 'water vapour' (sure, Jeff), various studies imply that a brief 11-minute flight into space results in 75 tonnes of carbon emissions per passenger. This is a shocking amount,

considering that the carbon footprint of the average American is 16 tonnes (which is still a lot in terms of a global scale, but that would be over a lifetime, not within the space of 10 minutes).

& Pexels_DaliaAl-Refai

Taylor Swift, there are some new Carbon Queens in town.

Overall, this Blue Origin mission spreads a dangerous message about the future of 'Space Tourism.' For starters, it establishes the concept as a very exclusive and elite privilege for those who have $200,000 spare. Secondly, it demonstrates a careless and irresponsible disregard of our already damaged climate, as well as global socio-economic issues that actually deserve attention and funding by billionaires such as Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk (who, let's face it, would rather send their wives into space than actually contribute to improving society). So was the Blue Origin Feminist or futile? Futile, of course.

Free the kids: Youth Mobility plan in talks with Brussels

Amelie Baker - Opinion Subeditor

This writer looks at the need for a youth mobility plan for the UK, and what it could mean for students.

The EU have stated that they would be open to 12-month work visas for ‘youth experience’ scheme with UK, opening the doors to the pre-Brexit past where moving

pointless bureaucracy. As a languages student, being able to go to Europe without having to cut through the red tape of Visas would be a dream.

Last year, I lived in Spain and taught English at a local school through the British Council assistantship programme. Next year, I’m hoping to do the same thing, but this time in France, which means another summer of wading through vaguely worded government websites trying to find the correct visa process. And its expensive - not exactly

assistantship exist to encourage cultural exchange and foster international relationships. Indeed, the international friendships I made in Spain opened up so many different conversations and introduced me to so many different worldviews: the differences between Spanish, German, and English clubbing; how Americans view their identity as beautifully diverse; how lucky other Europeans think I am as a native English speaker versus my envy of them for being able to speak both English and their native language. Above all, my Spanish has improved in a way that can only come from a truly immersive experience -  from living and breathing that language

to afford it if it were not for the British Council position - and the visa process is a big factor in the limitations on work opportunities available to UK citizens, as well as the affordability of moving abroad.

Keeping up with the White House

Tom Wood - News Sub-Editor

Scrambling to keep up.

As the Earth rotated for the 100th time since Donald Trump began his second term, the easy peeler President hailed it as the “best 100-day start of any president in history”. But approval ratings plummeting below 40% (the worst of any president in the post-war era), and a shrinking economy for the first time since 2022 suggest otherwise. Nonetheless, he seems resolute in his commitment to his batsh*t destruction of the world as we know it. Now we are not so much keeping up with the White House as scrambling to catch up with a rapidly unfolding nightmare.

In the last week, Trump has: announced his intention to introduce 100% tariffs on movies produced outside of the states, sparking concern across the the film industry; said he doesn’t know if he has to uphold the constitution; and revealed he has an eye on the papacy by posting an AI-generated image of himself as the new pope.

Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, also revealed that the East African country is in “early stage” conversations with the Trump administration to accept migrants deported by the USbecause that worked so well for the Tories.

It’s enough to make you question whether life is a simulation.

But without the British Council and its offer of a paid placement abroad I never would’ve been able to expand my worldview in this way. The sad state of international opportunities for young people has seriously dwindled in our post-Brexit world. Although I study a degree that has a compulsory year abroad, I’m not sure if I would have been able

The reality is that international opportunities for the student body in this country are disappearing. Along with that so too is our connection to the international stage, our position in international politics and, above all, our ability, as a nation, to understand and connect with other cultures. A change in the bureaucracy surrounding visas, for people coming into this country as well as those going out, could save that. International mobility is one of the stepping stones towards a more connected world that thrives on cross-cultural understanding and communication - and the government should fight for that, and for our generation.

Alongside the endless servings of word salad, incompetence dressing and danger croutons, surely the MAGA crowd have the humility to accept they have been disastrously wrong? Apparently not. According to a poll released by the Public Religion Institute, 92% of those who voted for Trump don’t regret their decision.

But what does this say about the health of American democracy in the modern age, when slugs vote for salt, then clap along as they shrivel? When the President can freely mock religions, pass the buck on problems clearly of his own making, and undo decades of international policy?

The worst bit is you can bet there will be so much more to come in this second term. Luckily, President Trump has been kind enough to reassure us all that he is not considering running for a third… but I’ll believe it

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Republic of Korea; DonkeyHotey

Image: Source Flcikr_EvaRinaldi & Openclipart _j4p4n & WikimediaCommons_GageSkidmore

Image: Wikimedia Commons, William Crochot, Yeagov, Saffron Blaze, PICRYL

Amala Parry - Campus Comment Subeditor

Alex's animal corner

Alex De Koning

Shark, crackle, and pop

Made from scratch: will we ever make life in the lab?

Dhwani Masand

Have you ever wondered what noise a shark would make if it could?

Would they sing like whales? Croak like frogs? Well, as it turns out, they click.

In the first ever recording of sharks actively making a noise, scientists have found that New Zealand rig sharks make short, sharp clicks. Based on the click’s acoustic characteristics, it seems these noises are created by the sharks forcefully snapping the same flattened teeth they use to crush their prey.

This discovery was made when the researchers handled the sharks suggesting that the noises may be a form of distress signal. However, further research is needed to determine in what other scenarios the rigs might do this, what the biological significances are, and whether other sharks share this trait. That being said, do not try this experiment at home. If I see any TikToks of swimmers taking a mic to a great white, I will be disappointed. But probably not as much as the swimmer.

Bird who cried ‘Hawk!’

Tiny brown thornbills are not able to outrun their predators or challenge them physically, but can they outsmart them? New evidence shows that when predators try and raid their nest, these birds fake the “hawk!” alarm calls of other species to scare them away.

Scientists proved this by recording the Australian birds creating a chorus of mimicry, before playing them for the predatory pied currawongs and watching them flee. This is the first experiment studying deceptive alarm calls used to fool nest predators, but perhaps it represents the importance of not underestimating the little guy. And how scary hawks are, of course.

Eavesdropping on your hopping

If you’re a frog and you think your mating calls are private, think again. Fringe-lipped bats from Central and South America have been found to use the secret communications of frogs and toads to determine which are tasty and which are poisonous.

When researchers played the recordings of these frogs and toads to the bats, they responded to the ones that were palatable with eager ear flicks or flying towards the speaker. They even managed to tell which mating calls came from frogs that were too big to handle.

Younger bats were less likely to distinguish which frogs were poisonous or too big, suggesting that this feature comes from experience and that even the teenagers of the animal kingdom suffer problems with toxic mates.

One of our writers examines the age old question...

When thinking of making or manufacturing life in the lab, it brings to mind a philosophical debate about existence. Little do we know, that is something that divides the science community to this day!

The human urge to create is as old as existence; create technology, create art, and even create life. So much so that an entire field known as synthetic biology is dedicated to this quest! But while the name promises the creation of artificial/synthetic life, what does it signify? In 2010, scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institutes in Maryland and California claimed they had made the first self-replicating synthetic bacterial cell.

But, does that stand for the creation of life, or just an incredible feat of genetic engineering? The scientists modelled the DNA after a bacterium found in nature, after all. The question is whether we can even make life from basic non-living components. Otherwise, the basic principle becomes akin to grafting a rose from

another plant; the result might be what we wish, but the process is still not giving us the same yield. In reality, the main goal would be achieved when we can create self-sustaining cells from just their molecular parts. All cells are basically made up of the same living components: DNA, lipids, proteins, and so on. So, if we were to combine these ingredients, using the principles of chemistry, would it technically create life?

“So, it brings us back to the eternal question, much like the chicken and the egg - what came first?”

Even if we combine the ingredients, they don't exactly undergo a magical transformation and turn into cells! There is a certain gestation period, along with the fact that we would essentially be attempting to replicate something that may have a chemical anomaly, in the first place! It is debated if forming life could be a possibility if we can manage to manufacture a molecular version of the Big Bang, or manufacture similar conditions that would have existed on a primitive Earth, much like with the Adam molecule experiment. Cells can't just form themselves, because in the immortal words of Rudolf Virchow, who helped promote cell theory in

the 19th century, “every cell comes from a cell”. So, it brings us back to the eternal question, much like the chicken and the egg- what came first?

The idea that life did occur from a slow combination of certain chemical elements and gases, over a period of time, until the qualities of a “living entity” helped promote the first cell division, means that somehow, it can be replicated. But if we are going so far as to replicate life, why not create something entirely different? But, just as some parts of the cell grow and develop on their own, we still don't know how to make things that function like molecules, but aren't the same.

It all boils down to a simple question in the scientific community: What does “life” stand for? And how would we know that we have manufactured a living entity if we have no pre-existing standards to compare it to?

Meet the scientists trying to cure all of our allergies

Christine Soloch

One of our writers investigates the effects of our allergies...

Living with allergies can be much more than just a seasonal nuisance. The threat of an anaphylactic shock from just a hint of peanut can be extremely anxiety-inducing and debilitating. Allergies may dictate the day-to-day of those affected, where they go, how they live and, of course, what they eat.

However, hope may be on the horizon as a potentially lifechanging trial has shown that twothirds of adults with severe peanut allergies can be desensitised through supervised daily exposure: a treatment otherwise known as oral immunotherapy (OIT). In the past, OIT has already proved to be effective in children.

eliminating the burden of allergies. Rather than meticulously avoiding allergens and carrying around epinephrine, Prof. Robert Wood of Johns Hopkins University says: “Now we have options”. The urgency of allergy research stems from rising food allergy cases. In fact, UK hospital admissions for food anaphylaxis have tripled between 1998 and 2018. Less extreme allergies are also becoming more common. Experts suggest several culprits contributing to this: weaning practices, overly sterile environments, and reduced contact with dirt and animals.

build a tolerance, they’re not cured. Daily exposure may increase tolerance slightly, but it won’t necessarily stop people from having allergic reactions. For those with multiple allergies, this isn’t a viable solution.

“Daily exposure won't necessarily stop people from allergic reactions”

“The urgency of allergy research stems from rising food allergy cases”

It involves consuming small, but gradually escalating amounts of the allergen under medical supervision. OIT belongs to a broader category of treatments aimed not only at managing, but reducing or even

“The process involves fornightly dose escalation and rigorous monitoring”

Efforts to protect children from allergens have actually made them more vulnerable.Whilst OIT is not a new concept (the first successful report dates all the way back to 1908), researchers have only fine-tuned dosing protocols over the past decade. The approval of ‘Palforzia’, a pharmaceutical-grade peanut protein, can be a form of regulated treatment. Yet, the process involves fortnightly dose escalation and rigorous monitoring. But the biggest problem is that although patients

Goodbye from team science!

Here are some of our favourite articles this year:

Toadpocalypse: The Strange Science of Exploding Toads by Charlotte Chantler

The Grow Access Project: how medical cannabis can help struggling students by Charlotte Atkinson

As somebody without a sense of smell, I can't breathe easy by Emma Hunter

Rats in vests and the power of nature: Five positive things happening in science right now by Jess Mooney

1,700 academics vs the richest man in the world by Emily Naismith

From dust to life: reviving the Lost Judean Balsam by Hemanth Akurati

A mammoth task: Paris Hilton is resurrecting extinct animals by Sophie Jarvis

Scousers on Top: How Liverpool became a life science hotspot by Christine Soloch

Uncovering the myths of Hydrogen as a fuel source by Alex de Koning

IIn a landmark study last year, Prof. Wood and his team found that the asthma drug ‘Omalizumab’, which targets IgE antibodies, can actually be repurposed to desensitise patients to peanuts, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, milk, wheat, and eggs by essentially clearing problematic antibodies.

Potent IgE antibodies have apparently evolved to fight parasites, but now mistakenly attack certain food proteins. They bind to our immune cells more tightly than other antibodies. The treatment isn’t cheap though, as fortnightly injections may cost between $30,000-$60,000 a year. Still, for those allergic to staple ingredients like milk or wheat, this could be lifealtering. Currently, OIT remains the only approved treatment and the most advanced in development despite its risk of severe reactions. Other innovations continue to be developed, such as a vaccine for peanut allergies or a ‘peanut patch’ that has shown some promising results over the past three years.

t's been a wonderful year for the Science Section and we've lloved being your sub-editors! We've had so many amazing writers this year and we hope that Science constinues to thrive in the future as an integral part of Current Affairs. We couldn't have done it without you so thank you so much for all your hard work!

Image Credits: Picryl, Pexels

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Image Credits: DeviantArt, Animalia Bio, Wikimedia Commons, Flickr

Charlotte Atkinson Matthew Barratt

Image Credits: Noelia Fernandez Perez, Grace Boyle

As a water sign, you'll be drawn to the beach. Or perhaps it's just that it's over 10 degrees and you're broke. Either way, time to take a trip to Tynemouth this weekend.

This deadline season has left you in pieces...or should I say Pisces. Take time for yourself and rest up. You can't always be running at 100%, our dear friend. Make time for yourself this week.

The stars are giving you a sign...55°01'09.5"N 1°25'10.0"W.W

YSou know what you did... make changes in your life. I mean it, we all know. Everybody knows. You can't escape it anymore. That one thing that came to your mind - do it now.

May 21st - June 21st June 22nd - July 22nd October 24th - November 21st

23rd - October 23rd

TLouch some grass. No, seriously. Go outside. Do something. Take a break from the library. Get outside and away from your computer screen you are frying your brain.

YJuly 23rd - August 22nd

April 20th - May 20th

ou have one man in your life at the moment...and his name is Phillip Robinson. Hopefully your love life will soon improve. But who knows, we read stars, not hearts.

22nd - December 21st

ike the weather, your hinge notifcations may be looking very dry at the moment. Don't take it too personally, I'm sure a summer situationship is waiting for you just around the corner.

If a girl named "Emily" "Anna" or "Grace" approaches you this week... run. Don't ask questions, just do it. And make sure they aren't ginger.

The 13th of June. 3.07pm. This will be the best day of your life. Clear you calendar, trust us. You have no idea what's coming. Seriously, you're going to absolutely love it.

ummer is only right around the corner... Time to get some Aperol, some sun, and some existential dread. I mean what... who said that? What's this about existential dread?

August 23rd - September 22st

M18th December 22nd - January 19th

aybe you should avoid areas with high percentage of water features if I were you. Any water fountains, or any bodies of water. God forbid you go to Tynemouth this week.

Capricorn, you may be feeling lost now that this cycle of uni is coming to an end. Buy a compass, and get that Linkdin premium subscription. Don't be ashamed when you start crying to 'You're on your own, Kid'. March 21st - April 19th

Blind Date

Rate the Date

Rate the Date Your

What made you sign up for blind date?

I thought it would be a fun way to meet someone new (or unexpectedly familiar) and try something different.

What were your first impressions of Romil?

Confident, engaging and full of great energy. I felt instantly comfortable.

What sort of things did you talk about?

Could you sum up the date in three words?

Fun, familiar and refreshing.

If Romil was a cocktail what would she be?

A mojito. Classic, cool and always leaves a great impression.

Do you think you will see each other again?

Defintely. We've already talked about catching up again soon.

What made you sign up for blind date?

I signed up for blind date because I thought it would be a sweet way to meet someone special.

What were your first impressions of Adwyait?

His warm smile and kind eyes instantly made me feel at ease.

What sort of things did you talk about?

As we talked, we discovered we had more in common than expected - from fond memories of school days to favourite street food and childhood trips around India.

Could you sum up the date in three words?

Wholesome, thoughtful and sweet.

If Adwyait was a cocktail what would he be?

He'd be a rose sangria - gentle, warm, with a twist of charm.

We had some honest and open conversations, from past relationships and what we were hoping to find through blind dates, to our shared love of food. It made the date feel very genuine and relaxed.

have much choice in living with them next year as I've already paid the deposit, but do you have any advice on how I can make it more bearable?

From: A Reader

Whether you're stressed about assignments or not getting along with your flatmates, Agony Aunt is here to help!

Dear Agony Aunt, I live in a flat with two other boys and they're insanely messy. We've signed for a flat for next year but I don't know if I can cope living with their mess again. I'm a very non-confrontational person and I'm terrible at telling them to be tidier, but even when I have spoke up it hasn't improved their habits. We do all get on very well besides this so I don't want to create a hostile enviroment. I don't

Dear Reader, Dealing with messy flatmates can be very uncomfortable, especially when you're worried about disagreements affecting your friendship. However, it sounds like this is really troubling you, so it's important to try and make some changes so this doesn't cause issues next year. I would recommend using the summer break as an oppertunity to set new boundries about tidiness. Approach the topic in a lighthearted way, but suggest that the flat was getting a bit too messy and kindly ask if it could be kept cleaner. It is best not to direct this just at them (even if they are the culprits!), instead, make it a conversation that involves you as well so they don't feel that the blame is being pointed at them. Creating rotas and dividing up the housework can sometimes be a good idea to solve the issue. Al-

though it might feel a bit regimented, being able to physcially point out that they haven't completed their jobs will support you if you do end up having to be confrontational. If this doesn't work out, you could arrange a weekly clean at the weekend that you all join in with so it becomes a shared task. Confrontation is difficult, especially towards peo ple who are your friends. However, if their messi ness is driving you to question whether you want to live with them, you need to try and speak up! You shouldn't be feeling un comfortable in your living space be cause of their inability to keep the shared spaces tidy. Confrontation doesn't have to result in fall outs and hostil ity as long as it is done repectfully. Without expressing your frustration, your flatmates probably won't under stand how much this is bothering you.

is always the best first

to solving a problem and moving forward.

From:

Conversation

step

Your Agony Aunt

Abi Ogden - Blind Date and Agony Aunt Co-ordinator

Romil, 29, Media and Journalism

Hosted by As You Like It

Sub-Editors: Emma Stephenson, Jess Hughes & Rosie McKenna

A goodbye from your Relationship Sub-editors...

- Relationships Sub-Editors

Jess:

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be Relationship Sub-editor! I have loved working with Rosie and Emma, as well as all our wonderful writers! Rosie and Emma have been so amazing throughout this entire journey, including our battles with photoshop and long hours spent in the office. We would like to collectively say a huge thank you to all our writers, we could not have put together so many spreads without all your amazing ideas and writing. I am so sad to no longer be your Relationship Sub-Editor, but I know whoever follows will do a great job!

alongside the editorial team has been a time of discovery, fun and empowerment! I would like to thank each team member for their help with Indesign and Photoshop, but for also being such good friends! It has been a pleasure to work for Relationships this year, and to work alongside Jess and Emma. Together, we have elevated our section by bringing relevant topics up for debate and finding unique interview opportunities for our writers throughout the year. As we brainstormed each week we have been able to find new angles and explore new topics which were not previously discussed in our section. Thank you to Jess and Emma for listeners, a fountain of overall lovely people to with!

It was also a pleasure for our work to be recognised at the Student Media Awards 2025, where we came runner up for the best spread of the year!

We've come sucha long way as a team and I am so proud of what we have achieved. Being a Relationship sub-editor has been really special this year. My favourite memory was raising money for Women's Aid with the team and raising over £100 for a very worthy cause. It has also been so special to engage with the writers and collaborate with people who were passionate about exploring their relationships. As young adults, our relationships can feel complicated

Gender politics in the age of online sex work

Ursula Monro

Exploring Bonnie Blue and Lilly Phillips and how they muddy the waters of feminist discourse...

With the advancement of feminist progress, female liberal sexual morality is more normalised. However, the rise of the online sex industry has undoubtedly complicated modern feminist progress. Nowadays, the access to the online sex industry is unlimited and unchecked. It’s a known fact that the sex industry doesn’t empower women.

Despite certain influencers presenting sex work as empowering – by posting TikTok’s about their luxury cars, designer clothes and mansions – we can look to harassment of these creators as proof that the ‘empowering’ side of sex work is futile. For example, TikTok and OnlyFans creator Sophie Rain was stalked by a fan - who later broke into her house.

“...leveraging outrage, provocative soundbites, and cultural backlash to build a

platform.”

We can look to the sex trafficking trade as further proof of the dark side of the sex industry – due to it’s cruel exploitation of women. On social media, OnlyFans creators imply this work is an empowering ‘choice’. In reality, at its core sex work is an industry that profits off of the exploitation of women. When debating the relationship between online sex work and feminist progression, Bonnie Blue and Lilly Phillips are two key influential figures that must

be discussed.

Recently, both women have been at the forefront of online feminist discourse for their controversial explicit content. Clips from interviews with both of these women circulate on apps such as Snapchat and TikTok. For example, Lilly Phillips filmed a behind the scenes documentary of her 100 men challenge. At the end of this documentary, she is seen crying and asking the cameraman to give her a moment of privacy. Undoubtedly proving that behind the hypersexual persona, these women are still ultimately being exploited.

Bonnie Blue has emerged as an antifeminist figure who mirrors the tactics of influencers like Andrew Tate—leveraging outrage, provocative soundbites, and cultural backlash to build a platform. While Tate appeals to disillusioned men through aggressive masculinity, Blue channels scepticism toward modern feminism, often framing it as a source of societal decline. Both thrive on polarization, presenting themselves as truth-tellers in a world they claim is corrupted by political correctness.

We can look to recent crime, such as the 2023 stabbing and killing of a 17-year-old girl for “refusing flowers from a boy” on the way to school, as illustrative of the impacts of Tate’s social media presence. Consequently, I feel Blue’s similar online persona has the potential to spur on similar violent crimes.

Blue pushes a hyper-sexual narrative that implies women should be sexually subservient to men. My concern doesn’t lie with young adults, as there’s a level of media literacy that allows us to realise the damaging nature of extreme graphic content (such as Bonnie Blue’s 1000 men). However, I do feel it will have lasting negative impacts for younger teenagers and even children. Not necessarily as it normalises hyper-sexuality, but because it normalises damaging sexual stereotypes.

Social media is undoubtedly fuelled by desensitising media, but adding sexual politics to the mix may have long-lasting consequences on real life. The question is: when the cameras turn off, what culture has been cultivated?

Thank you to each and every one of our writers who have been vulnerable and shared their stories with us. You are amazing! I cannot wait to see where the section goes next year!

Emma:

Thank you to all the writers that have contributed to Relationships this year! It’s been such a privilege reading all your amazing articles, it has to be the highlight of this year for me! I also want to thank Rosie and Jess for being so welcoming, hard working and amazing friends! I have loved my role as Relationships sub-editor and I can't wait to see some of you guys next year!

Lots of love, The Relationship Sub-Editors 2024/2025

Friendships change, and so we do too...

Amy Jones

Sometimes as you shift and grow, your friendships shift and grow apart...

Friendships play a huge role in our lives, but as we evolve, we sometimes outgrow the people we once considered close. While this can be difficult, moving on from a friendship is a natural part of life and can be a positive experience.

As we go through different phases of life, our interests and priorities can shift. The people we once bonded with may no longer align with who we have become. Outgrowing a friendship does not mean that one person is better than the other.

It simply reflects how we evolve as individuals.

As time flies by, the things we once had in common with friends may begin to fade away.

Growing up often leads to new hobbies, values, and meeting new groups of people. Moving on from friendships that no longer fit can create

friends can be more fulfilling than holding onto friendships that do not bring you value.

When chapters of friendships close, there is a chance for self-reflection. Letting go allows us to consider what we truly want in relationships and learn more about ourselves. This reflection helps us build healthier, more rewarding connections in the future.

While moving on from a friendship can be painful, it will not last forever. Over time, we recognize that it was necessary for our personal well-being. The freedom from unhealthy connections can allow you to grow and form better relationships.

Friendships don’t always require a confrontation to end. Sometimes, life simply leads people in different paths. This natural drift is a sign of growth, not failure, and does not diminish the importance of the past friendship.

Moving on from friendships can create space for new connections that better match our evolving self. These new relationships provide opportunities for growth and a sense of belonging, which can help you continue to move forward in life.

Outgrowing friendships is anything but a failure: it is a natural aspect of life. Having the courage to let go allows us to focus on relationships that support more fittingly. By moving on, we make space for new, fulfilling connections that line up with who we are

Jess Hughes, Rosie McKenna and Emma Stephenson.

Image credit: Emma Matthews

Image source: Pickrepo

Image source: Unsplash, Nasim Keshmiri

I

Breaking up with my dissertation

Rosie McKenna - Relationships Sub-Editor

Our Relationship subeditor writes a satircal piece breaking things off with her dissertation...

I’s not me, it’s you. I think you know this has been coming for a while now. These past eight months have been fun, but lately things have just been too much. It is time for this to end, I’m sorry.

In the beginning it was fun. We got to know each other and discussed where this relationship could go. Together, we explored common interests and bounced off each other’s ideas. We loved to spend lazy Sundays in bed reading secondary literature. I guess you could call this our honeymoon phase.

“I should have spotted the signs of your neediness back then.”

Things started to change when you demanded more, though. December was supposed to be a time for family and Christmas markets, instead you wanted a proposal. Admittedly, this felt

a little too soon and more like a prenup when we discussed the terms, but I agreed to your wishes. From there, we made it official. I should have spotted the signs of your neediness back then.

“Battling procrasination and the feeling of overwhelm, you made me realise that I was scared to fail.”

When things got tense, we tried to save our relationship with a holiday away, just us. A trip to London to the visit the Marie Stopes archive at the Wellcome Collection. It helped strengthen our bond and it was comforting to be in our

love love: the importance of platonic relationships

Agnes Kargbo - Fashion Sub-Editor

Why are platonic relationships so beautiful?

Coming from someone who was, albeit happy, a little awkward and weird growing up - I cannot stress enough the importance of platonic love and how much I value it, even more so going into adulthood.

These friendships are truly what allows me to be the person I am today (not to be dramatic or anything…). They allow for a space to learn and grow amongst like-minded people. I believe you experience life with friends in such a different way than you do a romantic partner.

This is why I find it frustrating when so much more emphasis is put on dating and seeking out romance; it's inescapable. As a result, establishing, nourishing, and valuing platonic relationships is almost cast aside and deemed as a given. While this is probably one of the most essential of them all, and a lot harder to find than some may realise.

I find the beauty in healthy platonic relationships is found in how there are no expectations from one another, no pressure.

Don’t get me wrong, romantic relationships are also amazing and can be a safe and happy space! However, when I look back on times when I believed I would be better off alone or accidentally prioritising romantic relationships over those with the people around me, I am regretful.

These relationships are spaces without judgment where you can truly be yourself and allow another person to do the same while also always being held accountable. I also find the beauty in healthy platonic relationships is found in how there are no expectations from one another, no

Spring Break this year; you demanded every minute of my time. We worked together every day to try save our relationship. One all nighter after another, we tried to find a new level of depth, attempting to articulate the issues that you brought to the table. I get it, I was far from perfect either. Battling procrastination and the feeling of overwhelm, you made me realise that I was scared to fail. After listening to Grace Beverley's recently refurbished Working Hard podcast, the episode 'Why Your Procrastination Stems From A Fear Of Success & How to Fix It' made me realise why overcoming the wellknown 'writer's block' was harder than usual. The weight of our relationship grew as each day passed, but the experience reiterated that I can do hard

We sought outside of our relationship for extra support, attending

Balancing my interests with my mental health

pressure. There is no clearly defined end goal –and while this is daunting, you must remember, it’s also freeing! You aim to do nothing other than to accompany, support and have fun together. I mean, where’s the fun in charity shopping and grabbing boba solo when I could do it with a pal?

“...you can openly be yourself and these people will love you no matter what...”

It is freeing knowing that you can openly be yourself, and these people will love you no matter what and vice versa.  Coming to university and being faced with all the inevitable trials and tribulations that come with the transition has made me realise this even more. There's comfort in knowing as lost as I may feel, I'm not alone. I always hear the statement creating a ‘village’. I love this so much because this is truly what it is: fortifying your relationship with friends and family gives a sense of security like no other. It is freeing knowing can openly be yourself, and these people will love you no matter what and vice versa. I know now this energy shouldn’t be reserved solely for my future spouse, but instead extended to all the people that I care for. Where romantic love is sometimes limited and cannot reach, platonic love has and will always be. This is truly something I cannot deny. Between my workload and my work ethic can sometimes be to my detriment. The relationship between my workload and my work ethic can sometimes be to my detriment. The relationship between my workload

Alex Paine - Film Sub-Editor

Exploring the challenges that come with mixing mental health and a passion for writing...

Since a young age I’ve known that I have a passion for writing. In school I always looked forward to tasks where we’d have to do a creative piece, and the positive feedback I received consistently proved to me that I was good at this. When I began getting into film, I started writing reviews for the films I wanted to talk about - or the ones I could talk about when I wasn’t having a lazy spell, which admittedly could last quite a while. The older I get, the more my passion and desire to write grows. Writing is no longer something I do occasionally - it’s something I do regularly. It’s no longer just a hobby, it’s part of my workload. How this has affected me mentally over the last couple of years is quite bizarre, as I expected my constant barrage of deadlines due to pushing myself creatively to backfire spectacularly. Instead, I think writing regularly to deadlines has improved not just my skill, but my mental health as well.I’m never really one to think about what I do and how it impacts my mental health, but I’ve always noticed that I’m at my worst whenever I’m not writing. If I don’t have that spark to write about something, whatever it may be, then I’m typically not having a good day. This extends to everything. If I’m not in the mood to write an essay, then I won’t even bother because I’ll be worried that, since that spark isn't there, it won’t be very good. This isn’t ideal when you’ve got deadlines, especially if that spark doesn’t come to you until the last minute but I’ve never been that unlucky - yet. Writing articles (whether it be for the lovely Courier or otherwise) has always been my

preferred creative outlet as it allows me to be personal in a way that essays don’t allow. But again, I have to be in that good mood to be in the zone. When I’m in that right mood, I find that I can often work on multiple articles at the same time, and I can just write - all my ideas and the things I want to talk about come to me without me needing to think about it.

“The relationship between my workload and my work ethic can sometimes be to my detriment.”

Sometimes I think I’m a maniac for giving

Image source: Shamblen Studios, Pixabay

Image credit: Sarah McKenna

Image source: Tumisu

Image source: Open-ClipartVectors, Pixabay

Image source: Megan Rexazin Conde, Pixabay

Lifestyle

CATCH Market review: Good deals are always worth it!

Dhwani Masand

CATCH Market came to Northumbria SU, and one of our writers headed down to explore it...

The one thing I always boast about - to anyone who listens - is that I always know how to find a good deal. So, when I heard about CATCH Market coming to Newcastle, I absolutely wouldn't miss it!

CATCH Market hosted a 90s and 2000s-themed vintage market in Newcastle on the 3rd of May, 2025. It was held in the Northumbria University’s Student Union, and was completely worth the hype. Incidentally, I had purchased my ticket for the market before The Courier got the press release, but I was happy to chalk that up to serendipity. The market was indoors, with an all-day DJ that was playing some serious tunes. The open concept market was full of stalls from various sellers, ranging from athleisure, sportswear, casualwear, party clothes, loads and loads of jackets, accessories, and bags! There was a huge range of pre-loved designer bags, belts, and sunglasses, and it was both of very good quality and very economically priced, particularly for luxury goods. The stalls had goods from Coach, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Chloé, to name a few.

As for the clothes, I did feel that for vintage clothing especially, some of the sellers had a slightly higher price point. There was a huge variety of great brands like Stüssy, Palace, Nike, Morgan De Toi, Jane Norman, Miss Sixty, etc. However, some items were priced a bit higher than usual for a pre-loved market, but the overall quality of the pieces was excellent. I was very impressed with the helpfulness of the vendors, as everyone was very sweet and accommodating.

“There was a huge range of pre-loved designer both of very good quality and economically priced...""

And the best part, all sizes were easily available! I usually wear a size ‘M’, and in vintage sales, if you don't show up on time, most items in my size are usually sold out. It’s really a testament to the brand owners and their massive thrift hauls. There were even bargain bins for super-discounted items, and mystery bags you could buy at super-cheap rates! Furthermore, there was this adorable little dessert pop-up that had the most delectable-looking cupcakes, which I still regret not being able to try. I blame it all on assignment season! I had a

great time enjoying the entire market, bobbing my head to the DJ’s set, chatting with the sellers, and trying out different pieces. I almost bought an evening gown, but I held myself back and exercised restraint. Although I did end up buying this gorgeous brown leather jacket, which is super supple, a cute, dainty necklace, and a funky t-shirt for those upcoming summer days! Overall, it was the best shopping experience, as I could leisurely look at clothing and bags, and enjoy the awesome deals!

In defence of teddy bears:

why I still sleep with mine at 20

Your home comforts might be a meal or a certain jumper, but for one of our writers, teddies aren't just for childhood...

If you walk into my room, nestled among the adult chaos of discarded tote bags and half-drunk herbal teas, you’ll find something more unexpected: three teddy bears on my bed. One’s newish, a green dinosaur from just over a year ago called Rory. But the other two? They’ve been there for everything. Literally everything The main man, Pig. He’s not the flashiest pig—he’s meant to be pink but looks more grey now than pink, scruffy, and his stuffing has long since settled into that well-loved kind of lopsided. But Pig has been with me through every milestone that mattered and every moment that broke me. He’s sat quietly through breakdowns, joined sleepovers like a chaperone, kept me company on hospital beds, lay beside me through every fever and heartbreak, travelled on every holiday with me, and lived in four different houses with me. He survived A-Levels, sat in my backseat during my driving test, and has been with me through nearly an entire degree.

Still, when I mention that I sleep with three teddies, people sometimes raise an eyebrow. "Isn’t that a bit… childish?" they ask, as if seeking comfort is something we’re meant to outgrow. But here’s the thing: comfort doesn’t become less valid just because we turn twenty.

In fact, it seems like many of us are secretly on the same page. Just look at the explosion of Jellycats—those adorably floppy soft toys that are suddenly everywhere. Instagram and TikTok are full of teens and twenty-somethings showing off their growing collections.

"For

some, it’s a cup of tea or a familiar playlist. For others, it’s a teddy bear with one ear slightly more loved than the other."

I have a collection myself, and adore my Jellycats who also join me in bed sometimes. Whether it’s the classic Bashful Bunny or the Amusable Avocado, people are embracing their inner child one teddy at a time. And why shouldn’t we?

care what I look like, how I’m doing, or whether I’ve sorted out what I am doing after University.

So no, I don’t think sleeping with teddy bears at 20 is weird. I think it’s lovely. In a culture that constantly pushes us to grow up faster, be independent, and hide anything that might look

“uncool,” holding onto something soft and familiar feels good. It says: I deserve comfort. I deserve to feel safe. And if that comfort comes in the shape of

How to say farewell to Newcastle

Abigail Charnley

One of our writers gets nostalgic and shares how to celebrate your graduation in the Toon...

For many students this summer will be their final time living in Newcastle, a city they’ve called home for the past few years. If you’re walking the stage in July, here’s a few ways to celebrate graduation and make the best of your last few months in the Toon!.

1. Visit Ouseburn - as we head into warmer days and lighter nights, Ouseburn has plenty to offer for the newly free-of-assignments student. Take a wander down Stepney Lane and pop into the vintage furniture shop before heading to some of the city’s best beer gardens!

2. Visit all the university buildings you've spent time in over the past few years. Whilst you might be glad to see the back of the Robbo, it might be strange to live without it!

3. Take the metro to Tynemouth - the cliché about Newcastle students flooding to Tynemouth as soon as the weather hits double digits rings true for a reason. The North East coast is a gorgeous place to reminisce on your last few years.

4. Visit all your old haunts - have a coffee at the café you’ve written your essays in, go for a walk through your favourite park, have a pint in the Cosy Dove, especially if you were a Castle Leazes sufferer and survivor.

"Most of all, make sure to soak it all in."

But most of all, make sure to soak it all in. Even though Newcastle will always only be a train ride away, make the most of these last few months living with friends you might not have known three years ago. Celebrate your graduation and achievements with all of those who’ve made your time at Newcastle what it was. If you came to Newcastle for the wild nights out, go out on a final hurrah and have as many trebs as you can hack; if you came because you loved the campus, have a walk around

"As if seeking comfort is something we’re meant to outgrow.”

University life is full-on. Between deadlines, social pressure, money stress, and trying to figure out what the future even is, we need little moments of comfort. For some, it’s a cup of tea or a familiar playlist. For others, it’s a teddy bear with one ear slightly more loved than the other. There’s also something grounding about having a Pig. In a world where everything feels like it’s always changing—friends, locations, your idea of who you are—Pig has never changed. He doesn’t

Sasha Cowie

Image credit: Sasha Cowie

Image source: Steven Feather, Flickr

Image source: Denissse Leon, Unsplash

Image source: PeterClarke, Wikimedia Commons (Metro) and Charlie Green, Unsplash (campus)

A love letter to Newcastle

Athira Fadvil

Dear Newcastle, I think you might be my soulmate.

We only met three years ago, yet somehow it feels like I’ve known you forever.

There’s something about you - something that made it feel like our meeting was inevitable, as if we were always meant to cross paths.

From the very beginning, you didn’t demand anything of me - just welcomed me, gently, into your pace.

You’ve witnessed both the best and worst of me, yet you never turned away.

Where others might have recoiled, you helped me embrace parts of myself I once feared. You comforted me when I felt lost.

You gave me space to cry, to rest, to begin again.

Just as you stood by me through every version of who I became, I’ve loved you through all your seasons.

But oh, how I looked forward to your warmer days - when the sun would spill over the Toon,  and your parks came alive with colour and sound. I’d lie on the grass as the warmth soaked into my skin, watching the clouds drift by, leaves rustling softly in the breeze.

I lost myself somewhere along the way, but you helped me find my way back and in the process, you helped me rediscover my spark.

“When

the sun would spill over the Toon, and your parks came alive with colour and sound...

Around me, the bursts of laughter and conversation carried with the breeze, the sounds of joy that filled the air as humans simply existed.

In those moments, when everything else felt heavy, you made life feel light again - weightless, almost, as if time itself paused just for us.

You pushed me to test my limits, to believe in my own potential. You made me want to grow, not for anyone else, but for myself. You made me feel like I could take on the world… or at the very least, survive it.

Out of all the things we’ve done together, my favourite moments are the quiet ones - just you and me, wandering through your streets or sitting in silence beneath your skies.

With you, I learned how to be alone without feeling lonely, how to sit in silence and still feel full.

Thank you, for everythingfor libraries filled with books I longed to read, for boba stores that became sanctuaries, for the people I met, the opportunities you offer, and the experiences that shaped me.

I owe you so much. You were more than just a backdrop to my university years - you were the one who held me through it all.

And though I’ll leave you soon,  You’ll always be a part of who I am now.  Newcastle, I will carry a piece of you in my heart, always.

Cold water, hot debate: USC's ice bucket challenge sparks controversy online

Aarya Shenoy

An old trend has come back around, and one of our writers explains the debate behind it...

Flicking through stories on Instagram reveals the second wave of an old trend – The Ice Bucket Challenge. But why are some people unhappy with it this time around?

We can trace the origins of the Ice Bucket Challenge to the summer of 2014, where golfer Chris Kennedy was believed to be the first to pour a bucket of ice over his head in the name of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, sometimes known as motor neuron disease). The challenge went from town to town, spreading like wildfire until celebrities were participating to raise awareness for this neurodegenerative disease.

Nominations are once again making their way around the world, and money is again being raised for a different cause.

“It feels like ALS has been pasted over by a cause that already has so much representation today..."

159 countries and 10 billion views later, 220 million dollars was raised for ALS.

Which brings us to 11 years later, but now the challenge is being used to raise awareness for mental health. Students from the University of Southern California formed an initiative called MIND – Mental Illness Needs Discussion.

The group launched the USC ‘Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge’ to raise funds for a non-profit organisation Active Minds, dedicated to challenging the stigma surrounding mental health in young persons and adults.

Lesson

learnt:

what my time in Newcastle has taught me

Aneta Vavrysova

One of our writers reflects on their journey over the past few years...

The whole of my first year, I commuted from Carlisle where I lived with my partner at the time. Commuting every day was exhausting and scary, but moving alone to uni halls for 2 weeks in May freshly after my break-up was truly terrifying. I remember feeling absolutely flustered whilst moving, but when I got to Windsor Terrace and unpacked everything that I brought to my new turquoise-coloured home, I felt safe.

Moving to Newcastle taught me that I am much more capable than I often allow myself to believe. I was incredibly lucky to know most of my current flatmates already at that point, and even though a great part of the move was done in my solitude, they provided a welcoming space and endless encouragement.

Which moves me to the fact that I have always hated when people say that “your uni years are the best years of your life,” it always felt so unnecessarily pressuring. But, alas, my uni experience has been my favourite part of my life so far because I was able to get to know myself and grow into the person I am today. I got to meet some of my absolute best friends along the way. Before I moved

to uni, a lot of people left my life and at that time, I felt like I had lost so much.

“...I was able to get to know myself and grow into the person I

am today."

But, indeed, I had only lost everything that wasn’t right for me, and eventually, the pain was healed by the new people I met, and found the parts of me I had missed all along. I think that to sum up, my Newcastle Uni journey has taught me that good things are coming and lovely things are out there, everywhere

Hobby Hub: Climbing

Kate Kennedy

While climbing might seem intimidating, one of our writers explains why it's the perfect hobby to start at uni...

IHowever, the challenge is followed by controversy from many. ALS is still an underrepresented disease, and affects around 10 for every 100,000 people in the US, with estimation of higher rates across Europe. It has no current cure, and an average survival rate of 2-5 years post-diagnosis.

Mental health, on the other hand, is a increasingly prevalent cause that is talked about by many. A recent surge of awareness has surrounded mental health, with many charities fundraising and providing help to those

By resurrecting the ice bucket challenge in the name of mental health, it takes away from the awareness of ALS, and as a new generation takes it on, the historic association is lost.

Those who participated the summer of 2014 remember the initial cause, and are upset about this disease losing the representation that it deserves. It feels like ALS has been pasted over by a cause that already has so much representation today, and the controversy is prevalent all over social media.

So go ahead and participate to raise awareness for mental health, but don’t forget its origins in raising money and awareness for ALS, the underrepresented terminal disease that started it all.

Image source: Phil Hearing, Unsplash

started climbing towards the end of first year; my flatmate was into it, and with lectures finished and not a lot to do between exams, we went as a group. It was the most fun I’ve had doing exercise, if you ignore that never went above third difficulty. There are two particularly good bouldering places in Newcastle: The Valley (Ouseburn) and The Pool (Byker), and both are under the same company so if you make an account with one, you can use both. This has made exercising even easier, as they are around a 20-minute walk from my second-year house, get my steps in as well.

Despite climbing being one of the easiest activities to start, there’s a few you must keep in mind. Firstly, bend your legs when you land after jumping/ falling off the wall, because it will hurt and you will land flat on your face (speaking from experience). Secondly, make sure that the shoes you buy or borrow from the centre aren’t too small - they will be snug, but there is a fine

line between that and uncomfortable. You should also make sure to buy chalk (or have a friend that you can steal from).

“...the more I go, the more confident I feel in my ability, and this confidence boosts me in other aspects of my life."

Climbing positively impacts my mental health as well, as the more I go, the more confident I feel in my ability, and this confidence boosts me in other aspects of my life. I also try to make it a social activity as I usually go with my friends or boyfriend; I always prefer to climb with someone else, as it boosts my morale even when I’m failing definitely recommend uni, and there is society which recently joined. I guarantee you know someone who will go with you as - for some reason, everyone at Newcastle Uni to know at least one

Image source: Kelly Sikkema, Unsplash

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Sub-Editors:

Fashion & Beauty

What's the trouble with TikTok Shop?

Think twice before clicking on that little yellow basket...

Ican't scroll through TikTok for more than a few minutes without being bombarded by influencers trying to sell me something— usually clothes, beauty tools, or some oddly specific kitchen gadget. Almost every other video feels like a sales pitch, with creators raving about the “absolute bargains” they find on TikTok Shop. They smile, hold up cheap outfits, and claim things are “so worth it,” all while linking the product so you can buy it instantly. At first, it felt like a fun, casual way to discover new things—but the more I watched, the more I started questioning: are they being honest, or just chasing commission?

Through TikTok Shop, the platform’s built-in e-commerce feature, creators earn a commission for each sale made through their link. While this can be a legitimate income stream, it can also mean that these influencers are motivated to push products regardless of quality. This makes it increasingly difficult for viewers to tell if a glowing review is genuine or simply a sales pitch.

“Audiences are encouraged to buy more and wear less, feeding a cycle of overconsumption.”

However, the problem extends beyond misleading promotion.

Much of the clothing on TikTok Shop comes from fast fashion brands, known for low prices, poor labour practices, and unsustainable production. Influencers contribute to this system by constantly promoting new items to keep up with fleeting trends. As a result, audiences are encouraged to buy more and wear less, feeding a cycle of overconsumption and waste. While creators have every right to earn money,here’s a growing need for transparency responsibility — influencers and their audiences. Without that, TikTok Shop might be profitable in the short term, but it comes at the cost of sustainability and long-term credibility.

Has society gentrified second-hand shopping?

Amelie Baker

- Opinion Sub-Editor

How the demand for vintage finds is making second-hand fashion unaffordable...

The gentrification of second-hand shopping has been a slow and steady process over recent years. Are second hand shops still the same old spaces of bargain hunting

Gentrification is no stranger in this day and age. When something becomes popular or ‘trendy’, the wealthy move in and the prices go up. Whereas 20 years ago second hand shopping would have been sniffed at as something only those who cannot afford better are forced to do, nowadays the popularity of finding that bargain, that unique ‘vintage’ item, has made second hand shops into an opportunity to make

Depop is probably the most obvious example of this, providing extravagant prices for ‘the Y2K look’. The commercialised need to achieve the 'Pinterest girl' outfit of genuine vintage pieces has been compounded into the sale of a £20 My Little Pony t-shirt. And whilst there is nothing wrong with this, for an item of second hand clothing

What I am wearing to my master's graduation

Payal Rathore

A fashion dilemma with a twist of identity...

Before graduation, if you had asked me what I wanted to wear to my graduation, I would’ve smiled and said, “Of course, a saree!”, without any second thoughts.

And I made it true, for my Bachelor’s graduation back in India, I draped a green, emerald colour saree. The fabric fell like a forest river at dusk: rich, elegant, and quietly powerful. I paired it with my beautiful and modern white blouse, rooted in tradition. Wearing that traditional outfit, adjusting my pleats with shivering hands, and walking onto campus, I felt like royalty. At that moment, the saree was not just a cloth, but it was a celebration of where I came from and a compiled expression of pride.

But now, I am in the UK. Now my choices for my master’s graduation are different. Here, my walk to university is lined with Victorian Brick rather than marigolds and honking rickshaws. Now, when it's time for my master’s graduation, the question is: what am I going to wear this time?

My saree still calls me from the corner of my wardrobe, making me remember those delicate and beautiful memories. But this time, my inner self wants to do something different. This time, I want to wear something Western.

It doesn’t mean I am turning my back on my culture; it is just that I spent the last whole year evolving, and now I have adapted to a new world. In between pronouncing my name twice at coffee shops, to explain to them about Diwali in detail, and to own my culture, I am just making space for new expressions of myself.

“...for me, [fashion] is a way of storytelling without words.”

So for this graduation, maybe I will go for a pretty light blue dress with a slit cut, and flowy, and minimal details that will be highlighted when I walk. Or maybe a power suit, maybe in bold red. Something which will say: 'I carry every side of myself with pride'.

For some, maybe fashion is superficial, but for me, it is a way of storytelling without words. What I wear on that day will not be just an outfit, but it will be a snapshot of life. So, of course, I am not going to wear a saree this time, but I will be carrying its elegance in my stride.

that is meant to offer a cheaper alternative to main stream shops, £20 is not quite it.

“Perhaps a way to combat the gentrification, charity shops are a sustainable way to shop second hand.”

Even Vinted is slowly succumbing to the carefully crafted accounts of exclusively expensive second-hand clothing.

Although both these platforms do allow people to make money off of their own old clothes, establishing a means for people to shop and sell sustainably, it has instead contributed to a rise in price, making it more difficult to actually find the affordable clothing. This is also reflected in the rise of ‘vintage’ shops popping up left, right, and centre, charging extortionate rates for cropped Ralph Lauren polo tops. The gentrification has happened. Although it could be argued as simply reflecting a wider trend of trying to shop more sustainably, the rising prices cannot be ignored. One space that still remains true to its purpose of cheap and interesting finds is charity shops. Prices have gone up for these too, but not at the extortionate rate of ‘vintage’ stores. Perhaps a way to combat the gentrification, charity shops are sustainable way to shop second hand. Finding the cuter clothes might be more of a challenge than with the curated second hand ‘experience’, but the hunt is what it’s all about. What’s second hand shopping without a bit of trial and error anyway?

The tankini trend: embracing 2000s summer style, or pushing conservative ideals?

Mia Wijayatilleke - Fashion and Beauty Sub-Editor

Why have tankinis made a comeback this year?

Ilast wore a tankini when I was around 10, too young for my mum to let me wear a real bikini but too grown up to want to wear the bright, frilled onepiece swimming costumes that my little sister wore. For me, tankinis are associated with childhood, yet they are trending on social media and online shopping platforms this year. Will this forgotten garment make its way into my suitcase this summer, almost a decade later?

The reappearance of tankinis this summer is not entirely surprising given the resurgence of Y2K fashion in recent years. Since long-line halter tops and low-waisted jeans have firmly established themselves back in style, it makes sense that these silhouettes would eventually infiltrate beachwear too. In fact, vintage resellers on Depop and TikTok have been selling 2000s tankinis from brands like Bay, M&S, and Fatface as normal summer tops, showing that they have become desirable pieces simply for everyday summer wear. Pair a tankini with platform flip-flops and chunky sunglasses, and you’ll be channeling the effortlessly cool, beachy vibes of the 2000s it-girls. They are also a great option for anyone looking for a bit more coverage, either to provide more protection from the sun, or give a little bit of modesty. The popularity

of tankinis alone is not a problem at all: as someone who is looking to the H2O: Just Add Water girls for fashion inspiration this summer, it’s a fun and exciting shift in swimwear fashion.

“...pushing the unfair idea that women must be skinny to wear a bikini.”

However, I can’t help but notice that the romanticisation of tankinis online has emerged alongside the rise of weight loss content. For example, “skinny-tok” is taking TikTok by storm with its “toxic motivation” for others to lose weight and join their glamourised skinny lifestyle. Socalled “fitness/ wellness” influencers are urging viewers to lose weight now in time for bikiniweather, pushing the unfair idea that women must be skinny to wear a bikini. Conservative and tradwife creators are also rising in popularity, with women promoting modest dress and traditional gender roles. Pretty Little Thing’s recent rebrand from selling cheap and cheerful clubbing clothes to beige, business-casual pieces is a clear example of this shift into a more conservative era of beauty standards.

Overall, it would be unfair to place this burden on a piece of stylish summer swimwear, as there are lots of complicated issues at play. Scrolling online at the moment can feel exhausting, but it’s not all bad: Spencer Barbosa’s recent swimwear collaboration with Hollister is a refreshingly positive example. For now, block out the skinny-tokkers, put your suncream on, and wear your tankini like a Y2K baddie.

Ella Saint

Image source: sebdesignsphere, Pixabay

Image source: Kidaha, Pixabay

Image source: Eyestetix Studio, Unsplash

Image source: OpenClipartVectors, Pixabay

A note from your Fashion and Beauty Sub-Editors! Fashion & Beauty

Agnes Kargbo, Trinity Eadie and Mia Wijayatilleke

A note from your subeditors to mark the final spread of the year!

Wow, what a year! We can't believe how fast its gone by. We are so thankful for every single person who has taken the time to write for us this year, all of you are absolutely incredible and we couldn't have asked for a better team of contributing writers!

The fashion and beauty section has really grown into something beautiful this year, we are so proud of how far it has come and hope you have all loved it as much as we have. Thank you all for an amazing year, and to next year's sub-editors...good luck!

We have also done a little Q&A to send you all off with. Thank you again, we appreciate you all

- Fashion & Beauty

What's your favourite clothing piece right now?

Mia: It's very difficult to choose just one piece because I love so many of my outfits, but my favourite things are probably my Hollister blouses as they look so cute with jeans or a skirt in summer!

Trinity: At the minute it's definitely my cat t-shirt that says "monday already?" - It's extremely 2014 vibes and I love to wear it on any day of the week that isn't monday. Perfect!

Agnes: It would have to be my baby pink wool knit hoodie, it’s so comfy and a little bit of a statement piece. It also has a hot pink dodo on the back, so you really can't miss it. (I’d like to think that mine could actually fly too).

Our summer trend predictions...

Mia: I think we’ll keep seeing polka dots everywhere, especially in cami tops and bikinis!

Trinity: I really hope that ladybugs become as big as stars were - I want to see ladybugs on everything, especially in accessories. Bring back whimsy!

Agnes: Lots and lots of stripes! They’ve been everywhere the last couple months, but i don't think we’ll get sick of seeing them anytime soon. What's your favourite fashion article this year?

Mia: As a Hollister fan, I loved “Fashion’s girls' girl: Hollister’s resurgence and the revival of girly fashion” by Evie Bateson. I also loved our mother’s day spread, as it was so fun to design and it was

lovely how personal it was, especially the “Mums do it best: a love letter to our mothers’ fashion” piece by multiple writers.

Trinity: One of my personal favourites this year has been "Trend prediction: Jellycat bags" by Charlotte Burley-Hnat. So, so good! And it was really fun to take pictures of people's jellycats and put it in the print!

Agnes: Nail art as an extension of self-expression by Noelia Fernández Pérez. I loved this because I also love doing my nails! It was such a fun read and really encapsulates how there is meaning in even the littlest things.

Who's your biggest fashion inspiration?

Mia: I like Miuccia Prada and all of Miu Miu’s runway collections, they give such cool-girl energy. I also love looking at small creators like @ majaawww and @oliviatann on TikTok!

Trinity: Vivienne Westwood will always be my favourite brand - even though it's too expensive for me on a student budget! I don't really have a particular fashion influencer I look up to, but I love making inspiration boards on Pinterest.

Agnes: The 90s and 2000s, specifically artists like Rihanna, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Beyonce. It was experimental, flashy and a little weird but it could also be subtle and comfortable if it wanted to. I love how freeing fashion was then, and I like to incorporate that into my day to day style.

What are we wearing to festivals this summer?

Scarlett Palmer

One of our writers discusses trend predictions for this summer's festival season...

Coachella kickstarted the 2025 festival year, bringing its usual boho-chic aesthetic with maxi dresses, crochet tops, fringe and unique new designs. The modern twist ensured that blazers and structured clothing were paired with the OG boho fashion. Bold jewellery took centre-stage at

and 10 million views. Coachella is the largest festival that everyone always pays attention to, but will its fashion trends transfer to the UK? Kylie Jenner and other high-key celebs were wearing casual fits like jeans and t-shirts, which would never normally be seen at a UK festival, where more is more and less is rarely seen. The British festival season is yet to begin, but I think some trends are bound to make an impact from the American desert to our festival season.

British festivals bring controversy every year, whether it be because of the litter and destruction they bring to nearby towns and fields, or what artists are performing. However, fashion at British festivals always brings commentary. Despite our cold summers, usually filled with rain and festival fields turning into muddy trenches, we still dress like we are in the desert.

“The British festival fashion never sticks to the weather forecast, who says a bikini can't be worn with wellies?”

Bikinis and sunglasses are a regular sight at any festival. The British festival fashion never sticks to the weather forecast, who says a bikini can’t be worn with wellies? But this year, as seen at Coachella, fashion seems to be getting more modest and using slightly duller tones. As we saw with the celebrities’ wearing jeans and t-shirts, there is a question as to whether our British festival summer will be quite as colourful. However, festivals like Glastonbury, Boardmasters, Leeds and Reading Festival, and many more, are swarmed each year with neon colours, mesh and sparkles, and statement hats and glasses, all adding to the upbeat environment. Furthermore, at many festivals

like Leeds fest, there are raves and shiny metallic skirts, and neon paint is always welcome.

I think there is definitely a difference in the importance of festival fashion; at Coachella, influencers take over the festival, posting their outfits, which people then debate and comment on, whereas we Brits care much less. Influencers are invited to British festivals too, but they are rarely seen in the crowd with everyone else, and due to our cold weather, a festival outfit is usually covered by a hoodie by the end of the night anyway. Either way, I think the bikini top, crochet boho look will still stand at Leeds festival this year, but maybe it will be accompanied by some more statement pieces as seen at Coachella? For example, fur boots. Even though they’d be a nightmare in the mud, we might hopefully get a dry summer and say bye to the wellies - and hello to the cowboy and fur boots.

“The bohemian aesthetic remains popular, but it might come with a modern twist.”

Overall, it seems festival fashion in the UK for 2025 is going to be filled with a vibrant blend of nostalgia and new trends. With climate change being of huge importance for festivals now, I think reclaimed vintage clothing and recycled clothing will definitely appear. The bohemian aesthetic remains popular, but it might come with a modern twist. Think refined ruffle dresses, artisanal fringe details, and earthy tones that feel sophisticated rather than costume-like. Sheer fabrics are making a statement, with layered mesh tops and seethrough dresses bringing back our festival culture. Footwear trends are equally dynamic, with chunky platforms and Western-inspired boots

providing both height and a statement, perfect for navigating festival grounds… if it isn’t swamp-like. Additionally, the resurgence of 90s and Y2K styles introduces low-rise cargo pants, baby tees, and miniskirts, adding a playful edge to festival wardrobes.

“...2025's festival fashion encourages self-expression, blending practicality with bold aesthetics.”

Overall, 2025's festival fashion encourages self-expression, blending practicality with bold aesthetics. Coachella may have been a huge level of fashion and influencers expressing the new trends, but British festivals never disappoint, and we have lots of fun whilst wearing our bright colours and new fashion pieces. Let’s continue wearing bikinis in cold, rainy fields, because why not?

Image source: Pixabay @ZUZANA, Pixabay @Vicki Hamilton

Image credit: Mia Wijayatilleke

Image source: Pixabay, Quentin088

Image source: Pixabay, zzzvector

Image source: Pixabay, OpenClipart-Vectors

Goodbye from your 2024-25 Food & Drink Sub-Editors!

Esther Arnold, Barbora Pacherova, and Erin Matthews - Food & Drink Sub-Editors

Barbora

Pacherova

Working the Food and Drink section was the best part of my year! It was amazing to see all the writers' work who made the section as amazing as it. Thank you all.

Esther Arnold

Erin

After joining as a writer in my second year I always wanted to take it a step further and join the editorial team but felt a little nervous to take the leap! I have to say it was one of the best decisions I made over my uni career. Being able to make a difference in the food and drink section and work with Barbora and Erin to bring students and businesses together was so rewarding and I hope we have encouraged you to branch out and

Barbora

support the toons restaurants and cafes. Thank you to everyone who both read our articles and wrote for us both online and in-print. We couldn't have done it without you!

Erin Matthews

I was so grateful to be added to the Food & Drink sub-eds team in January this year! I’ve had so much fun working on our spreads each week, meeting all of our amazing writers at Student Media Afternoons, and editing a load of brilliant articles. It’s been a great opportunity and I’ve loved working with our little Food & Drink team! And a big thank you to everyone who has signed up to write an article for us this yearwe’re very proud of our section and it wouldnt have been the same without such great writers!

Esther

Newcastle welcomes the 10th anniversary of Battle of the Burger

Another Wylam Food Battle to excite the Toon's biggest foodies...

The 10th annual Battle of the Burger competition occurred at Wylam Brewery on April 18th and 19th. The competition hosted by 44events saw local and independent burger joints go head-tohead for the title of best burger. Battle of the Burger was a hub for culinary innovation with culturally authentic adaptations of a traditional burger and a plethora of burger options to meet a variety of dietary requirements.

The venue consisted of indoor eating areas with a dining hall and outdoor eating areas such as a beer garden. Food trucks extended around the perimeter of Wylam Brewery, ensuring that no matter where someone looks, they would be able to find the burger for them.

"If you couldn't attend Battle of the Burger this year, it is worth going to the next solely to try this burger."

This food forum was jam-packed with hungry individuals queuing up for delicious burgers and others dotted around the area happily munching away on their meal. Inside, the dining hall was bustling with families, friends and dog walkers filling every available seat as they consumed their hearty burgers with the DJ playing music to enhance the uplifting atmosphere.

One burger cost one token, which was £5. This price ensured the food was affordable and good value for money. When at the event I knew I needed to try the signature burger of the previous twotime winner, Scranners Arms, to see if they were truly deserving of their title. Upon taking my first bite of their Radgie Chicken Burger, that answer was certainly yes. Between the succulent brioche buns, the burger consisted of a salt and pepper fried chicken patty doused in sriracha mayo and sweet hoisin sauce, accompanied with fried onions, peppers and lettuce. Every single bite was better than the last as the flavour began to build up in my mouth, culminating in a symphony of delectable taste. If you couldn't attend Battle of the Burger this year, it is worth going to the next solely to try this burger.

"...the fries were the perfect combination of spicy while not overpowering the strong flavour.... "

To accompany the countless burger vans there was also a dynamic grouping of other foods available, including ice cream, churros and fries. To compliment my choice of an appetising burger I decided to go with Loaded Fries’ tandoori seasoned fries. These fries were tossed in tandoori masala, coriander and mint yoghurt, and seasoned with chilli and paprika.

As I took the first bite, I knew I had once again made a correct decision, the fries were the perfect combination of spicy while not overpowering the strong flavour. Together with the Scranners Arms Radgie Chicken Burger I was heavily satisfied with what had been one of the best lunches I have had in a while.

To the surprise of no-one who ate the Radgie

Imagecredit:CallumBorkowski

Chicken Burger and Radgie Frickin Burger, Scranners Arms were the winners of 10th annual Newcastle Battle of the Burger contest. In second place was Meatstack, an independent burger chain offering real American cheeseburgers, following their triumphant return to the competition. Taking home bronze was 40ounce, a 90’s inspired hip hop burger joint and a previous winner of North East Restaurant of the Year 2024. Battle of the Burger also took place in Manchester at Track Brewing Company and in Leeds at Northern Monk Refectory. Make sure to keep an eye out for plenty of food events to come to each venue throughout the year, such as Slice Wars, Mexican Standoff, and Lord of the Wings.

Foody Focus Cubanos B

eneath the grand Victorian arches of Grainger Market and tucked away alongside the longestablished butchers and grocery stalls, lies a gem of Newcastle’s street food scene - Cubanos. This colourful stall has quickly become a favourite amongst students and locals alike, and it’s clear why – the food is fresh, full of flavour, and offers something unique. With it’s self-proclaimed “Cuban-inspired” menu, you are bound to discover some new and exciting tastes. It's always a good sign when a vendor attracts a crowd of hungry customers on a Tuesday afternoon. I was in and amongst the many eyes peering towards the counter, eagerly awaiting our orders. With quick, but always friendly, service and a concise but well-rounded menu, the wait is never long. In fact, you will likely spend more time deciding what to order, since each option is equally tempting, than you will waiting for your food.

The first dish I was treated to was the Cubanos rice bowl. This dish features a choice of slowcooked shredded beef, marinated chicken, or black bean stew. All are served with saffron rice, mango salsa, house guacamole, pickled onions, tortilla chips and garnished with feta and coriander. And as if that wasn’t enough for the more-thanreasonable £9 you pay, each rice bowl comes with a hot sauce of your choice – mild chipotle ketchup, medium jalapeño cream cheese or hot Caribbean peach. I opted for the citrusy chicken with the jalapeño cream cheese sauce and it was as delicious as it sounds. The flavours were punchy and bold without being overwhelming and it was a feast of textures. The tangy mango salsa and picked onions on the side were standouts for me – I only wish I had more of these.

"What

stood out most for me was how fresh the food tasted

"

Next up was the Hot Press sandwich, a nod to the traditional ‘Cubano’ sandwich which originated in the late 1800s as a lunch staple for Cuban workers in Florida. This modern take on a Cuban classic, again, has three options to choose from: slow-cooked pork, slow-cooked beef or shredded chicken. Each of the meat options are marinaded in Cuban spices, the most popular being the mojo-marinated pulled pork. ‘Mojo’ comes from the Portuguese word ‘molho’ meaning ‘sauce’ and is a traditional marinade made up of garlic, olive oil, cumin and a citrus juice. The meat is contained within a brioche baguette alongside an array of fillings such as chorizo cheese, chargrilled peppers and dill pickles (just to name a few) and finished off under a hot press for a satisfyingly crisp outside. This dish was as equally impressive as my first in terms of flavours, textures and value for money. What stood out most for me was how fresh the food tasted. It came as no surprise, therefore, to learn when speaking to the staff that everything is made on-site. Find the rest of this article online at www. thecourieronline.co.uk/category/life-andstyle/food-and-drink/

Callum Borkowski

Luke Kong

Image source: Succo, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

The Courier

Sub-Editor

The Courier partake in the annual Copyfight Games!

ITeam fight The Copyfight Games

t’s another momentous day in history, as the first (and likely only, considering the unfortunate death of the 24/25 SMO…) Copyfight Games begin. Across four days, semifinals, and one final bloodbath in the Adobe Arena, these 54 contestants fought to the end to be crowned champion (and maybe even win a vegan hamper, if they’re lucky!) They’ve spent the year practicing for this moment; they’ve trained their stamina with piles of papers, they’ve fine-tuned their patience with InDesign, and they’ve learnt how to adapt; dealing with the near extinct species of table. Let the first Copyfight Games begin! As the sun reached its peak, day one came to a start the contestants were left to fend for themselves. Our contestants previously spent most of their time within the four walls of the office, so the natural elements of the arena got the better of them almost instantly. Anna was startled by a squirrel, making her the first contestant to be eliminated after Emma Stephenson took the opportunity to attack. For some, nature was their friend - Noe and Scarlet took to a brawl, however, as Scarlet is swarmed by bats, Noe takes this as her opportunity to escape. Adam Symes was not so lucky; as he tried to

climb a tree to escape Marcus, who cut him and the tree down - eliminating Adam Symes. Ebony knocked out Rosie in a swift blow. Alicia was raiding the arena for food when she was ambushed by Adam Tibke, who supposedly was on an anti-vegan pizza rampage, she unfortunately was caught in the crossfire. Science sub-editor Matthew used his expert knowledge from the year to confuse Amy with an echo trick, striking her from behind. Similarly, Oli used her knowledge of music to ambush Emma Hunter, eliminating her. Lucy Bower used her Bowser power to wear down Erin Matthews, ending the duel with a final strike. Once again, nature gets the better of our office dwellers as Erin Reid watches Ruby fall into a thorn bush, finishing her off.

As the sun began to set on day one, the arena’s animals started to appear (no, not the contestants at the mention of cigarettes). Cory was their first victim as a wild

boar charged at him. Marina took advantage of this, shooting him with an arrow. Within all of this, there were some beautiful moments of friendship, Trinity fished out Esther after an untimely end in the river. Barbora eliminated Mia, Libby hurled Sophie off a cliff, Bertie fell into a pit; scarring Oscar for life. Tom was lured into a patch of mystery mushrooms by Adam Lovegrove, never escaping its effects; being eliminated before age caught up to him. Megan nailed a bullseye in Grace’s eye, she never saw it coming. Margaux, in an attempt to eliminate Addie, set herself on fire. Agnes tries to negotiate an alliance with Phoebe, who double-crosses her. Amala sets off a trap, injuring herself. Charlotte Atkinson finishes her off. Charlotte Burley-Hnat’s weapon backfires on her, ending her life in style. Safia is bested by nature. Alex falls victim to quicksand, mistaking it for much in a midnight pursuit of Jess Mooney.

"The Current Affairs section dwindled as day one came to an end."

The Current Affairs section dwindled as day one came to an end. There was a moment of silence for the fallen tributes, however, our reporter couldn’t be bothered to write out everyone's names again… marking the start of day two. Oscar was the first victim of day two, as Adam Lovegrove chooses survival over friendship. Noe eliminated Poppy in a swift round of arrows. Megan, who we have since learnt was distracted by

(not-so) life changing news, was set on fire. Erin Reid, blinded by the arena’s sun - falls into the same quicksand that earlier eliminated Alex. Charlotte Thompson and Jess Hughes viciously fight, as Charlotte briefly misses Jess’ blade, knocking her out. Keira spent day one building a trap, she lured Matthew into it; eliminating him. Trinity is bested by Phoebe. It seems that MEC went wrong on day two, as Adam Tibke is eliminated by Libby. Night fell once again, and in an attempt to navigate the dark - Ebony set herself on fire with a torch. Marina ambushes Ellen, eliminating her. It seems as SMO, Lucy Bower inserted herself into the games as a spy, being the games creator. Noe catches wind of this and is eliminated. Marcus swiftly eliminates Milly. Oli, Sarah, Abi, and Charlotte Atkinson were also all eliminated on day two.

"Lucy

Bower inserted herself into the games as a spy, being the games creator..."

Day three commenced with only 16 of the 54 contestants left. After a tiring two days, Adam Lovegrove is easily eliminated by Kirsty. Keira outwits Barbora with a cunning riddle, taking advantage of her confusion. Perhaps the games strongest alliance was pushed to the limits on day three, as Dylan betrays Libby over a controversial opinion on Woke Nonsense. Marcus eliminates Addie. Jess Mooney makes a swift escape after a failed elimination of Marina. Ciara eliminates Phoebe. Day

three came to an end before the sun began to set, as Amelie was eliminated by Emma Stephenson and Charlotte Thompson caught wind of Lucy Bower’s true intentions, eliminating her with an arrow. Day four was the last day before semifinals, with eight contestants left. Dylan eliminated Phoebe, Emma Stephenson finished off Charlotte Thompson, Keira fell victim to Jess Mooney, and Marcus gave into the torment of margins. The special nature of the semifinal meant there was no rest for the remaining four contestants, as the sun rose on what would have been day five; the brawl began. In a desperate attempt to feel closer to home, Jess Mooney set up a deathly trap that looked like the stairs in Lucky’s. However, it was Kirsty who fell victim to them, making her the first contestant eliminated from the semi-finals. On the other side of the arena, Dylan and Emma Stephenson made quick work of their fight, as Dylan strook from behind; eliminating her. For Jess Mooney and Dylan, the games weren’t over as day five came to a close. There was still one final match to go, where only one victor would return to office. Jess Mooney may have had a physical advantage with Dylan, still, making work of the leaves as food but Dylan’s mentality was go big or go home (no seriously, he needs to go home). As the final commenced, Jess Mooney spent the best part of sunlight slowly wearing Dylan down, but he was determined. In the end, relentless pressure from Jess Mooney got to Dylan, as he was eliminated with one final strike, leaving Jess Mooney victorious. In the aftermath, she commented to our reporter, “I need a pint.”

Megan Grimston - Sport

Image Source: IMDB, Unsplash; Sarah Penney, Engin Akyurt

2024-2025 2024-2025 2024-2025

Lucy Bower Libby Griffiths Adam Lovegrove Adam Tibke

Addie Dodson

Charlotte Thompson

Marcus Williamson

Rosie McKenna

Emma Hunter

Charlotte Atkinson

Phoebe Clark

Erin Matthews

2024-2025 2024-2025 2024-2025

Charlotte Burley-Hnat

Sarah Tunstall

Marina Snyder

Ciara Rivers

Ellen Pinch

Jess Hughes

Jess Mooney

Sophie Jarvis

Trinity Eadie

Cory Gourley

Noelia Fernandez Perez

Oscar Jenkins

i am oscar jenkins

Tom Wood

Ebony Maude

Mia Wijayatilleke

Poppy Bedford

Guess the editor in emojis...

Written by Megan Grimston

Some headlines that didn't quite make it!

* Liverpudlian man rages at the concept of dietary accommodation

* The Courier team finally find the missing Freshers' edition joke after a year!

* The team are ecstatic at the discovery of buying their own resusable coffee cups

Match the senior team to the accessory!

Alicia McEvoy Camera

Adam Tibke

Adam Lovegrove

Sarah Tunstall

Grace Boyle

Anna Nix

Charlotte Burley-Hnat

Marina Snyder

Lucy Bower

Libby Griffiths

Erin Reid

Sasha Cowie

Help our buzzing besties keep the world turning...

You like jazz? Then you’ll love World Bee Day — a celebration of the tiny, fuzzy creatures who don’t just make honey, but keep the whole planet ticking. While Bee Movie may have taken some wild creative turns (bees don’t usually sue humanity or fall in love

strawberries, broccoli, even coffee owe their existence to the work of bees. If Barry B. Benson and his hive buddies stopped working, just like in Bee Movie, the world really would lose its colour — and its flavour.

"Did you know honey never goes off?"

Then there’s honey — the golden nectar that bees produce by transforming flower nectar inside their hives. Did you know honey never goes off? Archaeologists have found pots of honey in Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly edible. That’s right — honey outlasts most human empires. It’s also naturally antibacterial and antifungal, which is why ancient civilisations used it as medicine for wounds, burns, and infections.

Supporting bees can be as simple Monday 19th May 2025

Food & Drink

World Bee Day: small creatures, big impact

(like bees having full courtroom drama and air-traffic control systems), it got one key message right: bees work incredibly hard for the benefit of others.

Unfortunately, bee populations around the world are in decline. Pesticides, climate change, habitat loss, and disease are threatening hives at an alarming rate. In Bee Movie, when the bees stop pollinating, plants die, and the ecosystem collapses. That wasn’t just a dramatic twist — it’s a very real warning.

"Unfortunately, bee populations around the world are in decline."

One bee makes just 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. So the next time you stir honey into your tea, remember that dozens of bees helped make that spoonful. Yes, while the Bee Movie might exaggerate a few things

avoiding chemical sprays, or buying honey from local, ethical beekeepers. You don’t need to be Barry B. Benson to make a difference. And no, the

House Brown: our new favourite coffee hotspot

The new coffee hot spot in

ewcastle’s newest coffee shop has opened its doors, and it’s been the hotspot for reunions since its launch on April 25. Situated in one of the oldest buildings in Eldon Square, House Brown offers a welcoming environment to enjoy a drink with your friends or to work on your coursework

They offer a variety of hot drinks, pastries, and savoury dishes, with their fresh sandwiches

I had the opportunity to sit down with one of

didn’t hesitate to mention his business partner, Aiden Brown. He told The Courier that they wanted to create a place ‘where coffee is more than an experience, as we were not happy with the different services in some of the coffee shops you can find in town’.

"...they wanted to use local suppliers for their coffee and even jams..."

He also mentioned that they wanted to use local suppliers for their coffee and even jams: ‘We’ve worked closely with Ringtons to select a perfect blend, as they specialise in a 100% arabica coffee with origins from Peru & Brazil’. Some of their other suppliers are Jean’s Jams or Le Mini Macaron, run by a motherdaughter duo based in the Northeast since 2014.

"...Buttle

mentioned that his biggest satisfaction was seeing the place transform..."

Even though this coffee shop is fairly new to town, Buttle mentioned that his biggest satisfaction was seeing the place transform from a hairdressers to what it is now:

‘We plan on opening more branches around the city, but our main focus is to stabilise this first location and we aim to have a centralised kitchen where we will bake our produce’. If you haven’t tried this coffee shop yet, I recommend you do

Sesame Oil

Adelaide Dodson - Opinion Sub-Editor

it immediately because you will want to go back. Find more information on their Instagram: @ housebrownnewcastle

My favourite ingredient has to be sesame oil. Whilst too expensive for its own good, the smell, the taste, the casual way it adds to every dish it’s in? Yeah, that’s what I want from any ingredient in my cupboard. My favourite thing about it is probably its versatility: a quick stir fry is improved by cooking it in sesame oil, just chucking some rice and veg together – use a bit of sesame oil. Poke bowls, chow mien, fried chicken, ramen. All improved by a bit of sesame oil.

Don’t even get me started on using it as part of a marinade (bit of cornflower, soy sauce, sesame oil and your protein of choice and you’re winning).

A favourite drunk meal of mine is literally chucking some sriracha, sesame oil and noodles into a pan and heating them up. Although please make sure you’re not too drunk when you start cooking.

So buy yourself some sesame oil and get experimenting. Chuck it in your favourite rice or noodle dish, marinade something it. Trust me you’ll be a happier person.

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Image credits: Noelia Fernandez Perez

Long time no see: best postgrad reunion spots to visit

Charlotte Atkinson - Science Sub-Editor

University is a multi-faceted experience; there are highs and lows, struggle meals and sumptuous takeaways, late nights in the library or in the Cut, but one of the few constants are the friends you do it all with. Never before – and probably never again – have you co-existed so closely with another set of people, your chosen family in many ways. So, it’s understandable that one of the hardest parts of uni coming to a close is the end of this shared experience – but does it have to be?

While it may be more difficult to see friends as regularly as you previously could, it does mean that each reunion is special – requiring a special reunion location. What better way to catch up with old friends than on a fun little city break? Followed then by a whole new set of questions – home or away? One of your mates wants to see the sights, but the other would rather have a quiet catch-up over some nibbles…whatever to do! Here, we walk you through some of the best cities to get the gang back together in. When reuniting with friends that you maybe haven’t seen in a while, it’s important to have a balance of entertaining activities and quiet spaces to chat and catch up. Cities such as Edinburgh and

York offer such a balance – their fascinating history and touristy nature means there’s no shortage of fun activities, while both cities have excellent national train links. Edinburgh classics such as the National Gallery, Edinburgh Castle or the Royal Botanic Garden offer some gorgeous scenes, while York has no shortage of cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars to while away the hours catching up.

“...there are times when the reunion is long overdue, and needs that something special to mark the occasion.”

However, there are times when the reunion is long overdue, and needs that something special to mark the occasion. Enter, the European city break – complete with matching luggage tags and the Instagram boomerang of prosecco at the airport. Regardless of the destination, there still needs to be sufficient activities to keep you and the gang entertained, and nowhere says entertaining like Amsterdam. Deemed overly touristy by some, the real ones know that Amsterdam has something for everyone – for those with a history degree who ended up as marketing managers, a plethora of museums ranging from Van Gogh to the NEMO Science Museum. For those

English Lit grads (everyone should have one), bookshops galore! And of course, the Red-Light district, for those who feel like shopping for a new lampshade...

As acknowledged, these cities are all “on the map” so to speak – tourism pervades their every street. In opposition to this, I place Nancy – the former capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, boasting one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and some of the best gelato vendors I’ve ever had the pleasure of doing business with. Each summer after the sun has set, Place Stanislas becomes a wonderland as the sound and is projected onto of the faces of the square's 18th century architectural mastery. It’s an unforgettable experience, one sure to make your reunion memorable.

Balkans to Bohemia: my summer interrailing plans

When arriving at Newcastle and having my first conversations with people, asking them

“what did you do over the Summer?”. I quickly learned that interrailing was a substantial part of the English student experience. Ultimately, I then decided that I needed to fulfil the interrailing rite of passage, so for the upcoming Summer, my housemates and I are planning on exploring the diverse European continent for two weeks. Moreover, countless hours were spent crafting the most thrilling route for us to explore parts of Europe we have not had the pleasure of exploring. Thankfully, we eventually arrived at the point where our trip was booked!

Gal getaway guide: how to survive a girls holiday

Erin Neal

Now that the trip has made it out the chat, find out what essentials you'll need to survive...

The ultimate friendship test to make or break a girl gang: let's talk about it. One minute you're deciding where to grab your first Long Island iced tea, the next you’ve unearthed buried feelings about ancient drama from year 9. Whether you’re off on a seven-day bender to Ibiza or lounging poolside at an all-inclusive in Turkey, here’s how to survive a girls' trip and come back in one piece.

Before you even begin your Zara shopping spree, it’s important to figure out what everyone wants from the trip. Is this a “what happens in Zante stays in Zante” situation or more of a wholesome, booksand-board-games-on-the-balcony getaway? Do you want to spend your time sightseeing local history, soaking up the sun, or taking a b-line to the strip? Some people want guided tours and 7 am wake-ups, while others stick to Aperol Spritz and afternoon naps. Figuring this out early on will save you major stress down the line! Respect each other's boundaries, and make sure to discuss price budgets beforehand, so everyone is on the same page.

Jetting off at the beginning of September, we plan to land in Venice (the only place where I have been before). Here, we aim to carry out the idyllic Venetian holiday staple of sailing down the canals on a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs. It wouldn’t be a Venice trip if we did not have a gelato in Piazza San Marco, and visit the breathtaking St. Mark’s Basilica.

Then, as we spend 2 nights in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, we will stroll around the old town, have lunch at the Bratislava Flagship Restaurant, visit the Primates Palace and climb the City Hall tower for views of the city. Of course, it would be a European city break without visiting a church, and for Bratislava, our pick is the famous blue Church of St. Elizabeth.

Finally, we will conclude our trip in Prague, where we will make sure to indulge in plenty of cheap pints of beer. To make sure we will have plenty of photos for the Instagram dump, a trek up the Vyhlídka Na Opyši observation desk and a tour of the city to admire gothic architecture of Prague Castle will be in order. The trip has been planned so carefully that we will arrive back at university just in time for second-year induction (that is, if we want to

From Venice, we will travel via train to the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. While here, we plan on wandering about the streets, admiring sights such as the pink Franciscan Church and the Dragon Bridge. However, number one on our agenda while in Slovenia is Lake Bled and National

After these escapades, we will then hop over to Zagreb, the Croatian capital, where we aim to immerse ourselves in the local festivities by visiting the Dolac Market and the National Theatre of Zagreb. To continue the balance of city exploration and nature expeditions, will make sure to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Then, in under an hour on the train, we will travel to Vienna, the capital of Austria, where we, as budding theatre fans, will attend the Vienna State Opera. To further admire the rich culture of the city we aim to visit the Austrian National Library, the Art History Museum and the Hofburg Palace.

You don’t need a military style itinerary, but having a few things pre-booked can make your life a lot easier- and cheaper. Use apps like GetYourGuide or Viator to book boat tours or museum tickets in advance before they sell out. Watch some vlogs online to familiarise yourself with the area and the places you're interested in. Also, sort your airport transfer ahead of time- don’t be the person paying €50, you know you’ll never get back on a last-minute shared Uber to the hotel.

After exploring the Balkans, we aim to take a bus to the Hungarian capital of Budapest. After receiving travel tips from my friends, I knew we had to visit this iconic city and fulfil the mandatory excursion of a Danube River Cruise at night to admire the Hungarian Parliament Building. To enjoy our time even more, we aim to stop by the Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Castle, and the Széchenyi Thermal Spa.

As for packing, to nail the perfect main image for your Instagram photo dump, plenty of outfit options is essential. However, practicality is key. Pack comfortable trainers for long walks and a cover-up to prevent those nasty burn lines. Bonus tip: let your sun cream absorb into your face for 15 minutes before applying your make-up so it can properly set. Don’t forget a disposable camera to capture those candids and remember emergency supplies like plasters, painkillers, and portable

Most importantly, the number one rule is to look out for each other. Girls' holidays are for being your wildest, carefree selves, but safety can’t be an afterthought. Make sure everyone shares their live locations with the group and not let anyone wander off on their own, especially at the club. Never leave your drink unattended, and when it gets late, try to stay in well-lit, busy areas. Stick together, always buddy up, and make sure everyone makes it back at the end of the day.

Callum Borkowksi

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The five types of people you'll meet in a hostel

Amala Parry -Campus Comment Sub-Editor

Hostels can either make a holiday or be your hell, depending on the kind of people you're staying with...

Hostels are breeding grounds for various individuals, from friendly solo travellers to the wild party animals who stumble in at the crack of dawn. Here’s a guide to the 5 most common types of people you’ll likely come across in a hostel…

The Party Animals

At most hostels, you’re bound to come across a couple of ‘Party Animals’, i.e. those who are travelling for one thing only: to have the time of their lives. Though they’re generally harmless, this breed of hostel dwellers can be particularly annoying (especially when you have to be up early the next day) and often end up drunkenly wandering into the shared dorm at 2 am. If you’re extra unlucky, they might be snorers too!

The Chatty Ones

It’s difficult to avoid chatty travellers in hostels, as they thrive in the intimate hostel environment. Often solo travellers, the chatty ones love to know every detail about where you come from, where you’ve been and where you’re headed next. Afterwards, they will likely dive into a monologue about their own lives and travel exploits. But it’s not all bad- chatty travellers can easily become new friends or helpful guides to the area, giving you advice on where to visit and places to avoid.

The Best Friends

Most travellers in hostels come in groups or pairs, the most popular pairing being the two best friends. Often young, on their first trip together, or a well-versed travel duo, the best friends often make pleasant roomates in a shared dorm. However, they may also sit under the ‘party animal’ category, and if that’s the case, good luck getting any sleep.

The Well-Travelled Couple

Efficient, organised and barely noticeable, the well-travelled couple make the perfect hostel roommates. These guys know their hostel etiquette, making sure not to wake up fellow travellers or leave their stuff in a tip around the dorm floor. They are often as quiet as mice, packing up and leaving at the crack of dawn to scale a mountain somewhere (so you’ll barely even know they were there!)

The Slightly Bizarre

At some hostels, you may come across a slightly odd individual or two. For me personally, a stand-out moment was arriving at a hostel in Amsterdam and walking in to find a naked man lying face down and snoring incredibly loudly (at 1 pm!

It later transpired that he was the only man in the shared dorm, so you can imagine how that went down. It’s unavoidable that you’ll come some interesting characters while staying in hostels, but that’s all part of the fun! Generally speaking, even the slightly bizarre travellers are still friendly and happy to help with any of your travel queries or concerns.

Go Global: my post-grad adventure to Singapore

Melodi Darakhshan

This summer is going to be a big and life-changing one for me, it's the summer I graduate from Newcastle University.

I can’t lie, I’m both excited and scared about graduation. Excited, because it means stepping into a new chapter full of opportunities and adventures. But at the same time, it’s a little sad, because it also means that a really important part of my life is coming to an end. I’ll never get these years back. Newcastle has been such a wild ride. Even though the beginning was tough, I truly believe I was always meant to come here. If I could go back in time, I’d still choose Newcastle without a doubt.

Since I’m graduating (before diving headfirst into a corporate “big girl” job and fullon adulthood), I’ve promised myself a crazy graduation trip. I’ve decided to go on one long solo trip outside of Europe, and another trip with my best friend from Spain - who I met during my first year here when she was on exchange.

For my solo trip, I’ve chosen Singapore! I’ll be attending a summer school there, and I’m hoping to travel around Southeast Asia a bit, maybe visit Malaysia and Thailand too. This trip was made possible through the Go Global

team, so if you’re reading this and haven’t checked out their opportunities yet, I highly recommend having a look. It’s a great way to get international experience and make the most of your summer.

As for the trip with my friend, well, nothing has been decided yet. But knowing us, we’ll probably book it super last minute and end up in the most random destinations (as we always do). I’m hoping to convince her to go to Jordan with me... or maybe even Mauritania. I know that sounds super random, but ever since I heard about the iron ore train in Mauritania, I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. It’s been on my travel bucket list ever since. Wherever we end up, I know it’ll be chaotic but unforgettable. If there’s one thing Newcastle has taught me, it’s that good things take time, and everything works out in the end. As long as we’re together, we’ll have the best time-so thank you, Newcastle, for some truly life-changing years, unforgettable memories, amazing friends, and opportunities I’ll always be grateful

Final

Eldog and Jophie

How is it the last spread already?! It only feels like yesterday that we were stalking eachother's Instagrams and each being too nervous to reach out to eachother to say, "Hey, we're about to work together everyday for a year".

Being your 24/25 travel subeditors has been a blast- from it being Ellen's second year of running the section and Sophie not understanding InDesign for a solid month, to producing 11 spreads together, brainstorming and editing 100+ articles, staying in the office until 10pm, and being nominated for 3 awards. Subediting travel together has been the shared highlight of our extremely hectic year. We cannot thank you enough for all of your support over the past year, and we are each devastated to be saying goodbye. So devastated that we have to cut this short and tell you to read the rest of our thank you message on The Courier Online, because even after all this time, we still struggle to make articles fit on our spread. Sorry, Marina and Charlotte.

Final call! Trips to take before you get that 'real' job

As the dissertations are submitted, the cap and gowns are ordered, and the existential dread of scrolling LinkedIn and Indeed for a post-graduate job settle in, the temptation to get on a plane and delay adulthood get stronger and stronger.

But if you're out of pocket (or maintenance loans) or straddled between job offers, being based in Newcastle is the perfect hub of many different interesting places either via train or plane. Where are the best places to visit before joining the 9-5 rigour?

Dublin

A return trip to Dublin would only cost you around £35 if you catch it at the right time, and no more than £50 for a last minute trip. As this is so close it would be extremely easy to do within one day, so you don’t even have to pay for accommodation! Spend the day admiring the beautiful Irish heritage visiting museums and galleries, or visit the Jameson distillery and the Guiness storehouse for a different kind of Irish history lesson.

York, Edinburgh, and Durham

The Lake District

If you’re looking to get away for a quick weekend away and getting back in touch with nature, then visiting the Lake District in Cumbria should be on your checklist. Whether you want to go on a camping trip and do a bit of hiking or just switch off from real life and technology, then this is the place to come. It’s also really easy to reach by train, with prices starting from £3.30.

Alicante, Mallorca, Ibiza Fancy a quick trip to a Spanish Island to finally see the proper sun? The Spanish Islands tend to be very cheap to get to from Newcastle and without spending too long on the plane. If you’re not fussy, then a hostel won’t break the bank either. Who wouldn’t want to spend a week in the sun?

Poland

If you haven’t already taken advantage of how close we are to these historical cities, then why not? With Durham only 20 minutes away and the train prices not about to break the bank it’s definitely worth exploring although it probably won’t take the whole day. Edinburgh and York are also beautiful cities, slightly further afield but worth seeing if you want to explore the local area.

If you’re more aesthetically inclined, then the architecture in Poland is worth seeing! You could go for an overnight trip or just a couple of days, but there will be plenty to do and see. The clubs are also worth a visit for a different experience.

Amsterdam Amsterdam is most known for their windmills and coffeeshops (if you know you know) but there are many other things to do such as their museums (Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh museum) or trying new food such as Herring from a Herring cart. It is extremely easy to get to, you could get a plane or the ferry from Newcastle and such an interesting trip that it’s not something you’d want to turn down.

Taylor Roth

Yes, I was there to have a fun time, see some tulips, take a canal cruise, etc. The usual Amsterdam activities. But, I had a separate mission: buy a Miffy stuffed animal. For anyone unenlightened, Miffy is a cute little bunny in a popular children’s book series in the Netherlands, and I was determined to find the perfect Miffy stuffed animal to bring back to Newcastle.

Miffy is quite popular in Amsterdam, so there are tons of different places to purchase them in various styles. Every few blocks, I would see Miffy in store windows and feel compelled to point and just say “Miffy” to my friend. With so many options, I felt conflicted over which one I should buy. Serious decision, everyone.

Halfway through our trip, I started to get anxious as I saw high-priced Miffys in the Keukenhof gift shop. A little later, we travelled to the Tulip Experience and after a few (or a thousand) aesthetic pictures in the fields, I discovered two of the cutest Miffys I’d seen: A tulip farmer Miffy, and a Miffy in a white and blue dress with iconic Amsterdam designs on it. I sat there going back and forth between the two and then eventually brought the tulip farmer Miffy up to the register. As the tag was scanned, and I reached out to pay, I noticed the price didn’t match the one on the table. The cashier informed me that the tulip farmer was next to the wrong price and was slightly more expensive. Knowing I had already spent lots of money on the trip, I swapped the two Miffys and purchased the blue and white dress Miffy.

Lucy Langdon

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Bye from Station Managers

Alicia McEvoy - NUTV Station Manager

It doesn’t feel real that this is the goodbye message from NUTV. It seems as if yesterday was the first time I picked up the camera bags and tripod as Station Manager, and it’s now like I’m about to pack it all back up. This year has genuinely changed my life. I’ve been able to meet and work with some of the most incredible and talented people, who’ve inspired me to reach beyond the stars with everything. I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to be a manager, and I hope I’ve done it well. And while yes, there has been a lot of stressful moments, the fun will always take over. From being able to stream Results Night, and seeing the winners make their speeches, to the weekly Student Media Afternoons, to now being able to look back and laugh at all of the tech issues of Fight Night (specifically when the lighting stopped working for the presenters), I’ve made some amazing memories, and I hope everyone reading this has been able to do the same. I’ve learned more than just how to operate a camera, but to be a leader, use everyone’s skills to the advantage of the station, to delegate and negotiate, and I’ve made some incredible friends on this journey. This year, Student Media has brought me so much comfort. Knowing I could just go to the office, and whether I needed to plan for a stream or just relax after a class, I’ve always known that there’s someone in there that would be up for a chat and a laughwhich is something I’ve needed in my final year.

To my executive team - I don’t think I could possibly put into words how much I’ve loved working with you this year. You’ve all been integral to the success of the station this year, and your support is unmatched.

To anyone who has volunteered with the station this year, thank you. The fact that we can pull off these streams is truly down to your help. It’s been amazing to get to know you all, and if you’re staying in Newcastle - stick with the station because you’ll know what’s worked. If you’re graduating, go and make the future whatever you make it, so make it a good one (yes, that is a reference to Back To The Future, you should all know not to question that much). So, while this might seem like it’s a goodbye, I hope it’s more of an “I’ll see you soon”.

Love,

Alicia - Station Manager of NUTV, 24/25

Erin Reid - NSR Station Manager

Running NSR this year has been the most amazing, crazy, fun and rewarding thing I've ever done. I am so proud of every single person who took part this year. We've had some truly amazing shows and so many volunteers! Congratulations to our show of the year Heart to Heart and our presenters of the year Megan Grimston and Emily Martin Taylor which were announced at this year's Media Awards. Also a huge congratulations to everyone who shortlisted, and recieved runner up awards, you made it such a hard choice this year! We started the year with an empty studio and a pile of tech, and I'm so proud of what we've managed to do with that since. It's not been an easy year and there's been many sacrifices from both the team and the volunteers but I'm so grateful for everybodies patience. We were honoured to recieve five shortlists at the SRA Amplify Awards 2025, which was no

mean feat. Hopefully we've built the foundations for the growth of NSR over the coming years. We still have a few more exciting things coming up this term so keep your eyes peeled for some updates coming soon! Did somebody say NSR website and app?? I joined student media in my first year with my show slaydio and I slowly participated more and more over the years, until I became station manager. Being an exec postiton in Student media has been one of the greatest experiences of my life and I will treasure every single memory that's come with it. I couldn't have made it this year if it wasn't for all the support from everybody in the office, who have all become my family at University. If you haven't already, this is your sign to get involved right now as much as possible, whether thats joining an Exec team or reaching out to other branches of student media; it is something that you will never ever regret!

As I am graduating this year, I am saying goodbye to student media (very very reluctantly), but I know that student media and NSR will be in very safe hands next year and I cannot wait to see what is next in store for Newcastle Student Radio!

Your station Manager, Erin Reid

Image Credit: Naim Zuki

March spotlight winners

Your Education Officer Jasmine Banks selected the two spotlight winners from March. Congratulations to the following students!

Newcastle University: Libby McNicol

Libby demonstrates unwavering dedication to the refugee community at N.E.S.T. Her warmth, compassion, and exceptional teaching create a supportive environment where every individual feels valued and empowered. Humble yet impactful, Libby celebrates others while quietly leading and ensuring NEST’s success behind the scenes. She is a beacon of passion and inspiration to her peers.

NUiS Singapore: V.A. Gokul

Gokul has made a lasting impact as University Level Chairperson in 2023. His strong organizational skills, commitment to student welfare, and inclusive approach fostered teamwork and meaningful initiatives. Through innovation, integrity, and a sense of responsibility, he inspired peers and drove positive change—making him a true role model.

Film 30

Sinners: a horror film to sink your teeth into

Taylor Roth

Could this be the biggest horror of the year?

*Contains Spoilers!*

Going into Sinners, I had little expectations, not knowing much, except double Michael B. Jordan and vampires. Now I sit speechless, yet have so much to say. Spoilers ahead.

In the horror genre, movies can really be hit or miss these days, but when it’s a hit, it’s outstanding. Ryan Coogler offers a thought-provoking horror film without relying heavily on sexually charged imagery and romance. Well, I admit Michael B. Jordan is attractive and romance is included, but it’s not the takeaway. The film explores what it means to be black in 1930s America, and the perception of found freedom and power. Vampiricism is not just used for horror, but as a way to showcase the reality of the ‘freedom’ that Smoke and Stack believe they have reached.

"The film explores what it means to be black in 1930s America, and the perception of found freedom and power.”

While they have built a beautiful space where their community can relish in their culture, their dreams are dashed as head vampire, Remmick, reveals the fate of their purchase. Remmick doesn’t

view himself as a villain, but rather as an option to live outside the English-colonizer society.

While Remmick is white, he’s of Irish descent, and understands (to an obviously lesser extent) the binding life they face. It’s a unique take on horror that urges you to take a moment to reflect, and also buy another ticket to see it.

Aside from this being a great horror movie, it’s simply a fantastic movie all around. The attention to detail amazed me, and it’s beautifully shot. I specifically loved the scenes outside during the day, which had some gorgeous lighting and were a great contrast to the danger outside at night. Additionally, as expected, Michael B. Jordan gives a phenomenal performance as both Smoke and Stack, pulling off the contrasting characters with ease.

The scene inside the juke when Sammie sings, which many online are referring to as “THAT SCENE,” truly deserves the hyped label. For starters, Miles Caton has a fantastic voice that really sells Annie’s statement, “There are legends of people born

with the gift of making music, so true it can pierce the veil between life and death, conjuring spirits from the past and the future.” The filming and editing of the scene pull this statement all together and leave you in awe.

“Sinners blew me away and I recommend it to all. Even if you're not a horror fan, you will need to sit through it.”

While I was enjoying the film throughout, what sold it for me was the first end-credit scene,

Are original movies becoming

blockbusters

Isobel Whitley

This writer breaks down the success of Sinners and wonders whether it could be a trendsetter...

Ablockbuster can be determined by many things, but there are a few unspoken rules a film must come under to achieve blockbuster status: highly popular, mass appeal, culturally impactful, and of course, financially successful.

Ryan Coogler brings us the tale of two twins returning to their hometown in the hopes to make a name for themselves with a new blues music juke joint, only to realize a greater evil is waiting for them to arrive home. With imaginative storytelling and outstanding performances, Sinners (2025) brings us a dramatic horror set in 1930’s Mississippi intertwined with Black American folklore, a love letter to the Southern Gothic genre, and creates an original and compelling story. Racking up a whopping $237.3 million at the box office (as of May 6th 2025), is Ryan Coogler’s Sinners creating a shift in the industry, and are original movies becoming blockbusters?

“With ticket

prices

rising every day, we want to sit down and become immersed in storytelling”

Ultimately, blockbuster status is determined by the audience. For original films, this is sometimes difficult to achieve. When we go to the cinema, especially with ticket prices raising every day, we want to sit down and become immersed in storytelling. With a Marvel film?

once again?

You know what you’re getting. With a sequel or an adaptation? You know what you’re getting. But with an original film it’s not so simple.

Of course, original films have become blockbusters before, such as E.T the ExtraTerrestrial, Back To The Future, and Ghostbusters. But over the past two years, we have arguably seen a rise in original films becoming what some may describe as blockbusters, for example, Luca Guadagnino’s heart pounding and tense Challengers (2024), which remains relevant in pop cultural conversation a year after its release. Despite being snubbed by the Academy, its original score played a massive role in its success and it grossed $50 million worldwide.

Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance (2024) had massive success with its bold artistic vision, body horror, and original screenplay, accumulating the tools to become a future cult classic. Making $59 million at the box office, The Substance became Mubi’s highest grossing film. With 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, the original film was perceived well as a thought-provoking horror, embedded with social commentary. Alex Garland’s Civil War (2024) can’t be missed out in conversation of original movie success, a dystopian action thriller on the dehumanising effects of war amassing $68 million at box office.

“A blockbuster is dependent on what its audience thinks of it”

Essentially, a blockbuster is dependent on what its audience thinks of it, and as we understand, it's not so easy for original films to find space in the blockbuster realm of cinema. However, Sinners is proving us wrong. Audiences worldwide are asking for a second film already, and it is clear that Ryan Coogler is making a breakthrough in helping reestablish the idea that original films, scripts, and scores can exist as blockbusters aside the sequels, franchises and adaptations that take up its space.

freedom and the chance to revel in their community and culture on their terms still stood out after experiencing such trauma and disaster,

Thrill-seeking: the psychology of horror

Amy Marsh

This writer tells us how horror films allow us to enjoy the experience of fear...

Most people would describe fear as an unpleasant, undesirable emotion, so why do so many of us actively seek it out by watching horror films?

When watching horror films, we experience adrenaline rushes from jump scares and unexpected plot twists, causing our body to enter fight and flight mode as we anticipate what is coming next. This involves many negative sensations which are associated with the experience of realfear: increased heart increased blood pressure, tensed muscles. However, when the film concludes, all this tension is released, leading to the feelings of satisfaction and relief which can make horror films cathartic and addicting to watch.

This theory, sometimes referred to as the excitationtransfer theory, suggests that the initial feelings of fear and arousal cause viewers to experience intense relief and greater positive emotions once the threats have been resolved. The fight and flight response is associated with a boost in feel-good chemicals like endorphins and dopamine once the

scary experience is over. This means that the arousal we experience when watching horror can intensify the positive emotional responses once the film finishes.

“The arousal we experience when watching horror can intensify the positive emotional responses once the film finishes”

Another theory as to why we seek fear is that horror films reflect our fears of what could happen to society if certain issues aren’t solved. David Skal proposed this theory, suggesting that horror films provide us an outlet for our societal anxieties, acting as a collective coping mechanism for dealing with the societal issues we face. Skal cites multiple examples of how villains in horror films reflect the social concerns of the time: Godzilla’s radioactive breath in the 1950s as a reaction to worries about radioactive contamination during the Cold War; the resurgence of vampires in the 1980s as a response to concerns about the transmission of diseases by blood during the AIDS crisis.  Ultimately, horror films allow us to confront our deepest fears from a safe distance- whether for the thrill, the following relief, or to validate our concerns about the world- somehow making the experience of fear

Image sources: IMDb

Sub-Editors: Alex Paine, Charlotte Thompson & Ciara Rivers

The Penguin Lessons : Is it too black and white?

potential in the plot, especially by being set in the historical backdrop of Argentina on the brink of dictatorship.

Less penguins, more politics! Did The Penguin Lessons reach its full potential?..

Iam pretty sure that The Penguin Lessons was just Steve Coogan’s excuse to hang out with penguins for a few months, reportedly spending weeks developing a rapport with these cute costars. But who can blame him? The penguins’ performances were great; however, I felt the film played it very safe.

Based on Tom Michell’s memoir, the story has a heartwarming premise of a British teacher in 1970s Argentina, who rescues a penguin (Juan Salvador, icon) and smuggles him into his school, changing the lives of students along the way. Think Dead Poet’s Society meets Mr Popper’s Penguins.

I think that there was a lot of

The 1976 coup d’état, one of the most darkest times in Argentina’s modern history, simmers in the background slightly but is never fully explored or given the weight and attention it deserves.

For a film set during a time when people were “disappearing” and imprisoned, The Penguin

“When you place a story in such a charged historical moment, there is a responsibility to at least engage with it”

affected by the events in a deeper and less safe way.

“[The film] seems very reluctant to go into any detail or build on characters”

any detail or build on characters, while glossing over the tension and danger of the era. I feel that when you place a story in such a charged historical moment, there is a responsibility to at least engage with it. I couldn’t help but wish the film had used its unique premise as a lens to explore how ordinary people were

That said, the film has a charm to it. The Penguin Lessons does bring a warmth by focusing on the bond between the teacher and the penguin that is hard to resist. While it doesn’t explore the political climate of Argentina fully, the penguin becomes a symbol of hope and connection amidst uncertainty, and in a way, it is refreshing to see a film take a step back from the larger political narrative to focus on the small, personal impacts of kindness and companionship.

“The penguin becomes a symbol of hope and connection amidst uncertainty.”

It is a film that doesn’t demand much but offers a cozy, heartfelt escape, providing a gentle reminder of the power in simple acts of care during difficult times.

Image sources: IMDb, Rawpixel

La Haine is back in cinemasyou should make the trip

Emmie Biddlecombe

For the 30th anniversary of its release, this writer takes a look at what makes such a cult classic...

Set in the deprived suburbs of Paris,  Haine  man is hospitalised by a police officer. We follow three young men, over 24 hours, each with differing relation to the riots and how poverty, and institutional racism affect their lives.  La Haine visually beautiful film, with poignant and challenging themes.  The film, directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, is based on events in France during the 1990s. A 17-year-old boy, Makomé M’Bowolé was shot in police custody on April 6th, 1993, where he was detained on suspicion of stealing a pack of cigarettes. This was one of three incidents in 4 days in which young people died at the hands of police in France.

start to finish with perfectly timed silences and intricate characters. It successfully celebrates French cinema, whilst condemning French society.

“It successfully celebrates French cinema, whilst condemning French society.”

A note from the subeditors

Since

it's our last

paper, we've got some things to say...THANK YOU!!

Alex:

From our first issue of the year reviewing Joker 2, to a lovely look at politics and penguins, it has been quite a ride for the Film section this year. It's truly been a pleasure to assemble the section every paper and read all your fantastic articles, but the highlight of my year has been getting to know my amazing Courier family - it's crazy to think I didn't know any of you this time last year! Thank you to my brilliant sub-eds Charlotte and Ciara, our Culture parents Adam and Sarah, and our iconic SMO Lucy who we will miss so much! I'm sticking around next year so I look forward to doing all of this again but in the meantime, if you want my elongated thoughts on movies, check out my Letterboxd at Apaine17. Have a fantastic summer everybody, and see you in the autumn!

Charlotte:

“La

Haine, even in 2025, packs a

impact that this film has. I am convinced every person in the cinema left feeling shocked and touched by what they had seen.

, even in 2025, packs a punch. It is a film that is worth going to the cinema for.

If you’re frustrated at the world, feeling a lack of control, or just want to be seduced by a beautiful should be at the

Thank you to everyone in student media for making my final year at Newcastle one of the best! Being part of the film team this year has brought me so much joy and helped me discover a passion for film journalism that I hope will last a lifetime! I want to give a special thanks to the senior team for helping me out along the way, to Alex and Ciara for being the best co-sub editors I could ask for, and most importantly, our writers! We couldn't have done this without you, thank you for all your hard work and for sharing our love of films! Have a wonderful summer and good luck to everyone graduating in the next few months!

Ciara:

This is my final year at Newcastle and it has without a doubt been my favourite year, so I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped make student media such an enjoyable part. Thank you to the senior team for teaching me how to handle the trials and tribulations of Indesign and to Alex and Charlotte for being so fun and collaborative to work with. But the biggest thank you, of course, has to go to all of our writers. Thank you for coming to each SMA and for contributing your brilliant articles and ideas. And to everyone reading this, I hope you've enjoyed our silly little spreads as much as I've enjoyed making them and have the best summer!

Thank You!

La Haine

Zoe Lett

Olly Murs comes to Newcastle

Our honest views on latest arena show.

Emmie Biddlecombe: Olly Murs’, 15 Years of Hits Tour certainly lived up to its name. Complete with 'Troublemaker', 'Heart Skips a Beat', and even a tribute to his trilby hat era, Murs celebrates his music career since The X Factor.

Whilst not a fan of Murs myself, I found the atmosphere of the night a particular highlight. He commanded the crowd well, creating a vibrant environment full of dancing and singing.

It was a long set, at one hour and forty minutes, but Murs sustained an energetic performance throughout, only slowing down for a tearful rendition of 'Dear Darlin’'.

Despite a fairly strong performance, I left wondering what it was worth. With ticket prices increasing globally, this tour reached upwards of £80. It felt odd to be at a show dedicated to how fans have supported him, whilst charging an inaccessible price for a tour with minimal set, a lack of dancers, and extortionate merchandise.

I can’t deny that I had a great time, reminiscing on a nostalgic era of music but I won’t be running to spend a small fortune to do it again any time soon.

Alicia McEvoy: Despite this being the fourth time I’ve seen the Essex-born singer, I can never anticipate how much fun I will have. The rollercoaster of emotions threw me around for the two hours he was on stage. I laughed, I screamed, I sang, and I sobbed. While the crowd around me seemed to be quiet for the less popular songs, I didn’t let them stop me from losing my voice at another concert.

I’ve been a fan of Olly for about 12 years now, and I first saw him in 2017, so there were a few songs I was always sad that I never heard live. It was even great to hear my favourite song 'Right Place, Right Time' again – with his lyric change at the end to mirror his experiences – that song means so much to me.

I think my favourite moment of any Olly show is when he mixes in his favourite songs. For this tour, it was an 80’s megamix, featuring 'Careless Whisper', 'Beat It', 'Livin’ On A Prayer' and 'I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)'. It had the whole crowd on their feet, dancing around and singing – and the only real benefit of being at the back was being able to see everyone having a good time.

Tippi McGarry: Olly Murs was not a gig I wanted to enjoy. The last time I saw him was via videos of his warmup act for Take That in 2024, notable for his excessive sexual movements. Though this felt toned down on Sunday night, his ego was still present as he gyrated across the stage and asked the audiences the exact year of his birth. But even a slightly gauche showman is a good one. The classics dragged you back in and his effort was evident, you could not help but dance with him. There was a notable lull as he performed his new songs, so much so he immediately followed it with an eighties medley to get the mums back in. Certainly not worth upwards of eighty pounds, but perhaps thirty. As much as I might be opposed to his self-expression, his music is fun. It strikes a specific chord of nostalgia that makes me feel like the Olympics are back in London and the X-Factor is must watch television.

'New Order are conning their fans!': Peter Hook on his turbulent musical past

Jack Stephenson

The former Joy Division and New Order bassist held nothing back speaking to The Courier ahead of his upcoming UK tour.

Aperson’s taste in music changes with age. As a teenager, Joy Division’s hypnotic sound felt like a sonic pinnacle. Lately, though, I’ve gravitated toward New Order’s distinctly different new-wave style. I couldn’t put my finger on what drew me to both bands, until it finally hit me at a Peter Hook and the Light show last year. His signature melodic bass was the defining link between the two iconic, yet opposite, groups.

So when I was offered the chance to interview Hook, I jumped at it. My nerves were in overdrive beforehand, but they eased quickly after his warm “You alright, mate?” set the tone for an engaging conversation ahead of The Light’s April tour. The tour features Get Ready, New Order’s 2001 comeback album, their first after splitting in 1993.

“I never thought we’d get back together again,” Hook reflected. “When we did, Barney and I went back to how we were at school—very close friends. Get Ready felt like reliving that honeymoon moment.”

But the reunion didn’t last. By 2007, tensions within New Order reached breaking point, leading to Hook’s departure. Controversially, New Order continued without him. “They’ve had the freedom—using the brand name as they are—to con the fans. They don’t sound like New Order, don’t act like New Order. They’re just not New Order.”

For Hook, his new band ‘The Light’ has become a way to reclaim the music of Joy Division and New Order. “I’m able to do [the songs] exactly how I wanted them to sound. It was a constant battle to make the music sound like New Order from Republic onwards. Luckily, because them twats are off elsewhere, I get to do it for me – I get to put the bass back on and give it the proper feel.”

Hook was similarly frank about his distaste for newer digital production methods, which New

Order first embraced with Get Ready. “Cut and paste is the death of originality and creativity,” he insisted. “Music before cut and paste has a much freer feel. Now, any groove or looseness is construed to be bad.”

As for AI in music, Hook was even more dismissive. “Music is a dark art - songwriting is almost impossible to teach. AI can write songs, but they’re all shit. I’ll eat my words when AI sells out the Co-op Arena”.

For Hook, music is all about the rawness of a live performance - something he wished New Order embraced more. “One of the biggest frustrations with New Order was that they wouldn’t tour. I never understood why and still don’t.”

I mentioned how the power of Joy Division’s live shows - often starkly different from their studio recordings - was part of what made the band so special. Hook agreed: “It was much angrier, much faster, and had a lot more presence. That’s why I started playing the LPs [with the Light]. You couldn’t recreate the live sound of that band.”

As our call ended, a Zoom glitch cut Hook off— fitting, given his earlier rants on technology. As a Joy Division fan, speaking with Peter Hook was slightly surreal, yet deeply insightful. His down-toearth nature made it feel less like an interview and more like a candid chat at the pub. They say never meet your heroes. I think they’re just choosing the wrong ones.

"We're all just trying to connect": Nate Bergman brings a taste of Nashville to The Cluny

Christine Soloch

We caught up with the Americana singer to speak about songwriting, sadness, and the strange beauty of finding joy in dark times.

On a wonderful, sunny evening in Ouseburn, something beautifully unexpected happened. Crowds gathered at the Cluny to see Chuck Ragan, former guitarist and singer of American punk rock band Hot Water Music, but were treated to an opening act that took everyone’s breath away from the moment he stepped on stage. During my interview with Nate Bergman, he jokingly warned me that his sets can be quite deep and depressing, but I wouldn’t have believed it without seeing for myself.

Blending folk, country, rock, and soul, as well as a voice like gravel soaked in honey, Bergman stepped on stage to a chattering crowd - a common fate for many support acts. Within seconds of his first guitar strum, though, the energy shifted. Conversations died out, and you could hear a pin drop by the time he sang the first line to his song

‘Britany, I’m Sorry’.

“I think there's an energy in the room you can feel when it's connecting. If you’re telling it honestly, and you’re really connecting to the thing you’re putting out, it’s very palpable,” he told me ahead of the show. But never have I ever witnessed this happen so quickly, and I could tell everyone else felt the same.

Despite the heaviness of Bergman's lyrics, he proved to be a master of making depressing songs engaging while topping it off with topnotch humour that was greatly appreciated by the Geordie crowd. “This shit is about to get depressing real quick”, he warned after the opening number, “so for now let’s do my happy song,” he continued. With impeccable comedic timing, he launched into a crowd singalong to the line “Wish I was dead”… and everyone sang it with smiles on their faces.

He that “you could think you're in a room full of strangers tonight, but you don't have to be. You're in a room full of people who are all here for the same reason. So meet someone new. And you never know if that person could be the person that's gonna save or change your life in some really meaningful way.”

Clearly, Nate Bergman has gained an army of new fans throughout this tour. “We’re all just trying to connect,” he said earlier, “because essentially, we’re all experiencing the same things in life.”

When we talked about the sadness of his songs, Bergman said: “I don't know why, but I've always just felt more drawn to the darker stuff and stuff that feels harder to talk about. Maybe it’s like this weird therapeutic thing where I'm forcing myself

to sort of deal with it. But somehow talking about sad things makes them less sad.”

“It's a lot easier to relate to a sad song than a love song. [...] I think British audiences appreciate a certain sadness. Maybe it's because Brits, stereotypically, are more reserved emotionally. But when it comes to art, they're very open to vulnerability.”

As our conversation came to a close, Nate had some simple, but heartfelt words to the UK audience: “Thank you for listening. Thanks for coming to the shows. And thank you for having Greggs available everywhere.”

is out now.

Nate Bergman's new EP, Wild One,

Image credit: Ian Cheek Press

Image credit: Christine Soloch

"If you did a mosh pit on a bus, you'd get locked up": Big Special on their chaos-filled UK tour

The critically acclaimed duo sat down to discuss their upcoming Newcastle show, debut album, and how to enjoy a punk gig whilst keeping safe.

Firstly, we discussed how they are supporting the Pixies on the 23 May and what this meant to them. They talked about how it is a "massive privilege" and how they feel successful just to be mentioned at least once in conversation. Plus, the idea that they get to watch the Pixies for free for nine shows. They joked that they are going to take acoustic guitar and see if a jam session takes place. Though there is music that they are testing some music, the set will be filled with their debut album which turns one on the 10 May which they have been touring for there last year. Their debut album

Post-Industrial Hometown Blues has been a great success. They commented on trying to make it in the music scene for the last 15 years, which is a slow path, and that there are still "pinch me moments". This is due to them witnessing people respecting and connecting to the art that they have put out.

“When you put art out you can never choose your audience...”

As often a gig is a place to release your emotions and have a bit of fun and forget about your personal worries and the outside world, I was able to ask about how a mosh pit can be safe and inclusive space for everyone. They commented "if you’d did a mosh pit on a bus you would get locked up" and that at a gig "man or woman you should be able to have the same feeling".  We talked about an amazing charity which they have had at some of their gigs called Safe Gigs for Women and how they fight against sexual assault and harassment at live music events. They talked about how when you put art out you can never choose your audience, but they feel very lucky to have one which would not put up with anti-social behaviour. Plus, how everyone is there to have fun and look out for each other including the artists and the audience and how this can be seen when they often join the mosh pit for their song 'Trees'.   We also talked about how music is mode of communication of art to represent and be proud of your background and heritage. They talked about how through their music they have been able to proud to represent their big country dialect, which has been underrepresented within media. They offered Newcastle University students advice that everyone should be proud of where they come from and what a privilege it is to be able to show this through your passion and job.

Overall, it was an honour to interview Big Special about them supporting the Pixies at the O2 City Hall and I highly recommend giving their debut album Post-Industrial Hometown Blues a listen. Plus, if you get the chance, go and see them live, you will

Liam and Noel Gallagher perform together for the first time since '09

Alex Paine ~Film Sub-Editor

The UK's favourite band is back together... but for how long?

Because they need each other, and they believe in one another... we can only hope. As if Oasis fans weren’t already overjoyed with last year’s announcement of a reunion tour that will see the feuding Gallagher brothers back up on stage together again, we recently found out it’s not just a crazy dream as both Liam and Noel performed as Oasis in a secret show at a working men’s club in North London - their first show in 16 years.

“The gig was a short set of songs that were shot to be part of a promotional film to come this summer”

Apparently the gig was a short set of songs that were shot to be part of a promotional film to come this summer. We don’t know what they performed, all we know was that they received noise disturbance complaints from a local

building, which is wonderfully on-brand for a group who were known for mixing their songs as loud as they could possibly go. It’s not like Liam and Noel are suddenly spending every second of every day together - they arrived to the venue separately, filmed for about an hour and left pretty quickly afterwards - but as someone who’s spent years wanting them to bury the hatchet, this is a sight for sore eyes. Noel apparently brought his teenage sons round to Liam’s and spent Easter together, confirming that they’re finally talking again.

“They arrived to the venue separately, filmed for about an hour and left pretty

When this tour was originally announced, I was really worried that this was entirely a moneymove, as Noel was in a lot of debt after a recent divorce. However it seems like, as the tour gets closer, that Liam and Noel are actually enjoying the experience of being in a band again and aren’t wanting to tear each other’s throats out, which is a really good thing to see.

I’m not going to any of the

concerts (I wouldn’t last five minutes in that environment, no chance), but I’m looking forward to seeing the band hopefully in a healthy state again, and I’m interested in seeing what the setlist is like. Hopefully they don’t just play all the 90s stuff though, as there’s some really underrated gems in their 2000s output such as 'Roll It Over', 'Let’s All Make Believe', 'Falling Down', 'Part of the Queue' and a good few others. Still, as long as Liam and Noel share vocals on 'Acquiesce' again, there’ll

Victor Ray on his journey from busking

in

Newcastle to touring with Teddy Swims

The ever popular local talent speaks to The Courier about his latest release and his grand ambitions for the future.

Victor Ray is an artist whose career has been propelling further into success and fame with each passing year. Starting his music career in Newcastle, he has been able to create his own authentic brand as a singer who pours his heart and soul into every piece he writes.

The Ugandan-born singer-songwriter, although shy as a child, was able to find his voice through music during his time at school. “I was always singing from when I was young,” Ray recalled. His diverse discography, compiled of hip hop, R&B, indie pop, and soul, was heavily influenced by artists such as Usher, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran.

His career began to take off when he started busking in 2017 on Northumberland Street, singing covers and his own music. Busking is still something central to his music career, as after finishing a song, he performs it live for the public. He remarked that it “feels like the final step to me because it is like you are giving it away now and they can give their energy back”.

Victor’s dedication to sharing his passion for music has certainly paid off with, with videos of him singing songs such as Hozier’s 'Take Me

To Church' amassing millions of views. Since 2021 he has remained committed to uploading weekly and he now has 3.2 million followers on the platform. He stated, “as soon as I did go viral, it’s like all that hard work had paid off”.

His career has repeatedly seen him make milestone after milestone for himself. He

truly has proven that he lives up to the title of Future Artist of the Month (in December 2024) bestowed upon him by BBC Radio 1. This is evident by various accomplishments, including selling out London’s KOKO, being on the cover of Wonderland magazine, and touring with Teddy Swims. These achievements are a testament to Victor’s motivation to create an impressive image and legacy, characterised, he says, by how “all of my songs are from real experiences”.

“...as soon as I did go viral, it's like all that hard work had paid off”

When asked about what creating songs means to him, he responded, “I feel like they speak to me in a way that words can’t”. He is currently signed with Decca Records and on 11 April 2025 he released his fourth EP I WILL, which is a record that uses powerful vocals in accompaniment with hip hop influences. The EP portrays an autobiographical account of past experiences in Victor’s life that have him reflecting on the past and looking towards the future, having learned from these experiences. He said, “the more honest that you are, the more that it can connect with people”, and that is a sentiment that is evident in the record.

“...portrays an autobiographical account of Victor's life that has him reflecting on the past...”

I WILL includes his current single ‘Hearts Break and People Change’, produced by Jack Tench. When asked what inspired him to write the song, he said, “my trust was broken, and I did not realise that this person could do something like that”.  The track opens with

orchestral humming, then channels a steady soulful rhythm interlaced with poignant lyrics that focus on the inner turmoil of a fractious relationship with a former friend. The vocals and tempo only build in strength as the chorus draws near, with emphatic piano notes and strings, proceeding in the bridge helping to heighten the ferocity of Ray's vulnerable lyrics.

“I want to be the biggest artist in the world, I want to be travelling the world”

The lead single of the EP is Sticks and Stones, produced by Owen Cutts, is an equally personal song that highlights his perseverance through growing up as a black kid in Newcastle as he is trying to pursue his dreams in the music industry. Kojey Radical and Strandz feature on the track, adding elements reverb and spoken word, which champions the message of overcoming self-doubt. As the interview concluded, I asked Victor Ray what his ambitions are for his growing career. He had this to say: “Where I am now, being able to tour in Australia and go to the US and being there. That was probably what I’d say like five years ago… I want to be the biggest artist in the world, I want to be travelling the world, I want my music to reach as many people as it can”. With the trajectory of his career, these are goals that Victor is absolutely getting closer

Lucie Stringer

Callum Borkowski

Image credit: Flickr

Image credit: Chuff Media

RD Studio's Ryan Dean: Building success from the ground up

Sasha Cowie

Sasha Cowie sits down with TV and Media Mogul, from the North East, Ryan Dean.

Ryan grew up in the Northeast and now leads a group of innovative creative businesses from London: RD Content, RD Studios, Neverdark (his video game company), RD Rentals, and most recently, Treehouse, a children’s show launching soon. His work spans everything from global campaigns to feature films, but beyond the busy world of studios and camera kits, he’s also my brother. And despite juggling all of this, Ryan has remained remarkably down-to-earth— never too busy to show up for family and he always still acts like himself.

Ryan’s natural leaning toward storytelling began early. “I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in creative arts,” he says. While at university, he began writing reviews for gaming magazines, which led him to content creation. The real turning point came when YouTube launched. “I saw it and thought, this is going to change everything,” he recalls.

Both of Ryan's parents are entrepreneurs, which played a significant role in shaping his own entrepreneurial spirit. Growing up in an environment where business-minded thinking was

always present, he saw firsthand the dedication and resilience required to run a successful business. This undoubtedly influenced his decision to venture into the creative industry, where he could channel his passion and ambition into building his own companies.

“Growing

up in the Northeast didn’t disadvantage me”

At 22, he pitched a short piece about teenage pregnancy to the NHS. It went viral, marking his first large-scale impact. That success led to RD Content, one of the UK’s first agencies focusing on branded YouTube content. “I was pitching YouTube to clients who didn’t even understand the platform,” he laughs.

Starting a business young had its risks. Ryan took out a £4,000 loan to buy his first camera and landed a £15,000 job—but found himself nearly broke six months in. He turned down a stable job offer to stick with his business, and a week later, another opportunity came through. That decision changed everything.

Now, RD Content is an international agency, and RD Studios is one of London’s largest film studios. Ryan has produced everything from branded films to a children’s show (The Treehouse) and a feature film set for release later this year. Over the years, he’s worked with high-profile celebrities, including David Beckham, Will Smith and Dua Lipa—some

Actor spotlight

Kirsty Dow - TV Sub-Editor

Your TV Sub-Editor shines the spotlight on a classic Geordie Actor in this concluding feature...

The actor turned producer from Cramlington is a North East champion with his own production company, Rivers Meet Productions, based in Hexham.

Soldier Soldier (1991-97)

Starring in the seven series long 1990s production, Green portrayed Fusilier Dave Tucker. Set against the backdrop of post-Cold War Britain, it followed ‘A’ company, a regiment of soldiers in the fictional 1st Battalion King's Fusiliers. Alongside Jerome Flynn as Lance Corporal Paddy Garvey the two formed a much-loved double act - including a musical turn as frontmen of ‘The Unrighteous Brothers’ which propelled them further into fame, gaining Green several number one singles and solid status as a teen heartthrob.

aptly named DI Geordie Keating. Set in 1950s Cambridgeshire the Newcastle native solves all manner of crimes with the help of various clergymen sidekicks. Through these unlikely friendships his gruff manner is gently scrubbed away over the years as he tries to balance family life with enforcing law and seeking justice, even when his own morals contradict them.

of his favorite collaborations to date.

Despite his success, Ryan remains connected to his roots. “Growing up in the Northeast didn’t disadvantage me,” he says. “It’s a tough industry, but if you’re determined and creative, you can make it.” He maintains strong ties to the region, with many of RD Studios’ builders coming from the Northeast, and is passionate about opening doors for talent beyond London.

Ryan’s biggest breakthrough came when RD Content became Williams Formula One’s global content agency. “We won a pitch with ten other agencies, and that was a turning point—creating content for one of the most iconic teams in motorsport.”

But what truly stands out is how Ryan’s balanced his success with family life whilst findimg time to focus on giving back to creatives in

Grantchester (2014)

Green has starred in all 9 series of the ITV detective drama as the

Special mention - ‘Metro Watch’:

Thought to be his first ever screen debut, Green starred as a Metro driver in this 1987 advert. The 16 minute long feature promoted ‘Metro Watch’, a scheme not unlike the posters we still see today, aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour on the transport system. If you’ve never heard of this before, it's because the only tape recording mysteriously went missing - never to see the light of day again - before miraculously (and somewhat randomly) reappearing online in 2015. Some may say it’s now a valuable artefact…

Green also presents and produces a number of programmes showcasing our wonderful North East, shining the spotlight on its hidden gems with two seasons of Weekend Escapes in which he explores the region, introducing its sites to friendssome of whom you may recognise from his previous projects. He also took part in the infamous 200 mile coast-to-coast walk, with cameras following him in the North East segment, spending time at heritage site, Hadrian’s Wall.

Green is a proud North East native, and the perfect person to wrap up our Actor Spotlight series this year.

the Northeast - workimg with LAMDA and the National Film and Television School to support young talent.

Ryan’s advice to aspiring creatives: “Don’t wait for someone to give you permission. Just start creating and sending it out. Keep going.” Watching him build his businesses while staying grounded is a journey that proves you can succeed without losing who you are.

As his sister—twenty years younger—I’ve had the unique experience of watching Ryan build his businesses from a distance and getting to know him properly as an adult. Despite his success he remains grounded. He makes time for his wife and three children, keeps up with his hobbies, and is always there when it matters. His journey proves that you can build something huge without losing who you are—or where you came from.

Is telly getting better or worse?

Charley Dobson

With new releases aired daily and too many streaming services to count, is modern day television worth the hassle or have we moved too far away from the good old days of TV?

It’s no secret that most of us have a comfort show- a series we could watch again and again without tiring, something to bring us back down to earth on our bad days. Potentially the most important criteria for the perfect comfort show is a long run time, being hooked from the first episode and knowing there's a stack of seasons lined up to watch after.

There are plenty examples of shows fitting this nature from the 90s and 2000s-take everyone's favourite med drama House MD for example. Viewers seem to crave a steady plot and time to get to know their favourite characters, but lengthy shows are harder to come by these days. With streaming services aiming to crank out as much content as possible, the limited series seems to have replaced the long runners. That’s not to say they can't be good. Series like Fleabag for example secured some diehard fans- it's a short and not so sweet show with major re-watch-ability points.

Another notable difference in TV over the ears is the plot vs quality debate, which i find most evident in the horror genre. Older shows like a thrilling plot though admittedly the visuals don’t necessarily sell the fear that the storylines are attempting to convey. On the other hand, now that TV has gotten its claws into better tech, viewers can see the horror on screen as if it were real, only now shows are recycling ideas

and programmes can be predictable. Take the TV show Chucky- an 8th instalment of the child’s play franchise-as if we needed any more. So really, it just depends on whether your preference leans towards story or aesthetics.

Now, to raise a point that is almost universally agreed as the downfall of modern TV: television’s obsession with the reboot. So many brilliant shows have suffered from a bruised reputation after producers couldn't just quit. Iconic series like Sex and the City and That 70s Show are tarnished with unrecognisable plot lines and beloved characters replaced by ones which could never compare. Whilst the oversaturation of shows is undeniably diluting the quality for the most part- some real good TV has managed to slip through. From is an ongoing series perfect for fans of small-town mysteries, or for those who prefer reality; Jury Duty is a recent release from 2023 following a juror weighing in on a completely staged court case- not all hope for TV is lost.

Image credit: Ryan Dean

Buzz, buzz, buzz: Yellowjackets season three – A mixed bag

Oliver Parrish

The third instalment of Yellowjackets lacked the finesse of seasons one and two – with some pretty glaring misses. However, that is not to say that it was a bad season - the negatives do not overshadow what was a solid piece of telly.

First off, this season’s acting was superb, with some truly outstanding performances. Steven Krueger expertly portrayed the demise of Coach Ben; Courtney Eaton did a superb job of Lottie at her most unhinged; but by far the star performer of this season was Sophie Thatcher as Natalie Scattorcio. She had some huge moments: The trial, Killing Ben, and the aftermath of the failed mutiny, to name a few. Her acting brings already intense scenes to new emotional heights – she is immense.

A minute for the writers too, the teen timeline in particular shone this season. They moved towards explaining some of the ‘supernatural’ occurrences via the introduction of the cave system and its hallucinogenic gasses, a really well-worked narrative choice that they tied in nicely with everyone’s favourite schizophrenic (Lottie) and her questionable connection to ‘the wilderness. Medicated Lottie how we miss you so. The introduction of the frog scientists an amazing twist that I did not see coming at

all – it had me floored. Then Hannah deciding that the safest course of action was to join in with the savagery of girls by stabbing her almost comedically masculine guide in the face? A twist within a twist! I mean if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em I guess.

The hunt, the pit girl reveal (RIP Mari), and Nat’s dramatic escape to radio for help, all interwoven exceptionally to a climactic phone call – and an answer! It was a finale that absolutely lived up to the hype. Now for the negatives…

My first gripe is the introduction of Melissa. She came out of absolutely nowhere in the teen timeline and ended up in a pretty shoehorned (and questionably violent?) fling with Shauna. A wee bit of buildup to her character would’ve been nice. This lack of presence made the reveal that she was alive in the adult timeline feel really empty. Also, there was some questionable casting for adult Mellissa. Yellowjackets has been historically bang on the money for casting adult versions of the teens, but Hillary Swank looks absolutely nothing like teen Mellissa. There’s a moment where adult Mellissa puts on her trademark backwards cap that becomes almost comedic because of how empty her character is. It’s like her entire identity is wrapped up in that thing, who is she without the hat? It’s one of the few times Yellowjackets has left me disappointed at a plot point. Somewhat of a stain on an otherwise glimmering record.

Season two of Yellowjackets ended with the

spectacular – the death of Natalie Scattorcio in the adult timeline. This was a death that was set up pretty well, preceded by excellent parallels to the girls’ time in the wilderness. This is a death that fans theorise was not in the writers’ initial plans for the show, but a death they had to neatly splice into the story thanks to Juliette Lewis (Who portrays adult Nat) wishing to leave the show.

obvious in season three.

Throughout the 10-episode run, teen Nat is gradually built up as the sole heroine of the series – leading the girls for a brief period of time, before leading the rescue-focused group away from the tyranic rule of Shauna.

episode, Nat leads a daring plot to slip

away from the camp with the scientists’ radio transmitter. She treks up the nearest hill as (Aerosmith plays triumphantly in the background) and makes contact with the outside world. Just casual heroine things. This runs alongside the climax of the adult timeline, in which… not a lot really happens. There's a build up to a deadly face-off among the surviving yellowjackets, and yet I’m rooting for none of them. If adult Nat were here, things would sync perfectly, mirroring the divide between herself and Shauna back in the teen timeline. Without her, the adult timeline feels empty, building up to a fourth season that could have connected themes and parallels in a perfect intersecting finale. It feels like we’re mourning for a series we never get. Well, that’s very Yellowjackets I guess. The good old “mourning for a future you’ll never have” trope. I loved this season, but for the first time in my extensive career of defending the adult timeline, I found it a little insipid. There you have it –Yellowjackets season three – a mixed bag.

TV's final bow Nighty Night to dark comedy?

Cory Gourley - TV Sub-Editor

Are the days of Davis, Gervais and Capaldi really over forever?

Hiya Cath!”, Nighty Night’s most famous line. Julia Davis’ comic masterpiece ran for just two series and 12 Episodes from 2004 to 2005. The show followed the socio-pathic Jill Tyrell (played by Davis), a woman who decides to join an online dating service and seduce her neighbour’s husband after her own husband is diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Nighty Night took the viciously cruel landscape of the noughties comedy scene, which also saw the rise of Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais and Chris Morris to name a few and made it her own. The humour was so close to the bone and was often much more sickom than sitcom. As a result, Nighty Night epitomised the noughties dark comedy scene.

This wasn’t the only show that did so though, Father Ted, The Thick of It and Human Remains (also by Davis) were all shows that were fiercely twisted but equally wickedly funny. Father Ted randy, alcoholic, badly behaved priests and The Thick of It dark realities of life in politics. They brought wonderful female characters to the centre of their shows, proving women could be just as funny, if not more funny, than their male counterparts.

Before the likes of Gavin & Stacey, Shaun Pye’s Monkey Dust was BBC Three’s saving grace when it came

to comedy in the early 2000’s. It consisted of multiple darkly, satirical vignettes that portray a dystopian, disgusting and depraved Broken Britain. It was a show that made you want to laugh and cry at the same time- the beauty if you like dark comedies which are often embedded in pathos. The Day Today and Brass Eye in the 1990s satirically covered topics such as Drugs, Bestiality, the AIDS pandemic and moral panics surrounding Pedophilia. The show covered dark humour but managed to also help many Britons become fearless about discussing certain taboo topics. Chris Morris, like Davis, said the unsayable and not many comics have come close to it since.

However, in recent years, dark comedy in its truest form seems to have disappeared. Now not completely, don’t get me wrong, shows such as Phoebe Waller Bridge’s Fleabag, Damon Beesley’s The Inbetweeners and Paul Abbott’s, Shameless, all cut close to the cloth but none of them cut right through to the bone. Most of them make you cringe more than anything else. Of course, we live in a different type of Britain these days. Some of the material from the shows stated above are incredibly dated but the genre of dark comedy does seem to have disappeared slightly into the abyss. There is a difference between censorship over show’s with outdated attitudes and show’s that cover taboo subjects. This is something we mustn’t forget. Dark comedy is a vehicle to tackle difficult subject matters in a light that makes them accessible for others to understand and process. Comedy is a tonic that helps dilute trauma and helps people digest taboos, making dark or black comedy a necessity.

So, whether or not we have said Nighty Night to Dark comedy, it doesn’t really matter because most of it is on BBC iPlayer anyway!

And its a Goodbye from her and its a Goodbye from him...

This is the last paper of the year and that means its time for us to say goodbye. We have both written a few words but first and foremost we would like to say a massive joint thank you to our Heads of Culture, Adam and Sarah, our fellow culture team and the wonderful Lucy for pairing us together and letting us transform our section!

Cory:

First of all, I just want to thank our incredible writer’s, without you the transformation of this wonderful section would not have happened, you have engaged, encouraged and indulged in every single one of our ideas- so thank you!

When taking on the role of TV Sub-Editor I had lots of new ideas, from making the section more North East centric to shining the light on key issues that are faced by many in one of the world’s most popular mediums (that being TV of course!). I was so lucky to find Kirsty who shared so many similar visions to me. We have bounced ideas of off each other and worked closely to bring the best content possible, whilst having a little too much fun a long the way.

I really have found a friend for life. Our shared love of Rachel Shenton and Linzey Cocker was a real bonding moment, especially because I wasn't sure whether anyone else knew who they were!

Finally I just want to say that TV is so often overlooked as the poor relation to film or theatre but it’s not. It’s an art

form in its own right. TV educates, it entertains, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it gives you a friend in times of need but most importantly it’s almost always about escapism and we all need to escape sometimes...

Kirsty:

We have absolutely loved being your TV subeditors this year. From brainstorming article ideas, introducing Actor Spotlight and Geordie Drama, to hours spent messing around on Indesign and Photoshop trying to perfect our spread - yapping all the while.

Sadly, this is my last year at Newcastle Uni, but after 4 years of being here, being a part of The Courier as one half of your TV team has been my absolute highlight. I’ve been so lucky to have shared it with Cory - without our roles we’d probably never have met. Our shared passion for the small screen, and the nichest of shows and actors has brought me so much joy this year, but most importantly created the best and funnest friendship.

Thank you to every one of our writers who helped to make our section this yearbe that consistently signing up for articles, pitching ideas or just having a chat with us about all things TV. You’ve all been wonderful. Another massive thanks to the best Culture Bosses there are - Adam Lovegrove and Sarah Tunstall for all their support this year and for giving us the freedom to make TV our own.

And to our wonderful Editor-in-Chief Lucy Bower for everything she does behind the scenes, and for pairing us together in the first place. We owe the best year to her.

Cory Gourley and Kirsty Dow - TV Sub-Editors

Image credit: IMDb

Image credit: IMDb Image credit: Abi Ogden

The World of Tim Burton at London’s Design Museum

Alex Paine - Film Sub-Editor

As a fan of Tim Burton’s films and his visual style in general, I was really excited to go and see the exhibition all about him at the Design Museum in London. The World of Tim Burton is a large and comprehensive look at his history, his art style and his filmography, going from his early shorts working for Disney all the way up to his recent projects like Wednesday and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. The first thing that struck me about the exhibition was just how much it had in it. I wasn’t expecting it to be as big as it was, but I was in there for over an hour looking at a multitude of early sketches and short comics by Burton, as well as models, costumes, poster art and more. There were TV screens playing his first short film Vincent, which I hadn’t seen before, and it was fascinating to see such an early example of his work that already had his distinct style.  It was also a really wellorganised exhibition too. This might sound like a strange compliment, but what I mean by this is I really liked how the exhibition started by showing his roots as a designer and the

various films and artists that influenced him, and how those early inspirations can be seen throughout his entire filmography, which is also shown in mostly chronological order.

As a massive fan of stop-motion, my favourite part of the exhibition was seeing first-hand the several models and sets from his animated works. I was really excited to see models of Jack, Sally and the Mayor from The Nightmare Before Christmas, one of my favourite films, but for those who are more inclined towards Corpse Bride or Frankenweenie, there were still plenty of character models from those films that were amazing to see up close. Overall, I was really satisfied with my visit to The World of Tim Burton. The amount of material they had from Burton’s archives, and the way the exhibition came together as a full celebration of his work, really impressed me and I think you’ll get something out of it even if you’re not fully acquainted with his work. If you find yourself down in London before May 26, get yourself down to the Design Museum and check it out!

AI art: the planet's silent but deadly killer

Abigail Charnley

Is art really inacessible?

It was ironic that as I searched for some more exact statistics on how AI is destroying the environment that the first answer that popped up was AI generated. Even someone as passionately against AI as me can’t seem to avoid running into it constantly on the internet today, but does this mean we should just give into its constant appearance on our screens?

Recently social media platforms have seen the many AI ‘art’ trends flood the algorithms. However, is it really art to simply take someone else’s hard work and imagination, and request that a computer uses their idea to create something you can then stick your name on?

"Miyazaki ... 'disgusted' by the use of AI"

As people began to ‘create’ images in the style of Japanese Artist Hayao Miyazaki, a debate sprung up, with Miyazaki’s past words on being ‘disgusted’ by the use of AI sparking conversion around whether using AI for ‘art’ was acceptable. Given that these people were not using their own imagination and creativity to make the images

produced, it doesn’t seem right to deem what they made art, when they had essentially just typed a few instructions into a computer. Additionally, this lack of imagination is causing massive damage to the environment. The UN have stated that AI requires huge amounts of raw materials and water to function, with an estimate that global AI related infrastructure may soon consume six times more water than Denmark. This catastrophic amount of damage AI is doing hardly seems justifiable, especially in the case of AI art. Whilst it’s important to nurture and encourage anyone’s desire to create art, using AI is not exercising your imagination, and it’s disrespectful to the original artist, especially in the case of Miyazaki who has previously expressed that he thinks AI is an insult to life itself. Does anyone really think it’s okay to use massive amounts of water on AI systems when much of the world still doesn’t have access to clean drinking water?

Surely we would all benefit more from stepping away from AI in the creative sphere, and instead pushing ourselves to improve in our artistic abilities. Trying and failing is what allows us to get better and it sparks new ideas, as opposed to current ideas simply being regenerated, given AI can only regurgitate existing information, rather than create original ideas. What may initially look like a simple Instagram art post could really be a cog in the machine harming our environment.

DICK. Newcastle alumni lay it bare in London

Lucy Bower - Editor-in-chief

Stripped back and unfiltered. Newcastle alumni take Dick to London.

Post-University.  A phrase that is certain to send shivers down any student's spine. Infamous for being a period of uncertainty, confusion, and a search for answers that probably don’t exist. Well fast forward to the grand old age of 26 and it appears that insecurity does not just disappear. Dick. is a play designed to address all of these questions head on - it’s ugly in the most beautiful way. Written and directed by Newcastle alumni Adam Kinneen, his talent lies in writing about the unspeakable.That’s not all - producer Eloise McGeady, Sound Design and Technical Operator Polly Dacam, and actor Max Brennan also make up the honorary Geordies who have migrated down to London to battle life’s hardest questions. The play does not take any shortcuts. As an audience, we are forced to confront each and every element of growing up, and Dick. doesn't care if you don't want to. Five friends who almost exclusively gather

for their birthdays. Five quarter-life crisis’ at the thought of being closer to 50 than 0.

"It's uncomfortable, and that's the point."

The opening scene hits hard. It’s sharp, funny, and frequently crosses the line. Noah, brought to life by the effortlessly brilliant Joseph Lynch, owns the stage from the jump. Fueled by a rebellion against societal expectations, Noah delivers darkly humorous monologues about everything from the demonisation of hangovers to his obsession with his friends’ most outrageous sexual exploits. Lynch doesn’t play the character - he is the character. Totally unforgettable.

Frederick Russell’s Ruby is a haunting portrayal of how power, when misused - even unintentionally - can quietly unravel a friendship. Charismatic and full of romantic ideals, Ruby walks into his own undoing. Russell leans into the character’s downfall with devastating grace, delivering a performance that’s as raw as it is beautiful. River, on the other hand, searches for escape in quieter, more elusive ways. Lonely, and untrusting of his newfound quiet nature, he carries a kind of quiet intensity that pulls you in.

Max Brennan brings depth and subtlety to the role - layered, introspective, and impossible to ignore. There’s something about River that makes you want to lean in and figure him out.

Cleo stands apart from the rest - an outlier in the group with a quiet strength.

As Ruby’s older sister, there’s a tenderness in their bond, but Cleo keeps most of herself tucked

away, choosing silence over vulnerability - until she is forced to share her grief. Nina Fidderman brings a graceful charm to the role, making Cleo’s guarded nature feel all the more human. Bailey rounds out the group as the fifth friend. Andi Bickers doesn’t play Bailey; they become them, channelling a raw, heartfelt love for the group that becomes the emotional pulse of the play. Every glance, every shift in tone adds to the whirlwind of feelings Bailey navigates. Through Bailey, we’re reminded that in friendship, the only thing that’s ever simple is the concept itself.

"Sharp, funny, and frequently crosses the line"

Just as the story picks up momentum, Act 2 slams on the brakes and flips everything on its head. Suddenly, you're sitting in stretched-out silences— five minutes that feel like forever yet no time at all —wrapped in a tension that’s raw and unsettling.

It’s uncomfortable, and that’s the point. It hits with the weight of real life—messy, quiet, and brutally honest.

"It gives space to the thoughts you're not supposed to say out loud, and dares to validate them"

Dick. doesn’t hand you answers - instead it gives you questions. The kind that linger, multiply, and quietly crawl under your skin. It taps into that restless curiosity that is intrinsic to growing up, where nothing feels certain and everything feels too real. It’s raw, it’s uncomfortable, and it doesn’t pretend otherwise.

But that’s the beauty of Dick. - it gives space to the thoughts you’re not supposed to say out loud, and dares to validate them.

Image credit: Alex Paine

Image credit: Amelia Hawes photography

Image credit: Abigail Dawn

A treat after your 9-5: 9 to 5: The Musical review Thank

Taylor Roth

NUMTsoc's take on Dolly Parton's extravaganza

Playing 3-4 May at the Newcastle High School for Girls, put on by the Newcastle University Musical Theatre Society (NUMTSoc), is 9 to 5: The Musical, a musical adaptation of the original movie 9 to 5.

This show follows three working women in an office run by an awful boss and their dreams to overtake his position. The comedy, paired with lyrics and music by Dolly Parton, creates a funny and upbeat show that keeps you tapping your foot.

I attended the closing show, and it was a packed theatre, filled with family, friends, and theatrelovers, like me, excited to watch. The show started with, you guessed it, “9 to 5,” but with some lyric changes, effectively set up the story. The show also includes a few revamped Dolly songs, such as “I Just Might” and “Backwoods Barbie.”

The plot itself was fairly simple, but it proved entertaining despite its basic woman power against a stereotypical sexist man, or as comically mentioned several times, "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot,” battle. The storyline also included a romance side plot, which seemed unnecessary and maybe even undermined the focus on the female characters’ power.

Thankfully, where the storyline lacked, the actors made up for it. A particular standout was Lexi Lott as Judy Bernly, receiving a long and deserved applause after “Get Out and Stay Out.”

Additionally, as an American who lived in the South, I was impressed by Amira Appell as Doralee Rhodes, who pulled off a fantastic southern accent. She could have fooled me, honestly.

Lucy Grundy as Violet Newstead rounds out this power trio with her authoritative acting. Furthermore, the trio’s beautiful blend in their harmonies further emphasizes the characters’ strengths when bonded together.

Additionally, Naomi Kelly as Roz Keith provides a sneaky comic relief throughout the show as they swoon over Franklin Hart Jr. and works against the three women.

Given the clear talent of this cast, I would love to see them perform a show with a more complex plot and message to allow the actors to fully shine. This is NUMTSoc’s second year running, yet the audience would not know unless told. There are currently

two theatre-related societies, Newcastle University Theatre (NUTS) and NUMTSoc, on campus, NUMTSoc focusing on musical theatre specifically, producing a showcase and musical each year.  Their presence on campus is a welcome addition to the university as NUMTSoc President, Max Derbyshire, notes in their playbill that “the arts are often overlooked in red brick institutions.” Furthermore, after two years, Derbyshire believes that the society has “grown into something truly special - a thriving, supportive community of talented, dedicated performers, creatives, and backstage powerhouses.”

While the members of the society benefit from their participation, in the playbill, Director Lucy Miles comments that she hopes that the audience also “leave tonight inspired as [she has] been.”

Overall, I enjoyed the show and am hopeful for the future of the NUMTSoc. See their NUSU page or follow them @numtsoc on Instagram to stay updated on their

The Courier 's summer book reccomendations

book kind of way, but gives you the encouragement and security that human life is all about. This book grounds me every time I feel uncertain and like I’m floating about, unsure, and leaves me feeling

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by

This book was recommended to me by one of my closest friends, and it’s truly such a beautiful book. This 'hug in a book' piece will bring so much joy and peace to many. It follows the story of Eddie, who has recently passed away and is now in the afterlife, meeting five different people who have impacted his life and need to teach him a lesson. The conversations between Eddie and the five people, diving deep into his feelings and his childhood, are such a surreal experience that reminds me of what life is about, and are an absolute celebration of humanity. Many students, like myself, will be spending their summers in the midst of graduating, and may be confused regarding their futures - I believe this book could be your comforting buddy and remind you of how 'undeep' everything really is.

Summer is the time for a cosy romance to read by the beach, but many people consider this book the dystopian book of the summer. Set in The Continent, Wren Darlington hides a secret - her psychic powers and the rebels' uprisingand if the enemy finds out about her developing powers, she'll be executed. When a mistake puts her in trouble with the Continent's military, she is forced into training for the elite Silver Block. She must find a way to hide her powers from her

commanding officer, Cross Redden, who can't stay away from her.

This is the perfect book for the summer: fastpaced, exciting and easy to binge read. Honestly, one of my favourites books this year.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Emily Henry is the definition of a good summer book. Who doesn't love a good second chance romance? Harriet and Wyn met in university and broke up six months before their yearly trip with their friends. Have they told their friends that they broke up? No. Do they share the biggest room in the house? Yes. This book is my roman empire, I think about their story to much in my opinion. It's the perfect book to read during a family vacation or a day at the beach. It's funny but it can also make you cry (a lot, from my experience).

- Noelia Fernández Pérez, Sports Sub-Editor

"This book is my roman empire"

Think The White Lotus meets The Haunting of Hill House, Diavola follows Anna Pace and her family to a picturesque Tuscan villa, where the stentch of rot wafts in off the vineyards...

I'm not usually a fan of spooky books, but Thorne's stunning cover made me pick this up on a whim before my own family holiday, and I felt so validated. You can never quite tell what's making Anna more crazy, the slamming doors or the casual cruelty of her family members.

It's the first book Iv'e read that succesfully combines a warm, languid holiday setting with the eerie chill that creeps into old homes at night. If we all ignore the cringeworthy final monoloughe, the perfect beach read!

- Keira Gratton Arts Sub-Editor

- Arts Sub-Editors

It's finally time to lay down the pens, this will be our last doublepage as Arts sub-editors this year!

We want to extend a massive thank you to the Arts writers for bringing our silly little article ideas to life, and breathing enthusiasm into this section every week. It's been so fun beggining to recognise names at SMAs, and we hope they'll be some familiar faces back next year!

Some of our best hits have to include Walls that speak: Palestinian resistance art under occupation by Amala Parry, Heart in art: romantic portrayls of 'the kiss' and Poetry in the North's first anniversary by Marina Snyder and The dark side of cultural tracking apps by Ciara Rivers If you're looking for something to cure your Courier nostalgia, check those out online... We're particularly proud of being able to continue the 'arts funding chronicles' and 'poembox' from previous years, which add so much character to this section. Reading your guys' poetry and short fiction has honestly inspired me to start creatively writing more consistently this year, and we're so grateful that so many of you felt comfortle enough to share!

This is also a massive thank you to the rest of The Courier team, who have been unbelivably supportive from every SMA to late editing night. The friendships we've made in the office have practically stepped out of an oversaturated university advert. We can't wait to spend next year with you guys either, and will spend the summer glumy staring at the bottom of a pint glass. Final shoutout to our amazing Heads of Culture Sarah and Adam! They've put so much effort into making Culture a family, and making us feel comfortable in the office from week one. With Sarah being Arts Subeditor last year, we truly have them to thank for ever encouraging us to write, and for so many fun memories.

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

Keir a Gratton & Phoebe Clark

Image credits: Lucy Bower

Image credits: Clker-Free-VectorImages, PandannaImagen, Pixabay

Image credit: Josef Just, Wikimedia Commons

The Courier's favourite Mario Kart tracks!

Tracks we hold dear to our hearts from the legendary gaming series...

As a generation, we were blessed to have grown up with not only the Mario franchise, but specifically the iconic Mario Kart videogame series. Whether your Mario Kart days were spent on the Wii, the Switch, the DS, or the SNES, there's no doubt that everyone holds one certain track close to them.

Mushroom Gorge Mushroom Gorge is my favourite Mario Kart track. I have the fondest memories playing it on the Nintendo Wii version of Mario Kart, and when Nintendo announced it was going to be added to Mario Kart 8 through DLC, I was ecstatic. What makes this track so great is that it is both peaceful and chaotic at times. Your character is weaving around a naturally beautiful track, but then you hit this darkly lit cave. The cave has you bouncing on a variety of mushrooms as platforms, allowing you to do tricks and obtain a speed boost. However, one wrong move and Lakitu has to send you from first place, potentially all the way to seventh place. Nevertheless, the track also allows for a lot of jumps and tricks, allowing speed runners to complete the track in groundbreaking times. Such as the infamous gap jump on the last bend of the course, which is high risk but definitely high reward, as if executed right, it can give you the edge on your opponents.

-Keyon Snoek

Baby Park

Arguably one of the most controversial statements in which a Mario Kart fan can say is

Multiple Writers Taylor Roth

that their favourite track is Baby Park. Yet, in my opinion, this statement is completely justified given the sheer chaos in which the track causes. To have the infamous GameCube track on Switch was a great decision from Nintendo. There is something timeless about the simplicity of the track’s layout. Any driver is sure to be hit by a flurry of shells, collide with a bob-omb, or get rammed by a bulletbill. It truly is the only track in which an individual can go from 12th to 1st in a mere matter of seconds. The course encompasses the spirit of Mario Kart as no matter how skilled an individual is, they will be sure to succumb to gaming road rage. My only issue with the track is that I wish it was ten laps instead of seven to heighten the pandemonium even more!

-Callum Borkowski

Walugi Pinball

My favourite Mario Kart track has to be Waluigi Pinball, specifically the Nintendo DS version, as it brings me so much nostalgia. The over-thetop bright lights and the fact that the track was built into the pinball machine was mesmerising as a child, it reminded me a lot of the Windows game Space Cadet 3D Pinball which I also adored! When the track was brought to Mario Kart 8, I was overjoyed and purchased the DLC immediately!

-Emily-Maisy Milburn

Yoshi Valley

As a loyal Yoshi main since my first time playing Mario Kart, it comes as no surprise that Yoshi Valley is my favourite track. I love all of the different routes that can be taken on this map, and being a religious Mr Scooty x Roller Wheels sweat, being able to accelerate on each bend has helped me see many 1st place finishes on this track. Other aspects of the track are also super fun, including the large cannon, the caves with the bats, and the comically large Yoshi egg that just rolls around.

-Amy Mescus, Gaming Sub-Editor

Is this the destruction of children's online spaces?

Where's my igloo!?

As an early 2000s kid, some of my fondest childhood memories were playing silly little games on the family computer. Should I have been outside? Probably. But did I have a penguin to roam around an iceberg? Yes.

Nowadays, technology is more prevalent than ever, but the online gaming community looks much different than before. Games like Club Penguin are not the online spaces frequented by children. Children are now exposed to social media and maybe games that are not as ageappropriate, such as Fortnite. How did we get here, and why?

“To

a child, this was paradise...”

In the 2000s, the chance to communicate was often limited to a computer via email or a simple messenger app. Online spaces, such as Club Penguin fun opportunity to communicate with children around the globe. It wasn’t just a few sentences on a plain box, but rather a text box in a full penguin world, with a customisable avatar and unique activities to play against fellow users. To a child, this was paradise because you didn’t have

to rely on an adult to take you somewhere to interact with other children, you had creative freedom with your character and igloo, and you could play mini-games to your heart's content. I still miss playing that battle card game and my pink puffle.

“The

constraints and freedoms of the past have shifted...”

Now, in the 2020s, these games may come off as boring to children who have always grown up around significantly more advanced technology. Children are now being raised with iPads in hand, with all of the past gaming capabilities and more. If they want to talk to a friend, they’ll send a text. If they want to play a game, they’ll hop on their Xbox and be automatically added to a game with other players. The constraints and freedoms of the past have shifted, and technology has “changed the game” of games. Technically, there are online spaces for children to participate in, but the novelty and spark that they once held is now somewhat mundane for a child of this

Furthermore, the systems these games ran on, such as Adobe Flash Player, have effectively been pushed out of the market. In some instances, these games of the past moved onto other platforms and app stores; however, their flair still faded in comparison. For now, it seems like PC and console gaming will rule the land; however, perhaps one day these games will be deemed ‘retro’ and nostalgia will revive these beloved worlds.

Discussing the ethics of AI in video games

Keyon Snoek Progressive or morally wrong? when using AI in the industry.

As AI becomes more socially acceptable within modern society, how does it affect video games and the media industry?

Using AI in video games can range from a multitude of different things. Whether that is using AI to program the video game, including AI features in your video game, using AI voice lines, concept actor, in extreme cases, using a scan of an actor to use AI to make them do what you want and say.

A positive aspect of AI in video games would be certain mechanics in video games. For example, in The Shadow of Mordor game, they developed a programme labelled the Nexus system. This system meant that when you would attack an NPC, they would remember your encounter if they survived and come back to a later battle, learning from your previous encounter, resulting in the NPC being much harder to beat.

Using AI in media production, especially video game production, often raises ethical concerns. AI use in programming, voice lines, and concept art would lead to many trained professionals losing their jobs, resulting in mass redundancies.

“Would lead to many trained professionals losing their jobs...”

Famously, in 2024, actors in the video game industry who were part of the SAG-AFTRA union were on strike. This strike was in direct response to companies relying more on AI by using recreations of actors' voices and likenesses. The strike saw companies seek to use a lot more informed consent

“Informed consent and conditions will ensure AI is a positive force in video games.”

Looking to the future, informed consent and conditions will ensure AI is a positive force in video games. For example, how cool would it be if you could take a picture of your face and insert a version of your likeness into your character customisation in games such as The Elder Scrolls series or The Sims laws would need to be put in place to stop companies from owning those assets of your likeness.

In conclusion, the ethical use of AI in video game functions is possible. Nevertheless, using AI for the production of video games can both dampen the creativity in the industry and put tons of people out of work who enjoy doing so.

Image sources: YouTube (CharlieBaley), Pixabay (Edurs34)

Image source: IMDb Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Has the sexualisation of Marvel

Rivals characters gone too far? A thank you from

Emily-Maisy Milburn

Currently one of the most pressing topics within the videogame community...

One of my earliest memories of a female videogame character that had clearly been designed to appeal to male players was Widowmaker from the heroshooter Overwatch

Her skintight body suit, kitten heels and V-cut bodice looked not only impractical for a sniper, but also degrading. If you compare this to the Hanzo from the same game, you can clearly see the divide between the representation of men and women in heroshooters.

character’s that could be considered lewd. Apart from Psylocke’s Vengeance skin, the female characters within the game were diverse, heroic and designed well.

Upon launch,  Marvel  character roster did not include any

The release of the Fantastic Four however brought along Susan Storm’s optional Malice Skin, a skin in which she wears a body suit that has been slit down the middle, no shoes and black thigh high stockings. Not only was this quite shocking for  Rivals it did open the conversation again surrounding the sexualisation of female video game

“NetEase has been cherry picking the skins they know will apeal to certain players...”

The 38th hero added to the game roster during Season 2: Hellfire Gala was Emma Frost, she was launched alongside two skins, a recolour of

her original skin (Blue Sapphire) and a new skin, named X-Revolution. The latter is by far the lewdest skin we have seen released by NetEase and not only is it degrading, in my opinion, it isn’t even a welldesigned skin.

It could be argued that these skins were already within the Marvel Universe, however, NetEase has been cherry picking the skins that they know will appeal to certain players in order to generate profit.

It seems at this point that NetEase are trying to ‘up the ante’ with every new skin released for their female character’s, pushing the boundaries further in order to satisfy the select few members of their hungry fanbase.

“This

only leaves me more worried for their next skin drop”

I do believe that they have gone too far with Emma Frost’s X-Revolution skin, and this only leaves me worried for their next skin drop. How far are NetEase willing to take these skin? At what lengths will they go to in order to degrade women just to generate profit and cause a stir online?

Summer release roundup

Charlotte Thomas

All of the video game titles that you need to keep an eye on over summer!

With longer summer days, comes more time to play games! This list of summer 2025 releases will ensure you’re set with all the best titles, just in time for your next gaming obsession.

May: Elden Ring Nightreign

An Elden Ring multiplayer spinoff returns to another fantasy/ action RPG. It

Expect to battle mini bosses before overcoming your main target of the match. The more times you play, you’ll unlock more bosses, upgrades, and the extensive map.

Release date: 30th May (Xbox, PlayStation, PC)

Check out: Doom: The Dark Ages, Revenge of the Savage Planet and Roadcraft.

June: Mario Kart World

A busy month for Nintendo with the release of the Switch 2, expect many more upcoming games for the new console! This latest Mario Kart instalment has already created a stir. New mechanics include open world, free-roam mode, rail grinding and wall jumping. There’s also plenty of new characters to play as! With the enormous hype around this game, let us hope it lives up to its extremely successful predecessor…

Release date: 5th June (Switch 2)

Check out: Split Fiction, Cyberpunk 2077, Dune

soundtrack and online multiplayer for up to 8 players!

Release date: 11th July (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch)

Check out: Donkey Kong Bananza, Tales of the Shrine, Wild Hearts S and the Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree plus Jamboree TV.

August: Gradius ORIGINS

A collection of 7 different Gradius titles, brings the 2D space-shooter into the modern gaming world. New features include invincible mode, a rewind feature, new training mode and online leaderboards. This gaming series first introduced in Japan in 1986, will now continue its gaming legacy for the next generation to enjoy.

Release date: 5th August (Switch)

Check out: Switch 2

your two sub-editors!

Amy Mescus & Amelia Thompson - Gaming Sub-Editors

Gaming 2024/25 forever!

Iwas a bit nervous stepping into the position of Gaming sub-editor in September. I knew I had big shoes to fill after seeing all of the amazing things my predecessors, Adam Lovegrove and James Kellett, got up to last year, and I was worried that my gaming knowledge wasn't adequate enough for the role.

However, this year has undoubtedly been the best year of, not only my university experience, but my entire life.

The entire Courier editorial team has felt like one big family to me and I have made some amazing memories that I'll carry with me forever. Starting something new like this can feel so daunting, but each and every one of you has made the experience so much easier.

To my co-sub-editor, Milly, thank you for all of your creativity and kindness. You're a beautiful person inside and out and there's nobody else I would've rather worked alongside with this year! I'm so grateful that joining this team meant our paths crossed. You have a true heart of gold and you inspire me day-in and day-out.

To our writers, you have carried the gaming section on your backs, and I'm eternally grateful for each and every single one of you. This year, our mission was to make the gaming section more welcoming and inclusive for women. I'm so proud to say that over 65% of our articles this year were written or contributed to by women. Growing up, this community we have made was one I could only dream of having. I love being a part of this team and I'm so excited for the Gaming section's future

-Amy

Amassive thank you to everyone who's been a part of the gaming section this year: whether you've written regularly or jumped in for a one-off piece, we're so grateful for each and every contribution.

A special shoutout to all the women who've written for us - it's been incredible to wacth this previously male-dominated section grow into something inclusive and welcoming to everyone.

I'm so proud of everything we've achieved, and even more proud of the friendships made along the way. Thank you all - it's been a joy.

I also want to say the biggest thank you to my co-sub-editor, Amy. Your dedication, creativity, and support (especially during the weeks where my dissertation completely took over) have kept this section going strong. I couldn't have done it without you & I've made a friend for life.

To the whole Courier editorial team; thank you for making such a warm, collaborative, and genuinely fun place to be. From office chaos to nights in D&P, I've made the best friends and memories I'll always treasure.

I can't wait to continue being part of the team next year, and to see where Gaming goes from here. The future is so exciting and I'm so proud to have been a part of it.

-Milly

Image credit: Keyon Snoek

Image source: YouTube (Marvel Entertainment)

Crossword:

How well do you know the Senior Team's surnames?

Across

1 )Our Editor in Chief (5)

2) A Head of Culture who started in Gaming (9)

5) Winner of NSR oustanding Contribution and the NSR Station manager (4)

6) One of the Heads of Culture with amazing fashion sense (7)

7) Head of Social Media and Puzzle Wizard (7)

9) One of the heads of Fashion and Beauty, juggling The Courier and the Journalism Society (10)

Down

1) A Head of Current Affairs that won Outstanding Contribution to the Courier at this years Media Awards (5)

3) Our next Editor in Chief (9)

4) Our wonderful NUTV Station Manager (6)

6) The Head of Sport, one of the Adams (5) 8) One of the Heads of Current Affairs and frequent presenter of the Weekly Bulletin (3)

10) One of the Heads of Fashion and Beauty with great music taste (6)

Flowers, fowlers,

Word Wheel

O O D E B Y S

reflows, wolfers, flower, reflow, wolfer, fowler, flews, floes, flows, fores, fowls, froes, frows, rolfs, wolfs, flew, floe, flow, foes, fore, fowl, froe, frow, refs, rolf, self, serf, wolf, efs, elf, fer,

few, foe, for, fro ref, ef, of

Jasmine, Jasmin, Janes, Jeans, Jams. Jane, Jean, Jins, Jism, Jam, Jin

Anemoe, Enema, aeon, amen, mane, mano, mean, moan, name, nema, noma, ane, mae, man, moa, nae, nam, ae, am, an, ma, na

Well, after 3 long years it is finally time for me to say goodbye to The Courier: Goodbye to Social Media, Goodbye to Puzzles, Goodbye to Music and Goodbye to News. It's been fab but I don't think you'll be hearing from me again, not soon at least. Thank you to everyone whose made all of this so special. Alexandra Lee, Alex Walters, Chloe Mulhall, Emma Doenges, Eleanor Kerr, Grace Weerakoon, Iris Rushton, Lauren Barnes and Ruaridh Lee you will always be famous to me.

- XOXO Poppy

Was Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 move to Ferrari the right choice?

Was Ferrari's grass greener for the billiondollar man?

“For

any driver, moving to Ferrari is a dream"

motorsports and Formula One.

Hamilton’s move was announced prior to the 2024 season, sparking

“The gap from Hamilton to Leclerc in qualifying has steadily widened”

who placed 3rd, Hamilton conceded that “if this is how it’s going to be for the rest of the year, it’s going to be painful.”

Although a transition period was to be expected after spending so long with one team, the numbers don’t lie.

“The only thing to do is wait and see what happens"

With the exception of the Chinese Grand Prix, the gap from Hamilton to Leclerc in qualifying has steadily widened. Hamilton’s average qualifying position currently sits at 7.4, improving slightly to 6.3 when you add in his China sprint pole. In comparison, Leclerc’s this season is 4.8.

When asked how long he felt it would take to adjust to the car he admitted “I really don’t know. When I joined Mercedes the first six months were tough. We’re working as hard as we can to shorten that.” It was speculated that Toto

Running with purpose: recordbreaking marathon weekend

The 27th of April saw the streets of the UK’s biggest cities transformed into arenas of endurance and inspiration. The country’s largest and secondlargest marathon length races fell on the same weekend this year, with runners taking to the streets in their tens of thousands to take on the iconic 26.2 miles.

From emotional tributes to a world-class field, the spirit of the

in the men’s division, edging closer to David Weir’s record eight London victories, as he secured his seventh win in 1.25.25. Paralympian Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner also made history by wheeling her way to a course record and in doing so cementing a landmark day for para-athletics and female representation in sports.

While elite performances drew headlines, the heart of Sunday’s was about the amateur runners lacing up to challenge themselves, raising money for incredible causing and completing personal feats. A staggering 56,640

“The spirit of the marathon was alive across the nation”

dance class in the town last year. Their running for the legacy of the hope that each of their daughters possessed so deeply is symbolic of the event’s roots in heartfelt causes.

“The 2026 ballot has broken records”

Thousands of charities are represented each year in the races and has become so central to the ethos of each event, with true national camaraderie setting it apart from

Wolff, Team principal of Mercedes would have replaced Hamilton for the 2025 season, regardless of his decision to jump ship as it were. Having to restart with a whole new team this late in his career, and relearn the dynamic is proving to be difficult for the 7-time world champion. The only thing to do is to wait and see what happens.

Slot makes it 20 as LFC win league title

the league by any of the BBC’s 30 pundits.

Liverpool F.C. have won the Premier League for the second time in the club’s history. Arne Slot’s side won the title at Anfield against the Tottenham Hotspur on 27 April, ending the Dutchman’s first season with the club on a high.

The game ended 5-1, as Liverpool put a struggling Spurs side to the sword. After an early Solanke goal, the Reds took control and eased to victory and the title.

This marks Liverpool’s record 20th league title, drawing them level with rivals Manchester United.

An up-and-down season for the club, Liverpool took early exits in both the FA Cup, in the fourth round, and the Champions League in the round of 16. However, they did also make it to the final of the EFL Cup, losing to Newcastle United at Wembley.

This season, the league has been criticised for being rather uncompetitive as the second-place team are set to finish with a point tally below 80 for the first time since 2020-21, and for only the second time in the past decade.

Winger, Mohammed Salah, is set to win the Golden Boot this season as he has spent this season moving through the all-time league goals rankings, now sitting in fifth, being the highest active player on the list.

Salah has also re-signed with the Merseyside club, granting another two years of his services. Club captain Virgil Van Dijk has done the same.  Academy graduate, and local lad, Trent Alexander-Arnold however has recently announced that he will leave the club at the end of the season, with Real Madrid being favourites to secure the right back’s services.

Liverpool entered the season to a chorus of questions. The introduction of a new manager, Arne Slot, after long time head coach Jürgen Klopp left in the summer, left many feeling they were set for a period of rebuilding. This, coupled with only one signing, Federico Chiesa from Juventus, in the summer, meant Liverpool were not predicted to win

He posted on X, ‘This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life’. This will bring to an end his 20 years with the club, having signed for the academy in 2004.

Time will tell whether Liverpool decide to strengthen in the summer transfer window, as they seek to win back-toback league titles for the first time since 1983-84.

The wheelchair events were no less dramatic. Swiss athlete Marcel Hug

Image Credit: Heute

Image Credit: Lukas Raich, Gage Skidmore WikimediaCommons

Ellen Pinch - Travel Sub-Editor

Skidmore WikimediaCommons, Pawe_D_

Marcus Williamson - News Sub-Editor

Image Credit: Peter Craine, Prime Video AU&NZ, football.ua, Percy Carballo, Rept0n1x, Gage Skidmore, Carlo Bruil, Wikimedia Commons, Grace Boyle

Aarya Shenoy

Are Wrexham and Birmingham City setting a dangerous precedent?

Seymour - Sport Sub-Editor

Two years, three promotions and another Welcome to Wrexham season on from the inspiring 22/23 FA Cup run that announced them to the English game, Rob and Ryan's 'Red Dragons' have earned their finest achievement yet: Championship football. They are joined by this season's League One winners Birmingham City - a club part-owned by NFL legend Tom Brady. It's hardly a shock end to the 24/25 campaign - 'Blues' splashed £15mil on striker Jay Stansfield alone, meanwhile both clubs sit within the division's top three wage bills. High spending, so called 'Hollywood' owners are a growing trend in English football, but are they truly compatible with the sport?

American owners in British football are nothing new. Missouri-born John Textor holds the single largest share in FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace, Chelsea's record-breaking spending spree is funded by the wallet of LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, and the Kroenke family keep the Arsenal stocked.

The purchase of North Wales giants Wrexham AFC in 2020 by celebrity duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney marked a new type of ownership, however. A far cry from the relatively distant leadership styles of many North American owners, the two actors dived head-first into their new roles.

“A$AP Rocky has his eyes set on Tranmere Rovers”

Reynolds and McElhenney's success story has garnered similar investment in 'soccer ball' from American public figures, eager to replicate the 7400% value increase Wrexham AFC has gained since 2020. A$AP Rocky has his eyes set on Tranmere Rovers, Jay-Z has been linked with Evertonian investment, and the consortium that recently acquired Sheffield United includes Infinity War director Joe Russo.

Most notable are Birmingham City, who this season surged to a 111-point title to obliterate the League One record. American consortium Shelby Companies Limited ousted the club's Chinese ownership in 2023, and includes millionaire sportsman Tom Brady. Every football fan dreams of major investment, but Jay Stansfield's

£15million price tag sent alarm bells ringing up and down the football pyramid. 'Blues' Brady bucks had already broken the League One transfer record twice with the signings of midfielder Willum Willumsson and defender Christoph Klarer, but Stansfield blew it out of the water.

It's hard to look at St Andrews', see Jay Stansfield costing fifteen times what Manchester United paid for Eric Cantona, and not begin weeping at the state of it all. Football is becoming brand first, sport second, and likes of Brady and Reynolds are pushing it along the way. Football should be open to all, but a club focused on its 'global brand' inevitably starts to drift from the local communities that built it.

awoken the sleeping dragon of Wrexham, but has

seen some local, working-class supporters pushed out. Steep ticket prices, and the release of tickets in batches of three rather than individually, have left supporters unable to back the club.

Money, of course, is at the crux of the issue. Birmingham and Wrexham's Hollywood spending spree has proven that the lower leagues are no longer sheltered from the kind of commercialisation that dominates the Premier League. Sure, some clubs benefit, but what happens to those who get left behind? We've already seen Reading, Derby and Wigan Athletic blighted by financial struggle; Bury FC no longer exist. How long before clubs artificially propped-up by American celebrities start displacing the less fortunate?

Celebrating success: Honouring the SU's Athletic Union clubs

Noelia Fernández Pérez - Sport Sub-Editor

The Athletic Union Awards are the perfect closure to one of the most successful sports seasons of Newcastle University. Held at The Fed, located in Gateshead, and with more than 600 athletic union club members in attendance, everyone celebrated the achievements on and off the pitch (with a few bottles of wine included in the middle).

Alex Duggan, Athletic Union officer, took the stage, thanking everyone who was part of this year’s sports activities, emphasising the Varsity win and different athletes with outstanding individual achievements like Joy Eze, Will Hughes and Louise Flockhart. She stated ‘this year hasn’t been just about results, it’s been about the culture we’ve created.’

She also thanked her AU Exec, who’ve ‘worked hard behind the scenes all year, focusing on culture, finance and wellbeing,’ and also the NCL Sport and Activities team –especially Chris and Meg – who have ‘worked tirelessly to support the AU across everything.’

The first award of the night was ‘Sports Media Coverage’, awarded to Daniel Finch, Dance Club’s Social Media Officer. He received this award for his dedication

to reporting all of the competitions of Dance Club. As well as making engaging TikTok videos to keep their followers posted on what was going on during the entire year, representing Team Newcastle everywhere they travelled.

The second award that was up for grabs was ‘Contribution to Inclusivity’, awarded to the Caving Club. This award is given to a club that has gone above and beyond to create an accessible and inclusive environment. They have created a safe space for all their members, and they were the indisputable winners.

"They have created a safe space for all their members, and they were the indisputable winners"

After a quick intermission, the award of ‘Community Impact’ was presented. This award honours a club that has made an outstanding contribution to their local community, with the Ladies Hockey Club being the winners. This year, they have done so much for the local community, from raising money for Breast Cancer Awareness to collaborating with Newcastle Careers and NCL Marrow for a club day that resulted in more than 30 sign-ups to donate stem cells.

Five clubs were in contention for ‘Most Improved Club of the Year’, but the Korfball Club took it home. From getting their best result ever in the

BUCS National Championship hosted in Lancaster during the first weekend of April, to placing 12th in the BUCS National Shield 2025.

They have also hosted different Give It A Go sessions, open to both experienced and beginner players. Throughout this year, they have shown an improvement not only in performance but in participation, and this shows their commitment to the Athletic Union.

Some students have demonstrated an incredible dedication to their club’s development. Apart from taking part in their BUCS performance teams, they also dedicate half of their time to leading different teams in both competitive and training settings, and they have contributed to their team’s success.

Rebecca Wignall, from the Trampoline Club, has made an incredible impact in her team, resulting in her winning the award. She has helped her team during the whole season, from helping gymnasts move up categories, to guiding the ‘Tramps’ through Varsity and the BUCS Championships in Sheffield.

Apart from student coaches, performance sport wouldn’t be anything without the full-time coaches who have consistently delivered exceptional results. This award recognises those

who have led Team Newcastle to promotions and have opened an environment that allows students to begin their professional sporting career.

This category had the strongest competition, as every coach has made history with their club, but Neil Baistow, Football Club’s Head Coach, led his team to win the BUCS Northern Prem title for the first time. Whilst Neil received the award, the whole club stood up and clapped for him, making it one of the highlights of the night.

With only four awards left, the atmosphere became a bit tense. ‘Sports

"This

category had the strongest competition, as every coach has made history with their club"

Personality’ recognises someone who has demonstrated incredible commitment to sport at Newcastle and has had a positive influence on the sport’s culture.

It’s been an incredible year, and none of it would’ve been possible without every single person who contributed to Sport (yes, even those last-minute Courier Bingo requests). From pieces on Gaza, inclusivity, and veganism (thanks, Dylan Seymour) to campus sport like Rugby, Volleyball, and Ultimate Frisbee, we aimed to represent you, and we hope we’ve done just that. Thanks to you, we took the Sport section all the way to Exeter and were honoured as a highly commended section. Editing your articles and laying them up has been a joy: thank you. Thank you to our Head of Sport, Adam Tibke, Alex Duggan for all the (late) columns, and to Lucy Bower, our fantastic SMO.

A final note to next year’s team: fight to bring back coloured headlines, we miss them! Goodbye (for now) from Adam T., Dylan , Megan, Adam S., and Noe.

Dylan

Image credit: Carl Baker, Gage Skidmore WikimediaCommons

Image credit: IMDB

Varsity 2025: the fourth Newcastle win in a row

Margaux Martinez - Opinion Sub-Editor

The Newcastle Kings deliver another dominant performance.

On the March 26 2025, the Newcastle Kings battled it out against Northumbria in an exciting game.

Dodge The game kicked off strong with Newcastle showing their strength from the first moment they touched the balls.

As a first-time watcher of competitive dodgeball, it took me two rounds to wrap my head

Duck

Good at dodging, even better at ducking, the teams faced each other in 12 rounds. In an intense game of ‘will they, won’t they’, they teased their opponents with threats of throwing balls.

Dip

The game kept everyone on their toes with multiple 1v6 for Newcastle, and the promises of a great and interesting game.

Round 10 greeted us with a complex play from one of the players. An incredible dodge turned into a dive to catch the ball and ended with a perfect throw, kicking out a player of the opposite team.

The crowd roared, shaking their signs and playing their drums to the rhythm of their screams.

And …. Dodge Round 12 ended in a perfect win by the Newcastle Kings, creating a wave of enthusiasm in the supporters, chanting and screaming to congratulate their friends.

Well done to our dodgeball team, they know how to dodge for sure!

The Futsal Northern Champions took the Varsity win home after a late goal.

The end of a successful sporting day for Newcastle University was capped off with the Men’s 1s Futsal team facing off against Northumbria on centre court at Sports Central, in Northumbria University.

“It was a scrappy game with a lack of clear-cut opportunities for either team”

The dramatic penalty shootout to end last year’s Varsity saw Newcastle come away with a narrow victory, and it seemed written in the stars that the contest would be a tight one again this year. The packed crowd, expecting a fast-paced game, were only let down

by the lack of goals in the opening eight minutes.

Adam Lovegrove - Head of Culture

Newcastle University W1 Basketball were left chasing Northumbria University in a 4757 loss, providing the Poly with their only victory of the three finale fixtures, with Newcastle taking both the M1 Futsal and W1 Netball.

Newcastle University W1 Basketball were left chasing Northumbria University in a 4757 loss, providing the Poly with their only victory of the three finale fixtures, with Newcastle taking both the M1 Futsal and W1 Netball. Northumbria set the tone for the match with a dominant performance in Q1, as Cachiero controlled the game at centre through her height and movement.

Newcastle did well to take back ground in Q2, managing to pull in front for a while, but

47.5

31.5

It was a scrappy game with a lack of clear-cut opportunities for either team. Newcastle, who have been unbeaten in the league this season, have been used to scoring first this season, and the floodgates opened when period of possession ended with a chance at the back post to be neatly finished off.

The Northumbria crowd were silenced, and the loyal Newcastle fans were on their feet.

A combination of poor goalkeeping and wellworked passes found Newcastle 4-0 up with 2 minutes

View from

the AU

Alex Duggan - AU Officer

Northumbria made a late comeback to even out the score again.

Alex Campbell fired Northumbria back in front at the start of Q2, providing them with a clear lead that the team managed to maintain for a good while. Princess Adeogun and Lyric Swann both closed the deficit for Newcastle, but Northumbria pushed back ahead shortly after each time.

Newcastle had fallen far behind towards the end of Q3, but Gala Camarena created a huge impact off the bench, scoring two free throws and a two-pointer in quick succession. The gap was now significantly smaller with Swann scoring two frees of her own, but almost immediately after, Northumbria hit them on the counter and scored.

It felt like Northumbria had an answer to everything Newcastle did, despite the Posh’s unwavering determination to reclaim the game. Swann played a huge part in the team’s strategy, providing pace and energy on the counter to close the gap to just one point at the start of Q4.

left in the half, and if not for a mix-up at the back, it would have surely gone into half time with a clean sheet.

The Northumbria team looked

going into the changing rooms, but came out and started the second half brilliantly and, with 10 minutes to go, the scores were level at 4-4 and looking a one-sided contest in favour of the Poly.

The Northumbria crowd were alive and quick to let the Newcastle fans know they had let the lead slip. However, a late goal saw Newcastle, completely against the run of play, into the lead again and after a tense final few minutes, victorious for the second year running.

To the chorus of the Newcastle crowd and the seats of Northumbria fans emptying, the boys lifted the trophy, rounding off another emphatic win for Team Newcastle. Following the game, I asked a couple of the players, including the winning goal scorer, if they could describe the game with one word each: “Feisty” and “Sensational”. After being in the crowd for the past two fixtures, I can only expect that next year’s contest will be much the same and one to look out for.

Final Whistle: Looking Back at a Big Year for Newcastle Sport As the year wraps up, it’s worth pausing to recognise the scale, and range, of what Newcastle sport has achieved.

Varsity brought a fourth straight win, but it was the calibre of the fixtures and the support behind them that really stood out. From packed stands at Men’s and Women’s Basketball to the intensity of Netball and Futsal on the final day, it felt like a genuine step up in what student sport here can look like. Our performance clubs have delivered at every level. Women’s Volleyball made history with their promotion to the National Super League. Men’s Football lifted the BUCS Premier League title. Rugby Union and Rugby League both made deep play-off runs, while Rowing claimed the Victor Ludorum at BUCS 4s and 8s. Korfball also had a standout year, growing from a small squad to 60+ members, three BUCS teams, and an unbeaten NEKA league run, earning Most Improved Club of the Year. Surf Club hosted the North’s biggest student surf comp, and Dodgeball raised over £1,100 through two charity tournaments for Cop A Feel and Movember. Dance, Hockey, Pole & Aerial, and others have led the way in community outreach and fundraising, reminding us that impact off the pitch matters just as much.

So much has happened this year, and it’s impossible to capture every club’s achievements in one column - but to every team, every committee member, and every athlete who’s been part of it: thank you. It’s been a strong one, and we’re not slowing down. Here’s to what we can build next season.

Ollie Willis

Image credit: Naim Zuki, Pixabay, Wikimedia Commons

Image credit: Carlo Bruil, Percy Carballo, Wikimedia Commons

credit: IMDB, Carl Baker, Wikimedia Commons

Image credit: Tony Alter, Wikimedia Commons