thecourier thecourieronline.co.uk
Travel Find out the traditions around the world that are celebrated on hallows eve Page 21
TV Will a character mixup be a much needed revamp for The Walking Dead? Page 25
Monday 29 October 2018 Issue 1375 Free
Puzzles Check out last weeks solutions and this weeks ghoulish games Page 35
The independent voice of Newcastle students
Details of tragic Newcastle student death released Louise Hall Editor A coroner ruled this week that Edward (Ed) Farmer, A Newcastle University Engineering student and member of the Agriculture Society, died as a result of a hypoxic brain injury due to prolonged cardiac arrest, on 14 December 2016. The inquest into the circumstances surrounding Ed’s death was heard over a period of four days at a public hearing in the Civic Centre last week, where witnesses gave tes-
Ed Farmer had been attending an ‘initiation style’ event among 20-30 other first year students who were members of the Agricultural Society
timony to help determine the exact cause of death, and pinpoint a timeline of the evening that led up to this tragic event. It was established very early on in the hearing that Ed had been attending an ‘initiation style’ event among 20-30 other first year students who were members of the Agricultural Society. Ed’s alcohol intake was at 400mg per decilitre by the time it was assessed in the Royal Victoria Infirmary with Dr Messer, a consultant in intensive care medicine, confirming that it was at least four times over the drink drive limit. During the initiation event Farmer consumed a significant amount of alcohol, was rendered immobile and unconscious for a period of time, and eventually taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary by car where he then died on 14 December. Throughout the hearing specific details of the initiation unfolded, including that one of the main purposes of the evening was the consumption of a large amount of alcohol over a small period of time. It was said that at least 100 vodka orange trebles were purchased in two locations on the bar crawl, with the consensus between witnesses being that freshers would have consumed around 3 per person at each stop. James Carr, the Chairman of the Agricultural Society at the time of Ed’s death, confirmed that recalled how on the Facebook
Ed Farmers family read their statement outside the Civic Centre surrounded by the student witnesses Image: Louise Hall event invite, first-years were encouraged to bring a number of items including: 70cl of hard spirit, thirty pounds, a metro ticket, swimming goggles, a kinder egg and lubrication. They were also told that they should not bring their student ID, or wear anything that would associate them with either the Agricultural society or the University. At the beginning of the night, freshers were told to hand over their thirty pounds, from which drinks for the rest of the bar-crawl would be bought. Jonathan Headley, a firstyear Newcastle University student at the time and attendee at the event, recalled a “table of orange trebles” in Basement bar, from which freshers were encouraged to drink. The students were also lined up in an alleyway and ‘egged on’ to drink mouthfuls of spirits passed down the line. This was understood to be the 70cl of alcohol brought by the freshers as requested in the invitation. Over the course of the evening many students were sick. Some of the second and third-year witnesses said that until they reached Basement they did not recall seeing anyone who was in trouble from the effects of alcohol, but did acknowledge that the aim
of the event was to get the first-years drunk. Second and third-year students in attendance were what Carr called “more of a chaperoning measure.” Beginning at 8pm at the Three Bulls Head Pub and ending at 41 Sanderson Road in West Jesmond at approximately 10.30pm, the drinking portion of the evening took place over a short two-and-a-half-hour period. Other activities in the evening included eating what Carr described as “not particularly desirable food”, understood to include items such as chicken feet, raw potato, raw eggs, garlic, dog food, milk mixed with wine and a pot of cinnamon, amongst other items. Freshers were also expected to take part in “games” such as “lizard fighting”, where two students wrestle with two belts tied together and wrapped around their necks. At a house in Jesmond there was also the shaving of students’ heads, crawling through sheep hurdles, drinking vodka from a tube through a pig’s head, and apple-bobbing in a mixture of alcohol and urine. The event ended at approximately 11.30pm. Ed was incapacitated due to alcohol consumption before many of these activities took
SHAG Week
DIY Halloween
Black History Month
Creepy crafts
Bolt heads to football
A recap of NUSU’s campaign for Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance Student Voice, page 9
Find out how to fix those lastminute costume nightmares Lifestyle, page 14
This week’s feature highlights the importance of celebrating black history Feature, pages 22-23
Learn to make some spooky Halloween decor this week Arts, page 30
A look at the athletes that have mastered more than one sport Sport, page 36
Inside today >>>
place, having been carried into the Metro Station at Monument “unable to walk unaided.” The coroner reported that he was “carried into the house, laid down in the hallway and placed in the recovery position.” At some point in the evening Ed’s head was shaved by
It was said that at least 100 vodka orange trebles were purchased in two locations on the bar crawl, and freshers would have consumed around 3 at each stop
a person who remains unidentified. Some of the second and third-year students stayed awake “monitoring” and “checking” first years who were unwell, including Ed. They fell asleep between 2am and 3am. At approximately 4.43am, Ed was discovered to have stopped breathing by one of the students. Henry Lindley described Ed as “quite
pale, his tongue was yellow.” No ambulance was called and Carr drove Ed to hospital in his own vehicle “in the belief this was the quickest option.” Once in hospital, Dr Messer stated that “treatment failed to improve the situation” and Ed Farmer passed away on 14 December 2016. The nature of the peer-pressure experienced at these types of initiation events was questioned heavily throughout the inquest. While witnesses claimed that there was “significant encouragement” to drink and participate, they said that no-one was “forced” to do so. One student, who was ill prior to the event on 12 December, received a text from James Carr that read “no pressure to go, but if you do not go you will regret it in some form.” Certain witnesses assured that there would be no consequences for missing the event other than “jokes”, and that it would not prevent members from advancing in the society. Attitudes towards the event from firstyear students were conflicted. Jonathan Headley reflected that he was “nervous, almost excited” Continued on page 7.
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the courier
thecourier The Courier is a weekly newspaper produced by students, for students. It’s never too late to get involved in the paper, whether you’re a writer, illustrator or photographer. Just visit thecourieronline.co.uk/about for more information. Editor Louise Hall Deputy Editor Isabel Sykes Copy Editor Laura Staniforth News Editors Grace Dean, Molly Greeves, Sidney Pinsett and Steven Ross Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Caitlin Disken and Alexandra Sadler Life & Style Editor Sophie Henderson Lifestyle Editors Phoebe Fielder, Holly Margerison, and Ella Williams Fashion Editors Poppy Couling Joe Hood and Miranda Stoner Beauty Editors Laura Buckle, Susanne Norris and Nimra Rafique Travel Editors Jenny Franken and Bianca Ionci Culture Editors Alex Moore and Carys Rose Thomas Feature Editor Ally Wilson Arts Editors Rosie Mccrum, Julia McGhee Russell and Scarlett Rowland Music Editors Charlotte Boulton, Rory Ellis and Jess Taylor-Weisser TV Editors Jacob Clarke, Tom Cooney and Chloe Mullins Film Editors JImmy Athey, Helena Buchanan and Joe Holloran Gaming Editors George Boatfield, Kelly South and Matthew Neville Sports Editors Sydney Isaacs, Rebecca Johnson and Harry Parsons Online Editors Rory Cameron, Jodie Duddy, Amanda Goh, Thomas Hardwick, Max Hobbs Orestis Katsoulis and Chris Wilkinson The Courier NUSU King’s Walk Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QB Tel: 0191 239 3940 The Courier is printed by: Trinity Mirror Printing, Barton Road, Riverside Park Industrial Estate, Middlesbrough, TS2 1UT Established in 1948, the Courier is the fully independent student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge. The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of the Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s opinion pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of the Courier, the Students’ Union or Newcastle University.
NSR show of the week: NSR Music Show Wednesdays 4-6pm Joe Smith Co-Head of Music Every Wednesday between 4pm and 6pm NSR’s music show takes place. The music show is taking a new turn this
The new themed shows are set to raise the music show up a level
year, with the first hour remaining the same where we chat about the latest gigs we’ve attended and also any interviews that have taken place that week. So far this year we’ve interviewed mas-
sive names such as Jorja Smith and Tom Grennan! The second hour is brand new and takes on a new format. A theme is set for each week (ranging from things like punk, to fashion and it’s importance in music). These new themed shows are set to raise the music show up a level and allow the music section of the radio to enter new, more diverse chapters. To summarise, the music show this year aims to incorporate all that made it great last year whilst continuing to add new and unique ideas to the shows.
STU BREW beer of the week: Textbook (2nd edition) £3 per bottle Alex Moore Culture Editor There’s only one brew of the week for an English Literature student with a mighty thirst to quench: Stu Brew’s ‘Textbook’ Mosaic IPA. Straight from the ‘bookworms’ in the depths of Merz Court, this ‘classic English IPA’ is a strong accompaniment to any late night on campus. The beer itself is a delight to pour, with a lovely, slightly cloudy amber colour, and a pleasant hoppy aroma. Worthy of note is also the perfect level of fizziness, with just enough to make the IPA extremely drinkable and refreshing, without any real unwanted head. On the initial sip the drinker’s palate is met with a surprisingly sweet taste compared to
Student Spotlight
Society of the Month: October Nominations Isabel Sykes Deputy Editor Nominations for Society of the Month are open until Wednesday 31 October this week. Society of the Month is the chance for students to be proud of the great work and achievements of NUSU societies. Students can nominate a society they are a part of themselves, or any other society they have seen accomplishing great things in and around campus this month. On Friday 26 October, NUSU Activities Officer Sophie McDermott posted on Facebook to remind students about nominations. “It’s an opportunity to get your society name out there, get £50 and potentially a film!” She said. Sophie also posted a link to a Youtube video made by NUTV about the Salsa Society, winners of Society of the Month for September. The video gives an exciting insight into the dance sessions run by the society, interviews with committee members about what it’s like to be involved in the Salsa Society, and upcoming events. As well as gaining a cash prize, winning societies will be mentioned in a weekly email to studens and on the NUSU website. The nomination form encourages students to describe why their chosen society deserves this accolade and provide examples. These could include a successful event they have hosted, or a campaign they have conducted to raise money for a cause. The nomination form is located on the NUSU website, and will be available until Wednesday 31 October.
the beer’s bitter description. Following this is a very strong hoppy hit, evidently from that ‘Huge late hop addition of Mosaic.’ Fear not however, as this aftertaste mellows slightly with every sip whilst retaining its distinct hoppy flavour, proving for an increasingly enjoyable experience from start to finish. Perhaps those at Stu Brew named this beer ‘Textbook’ for its traditional flavour – or perhaps as its 4.5% volume is just strong enough to ease you through a long study session, but not enough to make the words go sideways.
Monday 29 October 2018
Whats on near you:
Monday
Lifestyle: 5:15pm-7:15pm: Cookery class with Food Nation. Location: Venue, NUSU. Sport: 5:5pm-7:15pm: GIAG Golf. Location: Meet outside NUSU front entrance. Sport: 6:45pm-8:30pm: GIAG Karate. Location: Newcastle University Sports Centre.
Wednesday
Societies: 11am-3:pm: Go Volunteer, making ‘Wiggly Bags’ for children with Hickmen lines. Location: INTO building. Sport: 12pm-2pm: GIAG Ice Hockey. Location: Meet outside NUSU front entrance. Sport: 2pm-2:45pm: GIAG Horse Riding. Location: Stepney Bank Stables. Sport: 2:45pm-6pm: GIAG Go Karting. Location: Meet outside NUSU front entrance. Travel: 5:30pm-7pm: Spanish beginner language class. Location: Language Resource Cetnre, Old Library Building. Film: 6:15pm-9:30pm: Movie night with tea and cake. Location: Quilliam Brothers’ Teahouse.
Friday Sport: 5:40pm-7pm: GIAG Pole Dancing. Location: Meet outside NUSU front entrance. Music: 7pm-11pm: Skindred bring their UK tour to Newcastle. Location: Venue, NUSU.
Sunday
Sport: 10am-12:30pm: GIAG Ski Lesson. Location: Meet outside Hatton Gallery. Sport: 12:30-2pm: GIAG Hot Pod Yoga. Location: Meet at West Jesmond Metro Station. Music: 2pm-6pm: Alstar music presents Road Trip. Location: Venue, NUSU.
Tuesday
Sport: 12pm-2pm: GIAG Table Tennis. Location: Venue, NUSU. NUBS Employability Week: 12pm-2pm: Post Pals, ‘Brightening the lives of sick children’. Location: Newcastle University Business School. Arts: 5pm-7:30pm: GIAG Paint your own pottery workshop. Location: Meet outside NUSU front entrance. Halloween Spooktacular Maze ‘Creatures of the Corn’. 5:30pm-7:30pm: Location: Meet outside Hatton Gallery. University Challenged Home Time Quiz: 6pm-9pm. Location: Luthers, NUSU.
Thursday NUBS Employability Week: 11am-3:pm: Making ‘Wiggly Bags’ for children with Hickmen lines. Location: Kate Aide Room, NUSU. Sport: 12pm-2pm: GIAG Table Tennis. Location: Venue, NUSU. Arts: 1pm: Claire Askew and Alex Lockwood read from their debut novels All the Hidden Truths and The Chernobyl Privileges. Location: Daysch Building, Room G.05. Arts: 7:15pm: Lamanby: A dream-vision of boyhood in the North of England. Location: Culture Lab.
Saturday Sport: 11am-1pm: GIAG Dodgeball. Location: Meet outside NUSU front entrance. Sport: 3pm-6pm: NUFC vs Watford. Location: St James’ Park. Music: 6pm-11pm: The Complete Stone Roses v Definitely Oasis. Location: Venue, NUSU.
news
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the courier
Monday 29 October 2018
@TheCourier_News courier.news@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/news News Editors Grace Dean, Molly Greeves, Sidney Pinsent, Steven Ross Online Editor Jodie Duddy
University invests £6 Million in Fossil Fuels despite pledge
Joe Molander
Newcastle University has continued to invest in oil and gas companies, despite committing to change its investment policy in May 2016, although they have aimed to make the change within 5 years.
Calls for the University to become more sustainable were led by the Carbon Advisory Group
To understand how this has happened, one must first understand how the University uses its money: Newcastle’s £75 million investment portfolio is turned over to investment managers; organisations which invest in businesses on behalf of the university. In May 2016, Newcastle’s governing council promised only to turn over the portfolio to managers signed up to the United-Nationsbacked Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI was established in 2003 to make it easier for investors to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, and currently boasts 1750 signatories: the hope was that by only hiring investment managers from this elite, greener pool, the University would stop investing in (or would ‘divest from’) “non-progressive oil and gas companies” within the next half decade. The announcement came after calls for the University to become more sustainable, led
by the Carbon Advisory Group, a Newcastle student organisation which seems good at getting a message across: representatives for the University came out the other side of the Carbon Advisory Group’s campaign. The University promised it would show preference for investment managers that invested in “progressive companies” that had a penchant for “low carbon solutions”. Seventeen months on from their promise to divest from oil and gas, Newcastle’s investments have barely changed. All three of Newcastle’s investment managers – Majedie Asset Management, Baillie Gifford and Blackrock (who work for Newcastle as of 2017, the last year where data is available) – are signatories of the PRI, and the plan to divest from oil and gas was expected to last five years (making it unreasonable to expect complete divestment from oil and gas by 2018). Despite this, investment in oil and gas appears to have actually grown since two years earlier.
The University had £6,537,463 invested in oil and gas companies in 2017, a 5% increase from 2016
Documents detailing Newcastle University Endowment Asset Investment suggest that the University had at least £6,199,642 invested in oil and gas in 2016, compared to £6,537,463 a year later. The figures only draw from two of Newcastle’s three investment managers (information from Blackwood was
not disclosed), making it likely that the actual numbers are even higher. As it stands, this represents an increase in oil and gas investment of 5%: given that Newcastle’s investment portfolio also increased over the same time period, this means that its oil and gas investments have gone from representing 10% of its investment fund (worth around £63 million in 2016) to 9% (worth around £75 million in 2017).
This rate of decrease means that, if continued, it would take around nine years to entirely phase out gas and oil investments
This rate of decrease means that, if continued, it would take around nine years to entirely phase out gas and oil investments - a far cry from the five originally promised in 2016. This seems at odds with research done at Newcastle University’s Institute of Sustainabilty where “Many energy researchers are also working with policymakers, industry and communities to implement sustainable energy solutions.” It is possible that information about this financial year’s investment activities (still not available) put Newcastle in a better light, but meanwhile we drift further away from 2016 and the University’s commitment to going green.
Will Newcastle do more to honour their commitment to go green? Image: Pixabay
Newcastle student caught in hit and run Vaishali Ramesh Last week a final year mechanical engineerLeo Horsman was the victim of an unfortunate hit and run on the evening of 12th October. Leo was cycling back home from university when a car crashed into the young student. The result has left him with a broken foot and an irreparable cycle. The incident occurred on Kenton Road.
He describes the incident as traumatic but is able to explain it in great detail, how he crashed into a turning car, hit the headlight and flew over the car landing a few feet away. He then visited the Royal Victoria infirmary where he was told that he had broken his metatarsals. Despite the accident, when interviewed, Leo was upbeat and lively. He does have a heavily bandaged foot but that hasn’t deterred him from cycling. His bike unfortunately did not make it through the mishap. With the tire
punctured and the cycle in pieces, Leo has kept the remains in fond remembrance of the vehicle. This story does raise converns over the many students in and around Newcastle who cycle to and fro universities and schools. Should something more be done to ensure their safety? Leo seems to feel that Newcastle is a pretty safe place to be cycling and encourages people to do what they want to do in terms of safety.
Neither Leo nor his bike escaped completely unscathed Images: Leo Horsman
the courier
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news
Monday 29 October 2018
UCU representative reopens pension cut debate
-tober, the USS disputed Dr Marsh’s claim of a“large and demonstratable error in the valuation”, arguing that the conclusion of his blog post was mistaken. They said that: “The commentary that this analysis has generated is based on an incomplete understanding of the scheme’s current funding proposals and of regulatory requirements.” The post also claimed that Dr Marsh’s analysis was “not an adequate premise on which to set the fund-
Molly Greeves
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Universities around the UK were affected by strike action
Earlier this year, the UCU strike action affected over sixty-four universities in the UK, with Newcastle University being one of them. After a blog post was published on the 13th of October analysing data given by USS, a discussion over the necessity of the pension deficit was reopened, leading to allegations that the USS had made an “error” in cutting pensions. According to the Newcastle University UCU Branch, one of the main reasons for the strikes was the fact that “Newcastle University management (along with many other Russell Group institutions) want to change the USS pension scheme” in a way that could be “likely to reduce the value of... lecturers’ pensions to below subsistence levels”. This cut to staff pensions was caused by a supposed deficit in the USS that many people suspected was inaccurate, including Newcastle University student Jamie Cameron who wrote an article about on the topic for The Courier last year. According to Jamie, Test 1, the method that USS use to produce their deficit projection, assumes the premise that every university in the scheme could collapse tomorrow and
University staff striking over the pension cut Image: Flickr
works out the deficit based on that scenario. Many hold the opinion that this made the pension cuts unnecessary because, as Jamie put it, “notion of a £7.5Bn deficit rests on an outcome which is practically unthinkable”. In a blog post published on Medium, Dr Sam Marsh, a UCU representative and lecturer at the University of Sheffield, analyses the data provided by USS and argues that it was unnecessary to cut staff pensions. USS
Briefs concluded from the blog post that “the Universities Superannuation Scheme is not in deficit according to its own valuation methodology”. Dr Marsh told The Courier: “Put simply, the long-term health of the pension scheme is much better than those with full access to the data have ever let on. There are now some pretty big questions over why this new data (which was) only released
last fortnight even though I had asked for it over a year ago had (been) withheld until now. “It is extra weight behind the claims that staff were making that the changes to the pension scheme were unnecessary. We should never have had to strike to make those in charge listen to us properly and look at the evidence.” In a post to their website on the 16th of Oc
“We should never have had to strike to make those in charge listen and look and the evidence”
Sam Marsh, UCU Representative
ing arrangements for the scheme.” When asked his opinion on this response, Dr Marsh said that the post was “interesting, to say the least” and claimed it did not directly address his concerns, instead attempting to “switch the emphasis away from the criticisms I was making onto other related matters.” He added: “I would have hoped for a more grown-up response to my findings, which are substantial and do need addressing properly.”
Newcastle responds to rising hate crime on metro
Steven Ross News Editor
sets out a series of commitments we are making to help the police, local communities and victims. This includes training and awareness raising for staff, the use of assets such as CCTV and social media to fight hate crime, and taking steps to encourage people who
4,148
The number of hate crimes reported in the North East last year
On campus we have policies that protect students from racist, sexist and religionbased hate crimes. Yet in most public transport there is no such protection
Hate crime continues to rise in the UK and it is a particular problem on public transport. National Hate Crime Awareness Week began on 13th October and many people in Newcastle got involved to stamp out racism on the buses and Metro. Representatives from Newcastle University, Churches, Mosques, schools, and the Women’s Centre congregated at Monument Metro station as part of the Reclaim the Metro campaign. Speeches were made discussing the issues of racial hatred in the north east, before all who were gathered travelled to Whitley Bay on the Metro. This was in response to verbal and physical hate crimes often carried out against Muslims, on Newcastle transport routes. Muslim women seem to suffer the worst abuse. Taj, one of the event organisers, said that she was a triple whammy, being female, a Muslim and having brown skin. Public
Dr. Helen Jarvis, Newcastle University
“It’s vital that any form of discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation or disability is reported to the police”
Huw Lewis, customer Service Dirfector, Nexus
transport, if not policed effectively can be a dangerous place for women, who may feel vulnerable travelling alone at night. According to the BBC, hate crime has risen by 40% over the last year. Furthermore, most hate crime is religiously motivated, and directed at Muslims. Many transport operators have adopted a hate crime charter, which will provide victims with more protection. Bus drivers have previously been unsure of how to act when hate crime has taken place, however, the charter will provide them with much clearer guidance in these situations. The Nexus website states that ‘our charter
Grey’s Monument Image: Geog
witness incidents or become victims to come forward and report them.’ Huw Lewis, customer services director at Nexus, said: ‘Public transport is there for everyone, it plays a big role in bringing communities together and no-one should be put off making journeys. While the number of reported hate crimes on Metro is low we know that some people don’t choose to report them. It’s vital that any form of discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation or disability is reported to the police so that it can be investigated. Metro serves some very diverse communities, and nobody should feel threatened or intimidated when they travel.’ Dr Helen Jarvis, from Newcastle University, who was also involved in the demonstration, said that, “On campus we have policies that protect students and staff from racist, sexist and religion-based hate crimes. Yet, in most public spaces there is no such protection. “It is positive to see transport providers step up and share collective responsibility to challenge this behaviour and we thank them for working with us.” The Courier spoke to Muslims who were running an Islam information stall on Northumberland Street. They were themselves protesting against extremism of all forms. Minhas Younas and Tauseef Ahmed told the Courier that they had not personally experienced hate crime in Newcastle and they
felt that they had greater freedom to practise their religion than in other countries where they had lived. The Courier has also spoken to Newcastle University members of the Islamic society at a charity sale for Islamic Relief. Some of the members reported that they had not experienced serious hate crime but that they had heard of instances of drunk people shouting abuse at Muslims in the street. Casual racism of this form is less likely to be reported but no less of an issue in society. One person said that he found Newcastle was more open and friendlier than Dublin, where he had previously lived. However, a Muslim woman who wished to remain anonymous said that she had previously experienced harassment on the Metro, being told that she doesn’t belong here. She suggested that incidents like these happen more frequently on public transport because a diverse community uses it, and that it is a setting where people may be agitated or frustrated due to the crowded atmosphere, although this of course does not excuse racist behaviour. The woman also said that she felt that the situation for Muslims in Newcastle had improved in recent years and that more people are willing to stand up and say something if they witness racial abuse. Events like Reclaim the Metro are evidence of a greater push-back against extremism in Newcastle. Yet this is part of an ongoing struggle. Over 4,000 hate crimes were reported in the North East over the last 12 months and almost 3,000 of these incidents were racially motivated. The Home Office has suggested that Brexit and terrorism have been factors in the sharp increase of reported incidents. A review of current hate crime laws, with recommendationson how to improve them is expected by the end of 2019. Home Secretary Sajid Javid stated, “Hate crime goes directly against the long-standing British values of unity, tolerance and mutual respect - and I am committed to stamping this sickening behaviour out.” Groups like Citizens UK and members of the community around Newcastle have shown a determination to stand up to those who carry out hate crime, but with a continuing rise in incidents expected to continue, and groups like Britain First holding rallies in the city centre, it is clear that there is more to be done.
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news
the courier
Monday 29 October 2018
Newcastle Students Stand Up To Racism “Fighting Racism and Fasism Today: Lessons of the Past”, Nat Makin gives his account of last week’s Stand Up To Racism event Nat Makin
As part of Black History Month, Thursday 18th October saw the Stand Up to Racism meeting “Fighting Racism and Fascism Today: Lessons of the Past”. It was attended by upwards of a hundred people, including students from Newcastle and many other universities, eager to hear about the impacts of racism and the far-right in our society today. With the rise of the likes of Donald Trump and Tommy Robinson, there is no doubt that the racist right has become emboldened in recent years. It was in this context that Chris Wilkinson, Racial Equality Officer at NUSU, answered the question of why. Why decide to focus on activism in Black History Month? Because Black History is a history of activism, whose necessity is felt as strongly today,
across the country. It served as a reminder of how the establishment uses racism to divide the working classes and make them turn on each other, so that they are distracted from those in power. It eerily echoed the “I’m not racist, I’m just pro-freedom of speech” rhetoric that is so often heard today within (but not limited to) the Free Tommy Robinson campaign. The film came to an end with King’s historic speech at Newcastle University in 1967, in which he made clear the role of history in anti-racism activism; “Tomorrow is today” he declared – the history of fascism and racism as well as of anti-racist and antifascist movements must be known if racism and fascism are to be defeated. The next speaker was Raj Kumar Murria, representing Stand up to Racism North East. He painted a damning picture of British society, in which migrants are routinely dehumanised (called “swarms” and “rodents”)
Johnson’s appalling, racist comments about Muslim women and the failure to condemn Israel. She ended her speech with a helpful “How to fight racism” toolkit, encouraging the audience to call out people when they
and scapegoated for problems ranging from housing and the NHS to violent crime. The inadequate police response, as well as the far-right groups that use these misconceptions to spread islamophobia, were harshly condemned by Murria. Given this situation, it is no wonder that religious hate crime has surged by 40% just this year, with over half of cases directed at Muslims. And the stakes seem to be higher than ever, as the IMF predicts a new crisis which can only accelerate the political polarisation, including the rise of fascism. This is especially worrying for the North East, since it is here that Tommy Robinson intends to stand on behalf of UKIP. Will the North East soon be the front line in the fight against fascism? Murria thought it likely, ending with a call to arms: “Live the resistance now, before we die for it later”. Anna Kerr, another student representing Stand up to Racism, was the next to speak. She had earlier this year, in September, been responsible for organising the hugely effective counter-demonstration to the so-called Frontline Patriots who marched in Newcastle to ban the burqa. She emphasised that racism is a learnt, not innate, hatred, and that we should be aiming for a society of freedom. She left the blame for the surge in racism at the Tory government’s doorstep: the Windrush scandal; selling arms to Saudi Arabia; Boris
cal communists, trade unionists and Labour Party supporters face off against the British Union of Fascists (BUF) in a violent clash. The BUF was successfully driven off the streets, as their two hundred and fifty some members were met with an anti-fascist opposition ten times their number. However, Weston noted that fascism is growing in popularity, and the scale of a recent fascist demonstration in Stockton is a testament to how well-funded
Religious hate crime has surged by 40% this year
make casually or overtly racism remarks; to talk about racism to their family and friends; to promote anti-racism on social networks; and put pressure on the government. Next up was Paul Weston of the Battle of Stockton Campaign, an organisation that commemorates the 1933 battle of Stocktonupon-Tees in County Durham, which saw lo-
Attendees holding up placards Image: Jenny Goodfellow and only with knowledge of this past can we learn from it and create a united front against racism. Director of the Research Centre for Film at Newcastle, Dr Ian McDonald, followed with a talk about Martin Luther King, and his demand for a radical solution to tackle the structural nature of racism. This led accordingly into a screening of his film FREEDOM which explores the history of anti-racism. It came in three parts, made to be shown across three screens. The first part was a celebration of present-day activism, with footage of the Antifa activists demonstrating in New York and the gleeful chants of anti-Trump protestors (“We are black; we are white; together we are dynamite!”) in London. The sheer volume alone placed the audience in the heart of a protest. Then, the film moved on to archive
“We are black, we are white; together we are dynamite!”
Anti-Trump protestors in London
footage of workers in Gateshead who came out in support of Enoch Powell, whose 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech stoked racial hatred
Speakers included the founder of the AntiNazi League
this movement is. To close, he highlighted the importance of holding anti-fascist events, not just counter-protests. He announced that the Battle of Stockton Campaign will be holding a free annual event, which looks to be a vibrant three-day festival with talks, stalls and music. The event is due to be held on the 7th and 8th September 2019 – something for the diary of all Newcastle students wishing to get involved in the struggle against fascism. Then came Newcastle City Councillor, Dipu Ahad, with a talk about the lessons of history. The Holocaust, he said, started with
the demonisation of minority communities, which he compared to the racist, colonialist arguments expressed during the Leave campaign. This total lack of education about the British Empire and colonisation is one factor that Ahad believes to foment racism in the UK, thus backing Corbyn’s demand that this topic be included on the curriculum. He laid into the establishment; not just the current Tory government that backs Boris Johnson’s overt racist attacks and fails to properly address the aftermath of Grenfell, but also the Blairite government’s anti-terrorism strategy, Prevent, that sows racial and religious tensions in schools, and, according to Ahad, taught sixth form tutors that Calais refugees were all terrorists. On a personal level, he talked about how he came home one day to find a camera installed by police following death threats from the far-right. These are just a couple of incidents in the greater rise of the far-right which is often mobilised through social media. But Ahad drew on the proud anti-racist history of Newcastle, the first city council to give Nelson Mandela the freedom of the city when the Tory government was still calling him a terrorist, to say that we must be active in the fight against racism. The last speaker on the panel was Paul Holborow, founder of the Anti-Nazi League, who, after seeing 15,000 marching through London throwing Nazi salutes, believes the fascist threat to be far greater than that of Mosley in the 1930s. He warned of the organisation of the far-right across Europe, with Steve Bannon (Trump’s former adviser) meeting with leading far-right figures across Europe, including Boris Johnson. Islamophobia was highlighted as a massive threat, including April third’s “Punish a Muslim Day” during which hundreds of thousands of Muslim women stayed home from work out of fear of abuse. They suffered racist shouts of “Go home!” and the ripping off of hijabs. Holborow also stressed the dangers of anti-Semitism, noting the terrifying increase in attacks on graves in Jewish cemeteries. This is a time when the rise of fascism can still be stopped, so Holborrow thought the early 1930s an apt comparison, since Hitler was not yet in power and anti-fascist resistance proved effective at clashes like Cable Street. We have seen it with the decimation of the BNP, and we can see it with all fascism with a strong front against racism and fascism. He ended with a focus on the words of Martin Luther King: “Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream”. The panel then asked for contributions from the audience, where the very real concern of a lack of African people on the majority white panel was raised. The idea of colonialism was also discussed, particularly the view that Britain didn’t just colonialise people of colour; first it colonised the working class of Britain under capitalism. The issue regarding the depoliticisation of student unions was touched upon, as well as movements that people can get involved with in order to fight racism and
Anti-racism placards Image: Jenny Goodfellow fascism. One key event is the National Unity Demonstration Against Fascism and Racism, to be held on 17th November in London – an important opportunity to actively oppose rac-
The rise of he farright has lit the flames, but the resistance that mus stop it, that is the dynamite
ism and fascism. Stand up to Racism Newcastle’s meeting showed how the political struggles in our country are reaching a crisis point without giving in to hopelessness. Each speaker was proof that the far-right threat can be quashed, as long as we stand together, in solidarity, united. The rise of the far-right has lit the flames, but the resistance that must stop it, that is the dynamite.
National movements fighting fascism are increasing in popularity Image: Jenny Goodfellow
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Monday 29 October 2018
Newcastle academics awarded Alan Turing Institute fellowships
Caitlin Disken
Twelve Newcastle academics have been announced as new Fellows of the Alan Turing Institute. The twelve are drawn from different departments of Newcastle Universtiy, possessing a wide range of expertise all doing work relating to data science. This includes academics from Engineering, Computer Science, Geography and policy experts.
Alan Turing is widely thought of as he father of artificial intelligence and theoreical computer science
The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. It was created in 2015 and has headquarters at the British Library, London. Its name honours Alan Turing (23 June 1912 - 7 June 1954) Mathematician, Engineer and Computer Scientist, who is widely thought of as the father of artificial intelligence and theoretical computer science. He is most recognised for the work he did on many pivotal programmes in support of the war effort during World War II. Alan Turing was awarded an OBE for his wartime service. Last year, Newcastle University was asked to become part of the Turing Institute in recognition of its high calibre of research into data
analysis. The work of the Alan Turing Institute aims to ‘change the world for the better’. Speaking about one of the projects that will directly benefit the city of Newcastle, Professor of Visualisation and one of the twelve Fellows, Nick Holliman said: “the #TeraScope project that is visualizing climate data from the Urban Observatory about Newcastle in a one trillion pixel image of the city… the image is easily accessible on any smartphone or tablet, letting you zoom in 512 times from the whole city to see data from individual sensors in offices. The project is aiming a virtual telescope down at Earth to help better understand the city we live and work in.”
“Being part of the Turing Institute enables us to increase the impact of our work”
Paul Watson, Professor of Computer Science at Newcastle University
Paul Watson, Professor of Computer Science explained the importance of being part of the institute for the university: “Being part of the Turing Institute enables us to increase the impact of our work and collaborate with other leading researchers from around the UK. It also benefits students by creating opportunities for them to spend time working on Turing projects both here and at its base in London.”
Sculpture in tribute to Alan Turing at Bletchley Park Image: Geograph
Body cameras trialled in North East to deter assaults on emergency staff
Kelly Corcoran With the number of physical assault reports on North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) staff having increased by 23% compared to last year, plans have now been introduced for staff to start wearing body cameras. The scheme launches this week with approximately 40 of the frontline staff members trialling their use. The tamper-proof cameras, provided costfree by body camera manufacturers Edesix, are being used with the hopes of accurately capturing and ultimately deterring assault crimes on NEAS workers. This evidence is particularly important as research and past reports have shown that the majority of attacks on NEAS workers occur away from CCTV covered areas. By wearing body cameras, staff will be able to provide reliable evidence
of any assault or aggression from patients or onlookers in court cases, enabling the law to issue harsher sentences for those found guilty of violent behaviour. Alan Gallagher, Head of Risk at NEAS, hopes that the introduction of this technology will “bring more prosecutions against people who put [NEAS’s] staff at risk and reduce the assaults and abuse they are currently facing in the line of their work. There really is nothing more disheartening than being hurt by someone that you’ve gone to help, particularly when they already work in such challenging circumstances”. The impact of the new plans is being strengthened by the introduction of the “Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill”, a new law that ensures that those who are found guilty of assault or attacks on emergency workers will receive longer jail sentences, which was introduced in response to the public’s gratitude towards the level of courage
and commitment of emergency service workers. The combination of body cameras and the new bill will hopefully pave the way for a much safer working environment for our emergency service employees, with the hope that any recorded footage will provide sufficient evidence in court to utilise the benefits of this new bill. Last year there were over 350 prosecutions nationally for attacks on ambulance staff alone. However, the number when accounting for unreported or unprosecuted events is estimated to be much higher. This highlights a significant issue regarding the wellbeing of employees within the emergency sector who work tirelessly to make our lives safer. The body camera scheme will run a trial period of three months with free software and supported being provided by Edesix before an ultimate decision will be made regarding the future protection our emergency services workers.
Ambulance staff are highly commended by the public Image: North East Ambulance Service
Continued from front page. while another witness remembered: “I was pretty excited, quite keen” but still had a “slight nervousness.” With regards to Ed himself, Henry Lindley’s statement claimed that he “looked very nervous when his money and drink were taken off him. He was physically shaking.” Headley commented that “he mentioned he was nervous when we walked down.” Students’ attendance at the event despite “nervousness” was attributed to “tradition” and “bonding.” Carr stated that “it’s not you have to turn up to be anything. It’s that you want to, all your mates have done it for years.” Despite being offered the opportunity to leave at the start of the evening, one of the firstyear’s statements read that they “would not be respected later if they left, no-one left. People were scared.” Second and third-years suggested that they had experienced pressure to adhere to tradition in organising the event. Witnesses reiterated how they were “trying to recreate what had happened the year before” and that it had been a “tradition that was passed down to us.” Carr agreed that there was “a sort of pressure to expect this event went on” and an expectation to “keep tradition going.” Some witnesses said they knew others who had been to similar events. One referred to a “sister’s boyfriend at a different university” and another said they “knew that initiations existed before university due to word of mouth and older students.” Initiation events are banned at Newcastle University, so events such as this are often kept under wraps and the extent of their organisation within sports clubs and societies is not fully known. Lesley Braiden, Academic Registrar and Director of Academic Services at Newcastle University, said that “it’s difficult to monitor such events” and that students often have “relatives and close friends who have described what to expect at these events” suggesting that there may be “cultural issues that get passed on by tradition in various ways.” The University and its students alike seem not to have been fully aware of the potentially fatal risks these events posed. Carr stated that it “didn’t even cross my mind that something like that
would even be a significant possibility.” The fact that Ed was said to be “snoring audibly, loudly” was continuously misconstrued as a positive sign by society members at the event, who “assumed the snoring meant he was okay.” Dr Messer informed the court that snoring was in fact an indicator of unconsciousness and airway obstruction. Simon Gerry, Chief Executive of Newcastle University Students Union, said that before 2016 NUSU had put in place a policy on sensible drinking and conveyed “messages on potential fatalities, but not necessarily that if you drink this much you might die.” Among students there was a strong consensus of awareness that initiation ceremonies were banned by the University, which has a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding them. However, the coroner ruled that more could be done to convey a “hard hitting” message, and “make frank reference to the risk of death” and “correlation between initiation events and heightened risk.” Newcastle University has since implemented compulsory inductions for all first-year students about the risks associated with alcohol, but do not directly reference initiations. In their statement they said: “having listened to the evidence we will be reflecting carefully on all that we have learnt at the inquest and looking at whether there are areas where we can improve what we do.” Braiden stated they “believe it is a greater society problem”. The coroner ultimately ruled that Ed Farmer “died due to the toxic effects from the consumption of a large amount of alcohol in a short time and in part because the effects of alcohol were unknown.” In releasing the report coroner’s expectation of the intention to involve parties in “what hopefully will be a local and national effort” and engage the University in a “commitment to the eradication of what has been called in this hearing as a tradition”. The hope is to change binge-drinking culture and raise awareness in Ed’s memory so that “no family has to endure what the Farmer family have endured.” Additional reporting: Isabel Sykes
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news Students in Newcastle receive free sanitary products Monday 29 October 2018
Aimee Seddon Last week, the University and College Union (UCU) launched a new campaign at to tackle period poverty in Newcastle. Student mentors at Newcastle College are now able to provide sanitary products to students who are unable to afford them. This discreet service is open to any student, with the sanitary products being bought by the UCU. Newcastle College staff are also being encouraged to support the campaign by donating products themselves. In August, the Scottish government announced that students at schools, colleges and universities across Scotland would have access to free sanitary products. The £5.2 million scheme is the first of its kind, and Helen Carr, head of Equaliy and Participation at UCU, believes that our government should be following their example and allowing this service to be provided at schools, colleges and universities around the country.
“The initiave provides women with dignity and respect and should help address the taboos around periods”
Helen Carr, Head of Equality and Participation, UCU
“Free sanitary products will help address period poverty issues, as students in particular face financial challenges while they are studying. Tampons and sanitary pads are not luxury items, they are essential for women. The initiative by the UCU branch at Newcastle College provides women with dignity and respect and should help address the taboos around periods.” Plan International UK conducted a survey in 2017 to estimate the extent of period poverty in the country. The survey found that
one in ten young women aged 14 to 21 had been unable to afford sanitary products. Further findings reveal that 12% of those surveyed had to improvise sanitary wear, whilst one in five had changed to less suitable sanitary products due to financial struggle. Period poverty is also a concern for NUSU
“I encourage anyone to come to the SU and speak to us about your experience or simply email us!”
anyone who needs them. “I absolutely support this initiative to help students in need, and hope that it gets people talking about periods to lift some of the taboo!” This is also an issue that is important to Newcastle University students, with one anonymous female student saying: “Tampons are a necessity for women. The fact that they are not free, when you can get condoms
for free, is a complete travesty.” NUSU President Raff Marioni encourages students to help with the campaign, stating “We will be conducting some research around campus, probably in the form of very basic face to face quick questions about whether free sanitary items would help you live more affordably, improve your experience and improve your opinion of the University as an institution that cares for students.
“If you see sabbatical officers around campus please come and talk to us! Students giving answers to these simple questions will be so vital to our campaign and getting across to the University that this is something that is worthwhile. Also, I really encourage anyone to come into the SU and speak to us about their experience or simply email us!” Emails can be sent to welfare.union@ncl. ac.uk or president.union@newcastle.ac.uk
Raff Marioni NUSU President
President, Raff Marioni, and the Welfare Officer, Jack Green. They are hoping to implement a similar scheme for Newcastle University students. Jack Green explains: “Affordability is one of the most important issues that students face at university. This is one small way that we can reduce the cost of periods for students. We are exploring a number of different options, and will consult with staff members and female students to find the best solution. We want to ensure that the solution will be viable long term, even after we finish our sabbatical year. “The Students’ Union has already showed commitment to creating affordable sanitary products, with all sanitary products being at cost price in our shop. The next step is consultation with students, the University and trying to secure long-term funding for the initiative.” Becky Tuck, President of Newcastle University’s Feminist society, said “Bloody Good Period estimates that the average lifetime cost of having a period is approximately £4800, which is a huge sum especially when periods are not a choice but a biological inevitability. Nobody should have to make the choice between feeding themselves and buying menstrual products – they should be free for
Many students believe that the SU should provide sanitary products for free Image: Molly Greeves
MoBikes, mo problems for city centre Hadrian’s Tipi Returns Emma McLaren
It has recently been confirmed that Newcastle’s Mobikes are to remain on the streets, despite concerns about vandalism. Following an announcement that Mobikes are to be completely removed from Manchester due to unacceptable levels of vandalism and theft, it was questioned whether Newcastle’s bike sharing system would face a similarly sad fate. However, due to promising levels of interaction and moderately less vandalism, the city’s Mobikes are staying- for now at least. The innovative Mobike scheme was first introduced to Newcastle in October 2017, with 450 of the distinctive orange bikes soon becoming a recognisable feature of the cit
cently confirmed that the Chinese company plans to “commit to Newcastle for the foreseeable future”, insisting that the damaging actions of a minority should not be detrimental to those who benefit from this alternative method of travel. Meetings with the council and police have been scheduled in an attempt to establish methods that will further protect the bikes from vandalism and ensure that they are being used as effectively as possible. The Courier spoke to students at Newcas-
tle University who had used Mobikes to find out how they found the experience. Second year Megan told the Courier that she had used the Mobikes before with friends and found it “pretty fun and cheap”. The Mobike system benefits those who want to keep active and avoid using the Metrolink as a way to reach campus. With the council’s support, it is hoped that levels of vandalism will subside and Mobikes will continue to serve the people of Newcastle.
Due to promising levels of interaction and moderately less vandalism, the city’s Mobikes are staying for now at least
The Mobike system allows the public to rent bikes via a smartphone app. The bikes are activated through the scanning of a QR code; a small refundable deposit is paid followed by subsequent charges per half an hour of use. The premise is that you can pick up and leave a Mobike anywhere at your own convenience, a seemingly ideal system. The bikes are intended to be left at authorised parking areas, yet unfortunately several have had to be recovered from the River Tyne and more are being stolen or vandalised. Mobike spokesperson Steve Milton re-
Mobikes in Jesmond Image: Steven Ross
Hannah Vernon
Christmas has come early this year in Newcastle. Not only is Northumberland street twinkling with lights, but Hadrian’s Tipi has returned to Pilgrim’s Street. First situated beside Central station in 2016, the winter pop-up retreat then moved to Pilgrim street the following year. Its former home has recently become STACK, a popular arena of bars and eateries made from old shipping containers. The Tipi now sits inside STACK, at the very heart of the city. People will be happy to hear that the Winter Wonderland is back with all it’s former treasures. On entrance, visitors are enticed by warm, woody aroma’s and atmospheric lighting. Cosy indoor fire-pits and snug seating areas have both returned. With performances from a range of local acts, guests can enjoy live music while sipping mulled wine by the fireside. Excitingly, the bar offers both hot and cold drinks from a range of local breweries and suppliers. For those who are feeling peckish, there is a large charcoal-fired swing grill hut, as well as seven artisan street food vendors. And to top it off, the tipi itself has been made larger and sports an additional firepit— so it can now warm the hands of more cold shoppers than ever before! Alongside the Tipi itself is a Winter Beer Garden, lined with Christmas trees and festive lights. And there’s no need to be put off by bad weather. The outside heaters ensure that cheeks stay rosy, while a stretch tent shelters the outdoor seating from rain and typical north-east winds. Both family and dog-friendly, no one is excluded from the fun. Give yourself over to the premature festivity this year, and visit Newcastle’s Winter Wonderland, open every from 10am till midnight.
Hadrian’s Tipi Image: Harry Saxton
be workplace ready Looking for part-time roles, internships, placements and graduate jobs? Then get yourself on Vacancies Online: careers.ncl.ac.uk/vacsonline
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editor.union@ncl.ac.uk Student Voice Editor: Isabel Sykes
Monday 29 October 2018
student voice
“Catch feels, not STIs”: SHAG week spreads across campus Isabel Sykes Deputy Editor
Monday 22 to Friday 26 October saw Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance week returning to Newcastle campus. Every annual SHAG week has a theme, and this year it was a commitment to reducing the number of Sexually Transmitted Infections on campus under the tagline “Catch feels, not STIs”. The week saw a variety of events and activites taking place on campus to educate Newcastle students about sexual health. From Monday to Wednesdsayy, free condoms were given out at various locations around campus until lunchtime. SHAG week’s page on the NUSU website reveals that “89% of students admit they don’t usually use a condom during casual sex, meaning a high likelihood of catching STIs such as herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and even HIV.” Giving free contraception to students across campus aimed to help combat this and raise awareness of the importance of safe sex.
Every year, societies and clubs compete to ge the most members tested for STIs in a bid to win a £200 prize
On Tuesday evening, a SHAG week themed Pub Quiz took place in Luther’s Bar, NUSU from 7pm-10pm, where the winning team could win a £50 bar tab. Wednesday saw Street Smart’s Max Fosh heading onto campus to test our students’ knowledge about sexual health. The resulting video can be found on Facebook and is well worth a watch for those interested in how clued up (or clueless) students really are about sex and sexual health. On Thursday the LGBT+ Society were outside the NUSU building from 11am-4pm offering guidance to students on LGBT+ sexual health.
The annual clubs and societies SHAG week compeition returned to the SU every day of the week from 11am until 3pm opposite reception in NUSU. Every year, societies and clubs compete to get the most members tested for STIs in a bid to win a £200 prize. By Thursday morning, nearly 50 clubs and societies had written their names on the board and had members tested. Cheerleading were clearly in the lead with 44 members taking the test, followed by Athletics and Cross country, who had 34.
“It has been great to see involvement from local agencies such as New Croft Centre and Shine as well as societies like LGBT+ getting involved with the week”
Jack Green, NUSU Welfare and Equality Officer
Jack Green, NUSU’s Welfare and Equality Officer, reflected on the week and why educating students about sexual health is so vital: “Sexual health is an issue that studets often overlook. However, studies have shown that young people are more likely to catch an STI than any other age group. “It has been great to see involvement from local agencies such as New Croft Centre and Shine as well as societies like LGBT+ getting involved with the week. “New Croft tested 540 students in the week for STIs. This is a record-breaking number of STI tests in SHAG week. “SHAG Week will launch a year-long initiative to educate students about sexual health as we know that it’s a bigger problem than a week-long campaign can tackle. Sexual health is important to students because of so many myths that are believed. STIs such as chlamydia can often display no symptoms, and after speaking to students, it is clear that there is a culture that students only get tested once symptoms are displayed.”
The atmosphere throughout the week was infectious Image: Jack Green, NUSU Welfare and Equality Officer
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comment
Monday 29 October 2018
Taxingtimesfor tourists
Seshadhri Subramanian asks whether a tax on tourists should be implemented in Edinburgh
N
ews broke out on October 17th that the city of Edinburgh is consulting various stakeholders about imposing a tourism tax on visitors to the city, and if this is a good idea. As of now, the proposal is to either charge 2% or £2 per night to all guests in all forms of accommodation. The tax, called a Transit Visitor Levy (TVL), will be charged all year round but is limited to seven nights. The aim of the consultation is to assess the views of various stakeholders, such as residents and local businesses, about whether it is a good idea. There are also questions about what the additional income, potentially amounting to £11 million, could be used for. Tourism tax is not a new thing in Europe. It has never been implemented in the United Kingdom but there are many countries within the EU, including France and Italy, who impose the tax either on the country as a whole or within specific areas of the nation. The main reason for imposing tourism taxes in most places, including Edinburgh, is the rising number of visitors that they face. This is a phenomenon called “overtourism”. But is imposing an additional tax the right way to go or is it simply an opportunity to make a little more money?
frastructure can handle the load of transient visitors at any given time. Tourism tax can help build infrastructure and help keep tourism sustainable, providing means for a city to keep up with burgeoning demand. At any rate, a tourist contributes to the local economy by simply visiting places, eating at local restaurants and doing other tourist-y things, so to speak. A little bit of extra money, so long as it is reasonable, is merely a drop in the ocean and is unlikely to deter many people from the experience of a new place. Given that most of the income is going to be invested back in the upkeep of the tourism industry, it seems like the right thing to do. That way,
the quality of life of the local population is unchanged, or may even be better, and the tourism industry can maintain itself. Plus tourists may actually enjoy the fact that their money is going towards something good – like protecting the flora and fauna of that locality for example.
Tourism tax can help build infrastructure and keep tourism sustainable
Like most complex issues, however, tourism taxes are not the only thing that can solve the issue of overtourism. The onus is on the government to try and implement better planning and management systems to complement the tourist tax because simply leeching money off of tourists, even if it is only a little bit, is not a fix of any kind.
SOAPBOX GORMLESS
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ove it or hate it, it’s hard not to notice the new Antony Gormley sculpture that’s been plonked in the centre of campus. And that’s the issue. Professor Eric Cross, Dean of Cultural Affairs said: “The scale of this striking work and its prominent position will create a new focal point on campus, and give an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with others and our environment.” Now this isn’t about whether I personally enjoy it or not. I just find it tasteless that these rusting blocks are being considered such an important ‘focal point’ on campus while the Martin Luther King statue has been hidden away in a courtyard. And I won’t have any ‘art vs history’ debates either. I love art. Art is history’s twin, two sides of a coin. But context is important, and highlighting certain things over others is not meaningless. In the context of the Gormley and Martin Luther statues at least, I think the Art on Campus programme have got their priorities seriously wrong.
ROAST OF THE WEEK
A bit of extra money won’t deter people from experiencing a new place
In the first half of 2018, “there were 6.4 million trips and £2.1 billion spend by international inbounds and GB residents taking overnight visits to Scotland” according to VisitScotland.org. The rise of Scotland becoming a popular tourist destination is not an overnight event. In fact, it is the job of tourism boards and other such organisations countries to project such rises and make sure that the in-
OUTRAGE FARMING Image: Flickr
High time for weed legalisation? Following legalisation of cannabis in Canada, our writers discuss the liberalisation of drugs policy
Elisabetta Pulcini
F
or societies aspiring to social liberty, there must be legalisation of marijuana. Provided the long history of misinformation and stereotyping of it, it is not surprising that in many countries, this drug is still illegal and its medical uses restricted. It is incredibly important for governments to update their senseless laws, and recognize the liberty of citizens to use marijuana, just like tobacco and alcohol. If Canada is now the second country in the world to decriminalise recreational marijuana, it was also one of the first to criminalise it in the first place, in 1923. And while we know when it was criminalised, historians still debate on a focal
question. Why? In fact, in the 1920s pot was not a social issue. But while evidence supporting its criminalisation was and still is lacking today, there are several reasons why recreational marijuana should be legalised. The main reason is to address health concerns caused by illegal trade. In fact, while cannabis overdose has never caused deaths, the illegal trade of it can become dangerous, due to lack of control. There is no way to trace harm-
The notion of weed being a gateway drug is intrinsic in its illegality
ful substances that could be mixed with it. However, when legalised, health and safety regulations will be put in place to ensure safe consumption of the drug, just like with any other product. Socially relevant issues that arose with its criminalisation are also worth considering. For example, the notion of weed being a gateway drug is intrinsic in its illegality: while marijuana in itself does not cause dependency any more than alcohol or tobacco, the environments in which it is found, as an illegal drug, provide exposure to harder drugs. Moreover, easier access to pot for those who might need it for therapeutic treatment, but don’t necessarily have a prescription for it, needs to be taken into account when discussing this issue. It is concerning that people against the decriminalisation of this drug tend confuse legalisation with endorsement. This is a misguided way to think about laws, whose function is not to enforce morals, but rather to protect the freedoms of individuals. Canada took a step in the right direction, and it’s time for the rest of the world to catch up.
Charlie Isaac
Image: Creative Fabrica Arts
Amber Marwick
W
ith Canada’s recent legalisation of cannabis for recreational use, the conversation has once again been sparked throughout the UK about doing the same. And whilst there is sizeable proportion of the population who believe this would
as simple as treating it like alcohol or tobacco, it would seem they are not really considering the full ramifications of such a move. For starters, there is a whole sector of society callously left out of the debate all too frequently: the dealers. These are hardworking members of the community, having to manage unpredictable hours not many of us would be willing to take on; would you have the dedication to drop off deliveries at half 11 on a Friday night, just because some drunk students have stammered home from the pub and wants a 20 bag? Legalisation would whisk all of this hard work away in an instant. And this is not even mentioning all the other steps of the supply chain – growers, pickers and middle men would also inevitably suffer. Brexit likely already poses a threat to the underground cannabis industry (as we all know, the best stuff comes from Amsterdam), why put these poor men and womens’ livelihoods any more in peril? Furthermore, any move towards legalisation would only normalise cannabis, leading more young people than ever to use and abuse what is a dangerous and destructive substance. Imagine a world where smoking weed was widespread at parties, public parks, even music festivals. Where it finds its way into popular music and movies, and is openly used by celebrities. Impressionable teenagers would not stand a chance! Looking more locally, the vibrant and unique nightlife of Newcastle might crumble, as people decide in droves they’d rather just stay home and listen to Pink Floyd. Bars would likely start doing ‘three bong hits for a fiver’ deals, just to stay in business.
Won’t somebody please think of the children!?
And anyone who claims there are no health risks to smoking cannabis are only deluding themselves. The idea that weed is not addictive is a myth, and heavy use of cannabis has been linked to all variety of mental illnesses. Imagine if the rap sheet of health risks associated with alcohol or tobacco was anywhere near as severe as that; I’m sure they too would be rightly banished to the Class Bs list. Finally, the move is a slippery slope; if cannabis is legalised then what next? Ketamine? Ecstasy? Home-cooked, Russian-style krokodil? In the words of Helen Lovejoy “Won’t somebody please think of the children?!”
I
Sophie Hindhaugh
f you’re on Twitter you’ll have seen it. One of Piers Morgan’s desperate grabs for attention, that is. They’re becoming more farcical by the day, and his latest tweet about Daniel Craig is just his latest bid for controversy. Surely he doesn’t really think that Daniel Craig, in all his sporty gear and with his equally sporty body, carrying a baby, is emasculating? Is looking after a child not…peak masculinity? Is he meant to lug the child like a rugby ball? I don’t get it. Why are men expected to absent from child rearing? Anyone with a healthy relationship with their dad will have had them very much involved from the beginning. I don’t think there’s anything more ‘masculine’ than a man looking after his children. For a man who regularly obsesses and admonishes women like Emily Ratajowski and Kim Kardashian for being ‘attention whores’, He’s yet to realise who the biggest whore is.
TOAST OF THE WEEK VULNERABLE AND TRUE
S
Amber Marwick
eeing comedian Hannah Gadsby on last week’s QI had me thinking about, and re-watching, her hilarious yet harrowing stand-up show Nanette this week. As a queer woman I can’t stress how much her rejection of comedy as a coping mechanism has helped me heal from my own painful experiences. A joke, she says, is a setup and a punchline: “I’ve wrapped up my stories in punchlines for too long.” Gadsby unpicks the nature of self-deprecation and reveals it as the toxic mechanism that it is, at least in the case of those already stigmatised. Never before has a stand-up show made me cry and made me reflect on my own psychology. Ironically, she says “I do comedy because it’s low-brow, nobody leaves this a better person”, and yet she’s given us a glimpse of what comedy could be; a place to laugh but also a place to be honest about what we struggle with, a place where it’s less controversial to be vulnerable. I think she’s changed the nature of comedy for the better, and I love her for that.
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the courier
Monday 29 October 2018
@CourierComment courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/comment Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Caitlin Disken & Alexandra Sadler Online Editor Rory Cameron
Donald Trump looks West After Kanye West’s infamous meeting with Donald Trump, our writers consider the impact of celebrities’ opinions on politics Sam Webber
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f I’ve learned anything from this week’s edition of the reality TV show that is the White House, it is the need to find myself a life partner who will gaze at me with as much enamour as Donald Trump when observing one of Kanye West’s monologues. Kanye’s off the cuff comments on the pragmatism and effectiveness of the Trump Administration struck a chord with the president who, for once, was happy to sit back and let someone else do all the talking. Yet the overarching theme of this bizarre encounter was reminiscent of a young boy meeting his estranged father for the first time, eager to make a good first impression. “This made me feel like Superman – that’s my favourite superhero” excitedly declared Kanye, gesturing towards his ‘MAGA’ cap, which prompted a reassuring smile and nod from the president. One cannot help but feel that Trump, instead of discussing the complexities of politics with Kanye, would much rather be teaching him how to ride a bike. The recent Oval Office publicity stunt involving Kanye West and Donald Trump follows an apparent competition between the two to see who could come across as the most unhinged on Twitter. Kanye West recently faced significant backlash after a confusing string of nowdeleted tweets outlining his alleged opposition to the 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery in the United States. And in an
equally abhorrent move, Donald Trump recently delivered a disturbing message to victims of sexual assault by tweeting his unequivocal support for the Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, who faced multiple accusations of sexual assault against women, setting an alarming precedent by demonstrating how little regard the Trump Administration has for those with credible sexual assault claims against those in a position of power.
They’ve bonded over a penchant for narcissism, egotism and paranoia
What makes Kanye’s obedience to Donald Trump so remarkable is his apparent U-turn in regard to his political allegiances over the last decade. West appeared on a Hurricane Katrina relief telethon in 2005 to accuse former Republican President George W. Bush of racism, claiming he ‘doesn’t care about black people’. Nonetheless, as Kanye’s influence as an artist and producer has grown over the years, so has his ego, which might explain his recent bromance with fellow narcissist, Donald Trump. They’ve bonded not through ideological unity, but over a shared penchant for narcissism, egotism and paranoia – the foundations of any healthy long-lasting relationship.
Aastha Malik
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n this postmodern era, it’s not uncommon to find the world of politics and media converging. Numerous critics of the intersections of these two worlds claim that celebrity’s involvement in politics is simply their quest for gaining legitimacy in the eyes of the public. However, in latest news, rap-icon Kanye West seemed to prove otherwise as his meeting with President Donald Trump gained massive disapproval and found itself at the centre of social media mockery. West has not shied away from sharing his controversial political beliefs in the past, and the meeting in the Oval office seemed to follow a similar haphazard monologue format that the public is now familiar with. The meeting, that was set to discuss the criminal justice system and prison reform, turned into a wide-ranging discussion covering MAGA, the 13th Amendment, the IPlane, bipolar disorder misdiagnosis and West’s own presidency plans. Moreover, recent news in regard to Taylor Swift further illuminates the intersection of the world of celebrities and politics. Vote.org found a significant increase in voter registration after the pop star took to Instagram to convey her support for Democrats in Tennessee midterm races, urging her fans to register to vote themselves. While West’s meeting is being trivialised on social media and Swift’s delve into politics is being criticised by conservatives, the two stories bring forth the same underlying question regarding why celebrity political opinions are valued.
Recent years have demonstrated how celebrities are regarded as ‘influencers’. We no longer live in a world where their purpose is restricted to entertainment. Rather, today’s culture is such that famous, idolised individuals have a strong influence on society as a whole. We accept that behind their public image, celebrities are real people too, sharing the same problems. They are citizens of the same country, and thus they have the right to be a part of the conversation. As influencers, celebrities are given the opportunity to make an impact, and the public thus listens to their opinions in hopes that they represent the voice of the millions that support them. Thus, being a celebrity comes with the acknowledgement of the power of representation. In the case of Kanye West, the numerous members from the black community that felt represented by him were left betrayed by his political siding with President Trump, who has been accused of being racist himself. Hence, it is important to understand that celebrities may not always represent more than an individual opinion. A blind commitment to following a celebrity’s political standpoints can prove to be detrimental.
Sophie Hindhaugh
D
uring the 2016 Presidential Election we saw celebrity involvement in politics more than ever. Everyday another celebrity or other would post on Instagram or Twitter, urging their millions of followers to go out and vote, captioning it either #ImWithHer or #MAGA (and thus purposefully and directly influencing their cult-like followings). America, I felt, had reached peak America. In a country obsessed with the celebrity, where a reality TV star can become President, and a celebrity rapper is deemed important enough to meet with Uganda’s dictator President Yoweri Museveni and rub shoulders with the current President, anything is possible. For example, Kanye West running for office in 2024, and Kim Kardashian becoming First Lady. Can you imagine anything more fitting for a country like the U S of A? We value celebrities’ opinions. We like celebrities. We want to believe that these perfect people with their flawless skin make equally flawless calls of judgement. But they don’t. Being a celebrity doesn’t suddenly transport you to a higher plane of being and knowledge, as much as the egotistical Mr. West would like to think so. His experience with politics is no more valuable than the average American citizen. If anything, Kanye could vote for whomever the hell he fancied at the time and his fortune and privilege would not change much. It was OK for Kanye to vote for Trump, because while he may be a black man, he is not a black man likely to be racially profiled, or to be shot for holding a toy gun. He’s not a woman. He’s not a black woman who is 3.5 times more likely to die from simply
being pregnant. He isn’t trans; he does not have his human rights dismissed and disregarded. He isn’t gay, which is why he can hobnob with Muesvini, a dictator who had advocated the burning of gay men. He is protected by his celebrity, as are others. So why the hell are we listening to them? They don’t represent us.
Celebrities will always be safe in their ivory towers
Celebrities and the other 1% will always be safe in their ivory towers. The influence they hold is frightening, and there’s not much we can do about it. Following Taylor Swift’s latest political Instagram post, those registering to vote increased 65,000 in a 24-hour period. We should just be thankful that Taylor Swift, pop singer and country bumpkin, is encouraging her young followers to vote for Phil Bredesen, whose voting record is considerably more ethical than than that of Marsha Blackburn. In our social media world, it’s impossible to avoid celebrities. It’s impossible to ignore their political opinions, which every news outlet (and even University newspapers in the North East of England) deem important to cover .The best we can do is take it all with a pinch of salt, do our own research and write our own articles, because celebrities will never stand for us.
Newcastle Uni fuelling climate change?
Newcastle Fossil Free argues that Newcastle University should be more committed to its divestment from fossil fuel companies
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n 2016, Newcastle University announced that it would remove its investments in coal, tar sands and other ‘non-progressive’ fossil fuel companies, following several years of student-directed campaigns. We rejoiced; it was definitely not enough, but a good start in making our university a more ethical place. However, recent financial statements show that even after this decision was made, things have not changed – they have become worse. Since 2015, Newcastle University has been increasing its investments in fossil fuels. The latest data, from July 2017 (more than one year after divestment was announced), shows that the university
still invests more than £8 million in companies such as BP, Shell and BHP Billiton. While the latest IPCC report is daunting, it did not come as a surprise to people who have been campaigning to halt climate change for years. It further underlines that taking meaningful action has become more urgent and fundamental. We must hold our institutions to account on driving the changes needed to secure a future on this planet. A Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) report from 2017 emphasises the role of fossil fuels companies in driving climate change climate change. Just 100 companies
are responsible for more than 70% of greenhouse gases emissions since 1988. So when we are told that by taking shorter showers, refusing plastic straws or buying bamboo toothbrushes, we can save the planet, we are being lied to. We cannot tackle climate change without stopping the destruction caused by the fossil fuel industry. That is what the divestment movement is about. It means asking our institutions to stand up to an industry that is causing deaths around the world, breaching human and indigenous rights, exploiting workers, exacerbating inequalities and compromising the chances of life having a future on Earth. It means asking our institutions not
to give these companies any more money and visibility, and instead give these opportunities to projects which are driving positive social and environmental change. It means asking our institutions to stand by our side, the people who make them what they are, and not serve the interests of companies that only care about making as much profit as quickly as possible. Partial divestment is not enough. We, the Newcastle Fossil Free campaign, are asking Newcastle University to commit to full divestment, and lead the way to a more sustainable future. Join our campaign to hold our university to account.
life&style
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the courier
Monday 29 October 2018
@CourierLifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle Life & Style Editor Sophie Henderson Lifestyle Editors Phoebe Fielder, Holly Margerrison, Ella Williams Online Editor Amanda Goh
Blind date
Are you unlucky in love? Email us at c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk
Niamh Mulrooney meets Ritesh Jethwa Mechanical Engineering student Ritesh meets with English Lit student Niamh. We find out how they got on. . .
Were you excited? Yeah I was looking forward to meeting someone new regardless of the outcome What did you decide to do? I suggested going for a pint in Jesmond. You should probaably knowwe knew each other! We’re friends lol Oh my goodness! So were you surprised to see him? Yeah! And a little disapointed - not because of Ritesh just because I wanted to meet someone new! Yeah- What are the chances haha! That’s a shame- where did you go We just had a couple pints and then I went home Was it completely as friends then? On my part yeah! I feel like that feeling is mutual but it was nice anyway.
Did you learn anything new about him?
Did you know of Niamh already?
Yeah she’s good friends with some of my housemates so I’ve met her a few times already Did you decide to treat it as a date anyway? Yeah, pretty much, we went for drinks and chatted for a while
Was it nice to get to know her maybe a little better? Yeah very nice, I’d only had brief chats with her so it was nice to find out more about her Any awkward moments?
Hmm I don’t think so. There was one slightly awkward moment where she wanted to go for a cig halfway through but it was too windy so just stayed inside Ahaha, thats unlucky. So will you be seeing each other again soon?
Unfortunately not, I wasn’t getting the vibes so I think it’s best to leave ourselves as friends.
We discovered he had a capsule wardrobe!
Image: Wikipedia Commons
the courier
14
life & style lifestyle
Monday 29 October 2018
Humans of Newcastle
Rant of the week: Oh Piers, not again...
the unique experiences of a passing student
Billy Lamond gives his experience of walking Hadrian’s Wall Jimmy Athy gives us the details Piers Morgan’s latest slip-up
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istory is full of incredible adventures and feats of human endurance: Alexander the Great leading an army over 6000 kilometres from Macedon to the Indus; Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastián Elcano’s circumnavigation of the globe, and Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s conquering of Mt Everest. The list is endless and each one seems more impressive than the last. That is until June of 2017. The pinnacle of human achievement was reached when an expedition of 7 Newcastle University students took the first steps of an almost 90-mile journey that would push us to our limits. When we set out to walk the length of Hadrian’s wall to raise money for Macmillan cancer support and the Down’s Syndrome Association I don’t think many, including most of us, people thought we could do it. After all, we were 6 classicists and a history student, the closest thing most of us normally get to heavy exercise is trying to force our way through Jstor articles. Still, we made the mistake of telling people we were going to do it, and then we couldn’t back out. The first day was easy enough, we left our bags our first campsite and got a taxi to the start of the wall, without stuff to weigh us down and with reasonable flat countryside we marched back to camp in short order with our spirits high. From that point we started hitting problems. Our second campsite we discovered was booked for the wrong day and we had to push
on to the third, almost doubling the distance we had to walk that day. The campsite ended up being infested with midges, it was not a pleasant night. The next morning, I woke up covered in so many bites I looked like a plague victim, the campsite seemed a long way, our spirits were low, but we were looking forward to the short 8-mile day we would have the next day. Unfortunately, our hopes were unfounded. After reasonable nights sleep we made our way back to the trail, only to be faced by some of the rockiest terrain on the whole journey. We powered up and down hills for the first four miles before our heels started dragging, the end didn’t seem to be getting any closer. However, despite the obstacles we found our coping mechanisms: frequent stops for sweets, taking advantage of photo opportunities and most importantly, going to the pub at every opportunity. Eventually we got into a rhythm and before we knew it we were sleeping in our own houses in Newcastle. The last day was only a 6 mile walk to Wallsend where we were greeted by, honestly a slightly disappointing signpost, but we didn’t care, we’d done it. Against all odds we’d walked Hadrian’s wall.
O
nce again, we have controversy from Piers Morgan. In the past I have just ignored the nonsense that the Good Morning Britain presenter comes out with these days, but the most recent controversy has angered me. He arrogantly questioned another man’s masculinity as he was carrying his baby in a papoose. This wasn’t just any man, though. It was the current James Bond! Piers Morgan tweets “Oh 007… not you as well!??” while including a picture of Daniel Craig carrying his baby daughter in a papoose, and the strangest part of it was the hashtag “’#emasculated”. The arrogance of Piers Morgan to so openly question another man’s masculinity is astounding, considering as he isn’t exactly a model for masculinity himself. When he first tweeted, people were questioning his stance on a man carrying his own child, but then Piers back tracks and states it’s about the pa-
poose (baby carrier). But what got me so bothered is his outdated look on masculinity. Not only does it make practical sense to carry a child in a papoose, it does not emasculate a man in any way. But more to the point, it wouldn’t matter if it did. Daniel Craig is not bothered about how masculine he looks when walking down the street with his daughter, he is bothered about the care of his child, and I would argue every other normal man would be the same. The idea of masculinity and femininity has progressed over the recent years, and Piers needs to realise that, as many people now do not bother with fitting in to someone’s agenda. A man should not need to worry about being ‘masculine’ because it is old fashioned; everyone should just be themselves, and Piers Morgan should stop questioning others lives and start looking at his own.
Spookify your student house Create a spooky splash with Caitlyn Rawlings suggestions
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t is finally spooky season and the first time you can justifiably decorate your student house before covering every wall and bannister in tinsel for Christmas. You’ve spent the majority of your student loan on books, supplies and a messy fresher’s week so spending your last few pennies on expensive decorations doesn’t seem logical. After spending hours hunting down every shop in the city centre that sells anything from warning tape to cotton cobwebs, I have found the best spots to get those cheap buys and DIY’s. Tiger Located in Eldon Square this quirky shop sells everything from pumpkin shaped fairy lights, to ghost shaped balloons and every purchase was less that £3. Tiger is the perfect place to buy everything you need for an eerie pres or a Halloween house party on a restricted budget. Poundland Luckily, not too far away is the place we student’s all know and love. Pound- land.
Everything your childhood self has dreamed of is at your fingertips and now you pay the bills you can finally justify that skeleton head full of shot glasses for your dining room table. Having bought an array of paper tissue for hanging pom-poms and card for cutting out gravestones and a family of bats, Poundland is the perfect place to acquire everything you will ever need this October. Grainger Market Just moments away is the infamous Grainger Market - the perfect place to buy material which you can rip and hang from the ceiling, or even wrap around banisters. This is a really effective way of revolutionizing your entire house to look like it is straight off the set of Hocus Pocus (without the million-dollar budget). Even if you are strapped for cash around this time of year, it is possible to feel festive this Halloween season and create a boo-tiful haunted house...
If you’ve got it, haunt it
Kate Baguley provides some last-minute DIY costume, eco-style
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Image: Jimmy Athey
When we set out to walk the length of Hadrian’s wall I don’t think that many people, including most of us, thought we could do it
t is approaching Halloween, and you are adamant you are staying in. No fussing with costumes, or make-up, or who’s going to have the best party. Suddenly, all your housemates have plans and there is absolutely no way you are staying in alone. What are you going to do? Do not panic. You don’t need to rush to Northumberland Street and raid Magic Box for whatever they have left. You have everything you need sitting right in the back of your wardrobe! Here’s how to make a lastminute DIY dead school girl/ b oy without splashing any cash… Do you remember that one time you went to a ‘back to school’ event in freshers, resulting in the reemergence of your old school tie lingering at the back of your underwear drawer? Well, now is the time to crack it out again! Firstly, you’ll need a white shirt. If you don’t have one of these lying around, you can just use an old white t-shirt! The trick to making the outfit look best is to
cut some holes/slits into the shirt with scissors, pulling them open with your hands to create some frays for a distressed look. Once this is done over the entire shirt, you’ll need some fake blood or a substitute such as red food colouring, or red lipstick! Splatter or smudge the product in random places on the shirt - the more splattering, the better! Next, you’ll need your basic school wear attire - a black skirt with tights or socks, or shorts/ black jeans for you boys out there. To complete the look, the face needs to look just as distressed as the shirt. Pale make-up gives a ‘dead’ look and creates a perfect blank canvas to create bruises or cuts. To make these bruises, all you need to do is gently layer eyeshadow, using purple shades, brown shades and yellow shades in a crescent shape anywhere desired on the face! Finish the look off with some red lipstick and smudge to make the look much bloodier and... tadah! You have an effortless outfit that’s cost you nothing but a bit of time - result.
Image: @chrissimpsonsartist on Instagram
the courier
15
lifestyle life & style
Monday 29 October 2018
Cooking with The good, the bad and the monarchy Hope Coke It’s a topic dividing the nation year on year - Sophie Wilson reels off her reasons for repping the Royals, whilst Jimmy Athey roasts the rich reps reveal of the wedding dress was much anticipated: she wore a satin sleeved ball gown, elegantly matched with a diamond and emerald tiara. But Eugenie’s dress was chosen specifically with the aim of helping a charity, and the royal family have never fallen short of supporting charities across the
Image: flickr
T
FOR
he British public were once again united for the viewing of another 2018 royal wedding. On Friday October 12th, Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel. They met on a skiing holiday while Eugenie was attending Newcastle University, and studying combined honours of English Literature, History of Art and Politics. As with any royal wedding, the
world. Princess Eugenie herself is a patron of many charities. The Helen Arkyll Dyslexia Charity is close to her heart, she herself being dyslexic, and so is the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital’s Appeal, as she was treated for scoliosis there. On her wedding day, her dress openly showed her scar from this, and it shows how much public attention royals draw to charities. The royal family collectively are patrons of over 3000 organisations, and they have also created their own charities, for example Prince Harry founding the Invictus Games in 2014. With the royal family being a global phenomenon, they manage to gain support for charities globally. Many from abroad flock to England to visit royal family associated attractions, notably the Tower of London, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. An advantage of the royal family is the financial benefit which Britain receives from this. On average, they bring in £550 million per year from tourism, which gives a much needed boost to the British economy. The 2011 wedding of William and Kate brought in a revenue of between 1 and 2 billion pounds, with the sale of royal wedding merchandise and commemorative products bringing in over half a billion pounds. The royal family lie at the heart of British values, and the patriotism and stability which they create is never a bad thing for a country with a continually changing political situation.
Their contribution to this country, with the Queen herself having served for 63 years, far exceeds their cost, and we should be celebrating that we have a monarchy to support.
AGAINST
Yawn, not another royal wedding. At least with the wedding of William and Kate I had a day off school, and there is some what an excuse to have such an extravagant and over-hyped wedding seeing as William is the future king. But if people like Princess Eugenie, someone who needs eight people to die before she has a sniff of being Queen, are having tax-payer funded parties to show off their roof-breaking ego’s, then where does it end? As you have probably guessed by now, I am not a fan of the royal family. I am all in favour of the removal of the Royals as the head of the state, distancing them from the public as much as possible. The idea of a Royal family to me is outdated; it may be a British tradition to have and celebrate our monarch, but traditions can change, and the ‘values’ of our progressive society doesn’t have room for a group of toffs that sponge off the tax-payer. Their media attention can be beyond ridiculous sometimes, with pages and pages of tabloids dedicated to the day-to-day lives of these people. George starts school? Front page news. A racist misogynist gets a water infection? Every TV news channel is outside the hospital. Why should this
A racist misogynist gets a water infection? Every TV news channel is outside the hospital family get all this attention, ask yourself why they deserve the life we give them? They serve in the armed forces, but so do thousands other people. They represent the richest one percent of our nation, and they give out a false image of what our people are like to the rest of the world. I do understand the tourism argument as they bring in revenue for the country, and maybe that’s the sole reason they will remain for the foreseeable future. But don’t give me the ‘British values’ excuse, as the phrase is outdated and no longer relevant in a diversifying society. Perhaps we should worry more about fixing our public services and paying our nurses a fair wage before we shell out for another Royal wedding.
Driving me up the wall
Feature editor Ally Wilson is here to fuel our laughter with her driving experiences having mastered Rainbow Road on Mario Kart qualifies her to be the next Lewis Hamilton
M
y first driving experience began as I’m sure many other people’s did: sat on my dad’s lap pretending to steer while he did the pedals. I’d like it noted that we were in a field so no laws or limbs were broken in the process. In that same field at the age of 17, I had another go but sat on the seat and with access, much to my father’s distress, to the accelerator
pedal. “The brake is just as important as the accelerator Alice,” he would repeatedly tell me, eyes wide with anxious fear. Yeah right, Dad. Try telling that to an excited 17 year old who thinks that having mastered Rainbow Road on MarioKart qualifies her to be the next Lewis Hamilton. Safe to say it ended with a very poorly judged jerk on the aforementioned accelerator towards the edge of a fairly substantially sized cliff and a subsequent explosion of colourful language before a hasty ejection of myself from the drivers’ seat. Surprisingly, I think the worst near death experience I’ve ever had whilst driving was after I’d started lessons. I had the classic three-lesson-in-cockiness and was convinced that I could drive my parents to the countryside and back
again with elegant ease. To this day don’t think this episode is as bad as my mum made out, and I still stand that the difference between second and third gear was far too extreme on the old Ford Focus I was driving. Alas, I was not aware of this quirk when I went into a sharp right hand turn in third gear, mounted the curb and forgetting to break simply accepted my inevitable death of crashing into the tree which was getting closer and closer. It was a shriek from my mother and a heave of the handbrake that eventually stopped the vehicle, and an argument very similar to the one I’d had some months earlier repeated itself. Without giving the full details or naming names, I think having to learn from people who managed to get a speeding ticket in a motorhome, or who got the car stuck in a bog on the first night of our first and last camping holiday immediately set me back a few paces when it came to learning how to drive. But I can safely say that I, Ally Wilson, have been a driver for three years now, and haven’t crashed since passing. Depending on how you define the word ‘crash’.
Roasted Pumpkin Salad
So it’s Halloween season, and there’s nothing more terrifying than a salad, right? Although this great for using up any leftover carved pumpkins, although butternut squash would work too. And while fruit in a savoury salad might sound weird, the richness of the figs and the sharpness of the grapes mellow beautifully when roasted, bringing out the sweetness in the pumpkin and onion. It’s coming to the end of fig season now, so if you can’t get your hands on any then pears would be a good substitute. Then it all gets tossed with cannellini beans for heartiness, piled over rocket and topped with a salty hit of feta or goats cheese. Which all makes for a salad that is, if I don’t say so myself, scarily good. Serves 2
Image: Hope Coke
Ingredients: 1 large red onion 400g pumpkin or butternut squash (about 1/2 a small pumpkin/ squash) 200g fresh figs (about 4-5 large figs) 150g grapes (about 2 small bunches worth) 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary 1 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg 2 tbsp olive oil 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 x 400g tin cannellini beans salt and pepper, to taste 2 big handfuls peppery salad leaves, like rocket or watercress 60g feta or goats cheese optional, to garnish: a handful of toasted pecans or pumpkin seeds, some roughly chopped fresh parsley Directions: Preheat the oven to 220 degrees C. Peel and halve the red onion and cut each half into four wedges, then peel and deseed the pumpkin or squash and cut into 2cm chunks. Toss the onion and pumpkin with a tablespoon of the olive oil, place in a large roasting tray and roast for about 10 minutes, or until just starting to become tender. Meanwhile, slice the figs into quarters or sixths, depending how big they are. Remove the roasting tray from the oven add in the figs and grapes. Strip the leaves from the rosemary sprigs (you want about two tablespoon’s worth) and scatter over the fruit and veg, then add the oregano, cinnamon, nutmeg, olive oil and balsamic vinegar and remaining olive oil. Toss until well combined then transfer to the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes more, or until it’s all tender and starting to brown and crisp in places. I usually finish it off with a blast under the grill to get everything nicely caramelised. While the fruit and vegetables are roasting, take a large platter or shallow bowl and scatter the rocket or other salad leaves in an even layer. Drain and rinse the cannellini beans, then set them aside to dry. Once the roasted fruit and veg is ready, remove from the oven and add the drained beans to the hot tray. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper and then toss so that the beans get mixed through and coated in the sticky balsamic juices. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed. When everything has cooled slightly, spoon the roasted fruit and veg over the rocket onto your platter or bowl, then crumble over the feta or goats cheese. Finally, scatter over the pecans/pumpkin seeds and parsley, if using, and you’re ready to serve! You can eat it while slightly warm or make ahead to have at room temperature. It’s great alongside some crusty bread for a light lunch, or scale up the quantities and serve alongside other dishes as part of a Halloween buffet.
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life & style beauty
coutier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Beauty Editors Susanne Norris, Nimra Rafique Laura Buckle Online Editor Molly Taylor
the courier
Monday 22 October 2018
Royal beauty: looks fit for Queens The last royal wedding saw Newcastle alumni Princess Eugenie walk down the aisle. Katy Murray analyses iconic royal looks
Image: @enews
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oyal, bridal makeup may seem like a strange topic to most students. But, with Prince Harry now married, contemporary royal brides have embraced a wearable tradition of simple featureenhancing makeup. This fresh and feminine look can
be tailored to suit every skin tone and easily recreated with a range of products, making it perfect for graduation ceremonies and interviews. There was not a glitter highlight nor a cut crease in sight when Castle Leazes alumni Princess Eugenie of York wed
Jack Brooksbank earlier this month. Instead Eugenie opted for a classic look updated with bold brows, which has since been labelled ‘a masterclass in bridal makeup’ by Harper’s Bazaar. Glimpses of Eugenie’s glowing makeup were revealed as she journeyed to the chapel without a veil, a bold decision she made to show off her scoliosis surgery scar, a large focus of the ensemble. The Princess is rumoured to have achieved her makeup look with Bobbi Brown’s Hannah Martin, the artist who was on hand to help Kate on her big day in 2011. As is the usual practice, the exact products used to create the bridal look are a closely guarded secret, however, Eugenie has previously expressed her affection for the luxury beauty brands Charlotte Tilbury and Bobbi Brown. Working as an associate gallery director and an ambassador for Project 0, Eugenie told Harper’s Bazaar that she often applies her makeup on the go using a few staple products such as Bobbi Brown’s bronzing powder, which retails for £32. The radiant nature of the bridal look makes it fair to assume that the bronzer was used on the day, showcasing the versatility of the product which can be applied minimally for day to day or amped up for a special event. The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May was watched by almost two-thirds of British television viewers; putting a lot of pressure on Meghan’s makeup artist and close friend Daniel Martin. Daniel reportedly met Meghan on the set of Suits and their longstanding friendship made him the perfect candidate for the role, telling Glamour that his aim was for the bride to ‘look like her best self’. The sheer foundation showcased Markle’s trademark freckles, features which have given rise to the so-called ‘Meghan effect’: a sharp increase in demand for faux freckle tattoos. To achieve a subtle glow Daniel revealed that he applied a soft luminizing product to the highlights of Meghan’s face and body rather than using an intense strobing product. One of the most memorable moments of the ceremony - for Twitter - was
when the bride’s veil was lifted and she looked up at the royal groom with big, bright eyes. As a Dior ambassador it is rumoured that Daniel used their Diorshow On Stage Liner in Matte Black to create the fluttery doe-eyed effect, a product which retails for £26. Whilst in black the liner can be used to achieve a range of looks from simple definition to a bold cat eye the liner also comes in a rainbow of 14 vibrant shades great for Halloween and quirky evening looks.
This fresh and feminine look can be tailored to suit every skin tone and easily recreated
Kate and Will’s nuptials captured the world and gave the British public a day off back in 2011. Styling herself as a more modern addition to the Royal family Kate Middleton famously did her own makeup under the guidance of Hannah Martin. Kate’s beige-nude lipstick Bobbi Brown’s semi-matte lipcolor in Sandwash Pink, retailing at £24.50, is today a more popular look than celebrity styles at the time, such as applying foundation to the lips. Kate’s look is more characteristic of the recent trend for ‘my lips but better’ lipsticks which are low maintenance requiring fewer top-ups and allow the wearer to achieve subtle shape and definition without the need for a liner. Each royal bride showcased a different yet timeless style. We can learn lots from them and their well-skilled makeup artists. These looks are subtle but each have their own quirks - so can be applied to makeup routines every day - in addition to more special occasions.
Bag a beauty bargain Magic MUA visions Ellie Irving understands that students appreciate and love a bargain. Here, she unearths the best places for beauty steals
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s society grows increasingly obsessed with social media and celebrity culture, it is no surprise that the beauty industry is a booming business. We are expected to conform to a specific mould and live up to the unrealistic beauty standards we see every day in the media. So, there is no surprise that I spend hundreds of pounds trying to maintain my meticulous beauty routine, while telling myself I can’t possibly live without my go-to beauty saviours. In fact, we don’t need these products to make ourselves beautiful, but beauty products can be great to help boost confidence and explore creativity, and this is when discount codes become my new best friend. Some of my favourite websites to grab a bargain include feelunique.com and lookfantastic.com. Both useful sites stock numerous different skincare, haircare and makeup brands – Charlotte Tilbury, NARS, Eve Lom and Hourglass to name a few. Make sure to check the offers tab on both websites, they are frequently updated with various 3 for 2, free gifts and discount promotions. They often have 20% off some of the best-selling brands – plus, if you’re like me and you regularly splurge on all-thingsbeauty you can create an account with them and receive rewards, including 10% off your favourite brand for life. Relevant to this time of year, if you love to test and experiment with different products you could even invest in a beauty advent calendar, released every year in October-November by companies such as Maybelline, M&S, Space NK and The Body Shop. Offering huge savings and with a price to match every budget, these calendars are great gifts for beauty connoisseurs. So, I know nobody wants to be bombarded with spam emails, but I would recommend signing up for your favourite brand’s mailing list, so you can be the first to know about any offers or promotions they have on. You can also save yourself money by signing up for loyalty cards, with some companies sending you gift vouchers on your birthday and when you spend in store. M&S’s Sparks card is free to sign up for and you’ll receive treats and offers for being a member, they also donate to a charity of your choice every time you shop with them. However, the best place to spot a bargain in Newcastle has got to be TK Maxx, with high-end beauty products
discounted by up to 60% I spent more time there than the library during my undergraduate degree! It sells everything from fashion and beauty to homeware and seasonal decorations, plus they have some of the nicest smelling candles! The Newcastle [TK Maxx] store has a great beauty and skincare section and it’s so fun to shop there because you never know what brands you might spot – you’ll often find brands such as Mac, Elemis, Too Faced and Dior at massively reduced prices. Last Christmas, I bought Rodial’s Dragon’s Blood Sculpting Gel (£85) and the Heroes Collection Discovery Kit (£69) for only £7.99 each! Even if you’re looking for Halloween inspo, Superdrug currently have 3 for 2 mix and match on cosmetics. From enchanted mermaid and glitter zip to bejewelled dragon and crystal skull, they have a number of different products for the ultimate monster-mash. So, just remember you don’t always have to pay premium prices for beauty products that work. Most of the time, we pay for branding and packaging – if you look at a lot of high-end ingredient lists you can find very similar products in discounted shops and drugstores. I’m not saying that we never have to pay for luxury and some products do deserve their price label but be vigilant and make sure you are getting value for money. So, I’ll see you in TK Maxx… I’ll be the one with the basket full of beauty bargains!
Image: @tkmaxx
Want a daring Halloween look but don't know where to start? Ionna Hitiri talks through some inspiring MUA looks
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ho doesn’t love an extra Halloween costume? Especially if you are a beauty lover or makeup junkie, who doesn’t love being the most extra amongst your friends with a 10/10 Halloween makeup look? Every year during Halloween, makeup artists from all around the world get so inspired by the spookiness of Halloween and share their creativity on their social media. So, with Halloween fast approaching, let’s have a look at my personal favorite beauty gurus and their Halloween Makeup Looks. The number one, the queen of makeup, Nikkie Tutorials (@nikkietutorials) is a non-stop inspiration for us; not only during Halloween but all year round. Nikkie first became viral when she uploaded “The Power of Make Up” video on her YouTube channel and has been a star ever since then. But for Halloween she goes that little step further; she uploads spooky makeup looks right up until the 31st of October to show her audience the most magical looks. This time she shared on her Instagram a “Phantom of Makeup Mask” inspired by the Phantom of the Opera. Here she focused on one half of her face by drawing a mask and creating an optical illusion through makeup; leaving the rest of the face completely untouched. She shared, “Wearing makeup is like wearing a mask” and for Halloween, that is so true. Apart from the result, which was absolutely stunning, she also talked about makeup shaming and confidence. Secondly, male makeup artists are also one of a kind. Throughout last 2 years, male MUAs are becoming more and more accepted in society and some are incredibly talented. The king of makeup is Patrick Starr (@patrickstarr) and no one can deny it. For him, the face is a blank canvas and he is literally the master of makeup. My favorite Patrick Starr Halloween look is, for sure, Frida Kahlo. The iconic female figure was recreated by him in the most respectful way. From the makeup to the traditional costume to the jewelry and, of course, the flower crown and the brows. “At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can” – Frida Kahlo. The youngest superstar of the makeup industry is the one and only James Charles (@jamescharles). The 19-year-old is an internet personality and model; famous for being the first male CoverGirl spokesperson. On his YouTube channel he uploads tons of videos focusing on
makeup and so far, he has collaborated with many big names of the makeup industry. His “Strike” Halloween look is amazing and perfect for someone who wants to try his makeup techniques. Using dark colors (blue and black mostly) and a white liner for the ‘strike’ effect, the result is bomb. Are you inspired by online MUAs? If so, what are you going to do for this Halloween? Full costume or full makeup look? Dare the impossible.
Image: @jamescharles
the courier
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beauty life & style
Monday 22 October 2018
Halloween: beauty on a budget
Tired of going as a generic witch or slapping on some fake blood? Sophie Hindhaugh searches far and wide to find you the coolest Halloween looks that can be created on a student budget
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t’s that time of year again. It’s the month where you spend hours trawling Instagram looking for a costume that isn’t eyeliner whiskers, one that isn’t wildly expensive, or artistically unachievable, in that it requires all the craft supplies from Homebase and a sewing machine to boot. Because who really has the time to create a costume from scratch? Not this student. I do however have the time to trawl Instagram (of course). And, trawl I have. I’ve rounded up the easiest, most achievable, and (most importantly) purse friendly Halloween looks for your inspiration and viewing, so you don’t have too.
Image:@jessicaleighloves
Pre Surgery Glam: For this look, all you need is eyeliner and a steady hand. Some fake blood looks good smudged around the forehead and under the eyes to add some dimension, but isn’t necessary. A cheap bandage from Boot’s or Superdrug wrapped around your head really pulls the look together, and helps give that pre-surgery
glam look. Think P!nk in Stupid Girls but without the internalised misogyny (still a banger though). With this makeup look I’d wear either a dress or a top which exposes some skin. Arrows drawn on your chest suggesting a boob job is about to commence (a girl can only dream) would help make your costume more substantial looking and put together. Ouija board: This is definitely a look that appears harder to achieve than it actually is. It will only require a few eyeliners (I recommend MUA’S £1 liners). Just a note: I would get a friend to help you, no-one wants the nightmare of looking in the mirror and realising you’ve written letters backwards. After getting the letters right, I would next focus on writing the Yes and No on your cheeks, as this is one of the most distinguishing features of an Ouija board. For your eyes I would recommend a cool toned purple or even a black, smoky eye. Keep it messy and don’t worry about it not being perfect - it’s Halloween, you’re meant to look a little bit demented. Just don’t invite any bad demons or mean boys who don’t text you back to play. Cheshire Cat: I love this one. A twist on a classic, it’s not something I’ve ever seen done before. Most of us have some cat ears lying about but, if you’re not totally basic, then you can get some for as cheap as £1.50 from Ebay. Pink and purple eye shadows are essential, and need sweeping over where you would normally bronze. You’ll have to whip out your eyeliner (which is the most versatile Halloween makeup tool going) and draw on your Cheshire smile. You may need to buy some white paint, just for the teeth, but over all, a very achievable and low cost look. Doe: More Baby Spice than Scary Spice? Then try this angelic looking doe makeup. Pile on your bronzer over your cheeks and foreheads till you’re looking bronzed. Then, apply tiny dots of concealer over the brown, spacing them out evenly. Dabbing it with your finger should create a white-spotted effect. White eyeliner in your crease will
create the illusion of more doe-like eyes. Eyeliner down your nose and on your top lip will complete your nose. Making the nose a heart rather than just a dot makes this look even cuter. For hair, try space buns to give the illusion of having ears. However, if this is too cutesy for you, try going as a dead deer. For this, you’ll need some fake blood to artistically dribble from your gunshot wound. There are some fantastic, creative Halloween looks floating about this year. No need to go to Soho Rooms as a boring black cat.
Image: @dressyourface
DECIEM's dose of drama The Ordinary are a staple brand for all beauty lovers - but the last week has seen chaotic and strange outbursts from their founder. So, are they actually closing? Bianca Ionici investigates
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here has been a lot of controversy surrounding DECIEM which almost led to the closure of the beauty brand, Bianca Ionici discusses the latest news on the situation. For me, news of DECIEM’s closure was inopportune, to say the least. After having trawled through Facebook and Instagram skincare groups and accounts, I’d been aware of The Ordinary and its seemingly revolutionary business concept for over a year now. It took me some time to make the plunge, but recently I finally decided to place my first order. Two products had actually been recommended by a DECIEM rep once I’d sent in pictures of my skin’s problem areas. This is yet another thing that DECIEM does differently from many other skincare companies: they take the time to reply to individual customer queries about their specific concerns. While I was anxiously awaiting confirmation that my package was on its way, I was absent-mindedly googling the brand when I stumbled upon a video posted on DECIEM’s Instagram account. In it, the company’s founder, Brandon Truaxe, announced that DECIEM would “shut down all operations until further notice”, and this was to be the “final post” for the famed beauty brand. Not only that, but in the caption Truaxe threatened a number of high-profile figures as well as other wellknown beauty brands. He also accused his employees of “criminal activities”, including “financial crimes”, without giving any concrete examples of their alleged wrongdoings. The video has since been taken down, although, as everyone knows by now, nothing is ever truly gone from the Internet. The October 8th post isn’t the first time peculiarity has been surrounding DECIEM’s controversial founder. On January 24th, Truaxe declared that he was cancelling all of DECIEM’s “marketing plans”, and would be using the company’s Instagram as his own, responding personally to comments. Twelve days prior, he was throwing shade at Drunk Elephant, a costlier skincare brand that has similar products to The Ordinary. On January 28th, Truaxe apologised publicly to Drunk Elephant’s founder,
Tiffany Masterson, and even promised to donate a hefty sum to Save the Elephants, their charity partner. February 4th, Truaxe introduces Riad, DECIEM’s factory manager, and bizarrely felt the need to clarify that Riad is not his boyfriend and he isn’t gay. The erratic Instagram behaviour, in which Truaxe was using this account as
The company's founder, Brandon Truaxe, announced that DECIEM would "shut down all operations"
Big-up beauty brand lovin'
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aura Mercier has to be one of my favourite high end brands with every product within their collection never failing to impress. They are the pioneer of the “Flawless Face” and a world-renowned company. I have tried a variety of products and will highlight the products which I believe are a must have within everyone’s makeup collection. My all-time favourite product has to be Laura Mercier’s ‘Translucent Loose Setting Powder’, this product works wonders for anyone and everyone. It prices at £29.00, which is a little steep but it is completely worth the money. It has won many awards which are all majorly deserved, with its super smooth application, which goes on evenly and blends effortlessly. This product sets your makeup flawlessly for 12 hours, with a matte finish without adding weight or texture. One main reason why this product is so perfect, is that it is a no-flashback formula, creating a soft-focus effect to subtly blur the look of fine lines and imperfections, helping you get the perfect photos. This lightweight, finely-milled powder never looking cakey which enables no creasing to occur. It comes in two shades, Translucent which is perfect for fair to medium to tan skin tones and Translucent Medium Deep is ideal for medium deep to deep skin tones. It is recommended to apply this with the Velour Puff, however can be applied with any powder brush, the product does all the talking. My second favourite product from Laura Mercier is their ‘Face illuminators’, due to it being a long-wearing and buildable powder which allows you to gain both a natural-looking look or an intense one. There are 4 shades, ‘Addition’ is a gold shade, which works on most skin tones, ‘Seduction’ is the darkest shade which would work on more medium-deep skin tones, however you could use this for a bronzer if you have fairer skin tones. ‘Devotion’ has more pink undertones and would work on earth deep or really light skin tones, and ‘Indiscretion’ which has a warm rose gold colouring to it, which would work on most skin tones. I have both ‘Indiscretion’ and ‘Devotion’ and they are both so visually appealing within the packaging and on the face. I spray my brush with some setting powder if I am wanting to gain a more intense highlight. It is £32, but with its versatile I do believe you will not regret this purchase Another product which I have been using more for a few months now is the ‘Flawless Fusion Foundation’, it’s not too thick on the skin but allows a full coverage to be evenly created. It states how it lasts for 15 hours and with the help of the translucent powder this is very much true. It is an oil-free product which is great as it allows this product to work on a range of skin types, which is always a key attribute to a good foundation. What I love most about this product is how the colour stays true all day and will not oxidize, where other foundations that I have tried never could promise this. This foundation really minimizes the look of my pores and hides any of my imperfections easily. These are only a few products which I adore and I think are necessary for my makeup collection. Laura Mercier has to be my favourite beauty brand, as every product I have tried has won me over and I have fallen instantly in love with them all. Clarissa O'Neill
more of an internal company email, continued for a few more days, and DECIEM lost around 5,000 followers during this time. A cloud of controversy has been following both the company and its founder ever since, including past employees’ Glassdoor allegations of a toxic work environment, and erratic firings of senior management. Between April and October, the drama was apparently subdued, until the fateful October 8th video. In all honesty, once I had watched that video and read its convoluted, confusing caption, I was left wondering whether my first ever The Ordinary order would make its way to my doorstep. Many of the brand’s fans were in the same position as I was, discussing the oddity of what had been happening recently in the world of DECIEM and Brandon Truaxe. Some even implied he is clearly struggling with mental health issues, the result of which have unfortunately seeped into his professional life. Surprisingly, I received notice that my package was out for delivery just a day after I had placed the order, and I was able to actually test out the products a mere two days after watching Truaxe’s very public breakdown. Image:@deciem
Image:@lauramercier
18
life & style fashion
c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Fashion Editors Miranda Stoner, Poppy Couling, Joe Hood Online Editor Molly Taylor
the courier
Monday 29 October 2018
Za Ra Bizarre At your leisure Rashida Campbell-Allen tells us why our winter wardrobes Fashion Editor Miranda Stoner elaborates on the evolution of should taste the bright and beautiful ZARA rainbow this year athleisure and what this could mean for our society as a whole
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t’s that time of year again when brand’s hotly anticipated Autumn/Winter collections are being released and Zara certainly has not failed to deliver the goods. Yes, the winter blues may be looming and days may be becoming duller but that does not mean your wardrobe has to follow suit. Zara is a brand that never fails to inspire, energise and challenge the high street fashion world. Setting the bar high with an effortlessly chic look, their Autumn/Winter knitwear collection this year oozes luxury, comfort and individuality. Featuring an array of rich colours, decadent fabrics, exquisite prints and ornate jewels and accessories, there is a tasteful ripple of colour running throughout most pieces. This is somewhat unusual, especially for an A/W collection as we often associate traditional, warm, subtle autumnal shades such as brown, navy, beige, burgundy etc. Don’t be mistaken however, as these classic hues are not going anywhere. They can still be seen throughout the collection yet they’ve been blended and contrasted with pops of colours and prints which bring a unique vibrancy, perhaps unforeseen for many. As a fashion enthusiast, I couldn’t help but draw parallels between the scientifically recommended ways of using colour to lift moods and spirits during the gloomier seasons and the very colours we wear in everyday life to visually stimulate the senses and improve our mental and physical health. Zara’s knitwear provides a not only a cosy, comfortable feel but also a plethora of colour and prints (floral, animal and abstract) Image: zara.com/ which act as a great way to
invigorate your wardrobe and give us a feel-good factor. Whether you are on the hunt for a cable-knit cardigan or an oversized turtleneck, look no further than Zara. As a brand, they pride themselves on being able to set trends and produce the annual musthave staple pieces that get snatched up the second they hit the shelves.Yet this deviation from traditional autumn colours this year can be interpreted as somewhat of a call for creativity and pushing boundaries during a season when fashion can often seem to slump in appearance and expression. It’s time to say goodbye to your go-to grey sweater that’s served you well for years, in favour for something a little more fun. In addition, the great thing about Zara’s collection is that we can get these stylish and lavish looks for prices that do not break the student budget. Maybe the take home message from Zara’s A/W knitwear collection this year is that despite the reality that winter is upon us (*cue the gloomy mornings, dull skies and lectures spent under a mound of jumpers and scarves*) these new autumn colours can in fact soothe our winter blues. We can use colour to express and stimulate ourselves, allowing us to not only feel better on the inside but boast confidence and positivity on the outside. Experiment with colour. Rebel with colour. Express with colour. This Autun/Winter.
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t’s been almost 4 years now since the athleisure trend came into our lives and judging by the number of people I’ve spotted around campus dressed in sweatshirts and leggings, it doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of slowing down. What began quite simply as clothing for exercise has now interwoven with the fabrics of fashion and become an integral part of our wardrobes. Is this a result of innovations in textile technologies or is it an increased focus on functional fashion that’s behind this trend? Or could it be that there is an even broader social shift that has seen us to move towards a more health-conscious society? The first fitness wear to come onto the market was by no means wearable in your everyday life. For example, imagine going for brunch with bae or for popping into the Robbo in a 1970s jazzercize leotard or an 80s sweatband, leg warmers and neon tights combination. Up until as late as the 2000’s, most fitness clothes were either too skimpy or too unflattering to make the transition out of gym bags and onto the streets. However, the more serious we’ve become about working out and maintaining a healthy body, the more wearable our athletics options have become. This isn’t just aesthetically; textiles developers work hard to bring us new materials which will breathe, stretch perfectly to our shapes and reduce odours, all of which are then incorporated into our garments. Although performance enhancing kit can perhaps explain rising numbers of people performing physical activities in the UK, it doesn’t answer the question as to why sales in jeans are simultaneously falling, whilst the estimated net worth of the athleisure sector has more pace than the Olympic runners endorsing it. Perhaps it is media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat that have opened up the market for sportwear instead of traditional jeans. These networks are a space for people to feel inspired and motivated to exercise and as people’s lifestyles change to become more active so must their clothing choices, therefore we choose to buy garments we are more comfortable in or that we have seen our favourite youtubers wear whilst working out. Moreover, a study in 2012 suggested that what we wear can impact how we perform, this was termed ‘enclothed cognition’. The idea is that the symbolic meaning you associate with your clothes can increase your success. So
if you are dressed to hit your fitness goals, you’re more likely to. This creates a multiplier effect as activewear ranges aren’t just selling clothes anymore, they are part of the marketing of a fitness lifestyle, which we as customers buy into. The following increased sales and eventual saturation of the activewear market then creates a demand for a differentiation in sportswear styles and innovations in design, which we buy to stay on trend and thus continue the cycle. This means that the main focus of athleisure is no longer function. In order for a product to sell, it now has to offer more than a seamless, quick dry, breathable material- it has to look good too.
Imagine going for brunch with bae or for popping into the Robbo in a 1970s jazzercize
As athleisure becomes better designed and more flattering the lines between fashion and function begin to blur. This can be seen as a good thing as fashion also becomes more inclusive and caters towards a wider range of body shapes. Concentrating on what our bodies can do instead of what they look like can be seen to represent fashion distancing itself from its past of distorted body images, although that’s not to say fitness campaigns haven’t had their own issues in portraying a new form of body fascism. Ultimately however, athleisure suggests hope for a healthier relationship between us, our clothing and our bodies.
Instagram: @fizzymag
Living in a (depop)ular world
Amelia Salmon delivers her five star knowledge on buying and selling on second-hand fashions most prestigious platform
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he world of Depop can be rather mystifying but it has become a trendy way for young people to make some quick cash and find unique purchases. I’m by no means on my way to Depop fame, but with 15 items sold and a couple of edgy purchases later, I have gathered a few tips and tricks along the way. Whether you are reselling items from charity shops, selling your own fashion designs or just merely trying to declutter your wardrobe, there are a few factors to keep in mind: Making a clear biography is a great start to interest
Selling and inform potential buyers. This can include the type of things you sell. Stating whether or not you include packaging and postage, allowing the buyer to factor this in when purchasing. Depop has pricing guidelines on the app if you are unsure how much this will cost you, it will vary per item. Clear and good quality photos of your items is key to intrigue buyers. Ideally taking your pictures during daylight can enhance the quality of your photo. A cool background always goes a long way to add value to the product. Take picture of the product at various angles. This will allow the buyer to get a good feel for what they are
Image: depop.com
purchasing. Modelling the clothing is also a great for the buyer to visualise the way they could style the pieces, as well as see how it fits and looks. When describing the item make sure you include a detailed description; the colour, style, sizing and whether it’s branded. This will help people find your item and profile. Remember to provide good customer service as well. Be polite and friendly – even if they are not! Often people will message you to ask questions regarding the item they are intending to purchase. Whatever the query, respond with helpful information. Depop has the option to review sellers, the better your reviews, the more customers you’ll get. In terms of posting- make sure you get prove of delivery when sending your item. Keep in mind dishonest buyers may try and claim their money back. Also, when posting more fragile items make sure to package with care, to
make sure the piece gets to the buyer in one piece.
Buying Depop is perfect for finding vintage and unique clothing as well as high street items at a cheaper price. However, when it comes to buying on Depop some precautions need to be taken. Be specific when browsing. When searching for your desired item make sure to include specific details to narrow down your search eg colour or brand. Also think of alternative ways to phrase the details you are describing. Make sure you heart the items you like to return to them later. It’s also really important to read reviews before you
buy If the seller has reviews on their page read them before committing to an item. These comments from previous buyer will give you an insight into whether they are trustworthy sellers. Also use your initiative, if someone is selling air max 97’s for £10 it’s unlikely they will be real. Don’t be afraid to ask questions either. If you have any queries re the item you are buying, don’t be afraid to ask. This also includes bargaining, if you feel like the price is too high ask the seller if they would be willing to go cheaper or suggest a price you have in mind. Remember you can also be reviewed by the seller, so be friendly and polite.
Image: depop.com
the courier
19
fashion life & style
Monday 29 October 2018
Perfect, whatever the leather Phoebe Eyles brings us the hottest tips on how to incorporate more (faux) leather into our wardrobes this coming autumn
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ove it or hate it, leather is a classic material used for a range of garments in the fashion industry. From Sandy in Grease to the rock band Kiss, leather has been used in a variety of ways in the fashion world. As leather is often seen as an edgy or bold material, many will steer clear of it due to worrying about looking over the top or not being able to pull it off. However, leather can be one of the most wearable materials that will give your outfits a put together edge without looking like you are permanently dressed up for Halloween. Here are three easy ways to incorporate (faux) leather into your wardrobe.
Image: topshop.com
Leather Jackets
Leather jackets are a vital item for anyone’s wardrobe. Leather jackets can easily dress up outfits such as a plain white t-shirt and skinny jeans or can be the perfect cover up for your evening look. There are so many ways to wear a leather jacket, meaning you can get a lot of wear out of the piece. Leather jackets can be expensive, yet there is a great range on the high street meaning there is no need to break the bank when buying one. Black leather jackets are the most popular, yet if black seems too edgy, brown leather jackets are softer alternative and are just as versatile.
Leather Skirts Bored of wearing jeans on nights out? Look no further than a leather skirt, as it could become your new night out staple. If the thought of incorporating leather into your everyday look seems too intimidating, wearing leather on a night out could ease you into this trend. If you can brave wearing bare legs, a leather skirt can easily be paired
with a plain bodysuit or bandeau. With a variety of faux leather skirts available on the high street and from online retailers, there will be a style to suit you.
Leather Coated Jeans
An interesting way to bring leather into your wardrobe is through coated jeans. A relatively new trend, these black jeans are coated in a leather-like pigment which create a subtle, matte leather look. The coating is not shiny like vinyl trousers that are associated with cat woman costumes, making them wearable for a variety of occasions. Coated jeans still feel like jeans, meaning they are comfortable to wear on a daily basis. They could be paired with a slouchy cream knitted jumper and trainers for a casual daily look, or with a coloured bralette for a simple night out style with a twist.
leather can be one of the most wearable materials that will give your outfits a put together edge
From a day on campus to a night out in Flares, leather is a trend that can easily be incorporated to suit a variety of occasions. Even a simple leather bag, belt or ankle boot can really add an extra dimension to your outfit. Whilst the material can seem out of many people’s comfort zone, it is possible to make leather wearable, even after Halloween is over.
A suitable girl Take me to chunky town Image: topshop.com
Instagram @allsaints
Emily Jackson discusses empowerment and two-piece suits
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uits have undoubtedly been all over womenswear this past year; from casual tailoring looks pairing them with chunky trainers, to evening showstoppers styled up with a killer heel. This A/W their presence has certainly peaked, with the high street providing offerings at all price points, in every manner of fabrics and print (I’ve got my eye on a leopard print number from Topshop!) making the trend an inclusive one that we can all get on board with! But what does this resurgence in popularity for women’s suits signify? Is it simply a sassy timeless trend re-emerging for a new generation or does it represent something much bigger; the empowerment and emancipation of women? Like any garment you wear, it’s always your intentions that carry the largest message, whether that be one of comfort when opting for a cable knit jumper, or of musical fandom when choosing to proudly wear your Arctic Monkeys tour t-shirt. We are always saying something with our outfit choices, deliberately or not. Personal style is endlessly expressive, therefore to attach one meaning to the current ubiquity of suits would
Instagram: @blakelively
be doing them an injustice. However, there’s definitely something undeniably intoxicating about a woman wearing a traditional male garment, turning their back on gender norms, and completely rocking it. The woman’s suit has been around for decades but it’s a look most associated with the 1980’s economic boom, a time when women began to gain more command in the workplace and manifested that authority visually by wearing incredible trouser suits. Thanks to Giorgio Armani, suits were finally being cut to flatter and fit a woman’s body making them increasingly appealing to working women of the time, of course with the added eighties pizzazz of shoulder pads big enough to double as pillows! I believe that women today gain the same surge of confidence and empowerment when they slip into a flared trouser suit from Zara that the executive women of the 80’s received when wearing a chic trouser suit. It’s clear that the term ‘wearing the trousers’ and asserting your importance in patriarchal society remains increasingly potent through fashion. At Elle’s Women in Hollywood ceremony on the 16th of this month, Lady Gaga opted to wear an oversized Calvin Klein trouser suit, adverse to the recommendations of multiple stylists who insisted she should wear a dress. Speaking about her seemingly unconventional wardrobe choice, Gaga stated “Today I wanted to take the power back. Today I wear the pants.” As an LGBT icon who is incredibly vocal in her fight for equal rights Gaga’s statement incites a fire, a desire to use fashion to speak volumes about your belief system and inner feelings, without having to utter a word. What we wear each day, for most of us, is a choice. The way we present ourselves to the world through personal style tells a story about ourselves, or who we are choosing to be that day. Wearing a suit as a woman not only looks bloody fantastic, it’s also pretty iconic in its message. For over 30 years the suit has represented the independent and emancipated woman, a message all women should be proud of.
Ella Whiting digs up the dirt on these less than dainty trainers
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hen talking chunky trainers, I notice a rather fine line is drawn between the beautifully ‘ugly’ and the undeniably ridiculous, and I for one love it. I am drawn to discuss the queen of the ugly shoe, and arguably the trendsetter for it all – the Balenciaga Triple S. The more I look at this shoe, the more ‘dad shoe’ meets running shoe, meets plain ugly it gets, but for some strange and contradicting reason, it makes me love them more! The almost clunky shape of the Triple S is one I believe to have become a rather significant silhouette in the street-wear and highfashion market, acting as a fashion bloggers staple shoe, much like the Air Max 90 used to be. I see the current high-end and street-wear climate is heavily revolved around the ‘the ugly’, a competition for the most strange, innovative and ultimately questionable designs, from Gucci to Raf Simmons, there’s no denying the bold designs haven’t made their mark on the high-fashion industry, giving modern fashion and almost futuristic edge, which I am all for.
Although a seemingly unpopular opinion around campus, the half digger, half trainer design of the Fila Disruptor is my current fashion dislike. I don’t know whether it’s the jagged, tooth like edge, the Fila branding, or the design in general, but they seem to take industrial and chunky styles to the next extreme. I am a huge fan of industrial, almost military styling, but there’s something about the Fila Disruptor that annoys me, maybe it’s the sheer amount I see around town, or in the library…not judging of course! I think I just prefer my chunky trainer to have an element of desirability and unobtainability to them – whether this is from price, like the daring £615 for the Triple S, or a raffle winning success like the Off-White x Nike collaborations. I am a big believer in designers, authenticity and elements of individuality, which is why the Balenciaga Triple S or the Raf Simmons Ozweego is worth the extra cash to invest in instead of a shoe that will be spread across the town by the time the term is done.
The chunky or ‘ugly’ trainer aesthetic is lost on high-street imitations
But here lays my issue; as an individual passionate about street-wear styles and fashion designers, the illusion of unobtainability and ‘hype’ surrounding such trainers is lost in the filtered down copies of such high-end brands, such as Zara’s undeniable bite on the Triple S. Although a rather closed-minded thing to say, the chunky or ‘ugly’ trainer aesthetic is lost on high-street imitations and dare I say, in the Fila Disruptor too. For me, the illusion is shattered; the element of prestige and pretention that surrounds such high-end designers is key in holding the hype and symbolic value to the shoe, and more often than not, the high-street knock-offs can’t hold a candle to the real and originally ‘ugly’ shoes.
Image: Instagram: @mlle_ines_k
the courier
Monday 29 October 2018
21
travel life & style
courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Travel Editors Jenny Franken, Bianca Ionci Online Editor Amanda Goh
Worldwide Halloween celebrations
Phoebe Fielder takes us on a one-stop, global tour of the weird and wacky ways Halloween has been celebrated for centuries
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Unsplash @JonnyClow
Travel IG of the week
Beauty Ed Nimra Rafique's pick satisfies your wanderlust hether it’s strolling down a floral path in Singapore, soaking up the sun in Tuscany Instagram @taramilktea
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or overlooking the beautiful island of Santorini, Tara Whiteman does it with style, grace and elegance, as shown on her Instagram account “@ taramilktea”. The Sydney based traveller has a good eye for capturing each destination in her own, beautiful way as if you were there yourself. She’s particularly good at creating a mood and vision for each location, as she has done with her snapshots from a recent trip to Monaco by creating a fairy-tale like theme. She uses warm, golden hues to illustrate the enchanting nature of Monte Carlo’s architecture. In her pictures from this trip she wears a range of lavish gowns to match the aesthetic, which is another aspect of Tara’s work I admire, that she styles herself to become part of her surroundings. She has a talent for making each place look magical and ethereal, as if they were paintings. From the busy streets of Tokyo to the peaceful tulip fields in Amsterdam, Tara captures each place exquisitely to share her adventures with her many followers.
Spooky places in our city Amber Marwick lets us in on the Toon's scariest secrets
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t may surprise you to know that Newcastle is not just renowned for clubs and food, but also its many historical and ‘haunted’ locations. Maybe for something different this Halloween you could take a ghost tour through the City Keep; built by William the Conqueror's son, it has been dubbed ‘The Most Haunted Place in Newcastle’, with sightings of ghostly apparitions such as ‘The Poppy Girl’, disembodied voices and even poltergeist activity.
Many have seen his eyeless apparition late at night on the street
Whilst at the Keep you might as well take a wander through 'The Black Gate'. A part of the castle, it was turned into housing at one point, and eventually a poverty-ridden slum. Many report suffering scratches and bruises by ‘unwelcoming spirits’. Popular tours around these parts are often well reviewed, with many reportedly experiencing the phenomena for themselves. As well as the city’s Norman-era sights, many ghost
tours will undoubtedly take you to Cooperage Pub. Although spooky enough to look at, the real action happens on the alleyway it sits on, where Henry Hardwick was murdered by a press gang that ruthlessly gouged out his eyes. Many have seen his eyeless apparition late at night on the street. The Old George pub likewise is a good place to spot a ghost while enjoying a pint – in their ‘Charles I Room’ you can see the original chair said to have been used by the king himself in 1646. Staff claim there is often a watchful presence and a ghostly cold spot around the chair. The king stopping by for another drink, perhaps? And lastly, it’s impossible to talk about spooky locations without mentioning the Theatre Royal. After a performance of Macbeth in the 1800s, a fire broke out gutting the entire interior, leading many to speculate about the famous curse the Shakespearean play carries. Alongside this spooky speculation, many have witnessed a Grey Lady wandering the stairs and seats. She is said to have fallen off the gallery while reaching towards her lover that jilted her on the altar. For ghost tours, head to Alone in the Dark Entertainment online under ‘Newcastle Ghost Walks’. If you prefer watching horror films rather than experiencing it yourself go and check out 'Tyneside' cinema.
t only seems right to begin with the Scottish and Irish Halloween, considered to be the birthplaces of our modern version.‘Samhain’ which is old Irish for ‘Summers end’ was celebrated with numerous cleansing rituals such as offering of food and drink to naughty spirits, so they wouldn’t take cattle or ruin crop. Throughout Britain and Ireland festivities such as games, divinations of death and marriage, apple bobbing, and pouring molten lead or egg whites into water, some of which we still partake in today! Bonfires would be lit, as they still are now, but they had a more symbolic meaning to the Celts, representing the sun rising again, and repressing the deadly winter. In Wales these fires were lit specifically to save souls from the devil. The tradition of carving a pumpkin is also derived from the Celts, but the more local vegetation such as turnips and were used instead. In Scotland and Ireland, Halloween was a time to tell the future. Scotland’s divination method was to peel the skin off an apple, then to take that skin and throw it over your shoulder. The peel was supposed to land and spell out the name of your future lover. Ireland did this through a cloth wrapped fruit cake, an item would be put in the cake called a ‘barmbrack’ and depending on what you got it would predict one of three things. A ring would indicate marriage, a coin meant wealth, and a thimble meant you were doomed to never marry. Of course, we all know about Mexico’s ‘El Dia de los Muertos’ a three-day celebration which honours dead
loved ones. The activities of this day are well demonstrated in the Disney movie ‘Coco’ in which a young boy gets stuck in between the dead and living and uses this night in which the dead visit the living to have a fabulous adventure in the land of the dead. The movie demonstrated the importance of family for this tradition, they would build an enormous alter to their dead relatives, sprinkled with flowers and candles, as well as the later activities of gathering at relative’s graves and partaking in a picnic. ‘Spectre’, the Bond film, famously demonstrated the wonderful and wacky parades which are crammed full of colour, a lot of dancers who partake in the parade dress as skeletons entwined with brightly coloured flowers. These parades are very visually stimulating and probably the reason for this particular tradition’s worldwide fame and imitation in other cultures. In parts of East Asia, they celebrate the ‘Hungry Ghost Festival’ on August 17th. Enormously elaborate meals are prepared to feed the hungry spirits visiting the earthly realm. Studio Ghibli’s ‘Spirited Away’ may give you an idea of this tradition, as it begins with a family stumbling upon huge amounts of sumptuous food laid out for the spirits to eat. ‘All Saints Day’ is celebrated by Roman Catholics, takes place on November the 1st and as is obviously stated by the name, celebrates the Saints who died for their Catholic beliefs. The day’s activities include attending mass and lighting candles.
Photography with your smartphone
Dominic Howard shares his top tips for superb travel shots
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from alternative and more subversive angles than you typically see in photos
he rapid expansion of ridiculously cheap flights within Europe and beyond means that flying is becoming more accessible to everyone, including us students. Whether you’re chilling on a beach in Lanzarote, exploring the Christmas market in Gdansk or checking out a few temples in Bangkok, you’ll more than likely want to snap some pretty photos to show off on your Instagram profile. But because you probably swept up the first £20 return with Ryanair you saw whilst considerably deep in your overdraft, you probably didn’t have room to pack your camera because you didn’t want to pay baggage fees (unless I’m just completely projecting here). Thanks to how good the cameras are on your average smartphone, and the miracle of Instagram filters (or pretty much any form of social media), you really don’t need a digital camera to take fantastic shots. One caveat I feel I need to add though, is that you’re best off displaying travel photos online, because, whilst not bad, printing them off can diminish the quality a little. So, firstly, a good way to go about photography is just to point and press, rather than obsessing over angles and lighting – again, we will assume the pictures you are taking are for social media, so filters and cropping will deal with most of the hassle. Whilst this is a pretty safe way of taking half-decent shots, there are other ways as well. For example, I sometimes like to include perspective in my photos and take them from a lower angle, or at least, make it look like it’s from a lower angle, so for that I’ll probably crouch down and point my phone upwards (the photo in Poland at night with the boat illustrates this, I hope). Also, in order to vary your photos and your Instagram feed with it - you might want to take photos with yourself in the picture, or not in, of a horizon, with perspective, and at a variety of different heights and angles. Another thing you might want to do is take photos of famous landmarks from alternative and more subversive angles than you typically see in photos. I find that being able to take good photos doesn’t really depend on the quality of your phone camera (although obviously it does need to be of reasonable quality), but how you give your own individual signature to it. If you want to take a fantastic photo, just go with whatever feels right! I'm looking forward to see your travel shots on my Insta feed!
Phuket
Honk Kong
Gdansk
the courier
22
feature
Monday 29 October 2018
Feature Editor Ally Wilson
Uni life as a POC
King’s last night on earth
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A
We hear a first-hand account from Sara Elkhawad about her experience as a person of Carys Rose Thomas reviews Northern Stage’s production of The Mountaintop, a play colour at Newcastle university, and how prominent racism still is even here about Luther King’sLuther life asKing son, husband and fatherandasdrinking. well asThe activist hen I first came to Newcastle to start my angry black woman who was too racially conscious. And n hourMartin and a half of Martin his smoking, swearing play also pick-
undergraduate degree, I hadn’t realized the ramifications of being a person of colour in a university setting in the North of England. It sounds silly, even to me now, but I had come from the London bubble, living at the heart of South London’s cultural melting pot; between Brixton and Peckham. Despite most of my friends being white, there was little difference in our cultural tastes and political beliefs. I had settled on the assumption that most students at university would hold similarly liberal views to me; racism being an ideology that I associated with an outdated (il)logic that surely couldn’t be internalized by an educated mind.
I was cast into a homogenous westernized black identity, of which my peers picked which black traits were acceptable and which weren’t
But just days into freshers week I had become a victim of casual racism, tokenism and fetishization. One minute it was, “Sara twerk for us again!” and the next minute was “we don’t want to listen to your black music tonight”... and queue the so-called ‘white’ music of Stevie Wonder and Earth Wind and Fire. I was cast into a homogenous westernized black identity, of which my white peers picked which black traits were acceptable and which weren’t. I didn’t have a big arse, and I was constantly reminded of how squats at the gym would increase its size. I was mocked for studying a social science, instead of a STEM subject, which ‘most black people’ studied. Every time I called people out for being the guilt-tripping r-word, I became the defensive
then there was racial immunity by association¬– how could John possibly be racist when his cousin is black? As you may have anticipated, it wasn’t easy to stumble across coloured people on campus or in town. I remem-
60%
the amount of racist incidents in Uk universities has risen by in the last two years.
ber seeing the first mixed-race person at my accommodation at the end of freshers week, excitedly greeting him with a “hey brother!”, before he divulged to me within our brief conversation that he did not “like Muslims”. It seemed like wherever I went I was exposed to racist attitudes, and worst of all, by brushing off racist comments in anxiously trying to fit in, I had silently normalized and enabled these attitudes. Thankfully, it was not too much later that I became part of the university’s Afro-Caribbean society¬– a safe space where I could freely assert my black identity. In a university which¬–according to the Tab’s investigation on BME students last year–ranks the 2nd lowest in the UK for diversity, with only 9% of students identifying as BME, it is vital for these safe spaces to exist.
chain-smoking and flirting with an angel undercover as a motel maid was not what I imagined The Mountaintop had in store for me when I went to see it at Northern Stage. Given that it is Black History Month and King himself has such significance to Newcastle University, having received an honorary degree from the university in 1967, I went into the theatre expecting to see some great pedestal-putting King-idolising piece about how fantastic he is. And don’t get me wrong, he was an amazing man. But I think he often can end up being viewed more like a figure, symbol or movement than an actual person.
King can often be viewed more like a symbol than an actual person
What this play did so well was humanise King. And, the character says in the play, “I am a man, I am just a man”. Albeit fiction, the play does do a lot to make you think what it may have been like for King, having so many people look up to him and the pressure that puts upon an individual. It puts this grand figurehead of the African-American civil rights movement into the common setting of the hotel room, having a casual flirty conversation with a motel maid, even though he is mar- ried. This flaw or falter in his personal- i t y grounds his character, along with
ing up on his absence as a father, showing a far more honest depiction of King that does not eulogise him. King has always been a compelling figure in history, but seeing him in this exposed and incredibly human way made the story of his life even more interesting. It shows that he was not some saintly person who did no wrong, nor was he a complete monster. He really was just a man, with a vision, who could make people listen. Of course this was a fantastic feat, but the simplification of his actions in this play, boiling them down to actions done my just a
250 man, makes me feel far that someone else, themselves to be ‘just do similarly extraorrevolutionary things
the number of thousands of people who watched King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech, 60,000 of which were white.
more hopeful who deems a person’ can dinary and in the future.
Black History
Images: NUSU & Wikimedia Commons
the courier
23
feature
Monday 29 October 2018
Racial Equality Officer’s round-up Racial Equalities Officer Chris Wilkinson takes us through the events of the last month and hightlights the importance of the representation of black history today
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ello everyone and happy Black History Month! I’m Chris and I’m your racial equality officer, and with the fantastic help of others ranging from World Headquarters to the Afro-Caribbean Society, we at the Union have organised what we think to be a pretty successful Black History Month.
130
the number of racist incidents that happen every day in England and Wales.
Following on from what the University did last year celebrating ‘Freedom City’ and the legacy of Martin Luther King’s visit, the Union wanted to make this the biggest and best Black History Month the Union has celebrated to date. Hopefully you will read through this article knowing what we’ve done so far, what we learned from it, and why we think the importance of things like Black History Month needs reiterating over and over again. On Friday 12 October, Chi Onwurah, Newcastle’s first Black MP, came in to
talk about her experiences with race in the workplace, and how things have changed from when she was first starting out as an engineer years ago to her experiences as a person of colour in parliament today. It was an insight to see how these experiences have also led her to think about the environment which BME students are in today, and how the need for networking and the need for communication is still as important among BME students as it was decades ago. She then went on to do a Q+A, where the room spoke about the still existent differences be- tween BME students and white students in University l i f e , and how we as the Union can do something about this.
Black history is so undeniably important in understanding what the world was like before us
Then, the following Monday, ACS organised a stunningly good event named ‘Who We are’, speaking about what identity means in the Black Student Community, which had some fantastic speakers and art pieces which explored all of the different ways Black History Month can b e celebrated and why it is so important. A special s h o u t - o u t from me on this one to R i c o , whose highly engaging art exhibition, previously displayed at Star and
Shadow Cinema, really brought home the need to reevaluate what we really mean by ‘History’ and why such a thing must be reviewed so that we can include the previously ignored Black History which is so undeniably important in understanding what the world was like before us. After this we had a culture panel hosted, very kindly, by World Headquarters at Curtis Mayfield House. With the irreplaceable help of our International Officer, Pablo Charro De La Fuente, we managed to bring together a fantastic panel representing all the different areas of the art world. Tam Joseph, Wayne McDonald, and Ladies of Midnight Blue all joined us in discussing what Black History Month means to the Arts world, and their own experiences with the month and what should be changed and what should stay the same. It was a blessing to hear such a wide diversity of opinion, and for those who went I’m sure will say the same. Lastly, we invited in the national campaign organisation Stand Up to Racism, which was a huge success. Students from not only Newcastle, but from Northumbria, Tyneside and Durham came to the event to see what can be done to challenge the growing presence of Racism in today’s society. With the emergence of certain groups, such as the DFLA (Democratic Football Lads’s Alliance) and Britain First, and the extent of their legitimacy, Stand Up to Racism is a necessary step in helping to prevent such groups from destroying the chances of a more equal society. We spoke about the ways in which we can combat this crisis, and, more importantly, how young BME people and Students can be encouraged into taking a stand against such vile racism. Lastly, we, along with thousands of others dotted around the country, celebrated the national ‘show racism the red card’ day, where universities and in-
stitutions around the country wear red to express solidarity with the biggest educational anti-racist campaign in the UK today. Show racism the red card appreciates that a large amount of racist sentiment is shaped during the earlier years in life, and are dedicated to going into different schools and colleges to raise awareness about anti-racism and the fight for equality. The most prominent way they do this is by using sportspeople to educate people, since it is pretty much seen by everyone that, despite racism having the potential to be present anywhere, in the sports world it is far more common than anywhere else. From organising Black History Month, I must say that I have learnt a few things that I didn’t think would be apparent before.
If only we could put on a united front, we could become an influential agent in opposition to racism in the area
Events like Black History Month can serve to unite and consolidate what is already happening in different groups and in different communities, which is something that is so important in a place like Newcastle, where a large BME population is present, but is still wanting in large scale communication. I have also learnt how important an institution like Newcastle University is in celebrating diversity and equality. Newcastle is almost one third students, and in the north east, if only we could put on united front, we could become an influential agent in opposition to racism in the area. Lastly and most importantly, events like Black History Month are so important because they lay down a cultural monument to those who helped to shape the society we live in today, and serve to inspire those in the future with the stories of those people and events which are foundational to the modern world. They help us to re-evaluate our history and our culture, especially in light of the fact that in the entire timeline of the human race, we are still mere nanoseconds away from colonialism and its legacy. With that, I hope, for those who came, that you enjoyed Black History Month at Newcastle, and look forward to seeing you at future events.
y Month 2018
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culture music
c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Music Editors Charlotte Boulton, Rory Ellis, Jess Taylor Weisser Online Editor Max Hobbs
the courier
Monday 29 October 2018
Should musicians have to share about their sexualities?
Music sub-editor Rory Ellis writes the third part of our feature series on musicians dealing with the turmoil of the spotlight
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n 1976, Elton John told the Rolling Stone that “there’s nothing wrong with going to bed with somebody of your own sex.” In 1998, Boy George was arrested for engaging in a ‘lewd act’ with another man in a public restroom just a week before informing a CNN interviewer that he was gay and “doesn’t feel any shame” for that. Two years later, Ricky Martin came out in a televised interview, and, then, somewhere along the line, the public declarations of sexuality caught like wildfire. So much so that, when I went to research fothis article, I was faced with a myriad of articles entitled ‘18 more musicians who have opened up...’ or ‘38 Notable people who came out in 2017’.
With every ‘outing’ there is sense that we get a little bit closer to the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community
And with every ‘outing’, there is a sense that we become closer to acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. Every time a popular LGBTQ+ musician, actor, presenter, athlete, member of parliament, or any person in the public domain, for that matter, publicly declares their sexuality, it’s made just that little bit clearer that the gay community is a presence in society that wishes to be heard and have their rights respected. However, should it be necessary – and I ask this acknowledging my privilege as a British millennial – for those LGBTQ+ musicians to declare anything at all? Recently, Troy Sivan’s song ‘Bloom’ underwent heavy
Album of the Week Jubilee Road Tom Odell
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think it is fair to say that whenever we hear Tom Odell, we immediately think of his debut hit ‘Another Love’ causing all of his later music to be unfairly judged against a song released five years ago. Although ‘Another Love’ is incredibly personal and powerful when depicting the frustration felt when you are unable to love someone you wish you could, a lot of his other music is just as powerful, if not more so. If you rid yourself of preconceptions and listen to Jubilee Road on a stand alone basis, I believe that you will discover it will do a lot more than ‘just do’. I absolutely loved Jubilee Road and you can tell that Odell poured his heart and soul into writing it as he takes a step towards a more intimate setting. A large amount of the album was recorded in the living room of a London address he lived at for three years, giving us insight into the experiences and relationships he had whilst living there. In the track ‘Jubilee Road’, Odell discusses his elderly neighbour Mr Bouvier which absolutely broke my heart! Mr Bouvier represents a fear that we all feel about getting old: that we will end up alone. Despite the lyrics being in the present tense, the melody sounds almost nostalgic as Odell recounts experiences he’s had with his neighbours. The slow, gentle melody is broken by the introduction of the drum representing the hope that even when we feel totally alone, comfort can from unexpected places. This also crushes criticism that there is only so many times you can listen to piano ballads about heartbreak. ‘Jubilee Road’ demonstrates that Odell is inspired by a variety of different sources rather than heartache alone and that he is able to make every track distinctive and unique in its sound. Additionally, in ‘You’re Going To Break My Heart Tonight’, he becomes similar to Mr Bouvier as the vulnerability and loneliness invades his home once his heart has been broken. Jubilee Road illustrates yet again that Odell is a master of his trade as he manipulates chords with ease to create beautiful melodies, such as that within ‘Queen of Diamonds’, making it not only an enjoyable experience but such a unique one as well. Everyone will have a different experience when listening to this album as they draw on their own memories of home, love, heartbreak and compassion. Chloe Mullins
speculation, critique claiming that it was ballad for the woman who became my wife”. In this (arguably) subtle Ricky Martin were an understandable product of a time ‘joys of bottoming’ which is perhaps down to his vis- means of expressing sexuality, Mraz proudly understated that was not used to major gay pop stars. ibility on YouTube. It seems to me that the lyrics which his bisexuality to emphasise the little consequence it has However, in a time where we’re coming to understand celebrate sex with a loved one were mistaken as grounds to music and how it should be received. At the end of non-heteronormative sexualities as being as ordinary for trivial investigation. The media’s obsession it all, he is simply like any other musician with as heterosexuality, the media should treat them with grounding this song in Sivan’s sexuality something to say about the world; who as such. has been to the detriment of appreciating the arthe loves is just as relevant as his faistry of the song and its video’s beauty. vourite colour. I think the concern here is that the Clearly, musicians should talent of these musicians is, in some always feel at liberty to share way, eclipsed by the played-out, suptheir sexuality, that is a given. posed significance of their sexuality. But there is no longer a I’m in no way advising a return to necessity for the historically the 1980s and its sparsity of openly dramatic and theatriLGBTQ+ role models, but should cal methods of musicians nowadays share their sexcoming out. uality through the dramatic outlets of Au d i e n c e exclusive interviews and YouTube vidgar ner ing eos? Perhaps it is problematic to expect interviews that the LGBTQ+ sexualities be norwith Elton malized when they are treated with John and disproportionate levels of media attention than those of heterosexual musicians. And, while I acknowledge the media’s major influence for this paradox, musicians undoubtedly have some part to play. Jason Mraz wrote a song for the June Pride month entitled ‘I am bi your side’. When questioned on the curious spelling of the song’s title, he replied: “I’ve had experiences with men, Image: Ernst Vikne Image: Ted Eytan Image: Steve Jurvetson even while I was dating the
Images: NU Indie Society
Newcastle Indie Society takes the Toon by storm
Indie Society bursts onto the scene boasting over 200 students at the society’s very first social
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ewcastle Indie Society is the society for appreciation of independent music and culture. Established in August by third-year students Matthew Lacey, Lucy McElhone and Arthur Newman, the society now has over 400 followers on social media and is one of the university’s fastest-growing new societies. Over 200 indie music fans came along to Luther’s Bar for their first event, the Big Indie Bar Crawl, which showed students alternative venues in the city such as the Dog and Parrot, Gotham Town and the Cut. Recently the committee have collaborated with gig venues across Newcastle to organise gig discounts for their members and reduced entry into indie club nights such as Rebel Thursdays. Indie Society are very dedicated to supporting the local music scene and smaller bands in the city. Their first gig night at Head of Steam was a great success, featuring four bands including indie band Butterjunk, formed at Newcastle University. The society are currently working on a Spotify playlist showcasing upcoming and emerging artists. Their most recent event was filmed by NUTV and Indie Society are looking forward to collaborating with other societies throughout the year. Future plans include gigs, open mic nights, bar crawls, record store crawls, band t-shirt socials and a trip to Kendal Calling Festival. They have also set up a Facebook group, Newcastle
University Indie Society Chat, for students to talk and swap gig tickets. The society is brilliant for those interested in joining a local band, meeting friends with similar music tastes or finding people to go to gigs, festivals or nights out with. For fans of the Arctic Monkeys, Stone Roses, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Blossoms, the Smiths, Courteeners, the Killers, Kasabian, Pixies, Pulp, Tame Impala, MGMT, the Strokes, the Libertines, the 1975, Bloc Party, David Bowie, the Vaccines, Radiohead, Happy Mondays, Oasis, Joy Division, Vampire Weekend, the Beatles, the Doors, Sundara Karma, Maximo Park, Kaiser Chiefs, the Wombats, Jamie T and more?
Image: NU Indie Society
For information on upcoming events, please join the society on the NUSU society webpage: https://www.nusu.co.uk/getinvolved/societies/society/27525 www.facebook.com/newcastleindiesoc
Image: Wikimedia
the courier
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Monday 29 October 2018
@CourierMusic thecourieronline.co.uk/music
music culture
I wanna get spooky with you: our Halloween picks
A selection of our spirited writers choose six tunes to prepare for the spookiest time of the year #1. ‘Lullaby’ - The Cure
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Image: Annie Spratt
ack in 1989 the Cure released possibly the creepiest song of their career, and in my opinion of all time, ‘Lullaby’. This ironically titled track, which was the Cure’s highest charting in the UK reaching number 5, is certainly not one I would go to sleep with, not unless you had a nightlight anyway. Nevertheless, Robert Smith is at his absolute best on ‘Lullaby’, his whisperings of “the spiderman is having me for dinner tonight” send shivers down necks and hairs prick up at the sound of Smith’s Spiderman “looking for the victim shivering in bed”. The guitar work, accompanied by strings and piano, creates an almost hypnotic melody to accompany the spooky storytelling. Smith has offered contrasting comments on ‘Lullaby’’s lyrical content, which mostly centre around childhood nightmares or abuse; however, fans previously speculated that Smith’s inspiration may have come from drug addiction or depression which may have inspired lyrics such as “its much too late to get away or turn on the light”. Lullaby is clearly suited to spooky settings, with its music video portraying Robert Smith appearing at his own window to haunt his nightmares alongside the hit being used in an episode of American Horror Story. ‘Lullaby’ is clearly one spooky song that I would not recommend listening to after turning out the light, because “the spiderman is always hungry”… Dominic Lee
Image: YouTube
#3. ‘It’s Almost Halloween’ - Panic! at the Disco
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othing strikes fear into the hearts of men quite like video evidence of their unfortunate emo phase. Panic! at the Disco members (and exmembers) must be unable to watch the home video style music video for their classic seasonal hit ‘It’s Almost Halloween’. Dressed as the inevitable werewolf, vampire, mummy, and Frankenstein’s Monster, the emo band have a bit of a jig in a forest. If you’re looking for spooktacular music for the spooky season, you might want to give this relic of Halloween Past a miss. MJ’s ‘Thriller’, it certainly is not. It’s actually probably closer to the ‘Monster Mash’ in tone, complete with easy to learn dance which is sure to be a hit at any Halloween party this October. Just gather up
a few old emos who might remember this song’s release way back in 2008, and there’s a pretty good chance they’ll have the moves stored away right next to the lyrics for ‘20 Dollar Nose Bleed’. Regardless of how low quality the video is, or indeed how absolutely ridiculous the lyrics are, ‘It’s Almost Halloween’ has a special place in my heart. It’s the perfect tune to gear you up for a month of dodging fake cobwebs and costume planning. Spooky enough to get you in the spooky mood, but chipper enough so that blasting it on October 1st doesn’t result in judgemental stares from disapproving friends. Loz Doyle
#4. ‘Splatter’ - Stolen Babies
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t was hard to pick one song from Stolen Babies, the first band I think of when I think ‘Halloween music’. Sporting clown greasepaint and cabaret costumery, the Californian circus metal band performs aggressive, sardonic tunes, and ‘Splatter’ (from their 2012 album Naught) is no exception. The song’s a comical exterior that’s horrific on the inside. It starts off with a guitar riff in the style of a B-movie soundtrack, but at the end of each measure, distorted, atonal chaos bursts from the seams. Dominique Persi’s half-spoken vocals come in after that, rising to abrasive growls for the chorus: “take the knife, twist it in”. Her manic contralto matches the main riff in theatrical flair, while her accordion plays in the offbeats, adding a carnivalesque energy. Through the bridge there’s a touch of melancholy, as a mournful accordion line plays over strummed minor chords. Then the chaos returns with a vengeance: over Dominique’s gritty screams, a dramatic guitar riff ranges up and down, slap bass and drums chugging out the rhythm with increasing urgency. The band builds excruciating anticipation between albums - six years between There Be Squabbles Ahead and Naught, and coming up to seven years between Naught and The Stolen Babies, their 2019 outing. ‘Splatter’s not only a great Halloween track: it also promises a spinechilling future. Jess Taylor Weisser
Image: Asentreu
Image: Jayson Hinrichsen
Image: YouTube
#2. ‘Disturbia’ - Rihanna
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aking the yearly Halloween playlist has become just as much as a tradition for me as wearing a costume is for kids. Sadly, I find a lot of the typical Halloween songs out there just a little underwhelming (come on, ‘Thriller’ isn’t really THAT good?) The one track which will always make an appearance for me is Rihanna’s ‘Disturbia’. To be honest, I have no real clue what she is on about in the 4 minutes of spooky perfection, although I do remember her playing a mad woman in the music video – which was bizarrely released in December 2009. ‘Disturbia’ succeeds where a lot of other Halloween tracks fail in finding the middle ground between a song that is club-ready and theatrical at the same time. It’s just as ready for pre-drinks as a kids party. The track went to Number 1 in the U.K. and the U.S. and is certified over six times Platinum across the states. A slight drawback in the bop’s appeal is that Chris Brown is a credited co-writer, his treatment of Rihanna at the time being public knowledge. So I’m happy to keep my enjoyment of the track a yearly affair… Toby Bryant
#6. ‘The Spirits of the Tall Hills’ - Disembowelment
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hen it comes to embracing all things spooky, few genres have gone to the same extremes as metal, though unfortunately this has resulted in a plethora of adorably edgy material. Still there is some pretty powerful stuff out there, with few bands holding a candle to Australian doom metal outlet Disembowelment and their track ‘Spirit of the Tall Hills’. The Spirit of the Tall Hills is the penultimate track on Disembowelment’s only full length LP Transcendence into the Peripheral (yeah they weren’t really ones for brevity) and whilst I wouldn’t say it’s the best track on the LP, it is certainly the most overtly menacing. The beauty of Disembowelment’s work lies in their use of contrasts. Much of the song is slow and quiet, with the heavy, churning guitars taking centre stage before picking up speed in a frantic flurry of blast beats, whilst the vocals alternate between ominous guttural growls and piercing shrieks in line with the instrumentation. Add to this the eerie reverb effect that permeates the record and hauntingly melodious clean guitars and you’ve got something truly haunting. I wouldn’t recommend ‘The Spirit of the Tall Hills’ if you’re looking for something to play at a party (unless you hate your guests and want them to leave) but put this on late at night when the lights are out and I guarantee you’ll be left well and truly spooked. Gerry Hart
Image: YouTube
#5. ‘Gravedweller’ - The Wytches
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ravedweller’ certainly isn’t a paradoxical title for this gloomy psych record from ‘surfdoom’ trio The Wytches. The loose murky bass unquestionably sets the tone for my own Hallows’ Eve. The band have a penchant for the ghoulish and unnerving, their lyrics conjuring imagery straight out of the pages of a Victorian gothic novel, satisfying any remnants of our own 2k7 emo souls *brushes side fringe away and puts down black nail polish*. The Wytches’ whole 2014 debut album Annabel Dream Reader serves as a pretty hellish
(in the best kind of way of course) playlist for a Halloween party, but this track in particular pushes you straight down the infernal rabbit hole with its psychedelic heavy guitars. Lead vocalist Kristian Bell wails down the mic “Well they are coming after me...” and you find yourself incessantly looking over your own shoulder just in case his cries have transcended. The track is eerie enough to cause a momentary spook whilst calling out for some pretty good headbanging; you’re in for a good’un. Emily Jackson
Random Review Murder Ballads Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
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his week’s album was randomly selected from a list of the ‘Top 10 Halloween Albums’, keeping in with the Halloween spirit of this week’s spread. An album about murder stories was a fun concept, or so I thought. Murder Ballads could have been side splittingly hilarious or chillingly creepy, but instead it was repetitive, dull, and a test of my patience. If you’ve heard the first 30 seconds of any song, you’ve heard it all. If your taste in music runs towards songs that are so awful you almost have to laugh at them – this is the album for you. ‘Song of Joy’ – This seedy bar ballad, ironically titled ‘Song of Joy’ desperately reaches for a rocky horror style but falls dismally flat. It’s akin to the monotone reading your tedious English teacher would give back when you had to pretend to care about Of Mice and Men. I wouldn’t listen to it in my spare time, but it’s unnerving enough to provide passable background ambience for a séance, creepy party or night-time graveyard wander. ‘Stagger Lee’ – Calling the vocals on this track ‘singing’ is a bit of a stretch. The guitar also sounds a little broken with its clock-like picking. If you didn’t read the title of the song, don’t worry, you’ll know it once it’s repeated every ten seconds. It literally descends into incessant screaming around a third of the way through. Even with a title like Murder Ballads, I wasn’t expecting a complete murder of my eardrums. Ouch. ‘Henry Lee’ – Thankfully, the lead singer on this is a woman who is at least tuneful. Unfortunately, she is still accompanied by Mr Nick Dramatic-Speak/Singing-ToHide-My-Tunelessness Cave. This is a morbid ballad duet where a series of “la lalalala”s apparently constitutes a chorus, and the same 3 bars of tune over and over again for four minutes is a “melody”. A song best left unheard.
I wasn’t expecting a complete murder of my eardrums
‘Lovely Creature’ –The Green Ribbons in this Lovely Creature’s hair must be very important to be mentioned every time you start to drift off to distraction. Entirely unremarkable, and full of yet more speak-singing and ‘lalalas’. ‘Where the Wild Roses Grow’ – Starting with appealingly gloomy violins, this song unfortunately fades into a bizarre country-western sounding ballad sung by Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave. Rather inoffensive compared to the others, but still unbearably uninteresting. If you can cope with Kylie singing “they call me the Wild Rose, but my name was Eliza Day” a billion times, you’ll manage these four mediocre minutes. The only part that rises slightly above mediocrity is when romance ends with Kylie’s man kneeling above her “with a rock in his fist”, his only justification being “all beauty must die”. Gosh Kylie, you really know how to pick ‘em. ‘O’Malley’s Bar’ – It’s hard to decide the scariest part of this song, the completely off-key singing or the horrifying 14.28-minute length? The opening minute is the worst singing on the entire album. Just save your ears. There’s even a completely unreasonable organ/synth sound going on, like some horrifying Addams family elevator music. It devolves into huffing and puffing devoid of words and tune at least twice, and ends in grunting. This song is the only one I had to skip part of. It is what would play in my own personal Bad Place. ‘Death is Not the End’ – Although apparently death is not the end, this is thankfully the end of this god-awful album. Yet another “song” with stilton levels of cheese, this time with the addition of a Dracula accent. At least it’s under five minutes, I guess? A randomly selected album is always going to be risky. Like Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, there are some interesting flavours out there. I didn’t know what to expect beforehand, but this time it was, alas, earwax. Julia McGee-Russell
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culture TV
End of the line for Rick Grimes? Alex Moore with potential spoilers for the new season
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hilst the recent return of The Walking Dead seems to have injected a breath of fresh air into the show, fans have been left stunned with the announcement that Andrew Lincoln will leave the show later this season. Lincoln, who plays the show’s lead protagonist and fan favourite Rick Grimes, has been a regular since the first episode aired in 2010. The British actor is reportedly leaving to spend more time with his family in the UK. Rumours began to spread prior to the premier of season nine, yet in a bizarre move AMC have not only acknowledged and affirmed these rumours, but even used the news as a central point in advertisements for the new season.
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IMDb rating for the season nine premiere, the lowest of any first episode.
Worse still, it seems that AMC may have revealed exactly when Lincoln’s departure will take place. Details have already been released online about the episodes in the first half half of season nine before the mid-season hiatus. Names and synopsis are available for all except episode six, which remains mysteriously untitled. The Walking Dead is known for killing off major characters, but never has a death of this scale been announced beforehand. It certainly feels about time for the demise of another major character to bring some sense of threat back into the show, but if Rick Grimes is set to die in episode six then there will be no sense of surprise or tension in the slightest.
Never has a death of this scale been announced beforehand Yet this all seems a bit suspicious, as the makers of The Walking Dead have often teased fans in the past. Whilst new showrunner, Angela Kang, seems set on taking the season in a new direction, she certainly shares this trait with her predecessors. “This is a show with dead in the title. There are going to be losses,” she said, when asked to comment on Lincoln’s departure. Yet Kang also cryptically added that “Not all of them are deaths, sometimes there are departures of different kinds.” Perhaps Lincoln may leave The Walking Dead in spectacular fashion, only to find a new home on Fear the Walking Dead, the spinoff we recently saw Morgan cross over into from the main show. As if it wasn’t enough for one integral character to leave this season, Lauren Cohan, who has played Maggie Greene since the second season, is also set to leave to pursue other engagements. However, unlike Lincoln, it seems that she may be returning for future episodes, but Maggie’s fate currently seems uncertain. Whichever way these events turn out, at least The Walking Dead finally seems to be picking up some momentum after several repetitive seasons drawing out the ‘All Out War’ storyline against Negan. Admittedly, viewing figures have drastically dropped over the last few years and the first episode was the lowest rated for any premiere, but the ninth season currently has a 98% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes – the highest of any to date. With the upcoming introduction of The Whisperers as the show’s next antagonists and these fundamental changes to the cast, fans are surely in for a season to remember.
Credit: YouTube
the courier
c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk TV Editors Jacob Clarke, Tom Cooney, Chloe Mullins Online Editor Max Hobbs
Monday 29 October 2018
Changing perceptions: TV and mental health Natalie Chigariro on changing the image of mental health in TV
Content warning: rape, suicide.
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istorically, television has broadly categorised individuals with mental illnesses as pitiful, dangerous or comical and thus led to a viewing culture in which we feel sorry for, fear or laugh at such characters. Perpetuating stigma can prevent individuals from seeking help and therefore needlessly exacerbate their struggles. The significance of television in shaping attitudes towards mental health cannot be underestimated, as evidenced by the impact of recent Coronation Street storylines. Following the episode exploring the rape of David Platt, the charity Male Survivors saw a 1700% surge in phone calls from those in similar situations asking for help. Similarly, the suicide prevention charity, Papyrus, had its “busiest day ever” following the soap’s gut-wrenching coverage of Aidan Connor’s suicide. Sensitive depictions of mental health struggles that strike a chord with viewers are not only important but necessary. With suicide being the greatest killer of men under 45 in the UK, it is vital that TV executives accurately present these stories as they literally have the power to save lives. It is not difficult to fathom how the typical trajectories of grief and sadness can spiral into depression or how a series of cumulative trauma can manifest as PTSD or generalised anxiety. As such, mood disorders are more favourably presented in mainstream media as they are regarded as extremes of what would otherwise be typical emotions. However, this isn’t always the case for psychotic conditions – individuals with schizophrenia in particular are constantly vilified. Netflix’s new retro-futuristic series, Maniac, is offering a long overdue alternative narrative of schizophrenia. It is set within a testing facility for a new trial drug, where Owen (played by Jonah Hill) and Annie (played by Emma Stone) develop a curious friendship. Owen is the
Strictly scandal
antithesis of the knife-wielding, feral schizophrenic often caricatured in television. He is a quiet, reserved man desperately trying to discern reality from his delusions. This is particularly poignant in the second episode when he gently prods Annie’s shoulder: a small gesture that vividly highlights the affliction of existing in a state where you are constantly second-guessing your own mind. Hill’s portrayal of the condition often makes viewers feel with, rather than for, Owen. In the absence of lived experience, empathy is crucial for driving forward understanding of the idiosyncrasies of mental health conditions.
Credit: YouTube The success of these and other shows, such as the Emmy-nominated My Mad Fat Diary, are testament to audiences’ hunger for authentic and relatable portrayals of mental illness in the mainstream. Channel 4 is currently producing a six-part series called Pure, retelling the story of a woman whose OCD consists solely of distressing intrusive thoughts. The show will be vital in reframing understanding of the condition as it is often ridiculed, with the term being misappropriated to be synonymous with excessive tidiness. Though slow, it is clear that progress is being made to prioritise honest, true-to-life storytelling of mental health conditions instead of dramatic and exaggerated characterisations that are damaging to both individuals experiencing them and to society as a whole.
Are EU still
Caitlin Disken discusses the potent
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icture this... It’s summer 2019. You’re settling down to watch the last ever season of Orange is the New Black. You load up your Netflix, ready to hear the iconic theme tune blasting out of your phone. There’s just one problem – you’re on holiday in Europe. Thanks to Britain crashing out of the European Union without a deal just a few months earlier, you can’t access your Netflix account. At the moment, due to new regulation, you can access streaming services like you would at home anywhere in the EU. This is thanks to the EU Portability Regulation, which came into effect on April 1st. Following the abolition of roaming charges across the EU in 2017, research was undertaken to find out what else was causing EU consumers concern. It was found that more than 40% of Europeans abroad who had tried to access online films and TV series failed. This was a problem that was even more prevalent amongst young people, with 60% of 15-24 year olds stating that being able to travel with their streaming content was an important factor in paying for a subscription. Before the regulation came into effect, if you were abroad in Spain and tried to access Netflix, you could only access the Spanish version, not the UK version that you pay for. On 29th March 2019, unless a deal is made between Britain and the EU, this is the reality UK consumers will face again. The government have released papers which warn that the Portability Regulation will no longer apply if a No Deal Brexit occurs. Although you’d still be able to watch some of your favourite shows, Netflix has admitted that
Ruby Rose cast as Batwoman
Lucy Lillystone with all the Joe Holloran explores The CW’s progressive casting choices gossip from the dance floor t is unquestionably true to say that right now the su- long blonde hair and most of all, heterosexuality. In the
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he ‘Strictly Curse’ strikes again this year as Seann Walsh and Katya Jones were caught kissing – or what looked to me like a full on make-out session - after a drunken night out together. Awkward, right? Especially when Katya Jones is currently married to Neil Jones, another fellow dancer. At the time, Walsh was also dating his now ex-girlfriend, Rebecca Humphries. After the exposure, both Jones and Walsh made an appearance on It Takes Two to address the affair, Jones “[apologising] to everyone it hurt and it involved.” Katya then went on to state how the main thing for her is that “[her] and Neil are fine.” Sadly, Walsh cannot say the same. Yet, despite this attempt to address the matter, fans on Twitter did not believe it, deeming the interview altogether uncomfortable and false.
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perhero genre is king. Or in this case, queen. Every cinema preview and TV advert seems to be filled with more spandex than an 80s episode of Top of the Pops. So, naturally the announcement of a new comic-based TV show or film brings with it its own natural hype. Every casting choice and piece of leaked information is scrutinized by the online fandom. Studios need to improve their productions to meet a growingly aware global audience. This sense of community can be a wonderful boon for the genre, but being under this much scrutiny has its downsides. Case in point, the casting of Australian actress and model Ruby Rose (Orange Is the New Black) as the anti-hero, Batwoman, in a new titular series to begin next year. Why is she so detested by trolls and the so-called AltRight? It seems to come down to two things: her appearance and her sexuality. Rose identifies as both queer and genderfluid, blurring the lines between a normative masculine and feminine image. For most of us, this type of appearance does not even warrant comment; yet, to the knuckle-draggers of Twitter, she is a threat. She has been met with criticism for not fitting into the adolescent stereotype of the female superhero: big boobs, tight lycra,
comics, Batwoman is portrayed as a rebellious, expectation-defying, ass-kicking lesbian woman, so what are the fanboys crying about? In Rose they surely have the actress they’ve wanted. Rose said in a recent interview with Jimmy Fallon that the role was a ‘dream come true’, going on to talk about her long-term affinity for the character. As with many things related to what some deem ‘boys only’ genres, women unfortunately often have to justify their own casting. While Rose’s lesbian Batwoman may spread fear among the regressive, for many of us, our fears surrounding the new show is based on the declining standards in recent seasons of other DC Universe shows such as Supergirl, The Arrow, and particularly The Flash. Hopefully, the show will share a tone and visual style with more recent DC adaptations Black Lightning and Gotham – the latter a show which is the closest relative to Batwoman, and one whose most recent season was the best of any other DC show ever. Ruby Rose’s version of Batwoman has yet to hit the screens, and who knows, she may well be the wrong person for the role. She hasn’t yet had a role like this in her career and it may prove to be beyond her. Whatever the end result is though, I would say that it is only fair to wait until next year to see for yourself.
Credit: YouTube So, should they have been kicked off the show? Personally, I think not. Although these two are the first to get caught this year, whose to say other dancers aren’t also getting together behind the scenes? How could you not with the sexy moves they’re made to do. Also, on top of this, a pair’s survival in the show should not be based off their actions outside their dancing; judge whether they can dance, not whether they’re ‘getting it on’ in rehearsal. But, despite this, the pair have definitely created a media storm. And it’s clearly affected dynamics as in the following two weeks after the scandal the pair have been seen actively avoiding one another in the background of Strictly; didn’t think we’d notice? Think again! We will have to wait and see if anything else comes of this scandal, but in the meantime Strictly Come Dancing airs every Saturday at 6.45pm. Go watch and see if you too can sense the awkwardness radiating off Walsh and Jones.
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the courier
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Monday 29 October 2018
watching?
tial limitations of post Brexit Netflix
there’s no guarantee you’ll have access to all the same titles you find at home. The streaming giant stated that “local catalogues vary due to licensing and local tastes”, with the government’s papers backing this up, revealing that “UK consumers may see restrictions to their online content services when they temporarily visit the EU.” In other words, if you start a series in the UK, don’t expect to be able to watch the rest of it in Paris, Berlin or Lisbon. Whilst Netflix may not be high up on Theresa May’s priorities list as she attempts to actually get somewhere with Brexit negotiations, it’s certainly an important issue for young people. We’re living in an age where it’s the norm amongst millennials to shell out £5.99 a month for a Netflix subscription. To deliver a Brexit for everyone, not just the over 65s, retaining the Portability Regulation should definitely be something on the government’s mind.
Credit: Duncan Hull (Flickr)
@CourierTV thecourieronline.co.uk/TV
90s sitcoms: How they doin’?
James Nash places our favourite shows under the microscope
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ith the recent revivals of Will & Grace and Roseanne (now The Conners), as well as all ten series of Friends appearing on Netflix UK, increasing numbers of young viewers are watching these classics with fresh eyes. However, watching shows from the 1990s through a 2018 lens has proved to cause quite a stir with some new viewers highlighting various issues – a lack of diversity, toxic relationships, etc. Similarly, the current nostalgic trend to revive old sitcoms has had varying degrees of success. Is this just ‘millennial snowflakes’ overreacting? Are these shows still relevant today? Is this all just a moot point? There was a genuine argument for the revival of Roseanne, with wealth, class and political dynamics in the US shifting dramatically in recent years, particularly in the post-Trump era. Where the original may not hold up to 2018 standards, a fresh, relevant take on a familiar format proved to be hugely popular, as did star Roseanne Barr’s controversial support of President Trump both in and out of character. However, despite audiences relishing in a positive portrayal of a Trump supporter, especially a wellloved TV icon, the tone proved to be somewhat jarring. The matriarch’s defence of her gender non-conforming grandson in the series’ second episode was heavily debated. Many questioned how a rabid ‘deplorable’ could reconcile their beliefs with that of social progressiveness, especially after the negative rhetoric Trump has inspired concerning the issue. Barr’s controversy proved to be the show’s downfall, perhaps suggesting that even the relevance of Roseanne couldn’t survive the minefield of the current US political landscape. How The Conners will aim to address these issues remains to be seen. On the flip side, the cultural phenomena that is Friends shows no signs of stopping. Global viewership of the hit series has only increased in the fourteen years the show has been off the air, with a whole new generation watching after Netflix UK added it to its roster at the beginning of 2018, becoming the UK’s most popular subscription streaming show. But with great power comes great responsibility. First time viewers in 2018 will undoubt-
edly carry with them the current social climate, one that paints a poor view of palaeontologist and three-time divorcee Ross Geller. If the live studio audience hadn’t been laughing along, Ross’ dating antics could have looked like something out of a Criminal Minds episode – not telling Rachel that they’re still married is surely friendship-ending behaviour. Similarly, the introduction of Charlie in Season Nine marked the first time a black actor had been a recurring character on the show - a shocking statistic for a 90s show, let alone today. Viewers in 2018 may find it hard to warm to creepy Ross and the lack of diversity, but does that mean the show should be written off entirely? The short answer is that there is no short answer. These unfortunate problems don’t dampen the comedic genius of these sit-com classics, but they do start important conversations. In 2018, we should be able to recognise the flaws in what has come before and try to rectify them for future entertainment, whilst appreciating all that is hilarious, touching, and relatable about the Conner family and our six friends – they’ll always be there for you.
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TV’s top five Menacing Monsters
To celebrate Halloween, Jacob Clarke presents his list of the scariest creatures ever seen on TV
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The Night King Game of Thrones
The Night King is one of the oldest beings to inhabit Westeros, living there since the first age of men. Since that time his army of undead has only grown vaster and vaster beyond the Wall in the North. The Night King commands the White Walkers, the ever-present threat in Game of Thrones, who are constantly preparing in complete silence to completely slaughter the innocents of Westeros and turn them into White Walkers themselves. The Night King speaks no words; however, his icy glare hides a deep cunning and evil, enough to scare even Jon Snow.
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Hell Hounds Supernatural
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Easily one of the most visually creepy beings on this list, The Gentlemen appear to be a cross between an early version of internet sensation, Slenderman, and Doctor Who’s The Silence. They appear as tall, pale and thin men, wearing black suits, also sporting twisted and menacing smiles on their faces. They require human hearts to stay alive, and float eerily and slowly towards their prey. They are completely invulnerable to all physical weapons, only destructable through the power of a human scream.
The Demogorgon Stranger Things
Despite being taken out of Mike’s Dungeons and Dragons adventure, the Demogorgon as it appears in “real life” is hardly anything out of a game. Hailing from the dark and twisted realm of the Upside Down, the Demogorgon appears to be similar to a Xenomorph from Aliens, with a head that unfurls like petals of a flower to reveal menacing, sharp teeth. The creature is able to travel between dimensions at will, kidnapping and devouring unsuspecting victims. It can be recognised by its piercing high-pitched shriek.
TV Time Travel
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Credit: monkeywing (Flickr)
ost is a show that’s experienced huge shifts in its popularity over the years, being one of the highest-rated shows in America across its first few seasons, and one of the most controversial in its last. What started out simply as a plane-crash survival series slowly developed into a complex patchwork of mythical lore, time-travel and tropical polar bears. I’m here to defend all six seasons of the J.J. Abrams-produced classic, right up until its ending in 2010. You read that right, I even stand by that infamous final episode. One of the most appealing elements of Lost has always been its huge cast of characters. From day one, we were introduced to a wide variety of people who had survived this disaster, all of which with their own distinctive personalities and histories. It is the flashback structure of the show that gives each member of the cast their moment in the spotlight. So, even when the present-day plot began to lull into another quest for food, water or radio-signal, viewers could always revel in diving deeper into these characters’ often equally tragic and shocking backstories. Another aspect of the show’s casting that deserves a great deal of recognition is its diversity. Beginning in 2004, the landscape of TV was certainly not as multicultural as it is today. Lost was a shining exception to that rule, with Oceanic Flight 815 holding passengers originating from places ranging from South Korea to the UK.
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The average UK viewing figure for Lost’s first season: a record number of viewers for a US TV show on Channel 4
The relentless twists and turns consistently thrown at the audience add another level of excitement to the show’s already action-packed viewing experience. Barely an episode went by without a shocking moment immediately cutting to black and leaving the viewer to pick their jaw up from the floor. These – coupled with Lost’s intricate web of mysteries – are what make it one of TV’s most addictive watches. Who can forget learning what was lurking within that hatch, what exactly was going on with the smoke monster, and how Sawyer managed to come up with a witty nickname for every person he ever encountered? All things considered, there isn’t a single person who I wouldn’t recommend Lost to. It has drama, comedy, scifi and mystery – and contrary to popular opinion, only maintains its quality throughout its six-year runtime. And to those of you who’ve heard that the ending revealed that the show was merely all a dream, I’d say give it a watch for yourself. It might just surprise you. Tom Cooney
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Whilst Supernatural has seen hundreds of scary monsters every week for 14 seasons, the Hell Hounds are a consistent feature in the series, appearing when a human breaks a deal with a demon, or when time on the deal is up. These ferocious, undead, canine reapers appear unseen to the person about to meet their agonising fate. They tear the souls out of the human, collecting them for their demon master. In a show that contains evil creatures such as spirits and even The Devil himself, these are easily one of the most terrifying.
The Gentlemen Buffy the Vampire Slayer
TV culture
Weeping Angels Doctor Who
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Easily the most terrifying monsters ever created for TV. Whatever you may think of Steven Moffatt’s writing in recent years, this is by far his greatest contribution to the Doctor Who canon. The Angels feed on the time energy of other beings by grabbing them and sending them back in to a place that they cannot escape, forcing them to live out their lives in a time that they don’t belong to and feeding on the potential time that they have lost. Whilst this is disturbing, it is the way the Angels move that is horrifying. They cannot move if someone is looking at them, but if you even slightly blink they will inch ever closer until they have you, turning from unsuspecting statues to terrifying creatures in seconds.
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culture film Ghoulish Oldies
c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Film Editors: Helena Buchanan, Jimmy Athey, Joe Holloran Online Editor: Chris Wilkinson
A finer flavour of the film world?
Chris Wilkinson discusses whether horror flms should be considered as serious art
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(1997)
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n this chilling 1997 Sci-fi cult horror classic, directed by Wes Anderson, the crew of the rescue spaceship Lewis and Clark led by Captain Miller (Laurence Fishburne) are sent along with Dr William Weir (Sam Neill) to investigate what happened to the Event horizon, a ship design by Weir with a new experimental gravity drive, which has mysteriously stopped communicating with Earth. I started watching this film thinking it was just a sci-fi, not a horror, and holy mackerel was I taken by surprise. Rich in religious imagery and strong themes of cosmic horror that wouldn’t seem out of place in a Lovecraft story, Event Horizon is both immediately horrifying and philosophically disturbing. While the gruesome body horror and tension throughout makes the film a gratifying and exhilarating watch, the implications of the fragility of our humanity and the questions of what awaits us in the murky regions beyond the boundaries of human knowledge exhibit a deeper horror which in the long run is far more haunting. The cast of the film is stellar with the likes of Laurence Fishburne, Jason Isaacs, Sam Neill and Kathleen Quinlan bringing the characters to life and thoroughly breaking the stereotype poor acting in horror films.
Rich in religious imagery and strong themes of cosmic horror However, the film does have its issues. Today’s audiences will find the CGI dated and despite the large reliance on practical effects the scenes with noticeably bad CGI do detract from the experience of the film. Furthermore, the production problems the film experienced has led to some parts of the film seeming a little incomplete: the character motivations aren’t fully fleshed out, some of the plot points could be more developed and the film is criminally short at only 96 minutes. That being said, the things missed by the film do leave more to the imagination and the constant sense of the malevolence of the very environment the characters find themselves in is enough to make this film well worth a watch.
he common and shared experiences which all Netflix users have are numerous and varied, but there is one, I think, which is distinctly annoying. Imagine you are cycling through the vast array of films open to you, surfing the waves of titles that seemingly go on for eternity. But there is one genre which won’t go away, and all the films are the same. Behold, you have struck the coal-face of shite horror films. There are a few reasons why I find this annoying, but I think the most obtrusive one is that it fails to represent the brilliance of some films which categorise themselves as horror. I have read many, many articles and reviews about how and why people hate jump-scares, and I would be boring you, sweet reader, if I were to regurgitate some of their sentiment. But there is a reason why jumpscares are hated so much! They’re shit! And Netflix is full of them! No, instead of tucking into this feast of plastic-flavoured, mass-produced shite, take some time to savour the finer flavours of the film world.
tones of uncertainty about where and when someone will die, undeniably helped by its absolutely fantastic soundtrack. Take also the Shining. Perhaps one of Kubricks most stunning films (if not the most stunning), the cinematographic presence of this film is hard to deny when going into those lengthy conversations on filmmaking during the pretentious hours of the night. This is what
leads us into thinking whether the horror genre is really appreciated enough? It is true, the genre is in danger of becoming diluted by the trash that seems to be very popular, but you would be hard put trying to find another genre which can rise from such excruciating lows to such ascendant highs of film-making.
If Horror can maintain this ability to... channel some sort of message through it, it can be saved Regardless of what you feel the point of art and film is, it is hard to argue against the idea that one way of expressing such a point is through the channels provided by emotion. You watch a drama and you cry, you watch a comedy and you laugh, you watch a horror and you are terrified. Each one of these emotions can bring forward and process a subject more than we really comprehend. If you have watched Selma, you might have cried, if you watched Friday you might have laughed, and if you watched Get Out, you might have been terrified. But I bet after watching each film you had the same thoughts after: The issues of racial inequality in America. So, I feel, if Horror can maintain this ability to terrify and channel some sort of message through it, it can be saved. But whatever you do, don’t allow yourself to think Netflix is the one that will save it.
The genre is in danger of becoming diluted by trash Take, for example, The Thing. Full of jump scares and gory viscera though it is, this film is one of the absolute classics of the Horror genre. A flop upon release, it was only later in time that John Carpenter’s 1982 Horror Sci-fi came to be fully appreciated by the film community – notably for its suspenseful
Horror hits to give you the shits
Benja Townsend gives us his top five films for a spooky sesh or really horrible date
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y life is hard. It is a hard task to remember all the horror movies I’ve ever watched, and picking the five best. How can you compare Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010) to The Decent (2005)?! The answer is that they’re different films (neither of which made the cut). The point is that ‘Horror’ encompasses too much, so here is my best shot.
Billy Lamond
Image: YouTube
/NewcastleCourierFilm @Courier_Film
the courier
Monday 29th October 2018
Image: DeviantArt, horrorartistsfromcali
Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs (1991) must be one of the undisputed top horror films out there. Cannibalism is made cool by Anthony Hopkins’s performance and iconic last line ‘I’m having an old friend for dinner’; and while a gimp-suit made of skin may sound ridiculous, this disturbing reality adds enough gore to keep those adverse to psychological thrillers entertained. Yet it is the uneasy, unspoken dynamic between Hopkin’s Hannibal and, Jodie Foster’s Clarice which haunts the audience, necessary for any good phycological horror. If that isn’t enough, it’s got an impressive five Oscar’s to boot.
But Oscar’s aren’t the only way to judge a film; John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) is one of the defining films of the genre, even though it isn’t a ‘good’ film in most senses of the word, even Carpenter saw it as a failure. The characters aren’t memorable, and the CGI is overused. But it made a tiny profit at the box office, and dogs with octopi legs is what I imagine when someone mentions The Thing rather than the Fantastic Four. Not only is the ridiculousness entertaining, it was good enough for a 2011 remake and worthy of its now popular status. Horror films aren’t always psychological scares or overthe-top gore, they can be a fantastic mixture of genres. Jordan Peele’s Oscar winning debut, Get Out (2017), combines a psychological thriller with moments of humour, in a horrific reality that can be identified with. It’s an odd choice of genre to raise political issues, but addressing the marginalisation of Black Americans makes it more hard-hitting, and horrifies the audience with the real world they inhabit. While the final scene offers some light relief; Peele’s original ending, having Daniel Kaluuya’s character arrested, would have cemented this film even further. Peele is making waves as a director, but the best horror movies cannot be discussed without Ridley Scott. Admittedly the Alien franchise has taken an ‘interesting’ turn, to some fan’s disappointment, but the original Alien (1979) is an indulgence of horror, action and sci-fi. The role of Facehuggers and Chestbursters cannot be stressed enough in the identity of horror and scifi. Although spawning eight films, none have quite recaptured Sigourney Weaver’s original portrayal as Ripley, and the fear the Xenomorph crated. It cannot be said The Hills Have Eyes (2006) remake is a good movie, but for me it encapsulates horror. I was introduced to it by a connoisseur of horror films; and it instantly it became a favourite. It doesn’t take itself seriously, the gore is ridiculous, jump-scares make you laugh, and the plot is meaningless. This all shows the diversity horror films have and how they entertain. Serious or not, they're fantastic.
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Monday 29th October 2018
@Courier_Film thecourieronline.co.uk/film
Deconstructing the 60s: Bad Times at the El-Royale (15)
film culture Indie Spotlight
Elisabetta Pulcini reviews the new feature from the acclaimed writer Drew Goddard
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laying with boxes, defined colors, and stereotypes, Bad Times at the El Royale deconstructs our expectations of the 1960s, unveiling the reality behind them. Writer and director Drew Goddard, delivers a movie that manages to make poignant observation, without ever losing its stylish appeal. This film plays with simple archetypes, without disregarding the deeper social ramifications that these represent. The setting: the hotel, for example, is highly inviting to the viewer, with bright colours that create a long gone ‘good old times’ feel. Yet this charming façade hides a much darker story.
Jeff Bridges
Jeff has appeared in many films including The cult classic The Big Lebowski, the critically acclaimed True Grit and played the villan in Iron Man
This is reflective of how we often think of the 1960s: we tend to forget about the struggles, and romanticize the era as a whole. But by doing this, we also take away the humanity of it. Only when the movie starts to break down stereotypes, do the audience begin to make an emotional connection with the characters, and the sins they represent. In fact,
what defines humanity better than reflection upon our mistakes? The ensemble delivers fun, yet complex performances, which truly deepens my appreciation for all the actors involved, with special regard for Lewis Pullman. At the heart of the story are Darleen and Father Flynn, who not only are the most interesting characters, but also manage to remain relatable even through overthe-top events. In particular, Cynthia Erivo warms this movie with the strong yet comforting presence of her character. Darleen guides the viewer through the sins the characters represent by acting as a moral compass.
Queer Nation (15)
Halloween (18)
Images: YouTube
Image: Tyneside Cinema
Image: YouTube
y expectations for and understanding of this film were non-existent. So non-existent, in fact, that I didn't know that I was not even seeing a film, but two short documentaries. Poor preparation was, however, in my favour. I don't think that any preview or review of these films could describe or do justice to these artful, humorous, moving pieces of film. The two films (Closer and Mother/ Country) were, I felt, loosely linked under the banner of queer films. Though Closer certainly fitted this description, Mother/Country had other more central and pertinent themes. Both films did, however, share highly emotional coming out scenes. In Closer this was a re-creation of the experience of a few years earlier, and is gentle and affirming. In contrast, in Mother/ Country the revelation was fueled by a daughter's frustration at her mother, and it was not well recieved. The subject's emotions aside, Gharavi notes how foolish it was to go around Iran with tapes of her admitting to something which is a harshly punished crime in that country. Closer followed a young queer Geordie woman (Annalise) who, with charming frankness, discussed love and growing up. The film is sweetly humorous, and respect is due to director Tina Gharavi for cultivating such a natural interview style—the narrative is never stilted and Annalise never appears uncomfortable. On why she came to make the film, Gharavi stated that she saw Annalise dancing in a club and decided that she wanted to make a film about her. As Annalise put it in the film, she thought Gharavi just wanted to pull, and had poor pick-up lines… The film is a far more poignant result of a failed one-night-stand than any hangover I have endured. One of the charming aspects of both films is the early 2000 visuals. As one who is easily frustrated when I can’t film something nicely when drunk, in the dark, on my iphone, I forget the privilege of technology, and the privilege of viewing poor quality film as ‘a cool effect’. These films were excellent, and I would reccomend looking into Gharavi and her work.
alloween is but two days away. You are now Uni students and too old to go out trick-or-treating dressed as your favourite pop culture character. But, don’t despair. Halloween brings with it the promise of new horror releases to coincide with this holiday. This year imagination was damned as the studio system released Halloween the ninth instalment in the classic franchise. The plot revolves around Laurie Strode (Curtis) now in her 60s, as she prepares to do battle with returning serial killer Michael Myers one last time forty years since she first defeated him on Halloween night in a small Illinois town. This time she need not face him alone, she has her family by her side.
Helena Buchanan
Joe Holloran
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H
40
The brilliance of these characters does not only come from the actors: the screenplay and direction deliver exciting plot twists and highly stylized environments without losing any depth in the meantime. It is not a coincidence that there are seven protagonists: every character provides a reflection of defining features of the 1960s. Be it cults, war or alcoholism, this movie not only recognizes these aspects, but analyzes them, filling the viewer with questions. There are outstanding choices made, in both style and plot, which will keep the viewer in awe until the final moment. The revelations, allegories, and symbols that enrich the movie invite a second viewing of those who truly wish to appreciate it.
Number of years since the first Halloween installment
There were many reasons to be optimistic going into this film. The latest manifestation features the return of original stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle as the boiler suit aficionado Michael Myers. The returning cast are joined by Judy Greer and Andi Maichak among others. More importantly, John Carpenter himself returned as producer and consultant. For both horror and sci-fi fans, any film Carpenter's name attached to it is worth seeing. Among the film’s weaknesses are its predictable plot, its reliance on jump-scares and the overall lack of menace provided by Myers, who at times feels more comical than sinister. Its biggest problem is that Gordon Green sacrifices Carpenter's use of sound and minimalistic cinematography and replaces it with the fast-paced editing tropes seen in most of today’s horrors. While the film doesn’t come close to the magnificence of the original, if you are a fan of the genre’s golden age and want to see what could be its last hurrah, then you won’t be disappointed by Halloween.
The Double (2013)
A
ny film starring Jesse Eisenberg can be hit or miss. With a filmography including highs of Zombieland, but catastrophic character lows of Lex Luthor - having Eisenberg as a leading man is a risky choice. However, teamed with Richard Ayoade's unsettlingly comedic style, somehow, Eisenberg manages to give one of his best performances of his career. The Double follows the break down of low-life Simon James, as he is driven to madness by his double, James Simon - both played by Jesse Eisenberg. Simon is in love with his co-worker Hannah, who lives in the apartment across him, played by Mia Wasikowska. He is awkward, unknown by his colleagues, and pathetic around women; and though physically identical, James Simon is none of those things.
Beautiful Boy (12A) Image: YouTube
Image: YouTube
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avigating a story of teenage drug abuse is delicate, but rest assured, Felix Van Groeningen’s Beautiful Boy cements itself as one of the most accurate and painful portrayals of addiction, despite its narrative shortcomings. David and Nic are brought to the screen beautifully in standout performances from Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet – easily the film’s greatest successes. The subtlety in Carell’s performance contrasts perfectly with Chalamet’s immersive style, portraying the respective traumas of addiction, the former relying on the emotional, the latter on the physical. In spite of the extreme circumstances the dynamic between father and son is relatable and grounded, which serves to highlight the tragedy of their story. Kudos must also be given to Maura Tierney, who, after being on the periphery for the majority of the film as David’s second wife, Karen, gives a nuanced and heartbreaking performance as she realises the futility in trying to save her stepson, breaking down in a guttural scene. The film is let down by the unfortunate consequence of telling a story about relapse – repetitiveness. Groeningen’s attempts to highlight the difficulty in recovery leads to scenes feeling far too familiar to what’s come before; this may be truthful to the real-life issue of relapse, but doesn’t make for a particularly dynamic plot. Groeningen is able to make up for this through an artful visual style, managing to capture California at it’s very best and very worst. We have dingy back alleys and squalid public toilets of San Francisco, dimly lit and populated with addicts, which perhaps serves the overriding message Groeningen is trying to convey – addiction is a slow, miserable disease. At its most basic level, Beautiful Boy is a wonderful if harrowing story that raises awareness of the tragedy and cruelty of addiction, that sweetly stresses the importance of family above all else. James Nash
Simon finds his life slowly taken over by his cooler doppelganger, since, apart from Simon and James, no one realises how similar they look - possibly due to Simon being such a nonentity in their lives. Until I watched this film, I had never considered how utterly unsettling and terrifying the prospect of having your life taken over by someone identical to you, and no one believing you. By leaning on this odd fear, Richard Ayoade is able to create an intense film, with every aspect playing into his surrealist focus, which makes for some fantastic easter eggs.
Image: YouTube
In the opening scenes of the film, Simon watches Hannah throw away some drawings. Being obsessed, he goes to rescue the work, and when this is shown to the audience, we see two figures turned away. Hannah's doodle is reminiscent of Rene Magritte's Not to be reproduced - it's title also giving a nod to the reproduction of Simon later in the film.
Image: YouTube
Another rather funny "easter egg" in the film comes from the soundtrack. Composed by Andrew Hewitt, the film's main musical theme is based upon Der Doppelgänger by Franz Schubert, apt for a film based on having a double. Ayoade was undoubtedly the perfect director for this film. While his humour provides light relief from the unsettleing nature of the film, it adds another layer of psychological complexity, reinforcing rather than undermining the darkness.
Scarlett Rowland
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culture arts
the courier
c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Arts Editors Scarlett Rowland, Julia McGee-Russell, Rosie McCrum Online Editor Chris Wilkinson
Monday 29 October 2018
Stick or Crease: our Halloween crafts
Carys Rose Thomas, Julia McGee-Russell, Andrew Crowhurst and Ella Williams spook up their spaces with crafts
Scary Skeleton
Creepy Cat
Images: Carys Rose Thomas
Carys Rose Thomas:
Ilustrations: Hannah Earl
I set out by fondly naming my skeletal chum Julian, and decorated him with some spooky vein-y lines. The initial cutting out of Julian’s parts was quite fiddly. I found the folds too small to stick together with a glue stick, so I resorted to superglue. This makes him somewhat of a super-skeleton in my eyes. The parts were pretty selfexplanatory when came to how the whole thing fitted together. By the end of the sticky, rather fiddly process I was quite satisfied with how Julian came out - even if his arms are a bit wonky and I was somewhat attacked by the superglue a couple of times. When he was finished, I had a great time taking him for a little tour/bedroom photoshoot.
Andrew:
I've missed a bit, and I don't know where it's supposed to go. It took me about an hour! I don't have dainty fingers so I am definitely not designed for this. You can tell it's a skeleton if you look hard enough, so for my lack of creativity I suppose it's a success.
Ella:
I began by gathering my supplies. The instructions called for a piece of black card and some card stock. I had to make do with a purple file divider and the cardboard from a box of tofu. The body was a fairly straightforward process, save a few issues when trying to stick it to the base with my very dried up pritt stick. Still, once the tail was attached she was taking shape! The head looked like I would have to engage my more advanced crafty skills. Cutting it into shape was manageable, but I didn’t leave any scraps of paper to make the whiskers, so I coloured in some printer paper and used that instead. The construction of her feline features proved delicate work for my dying glue stick, but I eventually got everything to stay stuck. I even added a few embellishments, as she felt bare without a mouth and nose and I had made the eyes disproportionately large. But finally she was complete! I call her Raviolo (singular of Ravioli) in acknowledgement of her vaguely ravioli-shaped face? Or perhaps I was just thinking about my tea at this point. She will live in pride of place on the shelf overlooking my bed and I will love her until she gets crumpled or her head drops off.
Top Tip: Instead of folding the ribs, curl the paper with the edge of a pair of scissors (like you do with gift ribbons) to make the ribs curl inwards.
Julia:
Honestly, I thought I was better at arts and crafts than this. This “cat” might be the most terrifying thing I’ve ever made. The two creepy yellow eyes seem to stare into my soul. As I have almost no craft supplies, I improvised heavily using ripped out notebook pages and a questionably crusty pritt stick. For those beautiful piercing eyes I used two post-it notes cut into rough diamond shapes. That gorgeous colour comes from a relatively dry highlighter and a similarly shrivelled whiteboard pen. The craft was simple, but I still managed to get all the proportions wrong, leaving me with a bobbleheaded demon cat instead of a festive furry companion. The jaunty angle of the head adds to the feeling that this unnamed creeper is always watching you. He now sits proudly on my living room table, and probably still will until someone musters the courage to recycle him. I would rate my bobbleheaded
@TheCourierArts
disaster cat a solid 6 out of 10. I tried. Images: Julia McGee-Russell
Image: Ella Williams
@thecourierarts
the courier
31
Monday 29 October 2018
Tunes of the Toon
Charlotte Boulton and Julia McGee-Russell give you the lowdown on the best open mic nights Bar Loco Newcastle Literary Salon [last Wednesday of every month from 7pm]
This poetry-exclusive open mic night holds a special place in my heart. The first place I performed my own poetry in first year, it solidified Bar Loco as one of my favourite venues. If you’re looking for live music, their folk or jazz jam sessions are amazing, but this night is pure unadulterated poetry. Featured performers who give readings on a monthly theme are mixed with plenty of open mic space for everyone. Poems can be any topic and length - some regulars contribute a stack of poems each month. Located upstairs in Bar Loco, the set-up is welcoming and cosy, continuing the bohemian-esque vibes from downstairs. As someone who dabbles in spoken word poetry, it’s amazing to have dedicated nights for poetry and to be surrounded by people with the same passion for this unique medium. The audience is friendly and enthusiastic, with the typical poetry crowd habits of “mmm”s and finger clicks abundant. Audible appreciation of art is always something I enjoy and making a connection between the performer and the viewers is lovely.
Images: Instagram, @filthysnewcastle
Ernest
Images: Instagram, @ernest.ouseburn
Freshly Squeezed: Open Mic Night at Ernest [second Thursday of every month, 7.30pm start]
Ernest’s open mic offering, ‘Freshly Squeezed’, popped onto the scene last year. I performed poetry at one of their first events last autumn and really enjoyed the vibe. Performers and audience alike are tightly packed into the back room of this Ouseburn venue; fairy lights and scattered beanbags creating a relaxed atmosphere. The audience here is the most focused I’ve ever seen at an open mic. There’s almost a feeling that the space is too intimate, particularly if you’re performing a personal song or poem. But the crowd is warm and your words are certainly being listened to. People are often eager to let you know what they thought, perfect for if those who crave feedback or a little validation after your performance. This is the place to be if you’re on the artsy side of aesthetic and are up for hearing plenty of experimental originals rather than crowd-pleasing covers. If you’re into unusual soundscapes crafted by loop pedals and electronic synthesisers, your art is as welcome here as an acoustic guitar player or a performance poet. An all-round great time to be had.
Filthy’s
Alphabetti Theatre
Although a venue quite literally named filthy may seem suspect, this venue is surprisingly funky. A late-starter open mic night every Tuesday (from 10pm), if you’re already out for a few drinks, Filthy’s is a great stop. Performances are varied, although volume is usually one thing they have in common. If you’re into listening to live music whilst having a drink with friends, chatter amongst the audience almost encouraged here. Some open mic musicians love the challenge of earning the crowd’s attention at an open mic like this; if you can get people actively watching and nodding along, it’s a win. With everything from solo singer-songwriters showcasing their quirky originals, to the night’s organiser rallying the crowd with recognisable classics, there is something for everyone. Just don’t dare venture to the toilets, or you’ll discover what’s really filthy at Filthy’s. Get a jam jar cocktail or a craft beer instead, and enjoy the casual vibes and cracking live music.
A relaxed open mic session on the first Wednesday of every month, Alphabetti Jam is exactly the place to go if you’re a first-time performer. Located across the road from the Discovery Museum, the cosy Alphabetti Theatre has squishy sofas, scrumptious cakes, and resident dog Rex who is always on hand for a tail wag and a cuddle if your set goes atrociously. Expect a small and friendly audience half-full of performers who will give you a clap while they drink their pint. A full range of performances (both in style and quality), this environment is especially forgiving and perfect for the stage-nervous. Even if you’re not a fan of using the mic yourself, the food is delicious, the pints are cheap, and all of your entertainment is free (including the wifi!).
Spotlight Open Mic Night [every Tuesday from 10pm]
Alphabetti Jam: Open Mic [first Wednesday of every month, 7.30pm start]
Image: Pixabay
Spare Mics Open Mic Cheat Sheet
MONDAYS
-Beer & Buskers @ Passing Clouds – 7-10pm -Kommunity – 8pm -Stack Newcastle – 7pm
TUESDAYS
-Filthy’s – 8pm -Bar Loco – 8pm -Holy Hobo – 8pm, busker’s night (acoustic music), free drink for performers -Babble Gum @ The Cumberland Arms – Every third Tuesday, 7pm, spoken word and comedy welcome
WEDNESDAYS
-Alphabetti Jam @ Alphabetti Theatre – first Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm -The Globe – first Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm -Wilders - 7.30pm, acoustic night -Trillians Rock Bar
THURSDAYS
-Freshly Squeezed @ Ernest – Every second Thursday 7.30-10.30pm, free drinks for performers -The Dun Cow – 8.30pm busker’s night
I
Images: Instagram, @ashwingillustration
The exhibition highlights that female victims of sexual violence can have a bright future
Sarah Montgomery utilises an acorn as a metaphor for new life. In ‘Beginning’ the acorn was small. In ‘Process’ the woman waters the plant, allowing it to grow. ‘Flourish’ reveals a tall tree. It seems like these are reminiscent of the services provided by RCTN; the young girl is regaining her strength through counselling. Throughout my deeper journey into the exhibition, the illustrations invited me to slowly contemplate the themes of the exhibition: hope, solidarity, and liberation. Cal-
Life Drawing at Cobalt HEATHER FLINT
L
et me just get this out there from the start- I am no artist. Last time I did ‘proper’ art was in school- and put it this way, they don’t often let naked men go into GCSE classrooms. I wanted to get stuck into drawing again so my friend Elizabetta and I pulled up the courage to go to the Cobalt’s life drawing class. I had no idea what to expect- I thought we were going to be stood in a cold, brightly lit warehouse with a group of older, michaelangelo-wannabes gawping at someone with their kit off. I was relieved to find out that the class at Cobalt was the exact opposite! The atmosphere was really chilled, with good-vibes, music and cosy lighting. It felt more like a hipster bar than an art studio.
I thought we were going to be stood in a warehouse with a group of michaelangelo-wannabes gawping at someone with their kit off. When we first got there we had no idea what was going on: there was a circle of people armed with sketchbooks all looking very purposeful- one girl was even wearing a beret, which made it clear that she was a Serious Artist™. We grabbed a beer each, and the barman got us sat down. Before we knew it, some bloke strode up to the middle of the circle, whipped off his dressing gown, and began his first pose. Trying not to giggle, we sharpened our pencils and cracked on. At first, I had no idea where to look, so I started off just trying to ignore the tackle and get the overall proportions right. We only had 2 minutes per pose at the start, giving everyone time to warm up and practice. My first attempt weren’t great. The next poses lasted 5 minutes and I got the chance to draw the whole figure.
-Live @ Luthers – 12pm, free drink for performers
SATURDAYS
-Kaleidoscope HQ – last Saturday of the month, 7.30pm
Carl Smith Valdez comments on the recent fundraiser that was held in collaboration with Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumbmerland and students of Northumbria University struck me immediately with sadness, as the woman seems trapped in a vicious cycle by someone. Yet, she also hugs herself. This passionate gesture encapsulates the woman regaining self-love and self-acceptance. In Aitken’s second portrait ‘Be You’, the woman’s self-love has flourished, with a newly developed positivity. Both portraits use red and black with control, showing a loving and powerful woman.
Bare Experiences
FRIDAYS
Charity fundraising exhibition
n September 2017, Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland (RCTN) challenged second year students studying BA(Hons) Graphic Design to create merchandise to help raise £40,000 on its 40th anniversary year. The students were set three words, describing how most women felt after their counselling with RCTN: Hope, Solidarity, and Liberation. The art exhibition entitled ‘Response’ displayed at least two illustrations from each student at The Globe Gallery from 12th October to 20th October. Upon entering The Globe Gallery, I was greeted with a warm welcome from the artists and employees from the RCTN. I was then drawn into Josh Aitken’s ‘Love You’. It
arts culture
lum Scott experiments with geometric shapes and colours to non-figuratively express the three words. In ‘Hope Burst’ Scott truly encapsulates an upsurge of freedom. The dark blue triangles contrast with the vibrant colours, symbolising a way out of the darkness. It resembles the style of the Memphis Design Movement due to its pleasing aesthetics, but Scott goes beyond by subtly imposing meaning into the illustrations. Asa Hindarti interestingly interprets hope, solidarity, and liberation through drawing on the traditional Indonesian dance, Tarian Kebebasan. The dance symbolises freedom, as a woman transforms from a young child into a mature adult. A standout moment is that of Hung-Ling Chen, who emphasises the interruption of life. Chen draws the eyes in an empty space in the middle of her swirling illustrations, leaving us to reflect completey on the beauty and complexity of nature. The Northumbria University students did a praiseworthy job by bringing hope, solidarity, and liberation to life through their varying interpretations. The exhibition highlights that female victims of sexual violence can have a bright future.
It was tough trying to make the model look grounded and solid and getting the perspective right was difficult! I got a bit better as I went on, and as the model moved through his poses, I learned more and more about how different muscles connected where, which meant I could spend more time drawing and less time figuring things out. By the time we reached the 15 minute poses, I got to try shading my drawings. But I still didn’t know what the etiquette was for drawing the guy’s junk! At the 30 minute poses, drawing started to feel almost like meditation. All I could hear was the chilled background music and the scratching of people’s pencils. When the final timer went off, I looked back at what ‘masterpiece’ I had created. Surprisingly, the later pictures actually looked like human men! I learned so much at my first class, and after the initial awkwardness we really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend the sessions for anyone wanting to practice or to try something a bit different.
The next life drawing class is on November 14th. If you want to feature in our next ‘Bare Experiences’ column, come along to our writers meeting, or email c2.arts@newcastle.ac.uk for more information.
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culture gaming
Monday 29th October 2018
courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Gaming Editors George Boatfield, Matthew Neville & Kelly South
Ghoulish games
Welcome to our brand new column where Kelly South recommends titles that won’t break your budget
C
.ibele is one of those games that entirely changed what I thought was possible for the medium, and it holds a special spot in my heart and games library as a result. I spent my childhood surrounded by creative games that captured my imagination on countless afternoons, where I could be anything from an evil genius to a dragon, or design my own blissful domestic life in EA’s original Sims. But I didn’t encounter many quiet, emphatically personal narratives until college, games that led me to reflect on relationships and identity. Cibele is described as “a game about love, sex, and the internet”. This experimental indie title is based on creator Nina Freeman’s real life and features her nineteen year old self’s actual selfies, angst-ridden poetry, and a tale of increasing intimacy gradually unravels after the player connects online with an intriguing young man. Published by Star Maid Games and released in November 2015 to acclaim from many outlets, including The Verge and Wired, it’s astonishing how tender, funny and captivating Cibele is. In the game you primarily navigate with points and clicks, either exploring the files on a simulated version of Nina’s desktop, reading over flirtatious or gossiping emails, homework assignments, or you can open Valtameri - an MMO that doesn’t exist in reality, but is reminiscent of both Final Fantasy XIII and World of Warcraft. The point of Valtameri is not to vanquish monsters, though the creatures and world are beautifully designed: the reason you load the candy-coloured game world is talking to Ichi. Though that’s not his real name, of course. So while your spear-wielding avatar, who’s wearing a flowing aquamarine dress and has light pink hair not unlike Nina Freeman’s own hairstyle, moves through the game world you’re consistently multitasking. The player is reading and replying to in-game messages from friends, frantically exiting out to check emails and mostly pondering what Nina is feeling about Ichi, who’s been alternating between softly laughing, asking her probing questions, and increasingly talking about what making out would be like. The game is divided into chapters and there are videos interspersed with Nina Freeman herself recreating the experience of her first phone call, first meeting (and one other monumentous first) with Ichi.
Image: Kelly South
Ultimately, Cibele is a game exploring what it’s like to fall in love for the first time: something which is fraught with anxiety, confusion, and unbelievable excitement for anyone. Experiencing those intense feelings through a computer screen undeniably complicates matters and the writing and dialogue masterfully represents the overwhelming sweetness, lust, and terror of it all. Are romantic feelings developed over the internet, where people have unprecedented control over their personas and physical appearance (thanks to selective angles and filters), truly as genuine as those that develop after meeting people in real life? Or is that question impossibly old-fashioned? Cibele doesn’t set out to answer these questions definitively, or for Nina Freeman’s experience to be applied to every budding romance. If you do enjoy playing Cibele, I highly recommend Nina Freeman’s other games, Freshman Year and how do you Do It? She was also a Level Designer on Tacoma at Fullbright, the makers of emotive hit Gone Home. Cibele is £5.99 on the Steam store or you can purchase a DRMfree version for PC and Mac that comes with a Steam key at ninasays.so/cibele/ for $8.99 USD.
A scratched disc? System errors? The irreversible Red Ring of Death? For Halloween, half a dozen
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Bloodborne Alex Darbyshire
loodborne doesn’t spook as most conventional horror games do. But it isn’t conventionally terrifying because it isn’t meant to be, it’s an action RPG after all,not an out-and-out horror title. Where Bloodborne excels is in creating one of the most faithful Lovecraftian horrors in the gaming industry. The first half of the game is an almost cheesy blend of vampires, werewolves and torch-toting mobs. It is only after defeating Rom, the Vacuous Spider that the truth is revealed: the mysterious religion that the plot has revolved around is one that worships alien beings that have since transcended this mortal plane. This reflects the horror Lovecraft himself hoped to evoke, the fear of the unknown. The second half of Bloodborne delivers horror by revealing to the player a world unimaginable in the first half of the game, with the mechanics of Insight and Frenzy cementing this into the DNA of the game. Bloodborne’s approach to horror is truly unique.
Image: IGDB
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SA-X, Metroid Fusion Richard Liddle
n my eyes, there are few video game antagonists hen it comes to classic horror games, few more terrifying than SA-X from Metroid Fusion. A come more highly praised than Silent Hill parasite-driven clone of heroine Samus’ power suit, 2, and it’s not hard to see why. Silent Hill 2 it’s made explicitly clear to you by the game that SA-X eschews shock for tension via its foreboding, foggy isn’t to be messed with when Samus has been stripped streets and the dark, claustrophobic interiors of its of most of her abilities, whilst SA-X is at full destructive rotting buildings, all of which work to render the player power. just as paranoid as the main character. The first few times you come close to SA-X - its arrival Speaking of the main character, the town of Silent Hill heralded by ominous music and the sound of approaching is less of an abandoned holiday resort so much as it is footsteps - you’re forced to cower underneath the floor the physical manifestation of the guilty consciences of or behind walls to avoid its wrath, all while it continues the poor souls drawn to it, sort of like Scarborough but to wreak destruction aboard the game’s purposefully built for terrible people. isolated space station. This is particularly true of the game’s protagonist Your first real encounter comes James Sunderland, who was drawn to the town about halfway through the game, by a letter from his dead wife and whom the a heart-pounding chase section town subsequently delights in tormenting. where a handful of mistakes can It’s an interplay between protagonist and easily lead to your untimely end environment few games have pulled off after SA-X follows relentlessly anywhere near as effectively. and can decimate you with But for me Silent Hill 2’s primary strength even a few hits of its ice ray. lies in its sound design, the work of the Once you’ve regained some infinitely talented Akira Yamaoka. Much of Samus’ more powerful abilities, of this lies in the soundtrack (one of the it’s tempting to start feeling like an best the medium’s ever produced) but unstoppable badass. SA-X, of even the basic sound effects like James’ course, is waiting just around rhythmic footsteps have a way of putting the corner to remind you that you on edge. in reality you’re still helpless to All in all, Silent Hill 2 is a stellar horror resist. For me, it’s that feeling game, but more than this, it’s a masterclass of complete powerlessness that in interactive storytelling. If you’re itching makes this encounter such an to feel both spooked and sad this Image: IGDB iconic horror moment. Halloween, you could do far worse.
Review: Call of Duty:
Black Ops 4
Does Blackout save COD? Matthew Neville gives his verdict
W
ith last year’s underwhelming Call of Duty: World War 2 now firmly in the rear view mirror for series fans, it’s Treyarch’s turn to step up to the development plate. But has the studio’s bold decision to remove a single player campaign to make room for a battle royale mode proven to be the shot in the arm the series needed, or have they simply shot themselves in the foot? The answer isn’t so clear just yet. Multiplayer is up first. While hardly revolutionising the mode, Treyarch has given us the most refined and addictive iteration yet, with a slew of new game modes, a renewed emphasis on teamwork, and some pretty fundamental changes to the combat loop. Firstly, the timeto-kill has been upped in order to give players a chance to react and respond. Coupling this welcome change with the new manual healing mechanic drastically increases the fairness of combat encounters and raises the skill ceiling, meaning you won’t be mercilessly dominated by toddlers as often as in previous games. Aside from these tweaks to the familiar formula, the multiplayer portion of Black Ops 4 delivers what you’d expect from a Treyarch entry. Smart map layouts, smooth traversal (thankfully with your boots firmly on the ground for the majority of the time), and some particularly punchy weapons giving great audible and visual feedback are just some features to expect. Moving on from the multiplayer, we have Zombies. While I’m a stickler for the more simplistic level design found in Treyarch’s earlier Zombies outings, the base offering here is undeniably stronger than that of Black Ops 3, with two wholly original maps and a substantial remake of Black Ops 2 fan favourite, ‘Mob of the Dead’. Like the multiplayer, Zombies remains as chaotic yet considered in its design as it ever has been. However, the inclusion
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Silent Hill 2 Gerry Hart
of such a wealth of content for this mode is necessary considering the removal of a single player campaign, meaning Zombies is picking up the slack in the narrative department. This absolutely shows, with flashy cutscenes playing before each stage and a larger variety of spoken lines accompanying the action. This is also true of the Specialist HQ missions. However, beyond learning how best to utilise the abilities of each specialist character, these missions hold little narrative value and can easily be ignored. Finally, there’s Blackout. Despite the buzz surrounding this mode I have very little to actually say about it. It’s a well-designed battle royale mode, but currently it does little to distinguish itself from the competition. With exception to some welcome nods to the history of the Black Ops series, Blackout is simply a better paced, smoother version of PUBG. Although considering Black Ops 3’s story was something you’d think was written in faeces on a bathroom wall by robot fetishists, I’d be hard-pressed to say that Blackout’s introduction is a regression for the series. But whether or not it will elevate the franchise in the long run will only become clear with time. Image: IGDB
Aardman to make video games ‘Cracking cheese or ‘the wrong trousers’? Haaris Qureshi speculates
“D
efinitely somewhere in our future is a stop motion video game” from Aardman, according to a statement from the company’s Digital Creative Director Dan Efergan. The world-famous animation studio has recently branched out into the video game industry with their First World War narrative adventure 11-11: Memories Retold¸ which is set to release later this year. 11-11 uses graphics designed to emulate moving paintings to embody its poignant wartime setting. Aardman Studios is to the stop motion industry what Pixar is to computer animation, leading to a discussion on whether the studio has any plans to bring its distinctive look and feel to any subsequent games. This is especially evident following Pixar titles like Toy Story and Monsters Inc. being replicated in the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 3. Video games animated through stop motion are not remotely new by any means. Digitised sprites were commonplace during the 16-bit era, with many games utilising photography to create what passed for ‘realistic’ graphics in the early 90s. Sometimes these were used for movie tie-in games, such as Batman Forever and Street Fighter: The Movie, where frames of the actors (or their stunt doubles) performing the moves would be used as the basis for character sprites. And indeed, many games sought to deliberately invoke the ‘claymation’ feel by using photos of clay figures as the source for the sprites, such as Street Fighter parody ClayFighter. Digitised sprites have naturally fallen out of mainstream use, only now found in certain indie games. Yet perhaps the expertise, artistry, and unique charm of Aardman Studios might be enough to cause a new interest in a game which makes use of digitised claymation, should 11-11 prove to be successful for the studio. This proposal is not totally unprecendented as many game developers strive to distinguish their titles in an increasingly broadening marketplace.
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Monday 29th October 2018
@Courier_Gaming thecourieronline.co.uk/gaming
gaming culture
s from the crypt
Memory Card Dead Space
In space, can anyone hear Alex Darbyshire reminisce? Gaming writers share their stories of much scarier discoveries, from Metroid Fusion to Silent Hill 2 No, so he wrote it all down
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Out There Jack Coles
ut There is a cosmic horror resourcemanagement game. You play as the passenger of a mining ship who’s been cryogenically frozen for 200 years. Earth’s solar system has been destroyed by aliens trying to prevent the heat death of the universe and displaced humans now terrorise the galaxy. Your objective is to get home – if it still exists. The game is thoroughly gloomy, with text boxes reminding you that you are constantly being irradiated. The occasional moments of happiness – like finding a spaceship with some advanced tech – are quickly followed up with the gut punch of running out of oxygen or some other resource. The scariest thing about Out There is that there is no happy ending for you. Aliens hate and fear you, but despite your fearsome reputation most of the time you run out of one resource or another and die, unmourned and unloved.
Your objective is to get home - provided it still exists
Out There isn’t chilling from a “boo, I’m a skeleton!” perspective. It’s more to do with the fear of isolation. Each time you lose, you die alone. Alexa, play “Your Day Will Come” by Streetlight Manifesto.
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Vault 87, Fallout 3 James Troughton
he Fallout series is perhaps best known for the vaults. Each game has them scattered across the map with three of the titles even beginning in an operational, functional vault. The one that I’ll be discussing is Vault 87, the birthplace of the super mutants and centaurs in the Capital Wasteland. The two main enemies you encounter in this area are the three-tongued, slug-like centaurs who behave like loyal attack dogs for the gigantic, muscular super mutants. These monstrous mutants speak like primitive, aggressive humans, grunting like cavemen. The centaurs, however, are mute. Instead, you hear their slithering tongues and their ghastly limbs as they drag themselves along by their malformed hands and feet. The actual vault itself has the same characteristics as most of the others: claustrophobic, dimly lit and in ruins, full of blood-stained medical beds with failed experiments strung out on display near the grime-covered windows. This section is known as the ‘test labs’ and, rather horrifically, those that walked in believed they were going to be saved from annihilation. The results were the monstrous creatures that you must defend yourself from in Vault 87. There’s clearly a terrifying history to explore here, and the atmosphere that Bethesda created perfectly reflects the horrors that were enacted on those who unwittingly entered the vault.
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Yume Nikki Al Ridley
’ume Nikki (meaning ‘Dream Diary’), a freeto-play Japanese indie horror game made with RPG Maker, is an exercise in pure atmospheric fear. You play as Madotsuki, a girl living alone in a crappy apartment that she refuses to leave and, by climbing into her bed, you explore her dreams. It’s a minimalist and free-form experience pared down to the core. There’s no battle system, dialogue or signposting. Instead, all you get in Madotsuki’s mental landscape is a series of twelve doors each leading its own uniquely surreal realm. Your exploration is accompanied by an eerie ambience, discordant noises, complete desolation and a barrage of strange symbolism that makes the English student in me weep. The pixel-based graphics are bright, lurid and confusing, full of Aztec-like figures, phallic slimes, and the bird-faced Toriningen, who chase you down and trap you in a dead end. It’s not a game that thrives on shock value (mostly) but it’s totally immersive and unsettling, in a world that makes just enough sense to suggest something deeper is at play. Turn off the lights, put on headphones, and explore the depths of Madotsuki’s dreams tonight. You may just visit them again in your nightmares.
Image: Deviant Art @iamnotapixelartist
PSN messages Signs of ‘next-gen’ approaching locking out users Is ‘next-gen’ closer than we think? James Troughton reports Callum Trainor writes in, and promptly sets his inbox to private
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n 13 October, various PlayStation 4 users stated that a message exploit was ‘bricking’ consoles, with the only fix being a factory reset. At the time this hadn’t been commented on by Sony. Over the subsequent week however, @AskPS_UK stated: “We’ve since fixed the issue, and it wasn’t bricking consoles, just sending them into a crash loop that can be quickly fixed in under five minutes. Delete the message on the PS mobile app, go into safe mode, use option five, console back to normal.” The next day Sony released a statement saying the issue was fixed with a patch. Numerous users on the r/PS4 sub-reddit have posted they had received the messages and suffered with the ‘symptoms’ – which are very similar to those seen in the mobile world where specific characters can shutdown the hardware. A post by reddit user u/Huntstark describes all but one of his team on Rainbow Six Siege receiving the messages. Each crashed and required a factory reset, except the member of the team who had his messages set to private. Although the issue has been resolved, various comments have been made about Sony’s slow response to the issue. As it happened over the week, many users were left stuck with no official word from Sony for twenty-four hours.
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ach PlayStation has released six to seven years apart. The PlayStation 4 released five years ago, which means that it is very likely we’re going to be seeing the fifth console in a couple of years. Sony president and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida has commented on the need for the PlayStation 4’s successor, telling the Financial Times that “it’s necessary to have a [sic] next-generation hardware.” However, Yoshida declined to say whether the new console would be called the PlayStation 5 or not. It is possible they will take the brand in a new direction, although it’s very unlikely. Sony have also placed advertisements looking for a Senior Product Manager and a Senior Software Engineer. These ads use the term “next generation” indicating that they are working on the next console. This sort of hiring usually precedes a release by twelve to fifteen months. This means that the next generation of PlayStation could arrive in 2019 or 2020 which would be in line with their current track-record of six to seven years.
It is very likely we’re going to be seeing the fifth PlayStation in a couple of years
There are also rumours surrounding Infinity Ward, the company mostly known for their work on the Call of Duty series. Craig
Image: flickr @PlayStation Europe
Fairbrass, the voice behind Walcroft, Ghost, and Gaz, updated his Twitter bio saying that he had worked on “Call of Duty Modern Warfare 1/2/3/4.” This is important because, on LinkedIn, Infinity Ward has a job listing where they are looking for a temporary Associate Game Designer who will be working on “an exciting, unannounced next gen title.” This could very well be the rumoured Modern Warfare 4 - and Infinity Ward is the next in line to release a Call of Duty game, coming in 2019.
Infinity Ward has a job listing where they are hiring for an “exciting next-gen title”
The next generation of consoles could come out next year and Modern Warfare 4 is possibly one of the titles that will be released on Sony’s new platform. It’s entirely speculative but, based on the job advertisements and Fairbrass’ social media description, it’s also entirely possible. However, it should be noted that the job listing does not say that the game they are working on is Call of Duty, so the release could be as far back as 2022, rather than next year.
Image: flickr @PlayStation Europe
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he Dead Space franchise has reached its tenth birthday, and yet remains in the cultural zeitgeist of horror classics. Despite this, there hasn’t been a single entry in the franchise since Dead Space 3 five years back. This poorly-received sequel was bogged down by microtransactions and poor direction, but the first entry delivered scares that - in 2008 - were decidedly next-gen. But now we’re on the precipice of another generational leap, so does this first entry hold up after an entire decade? Let’s take a look. Dead Space is derivative but in all the right ways. The opening reeks of Alien, with our minimal cast of characters displaying a familiarity equal to the disillusionment they display towards their space-mining jobs. The player is made comfortable for a grand total of about three minutes before things start going sideways. The cast is split up, and the player, as Isaac Clarke, is alone. Before they know it the player’s heart is racing as they’re blasting necromorphs in cramped corridors. Here is another point where derivative design is used effectively: reminiscent of Resident Evil 4, the camera is oppressively close to the player’s character. This is genius in terms of delivering horror through game mechanics. Dead Space uses the uncommonly close angle to ensure the player cannot see the entirety of a room at once, in addition to making every single doorway a potential scare. This keeps tension high even in quiet moments, as often what the player can’t see is more frightening than what they can.
The player is made comfortable for a total of three minutes before things go sideways
The gunplay of Dead Space incorporated subtle but broadly effective gameplay innovations that also fed into the game thematically. Engineer Isaac Clarke is equipped at first only with his trusty plasma cutter. With this slicing tool in hand, it is quickly exposited to the player that severing the limbs of necromorphs is far more effective at dispatching them than merely aiming for the head or body. This puts a nice spin on how most shooters play, as the player spends the first hour unlearning their typical instincts. Additionally, the audiovisual design of Dead Space is fantastic. Each weapon sounds punchy and powerful, necromorphs are otherworldly and intimidating, and the overarching ambience of the Ishimura is perfectly atmospheric. Furthermore, while some critics at the time complained of the game’s plot, I personally feel that the drip-feeding of environmental storytelling and limited interactivity with other characters creates a satisfyingly slow burn, with few areas stretching on for too long. Unfortunately, it can’t all be perfect. As previously mentioned, certain areas can drag on, such as the antigravity sections, which pronounced the worst parts of Dead Space’s control scheme. Additionally, the final stretch of the game is incredibly repetitive, with the designers placing multiple identical enemies in the player’s path. The gameplay also becomes incredibly easy on lower difficulties, and so playing on veteran mode is recommended to maintain challenge throughout the entire campaign. So, does Dead Space hold up after ten years? On the whole, absolutely. Its intriguing story and familiar yet innovative gameplay has aged incredibly well. Despite a couple of aspects, this horror classic remains immersive and refreshing in 2018.
Image: IGDB
puzzles 35
the courier
Monday 29 October 2018
Puzzles Supreme Overlord Mary J Blige Puzzle matriarch Rihanna Puzzles Editor Insignificant Sudoku Absent Will to live Waning Level of Hysteria High
Horror Film Picture Quiz:
Can you work out the horror films described in these images? OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH it’s SPOOKY this week...
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(To clarify, the Flames represent Hell fire and are just page decoration, not part of one of the clues)
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Last Week’s Solutions General Puzzles
Sudoku: Your guess is as good as mine Arch: Arch of Hadrian, known to pals as Daz
Imagine a ghost saying CLOOOOES Across
CROSSWORD 1
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1 They are doubtless planning an apocalypse (6) 2 Nina, you put a what on me? (5) 3 Lets do it again (8) 4 AC/DC, ringing from below (5, 5) 6 Winona Ryder dancing buglike (5, 6) 7 A students actual worst nightmare (9, 4) 10 Whose family? (5) 14 Shoe, family (7) 15 Hit the road (4) 16 Alas poor (6) 17 Nightmare on (3, 6)
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5 La dia de los _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (7) 8 That girl is _ _ _ _ _ _ (6) 11 What did Karen go as? (Duh!) 9 10 (5) 12 Sky rodent (3) 13 Tired, empty (6, 6) 18 Magic Wands classic (6) 12 19 Little shop of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (7) 20 Be honest, you want a large beer (12)
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sport
Monday 29 October 2018
Swapping spikes for studs: Usain Bolt and the prestige of multi-sport athletes
Adam Williams looks at those athletes blessed with enough sporting ability to compete in completely different fields during the course of their athletic careers
Usain Bolt recorded a record 9.58 100m run Image: Wikimedia Commons The old adage remains as true as ever, football really is a funny old game. In this instance in fact, it borders on the hilarious. In the summer of 2008, Ross McCormack was completing a thoroughly unglamorous free transfer from Motherwell to Cardiff. He was most likely aware that a few weeks prior, a young Jamaican called Usain Bolt smashed the 100m world record in New York with a staggering time of 9.72 seconds. 10 years later and Bolt has twice broken his own record and completed a famous clean sweep of gold medals in three consecutive Olympics. McCormack spent the rest of his ca-
As always with Bolt, the spectacle and showmanship play a part
reer in the Championship. During these years of relative mediocrity, the Scot, it is safe to say, probably did not imagine that while playing for Central Coast Mariners in Australia’s A-League, he would assist the world superstar’s first goal in professional football. A well taken goal it was too, Bolt using his famed acceleration to race on to McCormack’s dinked through ball, taking the ball down on his knee before drilling a low shot past the keeper’s
near post. Even in the wake of such a glittering career on the track, it was a fairy tale moment for Bolt, who has long harboured an ambition to make the jump from athletics to football. As if this wasn’t enough, a few minutes later he added a second, walking the ball into the net following a mix up between opposition keeper and defender. As always with Bolt, the spectacle and showmanship play a part. He wears the number 95 in honour of his 9.58 world record time and of course he celebrated his goal with his signature ‘lighting’ pose. He has, however, conducted himself with a characteristic not usually associated with one of the greatest athletes of all time- humility.
95
The number that Usain Bolt wears on the back of his shirt to celebrate his 9.58 second world record time
Bolt, until now, has never had any reason to be humble. For over a decade he was utterly imperious in his field, winning everything it was possible to win. Now, however, he finds himself in an unfamiliar situation. There is no doubt Bolt’s trial with the Mariners is fuelled by the media storm. The commercial benefits of having one of the most famous athletes in the world on your team are all too obvious. Bolt, and the staff at
the Mariners, will be under no illusions that he is not currently of the standard to play professional football, at least not at this level. The two goals masked the fact that he looks uncomfortable on the ball and not at all a natural finisher. Time will tell if Bolt’s venture into football will prove fruitful. Somehow one suspects it will not. There is, however, something undeniably noble about an athlete of such stature opening themselves up to ridicule, valiantly placing themselves out of their comfort zone and into scenarios which test their abilities in ways which they have not previously been tested. Ultimately, this attribute which all great competitors have, to consistently challenge themselves, is what makes them great. There are numerous athletes who have competed and excelled in multiple traditional Olympic sports. Although a phenomenon more prevalent before the modern era, it is one that still occurs. Notable contemporary examples can be seen in sportsmen and women who compete in events which have directly transferable skills such as swimming and water polo or volleyball and beach volleyball. While impressive, going from one particular sport to a radically different one is surely more so. An example of an athlete who made such a jump in the reverse fashion to Bolt (going from football to another sport) is Lev Yashin. The legendary Russian goalkeeper, as well as being one of the all-time great stoppers
and the only player of his position to win the Ballon d’Or, also played ice hockey at international level.
Legendary Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin also played ice hockey at international level
Yashin straddled these two disciplines in the 1950’s, and while in no way should this take away from his achievement, the nature of professional sport and the demands it makes on athletes has significantly evolved since. The physical exertion required and vast amounts of money at stake means it would be nigh on impossible for an athlete to participate, full time, in two sports simultaneously. Athletes who want the distinction of having competed in more than one sport then are only able to do so after their career in their primary sport has come to an end. A contemporary example of an athlete who took a comparable route and who enjoys a similarly eminent reputation to Bolt can be found in Michael Jordan. Like Bolt, Jordan is lauded as the greatest to ever compete in his sport. Not content with his domination of basketball, the former Chicago Bulls shooting guard wanted to fulfil a childhood dream of playing professional baseball
and did so for the Chicago White Sox. While Jordan did not excel, he was fairly competent at a relatively high level. A monumental achievement when one considers the fact that some dedicate their entire lives trying to make it in baseball and fail to do so. Michael Jordan walked into a professional team at the age of 31 with no meaningful previous experience and did not in any way disgrace himself. Plainly some are born naturally exceptional athletes with the ability to succeed in whichever sport they happen to choose. This is certainly something Bolt can take inspiration from.
Basketballer Michael Jordan went on to fulfill his childhood dream of playing professional baseball
One thing is for sure, this is not Soccer Aid. Bolt will find that the footballing world is cutthroat and that no one, however distinguished their profile, has a divine right to success. That being said, I hope Bolt makes me and the rest of his doubters eat our words. It would be wonderful and comical in equal measure to see the fastest man in history taking on ageing centre halves, perhaps in England’s lower leagues, on a regular basis.
the courier
37
sport
Monday 29 October 2018
Former players jumping into management Sesha Subramanian and Dominic Lee take a look at the positives and negatives of former footballers walking straight into management roles at well-respected teams Dominic Lee
“But I’m Sol Campbell! I’m one of the greatest minds in football!” The controversial former Arsenal and Tottenham defender held initial talks for the Oxford United managerial role back in February but was rejected for the role. However, Campbell has again thrown his hat into the coaching ring, being earmarked for a role within the England under-21 team. There is an issue with this though as Campbell has no previous coaching or managerial experience, which begs the question if whether he is ready for the role. Former players walking straight into jobs has become increasingly common in recent months with the appointments of Frank Lampard at Derby, Steven Gerrard at Rangers and Thierry Henry at Monaco. But what does this mean for Campbell?
Thierry Henry recently became manager of AS Monaco Image: Wikimedia Commons
Sesha Subramanian In the last few years, there have been a spate of former professional footballers getting into management. Some of them have had stable starts – like Frank Lampard at Derby County and Steven Gerrard at Glasgow Rangers. Whilst others have failed- sometimes spectacularly like Gary Neville at Valencia. With decorated Arsenal and French striker Thierry Henry now taking over at struggling AS Monaco, football clubs are increasingly leaning toward former footballers to fulfil a managerial role, and with good reason. A lot of footballers who have played at the highest level with much success were able to achieve that not just because they were good with their feet but
also because they also played cerebrally. Players like Lampard, Gerrard and Henry were able to see things and visualise plays before they actually happened. And it is that ability to look at a game of football and identify things that they can use to their advantage which makes them capable of being good managers.
Former players entering management is important as the game evolves tactically
Players like Ryan Giggs have had longevity at the very top of the game and have been through every stage of a footballer’s life – from being a young-
ster trying to break into a team to a veteran taking on a mentoring role and coming off the bench. Such experience is invaluable in modern day football and they can help current players deal with the pressures of the modern game. But probably the most important reason why it’s important that former players enter management is that having played through decades of football in which the game has evolved tactically, they are in a better position to make advances and innovations within the game that some of the older managers may not be able to. For example, Pep Guardiola was able to do just that by building on the principles of Johann Cryuff in the nineties. There’s no reason why Thierry Henry should not be able to do something similar at AS Monaco in the upcoming months.
It takes some guts to make the move down the Seven Sisters Road from Tottenham to North London
Campbell has never been short of confidence, it takes some guts to make the move down the Seven Sisters Road from Tottenham to North London. Campbell was similarly full of confidence after being rejected for the Oxford job insisting he is “intelligent enough” for the role and that running a football club is not like “rocket science”. While we are yet to see whether Campbell will be as successful on the touchline as he was on the pitch, it’s hard to look past the various great players who have made terrible managers. The best example of this is Diego Maradona, who failed to guide Argentina to the 2010 World Cup. Or how about the Geordie messiah Alan
Shearer? He got the Magpies relegated back in the 08/09 season. And who could forget Gary Neville’s stint at Valencia? There are some cases where former players have walked straight in and succeeded, Zidane’s silverware-laden spell at Real Madrid comes to mind, but these instances are few and far between.
Campbell’s move into coaching is a step in the right direction for more equality in football
Campbell’s move into coaching isn’t all bad, it represents a step in the right direction for getting more equality into the beautiful game. The move is part of the FA’s plan to create Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) coaching placements “across all England teams”, which is a definite positive for the FA who could do with some good press. However, whether Campbell follows in the footsteps of Zidane or Maradona is yet to be seen, the only thing we know for certain is that he’s not going to be shy in press conferences.
Frank Lampard took on his as mamnager of Derby in June Image: Wikimedia Commons
An American view on the UK’s no-ball
Alessia Hughes breaks down baseball for the Brits and explains exactly what we’re missing out on. As an American studying in England, I expected certain things to be different such as phrases, traditions, and lifestyles. But one that I didn’t expect to make as much a difference to me was the lack of baseball. I can understand why I’d miss baseball while in England for two reasons: Firstly, I worked as a tour guide at the oldest ballpark in America, Fenway Park, which stands at 106 years old, and is home to the Boston Red Sox. And secondly, September and October are the most exciting and important months in baseball, with the end in the World Series.
106
years. This is how old Fenway Park is which is home to the Boston Red Sox
Growing up, I wasn’t much of a sports fan and even now, I’m not a die-hard fan. But because of the past two summers working in a ballpark, I’ve learned to appreciate and enjoy
the history and present of baseball. To my new British friends, baseball is a foreign concept. But the game itself is quite similar to rounders. The goal is to hit the ball around a diamond-shaped field in order to score runs and to prevent the other team from doing so.
The game is similar to rounders, the goal is to hit a ball around a diamond-shaped field
There are nine defensive players on the field. There are four bases at each corner of the diamond and a large grass outfield. There’s no time limit, rather nine innings can often last three, four, or more hours. For some, this slow pace is painful to watch, as it can end with a score of 1-0 as often as the runs can be in the teens. But for others the necessity of every single pitch creates a unique atmosphere. It feels similar to football, with emotions deep and intense.
In the 2011 film Moneyball, Brad Pitt’s character, Billy Beane, famously says “how can you not be romantic about baseball?” All sports tug at your heartstrings; all sports break hearts and yet, make golden memories, too. Baseball’s no different, and does so even more. The slower pace creates long-lasting effects on the big moments. A season that’s 162 games, from April to October, creates endless chances for historic moments. There’s something about watching a three to four hour game just for that one homerun, diving catch, strike out. One moment can define not only a game or season, but for so many, a lifetime.
Baseball is meant to break your heart one season, just to revive it the next season
And while these moments are often positive, there always has to be someone on the other side. When one team
Jacoby Ellsbury played for the Boston Red Sox from 2007 through 2013 Image: Wikimedia Commons wins the World Series, there’s always another with broken hearts. As much as baseball lifts you up, it can tear you down. But that’s the beauty of sports, and baseball’s built on this paradox. Baseball is meant to break your heart one season, just to revive it the next.
It’s a rollercoaster ride. It’s made so that that game isn’t over until the very last pitch is thrown. It leaves you with hands clenched, heart pounding, just so you can jump up in joy as you watch the white, red-stitched ball begin to fly at the crack of the bat and land over the fence.
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Monday 29 October 2018
Volleyball: Man Met their match MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Newcastle 1sts 3 Manchester Met 1sts 0
Pepe Bean at Sports Centre Wednesday 25th October brought a comfortable 3-0 home win to Team Newcastle, showing little mercy to the newly promoted Manchester side. Following an unsteady 3-2 victory against Leeds in their previous match Newcastle were determined to make things a little easier for themselves. Set 1 certainly showed the quality that Newcastle had to offer. Disciplined defence and aggressive offense kept Manchester at bay. Consistent and tough serving proved to be difficult for the Manchester side to deal with, allowing many aces to be scored. This great play from the team continued throughout the set making way for a 25-10 first set win for Newcastle.
6
The number of players that Manchester ferried up to Newcastle leaving no room for substitutions.
After a very confident first set many changes were made to Newcastle’s starting six giving players with less match experience game time so they could show their ability under game pressure. what they could do. Manchester only managed to bring 6 players meaning tiredness began to set in only to the advantage of Newcastle. The now underexperienced Newcastle side certainly showed they deserved to be on court starting the set with a 7-0 lead. A few hitting and passing errors this set allowed Manchester to secure a few more points but Newcastle were able to comfortably take the set 25-14.
Consistent and tough serving proved to be difficult for the Manchester side
The final set nearly played out identically to the second set. The same starting six cruised through showing great strength in all parts of the game and at 22-14 it looked as though Newcastle were quickly going to snatch the 3 points. This seemed to get to the heads of the players and many attacking errors later the score stood at 23-21 to Newcastle and 1 Manchester point away from many substitutions being made. Fortunately, the attackers became more intelligent and with a couple block wipe-offs Newcastle took the final set 25-21 and therefore the game.
2/2
Newcastle volleyball have won all their games so far this season
A great start to the season for Newcastle Men’s volleyball with two wins under their belt out of a possible two. This puts them in great stead for the journey to a history making promotion as it would be the first time ever a Newcastle men’s volleyball team have made it into the premier division.
Pettitt Talks: the Stan Calvert problem In her first column of the year, former Athletic Union Officer Clara Pettitt explores the ups, the downs and the difficulties she faced when organising the annual Stan Calvert varsity competition CLARA PETTITT
Clara is a 3rd year Maths student who was the elected Athletic Union Officer in 2017/18. She is the secretary for Athletics and Cross Country.
Stan Calvert. Two words that have been raised not so infrequently in the media recently. The topic reaching multiple social media platforms, making local news and even the staffroom at work. Despite understanding the wide range of viewpoints, it seems only right that I say my piece: For me, I fully support the decision of suspending the varsity, not only has it become physically and mentally exhausting for everyone involved in the organising process, but there comes a time when a novelty stagnates. 25 years seems like a great point to stop, pause and think about how the competition can be regenerated. I had the pleasure of helping to organise the competition last year, whilst it was a great honour and I am proud to have done so, it would be fictitious to hide away from the stress that it caused the organisers on both sides. It disheartens me to think that this should in fact be one of the biggest varsities in
the country, the universities have finished within 2 places of each other in the BUCS points table for 3 years running, but the final score doesn’t seem to reflect that… So what is going wrong? I believe it is largely due to the rules and regulations that the competition has in place. A few years ago the Stan Calvert rules changed to say that an event can only take place if both sides have a team competing in BUCS. Idealistically this sounds like a great approach, however with Northumbria and Newcastle having different BUCS strategies - Northumbria focusing on less sports to a high level - this immediately decreases the participation level.
I was told that this is the only way a compettion can be run fairly; a questionable answer
When questioning this approach to Northumbria and suggesting to add in some sports that they don’t enter teams into BUCS, I was told that this is
the only way a competition can be run fairly, since they follow the BUCS rules. A questionable answer that dominated any discussions nonetheless, therefore the approach followed again in 2018. Whilst there are many sports that do cross over, in most team sports there are different numbers of teams entered into BUCS from each University, likewise in individual sports there may be someone competing from each University but not in the same event. This wdecreases the participation levels further. I don’t believe that this is the only reason, the time of year that the competition takes place has significant effects on participation. Last year both hockey teams and men’s football had no choice but to pull out due to the amount of BUCS and local fixtures they had to play over a short space of time. This was caused by unforeseen weather conditions, however with Stan Calvert taking place at the end of the BUCS season, it is no longer a priority for our performance sports since their need to complete their BUCS season and local fixtures is much higher. Not to add the fact that many of them have already played Northumbria in their league anyway. Don’t get me wrong I love the idea of varsity, in fact one the main reasons I ran for AU Officer was because my sport was not fully represented
in Stan Calvert. Three years ago we had the final event, where there was a great atmosphere, but the longest distance for women to compete in was 400m, I have as much chance of winning a 400m race as I would a Volleyball match. A simple answer would be to run all events that one or the other team competes in BUCS and if either can’t field a team a walkover is awarded, however with that being suggested, like anything, it’s not that simple. Reading various comments in the media, many may think that it is the lack of awareness that is the fundamental issue. Many people did not know about the event last year but I don’t believe that this was due to poor advertising nor the many reason for the disinterest, the lack of awareness spirals from the undefined structure and the time of year of the competition, with less and less people taking part to spread the word. With Northumbria pulling even more teams out of BUCS this year, it would have been a task of high demand to continue the competition in the current structure, in my opinion an agreement needs to be made on a set of new rules which don’t necessarily follow BUCS rules for a finite number of sports. I am more than supportive of the break from the event which I hope will be reformed and a great success in the future.
Newcastle’s Badminton shuttle-cock up MEN’S BADMINTON
Newcastle 2nds Liverpool 1sts
3 5
Rebecca Johnson at Sports Centre Newcastle Men’s seconds were in action against Liverpool Men’s firsts last week as part of the Northern Conference Cup. Last season, the men’s seconds reached the quarter finals of the Northern Conference Cup but were knocked out by our very own Newcastle firsts. The seconds have had a strong start to the BUCS season so far, with two 7-1 wins against Leeds Beckett and Hull respectively. This leaves the seconds at the top of the Northern 3B League. Liverpool 1s have also had a strong start to their BUCS season. They’re at the top of the Northern 2A League with two wins under their belts. Additionally, Liverpool firsts won the Northern Conference Cup last year.
2
doubles duo in just two games. Meanwhile, over in the other doubles game, Newcastle first seeds Ryan Jackson and Jeremy Revell provided a thrilling game against Liverpool’s second seeds. The first game was a close affair, with Jackson and Revell stunning Liverpool with powerful smashes and cheeky drop shots. The Scouse side fought back however, and took the first game 1621. Unfazed, Jackson and Revell fought back, the pair responded well to everything thrown at them, their movement across the court was majestic to react to some tricky shots from Liverpool. This great response saw Newcastle take the second game 21-16. Jackson and Revell remained calm and relatively composed in the penultimate game. After a frustrating poor start for Liverpool, the tempo of this game was really cranked up a notch as Newcastle had a sudden burst of energy to put in a solid perfor-
The amount of games Newcastle seconds have won in BUCS so far this season
With both teams having done well in their respective leagues so far, this cup match would certainly prove to be an interesting affair. Newcastle seconds came into the match as underdogs, especially given how Newcastle firsts were beaten 8-0 by Liverpool firsts the Northern Conference Cup semi-finals last season. The first batch of singles matches saw Newcastle first seed James Ashcroft lose to the Liverpool second seed 2-1. Newcastle second seed Sai Sirikonda also lost to Liverpool’s first seed 2-0 to help Liverpool go 2-0 up overall. Newcastle dominated the first round of doubles matches, with the second seeded doubles pair Prahash Nava and Jeremy Liew battering the Liverpool first seeded
Despite the result, the badminton lads are still smiling Image: Rebecca Johnson
mance. Although a tight game, Jackson and Revell came out the victors to winning the game 24-22 and the match overall. Newcastle and Liverpool were equal at 2-2. The next batch of matches saw Liverpool continue to dominate the singles category. Ashcroft put up a passionate performance against the Liverpool first seed. Ashcroft displayed the ability to change the pace of the game well, starting his games gently then quickly moving into a succession of fast-paced rallies. However, Liverpool reacted well to Ashcroft’s cheeky drop shots and smashes, and they won the match. For second seed Sirikonda his second game was immensely close at 19-21, but he couldn’t quite handle Liverpool’s second seed- leaving Liverpool to win these singles games and go 4-2 up overall. In the second round of doubles games, Newcastle and Liverpool’s second seed-
ed pairs faced each other. Nava and Liew were unfortunate and narrowly missed out after taking the second seeds to a third game. On the centre court, first seeds Jackson and Revell put on another impressive display against the Liverpool first seeds. Reflected in their 21-4 and 21-7 score lines, Jackson and Revell dominated their games with their great movement around the court and rattled Liverpool with a series of smashes. This hearty performance by Newcastle wasn’t enough and Liverpool take a narrow 5-3 victory and a place in the next stage of the cup back to Merseyside with them. Although Newcastle have been knocked out of the Northern Conference Cup, they can take away many positives from this performance. The Newcastle Seconds are feeling confident when they return to BUCS action against York seconds next week.
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Monday 29 October 2018
Basketball mens thirds bounce back and defeat Teeside firsts BUCS RESULTS BADMINTON
M1 v Bangor 2nds M2 v Liverpool 1sts W1 v Durham 1sts
8-0 3-5 5-3
BASKETBALL
M2 v Bradford 2nds 116-44 M3 v Teeside 1sts 67-55 W1 v Nottingham Trent 1sts 77-69
FENCING
M3 v Durham 4ths W1 v Durham 1sts W3 v Durham 4ths
99-135 29-135 135-105
FOOTBALL
M1 v Leeds Trinity 1sts M3 v Bradford 1sts
6-2 6-0
GOLF
Mix1 v UCLAN 2nds 2.5-3.5 Mix2 v Hull 1sts NCL Walkover
HOCKEY M4 v York 3rds
2-0
LACROSSE M1 v Manchester Met 1sts 6-10 M2 v Sheffield 2nds 3-4 W1 v Manchester Met 1sts 30-13 W2 v York 1sts 13-18 W3 v Leeds Beckett 2nds 25-1
NETBALL
W1 v Leeds 1sts
RUGBY LEAGUE
M1 v Northumbria 1sts M2 v York 1sts
48-69
6-64 56-0
RUGBY UNION
M1 v Edinburgh 1sts 40-33 M2 v Aberdeen 1sts 14-16 M3 v Edinburgh 2nds 14-41 M4 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds 19-15 W1 v Northumbria 1sts 0-53 Newcastle came back to dominate the match Image: Thomas Hardwick
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Newcastle 3rds 67 Teeside 1sts 55
Thomas Hardwick at Sports Centre Newcastle men’s basketball 3s prevailed against Teesside 1s in a closely-fought contest that finished 68-55 to the home side, casting aside any concerns regarding the fact that Teesside compete in a higher division. Undoubtedly Teesside started as the stronger of the two sides, with Josh Foster intercepting the ball from Newcastle’s Harry Stacpoole to get the first two points on the board for the away team. A free throw for George Rayers saw Newcastle get their first points on the board, but they still struggled to find their rhythm as Foster continued to cause problems with his accurate shooting and smart passing. Newcastle soon woke up out of their stupor, with Billy Ji manoeuvring well to beat his man and sink a basket. Stacpoole continued his good form from the free throw line to keep Teesside’s lead to minimum, with Newcastle beginning to gel. They were passing the ball with much more accuracy and efficiency, and Chuck Xie showed his talent by carving his way through the Teesside
squad before executing a perfect shot. Newcastle were losing 20-17 at the end of the first quarter, but their increasingly positive performance suggested that Teesside’s lead might not last long. Teesside began to pass the ball quite laboriously in the second quarter, and Ash Gunput took advantage of this, sinking a brilliant shot from range. The contest was becoming very back and forth, with each time conceding and scoring at a fairly even rate, yet Newcastle were looking the more likely of the two sides to win.
Newcastle’s movement was beginning to frustrate Teesside, and they thoroughly deserved to be up at the halfway point
It was a battle of the number 5’s, with Teesside’s Foster being dominant early on, but he was overshadowed in this quarter by Gunput, who seemed to be at the core of so many of Newcastle’s most
threatening moves. Billy Ji also deserves credit for his performance in this quarter, using his imposing frame to make it hard for his opponents to mark him or block his shots, as well as showing great resilience when battling for the rebounds. Newcastle’s movement was beginning to frustrate Teesside, and they thoroughly deserved to be up 33-27 at
12
The number of points in Newcastle’s lead by the end of the game
the halfway point. Going into the second half of the game, Newcastle continued to add to their lead. Edward Chen kept his composure to add more to the score from free throws, and the gap between Newcastle and Teesside was gradually growing. A tight Newcastle defence was dealing well with dangerous situations driven by Teesside’s Foster and Usaiyo, which effectively nullified their key players. Teesside’s defence were frenetically defending their net and subsequently kept conceding fouls, allowing Joe Warn to bolster the lead even further. After some good cross-court passing Newcastle gave the ball away cheaply, allowing
Reyes to score, but generally Newcastle responded well to any slight lapses in concentration. An injury to one of Teesside’s players saw the game stopped while he was treated, but this never looked like derailing Newcastle’s momentum as they ended the third quarter
Edward Chen kept his composure to add more to the score from free throws
with a healthy lead of 48-39. The fourth quarter of the game, in spite of Teesside’s best efforts, was not to contain a thrilling comeback. Newcastle continued to add to their points, with Ji proving to be a continual nuisance towards the away side’s defence. Gunput showed his impressive range by sinking a superb three-pointer, with Stacpoole and Rayers contributing as well to eliminate any worries of a Teesside resurgence. The game ended with a 68-55 victory for Newcastle, who deservedly progress to the next round of the BUCS Northen Conference Cup.
SQUASH
M2 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts W1 v Liverpool 1sts
TABLE TENNIS
M1 v York 1sts M2 v York 2nds
4-1 4-0 13-4 14-3
TENNIS W1 v Nottingham 1sts W2 v Sheffield 1sts
VOLLEYBALL
M1 v MMU (Cheshire) 1sts W2 v Leeds 2nds
WATERPOLO
M2 v Liverpool 1sts W2 v Liverpool 1sts
0-12 6-6 3-0 3-1 1-32 2-35
OVERALL BUCS POSITION Pos
University
Pts
8
Birmingham
1354
9
Cardiff
1242
10
Newcastle ■
1110
11
Nottingham Trent
1030
12
Leeds Beckett
978.5
sport the courier
Monday 29 October 2018 Issue 1375 Free @Courier_Sport courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/sport Sport Editors Rebecca Johnson, Harry Parsons, Sydney Isaacs Online Editor Tom Hardwick
Volleyball’s voyage to victory Full story on page 38
Six players are seperated by a net. Image: Elia Medioli
Men’s water polo soaking wet win Men’s Water Polo
Newcastle 1sts 20 Lancaster 10
Harry Parsons at Sport Central A debut game is arguably the most important for any side, and a win was essential for the Men’s Water Polo 1st team. The opponents came in the form of Lancaster University, a newly promoted side. Bringing three new additions to the squad, Newcastle travelled with high expectations for the game, and despite several shaky moments, the team, led by captain Adam Courtley, slowly dismantled the opposition with a score line which sent a statement to the rest of the league. The first quarter, questionably Newcastle’s weakest, exposed that the new squad had only played one practice game during preseason. Several goals were shared by both
teams but 2nd year medic Max Tidmarsh stepped up with two outstanding goals late in the period to set the score at 4-2 Newcastle. A quick team talk and rearrangement of positions meant Newcastle were prepared for the
The second half began in somewhat controversial circimstances
next quarter. Lancaster, who also suffered from a slow start, now appeared much more controlled and confident with the ball, and quickly pulled the game level thanks to two quick counter attack goals. However, Newcastle kept their nerve, and manged to match Lancaster with conversions, which included a 9
meter long shot of pinpoint accuracy from Samuel Morris. As the teams hit the end of the second quarter, the score sat at 8-6; a narrow lead for Newcastle. The second half began in somewhat con-
7
Mens’ first team captain Adam Courtley scored a total of seven goals during the match
troversial circumstances; during Newcastle’s initial offensive play, a player on the opposition bench threw a bottle into the pool in an attempt to block Tidmarsh’s shot. This action saw the aforementioned player red carded and the Lancaster team and coach in a state of shock, Newcastle Coach Matt Little seized on the disturbance to call a timeout and instructed the Newcastle side on how to capitalize on
a slightly disgruntled opposition. Newcastle continued to impress, scoring 6 goals in the third quarter including two apiece from Courtley and new centre forward Ashley Wilkins. 14-8 Newcastle. The final quarter was a remarkable show of a team that is perfecting moving as if it were one be-
The final minutes of the game provided Courtley with a fine oppourtunity to show off his skill
ing, bought together by significant moments of individual brilliance. Tidmarsh added another two to his tally
during power plays, whilst Lancaster struggled to make any real impact on the game, only converting two somewhat lucky goals. As difficult it is to compliment the man, the final minutes of the game provided Courtley with a fine opportunity to show off his skill; in one offensive move he avoided the tackles of three opposition players and elegantly placed the ball above the keeper’s head. With about one-minute remaining, Courtley retrieved the ball from goalkeeper Owen Herman, and proceeded to deceive the opposite team by hiding it between his legs, until reaching the halfway mark of the pool and firing a shot in the top right corner of the goal from 12m. Final score 20-10+ Newcastle. The team’s next fixture sees them hosting and taking on the University of Manchester which can be expected to be a hotly contested affair. However, on the back of their strong initial performance, Newcastle have their eyes firmly set on securing a home win.
Inside Sport today >>>
P37: DODGY DEBUTS
Our sports writers consider the footballers who took on managerial roles
P38: PETTITT TALKS Former Athletic Union officer Clara Pettitt debuts her thoughts on Stan Calvert
P39: BASKETBALL BOUNCE BACK
Sports Editor Tom Hardwick reports on Wednesday’s clash between Newcastle mens’ 3rds and Teeside 1sts.