Following weeks of campaigning and an intense voting period, March 6 saw NUSU’s Venue transform for this year’s election results night. It felt like an appropriate celebration of each candidate’s hard work and dedication, with a carousel of photos from the campaigns shown on stage, professional photographs of the winners, and a live stream from NUTV.
As the candidates and their campaign teams arrived, it was clear how much it meant to each of them. The atmosphere was understandably tense and thick with suspense, everyone keen to get the results out in the open. The night was expertly hosted by Aarya Shenoy and Callum Borkowski, who were able to cut through the nervousness and bring the energy to the night. Their dance breaks, drum rolls and fabulous outfits lifted the tone and animated the audience, striking the perfect balance between humour and sincerity. After some wise words from the current Sabbatical Officers and Chair of Scrutiny, and a total of 19,783 votes placed by 4,295 students, it was time to find out who had won.
“A total of 19,783 votes placed by 4,295 students...”
The first results to be announced were for the Liberation Officers, Chair of Council, and Chair of Scrutiny. Though the majority of the newly elected Liberation Officers ran uncontested, and some were not there to accept their positions on the night, the crowd were equally supportive and recognised the commitment shown by each candidate. Some Liberation Officer roles remain unfilled, including the Ethnic Diversity Officer, Faith and Belief Officer, and Ethics and Environment Rep. Students wanting to run for these
positions can attend Student Council on May 7, held in the Venue, starting at 5:15pm. Please email council.union@ newcastle.ac.uk if you would like to stand for one of these positions, and if you can attend, then councillors will vote.The tension ramped up for the announcements of the International Students Officer, with two candidates in the running, and Working-Class Students’ Officer, with four candidates. Newly elected International Students’ Officer, Samantha Burgos, expressed her excitement to be ‘immersed in new cultures and new points of view’. She wants to use her position as an opportunity to encourage other international students to be proud of where they are from, just as she has done through her campaign.
Next year’s Working Class Students’ Officer, Hibah Hussein, showed her excitement and disbelief on stage. Both her acceptance speech and bubbly campaign shone through, and her excitement on the night was infectious and set the tone for the rest of the officer positions to follow.
Next was the highly anticipated NUS Referendum. Students campaigned and voted to either leave or remain
affiliated with the National Union of Students (NUS). This year’s referendum came earlier than expected, only a year after the previous vote to remain. The referendum was triggered by a motion passed at Student Council. Students at Newcastle voted to remain with a 61.9% majority. The following announcement that students had voted to remain in the NUS was met with a surprisingly negative reaction from the crowd. Aarya Shenoy was quick to note that, as only 4.9% of a necessary 5% of the student body had voted in the referendum, the decision would be subject to ratification by NUSU’s Trustee Board.
“Students
After a quick break, once everyone had caught up with the first set of winners and got a drink to calm the nerves, Callum
and Aarya moved on to the main event
– the Sabbatical Officer election results.
Up first was Sports Officer, which went to Jack Bond. As Aarya announced his name, Jack’s friends and campaign team exploded, jumping out of their seats to hug him. Heading to the stage, Jack was in disbelief, and delivered an emotional speech thanking his friends, the other candidates and current Sports Officer, Alex Duggan, for her support.
Commenting after the event, Jack described it as a night of ‘camaraderie and support’, in true sportsman style.
Next came the result for Opportunities Officer, won by Kyi Nue Phyu Sin, who has expressed her excitement to ‘have conversations with societies to help them grow and run smoothly’. Then, Academic Officer, which saw Anushka S. elected, a moment she described as ‘special’. After the event, Anushka said:
‘As an international student from India, being elected as Academic Officer is incredibly meaningful. It’s an honour to represent such a diverse student community and work to ensure every student’s academic voice is heard’.
The Student Media Officer position was the most competitive of all positions elected on the night, with five candidates
running for the role – the most for any role in the elections. The position went to Trinity Eadie, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience after her emotional acceptance speech thanking all of her fellow candidates from the close-knit student media team, promising to ‘carry them with (her)’. Trinity is excited to fulfil her agenda and introduce a magazine to student media, something she’s already working with alongside Ella Rose, the Editor-in-Chief of Newcastle University Fashion Society’s magazine, The Edit. The magazine is set to release its summer edition in the upcoming months, and a collaboration with student media is in the works.
The penultimate announcement was for the Wellbeing and Communities Officer, which went to Emma Monaghan, who ran on a campaign championing support, safety and representation within wellbeing with a Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally theme. She ended her acceptance speech by thanking the Student Media, a place where she found her own community.
The final announcement saw current Academic Officer Gina Tindale elected as President with a landslide victory of 1,456 first-choice votes, thanks to her memorable Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad-inspired campaign and unbeatable experience as the only current Sabbatical Officer to re-run. Gina described the result as ‘bittersweet’, as her excitement to step into her new role also signals the end of a ‘great year with her current Sabbatical Officer team’. Nonetheless, Gina is excited to work with a new team of ‘motivated individuals’ and excited for a new venture into a new role.
As the results came to a close, all candidates alike gathered in Luther’s to celebrate each other and the end of this year’s election season at NUSU. Speaking to the elected officers afterward, it was clear how much each one had valued the experience of running alongside their fellow candidates. Working Class Students’ Officer Hibah Hussein recalled a moment when ‘one of the student media officer candidates said, “If you ever think you aren’t doing enough, just remember that your personality shines through everything you do, and nobody else has that charm.”’ This is demonstrative of the supportive relationship between candidates; as Hibah said in her acceptance speech, win or lose, all of the candidates have come out of the experience with a new group of friends.
Ruby Tinkler - Food & Drink Sub-Editor
Pictured left to right, Jack Bond, Anushka S, Gina Tindale, Emma Monaghan, Kyi Nue Phyu Sin, Trinity Eadie
A note from the Editor...
Hello all, The results are in, we have a new Officer Team for next year! I'm especially delighted to see so many divas that I know, your next President, Gina, and your Wellbeing & Communities Officer, Emma (our Music SubEditor) - and your wonderful Student Media Officer, Trinity!!! If you saw my reaction on the night, it shows how I'm feeling. I'm so overjoyed for Trinity, she's been my friend for three years and I know she's going to do a fantastic job. Equally - for all the incoming Sabbs. It really is the best job in the world.
Now, in our penultimate edition of The Courier for this year. We've got our Elections Results Night coverage on the front page, an interview with Jack Bond, your new Sports Officer on our back page. Don't forget to check out the Article Highlights below for all our best bits in this issue.
Up next, we have Varsity. As a student, I absolutely loved Varsityso I'm really excited to attend with some of the other Sabbs and see what Alex has got in store for us. Hopefully, we'll secure another win!
After so many successful events, I'm excited for things to calm down... until the Media Awards. Please don't forget to submit nominations to get all your hard work recognised.
The Media Awards is always one of
Article Highlights:
Current Affairs |
UK ban on Palestine Action ruled unlawful
By Ben Powell| Page 5
Life & Style |
International Women's Day: the leading ladies of the North East
By Sophie Campbell | Page 20
Culture |
2026 Academy Awards: The Courier editon
By Alex Paine | Page 26
Sports |
Revival of vintage: why retro football shirts are back
By Elisa Gilmour | Page 34
On Air On Campus
Making fashion fun with The Fashion Show
By Megan Grimston | Page 12
the most fun nights in the Student Media calendar. And with planning underway, I'm so excited to be hosting the night on Wednesday 29th April. With that being said, we do have another Fight Night coming up when this edition is released. Our crew at NUTV have loved helping out with the production of Fight Night, whether it be live commentary, interviewing the fighters, or capturing the action. Well, that's all for now. Hope everyone has a wonderful St Paddys Day, and enjoy the April break. When you're back we'll only have one more newspaper left.
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.
Freshers’ week is a time to
Libby xo
Enjoy the break, and we'll see you at our FINAL Student Media Afternoon, April 22, 1.30pm in Bamburgh Room
THE COURIER SECTIONS
Editor
Libby Griffiths l.griffiths9@newcastle.ac.uk
Social Media
Trinity Eadie t.eadie2@newcastle.ac.uk
Current Affairs
Heads of Current Affairs
Oscar Jenkins o.jenkins1@newcastle.ac.uk
Jess Mooney j.mooney2@newcastle.ac.uk
News
Phillipp Andreewitch
Jemima Ashton-Roberts
Ben Moore
Oliver Tierney
Katy Woods
Campus Comment
Callum Borkowski
Emily Hawtin
Scarlett Palmer
Opinion
Martha Nugent
Sophie Psaila
Emma Stephenson
Science
Charlotte Chantler
Sapphire Ling
Deputy Editors
Charlotte Burley-Hnat
c.burley-hnat2@newcastle.ac.uk
Dylan Seymour d.seymour1@newcastle.ac.uk
Life & Style
Heads of Life & Style
Sophie Jarvis s.jarvis2@newcastle.ac.uk
Ruby Tiplady r.tiplady2@newcastle.ac.uk
Relationships
Elin Auld
Ursula Monro
Blind date and Agony Aunt: Charley Dobson
Lifestyle
Erin Neal
Izzy Whitley
Fashion &
Beauty
Ella Saint
Mia Wijayatilleke
Travel
Tilly Aveyard
Paula Carrillo
Food & Drink
Rowanne Holmes
Ruby Tinkler
Culture
Heads of Culture
Keira Gratton
k.e.gratton2@newcastle.ac.uk
Amy Mescus
a.mescus1@newcastle.ac.uk
Music
Emma Monaghan
Milly Thompson
TV
Maddy Kendall
Kate Kennedy
Natalya Mathers
Film
Charlotte Atkinson
Zoe Lett
Alex Paine
Gaming
Emily-Maisy Milburn
Keyon Snoek
Arts
Imogen Hayes
Kate Sturrock
Puzzles
Raven Orteza
Sport
Senior editor:
Noelia Fernandez Perez
n.fernandez-perez2@newcastle.ac.uk
New poll suggests lack of public confidence in universities' ability to make graduates
Adeena Aflah
Poll reveals that the nation believe we need to make more use of the population's skills...
Arecent survey commissioned by Universities UK has shown that 7 in 10 people believe that universities and higher education institutes could do more to help the country succeed.
A majority of respondents to the poll (86%) also believe that the country’s future depends on its ability to make use of the skills and talents of the population.
In response to this, Universities UK is launching Future Universities; a project which aims to work with businesses, educators and policymakers to better understand the impact higher education
can have on the UK economy. This will equip graduates with skills best suited for a highly competitive job market and connecting businesses to them.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) graduate outcomes survey for the year 2022/2023 showed that 88% of graduates were in some form of work or further study 15 months after graduation while 85% of UK graduates say that their current activity feels meaningful and fits in with future plans.
“85% of UK graduates say their current activity feels meaningful and fits in with future plans"
The numbers look cautiously optimistic, but do not take into account immediate graduate role outcomes and recent graduates have been affected.
What's going on with the Northumbria University Strikes?
Northumbria staff vote in favour of strike action...
On the 23rd January 2026 Northumbria
University released the results of a ballot on whether faculty staff should strike amid pension
resoundingly in favour of industrial action by members of the University and College Union (UCU) with 80% in support of the strikes on a 60% turnout. This led to 10 days of strike action between 12 February and 6 March.
The dispute was over management’s decision to force staff out of the post 92 University Standard Pension, the Teacher’s Pension Scheme, to the Universities Superannuation Scheme(USS), by freezing the pay of any staff member who tries to stay in it.
Teacher’s Pension Scheme and Universities Superannuation Scheme are thrown around - but what actually are they and why do they cause union members to strike?
The key differences to be aware of are that the TPS is government backed and involves higher employer contributions (approx. 28.68% as of April 2024), whereas the USS is a hybrid pension scheme with a much lower (14.5%) employer contribution.
Additionally, due to the accrual rate of the TPS being much higher, members build up a higher retirement income than under the USS for the same amount of service.
This means that employees under the TPS are significantly better off in the
This wave of strikes comes just over
emergence of AI will continue to have an impact on the graduate job market.
“Concerns such as the emergence of AI, will continue to have an impact on the Graduate job market.”
A recent study by King’s College London shows that firms exposed to AI were less likely to post vacancies for technical roles such as software engineers and data analysts. Projects such as Future Universities aim to address such issues and provide a clear path to actionable solutions for better graduate outcomes.
Petition signed to restore The Swing Bridge
The Swing Bridge on the river Tyne has received 670 signatures in a petition for there to be action in the restoration of it.
Situated on the Tyne, the Grade 11 listed bridge was opened in 1876 and was the world’s first moving bridge. Designed by William Armstrong it was designed at 171m long, 14m wide and was able to swing 90 degrees as it pressurised water to power the hydraulic engines of the central span to the structure, allowing ships to pass on the Tyne. Whilst also connecting Gateshead and Newcastle quaysides. However, it has not been able to fully
making, the expense to restore the bridge is increasing per annum. And, with the 150th anniversary of the bridge coming up this June, Dias -a local tour guide- has set a petition calling upon the Port of the Tyne, Newcastle City Council and Gateshead to take action on one of Newcastle landmark historic infrastructure. This is because the councils and Port of Tyne would have to work together to fix this issue as the councils have the responsibility for the bridges structure whereas the
“...the expense to restore the bridge is increasing”
Lucie Stringer
Image Source: Caleb Holden, Unsplash
Olivia Simpson
North-East ambulances swap Euro yellow for white in major fleet update
Patrick Wither
Goodbye Euro Yellow RAL 1016, Hello Standard OEM White.
The North East Ambulance Service has begun to replace its fleet of yellow ambulances with shiny new white ones.
1016” fans out there, and I’m sure there are many of you amongst the readership.
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), which provides coverage from the Scottish border, through Newcastle, and down to Middlesbrough, intends to retire the colour in favour of basemodel white.
"Not painting the ambulances saves the service £1,000 per vehicle"
The service operates around 600 vehicles, of which 200 are your classic emergency service ambulances affected by this
NEAS certainly keeps those vehicles busy, providing ambulance coverage for 2.7 million people, and responding to approximately 400,000 emergency incidents last year. They are planning a
Why climate change is leading to wetter winters
James Elgie
Arecent study produced by Newcastle University has discovered a significant increase in rainfall relative to global warming levels. For every degree of global warming, winter rainfall increases by 7 percent.
While it is known that climate change increases rainfall, it is currently occurring at a much greater speed than previously expected.
The results of the study by Newcastle University reveal that the UK's environment is capable of holding more moisture due its warmer atmosphere, which is being caused by human carbon emissions.
The study also found that most climate models considerably underestimate increases in winter rainfall, with most only predicting an increase of 4 percent per degree.
Also demonstrated by this study is the varying effects of climate change depending on the region and pre-existing climate. It is believed by many that a universal effect of climate change is hotter weather, despite one of the principle risks of climate change in Europe being the collapse of the Gulf Stream, which, if it occurs, could see a 10 to 15 degree drop in temperature in Western Europe.
In the Mediterranean, winters are becoming much drier, worsening existing droughts and harming the environment and agriculture.
The implications of this study are significant, especially for the UK. The country is already very rainy (as
staggered roll-out of the new colour, having bought 75 new emergency ambulances this year, with intentions to replace the remaining vehicles as required.
two key reasons for this decision. Not painting the ambulances saves the service £1,000 per vehicle, and allows each unit to be delivered two months sooner.
the highly visible Euro Yellow RAL 1016 was chosen for safety, and that the roads will become more dangerous for the sake of cost-savings.
Imagesource:YoannSiloine,Unsplash
anyone who lives here knows), and semi-regularly experiences flooding without proper infrastructure to support it.
More frequent rainfall means the ground is more saturated in general, which increases flood risk and their potential severity. This winter saw more than 100 flood warnings across the UK, with more likely to follow.
“more frequent floods, of greater severity, with more damage to people, buildings and the environment”
this in their press statement, citing that there is “no evidence that either colour is more or less visible or more likely to be involved in an accident.”
still bear the legally mandated high-vis
Their recommendations harmonised the colour of European ambulances. Worldwide, however, white remains the traditional and more widely adopted colour, including in Scotland.
"While
this is a small change, it is one that will impact our daily experience."
NEAS remains the first service to make this reversion in England, and it remains to be seen what the rest of the
While this is a small change, it is one that will impact our daily experience. The university, so close to the RVI, constantly has ambulances going to and fro. From March, this artefact of everyday life won’t look the same. Though niche, this change demonstrates how high-level standardisation subtly shapes our everyday world. So, next time you hear those sirens, see if you can spot one of those new white ambulances. And if you do, take a second to spare a thought
Renters’ rights vs rent controls: what reform means for students
Katy Woods - News Sub-Editor
As of Spring 2027, councils in Scotland will be allowed to ask permission from the government to impose rent controls on private properties.
from the new fixed-term rule, provided they are managed by a member of the government-approved student housing code of practice.
“University-owned accommodations will be exempt from the new act..."
If global warming continues to be left unchecked, the country can expect more frequent floods, of greater severity, with more damage to people, buildings and the environment.
Rainfall will increase yearon-year, much faster than we can build infrastructure to counter it, until carbon emissions are reduced to a sustainable level.
Meaning rent increases on properties owned any non-government entities can be capped at a maximum of 6% in some cases. Currently this change will only be introduced in Scotland, but there a debate over whether it could be introduced in other parts of the UK also.
Change is coming for UK renters, with the Renter’s Rights Act coming into effect on the 1st of May. The act will see the need for a valid-reason to evict a tenant, the abolishment of fixed-term contracts and the limit of rent increases to once a year. The abolishment of fixed-term contracts does appear to be an issue affecting students at face value, since student rental contracts tend to be for a set period of time.
University owned accommodations will be exempt from the new act so they will still be offering fixed-term tenancies. Other student housing, such as house rentals may be affected however. Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSAs) will also be exempt
If the management of the property isn’t a member of the code of practice however, they will not be allowed to offer fixed-term contracts anymore.
rent, up from £522 in 2024. If rent controls were to be introduced, there would be a cap put on this rise, meaning that once the rent hit a certain number it would be stopped. Sounds pretty good right? There may be some downsides... Due to the reduced price, landlords will take less money off of tenants and therefore put less money into their properties. This can mean that housing conditions can deplete in quality. The availability of housing could lessen as well. If landlords aren’t receiving enough money they could sell their property or convert it into a market-rate condo which are commonly aimed at middle-to-
Image sources: raphaelsilva, Pixabay (raincloud) Pete Souza, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain (people with umbrella)
UK ban on Palestine Action ruled unlawful
Ben Powell Palestine Action's ban has been ruled “disproportionate and unlawful” by judges of the high court.
Palestine Action, a protest group aiming to shut down Israeli arms production and trade within the UK, were named a terrorist organisation and banned on the 5th of July 2025. Coming after an alleged break in and damage at RAF Brize Norton, the UK’s largest air base, their proscription made it a
criminal offence to belong to or invite support for the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
"over 2,500 people have been arrested for expressing support"
According to campaign group Defend
Our Juries, over 2,500 people have been arrested for expressing support, with hundreds charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act – a lesser offence that carries a maximum of six months
rights and freedom of expression.
Led by Dame Victoria Sharp of the King’s Bench Division, the panel ruled on the 13th of February that Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori’s challenge was successful on two legal grounds. Alongside having “a very significant interference” with rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, the ban was deemed inconsistent with former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s policy requiring proscriptions to consider factors including the nature and scale of activities, including the perceived threat to the safety of the United Kingdom. Ammori hailed the decision as a
Palestinian people, striking down a decision that will forever be remembered as one of the most extreme attacks on free speech in recent British history.”
"this ban was based on property damage"
Moreover, she claimed that ‘we’ve used the same tactics as direct action organisations throughout history, including anti-war groups Kier Starmer defended in court, and the government
ban was based on property damage, not violence against people.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, disappointed in the decision to overturn this ban, expressed that she “disagree[s] with the notion that banning this terrorist organisation is disproportionate. The proscription of Palestine Action followed a rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process, endorsed by Parliament.”
Despite being urged to respect the decision, she has stated that she would take it to the court of appeals, leaving the fate of over 2,500 people uncertain in a legal limbo.
This decision marks the first time
Jack Anderton's "A New Dawn" tour takes to Newcastle Uni
Jess Mooney - Head of Current Affairs
On Thursday night, Newcastle University’s Conservative Society hosted one of Britain’s most prominent young right-wing political voices as part of a national university tour focused on the political direction of younger voters.
Jack Anderton arrived in Newcastle as part of his “A New Dawn” tour - a series of campus events examining why increasing numbers of young people are turning towards Reform UK. The Newcastle event also featured Head of Policy for Reform UK, Dr James Orr, who joined Anderton for a talk and Q&A session about the party’s message and the issues shaping young voters’ political outlook.
Anderton has become a prominent figure in online political commentary and is credited with launching and helping to expand Nigel Farage’s audience on TikTok. Through videos addressing topics such as housing, immigration, and the political system, he has attracted millions of views and helped spark national debate around Reform’s messaging.
The “A New Dawn” tour has taken him to universities across the UK, including Durham, Cambridge, Exeter, Edinburgh and York, and now Newcastle. According to Anderton, the tour is intended both to spread
Reform’s political message and to engage directly with students who may feel disillusioned with the current political landscape.
The Newcastle event took place against a backdrop of growing tensions surrounding Anderton’s appearances at universities. Previous stops on the tour have attracted protests from activist groups including Stand Up to Racism.
At the University of York, Anderton was faced by a crowd of around 400 people protesting his presence on campus.
“The tour has several aims,” he said. “The first is to meet promising, ambitious young people around the country. I’m going to our elite institutions across the country to meet people who could potentially staff the party, staff a future government, or staff the future civil service.”
He suggested that younger generations have been disproportionately affected by political decisions made over the past decades.
"My message is that the country is broken and the two major parties have fundamentally ruined it,” he said. “Young people have been hit the hardest - in terms of housing, job opportunities, immigration, and university costs. For me, it’s about taking that message to students who are perhaps looking for something a little more radical that actually speaks to and for them.”
For Anderton, university campuses are a crucial part of building political momentum.
“Engaging students is the most important because it’s my age demographic. Young people bring vitality and energy to political movements. They’re the people who will actually get out on the street, canvas, and hand out leaflets.”
Regardless of political opinions, to have the likely head of policy speak at a Northern University, at great length from London, is quite the honour.
At Bangor University in Wales, the debate society rejected a request by Reform MP Sarah Pochin and Anderton to address students, citing “zero tolerance for any form of racism, transphobia or homophobia displayed by the members of Reform UK.”
The society said it had rejected the request from Reform “in line with our values”, adding “we stand by this decision as a committee. We are proud to be the first of the debating unions to take a stand against Reform UK. We strongly implore our fellow societies to join us in keeping hate out of our universities."
Despite the controversy, Anderton said he hopes students approach the talks with an open mind.
“I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, and I don’t expect everyone to disagree with me either,” he said. “My goal is to speak to those who might be wavering. Even if I bring one person on board, that’s a success to me.”
Benjamin Moore - News Sub-Editor
Sheila Graber, who is best known for animating the iconic 1980s Paddington TV series, has been successful in her efforts to prevent the closure of art shop inside The Word in South Shields. South Tyneside Council initially planned to close the shop and as well as close The Word completely on Sundays.
“It supports the arts in the widest sense”
Graber said the shop was one of the only places giving local artists the opportunity to sell souvenirs. She emphasized the shop's broad impact, noting that it provides a vital platform for numerous local authors and 55 featured creators. "It supports the arts in the
widest sense," she stated. Over 1,000 people signed a petition (written by Graber) in protest to the closure and the council quickly took heed. In less than a week, the council backtracked on their proposal and have decided to keep the shop open. Council leader Tracey Dixon said, "Given the additional funding we have secured through sustained lobbying, we are able to adjust these specific
Sheila Graber
The council had originally planned the closure as part of a broad range of budget cuts to local governments, with South Tyneside planning to save £11.8m in the coming year. The cost of keeping the shop open was estimated by the council to be £150,000.
Do you love wine with a side of reading? If so, we've found your perfect new bookclub
Ihave three great pleasures in life: reading, yapping and drinking wine. I have come to the conclusion that these joys are shared with others. Therefore, I decided to set up a book club which incorporates all three. Reading Between The Wines, aims to give like minded people the opportunity to discuss their favourite books, read as a collective and make new friends.
As a uni student, I am constantly trying to romanticise
personal favourite, fantasy. However, I am aware that I am not alone in my obsession. So many conversations turn to books, and there are many of us who find joy in discussing what we love and why we love it. Therefore, in my head it only makes sense that a book club is necessary, hence Reading Between The Wines.
Reading Between the Wines aims to read one book a month, meet bimonthly, drink wine and gush or complain about books. The choice of the monthly read will depend on consensus. Members are able to present options, then the group will consider them and take a vote. The club will explore a plethora of different genres, catering to all who join. Therefore, one month a Jilly Cooper could be chosen and the next a Sarah J. Mass, simply anything goes.
I would also like to preface that you do not have to be an avid reader to join
" Rotting on the sofa, feels so much more aesthetically pleasing
encourage people to start reading in a fun and informal manner. It is also a great collective to join if you are looking for a wholesome activity! This month we are reading Heated
1st
year vs 2nd year
Jemima Ashton-Roberts - News Sub-Editor
Which is better, first year or second year?
When I began university here at Newcastle in September 2024, I was a different person to the one I am now. And I am happy for the growth I have made whilst being at university. As my parents left, I remember the feeling of anxiety knowing that I had to learn to live on my own, make my own friends and submerse myself into uni life. I recall my first week being very lonely, not knowing many people around me and trying to get to know my flat- who all seemed to have their own friends the minute I arrived!
“
...I found myself feeling comfortable in my new friendships and exploring new areas of Newcastle.”
and make the most of the night life that Newcastle has to offer. Thankfully, I found some amazing friends but I always craved the feeling of being back at school with the familiarity of home. Second semester flew by and after the struggle of the shorter and darker days had passed, I found myself feeling comfortable in my new friendships and exploring new areas of Newcastle.
“ ...the other 4 girls have become my best friends and now, I could not imagine going about uni life without them
However, I still felt like a homebody, even though I only went home during the holidays, I longed for the comfort of life at home.
Jumping to the start of this year, I moved into a house where I only really knew one girl. This was a huge blessing in disguise as the other 4 girls have become my best
friends and now, I could not imagine going about uni life without them. Whilst still loving the nightlife that Newcastle has, I have made so many more friends and together we have explored so many new places and found different hobbies which I will pursue for the rest of my life.
From the start of first year, I can see that I have grown massively in confidence and find myself excited to meet new people and make new friends. I have discovered more of a routine and balance (kind of) in ensuring that I am spending time on academics, going out and discovering and putting effort into activities which I enjoy doingwriting for The Courier being one! For me, 2nd year has been so much more fun than my first because I have found more people and started doing more of what I want to do as opposed to following the crowd. My one piece of advice for anyone who feels like they aren’t truly settled into uni life is to just be yourself and do what you love to do because in doing this you will meet so many people who you click with. and bring out the best in you.
International Women's Day
Martha Nugent Uncover why IWD matters more now than ever before...
For more than a decade, March 8th has been a celebration commonly recognised as International Women’s Day as we everyone around the globe come together to celebrate their achievements and a global march of progress for women’s rights and recognises... oh yes gender equality still is on that to do list.
Marked for the first time on March 19th of 1911, International Women's Day was first celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland following the German activist Clara Zetkins’ proposal. This was a giant and bold step in the right direction, a demand for women to be rightfully applauded and appreciated for their work for perhaps the first time.
" ...the opportunity to voice their demands and shed light on inequalities they face"
Later in 1914, International Women’s Day was celebrated through a suffrage march in London. Although ending up with Sylvia Pankhurst being arrested (apparently it was controversial and considered slightly disruptive and unsociable to demand the vote, who knew?). This day proceeded to show us how this annual celebration could
be used specifically to give women the opportunity to voice their demands and shed light on inequalities they face.
Eventually, after a few arrests here and there, this day was recognised and was made official by the UN in 1977, and continues to be celebrated annually today. So why does it matter today?
Although International Women’s Day is evidently a Recognition of the progress that women have made, it also acts as a call to action; a demand for the inequalities women continue to face to be recognised.
" ...we
are targeted 123 years until we reach gender parity, where both sexes are at an equal representation."
Unfortunately, the reality is that we are under the impression and myth that the gender pay gap and gender inequality as a whole “no longer exists”, when in fact men are being paid more for the same position, but instead, the positions they take in jobs are often much higher ranking, so even though women are being paid the same as their male coworkers, their bosses are usually male, and their bosses bosses- also male. It seems to be the higher the pyramid the bluer it becomes. The gender gap report of 2025 helps discontinue this false narrative that women are equal to men now through noting that we are targeted 123 years until we reach gender parity, where both sexes are at an equal representation. Even so, this issue only refers to western parts of the world, for women globally, their rights are far from being equal, especially according to a recently
published UNICEF report that states:
• 122 million girls remain out of school and education
• 1/5 girls continue to be married in childhood
• Especially in low-income countries, challenges to adolescent girls’ health and nutrition remain pervasive
• The adolescent birth rate estimated 12 million in 2025 How do we use international women’s day to make change?
" ...it’s essential that we instil the right messages..."
Celebrating is great: it brings people together, uplifts women and makes us feel better, but demanding change? Much better. Through demanding improved socialisation of young girls and boys, it’s essential that we instil the right messages, because unfortunately the patriarchy and sexism isn’t biological, its instilled, taught and normalised. When researched, UNICEF found that 1/3 of adolescent girls and boys aged 15-19 consider a husband to be justified in hitting his wife under certain circumstances. It’s clear that the way we grow up significantly impacts how we think and judge others.
Therefore, it’s crucial that we help people understand from an early age that women are to be respected rather than ridiculed, that we politely say: “It’s great that we’ve came so far, but how can we go further?”
Image source: Alexandra Koch, Pixabay
Image credit: Scarlett Palmer
Image: source: Micheile Henderson, Pixabay Image source: Hans, Pixabay
First semester felt like a whirlwind as I tried to do well in my academics
Image source: Designer Mariene, Pixabay
Campus Comment 7
The best green spaces on campus
Mia Wijayatilleke - Fashion and Beauty Sub-Editor
As the sun comes out here are the best places to soak up some rays on campus...
After a very dreary few weeks, the sun is finally starting to shine on Newcastle again. Spending time outside is great for your wellbeing, whether you are enjoying a snack with friends or taking a breather alone. As spring approaches, here is a run-down of the best green spaces on campus to soak up whatever sun you can get!
"The
vibrant array of flowers and neatlymaintained stretch of grass will perk up any 9am
lecture"
prestigious Green Flag Award for its sustainability and biodiversity. The vibrant array of flowers and neatly-maintained stretch of grass will perk up any 9am lecture, so whether you’re passing through or taking a moment to relax here, this is definitely a space to look out for as the weather gets warmer.
Just past the iconic arches, the Old Quad offers an award-winning green space right in the centre of campus. The Old Quad, near the Armstrong and Percy Buildings, was awarded a
For a calm green space, find a bench on Claremont Lawn to catch up with some reading or
enjoy a hot drink between lectures. The lawn is located between the Herschel Building and Merz Court, and will continue to bloom as we enter spring and summer.
If you’re looking for a social space, the Student Forum offers plenty of outdoor seating. Right opposite Co-Op, this space is great for meeting friends with a meal deal. The trees provide calm, shaded areas, as well as brighten up campus with some green.
Although not technically on campus, the green space outside the Civic Centre (near the Church across the road from King’s Gate) is also a lovely place to hang out in dry weather. It is always a joy to see this space fill up with students as soon as the sun starts shining, and it becomes a pleasant social space for a post-lecture catchup. It is also conveniently close to the Phillip Robinson, so a great place to take a break from intense study days. Don’t forget to look for ducks in the pond!
The reality of being a commuting student
Kate Sturrock - Arts Sub-Editor
Cancelled trains; delayed buses. Find out what it feels like to be a commuting student...
Delayed is the scariest word you come to know as commuting student. Cancelled is even worse.
More often than not, you end up stuck on the Metro platform (often in the pouring rain) faced with two options. Run to get the bus that may or may not turn up (spoiler alert: it never turns up) or fork out the £25 for an Uber and spend the rest of your journey to university angrily contemplating all the better things you could’ve spent £25 on.
“I’m
not saying I need a high speed, ultramodern train to get me to university; I just need one that’s reliable.”
Unreliable public transport haunts me. I can’t count how many times I wished I had the Tube or the iconic red London buses to take me to university. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Metro, most the time, but the lack of funding for transport
in the North East completely ruins what could be an excellent service. I’m not saying I need a high speed, ultramodern train to get me to university; I just need one that’s reliable.
Once I finally get to university, my next struggle begins. Having a lecture 10-12 is no bother however, when my next lecture doesn’t start till 4 there’s a problem. Is there really any point in me coming home just to head back to university 60 minutes later? I’m often left with hours to kill on campus. While it does mean I can get work done and go see my friends, it does very quickly start to feel like I should be paying rent at the library.
“...when I live so close, that kind of money just can’t be
justified.”
When I got my place at Newcastle University, I knew moving out was never an option. The amount of money it would cost is insane and when I live so close, that kind of money just can’t be justified.
People often ask me if I feel as if I’m getting the full ‘university experience’ by living at home. Yes and no. Since
Easter break plans
Scarlett Palmer - Campus Comment Sub-Editor
Tmuch. I’ve made new friends, joined societies, been on socials. I’ve done all the classic university student stuff, apart from moving out. While I would love to be close to campus and live with friends and have that sense of independence, I don’t think I’ve missed too much. If anything, living at home has been a saving grace for me at university. Coming home for me has become an escape from university that I wouldn’t get if I lived in the city centre and I don’t think I could’ve achieved what I have without the support of my family being there when I get home
I’m aware I’m in a very privileged position to have a home that I feel comfortable living in and that my commute is miniscule compared to some. However, I’m certain all commuting students, whether the commute is 30 minutes or 2 hours, share these same struggles.
Being a commuting student isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be sometimes!
For many students at Newcastle University, volunteering is a way to build skills. North East Solidarity and Teaching, known as N.E.S.T, shows it can also change lives. This multi award winning, student led project based within Newcastle University Students' Union is recruiting volunteers to support refugee and asylum seeking communities across the region. Founded in 2016 to provide language lessons, reading groups, homework help and community connections for refugee families, N.E.S.T has grown into an internationally recognized programme working with hundreds of people building new lives in Newcastle upon Tyne and the wider North East. Powered by more than 300 student volunteers, the project has become a central part of the university’s culture of solidarity.
he years at University go by faster and faster and after the lengthy depressive episode of dark winter nights and weeks without seeing the sun, all hope feels lost. Then all of a sudden the sun decides to make an appearance; the linen trousers are on with an Aperol spritz in hand and you're heading home for Easter. The winters in Newcastle are especially harsh. The biting cold weather makes it incredibly hard to be positive. Which is why, after the Christmas rush to get my end-of-module assignments in, I truly needed the sun to come out. Doing assignments in the cold has nothing on sitting in a pub garden typing away. As a first year, the first Easter break was amazing, when I first saw my home friends at the pub, I was literally in my element. If I could relive my First Year Easter break I would. Just remember University assignments aren't the world, when the sun is out and pub gardens are filling up, enjoy having a break and seeing family and friends.
The North East Solidarity and Teaching
"Demand for N.E.S.T’s work continues to grow..."
Demand for N.E.S.T’s work continues to grow, and there has never been a more important time to get involved. With unlimited volunteering spaces available, students have the chance to contribute to meaningful change while learning far beyond the classroom. Be the change you want to see in the world, for those looking to make a difference in Newcastle, N.E.S.T would love to meet you! Sub-Editors: Callum Borkowski, Emily
V olunteers support the community in practical and creative ways. Volunteers deliver one to one English support and ESOL classes for learners, lead reading groups, and run arts and craft sessions. Volunteers also visit local schools to deliver craft activities and reading support, helping young people build confidence and language skills. In addition, N.E.S.T runs week long programmes for young people that focus on learning, confidence building, and connection. The aim is simple but powerful. N.E.S.T helps refugee and asylum seeking participants gain confidence in their language skills, build friendships, and feel part of their community. By creating welcoming
and consistent spaces, the project supports people rebuilding their lives after displacement and isolation. Volunteering is not only meaningful for participants. Students who join N.E.S.T become part of a supportive community themselves. Regular social events for volunteers, including quizzes, celebrations, and language exchanges, create opportunities to connect, reflect, and share experiences. Many volunteers describe their involvement as one of the most rewarding parts of university life. The project is open to students from all backgrounds and requires no prior experience. Training is provided, and flexible sessions run days, evenings, and weekends to fit around academic schedules. Alongside developing leadership, teamwork, and organisational skills, volunteers gain perspective through direct human connection.
Samantha Burgos
Image credit: Mia Wijayatilleke
Has the pressure to be employable changed the university experience?
Charley Dobson - Blind Date & Agony Aunt Co-ordinator
Are we all slowly losing our minds to the LinkedIn grind?
When you thought of the university experience in your years before study, what did you picture? Late night study sessions in the library? Hands on seminars? Weekends to socialise and party with your new friends? This balance of study and play is for many students, the expected routine of university learning. But has the addition of employability pressures disrupted this experience of university study?
secret that the
graduate job market is rife with competition and only becoming increasingly fierce. In fact, The Higher Education Statistics Agency graduate outcomes on the class of 2025 reveal that 59% of graduates had secured full-time employment. That’s great for the half of students who managed to snag a job (though it is important to note that not all these secured roles were related to the participants chosen degree, this data includes outcomes for sectors like hospitality and retail etc) but, the evidence that just under half of university graduates haven't yet found a solidified position can be quite daunting for current students picturing their futures post study. Such proof of the looming reality of the job market adds another layer of pressure to the university experience. Now, students not only have to content with assigned workloads, lengthy commutes, living alone and balancing down time. They also must consider extra-curriculars and CV boosters during their study. As with post graduate employment, part time roles for university students are extremely competitive to
secure as home students are often favoured for their year-round proximity to the location, leaving students from further afield neglected in the hiring pool. It’s important to note that whilst part-time roles, such as the typical bar work or weekend retail, are certified ways to add valuable skills to one’s CV, the commitment to such jobs can equally deduct time from study and degree related experience. It’s a double-edged sword of choosing between part time work experience and relevant opportunities which are time consuming, often unpaid, and difficult to come by.
Newcastle university offers the NCL+ award to students to provide a certification of volunteer roles, part time employments and extra curriculars. It’s a great way to evidence how each extra activity highlights transferable skills. But, to gain the award, students must attend workshops, complete extra written activities and complete a minimum of 40 hours of related experience. Can all students afford the time to meet this criterion? Here we see how even the most accessible of career support can be out of reach for students with heavy workloads, long commutes or uncredited commitments.
University is said to prepare students for employment, but pressures to secure a job post study could most certainly distract from the experience of university that most students expect.
Feminising veganism: why food is political
Sophie Campbell Gendered tropes like soy boys, tofu contains oestrogen...
In recent years it has been a rising trend to be more eco-conscious as well as becoming more aware of what we are putting into our bodies. With the rise of ‘Veganuary’, (first coined in 2014) and vegan retreats including the popular Vegan Camp Out festival founded in 2016 by Jordan Martin, veganism has really taken the world by storm. However, the rise in veganism has not been completely smooth sailing, like the political backlash due to the plant-based diet seemingly not fulfilling protein, substance and vitamin needs. But post the most important politics of food is the idea that a vegan diet is only fit for a woman.
Gender has always played a huge role across society and day to day decisions, and this is no different when dietary choices come into play. The idea that veganism correlates with femininity is something which has caused fractures in the communities of this dietary choice.
Not only is this idea incorrect, but it feeds into the toxic portrayals of masculinity.
When men decide to become vegan there are more social repercussions, as through beliefs taught by a patriarchal society, men are stereotyped as the stronger sex and choosing a diet which centres around the care for animals means showing emotions which have become branded as ‘feminine’. These capitalistic sexist ideas mean that for men to become vegan it is not only stopping consumption of animal products but also rejecting traditional gender norms that have been forced upon society for centuries
Food is often painted politically due to society marginalising people based off thoughts constructed over time. This is not only seen with plantbased diets and gender, but also with drinking culture, with cocktails being viewed as feminine and beer being masculine, or in the coffee industry where milky coffees or flavoured drinks are seen as unsuitable for ‘real men’. The reasoning behind food being gendered and the presence of gender stereotyping within the food industry is a puzzle. As with all typecasting there is no true reason behind it other than it is the ideas society has been raised on.
On coloured backgrounds, The businessindependent crisis in Newcastle
Sophie Campbell congratulated themselves and stall owners on their work but failed to address awareness about the issues the stalls caused for small businesses, who were being blocked or ignored due to the market. The council need to make sure people coming to Newcastle are aware of independent businesses, as despite the work they do they are often ignored by people who lean towards well known businesses and chains such as Pizza Express or H&M. Making a week dedicated to showing off independent businesses could really show the council doing a good deed, and help promote these companies thrive in an economically struggling society. Newcastle is known for using the internet to promote ideas such as their ‘Restaurant week’ or ‘Cocktail week’ where discounts can be enjoyed all over the city. Why not do a week just for the independents, where they can promote their pieces without the fight of being ignored due to the prominence of other well-known brands.
he instability of the economy and the impacts this has made on the hospitality industry has led to many small businesses struggling to survive and an increasing number of doors are closing. Despite the media coverage of many independent businesses calling for attention and aid during this time the closures are ongoing with the beginning of 2026 also being the ending for some Northern independents. For example, the much-loved bar‘The Mushroom’, which after 23 years left with a leaving party including 2000 of its loyal customers in late January of this month after a lack of support from “both local and national powers”. Also, Hard Rock Cafe, known for its live music and merchandise closed in March 2025, despite its popularity and favourable location near the favoured Quayside. Locals to the Northeast and fellow business owners look at the council to blame for these rapid changes in the High Street. Despite a rising look towards the council by the community, there is still a lack of accountability. Following the success of the Christmas market, the council
These independents are choosing to not backdown or give up and to keep the community of the lively and innovative ‘Toon’ alive. Let us keep them in business and focus in on helping the smaller businesses thrive.
Image: Source Gerd Altmann, Pixabay
Image source: BarelyDevi, Pixabay
Image: Source: OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay
New dental hubs aim to relieve pressure on NHS services
Logan Crowley
While not a long-term solution, UDACs aim to ease the NHS Dental backlog...
With NHS dental waitlists reaching new highs and over 13 million patients unable to access NHS dentistry, something needs to change. The rollout of over 30 Urgent Dental Access Centres (UDACs) aims to provide those suffering with pain or trauma the immediate care they need.
“The scheme is planned to provide upwards of 100,000 appointments per year”
The introduction of one such centre in North Shields late last year was the final site to be opened in the North East. The scheme is planned to provide upwards of 100,000 appointments per year and
is focused on areas with particularly low NHS dental access. By providing immediate treatment, the theory is that other parts of the NHS will experience less pressure: people will be less likely to use A and E for dental issues; less likely to attempt DIY procedures which can result in injury; and provide permanent solutions so that patients do not need to return.
Initial statistics from the pilot scheme in Darlington show 96.4% of patients received definitive treatment which is a great first step at tackling the overwhelmed system. The treatment however is only shortterm and still leaves millions without a regular dentist where they can attend the recommended bi-annual check-ups. If the NHS is truly serious about reducing the strain on dental care, something drastic needs to be done to ensure that everyone can access appointments, and not only when it becomes urgent.
No two apple seeds
grow
the same tree: sequencing the apple genome
Genome sequencing is a widely used and only recently developed laboratory technique which determines the complete DNA sequence of an organism’s genome. In humans, this was popularised and became a more widespread technique by the Human Genome Project. However, a lesser known use is how this is used on crops and within agriculture.
“The apple genome is a highly complex, highly heterozygous and diploid genome”
The apple genome is a highly complex, highly heterozygous and diploid genome. The importance of its heterozygous feature is a result of apple trees requiring cross pollination with different varieties to produce its fruit, where being heterozygous simply
means that it has two different alleles of genes. This cross pollination results in the apples grown inheriting two different sets of genes, just as humans would. Apple seeds start the growth of a healthy apple tree and are a result of cross pollination from different trees. Therefore, a massive amount of genetic diversity is created between trees and species, meaning that no two seeds are the same and no two seeds would grow the same tree.
“Rather
than growing by their typical sexual reproduction...apples are grown asexually”
In terms of commercial production, rather than growing by their typical sexual reproduction via pollination, facilitated by bees, apples are grown asexually. The asexual reproduction gets highly specific types of apples, and this is done by grafting or budding. Whilst this method is consistent in producing high quality fruit, it carries long term biological risks due to trees and apples being genetically identical, introducing problems such as
losing all the crops grown and the accumulation of mutations. This is just one example of the importance of genetics diversity within a species. Having now sequenced the apple genome, it is expected that this will speed up the apple breeding process, making it more accurate and efficient as well. It helps for future agricultural research, helping researchers understand apple characteristics from the sequenced genes such as flavour, texture and disease resistance. This demonstrates the importance of sequencing the apple genome to show that genome sequencing is a tool of growing importance in the agricultural world.
Shaping global policy: Dr Stuart Mackintosh reflects on economics, climate, and community
Noelia Fernández Pérez - Head of Sport
Dr Stuart Mackintosh has built an international career in economics, public policy, and global governance. As a graduate of both Newcastle University and the University of Edinburgh, he recently stepped down after nearly twenty years as Executive Director of the Group of Thirty. Now, as a Visiting Fellow at Newcastle, he reflects on his academic journey, global economic work, and offers advice for the next generation of economists.
Mackintosh describes Newcastle as his "real academic home."
During his undergraduate years, he formed close relationships with professors that have lasted throughout his career.
mentor in particular remained a consistent point of contact, discussing developments in country risk, the US economic outlook, and his experience running a global think tank. These connections eventually
led him back to Newcastle to complete a PhD remotely around ten years ago.
“I've always been worried about how policymakers' choices affect ordinary people”
His experiences in the city shaped his economic perspective.
Growing up and studying in a postindustrial environment made him deeply concerned about how economic policy affects working communities.
"Newcastle gave me an industrial town perspective," he explains. "I’ve always
Although the region faced significant economic disruption during the decline of heavy industry in the 1970s and 1980s, Mackintosh believes Newcastle
has successfully reinvented itself as a centre of education and innovation.
Before his long tenure at the Group of Thirty, Mackintosh worked in European institutions, including the European Commission and the European Parliament. He supported members of parliament and the leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party. During this time, he earned a master's degree in European policy and law at the University of Edinburgh, which deepened his engagement with European integration and governance.
“Mackintosh collaborated with some of the world's most influential economic policymakers”
At the Group of Thirty, Mackintosh collaborated with some of the world’s most influential economic policymakers. One of his earliest and most significant projects involved working with former US Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker after the Global Financial Crisis. Volcker had promised then-presidential candidate Barack Obama a set of recommendations for reforming the global financial system. The report was prepared over the Christmas period and released
shortly after Obama’s inauguration. It helped shape major regulatory reforms, including the Volcker Rule.
More recently, Mackintosh worked with figures such as Mark Carney, Canada's Prime Minister, and Janet Yellen to develop policy recommendations to address climate change and the transition to net-zero economies. These projects examined how corporations, governments, and financial systems need to adjust to prevent what he describes as a potential “planetary crisis.”
After nearly twenty years as Executive Director, Mackintosh felt it was time for a change. Carney’s departure from chairing the Group of Thirty to become Canada’s Prime Minister created a natural transition point. Returning to the UK has allowed him to reconnect with Newcastle University, where he works with students and faculty in politics and business to explore global policy challenges.
Beyond research, Mackintosh stresses the importance of communication in economics. As president of the National Association for Business Economics, he helped develop programs to improve economists’ communication skills.
"You can be a brilliant analyst," he says, "but if you can’t communicate your ideas clearly, they won’t have any impact.” Effective writing, clear recommendations, and strong presentation skills are essential for
influencing policymakers and organisations.
He also highlights the value of a professional community. Early-career economists should actively engage with networks and participate in face-to-face discussions rather than relying solely on digital communication.
“When you show up, volunteer, and engage with your community, you eventually become a part of it... ”
"When you show up, volunteer, and engage with your community, you eventually become part of it— and sometimes even lead it." Looking ahead, Mackintosh believes climate economics will be one of the defining challenges of this generation. Although the scale of the problem can feel overwhelming, he encourages students to focus on practical action at a local level while continuing to push for broader policy change. "There is no Planet B,” he says. “But every local action, every policy improvement, and every committed researcher brings us closer to a sustainable future."
Image source: Clker-Free-Vector-Image, Pixabay
Image source: dioboada, Pixabay
Hannah Carlebach
The Education Awards is your chance to appeciate a member of sta that has gone above and beyond for you.
Making fashion fun with The Fashion Show
Megan Grimston - Head of Communications
With more and more shows going live each week on NSR, it takes a clear concept and genuine passion to carve out a space that feels fresh. One show doing exactly that is The Fashion Show. Built around their shared love of style, trends and the conversations that surround them, hosts Mia and Ella have created a space where fashion is more than just clothes. From Y2K nostalgia and ‘club couture’ to wider discussions about sustainability, consumerism and student life, the pair bring an unscripted, conversational energy to the station that makes niche history digestible and entertaining. As Mia explains, the show began simply from a “desire to get involved in student radio while talking about something she truly loves”.
expert understanding of the show's subject allows for them to connect with the music they choose to play, relating it to the talking points of the week. Expertise and passion clearly go hand in hand for Ella and Mia as they discussed their favourite era of fashion; “I think both of us are fascinated by the pre-fast fashion era that we never really got to live through.” Ella, Editor-In-Chief of The Edit, and Mia, Fashion & Beauty Sub-Editor for The Courier, have both expressed that “The Fashion Show has provided an opportunity to properly explore a range of topics through a more lighthearted discussion.”
“It has provided an opportunity to expore a range of topics through lighthearted discussion."
for fashion journalism live on air, they also acknowledge the impact NSR has had on their relationship.
“We’re definitely closer because of it” they concluded.
“We meet in Luther’s for an hour to discuss an outline for the show … it’s been lovely to have a little weekly catch up booked in.”
It may be peak mid-module assessments time period, but there are plenty of opportunities to relax and explore the events being put on by students across campus.
Mystery at Greenfingers 16th-17th March, The Tapyard
Dancing at Lughnasa 17th-18th March, The Cluny
The Accidental Death of an Anarchist 18th-19th March, Northern Stage
Rhythms of India 21st March, Northen Stage
In comparison to the range of musicfocused shows that are at home in NSR, fashion content is a small niche. The show's branding proudly states that it is a hub for being “all things fashion”, which bodes the question of why fashion resonates with the pair of hosts so much. Mia explained that “I’ve come to learn that fashion writing is about so much more than the clothes…”. They then elaborated that while “talking about fashion on air is so much fun because it can always be kept lighthearted” it can also lead to really interesting conversations about much wider issues.”
Beyond the pair's dedication
“We're definitely closer because of it ... it's nice to have a little weekly catch up booked in."
The Fashion Show may centre around clothes, but at its heart it’s really about conversation; making fashion feel accessible, thoughtful and fun. In an hour of unscripted discussion, Mia and Ella turn trends, history and personal style into something bigger than the outfits themselves. Tuning into The Fashion Show isn’t just tuning into fashion journalism; it’s tuning into two friends exploring culture, creativity and the stories stitched into what we wear. In a field focused on music, The Fashion Show has continously proven that passion for your niche can produce a fresh lense for radio listeners, especially when it is produced in a digestible manor. Radio isn't for everyone, but The Fashion Show makes fashion a universal.
The history of NUTV: A story of evolving content
Megan Grimston - Head of Communications
A look into the evolving history of NUTV's content.
Newcastle University Television (NUTV) has long been a creative outlet for students interested in media, journalism, and filmmaking. Over the past 10 years it has grown from a small society project into a vibrant volunteering movement producing entertainment, and creative content for and from the Newcastle University community. One part of NUTV’s history that stands out is the once unique ‘Big Market Banter’; a collection of vox pops taken across the city. In its earliest form, NUTV was driven by a handful of passionate students who simply wanted to make television.
Equipment was limited, and editing software was basic; “We didn’t have the resources professional studios had,” quoted one of the early station. The station's earliest productions often
focused on campus life, student activity, and local culture, reflecting what mattered most to those behind the camera.
As the station grew with its improving technology, so did its ambitions. By 2015 NUTV was on Season 5 of ‘Big Market Banter’ and the organisation began to produce more structured programming, taking to the cameras during RAG weeks. Previous Station Manager, Sophie McMillan, described it as being “part of the fun is that it’s a different process, and different people…”. Having such a range of content now exists as a museum ten years on, showing the growth of online content that has shaped social media beyond NUTV.
“Having such a range of content now exists as a museum ten years on..."
An alumni who went on to establish his own vox pop series expressed “the idea of standing outside interviewing people has been around since cameras have been around”. ‘Big Market Banter’ ended in 2018, finishing with Season 9. From special episodes, to themed seasons, the vox pop series allowed NUTV to expand its reach while experimenting with new formats such as short-form videos, digital series, and social media content. Beyond technology and production value, the heart of NUTV has always been its people. A series of vox pops across different generations of
Image source: Sarah Cossom, Wikimedi Commons, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
members would likely reveal a shared theme of community. While the central characters of the series might have been drunk, the testimonies throughout reflect the community behind the camera. Together, these voices illustrate how NUTV has always been about collaboration as much as creativity.
“...this illustrates how NUTV has always been about collaboration as much as creativity."
The station has also served as a stepping stone for students interested in careers in media. Through filming more modern events like ‘Fight Night’ the station has provided the opportunity to host interviews, present shows, and manage cameras. Its volunteers have gained practical skills that extend far beyond the imagination. Today, NUTV continues to evolve alongside the media landscape; collaborating alongside The Courier and NSR to keep up to date with live coverage of university events. If you asked Libby, the current Student Media Officer, she would describe her experience as principal lead as being “a fulfilling opportunity, you get to create things and that is so fun.”
In the end, the history of NUTV hasn’t been a linear progression, but the content that has been produced has always reflected the community of the station. Whether through the lens of vox pops or through the formatted Student Council recordings, we can see how each generation of students has contributed something new while sharing the same enthusiasm for storytelling.
The
remaining space in the ‘On Campus’ column provides a chance for you to advertise your own events to the wider student population.
What can be advertised:
• One off events that are open to the entire student community.
• Concerts/performances/shows
• Fundraising events
• Guest lectures
What cannot be advertised:
• Taster events, (these should be advertised through Give it a Go)
To advertise your event here, M.Grimston2@ncl.ac.ukcontact
Image source: Niklas Konig, Unsplash (TV)
New Music Wednesdays Showcase 26th March, The Lubber Fiend
Image credit: The Fashion Show (People), Canva (Radio Waves).
Image source: TheFashion Sh ow
Edited by: Charley Dobson
Pisces
Aquarius Aries Taurus
January 20th - February 18th
You might be getting ahead of yourself, Aquarius. Quit expecting results without putting the work in first. Keep that head down. All good things to those who wait.
PFebuary 19th - March 20th
isces, it’s great that you’re relaxing but you’ve been stagnant just a smidge too long. Be honest with yourself, set some goals within reach- go out and grab them!
Aries, the stars urge you to take some time this month for reflection. Sounds like you have some unfinished business to iron out. Don’t worry, you’re promised truths and fulfilling results if you do!
Taurus, this month an act of forgiveness will release all your woes. Your ego is well on the road to recovery, get ready to welcome this newfound optimism.
Leo Virgo
Gemini, this month it’s important that you balance opposite sides of your decisions. A rushed choice could reveal hidden motives, take a minute to think these over. What’s all this hurry for?
This month the stars urge you to be mindful, Cancer. Impatience will breed weakness. Slow it down a little to see the improvements in your resilience and confidence.
Libra, I heard there’s a change coming your way. Two choices to handle it: panic, if you're in the mood for chaos and imbalance or, just sit back and watch to see you your surroundings adapt.
Open your heart and receive love from others. That’s exactly what the stars told me for you Scorpio. Do with it as you will.
Leo, I’m so glad you’ve been working hard but the stars asked me to remind you that too much could lead to isolation. Put the textbook down for a bit and call a friend, okay?
Ah, Virgo - I hear that perfectionism is getting in your way again. The stars want you to know that imperfection doesn’t mean failure, sometimes it just means an unfinished opportunity.
Sagittarius, during this time you might feel restless and oddly curious. Take time to think before you act. Or don’t. Maybe some spontaneity will do you some good!
What an inquisitive mind you have, Capricorn! All the better to soul search with! Don’t dwell on your problems but do be mindful of what you choose to take from them.
Evening out the playing field: why women's health must be taken seriously
Grace Dawson
Will periods ever be normalised?
More importantly, will women ever be taken seriously?
Misogyny still plagues industries in 2026, leaving women in vulnerable mental, physical and financial states in the twenty-first century.
The year is 2026, AI has evolved to spectacular levels, highlighting technology’s developments, we have a multitude of streaming services available at our disposal, and more importantly, social media has progressed into a phenomenon that connects us with people across the globe. However, we are still in a society where women’s health is being ignored. Coincidentally, women remain silent through oppression.
Misogyny continually infiltrates environments, forcing women to face the challenges of gender inequality in almost every aspect of their lives. Therefore, it is unfortunately not a shock when the ingrained, systematic biases that plague our society harm women.
Earlier this month, the BBC ran an article on Sanju Pal, a successful managing consultant, who was wrongfully fired from her job for her endometriosis. As a woman of excellence, Sanju Pal won the Asian Woman of Achievement Award, met the late Queen Elizabeth II and was invited into 10 Downing Street. To then be fired from her job after confiding in HR about the excruciating she was experiencing was not only a but a disgrace.
menstrual cycle, causing pain, inflammation and scar tissue. It affects 1 in 10 women in the UK, and currently, there is no cure, with the only available treatment being limited to pain relief and, in rare cases, surgery.
After being diagnosed in 2018 with severe stage 3 endometrioma, Sanju required immediate surgery. She returned to work a month later but was in horrendous pain. “I was bleeding, I could barely walk, because I’d been pushing myself too much, pushing myself through the fatigue, wanting to make senior manager” – Sanju Pal
According to the NHS, endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body. […] Often found in areas around the womb, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and lining of the pelvis. It also sometimes affects organs, such as the bladder and bowel.’ The cells can grow larger and change in response to hormones in the
‘ChatGPT is my therapist’: is AI domesticating us?
Logan Crowley
Why you should be more conscious of emerging technology...
I’m sure we all know somebody who uses Chat GPT for absolutely everything, whether that be simple day-to-day questions that could easily just be searched on Google (although that is also now pushing AI summaries) or even as extreme as treating it as a therapist.
After a six-month review with HR, Sanju was fired and told to leave the building with immediate effect, with the reason termination of that she was no longer in the ideal condition to reach her performance target in 2019. It’s clear that the company discriminated against Sanju due to her endometriosis, and in her words, she felt she “wasn’t a high performer anymore, according to them, because [she] had a disability”.
Seven years and two employment tribunals later, Sanju Pal is fighting for endometriosis to be recognised as a disability in the UK. Furthermore, after winning a significant employment appeal tribunal that could affect how employers are allowed to treat employees with endometriosis, there is hope.
"She has taught me more things than she remembers; in all likelihood, more things than I remember." (HotImagesource:Biffo,Pixabay WikimediaCommonsWaterBottle)Femke, (Uterorg/us),https://creativecommons. licenses/by-sa/2.0/
With the insanely fast rise of artificial intelligence, we aren’t short of chat bots and websites that allow us to use it. Chat GPT is probably the most common, but X, google and basically every other social media platform has their own model.
Environmental issues aside, some applications of the software are on the less harmful end of the spectrum such as asking it to evaluate choices, condense information, or as a search engine, although all it really does in these scenarios is take the personal thought process out of the equation.
Many people are now asking AI for medical advice, even going as
far as to ask it’s input on serious life events and decisions. The main problem is that ChatGPT tends to give affirmative answers, and to a potentially vulnerable person seeking therapy all it does is feed into their delusion. Whilst it may take away the fear and stigma of having to talk to another person, AI struggles to interpret the non-verbal aspect of communication that makes up over 80% of how we talk to each other. In therapy and medical applications, body and tone are incredibly important taking this away leaves you with an unreliable machine telling you what you want to hear. This abundance of positive enforcement can then cause a dangerous cycle where people only talk to their AI and isolate themselves from society. Whilst AI has some really useful applications, such as the early detection of cancers in the medical field or predicting natural disasters, there needs to be limitations for the general public. It's really important that people continue to think for themselves and not instantly jump to AI for answers, like it's some kind of genie or else the skill of critical thinking will be lost to time.
Currently, several countries across the world have already implemented statutory menstrual leave policies allowing employees to take time off during menstruation. In 2023, Spain released
which offered up to five days of paid leave per month for ‘incapacitating periods’ with a doctor’s note. Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan and Zambia are the remaining countries with a menstrual policy in place. By looking at different countries and their progressive policies, we see that women’s health is being taken more seriously. By implementing menstrual leave policies, companies companies would have higher levels of productivity and improved talent retention as women would no longer have to work under pressure and uncomfortable circumstances. Furthermore, the company would be addressing significant gender equality in the workplace, aligning themselves with modern, inclusive workplace standards and potentially even showing efforts to remove the stigma and taboo surrounding women’s
Women like Sanju represent the trials women are forced to endure. Simultaneously, they highlight the hope for a future where women’s health is prioritised as much as men’s. Women with endometriosis and similar conditions shouldn’t be forced to work in pain. So, if the UK made efforts to implement menstrual policies, women like Sanju Pal would experience the undeniable benefits of being a man.
The life lessons my mum has taught me
Because
mother really does know best...
As a child, amidst the nebulous years of adolescence, my mother taught me how to spot the constellation Orion in the night sky. Despite my best efforts, I've never managed to become much of an astronomer beyond this, but I take the greatest pleasure in staring up at the three stars that make up the hunter's belt and pointing them out to any unfortunate souls that
happen to be in my vicinity.
There are other things, of course. Peeling carrots, checking whether eggs have gone off, and boiling rice. When I started primary school, my mum bought my sister and me a magnetic world map, complete with adhesive country names and capital cities. At one point, I could name all of the major ones and point them out flawlessly. My sister only ever really managed to cotton on to the fact that Tokyo was the capital of Japan, but then again, she was only three.
My mother buys me a netball hoop and shows me how to shoot, a tennis racket, and takes me down to the local courts to knock the ball around. We spend a painstaking hour together as she lines
up the notches on our communal home ruler atop a blank piece of paper, until I understand spacing and measuring and how to draw out a grid. She teaches me Maths and English right up to the moment my textbooks become too niche and subject knowledge starts to tip in my favour. She reads me Anne of Green Gables, and skims ahead to when Matthew dies so she
can warn me. I cry regardless. As an adult, one night, I pointed out Orion's belt to her. Before she said anything in reply, I noticed the lack of recognition in her eyes. Maybe from age, from time, or from the simple fact that sometimes one person's pivotal moment is another's Monday morning. She has taught me more things than she remembers; in all likelihood, more things than I remember. I
Anna Lewis
Image source: Alexandra Koch, Pixabay
Image source: Pepitas and Pepitas, Pixabay
Image credit: Anna Lewis Image source(flowers): Masaaki Komori, Unsplash
The art of the first date: how to avoid the awkwardness
Macy Reveley
Skip the shy silences with these top tips...
As someone who has only ever been on two first dates, I may seem vastly underqualified to be giving advice. However, the success of my current relationship owes a lot to our great first date! Just over two years ago, I arrived at Haymarket to meet this guy I'd been talking to. He looked cute but I was super nervous. I wasn't particularly interested in a relationship but I'd just dropped out of my dream uni and had no job so thought I may as well give the boy a couple hours of my time. What followed was a pretty fantastic first date considering I'm autistic and we're both shy! I've narrowed this down to a few reasons.
free to visit! These are all good choices because if you're nervous, you'll have something in front of you both to discuss. Second, try not to interrogate the person on messages beforehand. Of course you need to get to know someone to see if it's worth having a first date, but there might be some that you'd like to get their raw reaction to. For example, I wouldn't want to be with a guy who watches porn but I knew if I messaged "Ops on porn?", he'd have time to craft an answer that maybe he thought I wanted to hear. Catching someone off-guard doesn't guarantee honesty, but it does make for a less rehearsed answer.
Firstly, we went to the Hancock museum. When I hear someone's going out for a meal or drinks as a first date, I think it's bonkers! All you can do is awkwardly time your conversation with bites of food. And if it's one of those dates where ten minutes in you realise you aren't compatible... hopefully food's nice? I would strongly recommend doing something active! There are places to mini golf and axe-throw in town but if you'd prefer something less spenny, the Hancock, Laing and Baltic galleries are all
Finally, don't be afraid to text afterwards! One thing that put me at ease was about five minutes after I left the date to catch a bus, I got a text saying the Haymarket pigeons were after his steak bake. It was casual but also a sort of reassuring nod that he was still interested, and the date had gone
The trad fad: why is there a rise in 'traditional values' in relationships?
Zoe Greenwood
What is causing outdated relationship standards to become more common...
Recently, there has been a growing desire among young people to obtain a relationship that contains ‘traditional’ values and roles. What people define as traditional is ambiguous, but many see it as containing a masculine and a feminine figure within a relationship that is built upon both romantic actions and meaningful gestures, in a nostalgic attempt to mirror the glorified aesthetics of vintage years. Younger generations harken back to a romanticized ideal of how things once were in search of genuine connection and meaning in a world of commodification. However, we cannot ignore the less glamourous aspects of the historical period in which these traditional relationships were commonplace. The rise of influencers who promote these traditional feminine values in relationships on social media has been startling. Figures such as the lifestyle influencer Nara Smith paint an idealised picture of this traditional life – her most viral videos involve cooking family meals from scratch in a designer dress. Content such as this has become massively popular over the last few years and reflects not only a generational urge to build a genuine relationship
based on grounded and simple ideals, but also the yearning for a softer and more caring way of life which many seem to desire in an increasingly disconnected and atomised society.
Part of the desire for traditional relationship values may be related to the difficulty of modern dating. The proliferation of dating apps and the increase of interactions which are only for sexual gratification has led young people to feel less inclined to develop long term relationships, but for those who do, the romantic connection they form with their partner often mirrors traditional customs. The rise of traditional gender roles has also developed alongside this, which some determine as one of the results of the rise in social conservatism amongst young people over the last decade.
The re-emergence of traditional values in relationships is helping to determine a new and modern understanding of romance. It leaves behind aspects which are considered outdated and less acceptable by the younger generation, such as negative outlooks on gender roles, while still ensuring that both people feel cared for or protected by their significant other. Perhaps a hybrid outlook containing both traditional and contemporary elements is beginning to emerge for younger generations, allowing them to secure the best possible romantic connection with their partner.
Dating apps: yay or
Dnay?
ating apps have changed the way we connect with people around us. Meeting someone in person has become a coveted rarity, almost entirely replaced by ‘we met on Hinge’. We have all heard or experienced the dating app nightmares of boring profiles and even more boring chats. Yet, everyone knows some lucky minority who escaped the matrix with a successful relationship. So, do they work or not?
"The famous Tinder swipe is designed like a deck of cards..."
There is a healthy variety of users with different goals for you to chat with. So, it appears the apps users may not be the real problem at hand. Therefore, I believe that the real problems with dating apps lies in the apps themselves. The famous Tinder swipe is designed like a deck of cards, cast one away, see the next. Something many popular dating apps have adopted too. Being designed with gameification in mind, there is a conscious design element of addictiveness. So, does this compromise our ability to form a real connection with someone on dating apps, since they are made to keep you wanting more.
If you’re feeling brave, go the old fashioned way! Ask your course crush for their notes, try a new society, a different gym class. Real connection is out there in all its beautiful forms for you to go and find but it may just be a little more complicated than a swipe right.
How female friendships carry us through major milestones
Erin Palmer
A tribute to the women in our lives that keep the world turning...
As I look toward graduation and the end of living with the same girls for the past three years, I’ve been thinking a lot about how deeply female friendships shape our lives, especially during the major milestones that define our university experience. When people talk about uni, they usually focus on the academic achievements: finishing exams, handing in dissertations, collecting that longawaited degree. But behind each of those moments, I’ve had a circle of women who held me up, cheered me on, and carried me through. University has taught me that female friendships have a unique ability to soften life’s turning points. These girls were there for the big
moments: moving across an ocean from my family and friends, choosing a course that terrified me, falling apart over exams. But also for the quieter, equally important milestones: my first proper heartbreak, the first time I realised my mental health needed attention, the first time I genuinely wondered if I was capable of doing any of this. Their presence turned each milestone from something daunting into something survivable.
"Milestones didn’t feel like isolated events, they became shared experiences."
Living together intensified this. Milestones didn’t feel like isolated events, they became shared experiences. When one person succeeded, we all celebrated. When someone stumbled, we all gathered; on sofas, in kitchens, in bedrooms with the fairy lights switched on, to piece each other back together. Those nights of collective pep talks and unfiltered honesty became just as meaningful as the milestone moments themselves. And now, as we face graduation, a milestone that feels bigger and heavier because it marks the end of an era, I’m reminded once again of how much these friendships have carried us.
We’ve grown through the same seasons, the same deadlines, the same emotional struggles. We didn’t just live together; we grew up together.
"...they make every milestone feel less intimidating..."
Female friendships don’t erase the challenges, but they make every milestone feel less intimidating and more worth celebrating. They’re the people who show up with flowers when you get good news and chocolate when you don’t. They turn life’s transitions into collective triumphs.
As we prepare to scatter into jobs, cities, and futures that don’t yet exist, one thing feels certain, the milestones ahead won’t feel nearly as scary knowing I’ve already
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Your dilemma of the week
Whether you're stressed about assignments or not getting along with your flatmates, Agony Aunt is here to help!
This week, one of our readers needs career advice...
Dear Agony Aunt, I’ve already spoke to a career's advisor, but it feels like all of them say the same thing and I’m no closer to deciding what to do after uni. I’m torn between pursuing a career that pays well and has a good reputation or trying to find something I think I’d have fun with.
From: A Reader
Dear Reader, Career worries are the absolute worst; I understand where your frustrations are coming from! Let’s weigh up each option here, starting with the practical career- the one that will likely get you more dosh and more ‘wows’ when you tell people what you do for a living. Firstly, I think we should cast aside the ego when considering your action plan, try not to focus on how other people view your job role. At the end of the day, it will be you putting in the hours, not them. Okay, so now we have our main practical motivation- the money. I hate to have to centre finances but, in this day and age, a job with a safe salary and even the chance to progress and earn more is bound to be a majorly influencing factor in your career search. But is it worth your happiness? Would the security that a higher wage offers feel better for you than the freedom to follow a passion-based role? Here, you should consider the lifestyle you expect to lead whilst working, will you be responsible for a big family, do you want a fancy house with three cars or, are you looking for something smaller and more intimate? It may also be worth seeing if you
could find the right balance. Perhaps pursue your high paying roles and experiment with pursu ing your passions around it either as a hobby, by creating your own outlet or volunteering, pop a finger in each pie if you will. Whilst the vast number of pathways for after university is rather daunting, the limitless op tions mean there’s plenty room for trial and error. It may seem like the end of the world if you choose one direction and decide it wasn’t the right one but, as a parting word of reassurance, you can just take it as a lesson and move to your next option. It’s never too late.
From:
Charley Dobson - Blind Date and Agony Aunt Co-ordinator
Fashion & Beauty
Fashion's favourite fabric: a love letter to lace
Emily Hawtin - Campus Comment Sub-Editor
How lace adds the perfect touch to any outfit...
The trend of wearing underwear as outerwear periodically resurges. This time, the long past of Victorian, heavy lace is replaced by a dainty, chic style.
For me, it seems we are entering a period of played-down lace, everyday lingerie dressing. Finally, lace is being worn in more casual fashion, rather than it being labelled as inappropriate or too provocative. The key to stop underwear or pyjama allegations is keeping other details of the outfit simple- let the lace do the talking. From opaque lace skirts in the summer, to a snippet of lace poking out from underneath a sweater in the winter, I wholeheartedly hope lace is here to stay all year round. Its risqué past adds an element of spice, when worn in consideration, of course. My favourite emerging fashion trend is the look of wearing a long, silk, asymmetric lace cami under
a thick, wool jumper- to be completely specific! The art of having a dainty, lace-lined vest poking out of the bottom of a jumper, not only glams up a monotonous jumper-jeans combo, but really says you know current fashion. This, what British Vogue deems as “undone” styling, is accelerating into being the most contemporary look in fashion. Outfit layering has long been praised for its ability to adapt to any environment, and this case is no different. The instant outfit elevation achieved in layering is, yet again, triumphant. The classic day-to-night outfit lies in this pairing; from office to out, lace has got your back.
An escape from the raunchy stereotype of lace means new playful, experimental looks have emerged. Yet, often, it is best to stick to the basics with a satin-laceadorned cami. Carrying you from brunch date to date night, this is a timeless with so much styling potential. From winter burgundies and chocolate browns to summer lilacs and baby pinks, a satin vest has long been known for its class and simplicity. But with a lace silhouetting, you can now pull off vintage-esque, luxurious dressing all with one item.
A look I saw on repeat last summer, and I hope to see again this season, is the lace skirt and oversized t-shirt
or blazer mix. Whether worn with an underskirt or not, I think a lace maxiskirt is such an elegant statement piece, providing just the right amount of coverage, avoiding being too revealing or lingerie inspired. Even with a pair of jeans underneath, a lace skirt really adds the wow factor. In my opinion, monochrome colours work best, ensuring the element of class is not lost. But as in many fashion situations, a pop of colour never hurts…
“Universally, wearing a matching lace underwear set makes you feel on top of the world, but now, your lace element can be on view to the world.”
Wearing lace, no doubt, has an uplifting effect on the wearer. A day in outfit that makes you feel good is always a good day. Universally, wearing a matching lace underwear set makes you feel on top of the world, but now, your lace element can be on view to the world. Lace has an ability to create a catwalk-ready look when added to any outfit.
Can your outfit boost your study motivation?
Charley Dobson
- Agony Aunt & Blind Date Co-ordinator
We're all more productive when our outfit looks good...
About 8:15pm a few weeks ago. The campus library. Plaid brown skirt and blue-light glasses that I don’t really need to wear. Looking for a book that had been recommended from the creative writing group I'd just left. I found it quick and left even quicker. On my way out the librarian asked what I'd checked out. Just plain curiosity. I told him it was a book on writing fiction. “Yeah, I see that. You do look like a writer”. So, there it was. Little old me, affirmed writer, officially. In relaying this anecdote of external validation, I present the importance of dressing the part for one’s purpose. Perhaps, a lesson of ‘fake it until you make it’.
“...I find myself staring at a blinking cursor and unfulfilled word count...”
Outside of writing for pleasure, I do frequent the library for academic study. In the least productive of these sessions, I find myself staring at a blinking cursor and unfulfilled word count whilst I faff about with my un-styled hair and wishing that I’d remembered to wear my lucky jewellery. Like many other students with a wavering focus, I look for subconscious excuses to avoid the task at hand. The default of such is care for
Campus Catwalk
The 'goth girl' that changed this writer's perspective...
When I moved to the UK from India, I thought I had a pretty good sense of fashion. Back home, campus style is usually colourful, comfortable and practical kurtis with jeans, oversized shirts, trainers, maybe a little eyeliner if you’re feeling bold. So when I first arrived here and saw students dressed head-totoe in black, chains layered over corsets, dramatic eyeliner at 9am lectures, I was honestly shocked but in the best way.
to the same outfit rotation each time you study would however be poor advice, though in my lowest bouts of motivation, playing ‘smarty pants’
lounge pants and shoes that fit more like slippers. Recommending that you stick
“In a slightly Pavlovian manner, an equally effective habit I've picked up is to wear my 'writing ring'.”
In a slightly Pavlovian manner, an equally effective habit I’ve picked up is to wear my ‘writing ring’. It’s dainty and silver and comes with me to campus every day. It has a row of loose metal beads along the end band which I, as second nature, shift with my thumb between typing sentences. A small, probably unnoticeable fashion statement with a big impact on my productivity. So, to answer the question at hand: the right ‘study-wear’ can most certainly boost your motivation. Or, at the very least, remove one obstacle of distraction from your work.
This week on campus, between the usual sea of grey hoodies, tote bags and Sambas, I saw a girl who completely stood out. She was walking across the quad like she had her own soundtrack playing. She wore a long black lace skirt with heavy platform boots, a fitted corset-style top, layered silver necklaces, and the most dramatic winged eyeliner I’ve ever seen in real life. Her long black coat flowed behind her, and her dark lipstick somehow made the whole look feel powerful instead of intimidating. I couldn’t stop staring not because it was strange, but because it was so confident. As an Indian girl experiencing goth culture properly for the first time, I was fascinated. Back home, dressing differently can sometimes invite too many questions. Here, it felt normal and even admired. After my lecture (very on brand for a journalism student), I went down a research rabbit hole about goth culture. I learned that it’s deeply connected to music, art and self-expression not just “wearing black.” It’s about mood, creativity and rejecting the idea that you have to dress like everyone else to belong.
I also discovered Damaged Society, a UK alternative fashion retailer that stocks brands popular within goth and alternative communities. It made me realise this isn’t just one girl dressing differently, it’s a whole aesthetic with history and identity behind it. But what stayed with me wasn’t the research. It was how she walked shoulders back, completely unbothered. In a campus culture where trends blend into each other, she chose individuality. And as someone who’s still figuring out who I am in a new country, that felt strangely comforting. Maybe the best thing about studying in the UK isn’t just the degree. It’s seeing people dress like their truest selves and slowly finding the confidence to do the same.
Anushka Joshi
Image source: Amy Rikard, Dupe
Image source: Clker-FreeVector-Images, Pixabay (polaroid). Margot L Dupe (picture)
Get walking through Northumberland - starting in the city centre...
Northumberland is perhaps one of the most underrated places in the UK when it comes to hiking and walking, often overshadowed by the Lake District, Snowdonia, and the Peak District.
Whilst it is absolutely full to the brim of places to walk, many of these are often inaccessible by public transport and unfortunately require a car to reach. Lucky for you, I’m here to tell you about a few walks you CAN reach by public transport, directly from the centre of town.
If you want to get to Northumberland from Newcastle, you’re quite limited to two main routes - either the bus or train directly west towards Carlisle, or the bus/train north past Morpeth and Alnwick.
Heading west, you can catch the Northern train service to Bardon Mill. It’s about £10 if you have a 16-25 Railcard (which is something I think everyone should take advantage of!) for an open return, meaning you don’t have to stress about being back to the station for a certain time. From the station, you can embark on a walk up to the site where the famous Sycamore Gap Tree once stood. You can use your preferred route-finding app (I’m a big fan of Komoot, but there are plenty of others, such as AllTrails) to add extra bits on such as a section along Hadrian’s wall or the River Tyne. You’re looking at about 8 miles as a minimum so it definitely makes for a good day trip if you can convince the flat to come with you, or you can absolutely go solo as well!
“From the station, you can embark on on a walk up to the site where the famous Sycamore Gap Tree once stood...”
The 308 bus takes you to Seaton Sluice where you can either walk south along the coast to St Mary's Lighthouse (2-3 miles) or inland along Holywell Dene which is about 6 miles. The coastal route takes you along the cliffs of the Northumberland coastal path and you can even walk out along the causeway to the lighthouse providing the tide is low. The inland route winds through woodlands along a river and you can either come back the way you set off or
How to travel on a student budget
We are all well-accustomed to being advised to ‘travel while you're young’ and constantly reminded that ‘you only live once,’ but how can travelling be feasible on a student budget? Here is your ultimate, student-friendly guide to becoming a super-savvy side-quester!
Skyscanner will become your best friend when it comes to finding the top deals, with return flights from Newcastle airport starting from just £26! With settings to help refine destination, cost and dates, you can even set notifications to track the price of a specific flight or journey.
Milan, Brussels, Dublin, Barcelona, and Gdansk are amongst some of the many affordable destinations from Newcastle currently showcased by Skyscanner.
Another top tip is to consider flying to/from alternative UK airports. Manchester Airport, which is a direct train ride away from Newcastle Central, offers a copious array of budget-friendly destination options, including Berlin, Lisbon and Marrakech. Edinburgh and Teesside airports also make great alternatives if travelling from the North East.
If flying isn’t for you, there are many other ways in which tourists can get from A to B. The Eurostar, departing from London’s St Pancras International, offers a wide variety of locations including Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne, with prices starting from £39 each way. You can even get a direct train to St Pancras from Newcastle! If considering further travel, you can explore more with an Interrail pass, which allows you travel around 33 different countries across Europe. Alternatively, although not everyone’s cup of tea, FlixBus is another great way of travelling from place to place, especially with their 20% off student discount.
Albeit not to everyone’s taste, hostels can make travelling an inexpensive,
social and, even sometimes, a more authentic experience. With many hostels offering shared dorms, in addition to private rooms, there is something for everyone. Hostelworld additionally offers a 10% student discount on accommodation via Student Beans, although it is important to note that it’s sometimes more cost-efficient to book accommodation directly through a hotel/hostel’s website, but this can depend, so make sure to stay diligent!
Perhaps you’ll decide to explore your destination and immerse yourself in local culture. Activities can also be low-cost, with free options including museums and local markets, in addition to great deals for other experiences found on GetYourGuide, TripAdvisor and Viator (all of which offer student discounts!).
Getting around can also be made affordable. Public transport can be daunting at the best of times, especially in a foreign country, however mastering these transport systems can feel incredibly rewarding. Many countries offer youth rates for buses, trams and trains; this is something worth looking into depending on where you are headed.
A final few top tips include packing light if you're only venturing for a few days and utilising early term finishes to get cheaper deals before kids’ school holidays. Always make sure to check for student discounts and avoid tourist traps! Utilise hostel/Airbnb cooking facilities to make food to avoid spending money on eating out.
A trip is what you make it, whatever the budget. Sometimes it takes a leap of faith, but the socalled ‘travel bug’ can certainly be dangerous; once you start you won’t be able to stop. With these top tips and a bit of practice, you’ll soon learn the best hacks to make the most of your travels whilst a student!
Are extreme day trips worthwhile?
YAlnwick: where magic comes to life
Sofiia Korol
From broomsticks and bookshelves to treehouses, cherry blossoms and medieval tournaments - the charming town of Alnwick in Northumberland is a place people visit in search of a fairytale feeling. The moment you step onto its cobbled streets, it feels as though you’ve entered a world of legends. I lived in Alnwick for two years, so here are some of my favourite places! In the heart of the town is the magnificent Alnwick Castle. This is where scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot, where the castle became Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You can walk through the very corridors where Harry 'flew,' and even take a broomstick lesson to feel part of the magical world.
The castle has been the home of the Percy family for over 900 years and is the secondlargest inhabited castle in the United Kingdom. It combines medieval architecture, luxurious Italian-style state rooms and unique art collections.
Nearby is one of the country’s most impressive gardens - The Alnwick Garden. More than 4,000 plant species grow here as the Grand Cascade fountains roar, and the mysterious Poison Garden hides deadly plants.
In spring (late April to early May), the world’s largest collection of Japanese Taihaku cherry blossoms bloom here. The petals swirl through the air like snow - a sight impossible to forget. In the Treehouse restaurant, you can dine among branches lit by thousands of tiny lights, as if in another dimension.
Housed in Alnwick’s former Victorian railway station - now a beautiful architectural landmark - Barter Books is one of the largest second-hand bookshops in England, with over 350,000 books in a cosy and peaceful setting. Don’t miss the fantastic murals above your head at the entrance, and while browsing, visit the “Station Buffet” on the old platform. Barter Books is also known as the home of the famous “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster.
our alarm goes off at 3:40am. By mid-morning, you’re sipping a drink in a piazza bathed in sunshine, ready to start exploring. By midnight, you’re back in your own bed, reflecting on the exhilarating travel day you’ve had. And the best part? It’s all done in under 24 hours. Welcome to the era of the extreme day trip! Once viewed as ridiculous, more and more travellers are beginning to ask the question: can you meaningfully do a destination in only a single day? Well, I’m here to figure it out! In its most basic sense, an extreme day trip (also known as an EDT) is a recent travel trend where someone takes an early morning flight to a different country or distant city, explores the destination for the day, and then flies back home on the same night. Fuelled by budget airlines and a societal-wide fear of wasting precious time off, the idea of an extreme day trip challenges everything we are told about slow travel and taking in the journey. Instead, you travel somewhere in under 24 hours and try to explore as much as physically possible in that time. An EDT is perfect for a destination within about 2 and a half hours - far away enough that you are far from home, but close enough that your day isn’t consumed by being in
An EDT can also be cost effective. No hidden airline fees for checking your luggage (after all, you only need a handbag/backpack!), no accommodation fees, no overnight tourist tax. Your flights, food, public transport, and any souvenirs are all you need to part with your cash for. You can see the main city sights in a single day, and a metro card will be your best friend!
and travelling to and from the airport.
In February 2024, I undertook an extreme day trip, to the Danish city of Copenhagen. My flight got into Copenhagen at 9am and got back into Manchester at 11:30pm. I compacted my trip into a single day and saw everything on my list. However, I know this is not for everyone. The whole idea behind an EDT is that you cram everything into a single day, and you can end up running around like a headless chicken in pursuit of the next tourist attraction. Everything needs to be precise – a delayed flight can ruin the entire day. The flight also raises the carbon footprint question – is this a sustainable way of travelling? Whilst in pursuit of adventure, it is important to remain responsible. You also may find by the end of the day that there were things missed off your itinerary, that you simply could not get to because of time constraints. In my opinion, if you are an experienced traveller and a Type-A planner, go for it! But if you are prone to travel anxiety or seeking more of a relaxing getaway, maybe stick to a longer holiday! So, what do you think? Get planning your extreme day trip!
Visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of a thriving medieval market town at the beautiful Market Place in Alnwick, the centre of local events, including St Michael’s Parish Church, the Alnwick International Music Festival, and local and continental markets. The Farmers’ Market also takes place on the last Friday of each month. St Michael’s Church, located near the castle on Bailiffgate, is Alnwick’s Anglican parish church. It was first built in Saxon times and later rebuilt in the 14th–15th centuries.
Aln Valley Railway at Lionheart Station near the A1 features an exhibition centre, shop and café. Visitors can take a train ride to Alnmouth on the coast, a route that first opened in 1850 and despite being closed in the 1960s, Aln Valley Railway continue to restore this train line to provide the service to visitors in the 21st century!
Alnwick is a place where history, nature and magic come together most charmingly. Whether you explore the castle, wander
Newcastle's food markets: everything you need to know
Logan Crowley
The Newcastle food markets are the perfect spring weekend activity...
The markets of Newcastle are one of my favourite things about the city. There are three main options: the Tynemouth market at the metro station which takes place on Saturdays and Sundays, the Quayside markets on Sundays, and the Jesmond food market on the first and third Saturday of the month atop the Armstrong Bridge.
"There's something so relaxing about waking up late then having a wander..."
The Quayside market runs all the way from the Millennium bridge down to the swing bridge and I think boasts the largest variety of food stands on this list. A personal favourite of mine is the Big Fat Indian Kitchen which offers up dirty Indian fries topped with either chicken or paneer, and masala naan wraps; the chickpea and paneer one is so good, albeit messy. There are plenty of
options for sweet treats as well including churros, chocolate strawberries, and all kinds of cakes and bakes.
Moving over to Jesmond is the bi-weekly food market. Here you can find hot food, baked goods, drinks, and plenty more. Studio 28 Patisserie sells
good and the perfect thing to snack on whilst you find something else to eat. Finally on the list is the infamous Tynemouth market. Perhaps the most popular as it makes for a worthwhile trip out of town to the coast, this market is slightly less focused on food, and you’ll
exactly what it says it is- a sausage on a stick. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity though, because it is so
Tynemouth's tastiest treats
Ready to brave Tynemouth yet? These are the top food spots to warm up your chilly beach day...
Although the sun has not quite made its appearance so far in 2026, there have been a few dryer days which fill us all with hope for the arrival of a muchanticipated spring.
"...just because the breeze still has a harsh blow...that does not mean that we should avoid the beautiful coastal town of Tynemouth."
However, just because the breeze still has a
Georgia Kewell Is the newest pre-drink on the scene worthy of becoming your go-to?
Instantly recognisable with their small, spherical shape, neon branding and substantial alcohol content, BuzzBallz do not fall short of standing out in the drink aisle in your local corner shop. But are they just another gimmick, or the ultimate pre-drink cocktail?
The ready-to-drink cocktails have made a name for themselves on TikTok as the go-to for an easily portable, very effective drink choice before a night out. The flavours are endless: for the tequila lovers (like me), Tequila ‘Rita or Strawberry ‘Rita are fun twists on the margarita. If you prefer a classic, Passion Fruit Martini, Espresso Martini, or Lotta Colada might be your preference. I am yet to try Berry Cherry Limeade; safe to say it is a flavour combination that slightly All in all, people have gone crazy for them. So much so that BuzzBallz ‘Biggies’ now existbecause why buy three individual cocktail cans when you can just make your way through a 1.75L ball of strawberry margarita?
quite a scenic route - spot the sea past Cullercoats - this place is filled with hidden treats and fresh sea
browsing around the Tynemouth high street? Head for a slice of cake and a drink at one of the many cute cafes, including a favourite of mine Dil & the Bear.
Australian atmosphere that stop anyone feeling glum about the lack of sun. Coffee time?
If you need a pick-me-up, then head to Laneway Café Co., where there is a variety of
Image source: Katillustrationlondon,
Lunch time: Now it's time for some scrumptious and substantial scran, and Tynemouth has plenty to fill your stomach. My personal favourites include Woods Café, where their
I’ll tell the truth: I myself have fallen victim to the hype. After a quick trip the local corner shop on a Friday night in search of my usual vodka-squash pre-drink, I ended up leaving five minutes later with an armful of the small, round cans (there was a 4-for-3 deal on). Needless to say, they lived up to their promise, and I definitely felt the ‘buzz’ a few hours later on my way town.
"...why buy three individual cocktail cans when you can just make your way through a 1.75l ball of strawberry margarita?"
chips. I’d recommend Longsands Fish Kitchen on the front street, with a large menu ranging from your traditional fishes such as cod or haddock to a vegetarian battered sausage. I’d personally go for the chip butty and lather it in vinegaryou can’t go wrong! So, despite the weather being
But does their uniqueness end with their unusual shape and fun naming conventions? Don’t get me wrong, I can’t fault their practicality. I can now head to a party with not only my wallet, lip gloss and chewing gum in my handbag, but also three cocktail cans. And yes, in the ready-to-drink cocktail market, BuzzBallz undoubtedly take one of the top spots for value for money and distinctive design. Yet, if you are not quite ready for that alcohol ‘buzz’ that everyone is mad for, I’d stick to pints.
'Spoons Beer Festival stars Stubrew Exam Room Tears
Ruby Tinkler
- Food & Drink Sub-Editor
The latest success story from StuBrew, Europe's first student-run brewery based at Newcastle University...
Following Stubrew's recent expansion into Wetherspoon's locations across the UK comes this latest update: Stubrew's maple pecan stout 'Exam Room Tears' will be featured during the chain's Spring Beer Festival between the 4th and 15th March!
Wetherspoon's Spring Beer Festival is held annually, and is an opportunity to showcase cask beers made by brewers in the UK and further afield; some featured this year are brewed in Brazil and Mexico. It gives beer fans the chance to try out a range of beers, with tasters available as well as full pints.
"An opportunity to showcase beers made by brewers in the UK and further afield..."
Stubrew's participation in the festival was made possible through their collaboration with St Austell Brewery in Cornwall. Members of the Stubrew team made the journey down to brew around 500 casks of 'Exam Room Tears'five times what is usually produced over a whole year! Thanks to the volunteers and staff at St Austell Brewery, beer drinkers across the UK will get the chance to try Stubrew's most popular dark brew. Make sure you get down to your local Spoons during the festival to support Newcastle University's student brewery. Already tried and loved 'Exam Room Tears'? You can now rate and review it on Untapped, which is another great way to support Stubrew.
But if the festival simply isn't long enough for you to enjoy 'Exam Room Tears', don't worry! Stubrew's next monthly Bash will be held on the March between 5-11pm at the Merz Court Car Park. The event will feature the classic brews as well as the launch of three new collaborative beers; the perfect way to celebrate a busy term!
Try out the unbeatable dinner deals at The Tyne Bar
Kate Sturrock - Arts Sub-Editor
The Tyne Bar's deals are hard to top, so why not head down and try them out?
Hidden under the Glasshouse Bridge where the River Tyne meets the River Ouseburn, you’ll find the Tyne Bar. Having been a staple of Ouseburn Valley for over 30 years, the Tyne Bar is best known for its live music, immaculate vibes and its iconic beer garden located under the bridge (which is home to the best disco ball in all of Newcastle in my opinion!)
"If you spend £7 at the bar anytime between 7pm9pm on a Tuesday, you are rewarded with a free meal."
For the past few decades, the Tyne Bar have been running Free Food Tuesdays.
If you spend £7 at the bar anytime between 7pm9pm on a Tuesday, you are rewarded with a free meal. Simple as! No confusing T&Cs. No secret charges. No nonsense.
The meal changes weekly with it being announced on the Tyne Bar’s Facebook page the week prior. Previous dishes have included chicken masala, firecracker chicken prawn crackers, and penne bolognese. The Tyne Bar are to provide vegan and gluten alternatives so there’s no reason for anyone to
The Tyne Bar also do Burger Thursdays. In a similar vein to Free Food Tuesdays, you can buy a pint of Sam Smith’s Taddy Lager or Anarchy Brewery’s Blonde Star and a homecooked burger for just £9.95. With so many great options,
there’s something for everyone! With the cost of living crisis continuing to hit students the hardest, deals like this are ones not to miss. It’s a great way to have a few drinks with your mates whilst also allowing you to enjoy a fresh, homecooked dinner instead of having a ready meal for the ninth day in the row.
"...it can be easy to be enticed by chain pub deals, but you can't beat your local, especially if it's the Tyne Bar."
Local bars and pubs such as the Tyne Bar are also hit hard by the cost of living crisis. Therefore, supporting your local pub is crucial, especially through their deals and discounts. A few pints in exchange for a full meal is great and it’ll be better food than whatever microwaved debris Wetherspoons will be serving. Don’t get me wrong, I love a Wetherspoons and it can be easy to be enticed by chain pub deals, but you can’t beat your local, especially if it’s the Tyne Bar. For good food, good drinks, great deals and even better vibes, get yourself down to the Tyne Bar. Go on, treat yourself!
Katie Leonard, @thehumblepescetarian , on cooking, budgeting, and social media
Elin Auld
- Relationships Sub-Editor
With food content online growing in popularity, The Courier sat down with Katie Leonard, known as @thehumblepescetarian online, to discuss budget friendly, accessible cooking and her social media career. Katie's content is memorable as each episode begins with a softly-spoken introduction and birdseye view looking over her oven tray and the day's ingredients. Her budget-friendly, simple recipes are usually part of one of her ongoing series, which include Tins Made Tasty (and its spin-off, On a Shoestring), Freezer Veg Glow Ups, and Five Ingredient meals.
"... by not limiting ingredients to their conventional use, we begin to broaden our cooking horizons."
Beginning with the basics, Katie discussed the best budget staples to keep in your cupboards and freezers - and more importantly, where to find them. As Katie confidently told me, “you can turn anything from your pantry into a meal.”
Her pantry staples were: beans in sauce, which are high in protein and fibre; pasta and rice; and soup - which she points out
doesn’t have to just be soup. Soup can be a stock, a base of a pasta bake, stew, and much more. By “stretching ingredients further” and not limiting ingredients to their conventional use, we begin to broaden our cooking horizons.
Katie's hot spots to shop for budget friendly ingredients were Asda, where there are high quality fresh ingredients and a wide range of tinned goods; Lidl, which similarly has cheap pantry items; and, surprisingly, M&S, which is beginning to become more affordable with the right products. Katie specifically recommends checking out some of their seafood products, which can be a bargain at under £2!
Our conversation turned towards Katie’s inspiration; she described fond memories of her nan, who was a fantastic cook, and reminisces on “a table full of yummy meals” and her family being brought together by the food her nan created. Since then, she has been “passionate about making food feel doable” in a way that doesn’t make it “dull or restrictive”.
effort, and tasty recipes.
We discussed how easy it is for students to find themselves in a cooking slump, reliant on microwave meals or frozen pizzas. While we agreed that there is nothing wrong with the odd instant meal, Katie wanted to offer some tips to start finding time to make some delicious homemade food. She told me that cooking is all about making mistakes, getting creative, and learning by doing. Managing your finances is increasingly necessary as a student, and Katie commented that “particularly in a cost-of-living crisis, there is a lot to be said for learning how to feed yourself well without blowing your budget”. So, if you are looking for an answer to your budget friendly prayers, consider heading to Katie’s social media to learn how to cook inexpensive, low-
Food content online is an oversaturated market and finding a niche is important to establish your presence. When this was brought to Katie, she commented “I don’t think there is a secret to viral content”, but that creators should find something they care about and the "rest will follow." Katie describes her series Tins Made Tasty as the turning point in her social media career. People resonated with the focus on minimal ingredients and Katie loves making these videos to empower people to eat well in an accessible way.
As we wrapped up the interview, Katie’s message is clear: that with so much happening in the world, “food is the one thing that brings people together”. It ignites a sense of community, it nourishes our bodies and it keeps us creating. She adds that her DMs are always open and she will always reply to a comment or message. So, if you have a rouge tin in your cupboard that you just don’t know how to use… you know where to go.
Read more on our website, https://www. thecourieronline.co.uk/
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne has long been a city in which musical talent is ever-present.
From the nitty, gritty, grassroots venues, to modern arenas welcoming chattopping performers, the city has produced a remarkable range of artists who have helped shape British, and global, music - bust most importantly, the city's beautiful culture and music scene.
One of the earliest internationally recognised acts from the region was The Animals. Formed in Newcastle in the early 1960s and fronted by Eric Burdon, the band became part of the British invasion that swept across the United States.
A decade later, Newcastle produced one of the most influential musicians of the modern age, Sting. Born Gordon Sumner in Wallsend, Sting first found fame with The Police before embarking on a hugely successful solo career. His songwriting blended rock, jazz, and world music influences, showing the versatility and amibition that Newcastle artists often carry onto the global stage.
Another guitar legend connected to the city is Mark Knopfler, the founder of Dire Straits. Known for his distinctive finger-picking guitar playing style and proficiency in storytelling within his lyrics, Knopfler contributed to defining the sound of late-1970s and 1980s rock with classics like 'Sultans of Swing'.
Rock music also found one of its most powerful voices in Brian Johnson. Raised in Gateshead, Johnson became the lead singer of AC/DC in 1980, delivering the iconic vocals on the recordbreaking album Back in Black
The region has continued to produce chart-topping stars in more recent decades. Pop icon Cheryl rose to fame with Girls Aloud before building a successful solo career, becoming one of Britain's most recognisable and iconic pop.
Nowadays, there's an entirely new generation of local musicians who carry on Newcastle's musical legacy. Singer-songwriter Sam Fender has earned critical acclaim for his heartfelt songs about life in the North East of England, whilst JADE - who first rose to fame as a member of girlgroup Little Mix - continues to represent the region on the global pop stage. Upcoming musicians such as Andrew Cushin and 16-year-old Joe Bartley are ones to watch as they begin to dominate the city's music scene with charm and talent.
However, despite all of these artists being undoubtedly skilled at what they do, it's essential to acknowledge all of the grassroots music venues around the North East that helped these musicians reach the level of stardom that they're at now. Places like Little Buildings, The Cluny, The Grove are just some of the many amazing venues within Newcastle's local music scene that these musicians are forever grateful for.
NUSU Sessions: a successful celebration of student music and media
Newcastle's first student gig night!
After weeks and weeks of organising, advertising and interviews, NUSU Sessions finally played out last Thursday at the Venue. Underneath the Student's Union and Luther's, at the heart of Newcastle University's campus, five of Newcastle's very own student artists (Sammy Morgan, Slamrat, Risco, Claremont Wing and Pearly Gates) delivered a diverse range of musical talent with a side of unmatched performance quality. It was a special night, not only for the entertainment it provided, but for the support it provided both up-and-coming artists and the wider student body. NUSU Sessions was a showcase of what Newcastle students are capable of, celebrating their talent and signifying the unity within the student community.
NUSU Sessions began in October 2025, when Pearly Gates' Tom Hunt approached Student Media Officer Libby Griffiths with the idea of a student gig night in collaboration with student media. Working with Music sub-editors Milly Thompson and Emma Monaghan, the four made sure the event was entirely student ran, celaboratory of student musicians and of course, a great success.
In a white vest and pink-linen shirt, Sammy
Morgan brought his laptop and electronic sound to the stage. He provided the eager crowd with synthetic high hats and oscillating beats, under a soft pink lighting which made you feel as if you were dancing on a beach at sunset. Crowd-members commented how they felt transported to Ibiza, as Sammy set an energetic precedent for the night. Admittedly there was a sense of nervousness, as Sammy frequently looked down at his laptop and instruments. But with a smile on his face he was finding comfort in his passion, and by encouraging the crowd with his hands in the air he maintained good performance quality that was quite sentimental in the wider context of NUSU Sessions. You could feel the appreciation of a student artist who has been given a rare opportunity to showcase their talent in a highly-produced setting. This was amplified by the cheering of his friends, who all stood gathered at barrier in support. One heckled "SIGN MY CHEST", whilst the rest jumped for the pure joy of seeing their friend live. They were desperate to get recognition from their closest mate, just as if he had the same celebrity of Fred Again… or Kettama. It created a friendly, excited atmosphere amongst the crowd, and was a perfect way to start the night.
lead guitarist Spencer Clemenson, bassist Elliot Williams and drummer Joel Gooder, began with a bang, maintaining the energy established by Sammy, whilst dramatically shifting into alternative gear. They blended gritty, punk vocals and sounds with the hooks of alt-rock, whilst unapologetically seasoning their lyrics with youthful, political angst (a favourite of mine was 'Are you rich? Do you ski?', unintentionally yet comically nodding to Newcastles very own ski society). Lead guitarist Spencer sported an oversized t-shirt printed with an eccentrically colourful cat, and explained to the crowd "this song is about pegging"
“...grungy and gritty, they successfully maintained the musical momentum of the night.”
As the lights shifted from beachy pink to a dramatic red, Slamrat then came to the stage.
Vocalist and guitarist Lily Bennett,
They were unafraid to be open and honest, showing off their personalities. They conveyed a genuinity, making them all the more endearing to watch, especially offset by their top-form musicality. They delivered a cohesive hard-hitting, raw sound, founded in their years of experience across the north east's underground scene. Shamelessly grungy and gritty, they successfully maintained the musical momentum of the night.
The middle slot of any gig is always at risk of hitting a lull: people are a few pints down, their
Pearly Gates: on building NUSU Sessions and bringing student music to the stage
Charlotte Chantler - Science Sub-Editor
NUSU Sessions with The Courier launches as a new addition to Newcastle's live music calendar, aiming to create a professional platform for student and emerging artists. Ahead of the event, The Courier spoke to Pearly Gates, who headlined the night and have played a key role in shaping the project. While Pearly Gates are taking the headline slot on the night, their involvement in NUSU Sessions runs deeper than performance alone. The band played a key role in shaping the event, working alongside The Courier to help bring the concept to life.
The idea first took shape last summer at Ouseburn Festival, where frontman Tom Hunt performed at The Grove. In the audience was Libby Griffiths, NUSU’s Student Media Officer, who was impressed by the set. When the feedback made its way back to Tom through a friend, decided to take the initiative and reach out himself. "It felt like a fun idea," he explained, particularly the chance to put on a student-focused gig and perform in the Students’ Union venue. Tom, in collaboration with Libby, and Music sub-editors Milly Thompson and Emma
Monaghan, has managed to create a night no one will forget.
Rather than viewing NUSU Sessions as a one-off event, Tom hopes it can become a recurring fixture within the university. He points to the number of student bands on campus who rarely have the opportunity to perform in a professional environment. Creating that space, he says, not only helps emerging artists gain experience but also encourages networking and collaboration within the local scene.
Guitarist Sam echoes this sentiment, drawing on his own time studying at Newcastle. He recalls that opportunities like this were largely absent during his time at university, despite there being plenty of capable musicians. For him, the longevity of NUSU Sessions is what matters most, and he believes it could become an important platform if allowed to grow year on year.
“...from psychedelic disco to more transient experimental moments and house driven rhythms...”
That sense of ambition is reflected in Pearly Gates’ live performances. Known for maintaining momentum throughout their sets, the band avoid predictability by blending live instrumentation with electronic elements. Drummer Max jokingly attributes their energy to simply "hitting the drums really hard," while Tom explains that the band run samples throughout the set, giving it the structure
and flow of a DJ performance. Although Pearly Gates fall broadly under the umbrella of dance music, their sound moves through a wide range of subgenres, from psychedelic disco to more transient experimental moments and house-driven rhythms. This variety ensures that no two tracks feel the same, keeping the set dynamic and engaging rather than repetitive. Taking on the role of headliner for an event they helped create does bring a level of pressure. Tom admits it is nerve-wracking knowing that people he recognises from university, some who would not usually attend a gig like this, will be in the audience. However, he adds that having a strong band around him helps ease that pressure,
feet have begun to hurt, and attentions can start to drift. But Risco refused the audience to get distracted, demanding attention as they delivered the gritty energy reminiscent of the 70s British Punk Rock movement. This nonconforming trio certainly made a statement as they came out with a punching, hard sound that blended a plethora of British Rock influences into one. Whilst the quick, fast and hard patterns from the guitar and drums brought the intensity of early Arctic Monkey's, Lead singer and guitarist Ralph Solis sang with a Gallagheresque whiney twang. It was satisfying to the ear, hearing melodic vocals seamlessly find their way through the drummers relentless smashing of his high-hat. In a red cardigan and tie, Ralph echoed Jack Black and the characteristic rebellion of School of Rock. He contrasted this with a pair of yellow-tinted, retro glasses. Already Ralph was adding colour to order, presenting himself unrestricted by aesthetic boundaries. His colourful preppiness was then offset by the shamelessly punk look of his bandmates. Whilst drummer Fergus Hamil sported a pair of nonchalant, blackout glasses, bassist Maya Hammersley wore a double denim co-ord, complimented by a bold, leopard print guitar strap over her shoulder (a special mention to the classic, punk bleach blonde streak in her hair). Admittedly, they made an unusual looking trio, one that seemed they shouldn't go together. But this only amplified their musical non-conformity even more. And as soon as they began to play, their clearly defined sound unified them musically.
Read more on www.thecourieronline.co.uk
Thompson & Emma Monaghan - Music
We just wanted to take a little space in this issue to thank everyone for their support with NUSU Sessions. We never could have imagined it to be such a successful event, filled with so many wonderful artists.
We would first like to thank every name you see on this page, from the journalists who did the interviews, to Bethan, who wrote our review, and all the five brilliant student bands we had involved.
Also, a massive thank you and well done to our NUSU Sessions radio team, who conducted
Slamrat, the up-and-coming rock band hoping to conquer Newcastle...
Wto Newcastle's most prestigious stages. Among these individuals is drummer Joel Gooder, already a veteran of two rock groups back at home,has accumulated much experience, especially in his last band “Wazygoose” where he met 2 future members of Slamrat: lead guitarist Spencer Clemenson and bassist Elliot Williams. Vocalist and guitarist Lily Bennett is the bands most recent addition, a long-time Newcastle resident who has been a part of many indie bands and after a short break she is back in business
with Slamrat for new adventures. The group formed officially in September 2025, Joel, Spencer and Elliot already knew each other for quite a while after they met in Newcastles "Indie society" and then played in “Wazygoose”. They met Lily on a website named JOIN MY BAND after discovering that they all shared similar interests. Despite the fact that combined they represent some very solid experience on the musical scene, they are not desperate to seek professional status or notoriety; their way of thinking is seen on stage, they are there to have fun.
Kate Sturrock
- Arts Sub-Editor
“I just want to find people who love my music” - in interview with Sammy Morgan...
The Newcastle music scene has always been iconic. From Sam Fender to Cheryl Cole, Newcastle has produced some amazing musicians over the years, but the next generation of artists are ready to take the stage. NUSU Sessions, hosted by The Courier, was Newcastle University’s first student gig night that focused on highlighting the upand-coming talent within the university. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with one of the amazing acts of the night, Sammy Morgan.
“It’s incredible…I feel very lucky,” Sammy said when asked about getting to play at the student union. As a third-year music student at Newcastle, Sammy’s passion for the North East music scene is clear. “It’s really important to support smaller music artist and bands, everyone loves the big bands and the famous ones, but actually supporting upcoming artists is really important.”
“I've always wanted to bring that euphoric, more emotional feeling to EDM instead of what you hear at clubs...”
They also explained that, in the early stages, they plan to remain self-produced, focusing exclusively on gigs and special events in Newcastle In a more may extend to Leeds, but only time will tell. Finally, they revealed that NUSU Sessions marks their first true gig as a band: great publicity and a perfect way to inaugurate their
And off they go. These four musicians are beginning a new chapter in their artistic journey under the name Slamrat. Joel, Elliot, Spencer and Lily are far from beginners - whether it’s about crafting high-quality music or simply having fun with rock. NUSU Sessions may symbolize different things to different people, but above all, for this promising group, it feels like the beginning of a beautiful
Claremont Wing were the largest band at the first NUSU Sessions.
The band comprises: Megan Li providing vocals, Leo Thompson playing the keyboard, Gina Blenkiron’s stylings on the sax, Alex Smith strumming on bass, Ben Roope’s musicality on Guitar, and Freddie Pollock banging on the drums.
The six-piece student sensation originated with Alex, Ben and Freddie as founding members following their transition from school to university. Over the band’s nearly threeyear legacy, they have seen a variety of student talent join and, sadly, leave the band following graduation. However, the band’s unique indie neo-rock sound has always remained the core of the group and has only grown more refined over time.
I want to stand out a bit,” he expressed, further emphasising his passion for music. “When I have an idea [for a song] I’m so dialled in… it’s like time doesn’t exist.”
On the night, Sammy played his new EP Can’t Get Enough in full and solidified his status as an individual artist with six new electronic tracks that you couldn’t help but dance to.
When asked how he first got into making music, Sammy recalled “I’ve played the piano since I was four years old and my parents were always very musical; I loved working out [how to play] songs you would hear on the radio, but I knew very quickly that I wanted to make my own stuff.”
upbeat anthem that prepared the audience for a thrilling half an hour of music. Additionally, they gave the audience the first public listening of one of their songs ‘Passing Me By”, which had been composed just a week before the show!
When it comes to the creation of the songs, all of the artists contribute to the sound each song encapsulates. Leo and Megan are the members who primarily take on the responsibility of lyric writing, with its offering itself as an opportunity to display how artists feel about their lived experiences.
Throughout their performances at NUSU Sessions and at other venues such as The Cluny and Little Buildings, the band have brought their own original songs to the stage and sung concert classics through the style of their distinctive, electrifying indie sound.
Their setlist for NUSU Sessions included a variety of original songs that allowed the audience to gather who Claremont Wing truly is. They opened their set with ‘I’d Listen to You’, an
Sammy affectionally noted how his dad helped him to buy the software he needed to begin this music creating process at 13, stating that his dad has always been a “massive motivator” for him.
“My mum, my girlfriend, I have loads of people who are always just backing me and pushing me to be the best version of myself really,” Sammy said, highlighting the support he’s surrounded by.
Everyone in the band has different artists whom they adore and who inspire their musical pursuits. Everything from the funky acid jazz of Jamiroquai to the infectious pop of Sabrina Carpenter to the melodic songs of the Beatles. All of their different music expressions not only allow them to have a diverse set list but also help Claremont to produce harmonious music.
Their impressive lists of cover songs saw them tackle the likes of the Geordie favourite ‘Rein Me In’ by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean. well as ‘Man I Feel Like a Woman’ by Shania Twain.
Look back at events such as NUSU Sessions and be proud of the performances they gave.
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Behind the scenes with Risco....
"high-energy, groovy, and entertaining." They definitely delivered on this, with members of the audience commenting on their "impactful stage presence" and "self-assured sound". The bands personal predicted highlight of the night with their cover of Fat Boy Slim’s ‘The Rockafeller Skank’, also delivered in every sense, rounding their set off with a memorable music exclamation mark.
I also wanted to delve a little deeper into what inspired the band to create the amazing music they perform.
NUSU Sessions was Sammy’s first gig as a solo artist. “I’m a bit nervous, but very excited,” he says ahead of the show. “I’ve always wanted to bring that euphoric, more emotional feeling to EDM instead of what you tend to hear at clubs;
When asked about what we were to expect during his set, Sammy was clear with his goal, because I’m not…I want to make it a performance.”
took the risk and played all his tracks live, something which he has never done before. Sammy’s live tracks alongside his genuine joy whilst on stage, led to an excellent performance. As the first act of the night, Sammy set the atmosphere for the rest of the evening by leaving the stage with a crowd who felt like they’d been partying in Ibiza rather than rainy Newcastle.
When discussing what’s next, Sammy’s goal was simple. want to play more gigs,”
“and I just want to find people who love my music, build a fanbase and connect with them.”
Explosive, powerful and confident were all features that became synonymous with Risco on the night of NUSU Sessions; and I was lucky enough to interview them just before they set out on stage. Not only did I get some golden nugget insights of what to expect from their music, but also got some inside details on inspirations, dream collaborators and future gig dates, so here is a rundown of some of the highlights in our conversation.
Before our interview even began, upon entering the dressing room I was struck by the bands chilled energy and amazing fashion sense; so I was intrigued to find out what made them want to take part in the first ever NUSU sessions. They informed me that it was "friends" who had sent them information to sign up, and then they just joined the night from there, and it was no brainer to play. We then progressed our chat into discussing what they wanted to bring for their performance that night... three words:
Musical inspirations were amongst the names of T. Rex, Libertines and The Jam, with the surf culture scene establishing a large presence. However, I was surprised to find out that their main source of influence was actually films, particularly Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. I think all these different layers of inspiration has truly allowed them to create a unique identity amongst the North-East music scene, curating them a sound unlike any other. Branching outside of this we finally drew to my closing question of who their dream collaboration would be. Of course, after closing their set with Fat Boy Slim, he was mentioned as a figure they would love with, alongside the Jamiroquai, and Paul McCartney. I’m sure with the impact they made on the night they could be rivalling such legends in no time at all.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the band, and their set only exceeded my already high expectations, so I look forward to seeing what they get up beyond NUSU Sessions.
Welcome back to The Courier Oscars! This is a time where our student media team looks back on a year of fantastic films and, much like last year, everyone took to WhatsApp polls to vote in
voting period, she was eventually overtaken by
Singers switching sectors: The Moment review
Is acting for everyone?
Singer Charli XCX has starred in her first leading role as an actress by playing herself in Aidan Zamiti's directorial debut, The Moment.
For a few years, the British singer tried to create herself a movie career, appearing in many movies either for voice acting or as supporting characters. Now, she has decided to take matters into her own hands by producing and giving her lived story for her new movie.
The story brings back echoes of the past, after the end of the BRAT summer in 2024, Charli prepares herself for the beginning of her arena tour. Meanwhile her label, Atlantic Record, insists that she continues promoting her BRAT album, using means that she doesn't really enjoy. Add to this artistic differences with the director of her concert and her friends cause her to be very anxious even though she tries to maintain her popularity.
It is filmed as mockumentary in the style of Office and you would understand that the story is mostly a big ad for her album, but is also supposed to give a look into music star mental health. For me, her anxiety is exploited far too often, at least 90% of the film is composed of sweating closeups of every character.
skills are too focused on one specific emotion, which makes her look too unstable to be relatable. Therefore the comedy scenes are not well executed and lack actual scripted comedy like a normal mockumentary would have. The directing leaves little room for the minimalist cinematography which is hardly present in the film. She’s not the first music artist who has expanded to movies. Less than a year ago in May 2025, The Weeknd had a similar project with the film Hurry Up Tomorrow, that he wrote. The film attracted bad critics, as did his HBO series The Idol. Charli XCX may be reproducing the same unfolding, which could give a bad reputation to the singer switching sector.
Therefore the comedy scenes are not well executed and lack actual scripted comedy like a normal mockumentary would have.
Charli seems to be the most stressed person that ever existed, her acting
However, other music artists know their capacities and have chosen original projects. Many of these happened in 2025, like Bad Bunny in Happy Gilmore 2 Caught Stealing, Tyler The Marty Supreme, or ASAP Rocky in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You.
Maybe what to learn with this movie is that no matter how famous or successful a singer is, the gift of filmmaking and acting isn't awarded to anyone. Thus for everyone's sake, please stay in the music stage and think twice before throwing millions in a self produced project!
Chloe Zhao and Ryan Coogler. Although the runner-up had a very healthy 12 votes, it was just one too few to beat Coogler, with him winning our vote for Best Director with 13. Finally, the one we’ve all been waiting for - Best Picture. As far as the Academy is concerned, it seems to be a dead heat between a few films to bag the award. This was the case with us too - you’ll have noticed the same films cropping up in our winners such Sinners. What you won’t have noticed that much is One
Despite Paul Thomas Anderson’s best efforts, the film didn’t win much from us. It is, however, joint runnerfor Best Picture with
It finally got a good result, but perhaps it had realised it was simply never going to win against our decisive winner which is… Sinners And that about wraps us up. It was a truly incredible year for film, and there were certainly some tough exclusions and snubs from the nominations. Who knows how the Academy
Can films succeed without social media?
Historically, films have succeeded through cinema releases and critical acclaim. But, in an era of streaming services, higher film production rates and (debatably) market oversaturation, is social media attention now more important than making a good movie? Movies like Barbie and Oppenheimer are glaring examples of films that benefited from social media attention, although both films did also receive critical acclaim. On the contrary films like Emilia Perez were received poorly by many but, the film still grossed well, likely partly due to its ironic virality online.
A mass group of movies that have succeeded over time without social media are ‘cult classics’.
Often films that are seen as bad, ridiculous or confusing by the majority of society, cult classics have gained popularity over time through devoted fanbases and independent presentations of culture. Films like Flash Gordon are iconic for their subpar special effects and acting whereas films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show maintain a devote following through unique presentations of queerness and sexuality.
Many cult classics (such as these) developed their original followings without social media but, the development of such communication has only increased the popularity and prevalence of these movies. Chat forums in the early 2000’s and short form video content apps like TikTok have heightened discussions around cult classics, allowing new generations to discover these films. It is also key to note that many of these films were not box office successes, but instead have outlasted their time through audience admiration and longevity of film making, namely assisted by social media.
Some films wholly rely on social media to be successful. The recent rise in influencer movies is a glaring example of this. Media companies have been increasingly seen to hire Youtubers/content creators for movie production, writing and acting. In 2026, we saw the release of Iron Lung
which was written, directed, edited AND acting in by Markiplier, a popular YouTuber with over 38 million subscribers.
Although Mark received mostly positive reception from critics, KSI, Ryan Higa and the Fine Bros all released films which were slated by critiques and genuinely damaged some of their careers (particularly Shane Dawson, who’s film Not Cool received a MetaScore of 1 and made just $36,026 at the box office of an $800,000 budget). A poor social media reception meant these films bombed dramatically. It has become increasingly difficult to separate any industry from the existence of social media. The online world is as prevalent as the real world, so in order to have at least some commercial success, films must use social media to their advantage or they risk being missed entirely, especially if they have no prior fanbase to rely on. Some films are able to do well without as much social media hype as others (such as the Avatar films, which have such a widespread fanbase, even if it is casual, they don’t need to invest as much time into social media advertising) whereas others develop the films public persona through social media, such as Barbie. It is becoming more difficult for films to succeed without social media; a pattern which does not seem to be changing any time soon.
“A poor social media reception meant these
films bombed...”
Amine Yacoubi
Adapted Screenplay, Chloe Zhao’s devastating
Seth Mallison Image source: Harald Krichel
Image source: Kenny Eliason, Unsplash
Not a silent struggle: If I Had Legs I'd Kick You review
Mary Bronstein's new film finally hits UK theatres!
In the same vein as Cassavetes' A Woman Under The Influence, the film follows therapist Linda (Rose Byrne) as her life becomes increasingly more pressurised by her absent husband and sickly daughter as well as the gaping hole in her ceiling which has forced her and her daughter to move into a motel. Since leaving the cinema I've heard many comparisons to Uncut Gems and Marty Supreme and to be honest, it sets me on edge. While the title sequence and constant hum of tension prove the film undeniably bears a Safdie-esque touch, Linda is nothing like the unsympathetic and obnoxious protagonists of the other two. Instead of some kind of addict or selfish individual only in pursuit of something arbitrary, she is trying to help her daughter get well. Unlike Howard Ratner or Marty Mauser, you feel no internal conflict in rooting for Linda. While she doesn't come across as entirely likeable, this feels almost irrelevant - I mean, how likeable would you be in her situation? What I thoroughly enjoyed about this film is how it is not about a silent struggle; Linda is plenty loud about what she is going through, it is just that no one else actually listens. While it is often said that mental health struggles are bore silently, Bronstein demonstrates the
equally true reality of pleading for help and being ignored.
This feels especially true for women who seek medical help, demonstrated best by Linda's colleague (Conan O'Brien) who continuously downplays her issues and remains unbothered, as well as the doctor of her daughter's treatment programme who constantly criticises her for not doing enough.
“...a face for the medical establishment's attitudes towards struggling women...”
Interestingly, O'Brien's character is unnamed, supporting the idea that he functions more as a face for the medical establishment's attitudes towards struggling women rather than just a singular bad doctor. Though I'm not usually a fan of star casting, O'Brien and A$AP Rocky play their parts well though admittedly their presence takes you out of the film slightly. Contrastingly, it is Rose Byrne who is absolutely captivating, her Oscar nomination is nothing short of deserved. Indeed, it would be satisfying to see the film take home a major Academy Award after failing to bag a nomination for Best Picture, despite Marty Supreme doing so. With the recent celebrations for International Women's Day and Mother's Day, there's no better time to head to cinemas and remind yourself why the celebrations are much needed.
Film
Are film awards still relevant today?
Oscars telecast rating has fallen seven percent in 2025 after years of growth prior. This has caused critics to debate whether award shows are popularity contests, with the film industry struggling with profits on large budget productions.
There is still clear interest for award shows, especially among the film landscape with dozens of film award held on an annual basis. Furthermore, annual film festival such as Cannes are aired as a celebration of film suggesting a relevance for these shows as promotion for films that may have not had the chance for global appeal.
On the surface, award shows still have relevance as there would not be an ‘award season’ or primetime television slots for these shows without assumed relevance. Whether these award shows are relevant comes down to where a person’s definition of relevance lies.
For some, popularity could equate to the relevance of something, which in the case of award shows is slightly dropping due to less viewership overall, despite the Oscars boasting 18m viewers alone.
Relevance could also refer to the position of award shows in the cultural zeitgeist of film. It has
Not a waste of time: Wasteman review
A carefully-crafted and hardhitting feature debut for director Cal McCau...
Wasteman is a raw social commentary on masculinity, staged in the confines of an overcrowded male British prison; it is captured by surveillance-style camera angles and shaken snippets of handheld phone footage, creating an intimacy in its cinematographic direction and contributed to a nuanced narrative.
My favourite films include Bridget Jones’ Diary, But I’m a Cheerleader and Pearl. I’m hoping that one can infer from this list that I am no connoisseur of the prison drama genre, nor at all a fan of it.
When the titles rolled, so did my eyes, as the grime music started to play, I sank into my seat and prepared myself for 90 minutes of aggressive testosterone and
predictable gang wars, which is a universe away from my usual girly cinematic experience. Yes - if you’ve heard anything about the film, I was not wrong. However, the way in which the film was just so perfectly executed quickly brought me out of a slump, and onto the edge of my seat.
“...the most interesting aspect of the film is its multifaceted presentation of masculinity.”
I think the most interesting aspect of the film is its multifaceted presentation of masculinity. Every aspect of manhood is exposed within the high-pressure environment of the film’s setting - we follow the journey of Taylor, played by David Jonsson, as he serves his last few months (which are turbulent to say the least) in prison for manslaughter.
We see male convicts who are often portrayed as violent, hard-faced individuals through most forms of media - further having the capacity to show vulnerability, cowardice and even solicitude. David Jonsson, without having large amounts of line delivery, is able to carry his lead role through the powerful expression of his face - constituting a stellar performance.
people with disabilities, international films or low budget/independent filmmaking. While categories for cultural productions such as best international film exist in the popular Oscars, as well as multiple international film festivals dedicated to culture, globally it still seems as if Hollywood films garner the most recognition from award shows. Similarly, there are award shows on a smaller scale that aim to strive for disabilities in filmmaking like the Oska Bright Film Festival as well as awards for independent cinema such as the Film Independent Spirit Awards. However, these award festivals gather a relatively niche following that is only made aware due to specified interests from attendees or relation to the awards themselves. Award shows are not disappearing anytime soon as the film industry desires to celebrate the creative effort on display each year. Additionally, cinephiles and casual fans like to be vindicated that their favorites of the year are awarded for their outstanding filmmaking. To remain relevant award shows have had to adapt new tactics in engaging younger audiences whether that is through spectacle, social media channels or accompanying performances. Whether they have been able to retain relevance is a question that will linger for years to come.
Tom Blyth, known best for Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, is unrecognisable as Dee, Taylor’s new and troublesome cellmate, whose arrival threatens the certainty of a pre-existing drug distribution movement, led by inmates played by Alex Hassell and Corin Silva.
Best Irish films for St Paddy's day
Here are some of my essential Irish cinema experiences for St Paddy's day: If you're looking for a pulpy, drug-fueled good time, Kneecap follows the rise of the Irish language hip hop band of the same name as they somehow sniff, shag and scrap their way to making the Irish language cool again. the rappers playing themselves, this is not just another music biography and instead is a call to highlight issues in modern day Belfast and preserve indigenous languages.
“The surveillance style cinematography adds a further dimension of reality...”
Furthermore, as I touched upon earlier, the way in which the piece is filmed is spectacular. The surveillance style cinematography adds a further dimension of reality to the film. In addition, I must mention the use of mobile phones. Our phones, unlike professional cameras, capture the mundane moments of our day to day lives, and the inclusion of iPhone shots within sequences of the film served as a nod to the fact that the inmates are living a very different reality - where scenes of violence and torment are normalised, creating a greater element of weight to the piece.
The wavering dynamic between Taylor and Dee is the glue that firmly holds this piece of cinema together. Hassel in particular does a brilliant job of providing a believably harrowing element of threat, substantial enough to validate that dynamic. Through pressures of prison life, Taylor and Dee’s masculinity is weaponised through forms of violence to one another, Image sources: Canva
In short, I was thoroughly captivated by Wasteman and I would urge anyone who wants to watch a gripping and thought-provoking piece of cinema to watch this film immediately.
The Wind that Shakes the Barley is the quintessential Irish history film. Directed by Ken Loach, with a young Cillian Murphy playing one of two brothers who both get involved in the fight for Irish independence but find themselves on opposing sides of the civil war after the Anglo-Irish treaty is signed this gritty film is a wake up call on the brutality of British colonialism.
An under appreciated pick Handsome Devil, a coming of age story about LGBT solidarity, rugby and really bad teenage talent shows. Heartbreaking and heartwarming; elevated by its excellent cast, including Andrew Scott and Nicholas Galitzine, with a timeless indie soundtrack turns the film into one of the more life-affirming teen flicks.
Sophia Glass
Finlay Gordon
Macy Reveley
Alex Conroy-Gent
Image source: Firkin, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Image source: Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
TV 28
Girl, so confusing: the complexities of female rivalries
This trope is getting a revival - but is it for better or for worse?
Female rivalries in television have always been easy to watch. In fact, sometimes there’s nothing better than watching two women go for each other’s throats. It’s entertaining, it can be hilarious to watch and, most importantly, it delves deeper into what female relationships onscreen can look like.
“But is the female rivalries trope overdone...”
But is the female rivalries trope overdone, or too saturated with misogyny or based around boydrama to have any influence over television nowadays?
Absolutely not. Here are just a few examples of how female rivalries can be done properly onscreen.
Killing Eve Eve Polastri and Villanelle Eve and Villanelle are
arch-enemies turned lovers in the cat-and-mouse thriller Killing Eve. They have a mutual fascination with each other, which- throughout the seriesbecomes competitive and obsessive. I loved watching Killing Eve because I admired the show’s flatline refusal to make either character begrudge the other for more fickle reasons... E.g. the most commonly used tropes of fighting over a man, or becoming jealous of each other’s material possessions. They both openly voice their attraction to each other by the end of the series, and their refusal to leave each other alone makes for great thriller
“Stepmothers
and children rarely get space on television, and this duo helps open the floor to more discussions...”
- Fleabag and Godmother
Perhaps not what you would commonly think of for a female rivalry, and yet, it's the one that makes the most sense. Having a silent yet extremely
passive-aggressive rivalry with an older woman is something that a lot of women have experiencedperhaps even more common with new, slightly manipulative step-mothers Fleabag and Godmother’s silent feud - paired with Fleabag’s father’s complete ignorance - makes for great comedic scenes, but hints at a more sensitive undertone. Stepmothers and children rarely get space on television, and this duo helps open the floor to more discussions on rivalries between non-blood-related families.
“Everyone's had a roomate they've hated
Wednesday
Enid Sinclair
Everyone’s had a roommate they’ve hated before, right? Wednesday and Enid are complete opposites: from their aesthetic to their motives, they just don’t seem to click. However, what I loved about these two from the beginning was Enid’s constant persistence in getting to know Wednesday, despite the particularly unfriendly atmosphere she gives off. Whilst the Wicked rivalry between Elphaba and Glinda was so popular, consider how
it was shown in television first: a bright, colourful girl meets a girl who only wears black, and after a long school rivalry, they eventually end up joining forces. Sound familiar..?
As cringeworthy as it may seem, it can be refreshing to see female rivalries-turnedfriendships onscreen without fighting over a boy, which it so often seems to be. With so many female relationships beginning to be depicted in more depth over the last decade, I’m hopeful that the ‘female rivalries’ trope will continue to be developed in more complex television shows, and that we can finally leave the overdone 2000s trope of forced female rivalry alone. Let women hate each other because of their actions, not just when a man threatens
Bridgerton Season 4 recap: star-crossed lovers meet their fairy-tale ending
Dearest Gentle Reader, what was that ending?
Dearest Gentle Reader, after eight long-awaited episodes filled with yearning, romance, gossip and plenty of pinnacles, another season of everyone’s favourite regency show Bridgerton has regrettably drawn to a close. Despite bringing the central romance between Benedict and Sophie to a sweet and satisfying close, in many ways the season finale of the Netflix series has left the audience with more questions than answers, such as where the show will be going next and what the fate of certain character shall be. I’m here to unpack all those loose ends, whilst casting my eyes on the future of the show. Warning: spoilers ahead for Bridgerton Season 4!
Whilst the previous three seasons left clear clues at the end for which Bridgerton siblings’ season would be coming next, Season 4 has not left us with a clear indication of whether it will be Eloise or Francesca acting as lead for Season 5, nor has show runner, Jess Brownell.
“Eloise’s .. storyline as a side character feels as though it has now been exhausted.”
I am resting my hopes on it being Eloise’s season for the key reason that her storyline as a side character feels as though it has now been exhausted. She has moved away from the more politically-minded arc that defined her character in Season 1 and 2 and has increasingly felt at a loss about her place in the world in Season 3 and 4, with her siblings and friends gradually becoming married off and leaving her alone in her self-proclaimed spinsterhood. Her
declaration of “I do love a wedding” in the final episode’s post-credit wedding scene does seem to tip the scales in favour of Eloise’s romantic relationship with Sir Philip (who is the confirmed love interest, sorry to all of the Theo lovers out there!) taking centre stage next season but until an official announcement is released, we can only speculate.
The death of John Stirling was an utterly devastating part of Season 4 but it has set Francesca’s character on the path towards her own season, in which her love interest is set to be Michaela Stirling, John’s cousin. As mentioned before, it is unclear whether this will be the central plot line of Season 5 or 6, but either way, the ending of Season 4 begs the question of how Francesca and Michaela will reconcile following Michaela sudden fleeing of the Stirling household without informing Francesca, likely to escape her own strongly blossoming feelings.
We see Francesca in the depths of her grief this season in Part Two but we also see Michaela provide a strong comfort to her, so we must ask how Michaela's departure will impact Francesca’s process of healing and, if she is not the starring Bridgerton sibling next season, where her arc will go. Hopefully, it is on a journey of grieving, healing and self-discovery but, of course, it all remains very up in the air until we have clearer information about what course the
Season 4 ended with the shock reveal that there is now a new Lady Whistledown spreading gossip in the ton - but who is it? This is a significant departure from the books, as there was only ever one Lady Whistledown in the form of Penelope Featherington/Bridgerton, and brings with it a whole new aspect of mystery to be explored in further seasons. There are already rumours circulating online about who it may be - Hyacinth Bridgerton, after her character appearing to be at a loss coming to the end of the season? Alice Mondrich, as the new Lady in Waiting for the Queen? Cressida Penwood, now taking up the mantle of the gossip writer instead of merely impersonating her? Whoever it is, it is sure to spark some drama in the ton which I cannot wait to see unpacked. After all, what is Bridgerton without Lady Whistledown spurring on the gossip mill?
“A significant plot line ... was the blossoming of Violet Bridgerton’s romantic relationship...”
A significant plot line in Season 4 was the blossoming of Violet Bridgerton’s romantic relationship with Lord Marcus Anderson, Lady Danbury’s brother. Part One ended with the pair “having tea” with each other and Part Two even saw Violet accept a proposal from Marcus. But in the last episode, when Marcus suggests the pair announce their engagement following Benedict’s to Sophie, Violet instead asks if they can instead break off their engagement but continue to see each other on the down low. Whilst she
appears hopeful for his acceptance of the offer, he quickly declines, though wishes her well in her continued journey of self-discovery. However, it remains to be seen whether this is this truly the end of their relationship or if the pair find their way back to each other in later seasons. Though I admire Violet prioritising her independence, I do hope it is eventually the latter, especially since their connection was such a enjoyable one to watch. Season 4 concluded with Queen Charlotte permitting Lady Danbury’s request to leave the ton and travel to her ancestral home, inciting a tear-jerking exchange between the pair that really cemented their friendship as one of the strongest connections within the show. Despite the poignance of the pair’s farewell, Brownell confirmed that Lady Danbury will return to the show and play a significant role in Season 5, though in what capacity, we do not yet know. However, one thing is for sure and it's that we can all breathe a sigh of relief at not having to say goodbye to such a fan favourite character quite yet....
Finally, whilst Season 4 concluded with the ton accepting the love shared by Benedict and Sophie and the pair’s beautiful wedding scene at My Cottage, the evolution of their relationship following this considerable step is yet to be seen. How will Sophie adapt to high society following life as a maid? How will Benedict assist in helping Eloise and Francesca through their own romantic dilemmas in future seasons? Jess Brownell has confirmed the show has only scratched the surface in terms of Benedict and Sophie’s future together but we don’t know yet how big of a role they will play; one can only hope it is bigger than Kanthony’s in Season 4! All in all, there are plenty of unanswered questions to be keeping us excitedly guessing in the build up to the release of the next season of Bridgerton. In the meantime, I will be constantly refreshing the Bridgerton page for updates and rewatching Season 4 for the hundredth time!
Scarlet Davies
Rosie Greatorex
Image source: Tooth and Toad, Unsplash
Binging VS weekly episodes
Logan Crowley
Are audiences viewing habits changing in response to streaming services?
With streaming services dominating the market over the past several years, one of the main selling points was being able to access whole series at once and not having to tune in at the same time every week to finish a series. However, it seems more and more platforms are releasing new episodes either weekly or in separate parts: most notably Stranger Things and Bridgerton where their most recent seasons were separated by a month gap, and even with Disney’s Percy Jackson and Amazon’s Fallout in opting for a weekly release schedule.
“Pauses between episodes allow viwers time to process...”
Weekly releases aim to try and build hype and anticipation for the show, with viewer engagement expected to rise. Whilst this is definitely true, as seen in Season 5 of Stranger Things, it could also be argued that it is merely a way for streaming services to make sure viewers pay for another month of their subscription. The pauses between episodes allow viewers
time to process the content of the episode, rather than watching eight episodes back-to-back and being left with a vague blur of what actually happened. People can then share theories about future episodes and talk about the show over a longer period of time. The possibility of spoilers is greatly decreased as it is assumed that people will watch specific episodes at a similar time.
“When all episodes of a show are released at once ... people ... watch them as quickly as possible...”
When all episodes of a show are released at once, the majority of people interested in it will watch them as quickly as possible, often leading to a rapid decline in discussion and hardly any speculation online or in person. With all episodes being available at any time after their initial screening, it takes away the argument of flexibility. The only real benefit I can think of is the instant gratification watchers may gain from this bingeability.
Like the old saying goes, ‘good things come to those who wait’. I think this stands true in television and I would much rather wait to find out the conclusion of a well-thought-out cliff hanger and have time to come up with my own ideas of what happens next. After all, can you really call it a cliff hanger if the suspense only lasts the ten seconds it takes to put the next episode on?
Better than the books?
Anna Lewis
Are the adaptations better than the source material?
Adaptations. The act of taking something, and making it something else. Seems simple enough, but somehow many popular book series' become a complete fiasco when translated onto the small screen.
An example of this, though plagued by other problems, is Netflix's The Witcher (2019- ). Slated to be the new Game of Thrones (2011-2019) - a show that we'll come onto shortly - The Witcher follows the exploits of Geralt of Rivia, ostensibly a harsh, brutal, and violent hunter who breaks hearts and lacks friends. Sort of. Both the novel and video game versions of Geralt actually portray a much softer and more balanced man. And while he still is a fundamentally driven, clever killer, he does love and cherish the people around him.
“Unlike television ... novels rely exclusively on their stories.”
This, to me, marks one of the most pervasive problems with book-to-screen adaptationsglamorisation. While making a man more of an unapologetic arsehole doesn't necessarily seem to be a glamorous choice, what I truly mean is that it's a creative decision that errs on the side of
what Hollywood considers 'mainstream appeal' - shock, gore, and brooding anti-hero based wish fulfilment. Unlike television, which can be propped up by set design, casting choices, and fabulous costumes, novels rely exclusively on their prose and their stories. The difference in form often creates a schism between what the author has created and what a director wants to create, as well as the audience that they're aiming their project at.
This then brings us on to Game of Thrones. Half one of the best shows ever made, half one of the worst. Why? Because of spoilers, they ended their show with a beloved, wellconstructed character committing mass murder due to a nondescript coupling of madness and angst that seemed to surreptitiously come into being over the later seasons. Leading to, of course, shock, gore, and brooding anti-hero based wish fulfilment.
“... the most important part of adaptation is the conveying of the book's themes,”
Ultimately, the most important part of adaptation is the conveying the book's themes, characters and emotional cores, not just repeating their plots with hot actors and well designed props. Stories are about how they make us feel, and the best adaptations both understand this, and combine it with all the excitements of a visual medium to devastating effect.
Analogue Diaries: the return of physical media
Edith Robinson
Is 2026 the year of physical media?
Physical media is no longer a thing of the past. From vinyl to film photography, the recent resurgence in collecting has been hard to miss. This is no less true for boxsets, particularly as streaming services become increasingly expensive, and numerous. With a standard Netflix subscription (ads included) now costing £71.88 a year, this analogue revival seems inevitable.... This of course raises the question, why did we leave boxsets behind in the first place? Streaming’s early promise was irresistible - convenient, instantly accessible and filled with a seemingly infinite library of films and TV shows: And Netflix’s early monopoly facilitated this, hosting content from across major networks. In essence, it felt like the natural future of TV.
“...going back to boxsets is both a
practical and nostalgic choice for many...”
But with every rise comes a fall.... This once centralised library of content fragmented across an increasing number of streaming services, leading to what many have dubbed a ‘subscription fatigue’. Faced with endless scrolling, is it any wonder then that people have begun to yearn for a time where your viewing options were simply the boxsets on your shelf or, if you were feeling adventurous, a trip to Blockbuster?
“...something about turning back to DVD felt grounding.”
Thus, going back to boxsets is both a practical and nostalgic choice for many. For me, the appeal is readily apparent. The little pamphlets tucked inside, the bonus features that streaming platforms rarely bother with anymore, and most crucially, the price. Charity shops like the Byker Oxfam offer deals like 20 DVDs for £1. At that price, it would
almost be irresponsible not to start a collection.
“Streaming is almost certainly here to stay, but this doesn’t mean you should accept the current model unquestioningly.”
Maybe it was the creeping nostalgia of turning 20 and realising my childhood was now considered ‘vintage’, but something about turning back to DVD felt grounding. You choose a disc and, with
no ads or algorithm nudging you towards the next new thing, you sit and watch. And it appears I’m not alone in this. As Humayun and Belk’s research has shown, there is a level of disenchantment with the digital that has begun to grow within society at large. It’s not perfect - moving with a stack of boxsets is a workout in itself - but the trade-off feels worth it.
Beyond personal considerations, there are also serious questions of preservation tied to the conversation surrounding physical media. As films and TV shows vanish from streaming platforms, the fragility of digital libraries becomes harder to ignore. This is not limited to indie projects.
Famously, 28 Days Later nearly became lost media due to rights issues. DVDs are in many ways an antidote to this, immune to corporate dealings. Permanent.
This leaves the question, where do we go from here? Streaming is almost certainly here to stay, but this doesn’t mean you should accept the current model unquestioningly. While most students use their parent’s subscriptions, having a small, physical collection allows you to step away from the chaos of the streaming world when you need it. And maybe that’s what the return to boxsets is really about: reclaiming a sense of control, one disc at a time.
The art of judging a book by it's cover
Grace Dawson
As an English Literature undergraduate student, I myself have received and bought my fair share of limited and collector’s editions of my favourite novels. However, it is no surprise that they come at an extra price for the beautifully sprayed edges, the clothbound covers, and the elaborate foilstamped designs. So, is the extra cost really worth it?
The answer to this question is heavily dependent on the perspective of the reader and the purpose of their purchase. More often than not, they are considered as treasured keepsakes for collectors, literature lovers and fans. However, there are valid arguments against these editions, with people concerned about the unsustainability and financial risk that has been elevated by consumerism in literature.
Some people, particularly bibliophiles, would argue that collecting books is perhaps just as much a hobby as reading is. Penguin’s Clothbound Classics affirm this ideology.
Designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith, this series is marketed for display, making them an object of aesthetics and sentimentality rather than practicality. Featuring intricate symbolic patterns, integrated ribbon markers and colourful endpapers, you cannot resist
admiring this collection. Therefore, there is not a single doubt that these books make a perfect gift for those who love literature or for someone who holds a particular novel close to their heart. With over 110 volumes, it is an ongoing collection of hardbacks with new titles added regularly to the series, showcasing the popularity of these editions. For many, the joy of purchasing a beautiful book is fuelled by sentimental value and the pleasure of owing a piece of art that incorporates your interests.
Yet, at a price averagely sitting between £15 to £18 they are considerably more expensive than your average novel, which makes them slightly more inaccessible. Moreover, the argument of consumerism persists as the sustainability of owning multiple versions of the exact same novel is questioned. Realistically, do I need a fifth copy of Wuthering Heights just because it has Jacob Elordi’s face on?
Ultimately, for literature lovers like me, collecting and receiving these books is a pleasure as I add them to my carefully curated collection, accentuating the beauty of my bookshelves.
Nevertheless, I completely understand if you believe this is absurd and question my financial choices when I’m debating on purchasing the clothbound version of 1984 because the details are so enticing.
Eye spy: Newcastle's hidden public art
Newcastle is beautifully rich in art which is centred on the community and the city itself. Come with me for a tour of the Toon, focusing on the art that has been sitting right under your nose this whole time.
Starting on campus, the Spiral Nebula sits outside the Herschel building, reflecting 1960’s scientific advancements, like space exploration.
On the Civic Centre lies a bronze River God Tyne statue. Originally installed with a fountain running water from its arm, the colour has subsequently darkened. When installed, it was the largest bronze figure in the UK.
Continue onto Ridley Place, where there’s an impressive pop-art mural of a woman in Native American headdress. Manning’s was the first of several commissioned by the Council in 2023
An often-missed installation, on Primark’s side, depicts the history of Newcastle. Roman gods and Latin text allude to Hadrian’s influence, figures of coal miners and steel workers present industries integral to the region’s economic prosperity.
Newcastle’s Golden Girl stands upon the Northern Goldsmiths’ 24ct gold leaf clock. Venus-like, she’s over 90 and famous within the city, as it was a traditional meeting point for WWII servicemen and partners.
On Thornton Street lies the Tyne Line of
Txt Flow, unnoticed and stepped over. 140m of collaged poetry, inspired by the hidden Skinner Burn, acts as a jigsawed introduction to NorthEastern history.
Make your way to The Black Swan Courtyard where an immense Iron Man statue of scrap metal stands tall. It was the stage puppet in the Iron Man musical by Townshend, The Who guitarist, based on Hughes’ book.
Down on the quayside, keep an eye out for the mosaics inspired by the game Space Invaders. Invader, a French urban artist, since 1998 has been pasting his art in cities across the world, calling it an ‘Invasion’.
Past the Millennium Bridge is Swirle Pavillion. Part folly, part sculpture, celebrating the local trades that dwindled by the 1980s. The city names on it are reminiscent of old trading partners of Newcastle, where boats departed right from the banks of the Tyne itself.
A few steps on is Blacksmith’s Needle, a 7.6m tall conical structure. It’s encrusted in anything and everything related to the ocean: mermaids, shells, sea creatures. Each of the six sections contains something made in ‘forgeins’.
We couldn’t end without mentioning Ouseburn’s many murals, bringing so much colour to the area. With Almond’s Ancient Place, or Mul’s Young Hearts Run Free, there’s so much to immerse yourself in.
Take a trip through the art of the metro
Lett
Sub-Editor
Get off your phones and observe your surroundings...
As students, most of us are consumed by our phones, lost in our own thoughts or rushing from one destination to the next, barely noticing the spaces we pass through as we hop on the Metro. However, if you take a moment to look up and around at the artwork that has been accumulating across the network for over four decades, you will notice a vibrant collection of murals and sculptures that transform our commutes, telling stories of the communities around the Tyne and Wear.
Nexus has built up more than thirty pieces of permanent artwork stretching across stations, concourses and inside the trains themselves.
The vast collection ranges from pieces shaped by local communities to work created by internationally recognised artists.
I decided to go on a little side quest to visit some of the artworks displayed on Nexus' website
Monument station is perhaps the most layered example. Directly beneath one of the city's most recognisable landmarks, the Blackett
Street entrance is watched over by ‘Famous Faces’; a mural by Bob Olley depicting fourteen wellknown faces from across the region, including Sting and Rowan Atkinson, peering out of a Metro carriage window. The artwork celebrates the region’s cultural heritage, recognising the people who have shaped its identity while also reflecting the everyday passengers who use the system. By placing these familiar faces at eye level in a busy public space, the piece creates a sense of pride and belonging, reminding commuters that the Metro is an integral part of the North East’s identity.
Less immediately obvious is ‘Parsons Polygon’ just outside on Blackett Street, where artist David Hamilton transformed a functional ventilation shaft into a Tardis-esc ceramic tribute to engineer Sir Charles Parsons. Commissioned by Nexus, its surface is etched with abstract patterns inspired by Parsons’ technical drawings, and is made from the same clay used for Eldon Square’s bricks, turning an engineering form into a piece of decorative art. It is effective because it connects the station to the region’s industrial heritage, transforming an ordinary piece of infrastructure into something meaningful and visually engaging.
A short ride away at Haymarket, a station very familiar to students at Newcastle University, got a significant artistic rebrand when it was rebuilt and reopened in 2010. Artist Lothar Goetz created ‘Canon’; a vibrant installation of colourful panels that run through the curved platform spaces and stretch up into the concourse. Nexus chose to add increased visual interest to an otherwise functional space, making the station feel more distinctive and less purely utilitarian for the people who pass through it each day.
Byker station has developed perhaps the most sustained relationship with art on the entire network. Since 2005, the station has hosted internationally recognised artists and community photography exhibitions under the ‘Next Stop Byker’ programme. ‘Trails and Treasures’ by Rednile Projects was commissioned in 2013
and is an eleven-metre-wide mural that reflects children’s favourite memories of Byker into a colourful, interactive design. Working with children from the YMCA in Byker, artists took pictures of the children’s favourite things, especially incidental details and elements of Byker’s surroundings, and created patterns with them, placing them all together to create four large circles of images. The design includes embedded QR codes that are buried within the piece to let passengers scan them to reveal the story behind each image.
This has resulted in a piece of artwork that is shaped by local experiences and stories, placed within the daily travel routines of its residents, reflecting the community it serves rather than simply just decoration.
Although my side quest took me to Byker, I unfortunately couldn't find this art piece! (Maybe I didn't look hard enough, or it has been taken down.) I instead had a little wander round, but shortly hopped back on the train once a saw a fight break out on the street...
Perhaps the most significant development in the Metro's artistic history is the art on the actual trains themself. In 2023, Tyne and Wear Metro was the first urban transit system in the world to permanently install contemporary art inside its new fleet trains. Four artists each won a commission to create floor to ceiling works for the interior end walls of the carriages, with each piece appearing 23 times across the 46 new trains.
The works are vary in both style and subject; Sofia’s ‘Blazing Trails’ draws on influences including her Punjabi heritage and her upbringing in Newcastle to explore the personalities which make the North East a vibrant place to live.
Bryony’s ‘Macro-Micro’ is a collage made from paper pieces built from images sent in by locals when they had to answer the question “what makes this place glow?”
Hazel’s ‘North Sea Mermaids’ is an empowering
Sara’s ‘Drawn to Life’, depicts enlarged and overlapped sketches of passengers and people around Newcastle which she collected over months of travelling on the Metro.
Together, the four pieces tell what Nexus customer services Director Huw Lewis described as "four very different stories about modern North East England, but between them have created art which will inspire, intrigue and entertain millions of Metro customers for years to come.”
The new metros are quite different to the ones we have all known and loved, with its linear seating and extra standing space, but the most unique aspect of them is this artwork, which successfully represents the diversity of the North East.
The Metro’s collection of artworks shows that art does not have to sit inside a gallery to have value, rather it can live in the spaces we move through every day. Whether it is on the trains themselves, the platforms or the surrounding areas, each piece is a tribute to local history and demonstrates how creative the North East is, although it often goes unnoticed compared to other parts of the country.
digital mural celebrating the community of women who comes together to wild swim in the beaches of Tynemouth, South Shields and Seaburn.
Zoe
Film
Alex Evans
Image credits: Zoe Lett
Image credit: Kate Sturrock
Image source: Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash
Wildlight Entertainment lays off half of workforce
Finlay Gordon
This comes admist website shutdown and player decrease...
The game which was saved a prime advertising spot at the Game Awards by Geoff Keighley, Highguard, has suffered major losses after reaching almost 100,000 peak concurrent users on Steam at initial launch. Backed by ex-respawn developers who worked on the majorly successful Apex Legends and major Chinese gaming company Tencent, Highguard was predicted to bring monetary success to Wildlight Entertainment but has reportedly caused the studio to run out of money according to a Bloomberg report.
It seems all too common for a new free-toplay, live-service game to be heavily invested into only to fail currently. In 2024, Playstation’s $400m produced game Concord was removed from the store two weeks after launch while other titles such as Redfall and Anthem in previous years failed to fulfil their desired
profit margins. Highguard has now become the next live-service game to fall victim to these financial pressures with the 100-person team originally working on the game being absolved into a skeleton crew of around 20 people. Additionally, the concurrent users on steam have fallen too around 600 signifying a 99% drop in players in the games limited month lifespan. Despite this, hopes for any committed fans of the game and developers alike of a potential future have not completely vanished with the website that was closed for a period, which suggested to gamers that Highguard was on its way out, now running again. Equally, Wildlight Entertainment are continuing to deliver updates and content to try and extend the games lifespan as they had already proposed a year-long roadmap worth of content. While Highguard remains online and in a state of playability currently, low player counts among a general lack of public interest mean the future of the game is in doubt.
The failure of Highguard could signal a worrying future for not only Wildlight Entertainment but the wider live-service, hero shooter genre as dwindling player numbers imply there is a fatigue present from gamers. Whatever the case, Highguard is a game that will be watched to see if it can retain a player base for an elongated period of time. Image source Markus Spiske,Unsplash
Overwatch faces backlash over character redesign
Ben Powell
Blizzard is under fire for trying to make Anran look more 'feminine'.
Excitement from fans following the highly anticipated 'Overwatch Spotlight' announcement event was quickly overshadowed by a wave of backlash due to disappointment in the appearance of Anran, one of five new characters coming to the game.
“...her visuals had been altered to appear more feminine and conventionally attractive...”
On the 4th of February, fans tuned into the Spotlight - an event highlighting all the new content coming to the game - enthusiastic to discover which new hero would be joining the roster. Despite the developers' break from the norm by adding five new heroes instead of the standard one, the news came with a barrage of blowback. Most of the fallout was tied to fiery new damage hero Anran, and her physical appearance, rooted in a concern that her visuals had been altered to appear more feminine and conventionally attractive in order to generate more skin sales for the character.
Mewgenics makes back its development cost 3 hours after launch
Elliot Clark
Mewgenics is available to buy on Steam for £24.99.
If you ever wanted to know what happens when cats of unique abilities breed with other cats voiced by famous celebrities, then this game is for you! Mewgenics is a game originally announced 14 years ago made by Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, known for games such as The End is Nigh, Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac, with it following a similar art style to the last two games. It’s a roguelike turn-based strategy game following cats of various types, including tank, fighter, mage, etc, and their fights against enemies to find loot, food and more… Its Steam page claims to include over 200 hours of main campaign gameplay, over 200 enemy types and an incredible amount of cartoon violence, urine, and for some peculiar reason, humping.
“Mewgenics
has a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam ... 30,000 mostly positive reviews..."
Balatro or Clover Pit. The introduction does seem a bit overwhelming at first, but it is simply one of those games where the more you play it, the more you’ll love it.
“... some players being offended by certain voice actors being included ... David Harbour ... iDubbz ... Ethan Klein..."
lessening of these features, rounding her face and giving her a smaller nose, with players quick to draw comparison between the two looks.
Alongside opposers to this change was Fareeha Andersen, the English voice actress for the character. She described how her initial design was one which "challenge[d] the beauty standards plaguing and ransacking media these days," and that her new look made her seem ‘more docile than the most docile peacekeeping support in the game.’
“...the fighter resemebling ... existing East Asian characters like Kiriko and Juno..."
Her visual transformation only fuelled prior Overwatch team had received, with players noticing what they dubbed “same face syndrome,” with the fighter resembling that of existing East Asian characters like Kiriko and Juno, who receive a disproportionate number of skins when compared to other heroes.
First appearing in her brother Wuyang’s animated short ‘Elemental Kin’ and comic ‘Against the Tide’, Anran’s distinct and angular depiction was praised as a refreshing change from the softer appearance of other high-selling characters. It is no surprise, then, that criticism followed upon a
On the 10th of February – only six days later – game director Aaron Keller released a video to X thanking the Overwatch community for all the feedback and support following the Spotlight event. As part of this, he mentioned how ‘the team is currently discussing what it will take to make Anran look and feel more like the fierce older sister that we all envisioned her to be.’ Whilst we are yet to see what this change looks like, players praised the quick response and felt that fixing this detail would continue the game’s legacy of creating a varied representation of characters, a legacy it has had since its initial release.
The game has seen an overwhelming amount of success since its release on the 10th February this year, making back its development budget in just over 3 hours, according to Edmund on an X post. At the time of writing this, Mewgenics has a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam, thanks to around 30,000 mostly positive reviews, and IGN rated it a 9/10! Players are enjoying the change to the latest roguelikes where they feel that they can actually see improvements to their team, developing and mastering abilities over time, rather than just simply breaking the game’s high scores like in
However, not everything is as peachy as the reviews make it out to be, with some players being offended by certain voice actors being included in the game, voicing a variety of the cats in the game. The developers invited a selection of celebrities and internet personalities to meow; these range from David Harbour to Markiplier. Some notable and controversial choices include iDubbbz and Anisa, alongside Hilda and Ethan Klein who have been involved in feuds over Palestine and other conflicts; or even Christine Chandler who was arrested for incest charges in 2021. Edmund has defended these choices by stating that he “wanted the game to feature a huge array of iconic voices [he’s] been hearing echoing across the internet” while producing his games and chose to include people who would counterbalance or clash with others. He made an interesting point stating that if he picked people with the same opinions as him, “[he’d] be the only one meowing in the game.” In the grand scheme of things, hearing someone meow and getting offended might be clutching at straws when criticising this game, but it does make for some interesting voice mixes during gameplay. Either way, the soundtrack, design, and other mysteries are definitely worth checking out!
Memory Card: Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
Logan Crowley
Is the third installment of this infamous simulator the best?
Growing up, trips to my grandparents meant one thing- I could sneak off to the other room and make my own theme park on RollerCoaster Tycoon 2. I loved it so much that when Christmas came around the only thing on my list to the north pole was the 3rd instalment in the series- RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 platinum.
The main concept of the game was to build a successful theme park where guests could ride the rides, buy food and drink, and use the various amenities that you need to place to meet their needs. The platinum edition also included waterslides and a zoo expansion which to my 10-year-old brain was more excitement than I could possibly comprehend.
Obviously, the smart thing to do would be to start with some small rides and add to the park as you go, making sure the guests are happy and the money is flowing. The obvious choice, however, was not the fun one. My favourite thing to do was to place a no entry sign in front of the exit so that
the one path in the park would completely fill up with guests who I would then sell balloons to. I’d then build a launch coaster that flew off the tracks directly into the crowd of peoplewriting this down makes me feel like some kind of psychopath, but I promise you I did play the game somewhat as intended at times. I would usually play on sandbox mode because the concept of being financially responsible is something that I still cannot grasp. This let my imagination run free and I could build away to my hearts content. There have been numerous
Image credit: Emily-Maisy Milburn
Image source: Geralt,Pixabay
Image source: Impress Games, Press pack
Crossword
Across
2) The second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, critically acclaimed album by Duster.
4) Scottish slang for cold, and also an art gallery in Gateshead.
6) Where solar systems lie, and arguably the best one in a box of Celebrations.
7) A day to celebrate and cherish maternal figures all around the UK.
Down
1) A person or company delivering a package. Wait a minute, what are you reading again?
Sudoku
3) Ireland's patron saint, the one and only St. ______.
5) When you're feeling very very sick...
8) Gone is winter, the flowers are blooming and you can finally feel the sun on your skin.
The winners take it all in Milan: Winter Olympics 2026 recap
It was 3 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze for Team GB, but what else happened throughout the Winter Olympics?
As the Winter Olympics 2026 have come to a close, it has been a historic event for Team GB. With 3 Gold medals (in Men’s Skeleton, Mixed Team Skeleton and in Mixed Team Snowboard Cross), Team GB have experienced their best Winter Games ever. Especially as a silver in Men’s Curling, and a bronze in Women’s Skiing Halfpipe were also received.
Atop of our medal tally, there was an influx of top 5 finishes, namely in women’s snowboarding events and the mixed curling. Other records were broken for team GB too, with Andrew Musgraves finishing 6th in two Men’s cross skiing
events - the highest ever for a Brit - only to then finish 5th in the team sprint event with James Clugnet and improve further upon his own record.
The speed skaters (including short track) were flying in Milan, with 9 new Olympic records being set on the ice. Although it isn’t uncommon for athletes to be ever improving in speed skating, it is rare for records to be set on particular rinks.
Ice quality, elevation above sea level and skater form all effect records and rinks in Salt Lake City and Calgary are seen with a lot more favour by professional speed skaters (so expect to see many more speed skating records broken in 2034, as the Winter Olympics will be headed to Utah then).
Notable moments can be seen in Italy’s Arianna Fontana, who, after winning a gold and 2 silvers, becomes Italy’s most decorated Olympian of both Summer & Winter with 14 medals, which
BUCS: Racing on the Tyne
The past weekend saw plenty of racing in the annual BUCS Head, held at Newcastle University’s Boat Club. Over the past two days, hundreds of crews raced the 5km stretch of the Tyne with strength, grit, and determination.
The atmosphere was one of the best I have ever raced in, with many universities boating from the same places and seeing old friends who had moved on to different parts of the UK. Creating such a fantastic environment helps crews realise what they’re actually racing for: proudly representing their universities and striving for that gold medal that everyone yearns for.
Countless hours go into preparation for this race in particular, making it one of the biggest head races in Europe. All the 5am wakeups and hours spent in the gym or on the water seem worth it for a medal, or even just for the opportunity to race in such a prestigious event.
Everyone here is in the same boat.. quite literally. Racing on the Tyne presents its own difficulties, with the tide moving in and out at different times, creating stronger streams in the afternoon for Division 2. This year brought almost prime conditions, with little wind, meaning crews were able to speed by.
However,
racing on the Tyne is never just about speed. It takes a good eye and strong judgement from coxes to create the best line possible, steering their boat out of the headwind and straight towards the finish. As we know, the Tyne is not a straight line (as much as we wish it could be) so it takes a great deal from the cox or bow person to steer a clean line, which could mean the difference between medalling and missing out.
Newcastle powered down the track, executing their race plans and holding firm against rival crews. They finished with two golds, two silvers, two bronzes, and many crews just missing out on the podium.
After months of hard training, the boat club brought home many medals, proving the strength of the club, the coaching team, and the athletes themselves. People think this sport is only physically demanding, but they don’t talk about the mental toll it takes: the early mornings, freezing temperatures, blistered hands, and a long list of injuries.
It’s key to maintain a strong mindset for the best chance of winning. Athletes must manage their pain, push through it until the end, while focusing on timings, ratings, and calls from the cox. We all share the same understanding: we are all in pain,
she was been winning since 2006. Other big stories came in that of Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who, by winning gold in the men’s giant slalom, became not only the first Brazilian to take a gold at the Winter Olympics, but the first athlete representing a South American nation to do so.
“Online interest is at an all time high, with more people than ever becoming involved with the games”
Unfortunately, the big story from women’s alpine skiing was less positive, as 41-year-old Lindsey Vonn (3-time Olympic medallist and 4-time world cup winner) came to the Olympics on a torn ACL which she picked up 9 days prior in a World Cup race in Switzerland.
The gamble however seemed to have paid off, as Vonn finished 3rd in her final practise run. But, as she begun her first official run, she was almost instantly thrown into a gate, ending in
touching a stone (AKA cheating). In curling, once you have released a stone, you cannot touch it again.
On top of this, you cannot touch the granite of a curling stone under any circumstance – Marc Kennedy broke both these rules and, although it was
not caught by match officials, it did not slide past Eriksson. The following argument went viral online, as Kennedy swore repeatedly at Eriksson, adamantly denying cheating… even though he was caught on
In Ski Jumping, controversy lay around that of men’s genitals. It had been found that, in order to get suits fitted, men had been temporarily widening their penises (using injectables) gaining extra fabric, think like a parachute or a flying squirrel – more fabric equal more glide. It is unclear who gained from this, especially as it’s a very difficult thing to inspect
Overall, the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics have been a viral sensation. Online interest in the Olympics is at an all time high, with more people than ever becoming involved with the games. From scandals to record breaks, 2026 had it all, and it is on toward the French Alps for the 2030 games.
Revival of vintage: why retro football shirts are back
The 1990s: An era of football soundtracked by Britpop, John Barnes rapping with New Order, and Nessun Dorma at Italia 90. On the pitch, we saw wacky keeper kits, upturned collars and way too many mullets and curtains.
There were certainly no signs of VAR, small shinpads or players cutting holes in their socks for “circulation”. This generation of the beautiful game is engrained within British culture and still has every reason to influence the footballing world in 2026, recently seen with the comeback of classic football shirts.
Interestingly, there seems to have been a shift within the act of wearing a team’s replica football jersey. What once used to solely be a sign of support for your favourite team, it has now evolved into a full-fledged fashion movement. The style industry is an ephemeral and everevolving sector that is closely echoed through social media trends. The rise of “bloke-core” a few years ago saw a laid back, pub-ready aesthetic, blending retro sportswear with everyday street style. This fashion choice seems to have gone global, with La Liga
announcing the release of a series of vintage-style football kits that will be revealed during Madrid Fashion Week. What is truly positive about this movement is the sustainability of it all. This new-found love for thrifting, upcycling and rifling through charity shops to acquire the perfect vintage find is truly a blessing for the world of football, and the planet.
With clubs bringing out multiple kits every season and UEFA estimating that up to 60% of kits worn by players are destroyed at the end of the season, it’s nice to know that even the footballing world is heading in the right direction with the environment.
Many have also seen the business side of this phenomenon, with independent retro football shops popping up all over the country (“Classic Football Shirts”, “Vintage Football Shirts” and “Cult Kits”, to name a few.)
The root of this sudden comeback boils down to nostalgia. Many football fans, old and young, yearn for the “simpler” times in football. It’s easy to associate Gazza in his prime, Soccer AM and Umbro plastered everywhere, with what can only be described as an era of pure hope, both on and off the pitch.
Tony Blair’s New Labour, with the help of Liam Gallagher and Damon Albarn, made it a positive thing to be British, and with the UK currently sitting in such a disconcerting position, it’s easy to see why many fall for the nostalgia trap. Despite things coming in and out of fashion, wether it be politics, kits or football tactics, one thing will always persevere: England supporters’ unwavering hope during international tournaments. It doesn’t matter how many times we lose on penalties, and ultimately fall short, England fans will always turn up, rain or shine, with a pint in hand of course.
With the World Cup drawing near, and people itching to get into the beer garden, it’s time dig out your
It takes two to tango... but I was dancing on empty
Ella
Saint - Fashion & Beauty Sub-Editor
Iwas never incredibly athletic as a child. In fact, I pretty much despised sport altogether. I was the girl who got yelled at by frustrated classmates when I didn't catch a ball or accidentally let in a goal. However, the one sport I found that didn't want to make me gouge my eyes out was dance. Like most young girls all over the world, I started off in ballet. When I came to realise it wasn't all tutu's and twirling, I moved onto commercial.
Quite the drastic switch, I know. My best friend and I went to the same club and
thought we were the coolest people alive. Looking back, I can't help but cringe at myself, but it also makes me weirdly nostalgic. It reminds me of a time when being weird wasn't coupled with a fear of being judged. For reasons I can't remember, I decided to give up that too. I guess sometimes we really just move on and that's all there is to it.
After taking time away from dance and exploring other after-school activities, I slowly made my return back to my beloved sport when I was about 8 or 9. Strictly Come Dancing had been a standard practice of television consumption in my household. There would not be a single weekend where we didn't watch it. Obsession does not even come close to describing how badly enamored I was with this world of glamour and grace. Even back then, I knew the likelihood of becoming famous and getting asked to compete on Strictly were slim. So, I chose the other avenue.
Ballroom dancing. Those two words were going to define the rest of my formative childhood years. I still remember my very first lesson exactly. You'd have never seen someone more excited to learn the first few basic steps of the waltz.
The lonely gym culture shock
Is gym culture creating a loneliness epidemic?
Aradhya Neogy Singh cautiously observing equipment. Meanwhile, seasoned gym-goers are very terrotorial. For those who are not “fit enough,” the gym can feel more like constant judgement. And for those deeply immersed in gym culture, the pursuit of perfection can consume them. Miss a week? Injured? Gained weight? It suddenly feels less like a setback and more like a personal failure.
As an international student, I had to go to a lot of places during my first year- banks, shops, doctors, post offices. But another place I went two days into my stay here was a gym. As a regular gym goer back home, I yearned for the company, friends, trainers and community I had, and so, the hunt began.
After a few days of going around, I observed something. How lonely it felt. On the surface, gyms look social. They are full of people. Group classes are packed and influencers constantly speak about “the community.” Yet everyone walks in with headphones on, eyes locked forward, avoiding accidental eye contact, so focused on their own workout. The space is shared, but the experience feels… lonely.
Social media has not exactly helped.
Fitness culture today is more than just about health; it is about aesthetics and comparison. Motivation quickly turns into pressure and instead of feeling inspired, individuals feel as though they are permanently falling behind in a competition they never even signed up for. Improvement becomes public. And somehow, that makes the journey feel even more solitary.
There is also an unspoken hierarchy. Beginners hover near the walls,
"It suddenly feels less like a setback and more like a personal failure."
Ironically, a place meant to improve mental health can sometimes increase insecurity. Yes, exercise reduces stress but culture matters. And this is not to say gyms cannot grow a community. Many people do find friendships and support there - I did!
The great thing about our university is that we have so many clubs related to practically everything. So if you want to get into powerlifting, gymnastics, or anything your heart can fancy, go to the NUSU website, you can build a real community there!
Maybe the issue is not the gym itself, but how we choose to exist within it.
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But I saw my future and it was bright - I was going to dance and it would be my entire personality.
“But I saw my future and it was bright - I was going to dance and it would be my entire personality."
Every Wednesday evening from that moment on, I had dance lessons. The highlight of my week. Waltz, Tango, Jive, Quickstep, Foxtrot... You name it, I spent hours practicing the steps to each and every one. To begin with, learning the sacred art of ballroom and Latin dance was nothing more than a hobby. An escape from school that killed time. Slowly, but surely, it started to get more serious.
I started entering competitions. I got my first pair of ballroom shoes - little silver heels with a slinky strap. They had me convinced I would be the next Ginger Rogers. I had a red dress with lacy sleeves, specifically meant for Latin dances. My mum would slick back my hair into a bun (so tight it would give me headaches) and I plastered on a smile with every heel lead I took. My
weekends consisted of waking up at the crack of dawn, my poor parents driving me up and down the country, and praying I was good enough for a plastic trophy.
Somewhere along the line, and I can't pinpoint it exactly, my relationship with dance changed. However, a key moment on this journey was definitely Blackpool. For those that don't know, Blackpool is essentially the birthplace of ballroom dancing. It's sacred. After a grueling weekend of competing in the illustrious Winter Gardens, I came home with nothing. What had been an exciting, unique experience was now tainted with the shame of failure.
As I fell back into the familiar routine of lessons, now occurring twice a week, something inside me snapped. Dance became an intense arena of comparison. The harsh comments from my coaches still live inside my head now. The very inflection of their voices tattooed on my brain. "You give up far too easily, Ella", one said. Every minute of the day was spent thinking about dance and yet I was told I wasn't even trying.
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Rugby, beauty, and femininity
After the women’s world cup, the conversation of beauty standards in sports gained more coverage. Growing up we are surrounded and engraved with the conservative beauty standards which either indirectly or directly impact out lives. However, playing sport, for example Rugby allows us to challenge to these hegemonic ideals and celebrates all different shapes and sizes. Which reflects to body confidence on and off the pitch.
Rugby is often viewed as a ‘manly’ sport which celebrates a man’s strength, power and shape which has led to sexist commentary around women’s rugby as these ideas regarding women have been actively discouraged. But in reality, when a woman tries rugby, it does celebrate these ideas, and helps her to understand her strength, power and shape of her body to achieve a goal.
As everyone size and body are as equally as important on the pitch, to work as a collective to play and win the match. This is put very well by
England player Sarah Bern in her and Jess Breach’s interview with Stylist, she says ‘You can be big, you can be broad, you can be petite and you can still be a gorgeous woman’.
Furthermore, whilst celebrating a woman’s strength, rugby also allows the celebration of her femininity. For example, Ilona Maher (American rugby player) often talks about how she wears makeup to train and on the field. For example, on the 26th of February 2026, she uploaded a reel on Instagram captioned ‘why do you wear makeup when you train? Why not/ not like it making me weaker.’
This conveys the message that a woman’s strength and power and femininity co-exist and does not clash. This can also be seen in the Newcastle University women’s rugby teams as they often where blue and red ribbons in their hair, showcasing their strength and power and femineity.
Furthermore, these challenges to the beauty standards translates to off the pitch. As the celebration of these ideas on the pitch allows them to be celebrated of the pitch, allowing women to have agency over how they view themselves and create a healthy relationship with their body. As humans come in all shapes and sizes however as long as we are healthy that is all that matters.
Logan Weaver , Unsplash
Lucie Stringer
Jack Bond flips into new role as Newcastle’s new Sports Officer
Noelia Fernandez Perez - Head of Sport
For Jack Bond, university sports have always been about community, opportunity, and the people working behind the scenes.
As a member of the trampoline club and an active committee member, Jack’s experiences have shaped his view of leadership and driven him to seek the Sports Officer role.
“I’m from a smaller club,” Jack explains. “For most of my time at university, Alex has been the Sports Officer. This has allowed me to see what the role really involves. When you first start university, you don’t realise how much work goes on behind the scenes. But once you’re part of a committee, you see just how much effort people put in.”
Jack gained his first real insight into how university sports operate through his involvement on a committee. After meeting the Sports Officer during training and early events, he began to appreciate the level of organisation, communication, and volunteer work needed to keep clubs running.
executive. I wanted to give back, and help represent clubs like mine— especially smaller clubs and individual sports that don’t always get enough attention.”
“I wanted to give back, and help represent clubs like mine...”
Sports like trampoline, athletics, and swimming often struggle to gain visibility compared to larger team sports. While Jack appreciates the strength of the university’s major teams, he believes there’s a need to highlight a broader range of sporting accomplishments.
“Being on the committee and now in the AU Exec this year, I’ve seen how much people contribute to sports here,” he says. “Sports clubs aren’t run by staff—they’re run by volunteers. Committee members organise training sessions, manage finances, run social events, and make sure everything works smoothly.”
Witnessing that dedication first-hand
“Our team sports are fantastic, but individual sports can be harder to showcase,” he says. “I’d love to focus on making sure those clubs get the recognition they deserve and that their achievements are acknowledged across the university.”
Jack has also noticed the financial challenges many clubs face. “One thing that really struck me is how many clubs struggle financially. Committees work incredibly hard, often volunteering their time, and they deserve more support and recognition from the university.”
Jack thinks sports are crucial in attracting students to the university. “Many people choose a university because of its sports teams— whether that’s rugby, volleyball, swimming, or something else. But those teams exist thanks to the work committees put in, and that effort deserves recognition.”
Outside of university committees, Jack gained valuable experience as an activity leader at an international
summer school in Kent. He led sports sessions and creative workshops for students from various countries learning English.
“I mainly worked as a sports leader,” Jack explains. “The students came from different countries and backgrounds, but as soon as they started playing sports together, they connected instantly.”
That experience reinforced his belief in the power of sports for inclusion. “Sport breaks down barriers quickly. Even though the students were younger, the principle is the same at university— people come from all over the world, and sport is one of the easiest ways for them to meet others and feel part of something.”
“That experience reinforced his belief in the power of sports for inclusion.”
Inclusivity has been a priority for Jack in his past committee roles.
As social secretary, he collaborated with the club’s welfare officer to ensure events were accessible to everyone.
“For every drinking social we organised, we made sure there was at least one sober social as well,” he says.
“Sometimes people don’t go because they’re unsure of where they’re going or who they’ll be with. If we organised group meet-ups to travel to fixtures together, it would be more social and welcoming.”
Jack is also passionate about creating events that allow students to try new sports and meet people from different teams. “Things like charity competitions or a big university sports day could be great,” he suggests. “They’d raise money for good causes while helping people interact across clubs and build a stronger sports community.”
“I’d love to see more people joining sports clubs and fewer committees feeling overwhelmed.”
“Not everyone wants to drink, but everyone deserves a chance to relax and be part of the community.”
“I just loved trying new things and making friends through sports”
Jack believes universities could do more to encourage students to watch and support a wider range of sports.
“A lot of people want to attend matches but don’t know when they’re happening or if they’re allowed to watch. I’d love to make fixtures more visible and encourage people to come out.”
He is particularly excited about organising group trips to matches.
His love for sports began long before university. Growing up, Jack tried many activities—from dance and tennis to football and badminton. “I was always the kid who signed up for everything,” he laughs. “I just loved trying new things and making friends through
He hopes future students can have the same experience. Jack’s own introduction to the trampoline club happened almost by accident.
“I went to the Freshers’ Fair with a friend signing up for societies,” he recalls. “I hadn’t planned to join a club, but the trampoline stand caught my attention, and that’s how it all started.”
Looking ahead, Jack hopes his term as Sports Officer will boost inclusivity, improve communication between clubs and the union, and lower barriers for students wanting to get involved.
“I’d love to see more people joining sports clubs and fewer committees feeling overwhelmed,” he says. “If we can provide better support, ease financial pressures, and make sports feel more accessible, that would be a big win.”
Ultimately, Jack’s vision is straightforward: a university sports culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and eager to participate.
“Sports bring people together,” he says. “If more students feel included and more clubs feel supported, then we’ve achieved something positive.”
View from the AU
Alex Duggan - Sports Officer
Varsity Day is almost here, and we’ve got back-to-back sports scheduled from 9 am all the way through to 5 pm!
The day then builds up to an exciting finale with men’s and women’s rugby union - 5:30 pm kick-off for the women, 7:45 pm for the men. There will be cheer squads, Red Bull, freebies, and so much more - I cannot wait for it! Last year, Varsity was the highlight of my year, and I’m buzzing to experience it again as we go for our fifth consecutive Varsity win!
Meanwhile, the Conference Cup finals are taking place in Durham this year, and we have five teams through: Women’s Volleyball 2s, Men’s Basketball 2s, Women’s Squash 2s, Men’s Squash 3s, and Women’s Hockey 6s.
Last week, for International Women’s Day, it was incredibly inspiring to attend the City Council event alongside my female colleagues. It was a day full of meaningful conversations, and amazing food! I also was also interviewed for the Global Newsroom event at the Culture Lab, reflecting on almost two years as Sports Officer and discussing women’s sport more broadly at Newcastle. It’s amazing to see how far women’s sport has come at Newcastle. I’m proud to be part of a community that celebrates and supports female athletes, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
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