Issue 1201 Monday 30 November 2009 www.thecourieronline.co.uk

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Freshers fork out ÂŁ218k for damages Simon Murphy News Editor David Coverdale Editor 7KH $FFRPPRGDWLRQ 2IĂ€FH DW Newcastle University has forced students living in halls of residence to fork out a staggering ÂŁ218,000 in FKDUJHVIRUGDPDJHRYHUWKHODVWĂ€YH academic years. 7KH $FFRPPRGDWLRQ 2IĂ€FH VDLG it only charges for the cost of the actual damage caused, but students have disputed this claim, arguing their vulnerable position is being exploited. 7KHĂ€JXUHVREWDLQHGE\D)UHHGRP RI,QIRUPDWLRQ)2, UHTXHVWUHYHDO that there were 958 individual charges issued at University halls over the last academic year and 4,887 overall since 2003.

ÂŁ43,157.26 Cost of damages caused at Newcastle University accommodation in 2008/2009

The University’s Director of Accommodation and Hospitality Services, Margaret Hunter, said: “We don’t cause the damage. We only charge on actual costs. We send the actual bills to the student that we had to pay out as part of the damage.â€? 7KHWRWDOĂ€JXUHIRUFKDUJHVODVW\HDU was ÂŁ43,157.26. Of this, only ÂŁ8875.30 FDPHIURP(DVWRQ)ODWV+HQGHUVRQ Hall, Leazes Terrace, Marris House, Claremont Place, North Terrace and St Mary’s College. Students living in Richardson Road have been hardest hit, suffering charges of over ÂŁ60,000 in the last two years, including last year’s total of ÂŁ34,282. Richardson Road’s Housing Manager, Paul Bandeen said: “We

have far better things to do than chase people for damage. The amount of staff time, Margaret‘s [Hunter] time, my time, dealing with damage year in year out is phenomenal so there are far better things we can be doing. “But if people cause it then we have to react. It takes our time and effort to put things right. It isn’t RXU MRE WR WU\ DQG Ă€QG SHRSOH ZKR have caused considerable damage to student accommodation. “It isn’t our job to have to spend time putting right things that people have blatantly done wrong which in some cases you could argue is criminal damage. If it happened in the private sector then you probably would charge people with criminal damage.â€? One former student contacted The Courier to vent her anger over her treatment while living in University accommodation. Hollie Clark said: “As the $FFRPPRGDWLRQ 2IĂ€FH DOUHDG\ have your money they can basically return as much or as little as they want to you and students have no say in this no matter how unfair it is. “It is clear that they use any excuse to take money from students but then do not use the money to clean the property, this becomes a job for the next tenants and the cycle continues. “I think it is a disgrace that the $FFRPPRGDWLRQ 2IĂ€FH LV UXQ E\ the University yet it is still able to take advantage of students in this way. Most of their tenants will be naive and will have had no previous experience of rented properties which is how they get away with it.â€? Continued on page 4

Inside today >>> Men-ism? Students campaign for male ULJKWVDQGÂżJKWIRUFRQWURYHUVLDO male-oriented societies News, page 3

Prize winning Agric A Newcastle Agriculture student is one in four across the country WRKDYHZRQWKHSUHVWLJLRXV ASSET award and bursary News, page 5

Count down to Copenhagen Three articles tackle different aspects of the climate change debate in the run up to the upcoming global talks Comment, page 12

Too little, too late Six years on, is the enquiry into the Iraq war a waste of time or a necessary way of laying the FRQWURYHUV\WRUHVW" Comment, page 13

Santa baby Elf, reindeer or Father Christmas: what should you be dressing up DVWKLVIHVWLYHVHDVRQ" Life & Style, page 15

Heartbreak for Royals Newcastle’s netballers miss out RQDIDPRXVZLQRYHU Northumbria by one point Sport, page 43

Movember: the month of the moustache News, page 3

Lucie Jones 7KH;)DFWRUHYLFWHHWDONVWRThe CourierDERXWKHUFRQWURYHUVLDO exit from the show and who KHUIDYRXULWHLVWRZLQ Culture, page 33

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Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

The Union Society, King’s Walk, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QB. Tel: 0191 239 3940

Students take over the town

Comment Time for another Thatcher?

> News, page 6-7 News Editors: Simon Murphy and Jessica Tully - courier.news@ncl.ac.uk

Do women need a helping hand into politics?

University scientists discover reason for common cold

Page 9

Laura Heads

Life & Style On the eighth day God made the diet The new religion-based diet craze Page 14

Culture They’re RQÀUH Interview with Indie rockers Kasabian Page 22

Sport Musonda’s at it again Chris Musonda’s second consecutive hat-trick sinks Leeds Met in another Royals win Page 42

Meetings Timetable: Monday Sport - 11am, Function Suite News - 12pm, Function Suite Comment - 12pm, Function Suite Photos - 1pm, Function Suite Tuesday Life & Style - 12pm, Committee Room A Wednesday Film - 12.30pm, Committee Room A Music - 1pm, Committee Room A Thursday TV & Radio - 11.30am, Committee Room A Arts - 12pm, Committee Room A Editorial Team: ‡(GLWRU'DYLG&RYHUGDOH ‡'HSXW\(GLWRU)UDQ,QIDQWH ‡1HZV(GLWRUV-HVVLFD7XOO\DQG6LPRQ Murphy ‡&RPPHQW(GLWRUV&DUROLQH$UJ\URSXOR Palmer and Nicholas Fidler ‡/LIH 6W\OH(GLWRUV/DULVD%URZQ$OH[ Felton and Ashley Fryer ‡&XOWXUH(GLWRU$OLFH9LQFHQW ‡$UWV(GLWRU6WHSKDQLH)HUUDR ‡)LOP(GLWRU)UDQFHV.URRQ ‡0XVLF(GLWRUV0DUN&RUFRUDQ/HWWLFHDQG Chris Mandle ‡79 5DGLR(GLWRU$LPHH3KLOLSVRQ ‡3X]]OHV(GLWRUV6X]L0RRUHDQG1HG Walker ‡6SRUWV(GLWRUV3DXO&KULVWLDQ-DPLH*DYLQ DQG7RP-DPHV ‡'HVLJQ(GLWRU9LFWRULD%HOO ‡&XOWXUH2QOLQH(GLWRUV*RUGRQ%UXFHDQG -HVVLFD0RQVRQ ‡3URRI(GLWRUV5XWK$OVDQFDN&ODLUH Childs, Kath Harmer, Lucy Houlden, Anna Kenolty, Charlotte Loftus, Emma Peasgood and Claire Russell

The Courier is printed by: Harmsworth Printing Limited, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby, DE1 2DW. Tel: 01332 253013. Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent Student Newspaper of the Union Society at the University of Newcastle-UponTyne. 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 Union Society or the University of Newcastleupon-Tyne.

As Christmas approaches, proORQJHGFROGVDQGà XDUHULIHDPRQJVW many members of the population, but research undertaken at Newcastle University has shown that the UHDVRQ PDQ\ ZRPHQ FDQQRW ÀJKW off these illnesses is due to the fact they lack enough vitamin A in their bodies. $VWXG\FRQGXFWHGE\'U/LHW]DQG his team has shown that almost 50% of women lack a gene that allows them to convert beta-carotene, most commonly found in carrots, into vitamin A, the vitamin which helps us WRÀJKWRIIFROGV Research has found that many females, especially students, have on average a third to a half of the recommended intake of vitamin A actually needed in the body. This means that they are having to rely on pro-vitamin A sources, such as carrots and other fruit and vegetables, which contain beta-carotene, a lot more than they should have to. This leads to a situation where many are not able to get the vitamin A needed, despite eating a lot of these sources. Recommendations have been put forward to increase the levels of pre-form vitamin A sources, found in foods such as eggs, liver or margarine. ,QWKHVHYLWDPLQ$LVUHDGLO\DYDLO able and does not need to be extracted from beta-carotene, making it a much better source of this vitamin. Newcastle University Researcher 'U/LHW]FRPPHQWHG´7KHSUREOHP is we are targeting foods that are in

J. WHITTAKER

the current public eye regarded as being fat‌ health conscious young females will actually try and reduce fat and that is where we reach a catch 22 situation.� Research has also shown that although females are trying to reduce fat intake in an attempt to lose weight, it can potentially be damaging. 'U /LHW] UHFRPPHQGV WKUHH PDLQ ideas to deal with this situation; WKHÀUVWEHLQJWKHPDLQWHQDQFHRID healthy, balanced diet, ensuring all vitamins and nutrients needed are gained. However, if this is not attainable he suggests a second way of increasing pro-vitamin sources as much DV SRVVLEOH +H VDLG ´FXUUHQWO\ WKH intake of pro-vitamin sources are, in the students we’ve looked at, 1mg, so ideally they should increase, as the recommended intake is between 2-4mg; at least 50% of our population does not get this.� +LVWKLUGDQGÀQDOVXJJHVWLRQLVWR take vitamin A supplements in the form of capsules; however he stressHV WKDW WKLV LV RQO\ D ÀQDO RSWLRQ LI WKHÀUVWWZRFDQQRWEHDFKLHYHG 'U /LHW] FXUUHQWO\ QHHGV QHZ volunteers for his next study, and requires males and females aged between 18 and 45 to take part in a number of tests including a day at the clinical research centre. For every volunteer a free shopping voucher for Eldon Square will be given; those wishing to take part VKRXOG HPDLO $QWKRQ\ 2[OH\ IRU further information at: anthony.oxley@ncl.ac.uk.

3URWHFWLRQQHHGHGWRSUHYHQWà RRGVZDUQVOHFWXUHU Joshua Shrimpton-Dean Urgent action is needed if the U.K.’s infrastructure is to cope with future weather extremes, a leading Newcastle University academic has said. Chris Kilsby, Professor of Hydrology and Climate Change at the 6FKRRORI&LYLO(QJLQHHULQJDQG*H osciences, told The Evening Chronicle: ´,WLVXUJHQWWKDWHQJLQHHUVQRZIRU mulate a strategy for adapting our infrastructure – buildings, bridges, road, rail, and water and power networks - to make it more resilient in the face of possible changes in extremes.� His comments come in the wake of the recent severely destructive &XPEULDà RRGV

Vital communication, transport and energy links were severed across west Cumbria earlier this month after the area was hit by a relentless twenty-four hour downpour, which saw the rescue of 200 residents from the town of Cockermouth alone. Bridges across the region were swept away, resulting in the death RI D SROLFH RIĂ€FHU DIWHU 7KH 1RUWK side Bridge in Workington collapsed into the River Derwent. The level of rainfall in the village of Seathwaite was described as a ‘one in a thousand year event’ across the media. But such claims may be leading to a common misunderstanding that rainfall is becoming heavier, when in fact Newcastle University’s own research shows that it is only be-

coming more frequent. Professor Kilsby commented to The Evening Chronicle ´:H KDYH detected an increased frequency of large events of several days’ duration, and not an increase in short duration rainfall intensity. ´(TXDOO\ ZH GR QRW KDYH HQRXJK information from climate models to suggest an increase in intensity in the future, just more frequent storms.� Events such as the Cumbrian à RRGVDUHFOHDUHYLGHQFHRIFOLPDWH change for some, but claims that these changes are happening faster than many had expected are unfounded. 3URIHVVRU .LOVE\ FRQWLQXHG ´&OL mate and rainfall extremes are very

variable on time scales of a few years, so we have no certainty in inferences of ‘rate of change’ from our observations over the last few years.â€? The clean-up process in Cumbria is only just beginning amid estimates that the insurance bill could top ÂŁ100m, with Cumbria Country Council expected to face similar costs. Premiums will increase for WKRVH OLYLQJ RQ Ă RRGSURQH ODQG dramatically reducing the value of some properties. 2ZQHUVRIUXLQHGKRPHVDQGEXVL nesses who face an uncertain Christmas will take little comfort from Newcastle University’s climate projections that suggest an increase in future winter rainfall.

1HZFDVWOHZLQVSUHVWLJLRXV4XHHQ¡V$QQLYHUVDU\3UL]H Emma Craig Newcastle University’s Ageing programme has been awarded a 4XHHQ¡V $QQLYHUVDU\ 3UL]H IRU LWV applied research into the biological and genetic basis of ageing. The University was one of 20 other colleges and Universities awarded an accolade at a reception in St -DPHV¡V3DODFHODVWZHHN The prestigious awards, presented every two years, were set up in 1993 in order to recognise areas of achievement in the British higher and further education system.

Recipients must demonstrate imagination and innovation, and aspects of their programme must SURÀWWKHJHQHUDOSXEOLF Tom Kirkwood, Director for the ,QVWLWXWHIRU$JHLQJDQG+HDOWKWROG The Courier ´,QFUHDVLQJ OLIH H[SHFW ancy is a fantastic achievement. UK life expectancy has doubled over the last 200 years and is still increasing at the rate of more than 5 hours each day. ´:KLOHLWLVJUHDWQHZVWKDWSHRSOH are living longer, the big challenge now is to make sure that our extra years of life will be as good as pos-

sible when we come to use them. ,WLVDJUHDWKRQRXUDQGGHOLJKWWR DOORIXVLQWKH,QVWLWXWHWKDW1HZFDV tle University is recognised by this 3UL]HÂľ Since 1994, the Ageing and Health department at Newcastle has been focussed in its efforts to ease the strain that an elderly population will have on Britain. ,PSRUWDQWDQGJURXQGEUHDNLQJUH search into other areas of ageing like dementia and nutrition has placed the University at the forefront of research in this vicinity of science. The institute now enjoys a leading role

in efforts to limit the damage the accumulative years bring. Newcastle University’s Vice-ChanFHOORU &KULV %ULQN FRPPHQWHG ´, am delighted to receive this award on behalf of the whole University. 8QGHU WKH OHDGHUVKLS RI RXU ,QVWL tute for Ageing and Health, we have adopted the topic of an ageing population as a societal challenge and an institutional theme. ´7KH4XHHQ¡V$QQLYHUVDU\3UL]HLV a welcome recognition of out work, and will strengthen our efforts to respond to this important topic.�

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

3

NEWS

Students remember Movember Charlie Oven Think of November and perhaps \RXZRXOGHQYLVDJHJUDQGĂ€UHZRUN displays or rain soaked autumnal evenings. However, November is quickly becoming the month of the moustache. Aptly named Movember, men across the world have embraced the retro appearance synonymous with the nostalgia of the nineteen seventies and eighties. The annual month-long celebration of the moustache is a charitable aim that highlights men’s health issues, particularly Prostate Cancer. According to the Movember webVLWH WR GDWH WKH QRQ SURĂ€WDEOH RU ganisation has raised ÂŁ30 million in WKHĂ€JKWDJDLQVWSURVWDWHFDQFHUDQG depression in men. As a direct result, the charity claims to have spread health messages directly to millions of ‘Mo Bros & Sistas’ around the world. Such is the global appeal of Movember; the phenomenon has taken over the Architecture Department at 1HZFDVWOH8QLYHUVLW\2QWKHĂ€UVWRI November, each of the participating architects had a wet shave to mark the beginning of the challenge that lay ahead. Beyond the halfway stage, these men on a moustachioed mission had already raised an impressive ÂŁ1,500. Talking to The Courier, Simon +DUJUHDYHV D Ă€IWK \HDU $UFKLWHFW summed the Movember mission

as: “a true man test that can compare only to that of the Highland Games!â€? You would think that such a macho enthused pursuit would be a VXUHĂ€UHKLWRQDQLJKWRXW+RZHY er, Hargreaves comments that: “although being a fantastic ice breaker with the ladies, that’s as far as it goes.“ Nevertheless, Hargreaves described how “fantasticâ€? it is to “see people on the street doing the same cause and you give them a little nod of respect in their direction.â€? Such a sense and feeling of team camaraderie is arguably one of the key reasons to the success of Movember. This success has been fuelled by the inspiration of famed moustaFKLRHG Ă€JXUHV VXFK DV WKH ZUHVWOHU ‘Hulk Hogan’, who according to +DUJUHDYHVKDVVLJQHGDVDQRIĂ€FLDO mentor to Movember. One could argue that a month of sporting a moustache would leave you sentimentally attached to the facial accessory. However, Hargreaves claims that: “he hasn’t found any participants who would keep their moustaches after the month.â€? This may suggest that in this contemporary age, the moustache is an arguable faux pas. That aside, the charitable cause behind Movember has shown that the unorthodoxy of non-conforming appearance can be celebrated as something truly admirable.

Mo than just a beard: Newcastle students grow their facial hair for the month of November to raise money for Prostate Cancer

Feminists blast Manchester based masculinity society Chris Mandle Grab life by the balls – universities across the country are ‘manning up’, with a number of support groups and societies emerging that are attempting to explore masculinity. While no such society exists yet at Newcastle, students across the UK are setting up ‘essential’ support networks that aim to help young men cope with the pressures of being a man in the modern world. The launch of Manchester University’s MENS society – Masculinity Exploring Network and Support – has been blasted by critics who believe the societies will merely be a front for binge drinking and gender stereotyping. The society recently underwent a name change in order for it to be less discriminatory. Meanwhile, at Oxford University, the formation of Man Collective - Oxford (MC-O) has been branded ‘ridiculous’. With the prominence of feminist societies at many universities, it has been suggested that offering a similar platform for men will prove just as successful, with men feeling less vulnerable discussing important issues within a male-only setting. The founder of MC-O, Alex Linsey, says “there is massive confusion as

to what being a man meansâ€?, but many people are refusing to take the collective seriously. Newcastle University’s National :RPHQ¡V2IĂ€FHU2OLYLD%DLOH\WROG The Courier: “To suggest that men QHHGDVSHFLĂ€FVSDFHWREHÂśPHQ¡LV ludicrous. Everywhere you turn you ZLOOĂ€QGPDOHGRPLQDWHGVSDFHVÂľ But Professor Marilyn Davidson, a diversity and equality expert at Manchester Business School argued that there is an obvious need for such societies, noting that “[men] don’t have the support networks that women do.â€? Newcastle University students launched LADSOC at the beginning of last year, promoting ’good, clean fun’ - but despite the name, it was not a gender-exclusive society, nor was it centred around the issues that founded MENS and MC-O. Newcastle University’s Activities 2IĂ€FHU *HRUJLD 0RUJDQ:\QQH told The Courier: “We have all sorts of different societies at Newcastle. If any student wanted to start a society [such as these], they are more than welcome - as long as it is not discriminatory in any way and has DWOHDVWĂ€IWHHQPHPEHUVÂľ “I think Men societies would be a good idea,â€? said Matt Warmoth, a 2nd year Law student. “If there can

be pro-feminine societies, it is in the interest of equality that there are pro-masculine societies.â€? Not everyone was convinced, however. Thomas Calver, a third year English Literature student, told The Courier: “I don’t think I would join, only because it’s my understanding that feminism came as a response to a culture where a masculine bias was already present.â€? The Courier spoke to Rowan Rheingans, President of FemSoc, over the emergence of ‘Men’s Societies’ on University Campuses. She said: “They are problematic from a IHPLQLVW YLHZSRLQW ,W LV GLIĂ€FXOW WR see how the aims of such groups are progressive in terms of gender equality.â€? Rheingans also pointed out that despite the name, the Feminist movement seeks social, political and economic equality between the sexes, and that the emergence of a men’s society could disrupt the delicate balance that FemSoc are trying to achieve. With no equivalent to the ‘girl power’ mantra that seems to instil SULGH DQG FRQĂ€GHQFH LQ ZRPHQ LW seems men will just have to ’man up’ and get on with it.

Newcastle students bring the bear-necessities to hospitals Bethany Sissons In order to prepare young children for visits to the doctor, Newcastle University medical students are taking teddy bears into North Eastern primary schools. The new Teddy Bear Hospital initiative aims to educate children about visiting the doctor, whilst overcoming any fears that they might have. The scheme is being supported by the MSD as part of a ÂŁ14,200 grant. Martin Inskip, Senior Director of Operations at MSD Cramlington commented: “MSD Cramlington is delighted to partner in these excellent projects with Newcastle University Medical School and to bring this funding to the students and children of the North East. He emphasised the importance of the scheme as a way to conquer the nerves of young children: “A visit to the doctor can be nerve-wracking, and to help these children gain in FRQĂ€GHQFHLVDOLIHVNLOOWKDWFDQ¡WEH underestimated.â€? The medical students will discuss various health issues with the primary school children, such as the importance of washing your hands and brushing your teeth, as well as promoting healthy eating. Professor Suzanne Cholerton, Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Newcastle University’s Medical School said: “We welcome working in partnership with MSD on these projects which are showing how

the Medical School, as it celebrates its 175th anniversary, continues to work with the local community to help improve engagement in medicine and provide health advice for children at a crucial time in their development.â€? In order to encourage young children to talk about their health, the scheme asks the children to bring their teddy to the imaginary surgery and explain why their bear is sick. The Teddy Bear Doctors provide advice and treat the sick teddy bear. The MSD is also sponsoring new branded Teddy Bear Doctor Boxes. ,W LV KRSHG WKDW WKHVH Ă€UVW DLG NLWV and the ‘surgeries’ will encourage the children to ask questions about their bears’ sickness that they may be too nervous to explain in relation to their own health. Aly Fowles, a fourth year student who is going into schools said: “We all know that children learn through play, and one of the aims of this scheme is to dispel some of the fears they might have about hospitals and doctors. “It’s also about reinforcing some key health messages. The Government’s ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ campaign to prevent the spread of infecWLRQV VXFK DV VZLQH Ă X LV JUHDW IRU adults but it doesn’t really work for young children.â€? The Teddy Bear Hospital provides a fun, playful and simple way for children to discuss their health.

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Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

NEWS

Burning a hole in students’ pockets Continued from front page

The true cost of University living ‡5HSODFHIULGJHGRRUV Â… ‡'LQLQJFKDLUÂ… ‡5HPRYDORIVRID Â… ‡5HSODFLQJORFNV Â… ‡7RUHPRYHFRDWUDFN screwed to wall under ZLQGRZÂ… ‡7RUHXSKROVWHUHDV\ FKDLUVHDWSDGÂ… ‡2QHFKDLUÂ… ‡5HSODFHFDUSHW Â… ‡3$7WHVWRIDYDFXXP FOHDQHUIRURQHĂ DW Â… ‡)ULGJHQRWHPSWLHG or cleaned, benches not FOHDUHGÂ… %XUQLQJGRZQWKHKRXVHDÂżUHVWDUWHGLQ0DUULV+RXVHFDXVHGÂ…ZRUWKRIGDPDJH3DXO%DQGHHQGHVFULEHGWKHLQFLGHQWDVDQDFWRIÂłQHJOLJHQFH´

$FFRPPRGDWLRQRIÂżFHWU\WRPDNH ‘A long, drawn out and expensive affair’ Take the example of the doorus ‘feel guilty’ but they have no right Colin Henrys frame above. A drunken collision Commentary

Craig Johnson Commentary It is hard to write an article about WKH$FFRPPRGDWLRQ2IÀFHZLWKout descending into a rant. I’ve had problems with them in the past, for example requesting a longer bed, as they said I could do, and then not getting one. Then when I ordered a bedding SDFNIURPWKHPLWGLGQ¡WÀWWKH longer bed and it took them 3 weeks to get me a suitable size. So I’m hardly their biggest fan‌ 2XUà DWLQ5LFKDUGVRQ5RDG UHFHQWO\UHFHLYHGDÀQHRI…IRU removing the security tag twice on WKHÀUHH[WLQJXLVKHU1RZZHZLOO happily admit that the security tag was removed, it quite clearly had been, but we felt we had a strong argument for total withdrawal of WKHÀQH We don’t know how the tag came to be removed; it certainly wasn’t E\XV$VZLWKW\SLFDO5LFKDUGVRQ 5RDGà DWVSDUWLHVKDSSHQKHUH and people come around, and things get knocked over. So our

ÀUVWDUJXPHQWODFNRINQRZOHGJH about the incident. Our second argument is with relation to the actual cost. Both times that the security tag was removed, WKHÀUHH[WLQJXLVKHUZDVOHIW unused, and all that was required was to put another security tag on, which site maintenance very kindly did. However, this costs nothing, bar the cost of a little tag. When we questioned the Accommodation staff about how a £60 ÀQHZDVMXVWLÀHGWKH\HPSKDVLVHG WKDWWKH\GLGQRWPDNHSURÀWIURP this, and that instead, payments were made to the Fire Service. Our question, on what ground this was MXVWLÀHGUHPDLQHGXQDQVZHUHG So having had a meeting with accommodation, where the impression imposed on me was that I should feel guilty, although I’m glad to say this didn’t work, resulted in no change from the RULJLQDOÀQHWKURXJKQRFRVWWR them. What worries me more is the summer, where I’m sure more VXEVWDQWLDOÀQHVZLOOEHGHOLYHUHG for things which will result in no more than a minute cost for them.

We’ve all done it. That mysterious red wine stain on the carpet; the tear in the wallpaper that ‘just appeared’; the lampshade that ‘fell’. Accidents happen. That doesn’t excuse them, and the consequences must be still be dealt with. A bit of elbow-grease and some stain-remover, a quick splash of paint or, if you’re really unlucky, a trip to your local homeware store. All in all, a quick, cheap job. So why, when it occurs in student accommodation, does this suddenly become a long, drawnout and expensive affair? A scratch LQ\RXUOLQROHXPĂ RRULQJWKDW could have been the cleaners? ÂŁ200 - each. A splintering door-frame? ÂŁ100. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for work being done. The amount spent on accommodation can keep us in debt for many years after we’ve graduated, I’m sure we’d all like to get our money’s worth. But how can the Accommodation 2IĂ€FHMXVWLI\FKDUJLQJVXFKH[WRUWLRQDWHĂ€QHVWRIXQGWKLV"

had caused it to break. The lad in question begrudgingly paid up, after all a new door-frame would be expensive. However, upon returning to the scene of his crime, KHIRXQGWKDWKHKDGVDFULÀFHG his drinking money for‌ glue. Hardly the rarest and most precious commodity. Only recently a near neighbour received a bill after the cleaners had reported a slight tear in one of their chairs. The letter revealed that the costs would be split equally between the six people in WKHà DW(DFKZRXOGKDYHWRSD\ …DGPLQIHHVDQGD…ÀQHIRU the damage. That amounts to £216 to essentially sew some fabric back together. Furthermore, the letter, and the VXEVHTXHQWÀQHVHHPVWRLPSO\ that the damage was done deliberately. Accidents are treated as crimes, and those deemed to be criminals are heavily punished. We see exploitation of students everywhere. Waterstone’s raising their book prices is just one example. But for the AccommodaWLRQ2IÀFHWRSXQLVKSHRSOHIRUDFcidents is beyond comprehension.

7KH8QLYHUVLW\QHHGVWRNQRZWKHLUVWXGHQWVIHHOPLVWUHDWHG Editorial David Coverdale rom the time I have spent KHUHDW1HZFDVWOH8QLYHUsity, it has become apparent just how many students have a complaint to make about their experiences ZLWKWKH$FFRPPRGDWLRQ2IÀFH The majority of these seem to FRPHIURPÀUVW\HDUVWXGHQWVOLYing in halls of residence, especially when it comes down to damage costs they have been made to pay. This was the sole reason behind the Freedom of Information request that was sent to the AccomPRGDWLRQ2IÀFHLQVXPPHU It has never been about looking to make the Accommodation OfÀFHDVFDSHJRDWDQGWXUQVWXGHQWV against them. It was simply about

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JHWWLQJKROGRILQIRUPDWLRQWRĂ€QG out just how much students have been made to pay over the last few years and the costs of the individual cases that students have expressed a concern about. This information is of undoubted interest to the readership of The Courier and something that the vast majority of readers can relate to. It must be said that the quotes from students in the main article and the two commentaries on this page that supplement this are just a tiny proportion of the thousands of students that stay in University accommodation. However, there was certainly not a shortage of volunteers who expressed a desire to speak out DERXWWKH$FFRPPRGDWLRQ2IĂ€FH

Having met Paul Bandeen and Margaret Hunter, I learnt a lot about the processes behind the costs that students are being charged, but, while I do trust their SURFHGXUHVWKHÀJXUHVIRUFHUWDLQ individual cases do still seem extraordinarily high. Mr Bandeen had sound explanations for some of the annoyances that students have about halls of residence such as the compulsory £10 admin fee that is added to each incident, and the specialist cleans that come at such costs to ÀUVW\HDUVWXGHQWV What is of more concern, however, is that while Mr Bandeen FODLPVWKH$FFRPPRGDWLRQ2IÀFH does everything it can to minimize the costs that the student has to pay back, he does admit that

this may not have always been the case; for example, replacing an entire carpet because of just one burn. ,WLVP\RSLQLRQWKDWWKHÀJXUHV FOHDUO\UHà HFWWKLVSDVWDWWLWXGH WRZDUGVÀ[LQJGDPDJHVDVWKHUH can be no getting away from the enormous sums of money in quesWLRQ²…RYHUWKHODVWÀYH years, £43,000 just in 2008/09. 7KH$FFRPPRGDWLRQ2IÀFH claim they have nothing to hide which is just as well as it would EHGLIÀFXOWWRKLGHEHKLQGÀJXUHV such as these. Hopefully this report can help disgruntled students understand what they are paying for and why, while also making the University aware that, wrongly or rightly, their students do feel mistreated.

Another former student, Nick Pleasant, told The Courier of his experience with the Accommodation 2IĂ€FH He said: “Back in 2005, the AccomPRGDWLRQ2IĂ€FHWULHGWRFKDUJHPH Â…IRUEUHDNLQJDEDUULHUWROHWDQ ambulance in Richardson Road to attend to my friend who was chokLQJRQKLVRZQVLFN ´+HZDVLQXUJHQWQHHGRIPHGLcal attention, what else was I meant to do? Two days later the AccomPRGDWLRQ 2IĂ€FH VHQW PH D OHWWHU VD\LQJ,KDGWRSD\WKHPRQH\Âľ Last year at Richardson Road DORQH Â… ZDV VSHQW RQ VSHFLDOLVWFOHDQLQJ Mr Bandeen explained: “The FOHDQLQJVHUYLFHLVWKHUHWRHQKDQFH \RXURZQFOHDQLQJLI\RXOLNH “A specialist clean is when VRPHERG\ KDV VPDVKHG HJJV RQ a window, when someone has deOLEHUDWHO\ SRXUHG VRPHWKLQJ RQ D FRRNHU ZKHQ SHRSOH KDYH PDGH QRHIIRUWDWDOOWRFOHDQLW²LW¡VJRLQJ WRWDNHORQJHUWKDQZKDWDFOHDQHU FRXOGQRUPDOO\GR ´7KH\ PLJKW QHHG VSHFLDOLVW HTXLSPHQWRUVSHFLDOLVWPDWHULDOÂľ $QRWKHUFKDUJHÂśWRUHPRYHDFRDW rack screwed to a wall under winGRZ¡VDZDVWXGHQWSD\RXWÂ… Paul Bandeen refused to accept the $FFRPPRGDWLRQ 2IĂ€FH KDG RYHUFKDUJHGLQWKLVLQVWDQFH He said: “It’s people’s time and SHRSOH¡V ODERXU WKDW ZH¡UH KDYLQJ WRSXWULJKWVRPHWKLQJWKDWSHRSOH NQRZ WKH\ VKRXOGQ¡W KDYH GRQH 6R WKH\ DUH GRLQJ WKDW LQVWHDG RI WKHRWKHUWKLQJVWKDWZHQHHGWKHP WRGR ´6R REYLRXVO\ ZH¡UH JRLQJ WR FKDUJH WKH SHUVRQ IRU ZKDW LW KDV FRVW XV WR GR WKDW EHFDXVH REYLRXVO\WKDWSHUVRQLVJRLQJWRKDYH WRGRWKHZRUNWKDWZHDUHJRLQJWR KDYHWRSD\IRUDVZHOOÂľ 7KH FRVW RI UHSODFLQJ D FDUSHW DW 5LFKDUGVRQ 5RDG LV Â… DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH $FFRPPRGDWLRQ 2IĂ€FH¡VSULFLQJ 6WXGHQWVKDYHDWWDFNHGWKHSROLF\ RI UHSODFLQJ ZKROH FDUSHWV ZKHUH RQO\ VLQJOH EXUQV H[LVW LQVLVWLQJ it is a waste of money and that D PRUH FRVWHIIHFWLYH DSSURDFK ZRXOGEHWRLQVWDOOFDUSHWWLOHV Mr Bandeen said: “People VKRXOGQ¡W VPRNH LQ Ă DWV EXW WKH majority of carpets are replaced EHFDXVH RI FLJDUHWWH EXUQV LQ WKH FDUSHW ´,I\RXKDYHDKROHLQWKHPLGGOH RI WKH FDUSHW WKHQ HIIHFWLYHO\ WKH carpet has always been replaced because what do you do for the next year, how many holes do you allow in the carpet? ´,I\RX¡UHPRYLQJLQWRDĂ DWDQG there are holes in the carpet, is that acceptable? I don’t think it is acFHSWDEOH ´+RZHYHUEHFDXVHZHDUHWU\LQJ WRSURYLGHDJRRGVHUYLFHWRSHRSOH DQGWRPLQLPL]HFRVWVZH¡YHJRQH down the line of carpet tiles to see whether or not that’s a better way VR LI VRPHRQH GDPDJHV D FDUSHW WLOH\RXMXVWUHSODFHDFDUSHWWLOH ´%XW WKDW PLJKW FDXVH SUREOHPV EHFDXVH \RX KDYH RGG FRORXUHG FDUSHWWLOHVÂľ 7KH )2, Ă€JXUHV UHYHDO WKDW DFFRPPRGDWLRQ FKDUJHV KDYH PRUH than doubled since the academic \HDU  DQG UHQW SULFHV KDYH DOVRH[FHOOHGLQSULFH :LWKULVLQJLQĂ DWLRQFRVWVDQGWKH XQLYHUVLW\LQYHVWLQJÂ…PD\HDURQ UHIXUELVKLQJ VWXGHQWV FDQ H[SHFW ERWK DFFRPPRGDWLRQ FKDUJHV DQG halls of residence rent costs to carU\RQHVFDODWLQJ

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

5

NEWS

Brown to bail out beleaguered grads

J. WHIITTAKER

Thomas Whiteley

> New policies planned to get graduates working Danya Bazaraa Gordon Brown has announced plans to help recent graduates struggling with unemployment. The Prime Minister announced last week that all unemployed 18-24 year olds, as soon as they sign up for EHQHĂ€WVDWD-REFHQWUH3OXVZLOOJHW either work experience or training in order to increase their chances of Ă€QGLQJZRUN Additionally, young graduates who have been signed on for six months will be entitled to an internship in an effort to help them with the search for a graduate job. The announcement was made to MPs during a debate on the Queen’s speech last week. 8QHPSOR\PHQWĂ€JXUHVDUHHVFDODWing at a rapid rate. In the three months to September, the number of out of work 16-24 year olds rocketed from 15,000 to 943,000. Tory leader David CamHURQFODLPHGWKDWRQHLQĂ€YH\RXQJ people are unable to get a job, and labelled the situation as a ‘tragedy’. 5HFRJQLVLQJ WKH GLIĂ€FXOW SRVLWLRQ WKDW\RXQJSHRSOHDUHĂ€QGLQJWKHP-

Alice Vincent Commentary Traditionally graduation was associated with pride, recognition of success and a real feeling of exceptional achievement. The hilarity of Gordon Brown’s proposals is that he’s only suggesting what the careers service have been ramming down our throats since our UCAS applications: get

selves stuck in, Brown has promised extra support so that graduates can Ă RXULVK +H KDV JXDUDQWHHG WKDW students who left University this summer will not only be able to apply for good internships, but that they can also apply for training to set up their own business within six PRQWKVRIFODLPLQJEHQHĂ€WV)XUWKHU help will come in the form of guidance on how to successfully form a CV. The plans have been criticised by opposition parties who claim that direct action needs to be taken to make it easier for businesses to hire staff, and that more jobs need to be created for the millions who are currently unemployed. Politics student Amy Newberry told The Courier: “These new plans are a good thing because the present economic situation is pretty unprecedented. Therefore, schemes like this are the only way to make students employable and have practical skills as well as simply having a degree. It will boost their CV ready for when Britain comes out of the recession and companies can start hiring again.â€? some work experience and we’ll help you with a CV. Mr. Brown fails to realise that however he dresses up “high-quality internshipsâ€?, it’s still unpaid monkey-work at the end of the day, only getting graduates further into debt. Whilst offering the scheme to younger school and college leavers may be constructive, structuring an idea of their chosen career – work experience is as valuable in

Newcastle Agriculture student wins national bursary award Olivia-Marie Viveiros A Newcastle University student is one of just four students in the country to win an agricultural award which encourages a new generation of farming researchers. -DFN 6PLWK ZKR LV VWXG\LQJ $Jriculture at Newcastle University was one of the few students selected by the Arable Group (TAG) to take part in the ASSET scheme ( Agricultural Science Student Education and Training). $V SDUW RI WKH VFKHPH -DFN ZLOO have his last year’s tuition fees fully paid for as well as having a head start when applying for jobs. The Arable Group (TAG) is the UK’s largest independent agronomy service. They created the ASSET scheme in order to support the new generation of agronomists and agricultural scientists. -DFN LV SOHDVHG WR KDYH ZRQ WKH award. +HVDLG´7KHDZDUGZDVSUHVHQWHG to me by the Arable Group (TAG). I IRXQG RXW EDFN LQ -XO\ DQG KDG WR FROOHFWLWUHFHQWO\IURPD+*&$FRQference. “I was really pleased to win especially with a lot of tough competition from the others on the course. I am in my third year now studying DJULFXOWXUHZLWK+RQVLQ$JURQRP\ and I’m really enjoying it.â€? +H DGGHG ´7KHUH¡V DQ HTXDO GHmand for young people to join the

industry, but school and college career advisors will never suggest studying agriculture as a degree, even though it’s a B.Sc. taught at the country’s leading universities. ´$JULFXOWXUH LV Ă€QDOO\ VWDUWLQJ WR get more recognition as the government wakes up to the importance of food productionâ€?. The ASSET scheme is in its second year of partnership with the Universities of Newcastle, Reading, 1RWWLQJKDP DQG +DUSHU $GDPV the four institutions in the country which take part in the programme. TAG’s director, Stuart Knight commented: “New ideas, succession planning and expansion are all key drivers in TAG’s decision to invest in the ASSET Programme. ´-DFN DQG WKH RWKHU VWXGHQWV ZKR TXDOLĂ€HGIRUWKH$ZDUGLQH[emplify the type of candidate that TAG, which recently integrated with NIAB to create the UK’s primary independent crop research, trialling and knowledge transfer centre, will be looking to recruit into future vacancies.â€? +H FRQWLQXHG ´/$175$ WKH LQdustry’s training body, said only last month that 60,000 new farming UHFUXLWVZRXOGEHUHTXLUHGRYHUWKH next decade. But that’s not just limited to farmers – we also need researchers and consultants to keep the industry moving forward and provide farmHUVZLWKTXDOLW\DJURQRP\DQGEXVLness guidance.â€?

Great North receives award

showing you what you don’t want to do as what you do – it’s a joke that university educated graduates have to feel grateful to be accepted into a free placement. The support graduates need is not more vague guilt-tripping IURPWKHMREFHQWUHEXWVXIÀFLHQW ÀQDQFLDODLGWRZDUUDQWWKHOHYHO of work and determination put out by interning graduates. It’s now become standard practice for graduates to undergo an

average of three months of free labour just to get a sniff at their dream job. Mr. Brown’s offering of internships to graduates only strengthens their position as a means to employment, making the whole situation far worse. The more it becomes the accepted route in, after spending a good twenty grand on a degree, the longer graduates will have to work for free.

The Great North Museum has been DZDUGHG+LJKO\&RPPHQGHGLQWKH Best Interior in the World category at this year’s prestigious World ArFKLWHFWXUH )HVWLYDO $ZDUGV :$)  held at the Centre Convencions International Barcelona on the 6th November. 7KH0XVHXP²ZKLFKZDVRIĂ€FLDOO\RSHQHGHDUOLHUWKLVPRQWKE\+HU Majesty the Queen – was the only SURMHFWWRZLQ+LJKO\&RPPHQGHG 7KH :$) $ZDUGV DUH XQLTXH LQ that they involve shortlisted architects presenting their projects live to the public and a star studded international judging panel, which this year included Sir Peter Cook – the architect who has designed the 2012 /RQGRQ2O\PSLF6WDGLXP The judges gave special praise to WKH)DUUHOO3DUWQHUVKLS²WKHDUFKLWHFWXUHĂ€UPZKRSLRQHHUHGWKHUHQRYDtion – for their redesign of the Grade II listed building and their “ability to address the museum’s setting in relation to the city, the limited exhibition space, the reinterpretation of a varied collection and unsuitable environmental conditions.â€? 6LU 7HUU\ )DUUHOO 3ULQFLSDO DQG )RXQGHU RI 7KH )DUUHOO 3DUWQHUVKLS said: “I am delighted that the Great North Museum has won such a SURPLQHQW DZDUG  7KH +DQFRFN Museum has always been one of my favourite places and it has been my privilege to work with many talented people to develop the Great North Museum.â€? Situated on the Newcastle University campus, the ÂŁ26 million redesign of the Great North Museum – partly funded by the University - brings together collections from 7KH+DQFRFN0XVHXP7KH6KHIWRQ 0XVHXPDQGWKH0XVHXPRI$QWLTuities with local societies. Admission is free of charge to all members of the public.

Police warn students of the repercussions of being noisy Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer In the face of recent complaints and in the run up to the end of term and Christmas, Northumbria Police are warning students of the potential repercussions of noisy house parties and disorderly behaviour. They are particularly concerned to point out to students that their response is on an individual basis, and as such not having any previous complaints made against you will not guarantee just a warning letter. The police response is based in part on the behaviour of students whilst the incident is being dealt ZLWK ZLWK SRWHQWLDO FRQVHTXHQFHV being: a warning letter; a police visit; being placed under University disciplinary procedures or an Acceptable Behaviour Agreement (ABA); and being issued an Abatement Order. If entered into University disciplinary procedures students can be ÀQHGUHPRYHGIURPWKHLUFRXUVHRU expelled from the university altoJHWKHU/DQGORUGVDUHDOVRLQIRUPHG in the case of incidents and have the right to take separate action against households, namely eviction. An ABA is a contract listing the unacceptable behaviour an individual agrees to no longer partake in, and lists what will happen they breach this. It lasts 6 months nominally, but can be renewed, and although

not legally binding it can be used in court in eviction or possession proceedings. Since September Northumbria police have issued 300 warning letters, including ABAs. Several incidents KDYH RFFXUUHG RQ 0DQRU +RXVH 5RDG LQ -HVPRQG LQ WKH SDVW IHZ weeks, one resulting in the residents having to sign an ABA despite this EHLQJ WKH Ă€UVW UHSRUW PDGH DJDLQVW them. Another household on the same road has received an Abatement Order from Newcastle City Council. This means that any further complaints will result in any item in the house capable of making noise being seized, potentially including microwaves, alarm clocks, laptops and mobile phones. The police also stressed that: “all occupants of the house concerned receive the same punishment.â€? They were keen to emphasise that: “this is not just a residents versus students problem - many of the complaints we receive come from students complaining about other students, and sometimes students complaining about residents. “Students are not being singled out – a similar article to this has been placed in The Chronicle to warn residents to watch their behaviour over the Christmas period too.â€?  +RZHYHU WKH H[SHULHQFHV RI D Ă€QDO \HDU (QJOLVK /DQJXDJH DQG

/LQJXLVWLFVVWXGHQWVSHDNLQJWR7KH Courier seem to suggest pettier motives come into play: “It was pretty out of order. We had a house party on a Saturday night, and apparently after 11:30pm it’s classed as antisocial noise, and at 11:40 we had the police at the door saying they’d received a complaint. ´)RU WKHP WR JHW WKHUH VR TXLFNO\ suggests that the complaint was actually made before 11:30pm. They took all our names, told us to turn all music off and send some people home, and also said that we were MXVWWKHĂ€UVWQDPHVRQDÂśOLVW¡RISHRple they were slapping on the wrist that night. “I think it was completely over the top; we must have had 20 people in our house, tops, and the speakers weren’t even any good, I don’t expect we were keeping the whole street awake. And surely a Saturday night is the most reasonable time to have a house party - would they prefer it during the week?â€? The police advice is to tell neighbours several days in advance and to keep the noise to a minimum after midnight. The City Council’s Night Time Noise Service, Nightwatch, runs seven nights per week between 8pm and 4am and endeavours to respond to neighbour noise complaints as TXLFNO\DVSRVVLEOH&RPSODLQWVDUH made by calling: 0300 1000 101.

6

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

NEWS

Come clean on fees: Newcastle students send message to MPs Alex Felton Protests were staged along Grey Street by Newcastle University students last week in response to a proposed government plan for an independent review of tuition fees. Banners and slogans were held aloft and deafening chants resounded around The Monument as the masses hammered their point home in front of an assembled throng of media, police and the general public. Police had to section areas off to allow the students, all clad in red to signify the debt that students could face in the future, a space to protest safely. The outraged mob was rallying against Business Secretary Lord Mandelson’s proposed review, which will consider whether tuition fees will sharply increase from ÂŁ3225 per year to ÂŁ7000 at higher education institutions in England and Wales. In a scene reminiscent of the 1960s, students interrupted everyday life in the city centre with speeches booming through megaphones declaring their opposition to politicians’ plans. Scenes like this one have been taking place in cities across the British Isles as part of the NUS ‘Funding our Future’ campaign. Students have been taking to the streets not only in Newcastle but also in cities such as Liverpool and London as part of various ‘Town Takeovers’ that hope to raise awareness of the impending issues that could face future generations. President of the NUS, Wes Streeting, 26, said: “It’s really important that students are starting to mobilise now on the issue of student tuition fees ahead of the general election. “We know that the government’s so-called independent review of VWXGHQW Ă€QDQFH LV OLNHO\ WR OHDG WR the worsening of student conditions after the election and labour and conservative parties need to not avoid the issue. “It’s really important that students across the country are sending a clear message to candidates standing at the next election. “We will not support candidates who do not support these and we expect them to sign NUS’s general election pledge which says we will not look to increase during our time in parliament. “It does make a massive difference because we know that the outcome of the next general election is likely to be close. “This is especially true in places like Newcastle where there are a lot of seats that are actually very marginal and hang in the balance, where students can, and have in the

past, make a massive difference on the outcome. “So, by bringing students together in a very visible way to demonstrate our opposition to fees, it makes politicians sweat a bit and will make the politicians think twice before doing anything other than not signing the NUS’s general election pledge. Streeting, a History graduate from Cambridge University who grew up on an East London council estate in Tower Hamlets, led the demonstration. +H ZDV Ă DQNHG RQ ERWK VLGHV E\ makeshift signs that slammed plans that could lead to only students with full coffers being able to attend British universities. He added: “What we are doing with stunts and protests like today, the debate and also the campaigning that is happening throughout the year, will be making politicians feel the student vote as well they should. “So far we have focused our initial town takeovers on the ten key university towns that we think will decide the next general election; Newcastle was a very important one of those and that’s why we are here today. “Next term we are focusing a lot more closely on photo registration and getting students to give us their contact details and postcode to pledge to use their vote at the next general election. “It’s really important that students across the country are sending a clear message to candidates standing at the next electionâ€? Wes Streeting, NUS President

“NUS can e-mail students directly and give them information on where exactly their candidates stand and give them advice as to where they would be better off casting their vote. “In doing that we can confront politicians and show them how many students are registered, how many students are expected to make the NUS pledge and telling them they’ll be named and shamed before the election. “That kind of voting power is incredibly important and formidable and it’s something that NUS hasn’t done so effectively in the past and will make a massive difference, I think, on the outcome of the next general election.â€? 7KHĂ RZRISHGHVWULDQVZDVWDNHQ aback by the protest on one of Newcastle’s busiest streets. The lunchtime crowds stopped to have a look at what the noise and commotion was all about and the demonstration

seemed to draw wide-ranging support from the local community. Sylvia Lamb, 60, a retired off-licence manager from South Shields told The Courier: “Yes, Yes, I totally agree with you. My children had been at university in Newcastle. I know what it’s like for you and I totally agree with what you’re doing honestly. You have to be heard. “It’s a shame that you have to protest and do this as well. I’m all for you, I really am. If you can’t do it, who else is going to?â€? A banner had been created by students that highlighted exactly how much debt that they will be leaving university with. With the prospective hike in tuition fees, the sums recorded, some amassing to a staggering ÂŁ35,000, ZRXOG EH D IUDFWLRQ RI WKH JULP Ă€nancial realities facing Newcastle’s future in-takes. Students like Marc Masey, a third year History student, stumbled across the assembled rabble and joined in. +HVDLG´,W¡VGHĂ€QLWHO\DJUHDWLGHD and it creates more awareness about it. “It’s not fair that the tuition fees should be going up, it limits people’s ability to come into Higher education and it should be based more on people’s intelligence more than their wealth. It shouldn’t come into it. “It’s not on a large enough scale. There are quite a few people gathered around but I think more action needs to be taken. “I only found out about this a couSOH RI GD\V DJR , GHĂ€QLWHO\ WKLQN there should be more coverage about this. It’s a great idea behind it but it GHĂ€QLWHO\QHHGVPRUHSXEOLFLW\Âľ Pete Mercer, Student Support 2IĂ€FHU DW 1HZFDVWOH 8QLYHUVLW\ agreed that these events need more widespread coverage in the media and by taking politics into their own hands and treading the streets, the student population will be able to create an impact on a national scale. He told The Courier: “We got a lot of good press coverage from it which is a really important thing in the run up to the general election. “If we get the public on board and if it’s in the press and we’re demonstrating this to people then it must be sending messages higher up in politics. What is important now is that we follow this up.â€? When pressed on the next steps to be taken, he added: “Well, it’s kind of time relevant because we obviously have the [government] review coming up this week and the panel has just been announced a couple of weeks ago, so we will be reacting on whatever comes out of parliament. “Our actions will depend largely on what happens.â€?

A. KAWALEC

A. KAWALEC

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

7

NEWS A. KAWALEC

Politicians questioned on tuition fee stance Simon Childs Following the day’s protest at the Monument, students from both Newcastle and Northumbria Universities walked into Newcastle Civic Centre to engage in a heated debate about the future of funding for higher education with a panel which was chaired by Aaron Porter, Vice Chairman of the National Union of Students (NUS). The panel included local politicians from Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories, and Wes Streeting, President of the NUS. With students already drowning in debt and calls for the cap on tuition fees to be lifted to £7,000, a review of university funding is currently being undertaken by a committee of businessmen, bankers and university vice chancellors. The NUS has criticised the lack of student representation on the review. The NUS have introduced a pledge which they are challenging all prospective MPs to sign which states that if elected, the candidate will not vote for an increase in tuition fees. As Wes Streeting was highlighting these issues in his opening speech, the proceedings were interrupted by an unexpected performance from a musical trio. Rather than joining a rich heritage of musicians with a political axe to grind such as Rage Against the Machine, The Specials or The Jam, they seemed to be there purely in the interests of self-promotion. With both the musical interlude and Streeting’s opening remarks over, the debate got under way. First to speak was Ron Beadle for

the Liberal Democrats who claimed that he was the only member of the panel who was willing to sign up to the NUS pledge. He was able to draw on his personal experience as a lecturer at Northumbria University to sympathise with hard up students. Drawing on examples of students under his tutelage who work 30-40 hours a week to support themselves, he railed against the injustices of the current fees system, before promising, if elected, not to change it. He said: “If you want to vote against the rise of tuition fees, you’ve got to vote for the Liberal Democrats.â€? Dominic Llewellyn of the Conservative Party was next to speak. Looking a little uncomfortable in front of an audience made up of a demographic which has not traditionally been a bastion of Conservative support, he highlighted the Conservative promise to create 10,000 more university places for students as so many young people were turned away from higher education this year. Unable to give a concrete Tory policy on the funding of higher education he attacked the Lib Dems’ lack of clarity on higher education following the suggestion at the Liberal Democrat conference that they would revoke their policy to scrap tuition fees. Labour Councillor Henri Murison DOVR IDLOHG WR JLYH D VSHFLĂ€F SROLF\ on the funding of higher education. He distanced himself from the other SDUWLHVE\UHDIĂ€UPLQJ/DERXU¡VWDU get to get 50% of school leavers in higher education.

Bonus for student loan executives A. KAWALEC

Christabel Dickson Despite causing the administrative chaos which left thousands of students starting university without their loans, executives at the Student Loans Company still managed WRSLFNXSĂ€YHĂ€JXUHERQXVHV In a move sure to spark outrage amongst students, three executives received bonuses of ÂŁ21,000 and

seven others got at least £10,000. 7KLV \HDU ZDV WKH ÀUVW LQ ZKLFK loan applications were processed at the quango, after taking over the job from the local authorities. An investigation has been launched into the debacle which left up to 175,000 students waiting for maintenance money well over a month after the start of term.

Edinburgh to keep cigarettes on campus The Edinburgh University Students Association voted to keep cigarettes on sale on campus, following one of the largest AGM meetings in recent years. 0RUH WKDQ  VWXGHQWV Ă€OOHG WKH university’s George Square lecture theatre and forced organisers to set up a video link to another venue. It was decided that cigarettes

Newcastle students, including Union Society President Andriana Georgiou, demonstrate with their Wall of Debt banner, top, with the support of NUS President, Wes Streeting, and Vice-President for Higher Education, Aaron Porter, above. Students were carefully watched by a large police presence, left, as they voiced their opinion on Grey Street, above left. The day’s town takeover then went to Newcastle Civic Centre for a debate on the future of funding with Henri Murison, Labour Councillor, right, one of the speakers.

should continue to be sold in shops and campus outlets, but not displayed over the counter. James Wallace, EUSA vice-president for services said: “This motion was the most controversial proposal at an AGM in a number of years and attracted the largest turnout we’ve seen in seven years.�

Fee shock for ‘international’ student A student born and raised in YorkVKLUHZKRVSHQWĂ€YH\HDUVZRUNLQJ in Australia has been told she will have to pay ÂŁ8,500 in international tuition fees, three times what other UK-born students pay, if she is to continue her degree. Jenefer McCabe, a Hospitality stu-

dent, deferred her place at HuddersÀHOG8QLYHUVLW\WRZRUNLQ$XVWUDOLD RQ D WHPSRUDU\ YLVD IRU ÀYH \HDUV but was unaware of a little-known rule which states that students must have lived in the UK for three years before they can qualify for the UK rate.

He talked of the need to increase the proportion of working class youths who attend university and rejected the idea that thousands of pounds worth of debt was a disincentive to study for people from OHVVDIĂ XHQWEDFNJURXQGV6WXGHQWV from working class backgrounds are still considerably less likely to go to university. Defending their lack of policy on funding universities, the Labour and the Conservative representatives explained that their parties were waiting for the results of the Government commissioned review which will not be completed until after the next general election. NUS President Streeting was dismissive of this argument saying: “You can’t go into a General Election without a stance on a major issue.â€? There were many lively contribuWLRQVIURPWKHĂ RRUIURPPDQ\GLI ferent perspectives including one from a Northumbria student who complained that under the current fees system he only managed to get Ă€YH KRXUV VOHHS SHU QLJKW EHFDXVH he was working so hard to pay for his education. Although the Lib Dem representative claimed that “education is a right, not a privilegeâ€?, any mention of the idea that university education should be free to students and funded by general taxation was absent from the debate. Newcastle University Students who support this solution are meeting on Tuesday 1st December at 19:00-21:00 in Committee Room C of the Union to discuss a campaign for free education.

Wave for action on climate change Newcastle University students are to get involved with a climate change protest in early December. ‘The Wave’ will take place in Grosvenor Square in London on the 5th of December, kicking off at 12pm, and is to be the UK’s biggest ever demonstration in support of action on climate change. Organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, the day goes beyond just the march, starting the night before and including bike rides around London, culminating in an after party organised by the NUS at LSE students’ union. The group aims to draw attention to key climate change issues prior to the Copenhagen Summit, encouraging the British Government to adopt a leadership role at those talks and push for protection of the poorest countries from environmental changes and to move UK energy production away from coal. Visit www.the-wave-org.uk to Ă€QG RXW KRZ \RX FDQ JHW LQYROYHG or contact Ethics and Environments 2IĂ€FHUV 7RP 'HODPHUH DQG .D tie Ball at environment.union@ncl. ac.uk

RBS mistake gives student ÂŁ30,000

Urinating Hallam student receives community service

One student got a surprise when he FKHFNHG KLV EDQN EDODQFH ÀQGLQJ he had over £30,000 in his account. Barry, of Lancashire, paid £3 into his account to cover mobile phone insurance but £35,175 bound for another account with the same sort code ended up in his. Bosses at the Royal Bank of Scotland still took four days to take the

7KH 6KHIĂ€HOG +DOODP 8QLYHUVLW\ student who urinated on a war memorial during a Carnage bar crawl has been sentenced to 250 hours community service. Philip Laing, 19 was ordered by District Judge Anthony Browne to pay ÂŁ185 in costs and could still face disciplinary action from the university.

cash back after honest Barry informed them of their mistake. The 21-year-old said: “I wasn’t sure I had enough money to cover my bills because I was already more than ÂŁ1000 into my overdraft so I went to check at the cash machine. I almost had a heart attack when I saw my balance had gone up to ÂŁ33,500â€?.

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

9

Tally Ho! How does Europe see Britain? Comment Editors: Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer and Nicholas Fidler - courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk

> Comment, Page 11

Do women need a leg-up in politics? YES Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer Comment Editor It is undeniable that women are seen as second class citizens in the political world. As such it is not the most attractive career route, and therefore women need a ‘leg up’ in politics. Put your jeers down boys. Feminism isn’t over or unnecessary, precisely because this issue still receives groans. I know we’ve had a female PM, but she is relentlessly branded masculine, and was seen as such. Ignore America, Sarah Palin and Hilary Clinton; why are British men so frightened about levelling the SOD\LQJĂ€HOG" To clarify my opening statement, Ă€UVWO\ WKHUH DUH IDU OHVV ZRPHQ LQ SROLWLFVDQGLQKLJKSURĂ€OHSROLWLFDO positions. This is not because women are less intelligent, or less interested. It’s not 1809. We go to university. We do politics degrees, and, shock horror, often get better results than boys. It’s because women in politics are stigmatized. They never escape from being viewed in terms of their gender and so are clumsily categorised as political totty, bad mothers/wives, or incompetent. The examples are abundant. ‘Dave’s Babes’ was the headline to a piece in The Independent in 2005. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe ‘Thatcher’s Toy Boys’ was ever pitched in a conference room. The malicious glee that Jacqui Smith was ‘clearly’ too busy working to satisfy her husband and so he turned to porn is not restricted to

Vacancies www.ncl.ac.uk/careers/vacsonline The Careers Service provides information and advice on developing \RXU VNLOOV ÂżQGLQJ D SDUWWLPH MRE work experience, supporting business start-up and (when the time comes) exploring graduate opportunities. For more details about these and other vacancies, including details of how to apply, visit their website at www.ncl.ac.uk/careers. Vacancies brought to you by the Careers Service: Job Title: Christmas Holiday Temps Employer: ScS Business: Upholstery/furniture specialist Closing date: 20/12/2009 Salary: NMW

the tabloids. (And lets be clear here, a lot of perfectly happy husbands look at porn). The appal over Liz Truss’ affair has political reasoning, but that it was so enraged is clearly gender based. We all share giggles over John Major and Edwina Currie, why the fuURUHRYHUWKLV" That women are seen as incompetent politicians can be seen from the BBC’s ‘The Thick of It’. A fantastic show, but none the less WKH\GLGQ¡WSOXFNWKDWĂ€JXUHRXWRI mid air. And it’s not helping to deconstruct that image. The argument that women play up their femininity and so deserve to have it thrown back at them is also redundant. Ever considered why women are forced to play up their femininity to JHWHOHFWHG"%HFDXVHWKH\¡UHHDV\WR tear back down. There are more men than women in politics, and they’re not reaching out to create greater equality. It’s a competitive industry, but it’s not alright for ambitious males going into politics to use gender against female opponents to ridicule them, or encourage them to play up to stereotypes so that one day they‘ve got an ace up their sleeve. Women need a leg up until these issues no longer exist. I’m not asking for completely gender equal numbers of MPs, but the representations of female politicians in the press clearly not only discourages women from entering the job but shows that there is a culture of actively keeping women out and tormenting those who get in. If it takes women only lists, so be it. It’s not a boys club anymore, and simply opening the doors but standing leering in the lobby is not enough.

Basic job description: ScS are currently looking to take on temporary staff across the North East to work over the busy Christmas period. Duties will include: meeting and greeting customers; dealing with customer enquiries as required; approaching customers to offer refreshments; and undertaking duties as directed by the Branch Manager, including data entry. Person requirements: You MUST be available to work in the North East over the Christmas vacation period. Location: North East, Various Job Title: Deli Staff Employer: Deli Bar Business: Sandwich Delicatessen Closing date: ASAP Salary: NMW (depending on age) Basic job description: The Deli in Eldon Square are currently looking to take on a part time member of staff ZLWK ÀH[LEOH KRXUV WR ZRUN RQ WKH counter. Duties will include: preparing sandwiches, making coffee, and

NO Nicholas Fidler Comment Editor The perennial issue of gender equality in politics is once again rearing its head ahead of next year’s general election. I however, believe this is a real non-issue and needs to be put to bed. Whilst I do believe in equal rights for women, there’s no right to be elected to parliament for either an individual or a group. If a certain faction isn’t “winning� as a result of our democratic process, we can’t simply subvert all notions of democracy to appease them, as this can only weaken the system. You can’t just kick and scream if you don’t get your way in a democracy; grow up. Anything that is not conceived democratically, and thus transcends it, is incredibly threatening to our civil liberties. That’s because you’re basically claiming your ideas are better than those determined democratically, and frankly who the hell is anyone WR PDNH VXFK D FODLP" 7KDW VXFK D stupid idea has actually taken hold in society is very worrying, especially when our Prime Minister in waiting has swallowed it hook line and sinker. In this case, David Cameron’s idea of potentially enacting all female candidate lists for certain constituHQFLHVLVDEDGPRYH:K\"1RWEH cause women don’t have the right to stand for election, but because we can’t simply remove the same right from men. The only morally acceptable approach is to let free will battle it out and invite both men and women to compete. The winner prevails not

serving customers. Person requirements: Previous experience of sandwich and coffee making is essential. You MUST be available to work in Newcastle over the Christmas vacation period. Location: Eldon Square, Newcastle City Centre. Job Title: Bi-Lingual Sales Advisor Employer: Pin Point Recruitment Business: Recruitment Agency Closing date: 31/12/2009 Salary: £7.00 per hour + commission Basic job description: Pin-Point recruitment have a number of outbound sales/account manager positions available for a client based in Newcastle. The role will involve making B2B outbound sales to retail outlets LQ(XURSH7KHKRXUVRIZRUNDUHÀH[ ible, you will be working 16-20 hours per week, starting immediately. Person requirements: You must be ELOLQJXDO ÀXHQW LQ HLWKHU )UHQFK RU *HUPDQ DORQJ ZLWK EHLQJ ÀXHQW LQ

necessarily because their gender is superior, but because they’re the more responsive to the electorate’s wishes. Indeed parliament is dominated by white, middle class, middle aged men precisely because we choose it to be. I wouldn’t have a problem if there was not a single woman in parliament, if the electorate so chooses. 1RU ZRXOG , PLQG LI WKH WDEOHV turned completely and women dominated. Besides, how childishly closed minded are we to believe that people can’t act in the interests RI RWKHU JURXSV" %XW LQ HPSLULFDO terms - at what point could we claim that women would no longer need DOHJXS" What magical criteria plucked from the sky does society have to IXOÀO":KDWHYHUSRLQWZHFKRRVHLV guaranteed to be morally arbitrary. Women have constitutional guarantees of rights; but there can never be rights to ensure all end up with equal outcomes. The election of another female (and Hispanic) Supreme Court Justice in the US as well as female candidates for the positions of President (Clinton) and Vice-President (Palin) last year highlights the presence of women in important positions. Positive discrimination is never positive; it serves as actual discrimiQDWLRQIRUWKRVHRQWKHà LSVLGH,WLV a false economy and has no place in a free market style polity. This issue is simply another rehashed episode of people claiming to love liberty, but simultaneously slamming democracy. As a system, democracy is not perfect, but it is far superior to any other form of governance we can conceive. It’s about time people showed it some respect. A debate on women in politics will be held on Mon 30th at 7pm in the Union, Function Suite

English. Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Job Title: TV Analyst Employer: Xtreme Information Business: Advertising Research Company Closing date: 24/12/2009 Salary: ÂŁ2500 Per Annum Basic job description: There is currently a vacancy at Xtreme Information for a TV Analyst, based in the City Centre. You will be using various software applications to locate and encode TV advertising and accurately entering all relevant details of the encoded adverts onto a database. You will be required to work Sunday 9am 17:30pm starting on 10/01/2009. This post is contracted for one year with a holiday entitlement of 4 days. Location: City Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Morals, anyone? James Stubbs Columnist

Peppered through the news last week were details of various events up and down the country for Anti-Bullying week 2009. Most of the images I saw were of school kids in nice jumpers having a lovely time, stood in circles and doing activities, presumably not very effective in stamping it out. Looking at these news stories reminded me that bullying is largely a phenomenon concerning children, but does it exist at university and in the work SODFH" I had a look online and apparently yes it does. Where are all WKHVH JURZQ XS EXOOLHV OXUNLQJ" Certainly I’ve never seen anyone à LFNLQJ WKH HDU RI VRPHRQH LQ front of them in a lecture theatre, throwing their shoes down the toilet or calling their mums nasty names. To me it seems a thing of the past. Bullying when I was really young was as common as skinned knees and football stickers in a playground, and not a day went by when someone was teased for something, even just a little bit. Mind you, as mine was a nice school, I was never unfortunate enough to witness any of those scary kids with weapons that you read about in the papers making their peers want to kill themselves. The worst thing I saw at my school was a boy throw a spoon at someone who was annoying. Children can be very cruel. 6SHQGLQJP\ÀUVW\HDULQ&DVWOH Leazes I noticed that the possibility for bullying was everywhere; people mixed up closely together with others that it was almost certain they wouldn’t get on with, then add a splash of alcohol and you have a nasty cocktail. I only came across it once WKRXJK ZKHQ D JLUO WU\LQJ WR ÀW in was no longer welcome. A guy said something horrible to her and she bottled him. I wasn’t there, but for months afterwards people still laughed at her about that, not to her face, but I’m sure she knew, and her reputation was nonetheless ruined. I would have thought by that stage a student’s life experiences would have taught them to not be a dick to people you don’t like. My sister told me that I would VSHQGP\ÀUVW\HDUWU\LQJWRXQ make a lot of friends I made in fresher’s week. I avoided having to do this by gently persuading people I didn’t get on so well with that perhaps we weren’t going to be the best of friends, but without being rude. It worked out well for everyone. I think. Other than that incident a few years ago I’ve found this University to be full of good people, though if you are or know anyone having trouble, WKHQ1HZFDVWOH8QLWDNHVLWYHU\ seriously and has loads of people to talk to, just have a look online. In an interview with a DJ called John Digweed I read that the best piece of advice he ever got was simply: be nice. I couldn’t agree more; what reason is there not to EH"

10

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

COMMENT

Nothing to hide: nothing to fear from DNA Nick Kershaw What is the big problem that people have with the police keeping a record of our DNA? I do not see why such a fuss is made about it. What is wrong with providing resources for our law enforcement agencies to aid them in convicting more criminals? DNA matches were used in solving 17,614 crimes last year in the UK. That is an incredible number; it shows a system that is working. I would most certainly welcome a move for the DNA database to be extended as far as possible. I will happily march into my nearest police station and donate my DNA; I have no intention of partaking in any criminal activity. 7KH ÀJKW DJDLQVW FULPH LV HQGOHVV EXW LI ZH ÀQG D ZLQQLQJ PHWKRG we must seize the chance to press home the advantage. 7KHÀJKWDJDLQVWD'1$GDWDEDVH is led by a liberal wing that seem

to have no concept of reality. Their main argument is that if the police extend their DNA collection we will all be treated as suspects. When a crime is committed we are all suspects! A DNA database would help narrow down the amount of people who could be considered guilty. What are these liberals doing that makes them so fearful of arrest? There seems to be an anti-police DWWLWXGH LQ WKLV FRXQWU\ WKDW , ÀQG rather inexplicable. The police are there to protect us and to seek those who undermine the good intentions of society. They are crucial to our freedom. They offer us freedom from the dangers that would otherwise make life a rather miserable if not constantly terrifying experience. Yet we seek to control the police, we seek to prevent them having the powers they need to carry out their job effectively. When they make a mistake, they are subjected to an

astonishing amount of abuse. This is surely unreasonable and only weakens them as a force. Let us look at last years G20 Summit. World Leaders gathered to disFXVVKRZWRVROYHWKHĂ€QDQFLDOFULsis. For some reason people thought this was worth protesting against (heaven forbid the politicians might act to right their wrongs). There was an inevitability about these protests turning into violent riots. When they did, the police DFWHGĂ€UPO\WRSUHYHQWWKHYLROHQFH escalating. Of course, non-violent protestors were on the receiving end of the police response. Naturally, a vast number of complaints ensued. If you attend a mass protest, do not be surprised if it becomes violent. When this occurs, do not be anQR\HGZKHQWKHSROLFHUHDFWĂ€UPO\ What are you expecting? What would you rather they do - leave a crowd to destroy the centre of London? When your house

is robbed I bet you will complain about the police not keeping the streets safe? Or perhaps they were simply not quick enough in responding to your distressed call? Groups that campaign for the rights of suspects have their place. But at what point do we draw the line. We already have a system ensuring suspects are provided with a lawyer and good living conditions whilst they remain in custody. We have a maximum time a suspect can be held without charge and, most important of all, we provide a fair trial. These are all fantastic. Why is it that we still demand more? There is no doubt we must provide clear and understandable regulation for the force to follow and adhere to. Any abuse of power is unacceptable as is any unnecessary violence. However, we must provide them with every possible power and resource to protect us. In football they have launched a

‘Respect’ campaign to help referees carry out their responsibilities without the overly harsh criticism that they have endured for too long. I propose a similar campaign on behalf of our police force. Each day they put themselves into dangerous situations in order to defend the public from the onslaught of criminal activities. Yet all we hear is people moaning about them, and demanding we further decrease their authority. Let’s stand up for our Bobbies! Of course they are far from faultless, but what are we honestly expecting? Think of all the felons that are brought to justice, or the amount of offences that are avoided due to their hard work. If you argue that there are still too many unsolved crimes, I would like to remind you that an extensive DNA database would undoubtedly help this situation.

M. CASIMIR

Doing it for the kids: child protection policies are everywhere, particularly since the death of Baby P, but are Oftsed’s most recent moves aimed at covering their own backs rather than preventing simillar incidents happening in other areas of the country?

Cotton wool policies only protect adults Alice Vincent We’ve heard it all before – our government is beaurocracy mad. Being near-suffocated under red tape has affected every single part of our lives. At best, it’s a money and time wasting tedium. At worst, it results in the abuse, torture and even death of children. Sounds extreme, but Ofsted’s latest obsessions with health and safety are being held responsible for exactly this. Last week the inspection body was attacked for “feeding people’s fearsâ€? over child safety by council leaders. Ofsted was also accused of prioritising its own reputation over what it essentially exits for, ensuring the correct welfare of children, through its increasingly strict rules. Ofsted has always been in place to monitor welfare alongside education standards. However, since September 2009, KLJK SURĂ€OH HYHQWV LQ WKH PHGLD

– mainly instigated by the Baby P scandal – have meant that the introduction of the Safeguarding children review has seen a major hike in red tape, data demands of teachers and social workers and a less attentive review of schools and day care centres in person. Furthermore, the move of schools, day care centres and social services under the government umbrella group of children, schools and families has resulted in a more generic treatment of all involved when inspected. More worryingly, Ofsted can now be deemed responsible for Baby Ptype mishandlings and have reacted as a result. New, arguably ridiculous, restrictions have already been making noise in the media. Schools that would previously have been rated good or even outstanding by Ofsted’s previous standards for their educational prowess are now being failed for reasons that can only be dubbed petty. Examples include “offering an

inspector a cup of tea before asking for IDâ€? - heaven forbid receptionists should offer a potential Ofsted imposter (who would want to be such a thing?) refreshment – and “having walls too low so children could climb over and escape.â€? Schools that are performing academically adequately have actually been put into Special Measures for such reasons, and often these decisions are made without looking at pupils’ work, talking to them or their parents and even watching teaching take place. Speaking to a primary school teacher, who has had over twentyĂ€YH \HDUV H[SHULHQFH RI 2IVWHG school inspections, it appears that this most recent red tape change has had a counterproductive effect. “All the inspectors want to see is dataâ€?, she says. Although the recent changes have done away with the ‘oppressive’ Ofsted regime of our schooling, when a group of inspectors would spend a week at a school rummaging through exercise books, the irony of the new

health and safety obsessed regulations is that hardly any time is spent making an accurate judgement on an institution. Social services are not exempt from the weight of paperwork either. If anything, the extent of beaurocracy the original aids to child neglect have to suffer is greater than that of the teaching profession. As all this box-ticking takes a fair amount of time, social workers, like teachers, are being left stressed and with less time to do the practical elements of their job, such as seeing children and making case studies. The aforementioned source spoke of reports that had been made in her school regarding pupils whose welfare they had concerns for, but that little had been followed up because social services are overworked. It’s little wonder that incidents of neglect and abuse are still taking place. Because, unfortunately, the sick types who commit such crimes are highly unlikely to be prevented by the threat of ludicrous Ofsted

regulations; but they might be by regular, attentive visits by a social worker. 7KHUHLVGHÀQLWHO\VWUHQJWKLQWKH Town Hall leaders’ complaints – by failing schools on health, safety and welfare reasons, Ofsted is only encouraging the cotton wool kid FXOWXUHDQGÀULQJXSSDUHQWV¡ZRUries in an environment when child neglect is one of the media’s most covered topics. Presumably, the fewer schools doing well demonstrates a better service by an inspections body that relies on numbers for its judgement, much like how an increased amount of passing grades suggests easier examinations. Ofsted need to seriously rethink their strategy. It’s a shame that what has clearly stemmed from a good idea – more enforced regulation to ensure fewer cases of child abuse – has resulted in services so over-swamped with red tape that they’re missing what it’s attempting to make noticeable.

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

11

COMMENT M. CASIMIR

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12

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

COMMENT

Focus: Environment

Investment banking goes green Danny Kielty What a load of old rubbish. This eternal colloquialism will form the centrepiece of the Conservatives new environmental plans outlined this week. The Tories intend to introduce a credit based recycling system as well as the creation of a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Green Investment Bank.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Families would accumulate credits for the amount of household waste they recycle and convert them into a maximum ÂŁ130 worth of vouchers; redeemable at retailers including Tesco and Marks and Spencer. The Shadow Chancellor George Osborne outlined that the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Green Investment Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; would â&#x20AC;&#x153;invest in environmentally friendly technologies, making Whitehall energy consumption transparent.â&#x20AC;? Alongside this, the Tories would force building developers to buy credits from such â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Green Banksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as

a prerequisite for building permission. So, amongst the tiresome political clichĂŠs and electoral promises; will the plans make a difference? Will they even make a substantial enough difference? In theory, the plans seem like a proactive move in the right direction. Estimates predict that the measures would raise household recycling by 30 per cent, and would certainly mean less rubbish being GXPSHG LQ ODQGĂ&#x20AC;OO VLWHV XS DQG down the country; reducing environmental costs of producing new packaging for products like drinks cans and food wrapping. Considering the fact that the taxes RQ ODQGĂ&#x20AC;OO VLWHV DUH LPSRVHG RQ ORcal councils, (or in plain English, the taxpayer), the move would only be a good thing for the environment and peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; coffers. The proposals have already been successfully piloted in Tory-run local councils. The idea seems like one

that genuinely could make a real difference nationwide. In any case, I agree with Mr. Osborneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retort that â&#x20AC;&#x153;carrots work better than sticks.â&#x20AC;? Labourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harsh bin taxes have been unpopular and negative. Perhaps the Tories should consider the possibility of extra credits and vouchers for outstanding recyclers in local communities. This would act as both a social and communal incentive for others to follow. The plans to force developers into a similar credit based system is aimed at generating millions of pounds which could then be ploughed into the creation of new wetlands, woodlands and in helping farmers and charities. Again, this sounds attractive. But before anybody thinks that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m EHFRPLQJ D ERQDĂ&#x20AC;GH Âś7RU\%R\¡ , must outline some of the potential dangers of this credit-based system. On a local level, such a system

would, I think, be effective, but bringing in big business to arena, though essential, has its risks. A problem with such proposals is that it is essentially offering up conservation to the free market, potentially causing a situation where developers are simply buying licenses to destroy one habitat, by promising to create or sustain others elsewhere. Nature is by no means such a black and white process. Habitats do not simply â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;appearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; overnight. Many environmental groups also fear that the plans will create a Government over-reliance upon developersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cash; thereby reducing the amount of public money that is currently directed to environmental protection. The Tories have got it right with regards to the little man, but the dangers of the big business still need to be fully addressed.

The gathering storm over Copenhagen Graeme Pawlett On the 5th December, potentially one of the most critical conferences in human history begins. Following the road out of Bali, guided by the Kyoto protocol, the leaders of the industrialized world ZLOO JDWKHU LQ 'HQPDUN WR Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ we hope, nail out a real strategy to Ă&#x20AC;JKWWKHPRVWGDQJHURXVHQHP\WR face life on earth: global warming. I know you can practically smell the melodrama all over that statement, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fair. But humour me. 7KH FXUUHQW OLQH RI VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;F thought is that if we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t perform a serious turnaround in emissions within the next ten years, by 2050 temperatures will have soared beyond control or correction, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hit the critical 6 degree rise. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have robbed ourselves of the golden opportunity, and we will, at the very least, suffer massive social

regression. At the very worst, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll face extinction. COP 15 is that opportunity, though as ever, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s looking like once more, as in Indonesia and Japan before, little will come out of the meetings thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s any more substantial than an agreement to rendezvous in another two years to rinse and repeat. However, there is a chance. Any legislation on such a global scale as would be required to effectively combat CO2 emissions needs US cooperation. Whilst this is a tenuous hope, Barack Obama has not so far done that well with the rest of his ideology. Universal healthcare has been stymied in the Senate, his stimulus package hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t undone the recession and Afghanistan is still a battleground. In short, large scale failure to uphold his electoral promises, and a gentle dimming of the golden aura half the world saw around him for

the past year. Yet, in simply taking a serious approach to the possibility of binding targets for CO2 reduction, support for Technology Action Plans and investment in technological support and in developing nations, Obama FRXOG YLQGLFDWH DQ RWKHUZLVH Ă DJJLQJĂ&#x20AC;UVW\HDULQRIĂ&#x20AC;FH Last week, over 60 world leaders, along with the 192 delegations from UN members, were committed to attending the conference - including those of Indonesia and Brazil - and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good news. For better or worse, regardless of the necessity of personal and community action, heavy duty political power is whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needed to sort out the planet. Unfortunately, something else also popped up last week. Several thousand hacked documents from the University of East Angliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Climatic Research Unit have been published online, and the sceptics are swarm-

LQJRYHUWKHPOLNHĂ LHVRQDFRUSVH This is not a coincidence. This is a concerted effort to undermine conĂ&#x20AC;GHQFHLQWKHFRQIHUHQFHDQGLQWKH HQWLUH VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;F FRQFHSW RI JOREDO warming. Now, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll not try to justify the actions of those scientists detailed in the emails, as they reek of collusion and conspiracy. Consider this: the notion of manmade climate change as a result of industrialization and the combustion of fossil fuels has been known for well over a hundred years. Regardless of any supposed exaggerations of urgency, all of which DUH WKXV IDU XQYHULĂ&#x20AC;HG HYHU\ SRVsible action to avoid large scale global warming must be supported, as it will, without question, happen sooner rather than later. If we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t done anything, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go the way of dinosaurs and dodos DQGZRUVHLW¡OOEHWRWDOO\VHOILQĂ LFWed.

Opening our hearts but not our wallets Fran Infante Deputy Editor All right, so we know climate change is an issue. We know that we really should pay more attention; lack of information is certainly not the problem. We know we should separate our recyclables from our waste, should regard the standby option on TVs as evil incarnate, should turn down the thermostat, drive less, walk more and avoid, at all possible costs, the nemesis of all environmentalists everywhere; the plastic bag. But does anyone really do it? I care as much about the imminent extinction of the fuzzy little seals on TV as much as the next person but is that thought really going to stop me from nestling ever closer to the radiator as the North East winter draws in? Not likely. And that is precisely the problem. We all care about the environment; to admit that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t is to provoke death by public, and very British disapproval, yet very few of us actually care enough to in any way diminish the creature comforts that have steadily got our planet into such a mess. There is no shortage of possible solutions; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just unfortunate that each solution has no shortage of possible drawbacks either. Renewable resources like wind turbines and solar panels are cleaner, meaner, greener ways of providing modern civilisation with the energy it so constantly demands. The only residual problem is that frankly, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Both are so dependent on the geographical and meteorological positioning of their environment, that in many parts of the world they would be little more than useless. Added to this is the fact that even when the location is perfect, the volume of energy produced is a fraction of that yielded by fossil fuels. And then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the cost. Unavoidably, nothing is cheaper than simply pulling minerals out of the ground and burning them - everything else requires greater processing, greater storage and in short, greater science. A further barrier is the tendency of everyone who is neither a Chinese nor US national to sit around and commiserate that because they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, there is nothing they can do that will compensate for the ambition of one nation and the apathy of the other, because we all know they are the real problem, not us. It is a sad reality that we as a public, and especially as students, will not start to feel the need for real environmental initiative until we have run out of options. Given our history as the cradle of the industrial revolution, it is frankly not good enough for us to, at this point, wash our hands and say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not us gov.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Britain lag shamefully far behind their European counterparts in cutting carbon emissions, but even with government incentives, there is the argument that until people start getting penalised for not being environmentally friendly, eco awareness will be left to a select minority of do-gooders. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Necessity is the mother of all inventionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; quote middle England as they crank up their heaters and snuggle under their electric blankets, sipping the tea, which they made by boiling a whole kettle full, not just the amount they needed. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Someone will think of somethingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope they do.

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

13

COMMENT

Letters to the Editor

TV & Radio section a real highlight

MAP article was inaccurate

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14

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

Got your number > Sex & Relationships, page 18 Life & Style Editors: Larisa Brown, Alex Felton and Ashley Fryer - courier.life@ncl.ac.uk

Health & Beauty

Our Father who art in heaven, can I have my daily bread? Katherine Bannon Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not unusual for your local church parish to play host to the weekly Slimming World meetings, but what happens when God Himself steps up to the altar to preach a sermon in shedding those extra pounds? Forget Atkins, WeightWatchers, or the decision-making dilemma of WRPDWRERXLOORQRURQLRQĂ DYRXUHG cabbage soup. The Weigh Down Diet is the latest slimming craze to hit America and is already snapping at our coasts, promising to eradicate bingo wings, double chins and inner thigh chafing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about totting up points, boycotting carbohydrates or liquidizing your Sunday Roast; the message is simple: Eat when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hungry. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. So step away from the cake, fatty, or Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll send a lightning bolt your way. The much-exhausted clichĂŠ â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;easier said than doneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; instantly rears its ugly head, brandishing cheesecake and sipping a glass of rosĂŠ. Listen, Lord, if it was that simple, the bigJHVW ERG\ LVVXH ,¡G KDYH ZRXOG EH whether my abs were more Keira .QLJKWOH\RU%ODNH/LYHO\ Or is this the real miracle weight loss plan? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about distinguishing between want and need, between EHLQJVDWLVĂ&#x20AC;HGDQGKDYLQJMXVWWKDW one more chocolate HobNob which topples you from pleasantly full to RYHUO\VR Hunger is as much psychological and emotional as it is physical, so learning to reach for the Almighty rather than that tub of Ben and Jerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is a lesson in securing control RYHUIRRGUDWKHUWKDQDOORZLQJHYH U\RQH¡V IDYRXULWH LFH FUHDP VXSSOL HUVWRKDYHDVWLFN\FKRFRODWHIXGJH EURZQLHFRDWHGKROGRYHU\RX Âś%LJ ERQHV¡ LV QR H[FXVH 3UHYHQW ing yourself from passing the buck for your cuddly bits on background, genes or circumstances is a Weigh Down no-no. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about standing tall, albeit slightly round, and being willing to admit that yes, you can eat a whole

1. Our luscious locks are constantly Ă&#x20AC;QGLQJWKHPVHOYHVĂ&#x20AC;JKWLQJDJDLQVW the elements; why not try Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor, a deep conditioning treatment for GU\DQGGDPDJHGKDLUDYDLODEOHDW Boots for ÂŁ4.49? *LYH\RXUERULQJROGKRWZDWHU bottle a rest this winter and try 0LQL &XGGOHV +HDWDEOH /DYHQGHU 7HGGLHV DYDLODEOH IURP ZZZ amazinghealth.co.uk for only ÂŁ5.99 HDFKWKHVHORYDEOHWHGGLHVKHDWXS LQ WKH PLFURZDYH DQG DUH JHQWO\ VFHQWHG ZLWK ODYHQGHU WR DLG UH laxation.  $QRWKHU JUHDW ZD\ WR SUHYHQW FROGVDQGĂ XGXULQJZLQWHULVWRHDW plenty of garlic. This proposition GRHVQ¡W KDYH WR DIIHFW \RXU VRFLDO OLIHDVPXFKDV\RXPD\Ă&#x20AC;UVWVXS pose â&#x20AC;&#x201C; garlic dough balls at Pizza Express are an absolute must. 4. To help with sore lips this winWHUWU\WRĂ&#x20AC;QGDSURGXFWZLWKDQWL septic; this will speed up the healLQJSURFHVVDQGKDYH\RXUSHUIHFW pout back in no time.

box of Terryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chocolate Orange in RQHVLWWLQJ$QG\RXSURYHLWUHJX larly. As the body is a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;temple of the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, we should learn not to abuse it, no matter how much Dawn French might tempt us. The menu is unlimited and exercise is not obligatory, so it automatically HOLPLQDWHVWKHQHHGWRMRLQDJ\PRU fear a week of becoming artistically accomplished in the art of grapefruit slicing. $OUHDG\ RYHU D PLOOLRQ FRSLHV RI Gwen Shamblinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Weigh Down 'LHW¡KDYHEHHQVROGDFURVVWKHSRQG so it must be speaking some truth. She claims that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;instead of blaming food, we get to the root of the probOHPZKLFKLVJUHHGRQHRIWKHVHYHQ deadly sins.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; <HWLVWKHUHDWDSHPHDVXUHĂ&#x20AC;QHOLQH between only eating when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re KXQJU\DQGVWDUYLQJ\RXUVHOI" The inability to differentiate between real hunger and head hunger could lead to denying the body the

nutrients it really needs, which is only a few ounces away from a potential eating disorder. Other side effects include irritability, shaky hands and lack of concentration, but if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re already hunJRYHUHQRXJKLQOHFWXUHVQRWWRSD\ attention anyway, then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably ZRUWK WKH FKDQFH WR ZDYH JRRGE\H to that spare tyre your housemate keeps asking to borrow. $OO RYHU WKH VWDWHV ZRPHQ DUH praising God for helping them shift as much as 95lbs, and the reason for its success is attributed to the idea WKDWDOWKRXJKSHRSOHĂ&#x20AC;QGLWHDV\WR cheat on a normal diet, the concept of cheating God is an entirely differHQWEDVNHWRIĂ&#x20AC;VK Yet are these people really true beOLHYHUVRUXVLQJ*RGDVDQDEVWUDFW REMHFWWRJLYHDSV\FKRORJLFDOEORFN WRRYHULQGXOJHQFH" )LUVWO\ *RG¡V DGYLFH FRPHV DW D price, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not particularly cheap. Shamblinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book is currently marketed at $103 dollars, although this

does include classes, a workbook, D ELQGHU RI WZHOYH DXGLRFDVVHWWHV 3RGFDVW DQ\RQH"  DQG VHYHQWHHQ lessons. 0HDQZKLOH LW DGYRFDWHV WKH LQFOX VLRQ RI GLHW GULQNV DQG DUWLĂ&#x20AC;FLDOO\ sweetened teas whilst claiming to be following Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original plan for eating. On the eighth day he did create Pepsi Max. A keen follower of Weigh Down claims she was originally â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;put offâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by the religious element, igniting the idea that its not really about reOLJLRQDWDOOEXWMXVWDQRWKHUIDGLQ a long line of good to bad to downright ludicrous ways to squeeze into WKDWGUHVV\RXZHUHQHYHUPHDQWWR EX\LQWKHĂ&#x20AC;UVWSODFH 'R \RXUVHOI D IDYRXU /LPLW \RXU self to one Double Decker a week, DYRLG Ă&#x20AC;QLVKLQJ QLJKWV RXW LQ 0F Donalds and try going for a run RQFH LQ D ZKLOH <RX QHYHU NQRZ common sense might work.

How to... match your collars with your cuffs Alice Vincent Sex and the City fans will remember the episode when Brady turns one. 6DPDQWKD DIWHU GLVFRYHULQJ D JUH\ pubic hair, tries to dye the lot and LW WXUQV RXW Ă XRUHVFHQW RUDQJH ,W¡V SUHWW\KRUULĂ&#x20AC;F Personally, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s due to this scene, along with the fact that dying coarse hair around your genitals has â&#x20AC;&#x153;BIG 12Âľ ZULWWHQ DOO RYHU LW WKDW ,¡YH QHYHU WKRXJKW LW VRPHWKLQJ ZRUWK

Frances Gough & Amy Hewis

contemplating. Yet, word on the street is that Lady Area Decoration is making a comeback. Apparently, the misleadingly acronym-ed L.A.D. kits are on sale in Jesmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medicentre, which is really saying something. The brand most highly rated on the forums is Betty Beauty, someZKDW RI DQ LFRQ LQ WKLV Ă&#x20AC;HOG ZKR KDV Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ PDGH LW VDIH VH[\ DQG HYHQ IXQ WR G\H SXEHV DSSDUHQWO\ With ingredients including elder-

Ă RZHU FKDPRPLOH DQG FRPIUH\ Betty â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a euphemism for hair down there - dyes are organic and come in HYHU\FRORXUIURP´DXEXUQÂľZK\"  through black, blonde and brown and the mysteriously titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;funâ&#x20AC;? (pink), â&#x20AC;&#x153;sexyâ&#x20AC;? (purple), â&#x20AC;&#x153;aquaâ&#x20AC;? EULGDO DQG´ORYHÂľUHG  This leads me onto thinking what VHPDQWLF UHOHYDQFH D FRPELQDWLRQ ZRXOGKDYH²UHGDQGJUHHQIRUH[ DPSOHZRXOGWKDWHTXDOOXFN\ORYH or Christmas? Purple plus pink

meaning fun sexy? The dyes claim to be easy to apply, despite an initial lightening for half an hour, followed by another half an hour for the colour. What with a non-drip formula to DYRLG DQ\ QDVW\ DFFLGHQWV DQ DQWL rub promise and a lack of ammonia, you can guarantee that a Betty experience wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be as horrendous as you may think. $OWKRXJKLW¡VEHVWQRWWRMXGJHWKLV RQDKDQJRYHUGD\

5. All of us suffer from dry, sore DQGHYHQFUDFNHGOLSVDWVRPHVWDJH during the winter months, and licking your lips makes it ten times worse. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uncomfortable and cerWDLQO\QRWDWWUDFWLYHVRPDNHVXUH \RXLQYHVWLQVRPHGHFHQWOLSEDOP www.supersmoocher.com has a UDQJH RI OLS SURGXFWV WKDW DUH YH gan, cruelty-free and natural; and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, the Crazy Rumours Ă ODPRGHYDULHW\KDVDKXJHFKRLFH RI Ă DYRXUV  DSSOH VSLFH RUDQJH bergamot, peppermint lemongrass, and plenty more. If you fancy treating yourself to something a little more pricey, try Mac tinted lip conditioner, ÂŁ10.50.  'XYHW VOLSSHUV DUH VXFK D IDQ WDVWLF LQYHQWLRQ VR JRLQJ ZLWKRXW a pair this winter would be a big mistake. John Lewisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Red Cord 'XYHW 6OLSSHUV DUH VR ZDUP WKH\ IHHOKHDYHQO\RQ\RXUIHHWDQGDO WKRXJKWKH\DUHTXLWHH[SHQVLYHDW ÂŁ20, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re worth asking for as a Christmas present: they will probably be your best friend this winWHU 7. Going to lectures causes distress: QRW MXVW RQ \RXU VRXO EXW DOVR RQ your skin. Stepping from the freezing cold exterior to the heated lecture halls causes dry skin, so make sure you use a thick creamy FOHDQVHURQ\RXUIDFHHYHU\GD\WR help lock in moisture. MoisturisLQJIDFHPDVNVDUHDOVRYHU\KDQG\ WR KDYH DV WKH\ FRQGLWLRQ \RXU skin. At home or in Halls, try not WRKDYH\RXUUDGLDWRURQWRRKLJK or your shower too hot as this irritates your skin, causing it to itch and often break out in a rash.

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

15

Fashion

LIFE & STYLE

View Askew

Fashion

Kathy Jackman Columnist

Campus Style Larisa Brown Life & Style Editor

Alexandra Ashcroft

Clare Jones 3rd year Medicine

3rd year Geography

Jumper, ÂŁ35, Topshop

Shirt, ÂŁ45, Topshop

Shorts, ÂŁ45, Topshop

Scarf, ÂŁ15, Topshop

Tights, ÂŁ5, Marks and Spencer

Leggings, ÂŁ15, Topshop

Boots, ÂŁ285, Russell and Bromley

Ugg boots, ÂŁ140 7KHLUIDVKLRQLQĂ XHQFH.DWH0RVV because she models for Topshop

Alexandra Wharton

Email courier.life@ncl. ac.uk to nominate your friend for next weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Campus Style

3rd year Geography White T-Shirt, ÂŁ10, Topshop Cardigan, ÂŁ45, Topshop Jeans, ÂŁ50, Topshop Leg warmers, ÂŁ30, Jack Wills

Fancy dressing like Santa? Kat Bishop As the nights draw in and deadlines are approaching, December can be a time of doom and gloom for Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s student population. Stuck in the library and reading the same mind-numbing page for WKHĂ&#x20AC;IWLHWKWLPHVWXGHQWVJORULRXVO\ drift into a reverie of the good old days. They dream of a time when Christmas consisted of festive-themed homework, the school nativity, and fancy dress parties. Snowed-under and stressed, we often forget that December equals Christmas time. Swap that heavy workload for your dancing shoes, and get those thinking caps on. Christmas is the perfect excuse for a fancy dress party, so let your inner child take over and get rummaging in your fancy dress box. Hands up, those who think D.I.Y. costumes are amazing? Making \RXURZQIDQF\GUHVVRXWĂ&#x20AC;WLVLQQR

vative, imaginative, and incredibly fun. Perfect for students on a tight budget, doinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; it yourself is a great team bonding exercise. Dress yourself, dress your friends, and let your creativity run wild. No matter how extravagant or subtle, two things are guaranteed: a huge sense of satisfaction, and hilarious results. Unfortunately, living away from home means motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sewing expertise is unavailable. If your sewing skills are less than adequate, glue and sellotape are always possibilities. A word of warning: sellotape loses its stick! This may cause DFFLGHQWDO Ă DVKLQJ DQG XQZDQWHG attention Not everyone has the time to make their own costume. Some people prefer to splash out on pre-packaged monstrosities. A personal favourite of mine is the novelty Christmas tree costume on fancydress.com. What possesses anyone to buy this grotesque eyesore is beyond me. The

website does a brilliant job of selling it, saying: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;made from polyfoam, this tree costume simply pulls over the head, the present-shaped shoes are boxes that pull over your feet and you wear your own shoes underneath.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; One size only at ÂŁ74.99, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not exactly a bargain. If I was paying ÂŁ74.99, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect the hideous star on the top to be made from real gold, and the costume to come in more than one size. Surprisingly, they still have some in stock. 6DQWDDQGHOĂ&#x20AC;QLQVSLUHGRXWĂ&#x20AC;WVDUH always a festive favourite, especialO\ DPRQJ ODGLHV SUHSDUHG WR Ă DVK VRPHĂ HVK7KHVHRXWĂ&#x20AC;WVDUHVLPSOH and easy to make or buy. Depending on taste, they can be as sexy or as serious as you like. 6NLPS\ 6DQWD RXWĂ&#x20AC;WV DUH WKH SUH ferred option. Tinsel-rimmed bras and panties are often a favourite - cold in mid-winter, but certainly cheap and eye-catching. If you prefer to cover up, check RXW IDQF\GUHVVFRP¡V 6DQWD RXWĂ&#x20AC;WV

Choose from a caped Santa costume WRD6DQWDFKHHUOHDGLQJRXWĂ&#x20AC;W The site even caters for a voluptuRXV FOLHQWHOH WKH ÂśIXOO Ă&#x20AC;JXUHG 39& Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; costume is perfect for curvier ladies. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re strapped for cash, head on down to Grainger Market. <RX¡UHJXDUDQWHHGWRĂ&#x20AC;QGVRPHIDE ric bargains suitable for your Santa RXWĂ&#x20AC;W 6NLPS\ RXWĂ&#x20AC;WV GRQ¡W Ă RDW HYHU\ oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boat. If you like to entertain, opt for a funny festive costume. Mince pies, Christmas puddings, turkeys... the list is endless. HomePDGH RXWĂ&#x20AC;WV WUXPS VKRSERXJKW costumes. A bit of creativity and a lot of patience can turn the most humble of cardboard boxes into a FRVWXPHĂ&#x20AC;WIRUOHJHQGV Dressing up is a perfect chance to release those inhibitions, escape from the drag of everyday life, and be something youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always wanted to be (but never quite dared). Dress sexy, dress silly; anything goes. Well... almost anything.

Ok, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s confession time, kids. Are you sitting comfortably? Good. Now brace yourselves and make sure your loins are thoroughly girded. All right, here it is: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not a big drinking fan. No, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really not. Honest. Look, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not kidding, all right? You wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe how many times Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen people respond to this statement as thus: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh my God, why? I love getting drunk; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much fun.â&#x20AC;? (YHQ P\ RZQ SDUHQWV Ă&#x20AC;QG P\ attitude to alcohol a bit unusual for someone my age. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get me wrong, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure that drinking can be great fun; it just isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t IRUPH,NQRZLW¡VGHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\DQ odd thing to be a student who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t drink electively, but the fact of the matter is I have a rather comprehensive set of reasons why I choose to stay sober. 7KHĂ&#x20AC;UVWUHDVRQLVWKDW,GRQ¡W like to lose control. See, I have been drunk before - a couple of times, actually - so I have some evidence on which to base my argument; it just so happens that on these rare occasions when I have been inebriated, I have a tendency to act like a moron. Actually, scratch that, I have a tendency to act like a slutty moron. Oh yeah, you get the works with me when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had a few, and being in a committed relationship I have no desire to jeopardise that by performing a very badly choreographed lap dance for some stranger before IDOOLQJ RYHU LQ D Ă&#x20AC;W RI SLVVHG guffawing. Nobody needs to see that. Trust me. The second reason is that I get the most tremendous hangovers. In fact, a lot of the time I get hangover symptoms damn near straight away. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m being deadly serious here; I only have to down one or two alcoholic drinks before a headache kicks in. God, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just, like, so unfair. I think that I may have an allergy to booze or something, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, but either way it proves to be a pretty good incentive to stay sober. In my mind thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not much point in making myself feel like shit for the sake of a mild buzz. The third reason is that I genuinely just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the whole drinking culture thing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an expensive way to make a fool out of myself, and in the end all it guarantees is that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll feel like death the next day, wondering why I even bothered to plough my way through so many bevvies. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been able to go out and have a good time without a beer or a sugary alcopop in my hand, so why waste my money? I know full well that lots of people like to get drunk and enjoy themselves, and they can do what they like; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not going to judge. All I ask is that I get treated with the same respect.

16

LIFE & STYLE

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

Food & Drink

H.HAYES

COMPETITION WIN a microwave and a semesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supply of scrumptious Heinz Taste of Home Steak & Guinness Casserole Soup

7RNHHS\RXZDUPDQGVDWLVĂ&#x20AC;HG this winter, Heinz has launched a delicious new limited edition soup. Taste of Home Steak & GUINNESSÂŽ Casserole Soup is crammed full of hearty ingredients, including tender VWHDNĂ DYRXUVRPH*8,11(66Â&#x160; JUDY\DQGFKXQN\YHJHWDEOHV

Restaurant Review Deneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Deli, Jesmond Road Nicholas Farkas /RFDWHGDWRQWKHVDOXEULRXV-HVmond Road, Deneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Deli holds a soft spot on many a studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s palate. 7KHWUHQG\GHOLFDWHVVHQHVWDEOLVKHG  \HDUV DJR KDV EHFRPH D OXQFKtime and snacking stalwart, meeting HYHU\ORFDO¡VVDQGZLFKQHHGV Open six days a week, the Deli de-

OLYHUVĂ&#x20AC;YHVWDUTXDOLW\WLPHDQGWLPH again, offering from custom-deVLJQHG EDSV WR \RXU ROG IDYRXULWHV With a constant stream of patrons Ă&#x20AC;OWHULQJ LQ WKURXJKRXW WKH GD\ WKH institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popularity has not waYHUHG WKURXJK WKH UHFHQW HFRQRPLF downturn. So much so, that whilst other JesPRQG HVWDEOLVKPHQWV KDYH VWUXJJOHGQXPEHUVDW'HQH¡VKDYHDFWXally increased. One regular customer, local artist Jamie Gourlay said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like LW,ORYHLWÂľ7KHVKRS¡VHWKRVVWHPV IURPXVLQJRQO\WKHĂ&#x20AC;QHVWDQGIUHVK-

est local ingredients. )URP WKH DZDUGZLQQLQJ Âś/RFDO +HUR¡ FRPSULVLQJ RI :DUNZRUWK *DPPRQ1HWWOH&KHHVH5DVSEHUU\ 0XVWDUG0D\R&DUURWDQG6SLQDFK  WRWKHÂś%HHI(QFRXQWHURIWKH+XQJU\ .LQG¡HYHU\WDVWHLVSURYLGHGIRU One of Deneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sandwich artists UHYHDOHG WKDW D IHPDOH WKLUG \HDU Philosophy student only known as Cess once shed a tear of joy whilst PXQFKLQJRQWKHÂś,WDOLDQ6WDOOLRQ¡ ,Q WKH UHFHQW *RRG )RRG 6XUYH\ FRQGXFWHG E\ 7KH &RXULHU  of Jesmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s student population SOXPSHGIRU'HQH¡VRYHU'DQLHOOD¡V ZLWK 6XEZD\ VFDYHQJLQJ D PHDVO\ RIWKHYRWH James Russell, a second year Economics student, commented, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The

UHDVRQZK\WKH\¡UHEHWWHUWKDQ'DQLHOOD¡V LV WKDW WKH\ KDYH JUHDW EDQWHU IULHQGO\ DWWUDFWLYH IDFHV DQG WKH\¡UH QRW DIUDLG WR RIIHU DGYLFH when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m stuck on which sandwich to choose.â&#x20AC;? +RZHYHU 'HQH¡V LV PXFK PRUH than just a sandwich shop; it is an institution. A wide delicatessen selection is DYDLODEOHDWUHDVRQDEOHDQGFRPSHWLWLYHSULFHVZKLOVWWKHHVWDEOLVKPHQW also offers tailor-made catering for SULYDWHHYHQWV Hence, it is no surprise that Deneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s came away with North East Sandwich Maker of the Year. So get yourself down there and experience the sumptuous delights on offer.

3LOORZĂ&#x20AC;JKWVDQGKRWZD[DER\V¡QLJKWLQ Oliver Wood As me and Matty rolled up to QXPEHUZHUHDOLVHGWKHSRWHQWLDO of our task; experiencing â&#x20AC;&#x153;the girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; night in,â&#x20AC;? we had the chance to shed OLJKW RQ D IRUELGGHQ ]RQH WR PHQ across the world. We had the chance WR Ă&#x20AC;QG DQVZHUV WR QRYHO TXHVWLRQV OLNH ZK\ LV LW QHYHU D JRRG LGHD WR ask if a girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the rag? Why does a woman say one thing EXWPHDQWKHH[DFWRSSRVLWH":KHUH is the G-Spot? :HOO ER\V LW¡V DERXW WZR LQFKHV XSDQGDELWWRWKHOHIW The magnitude of this task did not ID]HXVGUHVVHGDVWZRSUHSS\ER\V IURPWKH2&DQGFDUU\LQJDERWWOHRI 7HVFR¡VĂ&#x20AC;QHVW3LQRW*ULJLRZHZHUH ready for anything that came at us. :HZHUHZHOFRPHGE\WKUHHVWXQning girls, all doused in some amazLQJ IHPDOH DURPD DQG ZLWK D GHYLous twinkle in their eyes. We had no idea what the layout of the night ZDVJRLQJWREHRXUVWHUHRW\SHVKDG OHG XV WR EHOLHYH WKDW ZH ZRXOG EH MRLQLQJLQDSLOORZĂ&#x20AC;JKWWKDWZRXOG

KDYH WKH JLUOV VFDQWLO\ GUHVVHG LQ sexy pyjamas with a chance of nip slip. This was not case. It seems times KDYH FKDQJHG VLQFH WKH GD\V RI *UHDVH DQG WKH FUD]\ ¡V JLUOV DUHQ¡WDVFXULRXVDERXWHDFKRWKHU¡V ERGLHV DQ\PRUH RU LW FRXOG EH WKH fact that they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t 16 and all had VWDEOHUHODWLRQVKLSV This also meant that there ZRXOGQ¡W EH D FKHHN\ VSRRQ ZKLOVW watching Mean Girls; instead we set RXUVHOYHV LQWR WKH IHPDOH SV\FKH SUREDEO\DOLWWOHWRRHDVLO\7KHFKDW ZDVYHU\FRQWHPSRUDU\DQGZHUHally couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t decide if Cheryl Cole was putting on weight or if it was the hideous dresses that she was wearing. Also, we found out that Olly Mursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; eyes are far too close together to PDNHKLPDWWUDFWLYHDQGWKDW'DQ\O LVE\IDUWKHEXIIHVW$V\RXFDQVHH E\ WKLV SRLQW RXU PDQKRRG KDG UHWUHDWHGEDFNLQVLGHXVDQGDFDVXDO FKHFNRIWKH/LYHUSRROVFRUHE\0DWW\ ZRXOG RQO\ EH D WHPSRUDU\ VDIH place as we were not prepared for

what was to come. ,¡YHDOZD\VEHHQIRQGRIP\KDLU ZKHUHYHU LW LV RQ P\ ERG\ DQG WR KDYH WKDW WDNHQ DZD\ IURP \RX LV not a great feeling. In honesty this P\WKRIZD[LQJGLGQHHGWREHMXVWLĂ&#x20AC;HG %HDXW\ DQG WKH *HHN SRUWUD\V this act as the worst pain that a man FDQHYHUIHHO Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m afraid, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Virgin Chad,â&#x20AC;? youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a liar. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not expecting the strip it is merely a little sting, and with the application of Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SumPHU*ORZLWFDQEHTXLWHURXWLQH  , KDYH WR VD\ LW IHHOV UHDOO\ JRRG WRGD\ER\VLI\RXFDQLPDJLQHWKH XQGHUVLGH RI \RXU EDOOV LW¡V UHDOO\ WKDWVPRRWK0DWW\¡VWHHWKPDUNVLQ the pillow say otherwise, though. 7KHUH LV DQ REYLRXV SURJUHVVLRQ RI FRQYHUVDWLRQ DIWHU WDONLQJ DERXW waxing, the dreaded Hollywood. Yes, we found preferences and reasons to why some of the girls RXW WKHUH GHFLGH WKDW D EXVK LVQ¡W D womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s undercoat. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the list: 1. Getting out of the swimming SRRO DQG QRW ZDQWLQJ \RXU ER\-

friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents to understand why HYHU\RQHFDOOV\RX/DXUD%XVKZKHQ your name is actually Kat. 2. Once itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gone, why do you want LWEDFN" 3. Lads can actually see what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing down there. Our night was coming to a close and it was time for Mean Girls; we were now fully pledged sorority JLUOV DQG GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ LQ WKH WUXVW FLUFOH$FRXSOHRIERWWOHVRIZLQHPD\ KDYHKHOSHGWKLVSURFHVVDORQJ It was our time to shine; girls on D SODWRQLF EDVLV FDQ EH H[WUHPHO\ helpful - they can help interpret other girls; they shone light on some of RXUJLUOWURXEOHVDQGWUDQVODWHGRXU WH[WV LQWR Âś0DQ ODQJXDJH¡ DQG RXU situations were a lot clearer. 7KLV FRXOG EH WKH VHPLQDO SRLQW from this whole experience; girls DUHQ¡W WKHUH WR EH XVHG DV VH[XDO REMHFWV WKH\¡UH WKHUH WR EH XVHG DV WUDQVODWRUV,UHFRPPHQGHYHU\PDQ EHIULHQG DQ DWWUDFWLYH JLUO WR KHOS him on his crusade for girls. In all seriousness we had a great QLJKW WKDW ZDV YHU\ LQVLJKWIXO DQG

To mark the introduction of this new limited edition soup, The Courier has teamed up with Heinz to offer a semesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supply of Heinz Taste of Home Steak & GUINNESSÂŽ Casserole Soup in FRQYHQLHQWRQHSRUWLRQ PLFURZDYHDEOHSRWV²DQGHYHQD PLFURZDYHWRSUHSDUHWKHPLQ All you need to do to win is answer the following question: Question: What is the name of the new Heinz Taste of Home limited edition soup? Answer: A: Beef & Steak Casserole %/DPE *8,11(66Â&#x160;&DVserole C: Steak & GUINNESSÂŽ Casserole Please send your answers to editor.union@ncl.ac.uk by Friday 11 December Standard Competition Precedent Full Terms and Conditions  2SHQ WR 8. UHVLGHQWV DJHG  DQG RYHU DW WKH time of entry, except employees and their immediate families of H.J. Heinz Company Limited and each of its group companies, their agents and anyone professionally connected to this Promotion. 2. Closing date for receipt of entries: Friday 11th 'HFHPEHU 3. Only one entry per person. Multiple entries will GHHPDOODIIHFWHGHQWULHVLQYDOLG 4. All entries through third parties or agents are LQYDOLG :LQQHUVZLOOEHGUDZQDWUDQGRPIURPWKHFRUUHFWVXEPLVVLRQV$OOHQWULHVZLOOEHGHHPHGWRKDYH DFFHSWHG DQG EH ERXQG E\ WKHVH 7HUPV DQG &RQGLtions and any requirements set out in any accompanying promotional material. 6. To enter, simply answer the question and the ZLQQHUVZLOOEHGUDZQIURPWKHFRUUHFWVXEPLVVLRQV UDQGRPO\$OOHQWULHVEHFRPHWKHDEVROXWHSURSHUW\ RIWKH3URPRWHUDQGZLOOQRWEHUHWXUQHG 7KHMXGJH¡VGHFLVLRQLVĂ&#x20AC;QDODQGELQGLQJDQGQR FRUUHVSRQGHQFHZLOOEHHQWHUHGLQWR 7KHSUL]HFRQVLVWVRIRQHPLFURZDYHDQGDVHPHVterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supply of Taste of Home Steak & GUINNESSÂŽ &DVVHUROHVRXSZKLFKLVHTXLYDOHQWWRSRWV 7KHUHLVQRFDVKDOWHUQDWLYHDQGSUL]HVZLOORQO\ EHJLYHQWRWKHRIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOZLQQHUV 3UL]HZLQQHUVZLOOEHQRWLĂ&#x20AC;HGZLWKLQGD\VRI WK'HFHPEHUFORVLQJGDWH $OLVWRISUL]HZLQQHUVZLOOEHDYDLODEOHWRWKRVH sending a S.A.E. no later than 6 weeks after the closLQJGDWHWR+HLQ]0LFURZDYHFRPSHWLWLRQÂś:LQQHUV¡ Listâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Cow PR, 2nd Floor, 15 Bermondsey Square, London, SE1 3UN. 7KH3URPRWHUUHVHUYHVWKHULJKWWRRIIHUDQDOWHUQDWLYH SUL]H RI HTXDO RU JUHDWHU YDOXH VKRXOG WKH DGYHUWLVHGSUL]HEHFRPHXQDYDLODEOHIRUUHDVRQVEHyond its control.  7KH 3URPRWHU UHVHUYHV WKH ULJKW WR GLVTXDOLI\ any entries that are not made in accordance with these terms.  7KH 3URPRWHU LV QRW OLDEOH IRU DQ\ HQWULHV WKDW DUH ORVW LQFRPSOHWH GHOD\HG LOOHJLEOH RU GDPDJHG 3URRI RI SRVWLQJ GRHV QRW FRQVWLWXWH SURRI RI GHOLYery. :LQQHUVPD\EHDVNHGWRSDUWLFLSDWHLQXQSDLG SURPRWLRQDO UHODWHG SXEOLFLW\ LQFOXGLQJ SKRWRJUDSKLFVKRRWVDQGLQWHUYLHZV  Promoter: H.J. Heinz Company Limited, Hayes, Middx., UB4 8AL.

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

17

Travel

LIFE & STYLE

The Penny Pincher

COLOM BIA

Rowan Taylor Columnist

Cruising with the Cartels Jack Peat Colombia is typically associated in global press with a negative stereotype. Once known as the drug capital of the world, its association with these dangerous markets has typically led tourists to stay well away from it. Even as recently as 2003 Colombia had fewer than half a million tourists. But with the election of Ă lvaro Uribe VĂŠlez, this has predominantly changed. Security was on the top of his agenda and subsequently the armed forces and police have been VLJQLĂ&#x20AC;FDQWO\ HQIRUFHG DQG VWDEL lised. The impact of this on tourism has been quite remarkable. The president now predicts over two and a half million tourists for 2009, advancing on the 1.3 million in 2007. The sudden appeal of Colombia is well-founded, as I experienced on my trip there this summer. Flights to the country vary deSHQGLQJRQZKHUH\RXLQWHQGWRĂ \ from. If you are within South AmerLFD LQWHUQDO Ă LJKWV DUH H[WUHPHO\ cheap. <RX FDQ EX\ SDFNDJH Ă LJKWV ZLWK companies such as Avianca, or you can pick low cost airlines once you

get there. After working in America for the duration of the summer, I found a ORZFRVWDLUOLQHWKDWĂ HZIURP1HZ York along with other US destinaWLRQV0\UHWXUQĂ LJKWZRUNHGRXWDW $320 which is around ÂŁ190 for a 5000 mile round trip! Once you are there, money is no issue. One pound converts to around 3,500 pesos. A taxi ride from the airport to the hostel (around 10 miles) is 15,000 pesos or ÂŁ5. A pint is generally 4,000 pesos and a good meal would cost between 15 and 20,000 pesos. The price of a bed in the hostel I stayed at was less than ÂŁ10. The Hostel (Cranky Croc) was renowned for being one of the best hostels in South America. It had everything! The rooms were clean and stylish, and the kitchen and facilities were plentiful if you chose to use them, but the food prepared in the cafĂŠ was incredible at a great price. Drinks were served on an honours basis, which meant you simply helped yourself to the bar and made a tally of all the drinks you had. The laid-back attitude to accommodation created a great environment for socialising and meeting new people. The days out were re-

laxing. Walking around the capital Bogota is fascinating, as you gradually discover that the city is as culturally rich as Paris! Art galleries are plentiful and museums were ample. As well as this, the city was so diverse that you had everything and more on your doorstep. Its unique climate is a result of high altitude, which meant the city was bordered by lush mountains. Monserrate Mountain borders the city in a similar way to Table Mountain in Cape Town. A ride to the top reveals views I can only describe as astounding. In the brief time we spent at the top, the hairs on my arm were constantly on end as I glared at the views of the city and the architecture of the church that sits on the top. On another day trip, we visited Cathedral Del Sal, underground in a salt mine. Once again, the experiHQFHZDVEDIĂ LQJ,QWKHQLJKWWKH city really came alive. The Candelera (Old town) was where most of the students and travellers united. 1LFKH EDUV ZHUH GRWWHG RQ HYHU\ corner, each encompassing a unique trait. Within one street you could listen to Jazz, Reggae and Rock without even noticing the transition. On

P\ Ă&#x20AC;UVW QLJKW ZH ZHUH KDQGHG D Ă \HUDGYHUWLVLQJDWHTXLODWRXU Along with many acquaintances from the hostel, we embarked on what was to become one of the best nights of my life. A typical Colombian bus turned up at the hostel, armed with a crate of Jose Cuervo tequila. We drove to the top of Monserrate Mountain where more tequila was consumed. After drinking and absorbing the views, we then headed to a salsa bar and then a night club in Candelera. The whole trip cost me 30,000 pesos (ÂŁ10) and I drank more than enough! On the following night we headed WR D QG Ă RRU QLJKW FOXE ZKHUH (like most other clubs) it was custom to buy bottles of spirits. It must be said; drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels sitting on the balFRQ\ RI D QG Ă RRU FOXE LQ JUHDW company is an experience that will be hard to rival! Colombia was a unique travel experience. The things you saw and did were often off your own back and in this way, you felt like you were doing something no one else had. I would advise anyone who wants to travel for real: start here.

Photo of the Week Christopher Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien - 2nd year Economics I was doing an education program outside Njombe, Tanzania. We pulled over for a second and I captured this moment. Send your travel pictures to courier.life@ncl.ac.uk and you could win ÂŁ10 worth of photo prints as well as your photo printed and framed.

Lesson 8: Accommodation Except for that cool kid over there who spends ÂŁ80 a week on clothes, accommodation is the typical studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fattest expense. 1HZFDVWOH VWXGHQWV HQMR\ WKH rare privilege of having a sizeable base in one of the wealthiest areas of town. That area is of course Jesmond, a place whose desirability and high property prices cultivate extortionate rents. Other areas are much cheaper - on the other side of Jesmond Dene you Ă&#x20AC;QG +HDWRQ ZLWK LWV FRROHU LQGH pendent vibe, and rents at around ÂŁ50-ÂŁ60 per week per person. Speak to people to work out where you might want to live. Balance the cost of transport with the cost of rent. A more expensive house that is nearer to uni may save ÂŁ10 a week on public transport. Relax and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall prey to the estate agentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cries that there is a property shortage. To save money, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re better avoiding the estate agents altogether, avoiding their agency fees of up to ÂŁ180 per person, and signing with a private landlord. They are likely to give you more Ă H[LELOLW\ DQG UHOD[HG UXOHV /RRN for these houses on Gumtree.com, on the University accommodation service www.tinyurl.com/yatx57o, in the local press and in shop windows. The ideal property can come IURP DQ\ZKHUH \RX MXVW QHHG WR search. Ask around and see if any friends have houses coming available. With their recommendation youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more likely to get on with the house and landlord. Take pictures of existing damage within the property when you arrive, to make sure you win any disputes over damage deposits. <RXUGHSRVLWLVKHOGE\DQRIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO holding service, so theoretically your landlord canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take money from it until you agree. Converting your dull â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;study bedroomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; into an emporium where you want to spend time might take some effort. For furniture, a great site is www.Freecycle.org.uk, a nonSURĂ&#x20AC;W RUJDQL]DWLRQ ZKHUH SHRSOH give away their unwanted items, RQ D Ă&#x20AC;UVWFRPH Ă&#x20AC;UVWVHUYHG EDVLV Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a shop full of free stuff. 1H[WZHHN/HVVRQ0RELOHV

Deals of the Week: 1. Free Milka chocolate 100g voucher @ www.Milka.co.uk The crazy purple Milka cows have gone all generous. After playing through a crazy little game on the website, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re allowed to print a voucher valid in most supermarkets for a free bar. 2.. Free ÂŁ20 Reiss gift card with ÂŁ3.60 magazine /DGLHVJUDE'HFHPEHU¡VLVVXHRI Elle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; available in the Union shop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and take the card to your nearest Reiss â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Grainger Street or within Fenwicks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll give ÂŁ20 off any womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dress or shoes.  1HRSUHQH ODSWRS VOHHYH Â&#x2026; # Poundland Fit this around your laptop when moving it around and worry less.

18

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

LIFE & STYLE

Sex & Relationships

Sex & Relationships L. BROWN & A. FRYER

Two Girls in a Coffee Shop Fran Swan & Kath Little Columnists

Magic numbers: Newcastle students reveal how many people theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve slept with - with the average number in an adult lifetime being 15 for women, 16 for men

How many is too many? Pamela Mardle Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the age-old question that comes up time and time again in pre-lash drinking games: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your magic number?â&#x20AC;? Some surrender the information immediately; others are a little more sheepish about answering (which leaves you questioning whether they have held on to their virginity, resulting in many awkward silences). I truly believe that the number depends on a combination of your morals, your marital status, and your education. By education, I mean whether you made it to uni. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it, uni students are probably the most promiscuous group around. Practically every morning there are fresh rumours brewing about so-and-so and her ex on your mateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bed, and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-his-name doing that barmaid from Perdu. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of uni life (the part I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t divulge to my grandparents), and I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think of many whose number hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shot up since their pre-fresher years. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all good fun and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hurt anyone (if you use protection), but

we are divided by the question: â&#x20AC;&#x153;How much is too much?â&#x20AC;? The Times online recently reported that males outshag their female counterparts by only 1 with a total of 16 sexual partners over their lifetime. This revelation has provoked mixed responses entirely. One rather naĂŻve course mate exclaimed â&#x20AC;&#x153;HOW much?!â&#x20AC;? while another rather disappointed lad was left pondering, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is that allâ&#x20AC;Śyour entire life?â&#x20AC;? (I later saw him out on the prowl that night in an attempt to up the statistic). I was actually quite surprised at the fact that girls only slept with one fewer person than boys, although I guess in this age itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s becoming a lot more acceptable for girls to rival guys in the pulling stakes. I was wholly unsurprised however WRĂ&#x20AC;QGRXWWKDWRXUODGPDWHVKDYH created a scoreboard. Yup, they actually compete to see who can get the most girls (and consequently the most diseases and the worst reputation). Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been informed that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one point for an innocent kiss, 10 for the old one-two and more if the girl is really up for it, if you know what I

mean. Great banter, but I brought up the point that the guys with the highest standards are at a slight disadvantage to those whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll bring anything back (and, trust me, there have been some dogs). Girls, I think, are just that bit more subtle about it. At a recent reunion with my home girls, as always, the conversation turned to sex pretty quickly. I asked one friend how many sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d slept with since starting uni: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Umm, about three new ones, I think.â&#x20AC;? This brings her number to nigh-on thirty. She quickly defended herself by saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t class myself as a slag because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dress like one and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put myself out there, it just happens.â&#x20AC;? She has got a point, actually; she oozes class and glamour, and is also the most hardcore party girl I know. If she ends up in some random guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bed after an exhausting night raving because sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;up for anything,â&#x20AC;? then who are we to brand her as a harlot? An interesting detail is the fact that she had been with three â&#x20AC;&#x153;new ones.â&#x20AC;? She elaborated by saying sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d had more but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been people sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d met travelling or

friends from home. This is what I would call repeat offending. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an attempt to have as much sex as you want whilst keeping your numbers down: a clever strategy in my opinion. It also allows quality control: youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already been there once, you know if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be a worthwhile two-night stand. If last time you were faced with a quick fumble under stained sheets before he passed out and insisted on snoring like a pig â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;til the early hours, do not, I repeat: do not go back there. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not going to offer my expert opinion on which number is right as I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think the number is what matters. As long as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re having fun, staying safe and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shame yourself, then go out and get as much as you want, I say. After all, in the words of Bloodhound Gang, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You and me baby ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t nothinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but mammals.â&#x20AC;? However, if you do become embarrassed when admitting your number, you have three options: calm down, join a convent or get the snip.

Much to our horror, after our proclamation that we were looking for boyfriends, we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been bombarded with offers from potential suitors, not even the odd engagement ring. So, over our twenty-eighth Christmas coffee of the season, we began pondering this subsequent topic with a slightly more promiscuous, fun-loving aim. &DQ IULHQGV ZLWK EHQHĂ&#x20AC;WV UHally work? Can there ever be nostrings-attached? It usually starts the same way: a good night out, a good amount of alcohol and a goodnight kiss. %ULOOLDQW  ZH DUH WZHQW\Ă&#x20AC;UVW century women after all - sex can be just sex, canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it? With no time or inclination for a real relationship but an undeniable, driving want for satisfaction, this seems like the perfect option. After all, friends are meant to be there in times of need. 2QWKHĂ LSVLGHDUHEHVWIULHQGV of the opposite sex (or same, ZKDWHYHUĂ RDWV\RXUERDW PHDQW to be there in the morningâ&#x20AC;Śin your bedâ&#x20AC;Śspooning youâ&#x20AC;Śnaked? This presents a small/massive problem. This usually fabulous, best friend, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look at you that wayâ&#x20AC;? banter may quickly be exchanged for mediocre, awkward sentences when you have a Ă DVKEDFN WKH PRUQLQJ DIWHU RI him on top of you, moaning. This tends to prompt the question, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Did you like it?â&#x20AC;? As soon as you ask yourself this question, the platonic friendship you once shared is thrown out the window, in a similar fashion to the way he threw you onto the bed last night. Bugger. What happens next can go one of three ways: 1) Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never happen again and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be back to normal before you know it (never going to happen). 2) You will both realise you are exactly what each other has been looking for and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;friends with EHQHĂ&#x20AC;WV¡ZLOOPRUSKLQWRVSRXVHV with children (optimistic?). 3) Most likely, one of you will get attached and every time your â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;best friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; refers to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;that nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;drunken mistakeâ&#x20AC;? he will actually be cutting up your heart strings. Perhaps youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeling our vibe LWPD\VHHPIXQDWĂ&#x20AC;UVWEXWWKH reverberating consequences are likely to shake the foundations of your friendship. Think about it, surely you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be taking your best gal pal home for a night of passion and nudity (again, maybe you would, no judgement here). Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;see, the thing is, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your best friend, you already love his personality. The moment you start to love his body and the feel of it next to you is the moment you have one fewer â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Not only is there a man-shaped hole in your life, you have a broken heart to boot. :KHUHLVWKHEHQHĂ&#x20AC;WLQWKDW"

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

19

Sex & Relationships

LIFE & STYLE

L. BROWN

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a fool, cover your tool David Leslie Safe sex is a term bandied about loosely and for many it is a vague and unhelpful umbrella term which in some cases leads to very unsafe sex. 6DIHVH[LVGHĂ&#x20AC;QHGDV´6H[XDODFWLYity engaged in by people who have taken precautions to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS.â&#x20AC;? This is also referred to as safer sex, or protected sex, while unsafe sex or unprotected sex is â&#x20AC;&#x153;sexual activity engaged in by people who have not taken precautions to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections.â&#x20AC;? Some sources suggest the use of safer sex is preferable to safe sex, as WKLVUHĂ HFWVWKDWULVNLVUHGXFHGQRW avoided. Safe sex practices became more prominent in the late 1980s as a result of the AIDS epidemic and promoting safe sex is now a principal aim of sex education. From the viewpoint of society, safe sex can be regarded as a harm reduction strategy aimed at reducing risks. While the use of condoms can reduce transmission of HIV and other infectious agents, it does not do so completely.

One study has suggested condoms might reduce HIV transmission by 85% to 95%; effectiveness beyond 95% was deemed unlikely because of slippage, breakage, and incorrect use. It also said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In practice, inconsistent use may reduce the overall effectiveness of condoms to as low as 60â&#x20AC;&#x201C;70%.â&#x20AC;? Although some safe sex practices can be used as contraception, most forms of contraception donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t protect against all or any STIs; likewise, some safe sex practices, like partner selection and low risk sex behaviour, arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t effective forms of contraception. The most-practised methods of contraception are those referred to in the trade as â&#x20AC;&#x153;barrier protection.â&#x20AC;? The male condom, or sheath, is the most commonly-used device as it simultaneously protects against STIs and pregnancy. Although many may contest the statement â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;safe sex doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be bad sexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the condom offers a range of differing sensations to trick your penis into forgetting you have one on. Tingle sensation and Durexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pleasuremaxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are the market leaders. Female condoms are also available, but the most common form of contraception for a female is the

Pill. In the UK alone, there are 3.5 million women who take the Pill. This is roughly one in three of all females of reproductive age. The Pill is a tablet containing two female hormones â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an oestrogen and a progestogen. Various oestrogens and progestogens are used in the many different types of Pill which are available. There are currently 23 brands on the market in Britain. These two hormones stop you from ovulating (producing an egg) each month. And if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ovulate, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get pregnant. Although it does not protect against STIs, if you see an unwanted child as a downside to having sex, then taking the Pill is certainly â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;safeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Other methods offered for safe sex are probably less practical: the dental dam (a sheet of latex to be stretched over the vagina during oral sex) may provide unparalleled protection against STIs during oral sex, but may take the romantic edge of the situation. It is also suggested that when masturbating, or penetrating digitally, you wear a surgical latex glove which seems a little clinical. Sexual health is an incredibly important issue, and in Newcastle we are lucky enough to be in close prox-

imity to a brand new sexual health clinic. The New Croft Centre on Market Street is a facility providing advice and treatment for all. They offer testing for all STIs (including AIDS) and impartial advice from trained professionals. They also have a wide selection of free condoms, including the worryLQJ ÂśNUD]\ NROD¡ Ă DYRXU DQG OXEULcants. Their website, http://www.gumnewcastle.nhs.uk/, has a self-diagnosis section which allows you to distinguish between freckles and genital warts from the comfort of your sofa. Safe sex is all about common sense; if you have sex and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want an STI or a baby, use protection. If you do practise â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;unsafe sexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; you should take it on yourself to check yourself out; on a personal level you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be infected, morally you should not be looking to infect others.

Inside today >>>

Review of Twilight: New Moon Culture, page 27

S.H.A.G. WEEK TIMETABLE Jessica Scott

Sexual Health Awareness & Guidance 30th November â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5th December Monday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First Day of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cupidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wallâ&#x20AC;?: Fancy someone in a lecture? Want to write them a note? Then pop down to the Union and let them know. Tuesday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; World Aids Day. Starting at 12:30pm, a yummy bake sale outside the Union. Think you know your Union Reps? Then from 4:00pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6:00pm match the underwear to the owner! All in aid of the Terrance Higgins Trust. Wednesday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NHS Tyne and Wear Chlamydia Screening Program in Rijoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Juice Bar from 11:00am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1:00pm. Thursday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Condom Fairies in town and around campus. Friday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Want to see if â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cupidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wallâ&#x20AC;? has worked? Then pop back and see. Saturday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rounding off the week with a Willy Wonka themed Arcane in the Union, 10:00pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:00am.

World AIDS Day: what you should know Harri Borg-Bartolo There are over 80,000 people living with AIDS in the UK alone, with over 20,000 people still undiagnosed. Even with todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s science, there is no cure, only preventative measures. With such an enormous number of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population living with HIV and AIDS, the need for more awareness and action is greater than ever.

On December 1st 2009, World AIDS Day stands as a push in the right direction to broadcasting the issues WKDWVXUURXQGWKLVKRUULĂ&#x20AC;FGLVHDVH With events being organised both nationally and internationally, efforts to take on the misunderstanding and stigmas that surround the disease are proving bigger and better this year. World AIDS Day has been running since 1988, and with each year has gathered momentum

in its attempts to tackle this problem head-on. A worrying lack of understanding and unwillingness to discuss vital topics such as these is the biggest problem in raising awareness. Common misconceptions include the belief that HIV really only affects the gay community. This way of thinking is dated and ignorant. According to The National AIDS Trust (NAT), more hetero-

sexuals were diagnosed with HIV in 2008 than homosexuals were. Although some affected people do live for a number of years after being infected without showing symptoms, severe fever, rash and sore throat occurring all at once is what at least 70% of HIV positive cases experience. These symptoms are frequently overlooked at a time when their presence should actually prompt a

person to be tested. Show your support and awareness of this most vital cause by wearing the Red Ribbon, the international symbol of support to those affected by HIV. Ribbons can be bought from H&M, GAP and MAC counters. Visit www.worldaidsday.org <http://www.worldaidsday.org/> for more information on events and how you can support the cause.

20

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

LIFE & STYLE

Sex & Relationships

Sex & Relationships

Ask SeĂąor JosĂŠ SeĂąor JosĂŠ is back from the New Moon premiere in Los Angeles to soothe your worries and woes. Send questions and fan mail to courier.life@ncl.ac.uk SeĂąor,

SeĂąor,

SeĂąor,

SeĂąor,

,¡PVKDULQJDWZRSHUVRQĂ DWDWWKH moment with a guy who I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know before. The other night I went to bed and left my bedroom door unlocked. It was really hot, so I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any clothes on, and my duvet was down so my boobs were out! At some point I woke up and he was standing there in my room, staring at me, and then he walked out quickly. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spoken since. What should I do?

Recently, I have been going to the library a lot as I have my dissertation to do. I always sit in the same place, and the last few days I have noticed a boy who also sits in the VDPHDUHDRQWKHWKLUGĂ RRU+HLV gorgeous, and every now and again we glance at each other. I really want to ask him out, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to. What do you suggest?

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m seeing a guy at the moment who is absolutely great. I have been on a couple of dates with him, and kissed him a few times too. I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had sex in a while and I really want to have sex with him! However, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want him to think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a slag and then he will just go off me. How long should I wait till I do the deed?

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve recently been diagnosed with chlamydia and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure which girl I contracted this from, or which girls I may have given it to. Do I need to tell my past partners or will it just be obvious? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really want an awkward situation, nor do I want people to know I have this STI.

:RZ 7KLV LV D YHU\ VHULRXV VLWXation. If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already, lock your door and call the police. In the meantime, you can either look for a new place to live, or go the unnecessarily complicated route, and try and get him evicted. His sort of behaviour is not right, and could be really dangerous if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take the necessary precautions. You should treat this with the utmost care; there is nothing worse than living with somebody who could bring you harm. And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t neglect to go to the police. They can offer you more assistance than you might think.

This calls for a bit of some old-fashLRQHGĂ LUWLQJ:KDWHYHU\RXGREH it dropping a pen or piece of paper near his work area, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;accidentallyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bumping into his desk, or asking if you can borrow a pencil -- make sure to initiate conversation. But remember: Keep it light. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go into a heavy discussion on international politics or existentialism. Talk about the most clichĂŠd things you can imagine. Talk about the weather, or his course, or hell, talk about his shoes. Finally, subtlety in these situations is key. Give him your phone number, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ask him out. If heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really the guy youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be more than happy to give you a ring.

You should only ever have to wait as long as you want. If you really want to sleep with him, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your decision and not anyone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, then playfully seduce him and see how far he goes. However, be aware that in general, a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest level plummets the minute he sleeps with a woman. My advice would be to go on a few more dates with him, always keeping his interest-level piqued, and GLVFRYHULQJ Ă&#x20AC;UVWKDQG ZKHWKHU RU QRW KH LV GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ WKH JX\ \RX¡UH looking for. By then, you should be able to determine if heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the right notch for your belt, and to see if heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boyfriend material.

Chlamydia is a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;silentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; disease. In a lot of people it can have no symptoms, but the damage it causes is very serious. It can cause infertility in women, chronic pelvic pain, and makes you especially vulnerable to +,9 \RX¡UH XS WR Ă&#x20AC;YH WLPHV PRUH likely to catch it if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re exposed. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re responsible enough to have sex without a condom, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re responsible enough to deal with the consequences. And that means contacting every girl (and I mean every girl) youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve slept with, and insisting she gets checked. Thankfully, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easily cured if you catch it in time. Some advice for the future, though: If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to pursue the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;typicalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; uni life, wear a condom.

Taboo or not taboo? Alastair Russell 3rd year History & Politics Email courier.life@ncl.ac.uk to nominate your friend

Katherine Bannon 1HHGLQJWRXVH\RXUĂ&#x20AC;QJHUVWRWDOO\ up the amount of people you pulled the night before is more ordinarily seen as a triumph rather than something to bury alongside that time you fell down the stairs at Basement. But when it comes to more daring affairs than a quick tongue in a dark corner, where is it best to draw the line between out for a laugh and out for an STI? Is having sex with more than one person in the same week ZRUWK D KLJK Ă&#x20AC;YH RU VRPH VHULRXV lessons in self respect? In retrospect, the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;same weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; has a whole array of time scales. It could mean a mistaken bedroom mishap with a housemate on Saturday, then a quickie for old times sake with the ex the Friday after. Or a Tuesday morning walk of shame which clashes with 9 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock lecture WUDIĂ&#x20AC;F DQG WKHQ VKRZLQJ VRPHRQH

\RXU FHLOLQJ WH[WXULQJ :HGQHVday night. Hey, at least you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the same mistake twice. But it could also mean a romp with the bit on the side in the morning, and a standard session with the girlfriend after X factor. Ten points for the same twentyfour hour period, twenty if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had a shower in between DQGĂ&#x20AC;IW\LI\RXJHWDEORZMREIURP the missus. 6H[ LV DVVLJQHG GLIIHUHQW GHĂ&#x20AC;QLtions for different people. It can sign and seal the deal of partner for life; tea lights, Michael Buble, and clean sheets as standard, before a clasped palms skip into the sunset. Or it could be seen failsafe solution to a dull night at Sea, because they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look too bad from behind and you needed someone to split the taxi with. Either way, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your life, your choice and your bits to cherish or DVVDXOWDV\RXVHHĂ&#x20AC;W

Confessions of...

The Lessons Learned Juanita Rosa It has taken several drafts, lots of coffee and way too many phone conversations with my best friend, practically tearing my hair out to have something that vaguely resembles an article worth reading. My conclusion is to write this as a cautionary tale to all those who wear their heart on their sleeve as this big wide world isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t actually as big as you may think... In one week I managed to be KDYLQJ D Ă LQJ WKDW ZDV KHDGLQJ somewhere but was suddenly cut short when I was, in effect, traded in for another girl from the same town as me. I was so angry that I felt the urge to go home twice, followed by a visit from an old school friend that resulted in an incriminating photo on facebook of me kissing a guy in a club and, the following night, kissing a friend back in my home town who had a girlfriend. They were, in a nutshell, the activities of my reading week. However, the focus of my article isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t my disgraceful drunken debauchery but rather the lessons that you, the reader, can learn from my experience. Firstly, never get involved with anyone on your course because of the obvious; as my friend also from my course and home town so eloquently put it, â&#x20AC;&#x153;it always comes back to bite us in the arse.â&#x20AC;? This became all too apparent when it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t turn out great with the guy I was seeing, as I have subsequently had to see him everyday and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had to work together too. However, the way I decided to get over it couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been a worse decision. This is why, secondly, I strongly urge you that contrary to the popular Bridget Jones-esque belief, vodka isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the answer, as bizarre situations arise. This only leads to drunken antics involving your friends in a relationship from home and more alcohol-induced awkwardness that only manages to rear itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ugly head in sobriety. 7KH WKLUG DQG Ă&#x20AC;QDO QXJJHW RI experiential wisdom Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to pass onto the readers today is that often lines of home and work cross, and there is very little you can do about it. There are a few people on my course who are also from the same place as I am, and unfortunately one of these happened to be the guy in the club that night. This wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been as bad if it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for my friend on my course knowing this person. It was so true what she said, as I feel like Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had a hangover that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going away every time I see the two guys on my course or my friend from home. I never wanted to be the girl who gets with random guys in the club, who cries over a guy or kisses their friends who are in relationships but the truth of the matter is it all contributes to experience and we can never know the true power of the heart.

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

21

The saga continues: New Moon reviewed > Film, page 26-27

Culture Editor: Alice Vincent - courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk

PBS6 mix it up at the Sage

PBS6: Jason Singh, Shona Kipling, Newcastle percussion tutor Will Lang, MC Crystalize and Tom Wright

Olivia Mason On the 5 December, a very exciting musical collaboration is hitting the 6DJHLQRXUYHU\RZQ1HZFDVWOH PBS6 combines folk music with hip-hop and beat-boxing to produce DXQLTXHDQGEULOOLDQWVRXQG2QSD per, PBS6 should not work - in realLW\WKHHOHPHQWVZRUNOLNHDGUHDP 7KH KHDG KRQFKR RI WKH JURXS Will Lang, trained as a folk musician at Newcastle University and is curUHQWO\DSHUFXVVLRQWXWRUWKHUH Inspiration came through the realisation that although folk and hiphop are not conventionally linked they both convey a message and social narratives through their music DERXWWKHVDPHLVVXHV PBS6 started through funding Lang received from an independent PXVLF IRXQGDWLRQ 356 7KH JURXS seemed to all come together at this point with each member bringing a YLWDOLQJUHGLHQW $FFRUGLRQ SOD\HU 6KRQD .LSOLQJ ZHQW WR 8QLYHUVLW\ ZLWK :LOO 7RP Wright provided guitars, bass and programming and met Shona and Will through his involvement in Newcastle Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s folk music GHJUHH :KLOH 0DQFKHVWHUEDVHG -DVRQ 6LQJK DQG 0& &U\VWDOOLVH provide the much welcomed contrast with hip-hop and beat-boxing, WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO SLHFH LV WKH IHPDOH YRLFH EURXJKWLQWKHIRUPRI8.MD]]VLQJ HU7HVVD6PLWK Listening to the sound all these musicians produce is amazing and

it is even more fascinating hearing the band talk about how it came toJHWKHU Each member provides a crucial jigsaw piece and contributes in their own unique way; hip-hop and folk are very much grassroots music so WKHSLHFHVĂ&#x20AC;WWRJHWKHULQWKHLUPXVL cal roots and the themes they conYH\ 7RP :ULJKW H[SODLQV WKDW HDFK song is slowly put together through different layers; to produce such intricate songs each member contributes individually and builds up on WKHEDVLFLGHD 7KH OD\HULQJ DQG GHSWK RI PHDQ ing from each song is extraordinary and only through talking to the band can the surface be even slightO\VFUDWFKHGDZD\ Lang carried out many interviews in Australia and many of the songs bring across the history of Australia and Britain and the grassroot origins RIIRONDQGKLSKRSPXVLF Spoken word clips are blended into the music to covey this message, as well as audio from various singers Lang has worked with throughout WKH SURMHFW 7KH EDFNJURXQGV RI each band member are also incorpoUDWHGZLWK6KRQD.LSOLQJ¡V,ULVKKHU itage merged in through Irish songs SOD\HGRQKHUDFFRUGLRQ 0&&U\VWDOOLVH¡VKHULWDJHLVVKRZQ through his lyrics; history is shown in one particular song where he reFLWHVD*LQ/DZSXWWLQJDFURVV the message that binge drinking has DOZD\VEHHQDURXQG

Hearing the group perform together is a joy; all the members work so well together and through their different musical and cultural backgrounds, they can give their songs VRPXFKPHDQLQJDQGVRXO Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautifully soft voice coupled with Singhâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beat-boxing and Crystalliseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rapping work harmoQLRXVO\ 7KHUHOD[HGDQGRSHQDWPRVSKHUH the band work in allows everyone to add their own elements and each VRQJLVWZHDNHGWRSHUIHFWLRQ On the simple matter of how they will be received in Newcastle in a few weeks time, there is no question; Newcastle already has a thriving folk and hip-hop music scene and this, coupled with the uniqueness of their music, will warrant them a ZDUPUHFHSWLRQ $VIRUWKHUHVWRIWKH8.3%6KDYH already received massive acclaim at folk music festivals and can only go IURPVWUHQJWKWRVWUHQJWK

COMPETITION You can win a pair of tickets to see PBS6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s launch this Saturday DW6DJH*DWHVKHDG6LPSO\ answer the following question: :KRGHVLJQHG7KH6DJH *DWHVKHDG" Email answers to courier.culture@ ncl.ac.uk by Friday 4 December

Get your needles out at Heaton Perk Alba Simaku

If all this cosy camaraderie sounds reassuring to you, you are probably not alone - which proves why knitting groups have become so popular in recent years, and why the newest addition to Newcastle is Heaton 3HUN¡V.QLWWLQJ*URXS Started in late October with the expertise of Denise Dixon to lend a hand to any newcomers, the group PHHWV HYHU\ RWKHU 7KXUVGD\ IURP ²SPLQWKH3HUNDQGLVHYHQ IUHH RI FKDUJH 3HUIHFW IRU QHZELHV as well as more experienced knitters ORRNLQJIRUVRPHWLSVIRUSURMHFWV It seems hardly accidental that, in the 21st Century, this most heartening of activities has risen from relative obscurity to becoming such an DFFHSWHGDFWLYLW\WKLVLVQRĂ HHWLQJ FUD]HVRFRPHDQGVHHIRU\RXUVHOI Heaton Perk Knitting Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next meeting will be on Thursday 3rd December.

It was not too long ago that the idea of knitting was a decidedly uncool thing to do; the only possible exception being if you were over forty DQGRURZQHGPRUHWKDQĂ&#x20AC;YHFDWV In recent years, knitting has benHĂ&#x20AC;WWHGIURPDKXJHLQFUHDVHLQSRS ularity among both young women and men, who are picking up neeGOHV DQG \DUQ IRU WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW WLPH RU DJDLQDIWHUDORQJKLDWXV So what is the hype about? Firstly, LWLVDQDQDORJXHKREE\7ZRQHHGOHV and some yarn, plus a little time and patience, and you are already halfZD\ WR PDNLQJ \RXU Ă&#x20AC;UVW ZHDUDEOH NQLWWHGSURGXFW A simple past time, in a world where most spend their days staring at computer screens, working with straightforward, natural materials, FDQEHFRPSOHWHO\UHOD[LQJ It is a social activity, too; no longer is the lone knitter sitting in a cafe clumsily stitching together brightly coloured acrylic squares the social Inside today RXWFDVW .QLWWLQJ FDQ EH WDNHQ LQWR the streets, parks and cafes of your QHLJKERXUKRRG ,I \RX DUH IHHOLQJ friendless in a big city, you could even join informal weekly Stitch â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; %LWFK JURXSV KWWSVWLWFKQELWFK org) to meet other knitters and talk about the meaning of life, your fa- Music, page 31 vourite colour yarn and knitting SDWWHUQV

>>>

Bob Dylanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas Album reviewed

22

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

CULTURE

3am Girls

with Kasabian > Music Editor Chris Mandle talks to the /HLFHVWHUER\V¡EDVVLVW following their sell out VKRZDWWKH0HWUR5DGLR Arena

Âś:HVW5\GHU¡DQGWKHEDQG¡VORVV DWWKH0HUFXU\$ZDUGVWKLV\HDUÂŤ Howâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the tour going so far? <HD LW¡V JUHDW WKDQNV PDWH 3URSHU EX]]LQJDWWKHPRPHQW-XVWRQWKH tourbus with the guys, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gonna JHW WR %LUPLQJKDP LQ DERXW IRUW\ PLQXWHV Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the tourbus like?

Often, as rain soaks through the multitude of layers I amass during WKHZLQWHUPRQWKV,EHJLQUHĂ HFWLQJ RQWKH\HDULQPXVLF :KDWKDVFKDUDFWHULVHGZKR has shone, who has faded dismally DQG ZKDW DUH WKH QDPHV RQ HYHU\ ERG\¡V OLSV" <HV WKH PLFURSKRQH ZLHOGLQJ IHPPHIDWDOH KDV EXUVW SURPSWO\ RQWR WKH VFHQH  )ORU HQFH /D 5RX[ /LWWOH %RRWV *DJD 7KH $UFWLF 0RQNH\V GLYLGHG WKHLU HYHUVZHOOLQJ IDQ EDVH ZLWK D WKLUG DOEXP WKH ELSRODULQLWVEHDXW\ +XPEXJEXWQRQHRIWKLVDFKLHYHG ZKDW.DVDELDQGLG $ EDQG FKDUDFWHULVHG E\ WKHLU LQGLHER\ VZDJJHU VWHSSLQJ RXW RI WKH *DOODJKDU %URWKHUV VKDGRZ 6HUJHDQGKLVPRWOH\FUHZVKDWWHUHG HYHU\VWHUHRW\SHZLWKWKHLUWKLUGDO EXPHDUOLHUWKLV\HDU :HVW 5\GHU 3DXSHU /XQDWLF $V\ OXP FRQFHSWXDOO\ WHOOV WKH VWRULHV behind patients in a mental asylum WKURXJKHFFHQWULFHOHFWURQLFVDQGEL ]DUUH FRYHU DUW GHSLFWLQJ WKH EDQG dressed as Napoleon, Henry VIII DQGHYHQDSHQVLRQHU$ZLOGO\DP ELWLRXVDOEXPLQGHHG 2QWKHLU1RYHPEHUWRXU.DVD ELDQGHFNWKHDUHQDVRXWOLNHWKH DV\OXPVUHĂ HFWHGLQWKH album, with mirrors, VQRXWVRIĂ&#x20AC;UHDQG a plethora of JDXG\FRV WXPHV I spoke to Kasabian after their huge show at 1HZFDV WOH¡V0HWUR Arena, where we talked about the FXUUHQWWRXU WKHFRQFHSWV behind

<HD LW¡V SUHWW\ VPDUW 8SVWDLUV ZH¡YH JRW D ORXQJH DUHD ZLWK D Ă DW VFUHHQ 79 DQG ;ER[ $QG WKHUH¡V D ELW GRZQVWDLUV ZLWK OLNH D NLWFKHQ DQGVWXIIOLNHWKDW,W¡VOLNHDGRXEOH GHFNHU:LQQHEDJR Is the tour going well? <HD LW¡V EHHQ D UHDOO\ ELJ VXFFHVV VR IDU 7KH UHDFWLRQ KDV EHHQ UHDOO\ SRVLWLYH WRZDUGV >:HVW 5\GHU 3DX SHU/XQDWLF$V\OXP@DQGZHUHDOO\ brought it to life on the stage with WKLVWRXU ,W¡V GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ RXU PRVW WKHDWULFDO UHFRUGVRIDUDUHDOFRQFHSWDOEXP DQGZHEURXJKWDVPXFKRIWKHVWXII from the album sleeve onto the VWDJH OLNH WKH PLUURUV DQG WKH FRV WXPHVDQGVWXII,WZDVUHDOO\H[FLW LQJWRGR Would you say an arena tour is more challenging? ,WFDQEH²LW¡VGHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\PRUHRI a risk I think, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done three albums now, so, you NQRZ,WMXVWOHWVXVEHDELW

PRUHFUHDWLYHZKLFKLVJRRG <RXVRUWRIZDQWWRHQWHUWDLQSHR ple a bit more, but on way more of DVKRZ Were you disappointed to miss out on the Mercury Prize? 1DKQRWUHDOO\,WZDVJUHDWZHZHUH QRPLQDWHGEXWZHGLGQ¡WH[SHFWWR ZLQ ,WKLQN6SHHFK'HEHOOHZLQQLQJZDV great, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s given her a real platform WRZRUNRIIRIDQGWKDW¡VZKDW¡VLP SRUWDQW I think with that money, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make D JUHDW UHFRUG )ULHQGO\ )LUHV )ORU HQFH>DQGWKH0DFKLQH@/D5RX[ÂŤ WKH\ GRQ¡W QHHG DV PXFK H[SRVXUH theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotten loads in the last year, EXW6SHHFKLVIDLUO\XQNQRZQ , NQRZ WKH 0HUFXU\¡V DUH FRQWUR YHUVLDO DQG , WKLQN LW¡V EHFDXVH UH ally, nobody really knows what WKH\¡UHZLQQLQJ ,W¡V QRW D QHZ PXVLF DZDUG EH FDXVH (OERZ ZRQ ODVW \HDU DQG EDQGV JHW QRPLQDWHG IRU VHFRQG RU WKLUGDOEXPVOLNHXVEXWLW¡VQRWHQ WLUHO\PDLQVWUHDPHLWKHU 7KH0HUFXU\¡VKDYHWZHOYHH[SHUWV WKDW FKRRVH WKH ZLQQHU ² EXW ZH ZRQ%HVW$OEXPLQWKH4$ZDUGV ZKLFKLVYRWHGE\IDQVSHRSOHZKR ERXJKW WKH UHFRUG 6RPHWKLQJ OLNH WKDW >DZDUG@ LV ZD\ PRUH LPSRUWDQWWRXV

What do you have planned after the tour? 2KZHOOZHĂ&#x20AC;QLVKXSVRUWRIDURXQG &KULVWPDVUHDOO\²ZHKDYHWKHWRXU WKHQDIHZRWKHUWKLQJVWRWDNHFDUH RI 7KHQ IRU 1HZ <HDUV ,¡P RII WR WKDW ,FH +RWHO LQ 6ZHGHQ ZLWK WKH PLVVXV ,¡YHDOZD\VZDQWHGWRJRWKHUH,Q  ZH KDYH D WRXU DFURVV -DSDQ ZKLFK LV JRLQJ WR EH DPD]LQJ EH FDXVH , WKLQN RYHU WKHUH WKH ZKROH WKHDWULFDO WKLQJ JRHV GRZQ UHDOO\ ZHOO They like all the quirky stuff, and DIWHUZDUGV ZH¡UH JRLQJ WR NLFN RII WKH1HZ=HDODQGWRXU Pretty busy then! <HDK ZH GRQ¡W VWRS OLNH :H GRQ¡W HYHQJHWWRKDQJRXWLQWKHFLWLHVZH SOD\LQLW¡VJLJEXVJLJEXVJLJEXV 0DGQHVV , PHDQ , FRXOG SUREDEO\ VQHDN LQWRWRZQDQGQRERG\ZRXOGUHFRJ QLVHPH $Q\ZD\LI7RP>0HLJKDQYRFDO LVW@ RU 6HUJH >3L]]RUQR JXLWDULVW@ wandered up the high street theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d JHW PREEHG E\ SHRSOH WKH\¡UH HDV LO\LGHQWLĂ&#x20AC;DEOH ,W¡G EH OLNH WKH\¡G JR LQWR +09 DQGFRPHRXWWKUHHKRXUVODWHU\RX know what I mean?

Megan Sclater & Maudie Oppenheim Columnists :H DOO ORYH D JRRG QLJKW RXW However, sometimes they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t DOZD\VJRWRSODQKHUH¡VRXUDG YLFHRQKRZQRWWRGRDP  3KRQHV RIWHQ JHW DEXVHG RQ QLJKWV RXW 1RW RQO\ DUH them bombarded by the endless VWUHDPVRIÂśZKHUHDUH\RX"¡WH[WV followed by the usual â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;toiletsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, ÂśEDU¡ ÂśPXQFKLHV¡ UHSOLHV EXW SKRQHV DUH VR RIWHQ OHIW LQ WD[LV ORVW RQ WKH /HJHQGV¡ GDQFH Ă RRU dropped in pints or, worst of all, EORFNHGWRLOHWV ,Q PDQ\ FDVHV WKRXJK ZKLOVW XQGHU WKH LQĂ XHQFH RI DOFRKRO they should often be used with H[WUHPHFDXWLRQ <HVZHKDYHDOOEHHQWKHUHJHW WLQJÂśVH[WXDO¡ZKHWKHULWEHVHQG LQJ \RXU H[ WKDW Âś, PLVV \RX¡ Âś, ORYHRUKDWH \RX¡WH[WRUMXVWWH[ WLQJWKDWOXFN\JX\JDO\RXOLNH EXWNQRZ\RXUHDOO\VKRXOGQ¡W  5DUHO\ LV D Âś\RX RXW"¡ WH[W WKH FRXUVH RI WUXH ORYH EXW LW PD\ lead you to end up in bed with VRPHRQHXVXDOO\DEDGKDELW\RX NQRZ\RXVKRXOGKDYHNLFNHGE\ QRZ  (YHQ ZRUVH DUH WKH PRUQ LQJVXUSULVHVVXFKDVWKHVKDYHQ VWRPDFKHGZRQGHU 5HDGLQJWKURXJK\RXUPHVVDJHV the morning after is almost part of the ritual of a night out these GD\V EXW WU\ DQG XVH WUXVW\ PR ELOHV ZLWK FDUH ,W¡V QRW RQO\ WKH GHFOLQHLQ\RXUDELOLWLHVWRWH[WDV WKH QLJKW JRHV RQ WKDW FDQ FDXVH \RXWREHUHGLQWKHIDFH  :RUVH WKDQ WKH IDWHIXO WH[W however, is if you happen to see WKDWJX\JDO\RXOLNHRXW%HOLHYH us, try not to barrel over to them, EDUHO\DEOHWRVWDQGDQGSURFHHG to use them as your personal VWDQGLQJSRVWXVH\RXUIULHQGV IRUWKDW2KDQGLIWKH\DUHZLWK someone else, try and preserve VRPHGLJQLW\PXFKDV\RXZDQW WR VFUHDP FU\ NLFN WKHP LQ WKH VKLQVHWFLW¡VUDUHO\DJRRGLGHD  6R JUHDW \RX¡YH ORFNHG H\HV DFURVV WKH GDQFH Ă RRU ZLWK D QLFHLVK  JX\JDO WKH\¡UH FOHDUO\ LQWR\RXDQGWKHQWKHGDQFLQJEH JLQV :H KDYH DOO VHHQ LW DQG DUH VXUH D IDLU IHZ RI \RX KDYH SDU WDNHQLQLWEXWGDQFLQJDNDGU\ VH[RQWKH7LJHU7LJHUGDQFHĂ RRU LVQRWFODVV\:HNQRZLW¡VDQROG OLQHEXWZKDWHOVHFDQ\RXVD\JHW DURRP   *HW \RXU &KULVWLQD%H\RQFH RQ ZLWK FDXWLRQ 2QFH ZKHQ ZDONLQJ WKURXJK WKH /HJHQGV GDQFH Ă RRU 0DXGLH QRWLFHG D beautiful blonde sitting down on D JODVV FRYHUHG GDQFH Ă RRU KHU OHJV FRYHUHG LQ EORRG  8SRQ UH alising it was her housemate she DVNHG ZKDW KDSSHQHG WR WKH UH ply, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I was getting down to do my GLUUUUW\GDQFHEXW,MXVWFDQWJHW ORZHQRXJKDQGIHOO¡ The young lady did not let this ruin her night though, as even her IULHQGVDQGERXQFHUVZHUHXQDEOH WR UHPRYH KHU IURP WKH GDQFH Ă RRU  ,W KXUW PRUH WKH PRUQLQJ DIWHU    6RPHWLPHV WKRXJK HYHQ when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a long day and \RX¡UHIHHOLQJJOXP\RXDUHFRQ YLQFHGE\IULHQGVDOO\RXQHHGLVD good night out to pull you out of \RXU VOXPS  +RZHYHU \RX Ă&#x20AC;QG DIWHURQHWRRPDQ\JLQDQGWRQLFV you feel worse than ever and the Ă RRGJDWHVRSHQDQGWKHWHDUVEH JLQ(YHU\RQHKDVGRQHLWRUVHHQ their friends do it, or been in the WRLOHWVZLWKVRPHRQHLQK\VWHULFV &U\LQJLQFOXEVLVIXQIRUQRRQH RXUDGYLFHJRKRPH 3OHDVHOHDUQIURPRXUPLVWDNHV

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

23

CULTURE

with

Whereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the excuse not to make your own mark?

Jen Milor Taz Burwaiss

Alice Vincent Culture Editor A few days ago I noticed that a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facebook photo had a string of comments underneath. Turned out it had been taken in a college library in Cambridge, where she studies, and, although artfully censored, she was completely naked. After a few jokes about what Cambridge kids do for kicks, I was still totally awestruck by the photography. Nothing fancy, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t staged or pre-meditated, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m guessing it was probably a normal point and shoot. Regardless, it was one of the most beautiful photos Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d ever seen. Hannah claimed it had started by her taking photos of her boyfriend topless in the archaic library, around midnight, when one thing led to another and before she knew it she was clambering on top of ceiling-skimming bookcases in the buff. Apparently such antics are the â&#x20AC;&#x153;holy grailsâ&#x20AC;? of sex in Cambridge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; examples given include the chapels and Kingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chapel roof as well â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as Hannah says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;because it is all so old and beautiful and intimidatingly renowned that it invites a sort of anarchic reaction to make it your own.â&#x20AC;? What struck me is, whilst some may just fancy a bit of a quickie for thrills, this â&#x20AC;&#x153;making it your ownâ&#x20AC;? clearly became a form of artwork. In a context of centuries of literary effort, in a building of high archiWHFWXUDOTXDOLW\FRPHVDQHZĂ&#x20AC;JXration of the nude. In my mind, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the ultimate in capturing beauty, youth and education, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also guerrilla art. Guerrilla art may for some be

Making a statement: Cambridge University student Hannah bares all in the library

stuck back in the mid-noughties, what with Banksy ; who went from breaking the law on walls of East End London to breaking bestseller lists and a coffee table near you; and the trend of guerrilla gigging favoured by the likes of Dominic Masters; muse of Pete Doherty,

front man of middle-class socialist band The Others and tube train frontman. However, as we can see, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technically an everyday occurrence. Although this is not a public suggestion to strip off and prance around the Robinson, maybe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth try-

ing something different on a weekend to get some culture in. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beyond going to the Baltic or checking out the Tyneside, but maybe capturing something that captures your university experience outside of a night out. Then send them into Culture, yeah?

On the run with Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top talent > Joe Mellor tells of his experience as a runner on Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Got Talent pre-show auditions Recently the Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Got Talent road show pulled into town and set up camp at the Assembly rooms in the city centre for three days. Thousands of hopefuls were invited to come down and show Britain what a nation of entertainers we are. I was fortunate to witness some of the events. Unfortunately not as a contestant, although my mum says my moon walk is to die for. I was at Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got Talent as a runner. Money and the magic of television? Count me in. I have a few mates who work in television and I have watched Extras, so I knew there was a social divide in the world of television. What I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise is extent of the caste system that operates behind the scenes.

I thought it was runner (gets the coffee), researcher (gets the information) and producer (makes the show). I was at the bottom of the pile. I knew it and was happy to accept it. However, to my horror I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even an equal among equals. I discovered there are four types of runners. The humble day runner (moi), the freelance day runner (can send a glass eye to sleep with their tales from Come Dine With Me), the series runner who follows the crew from place to place, and the production runner who works with the crew on a full time basis and was too important to talk to me. I want to get into the media and I can â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, but I had to wade through a sea of runners (paid between ÂŁ5.90 up to a colossal ÂŁ6.08 an hour) before reaching the giddy heights of a conversation with a researcher. I thought I would be sipping sancerre with the series producer at the wrap party, but it was hard enough commanding eye contact

from a guy called Sunil who had worked as a runner on other legs of the tour. The jobs were dished out and I was given the enviable task of standing in the freezing outside checking IDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. From this lofty position, I discovered that Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Got Talent is simply X Factor, but for girls like Jaydene, aged ten, from County Durham. Along the hundreds of Jaydenes there was a smattering of mental older people for good measure. A heady mix of geriatric ventriloquists, the obligatory Elvis impersonators, elderly transvestites (disturbing) and one pensioner who had trained two sheep dogs to herd ducks through a tunnel. This was impressive, until the ducks had to be prodded with a stick. Most wrongly assumed they would be auditioned by Simon Cowell himself. Unfortunately he is far too busy deciding which pub singer should be this years X factor winner. This preliminary round is simply a

way to separate the talented and the truly awful from the average. We are a nation of average people and we never get a chance to shine. If you have potential then you are called back in the New Year. This is when you have the chance to make DSOD\IRUVWDUGRPRUFRQĂ&#x20AC;UP\RXU status as a walking freak show in front of Cowell, Holden et al. The three days I spent outside became a war of attrition. Myself and three other day runners formed our own clique. We were the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;outside outlawsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. We passed time talking to each other through walkie-talkies while standing in front of each other and plotting a socialist uprising. Unfortunately our coup never surfaced. Instead, we stood around on WKHĂ&#x20AC;QDOGD\ZDLWLQJIRUDQLQYLWHWR the wrap up party. Just like the days of my youth, I was ignored and I sulked off home to cry to my mum. She told me to moon walk to cheer myself up. Would I do it again? In a New York Minute darling.

The key to personal happiness is something we all yearn for but rarely do much about. To break it down simply I think the solution is not to worry too much and to just embrace the present. You may yawn and think that is easier said than done, but for Jennifer Milor, this can be achieved through the therapeutic discipline known as Holistic Living. I met Jen at the latest Transition Heaton meeting in Jack Sprats, in which on the agenda was a discussion of integrating her knowledge of Holistic therapy into the Transition Initiative, a community based organization based in Heaton, which focusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on environmental issues and sustainability. Jen began by explaining to me the basic gist behind Holistic Living and why she wants to connect it to the Transition initiative, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Holistic living is about considering the whole, which is mind, body and soul. It encompasses everything, from your diet, work life, exercise, behaviour, social interactions, environmental interactions, and so onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Its about reconnecting people with their natural â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Selfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which I think is the way to make a lasting difference and a more permanent change in societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Holistic therapy has been such a positive turn around within Jenniferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal life that she is now inspired to start helping others make positive changes in their lives too, by introducing Holistic therapy into regular local community events. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;In integrating them, I mean exposing people to them, not merely as a taster session at one-off events, although we have to start somewhere, but I mean offering courses of treatments for community members through different community organisations, so people have prolonged exposure to these therapies and a more inspired glimpse into how life can be! â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Basically we need to get people back to realising our connection with nature and the reality of our natural self, all that we (society) have created has removed us from natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. I think the point that Jen is making is that there is a wide range of therapies out there, which focus on centring the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Selfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; back to being satLVĂ&#x20AC;HGZLWKLQWKHSUHVHQWPRPHQW Our minds are usually victims of being exposed to the fears and anxieties of the past and future, a lot of social ills can therefore be eradicated when we remove this negative stress from individuals. By increasing positivity within the individual, cultural attitudes towards social and environmental issues will take a natural turn for the better. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Removing ourselves from the present moment is where we went wrong because then we became discontented with simply being. We need to slow down the pace of society (be at a point where we realise that the journey is as important, if not more so, than the destination) and reconnect with what we truly are: a part of nature, and then the natural healing of our environment and ourselves can be achieved.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; To get involved with integrating Holistic living within the transition initiative email tazburwaiss@hotmail.co.uk.

24

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

CULTURE

Arts

Arts Arts Editor: Stephanie Ferrao - courier.culture-arts@ncl.ac.uk

NUTS give Christmas panto Cinderella a student makeover Katie Witcombe You might be forgiven for thinking that the Christmas panto is something slightly cringe-worthy involving bad jokes, worse acting and men wearing far too much foundation that your grandparents used to drag you to as a festive â&#x20AC;&#x153;treatâ&#x20AC;?. If thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the case, then the annual 1876 SDQWR LV D VXUHĂ&#x20AC;UH DQWLGRWH to any panto cynicism. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually funny for a start. Written by panto veteran Laurence Bassett and performed by fellow students, with not a Z-list celebrity in sight, the NUTS Christmas panto is about as distant from the tired old gags and cheesy dance routines of anything performed this Christmas at Croydon Auditorium as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to be. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit like the panto equivalent of Jedward. Not taking itself too seriously, it instantly becomes about a million times funnier than anything else out there. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production is no exception, with the classic awwww-inspiring fairytale of Cinderella taking a slightly darker turn after Prince Charming decides to kidnap the woman of his dreams rather than the seduce her the old-fashioned way. What a catch. Fortunately, Cindersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Fairy Godmother, a cross-dressing drunk whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magically challenged, is on hand to provide some slurred words of advice and guide a smitten Buttons through a forest of fairytale clichĂŠs to rescue her. With two chavtastic ugly stepsisters in hot pursuit, the race is on to get the girl before the curtain-call and inevitable cast rendition of â&#x20AC;&#x153;All

I Want for Christmasâ&#x20AC;?. This year the panto is directed by Sophie Robinson and Jack Sykes, who wanted the show to be as slick and professional as possible without losing any of its spontaneity or wit. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear from the rehearsals that the cast will have as much fun performing the panto as the audience will have watching it. 'LUHFWRU -DFN FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG WKDW WKLV was what makes Cinderella so infectiously funny. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had such a good time preparing for the performance that it inevitably rubs off on the audience. The only thing we have trouble with is trying not to laugh at the other actors on stage.â&#x20AC;? For a production as famous for its ad-libs as its one-liners, you can see how cracking up in the middle of the scene might become an issue. With comedy accents galore, scenes of a sexual nature and more student in-jokes than you can shake a stick at, Cinderella is the perfect night of naughtiness before the start of the Christmas holidays and endless nights spent wedged between your parents watching repeats of Midsomer Murders. One thingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for sure, cross-dressing has never been funnier. Cinderella will be performed in the basement of Newcastle Students Union on Monday 30th November, Tuesday VW'HFHPEHU:HGQHVGD\QG'HFHP ber and Thursday 3rd December with the show starting at 8pm (doors open at 7:30pm). 7LFNHWVFRVWDVWXGHQWIULHQGO\Â&#x2026;DQG ZLOOEHDYDLODEOHRQWKHGRRUVEXWQXP bers may be limited so arrive early to ensure you get a good seat.

Drag-tastic: the Fairy Godmother from the NUTS Christmas pantomime Cinderella

Creative students get ready to Go Arts Eleanor Wilson For anyone with an interest in arts, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth being aware of a new website set up by Newcastle University students. Go Arts was set up initially for students of Fine Art, but has since expanded to welcome other artistically minded students at the University. The website allows them to promote their artwork, portfolios, events and exhibitions, in order to get ahead in the art world from the start. The site was created by fourth year Fine Art student Graham Oakes as part of the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Live.Work. Art project and was redesigned in early 2009 having been originally launched in 2008. It aims to help students bridge the somewhat challenging gap of moving from studying art in the university studios to working in the real and competitive world of art. Oakes hopes that the site will grow into a hub of knowledge and activity. Recently, Go Arts have supported the relaunch of the arts and literature magazine Alliterati within Newcastle University, showing that they are supporting creative students from different departments and not just focussing on Fine Art. There are three main sections that students can use to promote their work: gallery, events and portfo-

lios. Go Arts was designed originally to cater for the three creative schools of art, theatre and music, with the sole intention to publicise events. However, since the redesign, these events have been grouped together to make way for the gallery and portfolios spaces. The main new feature since their redesign is the gallery, which is designed to allow students to present their work as an online exhibition, truly embracing the power of the internet in a way that a lot of other art resources havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Rather than looking like another internet photo album, Go Arts plays host to pictures and videos from past shows and exhibitions, acting as an online catalogue of events from the talented artists within the university. As well as information from past events, future events are listed in the now condensed events section of the website. This allows students to get their events out there and provides great publicity that they otherwise may not be able to get hold of or afford. The use of the internet as a promotional tool also allows a broader audience to discover events, shows and up and coming artists. Students can probably expect industry eyes to be watching the artists listed. Oakes recognised that people may

want to display their work in their own way and not to follow the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blueprint and so the portfolios section was created. People can create their own online portfolios using already existing websites or designing their own, allowing them full creative control over how their work is presented to the public. They are then listed in the portfolios section so as to allow easy accessibility through the Go Arts website, and ultimately the same level of publicity as the gallery section. As well as aiming to become the one stop shop of Fine Art for students at Newcastle University, Go Arts hopes to expand to include Northumbria University students because once university is over and our artists have graduated, everyone enters the same arts world and needs the same level of help to get their work known. They also plan to promote local art shows, bringing together two big groups of Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arts community: students and local artists. Go Arts promises to become more than just an information site for students, it could be used as an artistic resource for anyone in the North East with any kind of interest in art, music and theatre. Visit Go Arts at www.goarts.co.uk

1HZFDVWOH&UDIW0DÂżD Taz Burwaiss Big businesses beware, a new family has rolled into town that aim to support and unite the little men in the industry. 1HZFDVWOH&UDIW0DĂ&#x20AC;DDUHDQRWKHU major player in the progressive uprising of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s underground culture scene, which alongside festivals such as Wunderbar, continues to grow from strength to strength. The organisation regards itself as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which invites and networks aspiring creative and crafty minds alike to get involved in setting up shop. Whatever your cup of tea, whether it be textiles, jewellery design, print design, bag making or retro wear, as long as its personally handmade by you, it is enough to grant your entry in getting involved in the mix. The perks of being a part of the family include: monthly networking events to meet other local makers in the area, cross promotion of businesses, invites to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Make & Take Workshopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Crafty Training Sessionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, plus supporting you in setting up at local craft fairs. Co-founder Leanne Lowe explains the strategy behind the company; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The idea is that we come together for events. So when we do them as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, its a lot cheaper because we are sharing the costs.â&#x20AC;? The organisation therefore makes it

very easy for almost anyone who is interested in starting up their own craft business to get set up, developed and making money. Leanne Lowe continues to explain: â&#x20AC;&#x153;People are starting to think its important to keep local businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alive. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a case of education. You are paying for what you get. Our products are unique â&#x20AC;&#x201C; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not getting a mass produced product.â&#x20AC;? 7KHUH LV GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ DQ HWKLFDO HOH ment in choosing to spend your money on goods made by small, regional businesses rather than buying products from big corporations. Big business is notorious for enforcing hard labour conditions on their workers and causing environmental damage when transporting their products from far away places. There is also the issue that large companies encourage industrial growth in China, which is one of the main causes of climate change! Check them out to pick up a unique, star present to stick in those Christmas stockings, and help save the world. Craft sessions happen every 3rd Sunday of the month at the Cluny, and every 1st Thursday of the month in the Artwork Galleries. You can follow Newcastle &UDIW 0DĂ&#x20AC;D RQ 7ZLWWHU RQ 1&/FUDIW PDĂ&#x20AC;D

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

25

Arts K. KINGSBURY

CULTURE

Spoiled for choice Fiona McCutcheon

Art in negative: Edo 22 from the Urban Landscapes exhibition at Northern Stage

Urbanscapes at the Northern Stage Lucy Hadley Fancy the chance to see an emerging British artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection on your doorstep? Kit Kingsburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Urbanscapes exhibition at the Northern Stage could be the perfect opportunity. Kingsburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection, created from the photographic negatives of urban places to which she has travelled, attempt to challenge the viewers perception of reality, and of the cities themselves. The exhibition includes Edo, a series of small-scale works of Japan, which were inspired by the artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sponsored six month residency in the country. The artist portrays an outsiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience of Japan by hanging her

SDLQWLQJV LQ D YDULHW\ RI FRQĂ&#x20AC;JXrations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; trying to show the overwhelming amount of information which bombards oneself in that chaotic and exciting country. The paintings themselves challenge traditional artistic depictions of cities. By the use of negatives, Kingsbury pares down chaotic scenes such as Metropolis - Times Square in New York. The artist depicts such an overwhelming and frenzied place in a sparser way, so we only see parts of the lights and advertisements, getting a very different view of the city. Kingsburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use of bold colour on pain white backgrounds is engaging, and her paintings manage to be both challenging and pleasing to the

eye. Ranging from ÂŁ195- ÂŁ245, the oil on board paintings maybe a little out of most studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; price range, but luckLO\ZHFDQVWLOOHQMR\WKHPDWWKHH[hibition. Kit Kingsbury is a local artist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; having studied Fine Art at Northumbria University, she is now based at the Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Waygood studios. The studios are temporarily exhibiting at Northern Stage and currently awaiting completion on High Bridge Street, are dedicated to providing a place where people can make, and engage with contemporary art. An emerging artist, Kingsbury has already been sponsored by a host of artistic institutions, including the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation and Arts Council England.

Kingsbury bases her work on the Structuralist philosophy that our perception of reality is in fact based upon an incomprehensible amount of stimuli, and that an individual can only really take in so much visual information at one time. If it all sounds a bit complex, it basically means that Kingsbury attempts to challenge our perception of reality, and that these images are open to a never-ending amount of interpretation. This exhibition portrays urban scenes in a way we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect, and is a great way to see an exciting young artist close to home. Urbanscapes runs at the Northern Stage until Saturday 09 January 2010

Legwarmers at the ready for Fame Hannah Morrey )RU D UXQ RI WKUHH GD\V WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO NUTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show of the year will open and 35 extremely talented students will perform the musical Fame at the Royal Grammar School in Jesmond. 7KHPXVLFDOLVVHWGXULQJWKHĂ&#x20AC;QDO years of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s High School IRUWKH3HUIRUPLQJ$UWVMXVWEHIRUHLW undergoes a massive renovation. Here are the students who will eventually become the class of 1984, but before they reach graduation they must prove themselves tal-

ented enough, strong enough, and determined enough to warrant their place. Directed by Andy Kempster with Becky Chalmers as Musical Director, and choreographed by Lizzie Holden and Lauren Burrows, Fame features a huge all-singing, all-dancing chorus and fourteen lead characters, split between the teaching faculty and the three disciplines of drama, dance, and music. Characters include an illiterate Superman fan, a faux-French ballet dancer, a drama teacher with an

apparent penchant for Freud, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;that guy from the peanut butter commercialâ&#x20AC;?. 7KH VWRU\OLQH IRFXVHV RQ WKH MRXUQH\WKHVWXGHQWVWDNHIURPWKHLUĂ&#x20AC;UVW day to their last and the triumphs, tribulations, and romances they encounter on the way. The show features songs like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Play a Love Sceneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bring On Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;These Are My Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and of course, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, all accompanied by a live ten piece band conducted by Becky Chalmers. Fame sees dancers, actors, and mu-

sicians mingle and perform together both on stage and as a cast to produce what promises to be a stunQLQJ DQG OHJZDUPHUĂ&#x20AC;OOHG Ă&#x20AC;QDOH to 2009. Fame is being performed at the Royal Grammar School in Jesmond (right next to Jesmond metro) on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of December. Doors are at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets are ÂŁ7(students)/ÂŁ8 and are available from all cast members and the production team. For more information please email a.t.kempster@ncl.ac.uk.

The newly appointed Norma Lipman fellow Elaine Wilson exhibits Spoiled! at the Hatton Gallery where she will use ceramic sculpture to continue her exploration of the battle between aesthetics and the inner self. Through her art, Wilson seeks to frequently critique gender stereRW\SHVVSHFLĂ&#x20AC;FDOO\WKRVHVXUURXQGing the female, returning habitually to the image of the melancholic, repressed woman. The artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous collage work portrays images of the isolated fePDOHFDPRXĂ DJHGXQGHUDPDVTXHUDGHRIVXEGXHGFRORXUDQGĂ RUDOLPagery. Although this exhibition will continue to spotlight the suffocating ideals surrounding femininity, Wilsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art is appealing to both sexes as the battle between individualism and conformist social pressure is a concept that can be applied universally. Wilsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent work is largely inspired by the literary works of Baudelaire, Riviere and Ettinger, all writers emerging from the nineteenth century onwards. Their literature shares an exploration of the separateness between the core self and the exterior self; the true individual and the mask we construct for the public eye. Wilson states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I decided to critically revisit the subtle politics of ceramic ornament and the wider contexts of vanity and masquerade.â&#x20AC;? This exhibition promises to continue to exploit the shallow nature of society, and the way the individual consciousness of these perceptions causes us to â&#x20AC;&#x153;hideâ&#x20AC;? our selves under false fronts. In her forthcoming exhibition WilVRQZLOOEHGLVSOD\LQJIHPDOHĂ&#x20AC;Jures in Victorian dress; constrictive corsets and large skirts. $ SRUFHODLQ Ă&#x20AC;QLVK FRPELQHG ZLWK Wilsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use of lustres and glazes promises to portray the idealist expectations of feminine delicacy as well as capturing the fragility of aesthetics relative to core beauty. Through unstable placement of WKH Ă&#x20AC;JXULQHV RQ FDPRXĂ DJH SODQW stands Wilson effectively portrays this frailty and the insecurity of the individual under the strain of social standards. 0DQ\ Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV DUH MX[WDSRVHG ZLWK ceramic transfers of romantic pastoral scenes; images of nature and the Romantic nonconformist attitude contrasting with ideals of societal constructs. The Romantic ideals of escapism through oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own imagination are DOVRSUHVHQWLQWKHĂ&#x20AC;JXUHVVWDWLFVWDWH RIVHOIUHĂ HFWLRQDQGWKHXVHRIFDPRXĂ DJH KLJKOLJKWV :LOVRQ¡V WKHPH of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Masqueradeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and desire to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;blend inâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with the surrounding world. An exhibition such as this is particularly interesting in a society many ZRXOGGHĂ&#x20AC;QHDVOLEHUDWHG Do we think that the gender divide is still as issue? Or do we operate in a society based on equality? Are the ideals of femininity still standing, or do women have freedom sexually, professionally and aesthetically? If we give Wilsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concepts universal status, the question is, are we all truly ourselves, or are we still â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hidingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;? :KDWHYHU \RXU MXGJHPHQW JHW yourself down to Hatton Gallery from the 27th onward to get a taste for some opinionated and truly innovative art work. Exhibition is on show until Feb 2010. Admission is free.

26

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

CULTURE

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-HVVH(LVHQEHUJ Adam Williams Birthday:2FWREHU Birthplace:4XHHQV1HZ<RUN Biggest Films: 7KH6TXLGDQGWKH :KDOH$GYHQWXUHODQG=RPELH ODQG You might not know:+HFUHDWHG SRSXODUSX]]OHZHEVLWH 2QH8S0HFRP %RUQLQ1HZ<RUNWKH\HDUROG \HV KH·V UHDOO\ WKDW ROG  LQLWLDOO\ EHJDQKLVDFWLQJFDUHHURQVWDJHLQ KLVKRPHFLW\EHIRUHPRYLQJWRWHO HYLVLRQZKHUHKHVWDUUHGDORQJVLGH $QQH+DWKDZD\LQWKHVKRUWOLYHG VHULHV*HW5HDOWKHVKRZZDVFDQ FHOOHG EHIRUH WKH ÀUVW VHDVRQ KDG HYHQÀQLVKHGDLULQJ %\  (LVHQEHUJ KDG PRYHG LQWRÀOPZLWKVPDOOUROHVLQLQGH SHQGHQW PRYLHV VXFK DV 5RGJHU 'RGJHU DQG 7KH (PSHURU·V &OXE EHIRUH D ODUJHU UROH LQ :HV $Q GHUVRQ·V FULWLFDOO\ DFFODLPHG 7KH 6TXLG DQG WKH :KDOH ZKHUH KH SOD\HG D \HDUROG ORRNLQJ WR FRPH WR WHUPV ZLWK KLV SDUHQWV· GLYRUFH 6WDUULQJ LQ FRPLQJRIDJH ÀOPV ZRXOG EHFRPH VRPHWKLQJ RI D VSHFLDOLW\IRU(LVHQEHUJDVKHQH[W VWDUUHGLQ7KH(GXFDWLRQRI&KDU OLH%DQNVDVDKLJKVFKRROVWXGHQW ZKRZLWQHVVHVDEUXWDODWWDFNDQG UHSRUWVLWWRSROLFHRQO\WRPHHWXS ZLWK WKH DWWDFNHU WZR \HDUV ODWHU ZKLOHDWFROOHJH  ZDV D JUHDW \HDU IRU (LVHQ EHUJDVKHÀQDOO\EURNHWKURXJKWR

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THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

27

Film

CULTURE

Reviews New Moon Director: Chris Weitz Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner Run time: 130 mins If you are a twi-hard, New Moon is probably something youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been looking forward to for some time. And as sequels go, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty damn good. If you are not a twi-hard, stop UHDGLQJ QRZ  WKLV Ă&#x20AC;OP LV SUREDEO\ not for you. As someone who dissolves into a rabid fangirl the minute I see a New MoonSRVWHU,FDQFRQĂ&#x20AC;UPWKDW New Moon doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disappoint. 7KH Ă&#x20AC;OP IROORZV RQ IURP ZKHUH Twilight left off â&#x20AC;&#x201C; following the intense and melodramatic relationship between Bella and her vampire boyfriend, Edward. However, despite promising Bella he would never leave her in the end of Twilight, an accident at Bellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday party prompts him to

disappear forever, for Bellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own good. This was clearly a decent and VHOĂ HVVLGHDLQWKHRU\EXWDVZHVHH by Bellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s night terrors and general depression, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a plan that was destined to succeed. Forget the constant threat of vengeful vampire Victoria, Bella is mostly at risk from herself, as she develops a masochistic desire for danger. This is of course based around the fact that every time she comes close to dying, Edward appears to her and tells her to stop. This in itself is mostly a ruse to appease RPattz fans, who will undoubtedly be disappointed by Edwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lack of screen time. Enter Taylor Lautner â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 30lbs of muscle later, this kid spends most RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;OP VKLUWOHVV VZRRQ  DQG basically serves as Bellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alternate romantic interest while Edward is away. )DQV ZLOO Ă&#x20AC;QG WKLV VHTXHO D JRRG follow up to Twilight â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with more action, more tension and more naked Jacob.

However, if you are being dragged WRWKLVĂ&#x20AC;OPE\DIULHQGRUJLUOIULHQG \RXPLJKWĂ&#x20AC;QGWKHSDFHGUDJVDWLQ\ bit. 7KHVXEMHFWRIWKHĂ&#x20AC;OPLVDOVRDWDG depressing, what with Bella waking XSVFUHDPLQJHYHU\Ă&#x20AC;YHPLQXWHV Due to Pattinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s absence, StewDUW ODUJHO\ FDUULHV WKH Ă&#x20AC;OP RQ KHU RZQ WR KHU FUHGLW VKH GRHV D YHU\ good job at being stuttery and misHUDEOH  $OOLQDOO,SUHGLFWDEO\ IRXQGWKH Ă&#x20AC;OP KLJKO\ HQMR\DEOH DQG ZLOO QR doubt see it several times at the cinema. The only thing left to decide E\ WKH HQG RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;OP LV WKLV ² DUH you Team Edward or Team Jacob?

A Serious Man

PHG  KH LV VLPXOWDQHRXVO\ EULEHG and threatened with legal action to pass a failing student. The themes of faith, uncertainty and a search for understanding echo WKURXJKRXWWKHĂ&#x20AC;OPZKLFKVXFFHHGV in its amusing critique of Jewish attitudes and community. Loosely structured around Larryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visits to three different rabbis â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Ă&#x20AC;UVWEHLQJDVNLQFUDZOLQJO\VPDUP\ youth obsessed with a parking lot, the second even more useless and the third, a holy grail of rabbi who refuses to see Larry but repeats Jefferson Airplane lyrics to his son on his Bahmitzvah â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we see the hypocrisy of religion and law as both fail to alleviate Larryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problems.

Such thematic tropes are set up by WKH Ă&#x20AC;OP¡V SURORJXH ZKLFK IHDWXUHV a bizarre meeting between Bavarian Jewish peasants a couple centuries back, involving the attempted murder of a bearded man who may or may not be alive, sets the tone well IRUWKHUHVWRIWKHĂ&#x20AC;OP As has come to be expected from Coen Brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; efforts, the ambience of A Serious Man, stemming from brilliant costume, prop and scene creation, is spot on. 8OWLPDWHO\ ZH QHYHU Ă&#x20AC;QG RXW LI Larry sorts his life out or not. Half of me hoped he would die in the torQDGR ZKLFK FORVHV WKH Ă&#x20AC;OP JLYLQJ him a release into his pleasant nightmares which constantly trick the au-

movies, The Informant does drag on more than youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like it to. My main issue with the length is that the movie is generally quite slow-moving and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not much in the way of radical plot twists to shock the viewer. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think Soderbergh is unaware of this though and The Informant is as much an attempt to put out D VOLJKWO\ GLIIHUHQW NLQG RI Ă&#x20AC;OP DV anything else. After all, the angle which portrays the protagonist as an informer actually dissipates by halfway through WKHĂ&#x20AC;OPDWZKLFKSRLQWWKHIDFDGHV slowly crumble and what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re left with is a piece of cinema that is subtly trying to convey the complexities of what is fundamentally a rather unique individual.

This sense of ambiguity at once plagues The Informant but also distinguishes it, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no immediate sense of knowing whether you like Damonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character or not. 'HĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ UHFRPPHQGHG IRU IDQV of introspective, subtly comic cinema, and even more so for you Psychology students out there.

Glorious 39

could be seen as action to save Britain from certain defeat. And this is the question Anne must answer, as she stumbles across some gramophone records being kept in her familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. Far from playing the foxtrot, they play back a series of dubious meetings and phone calls. Anne risks her life listening to the records and as her familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involvement in the matter becomes unveiled, she becomes alienated from them. However torn between her conscience and her duty to those who adopted her, Anne soon becomes imprisoned in a world she cannot understand or control. It is clear that she alone can do very little for her cause and with nobody OHIWWRĂ&#x20AC;JKWZLWKKHUWKHRQO\HVFDSH that can save her is to rid herself of all she has grown to love; all that has been revealed as a lie. 7KHĂ&#x20AC;OP¡VVW\OHDQGWRQHYHU\PXFK

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen Cast: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind Run Time: 105 mins Fitting in with the Coen Brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; love of dark comedy and a seriously un-American use of irony, A Serious Man in fact tracks a number of relatively miserable individuals trapped in late sixties Jewish suburbia. 7KHĂ&#x20AC;OPIROORZVSK\VLFVSURIHVVRU /DUU\*RSQLN6WXKOEDUJ WKURXJKD series of events which make his existence progressively worse. After his wife announces she is leaving him for his insufferable IULHQG 6\ $EOHPDQ )UHG 0HOD-

The Informant Director: Steven Soderbergh Cast: Matt Damon, Lucas McHugh Carroll, Eddie Jemison. Runtime: 108 mins Damon once again proves his diversity and acting ability in The Informant, where he takes a stab at being Mark Whitacre - heavyset, unhealthy-looking, and complete with dubious hair, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pretty convincing portrayal. The story revolves around Whitacre, almost exclusively, with other characters mostly serving the purpose of advancing his slow development from naĂŻve do-gooder to selfaggrandising hero wannabe.

Without ruining the story, the plot follows various threads of different storylines, which all weave different strands of truth and lies throughout them, making for a rather confusing plot. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of great comedy, mostly through inane anecdotes and observations that Damon narrates in between, and sometimes during, pivotal scenes. This really alludes to the scattered and odd workings of Whitacreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind and there are also a lot of clever hints in the movie that point towards the minor revelations toward the end of The Informant. Soderberghâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direction is fairly ample at conveying the early 1990s vibe RIWKHPRYLHEXWDVXVXDOUHĂ HFWLQJ a current trend in slightly â&#x20AC;&#x153;smarterâ&#x20AC;?

Ashley Fryer

Starring: Romola Garai, Bill Nighy, Julie Christie, David Tennant, Christopher Lee. Director: Stephen Poliakoff Run Time: 125 mins This World War II thriller tells the VWRU\ RI $QQD .H\HV 5RPROD *DUDL  WKH DGRSWHG GDXJKWHU RI DQ MP whose worry-free life of wealth is put to the test, as she is asked to chose between her country or her family. 7KH Ă&#x20AC;OP IRFXVHV DURXQG WHQVLRQV within the government, between conspirators of the time, who were attempting underhand peace deals ZLWKWKH*HUPDQVDQG\RXQJPHPbers of Parliament, vowing to combat the culprits, out them and make their schemes public. Of course the question is raised that what could be seen as treachery

dience as much as they do him. Either way, it has little impact on WKHĂ&#x20AC;OP¡VPDLQFRQFHUQ²DFORVHLQterrogation of the claustrophobia of the struggles and misunderstandings of family life. Serious as this sounds, much like the title, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a misleadingly amusing Ă&#x20AC;OP²LIRWKHUSHRSOH¡VPLVIRUWXQHV are your favourite kind of funny.

Alice Vincent

Romain Chenet

echoes that of Atonement; however, the narrative is far from Atonementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clichĂŠd romance. Although there are sub-stories of URPDQFHDQGORYHLQWKHUHWKHĂ&#x20AC;OP focuses on the story at hand; it is DERXW$QQH¡VĂ&#x20AC;JKWDJDLQVWDVWURQJer power and her best interests, for what is right. Though the love and tragedy elePHQWVRIWKHĂ&#x20AC;OPPDNHLWPRUHRQH for the girls, and the boys may have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the cinema, it has my vote enjoy!

Alex Murray

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

29

Music

CULTURE

Music Music Editors: Mark Corcoran-Lettice and Chris Mandle - courier.culture-music@ncl.ac.uk

with Mew 0DUN&RUFRUDQ/HWWLFH Music Editor Since their formation in 1994, Mew have become one of alternative rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most distinctive acts, gathering a fanbase far beyond their native Denmark. Currently touring their latest album, No More Storiesâ&#x20AC;Ś, we spoke to their drummer Silas Jørgensen about the making of the new record and their renowned live show. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re playing in Oslo tonight, as part of your ongoing tour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; howâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the reception been so far, to the new material in particular? ,W¡VEHHQJRLQJSUHWW\JRRGIRUXVVR IDULW¡VEHHQJRLQJFRQVLVWHQWO\ZHOO The new material has been working really well on the road actually - betWHUWKDQZHH[SHFWHG ,W¡VDOZD\VJRRGWRJHWRXWDQGSOD\ QHZ VRQJV RXW OLYH DQG WHVW WKHP we always mean to try and do that HYHU\WLPHEHIRUHZHUHFRUGWKHPWR WU\WKHPRXWZLWKDQDXGLHQFHEXW ZHQHYHUVHHPWRKDYHWKHWLPH You recently completed a UK tour in some of the largest venues youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve played here to date - are you pleased with how your fan base is growing here? <HDK LW¡V QLFH WR VHH WKDW LW¡V JRLQJ WKDWZD\DQGWKDWSHRSOHDUHJHWWLQJ into what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing. It does seem WR EH JURZLQJ LQ D ZD\ WKLV WLPH and of course itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to come back WRFLWLHV\RX¡YHSOD\HGEHIRUHEXWWR EH SOD\LQJ QHZ URRPV DQG WR KDYH PRUHSHRSOHFRPHRXWIRUXV You also toured here as support on Nine Inch Nailsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wave Goodbyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tour with Janeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Addiction this summer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; how was the experience? ,WZDVDJRRGH[SHULHQFH<RXKDYH WR XQGHUVWDQG WKRXJK LW LV TXLWH D GLIIHUHQW WKLQJ WR EH SOD\LQJ WKHVH NLQGRIVKRZV²ZH¡YHDOUHDG\GRQH RXUPXVLFEXWZLWKVRPHWKLQJOLNH WKLV LW¡V QRW RXU DXGLHQFH DQG ZH GRQ¡W JHW RXU IXOO VHW <RX KDYH WR FRQVLGHUZKDW\RXSOD\DORWPRUH and try to make it more direct in a ZD\,WPHDQVDORWWRJHWDQLQYLWH

OLNHWKDWWKRXJKDQGWKHLUDXGLHQFH VHHPHGWRDSSUHFLDWHZKDWZHGR Your shows have become renowned for their striking visuals; has the visual side of the band always been crucial to you? 7KH\ GR GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ ZRUN WRJHWKHU 7KH PXVLF DOZD\V FRPHV Ă&#x20AC;UVW DQG it always had to be - it is the main WKLQJ IRU XV EHLQJ KHUH $W D VKRZ WKRXJKZHOLNHWRERPEDUGSHRSOH ZLWKDORWRIVWXIIWU\DQGRYHUZKHOP their senses and make something PHPRUDEOH:HGRZRUNDORWRQWKH YLVXDO VLGH RI LW EHIRUH WKH VKRZV ² LW¡VODUJHO\-RQDV>%MHUUH0HZIURQW PDQ@ZKRPDNHVWKHSLFWXUHVIRUXV EXWZHDOOKDYHDVD\RQLW

´:HOLNHWRERPEDUG SHRSOHDQGPDNH VRPHWKLQJPHPRUDEOHÂľ The more direct sound of your new album, No More Storiesâ&#x20AC;Ś, is a shift from the interlinked songs found on And The Glass Handed Kites. What inspired this shift? :HZDQWHGWRWU\DQGEXLOGWKLVRQH GLIIHUHQWO\WU\WRGRVRPHWKLQJHOVH DQGQRWUHSHDWRXUVHOYHV:HVSHQW DORWRIWLPHEXLOGLQJXSWKLVPDWH ULDOFRQVLGHULQJWKHG\QDPLFVRIWKH DOEXP DQG KRZ LW ZRXOG DOO SLHFH together. It does seem to be more VPDOOFKDSWHUVUDWKHUWKDQRQHORQJ VWRU\WKLVWLPHDURXQGDQGZHGLG want to write more direct songs. , GR WKLQN ZH IXOĂ&#x20AC;OOHG WKDW ² WKH\ do seem more distinct to me on this RQHWKHUH¡VQRWWZRVRQJVRQWKLVDO EXPWKDW\RXFRXOGUHDOO\FRPSDUH WRHDFKRWKHUDQGLWGRHVVHHPWREH DPRUHFRORXUIXODQGRSHQUHFRUGWR PH,KDYHKHDUGIURPVRPHSHRSOH that this oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually been more GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW WR GLJHVW DQG WDNHQ ORQJHU WRFOLFNWKRXJKVR,GRQ¡WNQRZÂŤ Tracks like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Introducing Palace Playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the new record have more intricate structures than previous Mew material â&#x20AC;&#x201C; were they an intentional shift from your usual sound?

:HGRKDYHLQPLQG,WKLQNWKDWZH KDYHEXLOWXSDQGHVWDEOLVKHGDFHU WDLQIRUPXODE\WKLVSRLQWDQGWKDW VRPH SHRSOH ZLOO KDYH FHUWDLQ H[ SHFWDWLRQVRIXV,ZRXOGQ¡WVD\WKDW VRPHRIWKHH[SHULPHQWVRQWKLVDO EXPOLNHWKHWUDFN\RXPHQWLRQHG FRPH HQWLUHO\ QDWXUDOO\ EHFDXVH ZH GR FRQVFLRXVO\ ZDQW WR PRYH IRUZDUGDQGSXVKRXUVHOYHVLQQHZ GLUHFWLRQV%XWWKHUHGRHVKDYHWREH VRPHWKLQJ QDWXUDO WKHUH LW FDQ¡W EH IRUFHG²ZHGRKDYHWRDUULYHDWWKLV new territory organically. 7KHĂ&#x20AC;UVWWUDFNRQWKHDOEXPÂś1HZ Terrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, becomes another track, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Nervousâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, when reversed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; why choose the backwards version? $VLWLVRQWKHDOEXP,VXSSRVH\RX can say it does reward someone if WKH\ FKRRVH WR UHYHUVH LW ,W ZRUNV ERWK ZD\V WKRXJK UHDOO\ LW¡V TXLWH DVHDVLFNSLHFHRIPXVLFHYHQZKHQ SOD\HGIRUZDUGV²LW¡VOLNHEHLQJRQ a rocking boat. :H GLGQ¡W FKRRVH WKH YHUVLRQ ZH GLG WR EH GHOLEHUDWHO\ H[SHULPHQWDO RU DQ\WKLQJ ZH KDG ERWK YHUVLRQV LQ FRQVLGHUDWLRQ IRU WKH UHFRUG EXW we decided that the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;New Terrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; YHUVLRQ PDGH IRU D PRUH VXLWDEOH

VWURQJ RSHQLQJ VR ZH ZHQW ZLWK that one. %efore the albumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recording, you became a three-piece; did this inĂ XHQFH WKH ZULWLQJ SURFHVV DW DOO and do you intend to remain a three-piece now? ,GRWKLQNWKDWLWFKDQJHGWKHSURF HVVDORWIRUXV²LWHQGHGXSPDNLQJ LW D ORW ORRVHU D ELW PRUH RSHQ LQ D ZD\LWHQGHGXSEHLQJDUHDOO\QLFH SURFHVV ZULWLQJ DV D WKUHHSLHFH DF WXDOO\,WKLQNIRUQRZZHZLOONHHS WRMXVWWKHWKUHHRIXV :HKDYHVRPHSOD\HUVOLYH²%DVWLDQ -XHOZKRSOD\VEDVVIRUXVQRZDQG 1LFN:DWWVZKRSOD\VNH\ERDUGVIRU XV²DQGWKH\KHOSXVLQWKHVWXGLRDV ZHOOZKHQZHQHHGWKHPEXW,WKLQN that three is enough for us. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the ZKROHÂśWRRPDQ\FRRNV¡VWRU\LIZH KDG PRUH PHPEHUV LQ WKH EDQG LW PLJKWVSRLOWKHPHDO\RXNQRZ" There was a four-year gap between this album and the last â&#x20AC;&#x201C; would you call yourselves perfectionists? I think this time we did want to VSHQG D ORQJ WLPH PRXOGLQJ WKLV PDWHULDODQGPDNLQJLW,WGRHVMXVW

WDNHWKHWLPHLWWDNHVWKRXJKDQGZH GR VRPHWLPHV ZRUU\ DERXW VSHQG ing enough time on the recording. ,WZDVDOVRDVOLJKWO\PRUHFRPSOL FDWHGSURFHVVWKLVWLPHDVZHZHUH DOVRLQWKHSURFHVVRIVHWWLQJXSRXU RZQ UHKHDUVDO VSDFH DQG VWXGLR LQ &RSHQKDJHQ:HHQGHGXSWRXULQJ DORWEHKLQGWKHODVWUHFRUGDVZHOO VRWKDWGHOD\HGWKHSURFHVVIRUXV You do seem to combine a wide UDQJH RI LQĂ XHQFHV LQ TXLWH D XQLTXHZD\DUHWKHUHPDQ\RWKHU bands you feel a kinship with? , GRQ¡W WKLQN VR QRW DQ\ , FDQ UH DOO\WKLQNRI,W¡VEHHQWKDWZD\HYHU VLQFH ZH VWDUWHG WKRXJK ZH IRXQG ZKDWZHZDQWHGWRGRRQRXURZQ and it seems to work. ,W¡VVWLOOWKHVDPHIRUXVZH¡YHQHY HUĂ&#x20AC;WWHGXQGHUQHDWKDQ\VRUWRIXP EUHOOD RU Ă&#x20AC;WWHG LQWR DQ\ SDUWLFXODU VFHQHWKHUH¡VQHYHUEHHQDQ\ZDYH RI K\SH ZH¡YH EHHQ RQ :H MXVW GR ZKDW ZH GR UHDOO\ ZH MXVW GR RXU RZQWKLQJ PDNLQJ RXU RZQ VRXQG ZLWKRXURZQLQĂ XHQFHVDQGLGHDV Their new album No More Stories... is out now.

Do they know itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charity after all? Lindsey Teggert Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure no one would argue against the idea that raising money for charity is unquestionably a good thing. Yet it should be questioned whether the masterminds behind charity singles such as The X Factorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest effort are truly acting out of VHOĂ HVVQHVV:HPXVWQ¡WIRUJHWWKDW the god-awful X Factor single also EHQHĂ&#x20AC;WVWKHFRQWHVWDQWVWKHPVHOYHV JLYLQJ WKHP H[SRVXUH EHIRUH WKH\ IDGHEDFNLQWRREVFXULW\RUKHOSLQJ WR ODXQFK WKHLU Ă HHWLQJ FDUHHU DQG QR GRXEW WKH HQGOHVV 79 DSSHDU DQFHV ZLOO NHHS 6LPRQ &RZHOO¡V SRFNHWVMLQJOLQJ $QRWKHU SUREOHP ZLWK FKDULW\

singles such as The X Factorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is WKDWWKH\WHQGWRJORVVRYHUWKHUHDO SUREOHPV %\ WKLV , PHDQ GR WKH SHRSOH EX\LQJ WKH FKDULW\ VLQJOH DFWXDOO\SD\DWWHQWLRQWRWKHFKDULW\ the money is going to and the work LW GRHV" &KDQFHV DUH WKH\¡UH PRUH interested in the fact that it has Jedward on the front. 6R ZKLOH LW¡V UDLVLQJ PRQH\ LV LW UDLVLQJ DQ\ DZDUHQHVV" 7KH YDVW PDMRULW\RIFKDULW\VLQJOHVZHPXVW HQGXUH DUH OLIHOHVV FRYHUV ZLWK QR originality. 0D\EH LI SHRSOH HPSOR\HG VRPH FUHDWLYLW\E\ZULWLQJDVRQJVSHFLĂ&#x20AC; FDOO\ IRU WKH FDXVH VXFK DV %DQG $LG¡V Âś'R 7KH\ .QRZ ,W¡V &KULVW PDV"¡  WKHQ SHRSOH PD\ VWDQG XS

and take more notice. Stuart Edwards :LWKWKHUHOHDVHRIWKHQHZ;)DF WRU FRQWHVWDQWV¡ VLQJOH RQFH DJDLQ ZH¡UHEHLQJSHUVXDGHGWRVSODVKWKH FDVKRQDEHORZDYHUDJHVRQJIRUÂśD good causeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. :KLOVWVXFKDUHOHDVHLVÂśQREOH¡IRU %ULWDLQ¡VELJJHVWVKRZZKHUHGRHV WKH Â&#x2026; ZH¡UH H[SHFWHG WR VSHQG go to? 7KHRIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOZHEVLWHVWDWHVWKDWÂśQR OHVV WKDQ Â&#x2026; ZLOO EH GRQDWHG SHU SXUFKDVH¡ZKLFKLQWXUQPHDQVÂśH[ actly ÂŁ1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Hmm. 7KRVHORRNLQJWRPDNHDSXUFKDVH

for ÂŁ3.99 will therefore be donating ÂŁ1 to charity and ÂŁ3 to ITVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration. There are clearly good intentions EHKLQG WKH UHOHDVH DV DGPLWWHGO\ WKH PDMRULW\ RI XV OLNHO\ ZRQ¡W GR

Thousands will VKHHSLVKO\Ă RFNWR+09 believing they are saving the world QDWH Â&#x2026; WKLV ZHHN YLD DQ\ RWKHU PHDQVEXWLWUHPDLQVVWULNLQJO\RE YLRXV WKDW RXU JRRG LQWHQWLRQV DUH RQFH DJDLQ IHHGLQJ WKH FRUSRUDWH

machine. ,I ZH¡UH H[SHFWHG WR SD\ WKH IXOO Â&#x2026;WKHQJRWKHH[WUDPLOHPDNH us want to buy the single based on LWV DUWLVWLF PHULWV LQVWHDG RI JLYLQJ XV DQ RYHUSURGXFHG DQG IRUJHWWD ble generic ballad. 'HVSLWH WKLV WKRXVDQGV ZLOO VKHHSLVKO\Ă RFNWR+09EHOLHYLQJ WKH\DUHVDYLQJWKHZRUOG 'R \RXUVHOI D IDYRXU DQG WKURZ Â&#x2026; LQWR 3XGVH\¡V ER[  7KHQ JR WR \RXUORFDOUHFRUGVKRSDQGSLFNXS a song youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll listen to more than WZLFHLQ\RXUOLIHWKHQHYHU\RQH¡V a winner.

30

CULTURE

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

Music

Live Reviews Arctic Monkeys Metro Arena, November 16th

(OOLRW0LQRU Northumbria Union, November 21st

7KH-RQDV%URWKHUV Metro Arena, November 18th

Fresh from their headline performances at the Reading and Leeds festivals this August, the biggest thing to FRPHRXWRI6KHIĂ&#x20AC;HOGVLQFH7KH)XOO Monty, Arctic Monkeys, returned to the UK live scene this week; with the aim of regaining some of the momentum lost after the underwhelming release of acclaimed third studio album, Humbug. Despite their best efforts to evolve the live show parallel to their sound, in reality the strong crowd attendance was not for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Secret Doorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cornerstoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, but for the best of the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic debut. Opening with Humbugâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powerful FORVHU ² Âś7KH -HZHOOHU¡V +DQG¡ IRO lowed by â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Brianstormâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the set listâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s structure allowed for both new and traditional Arctics to interwind, promoting Humbugâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sincere style but laying out the hits for the generic fan base. $OH[7XUQHUPD\EHDZHOONQRZQ Ă&#x20AC;JXUHKHDG LQ PRGHUQ PXVLF KRZ ever itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apparent that he still feels uneasy with the role at times; bands of such scale require their frontman to live up to the name. Concluding on an inspired mix of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fluorescent Adolescentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mardy Bumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, then â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;505â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear 7XUQHU DQG FR DUH QRW UHDG\ WR OHW Humbug become a Fishermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Friend just yet.

7KH ODVW PLQXWH FKDQJH RI YHQXH may have been a blessing in disJXLVHIRU(OOLRW0LQRUDVWKHFURZG packed out Northumbriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s venue; they may have seemed a little lost in the O2 Academy. But despite this minor setback, the boys put on one hell of a show. With a hungry crowd waiting eagerly for the band to take stage, exSHFWDWLRQV VHHPHG KLJK DQG (OOLRW Minor did not disappoint. From the Ă&#x20AC;UVWVRQJWRWKHODVWWKH\UHOHQWOHVVO\ worked the stage. Slipping between songs seamlessly on many occasions, the momentum and tempo was kept high, resulting in the crowd turning into a shrieking mob. 7KH ZHOO FKRVHQ VHW OLVW HQVXUHG that the new album was well promoted, and even though Solaris was only released a few weeks ago, the committed crowd cheered on every song and seemed to know all the words, with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Parallel Worldsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; whipping the mob into a frenzied state, it may have been a good choice for the absent encore. :KDW (OOLRW 0LQRU GLG YHU\ ZHOO was interact with the audience, constantly addressing and engaging with them throughout the performance resulting in the crowd reciprocating with huge cheers and making the gig feel like a real rock show.

Frequently drowned out by the ear piercing sound of screaming preteen Disney fans, the three brothers FRXOGKDYHFRPHRXWVDQJÂś7ZLQNOH Little Starâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, promptly vanished, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have still had the audience eating out of their hands. Particular highlights tonight included when the little one with the hat (what do you mean, they have names?) came out of the circular rotating stage (set up presumably so they could be appreciated from every conceivable angle) atop a white piano, for a song that literally had half of the audience in tears. I can only assume these were tears of joy. Another feature of the show was when the curly haired one and the little one who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;playâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; anything then put on Christmas hats - bit premature there lads - but this minor blip was partly made up by a rendition of the Busted classic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Year 3000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, only without the triple breasted women bit, because of the whole purity thing. Killjoys. 7KHKRDUGVRIWHQ\HDUROGVFKDVLQJ after the tour buses at the end of the VKRZFRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHGP\VXVSLFLRQV'LV ney has created a monster, an overly energetic, rotating and ear-splittingly scary monster, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve called LW7KH-RQDV%URWKHUV

Stuart Edwards

Christopher Scott

Tom Richards

Rise Against 02 Academy Newcastle, November 18th

Detox, BeyoncĂŠ Newcastle University Metro Arena, Union Basement, November 19th November 18th

Before Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had time to moan about how ridiculously young the crowd is tonight, Poison the Well launch into an ear-splitting onslaught. 7KH\¡UH E\ IDU WKH PRVW DJJUHVVLYH band playing tonight, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be brilliant - if only the sound wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t so EDG7KHDFRXVWLFVDUHWHUULEOHFDXV ing everything to blend into a tinny sounding fuzz. 3RVWKDUGFRUH NLQJV 7KXUVGD\ play a passionate, albeit disappointingly short support slot. Geoff RickOH\ Ă LQJV KLPVHOI DFURVV WKH VWDJH almost strangling himself with the microphone lead. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slightly selfâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; indulgent but that can be forgiven because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re so damn good, and ROGIDQIDYRXULWHÂś-HW%ODFN1HZ¡LV met with rapture. 7KH FURZG JR LQVDQH IRU 5LVH Against, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to understand ZK\ 7KHLU PHORGLF KDUGFRUH LV HQ ergetic and rousing, with plenty of anthemic choruses which bring DERXWPDVVVLQJDORQJV7KHEOLVWHU ing drums and fast guitars provide the perfect soundtrack for hundreds of bouncing teenagers. 7KHRQO\WLPHLWEHFRPHVGXELRXV is when they preach to the audience that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which should be cringe-inducing, but they lap it up; proving that tonight Rise Against can do no wrong.

Another weekend, another excuse to get mashed and dance about. Seems like hard dance is not a student domain anymore though, as Detox featured mostly a local crowd with all the usual suspiciously gurning types attending in full force. Good sound in the blue room, courtesy of a custom sound-rig lovingly set up by the organisers that managed to sound loud, good and danceable and still let you talk withRXW \HOOLQJ 7RS NXGRV WR WKH FUHZ behind that one for their efforts. 7KLQJVZHUHQRWVRKRWLQWKHPDLQ room unfortunately, as Lab4 and the Organ Donorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sets were virtually washed out by an onslaught of hi-hat treble that did little to convey the full effect of the hardstyle being played. Nevertheless, there was a lot of banter with folk of diverse degrees of soberness, the customary attendance of girls showing off arses of varying plumpness in day-glo underwear, and a plethora of dudes with close-cropped hair and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;trendyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; t-shirts to stare/ogle/laugh at. 7KHVHWVZHUHSUHWW\WLJKWEXW\HW again Detox has fallen prey to that common Newcastle syndrome of inadequate sound-rig tweaking, resulting in a less than impressive output.

Performing at the Metro Radio $UHQD RQ 7KXUVGD\ WK  %H\RQFp proved she can certainly put on a show. From the moment the curtains were drawn BeyoncĂŠ took to the stage with a whirlwind of colour, music, audio/visual, dancing, DQGPLQGEORZLQJRXWĂ&#x20AC;WV Starting with a spectacular performance of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Crazy in Loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; incorporating a jazz band, hoards of dancers and incredible video projections, BeyoncĂŠ left no stone uncovered. She rattled through numerous hits from her current album, older material, a few covers and even some Destinyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Child material. Not many singers can sing and dance as well (as well as occasionDOO\ Ă \LQJ  IRU WZR KRXUV VWUDLJKW but BeyoncĂŠ managed to keep all her fans entertained. It is not surprising BeyoncĂŠ manages to pull in a crowd comprising of six-year old girls, hoards of gay men, and middle aged women and accumulate such an extensive fan base as she is one of the most beautiful women Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been three feet away from, with a voice that blows you away. BeyoncĂŠ GHOLYHUHG D Ă DZOHVV SHU formance that no one could have failed to enjoy, and she left no dry eyes by the end!

Linsey Teggert

Romain Chenet

Olivia Mason

Gordon Bruce Culture Online Editor 7KLV ZHHN ZH¡YH JRW DQ LQWHUYLHZ

ZLWK(OOLRW0LQRUEHIRUHWKHLUUHFHQW concert at the Northumbria Union, and a review of the recent Shred <U )DFH WRXU IHDWXULQJ 7KH &DYH 6LQJHUV (VSHUV DQG :RRGV DW 7KH Cluny.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also got a review of Maybe 0\UWOH7XUWOH¡VFRQFHUWLQWKH8QLRQ %DVHPHQWDQGWKHQHZ(3IURPWKH much-hyped North Atlantic Oscillation. Plenty to get your teeth into then...

Plastic fantastic: The Jonas Brothers, who recently played the Metro Arena

To see what gigs are coming up at the Union visit: www.unionsociety.co.uk/events

Seen and Scene Dear Landlord Chris Stokel-Walker Dear Landlord has bled on me twice, and he was the Al Gore to my news interviewer in a comedy show we put on in year seven. 7KHVH VKRXOG DOO EH UHDVRQV ZK\ you shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t listen to me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; except for the fact that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brilliant. Michael Docherty has spent most of his 20 years of life in Ashington and playing (from an extraordinarily early age) the folk clubs full of men in tweed and cigarette smoke with his dad. And now heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reOHDVHG WZR (3V RI LQGLHIRON WKDW sound like Okkervil Riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Will Sheff decided to sit down with Brian Wilson and talk about how music should be made. Set in a cacophony of music that includes a harp â&#x20AC;&#x201C; something which impressed the people Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve played Dear Landlord to in order to make sure that I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t promoting just another â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;my school mateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got a bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; person â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even realise the depth of the lyrics about love, life and golden-age movie starlets. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mary Astor, Marie Celesteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tells tales of lost love through the scandalised actress and the wrecked ship; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Steve Goodmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; plumbs the depths of depression with a couldbe-worse tale about a folk singer succumbed to leukaemia. All are hauntingly brilliant, and deserve a listen - check him out at http://www.myspace.com/dearlandlordsings.

Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor In case itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s somehow escaped your notice, the nights are only getting longer and the cold is getting more bitter: the joys of the British winter are here once again. So, something to warm your bones might be in order, yes? Well, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a few recommendations for you: Ă&#x20AC;UVWO\WKHQHZ(3IURP$QLPDO&RO lective, Fall Be Kind, offers a slower, more meditative take on the electronic textures of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s majestic Merriweather Post Pavillion perfect for hibernating in. 7KHQHZDOEXPIURPWKHSHUHQQL DOO\XQGHUUDWHG7KH&OLHQWHOHBonĂ&#x20AC;UHVRQWKH+HDWK, sees the perenially frosty band thawing somewhat, adding folk textures and warmer production to their tightly wound guitar arpeggios and surrealistic lyrics. As for a few golden oldies: well, at this time of year, some classic Scott Walker always goes down a treat, and in particular his third album (the imaginatively titled Scott 3 IURPRSHQHUÂś,W¡V5DLQLQJ7RGD\¡ onwards, has a gloriously wintry feel to it, from his soaring baritone to the remarkable, adventurous orchestration. And despite the name, 7KH %HDFK %R\V¡  DOEXP Surfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UpĂ&#x20AC;WVWKHELOOWRRZLWKWKHWZR%UL DQ :LOVRQ WUDFNV WKDW FORVH LW Âś7LO , Dieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and the title track, summing up the melancholy of the season in the most beautiful way imaginable.

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

31

Music

Record Reviews

Singles & Downloads Olivia Mason

Bob Dylan Christmas In The Heart By now, one might have assumed that there was nothing Bob Dylan could do to shock us. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gone from a folk revival hero to a rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;roll star, from a run of albums centred on born-again Christianity in the early 1980s to a remarkable critical and creative revival at the end of the 1990s. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been detours into acting, painting, and broadcasting too. But truthfully, who was prepared for this? Yep, it turns out that this secretive counter-culture icon loves Christmas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and boy, he really loves it. &RQVLVWLQJ RI KLV UHQGLWLRQV RI Ă&#x20AC;Iteen hymns, carols and seasonal classics, Christmas In The Heart is perhaps the most surprising thing Dylan could have done at this point: if his other effort this year, Together Through Life, saw him enter an undemanding groove, this shows that his mischievous side is alive and well. Not to say that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anything ironic about this project. Indeed, what becomes apparent over its duration is the sheer sincerity of the thing. With the most syrupy arrangements of his career, he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spare the trimmings in making his renditions as Christmassy as possible: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hark The Herald Angels Singâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

CULTURE

From Whitley Bay, Polarsetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new single â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Just Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Open Your Eyes Yetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is home brewed talent that for once isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t over produced pop but catchy, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve proved they are certainly one to look out for. Eliza Doolittle adds to the hoards of up and coming female singers with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rollerbladesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: still one to buy though as she combines smooth, slick pop with her lovely voice. Super-producer James Ford helps out on Detachmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Circlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and judging by his previous credentials, good things are expected. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Circlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; delivers a brilliant indie record very reminiscent of 80s style. From America, Jumbling Towers provide something a wee bit different with their single â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kanetown City Ripsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, based around D Ă&#x20AC;FWLRQDO ZRUOG IXOO RI H[LOHG youth. The single is an experimental indie record combined with eerie vocals that needs a few OLVWHQVEXWLVGHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ZRUWKDQ eavesdrop. Rounding the singles up this week is MiniVivaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I Wishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Fresh from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I Lost My Heart in Tokyoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fame, the duo return with another attempt at indie-dance that accomplishes nothing they intended and ends up sounding a tad silly; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure this will reach the charts nonetheless.

sees a suitably devotional choir backing him, while the slide guitars and accordions that abound render it a Nashville answer to the classic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A Christmas Gift for Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. His covers of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Little Drummer Boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, meanwhile, abound with a wonderful, childlike joy. But this being a Dylan album, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not all that straightforward. His voice, always an acquired taste, is at is very roughest and hoarse on this â&#x20AC;&#x201C; hell, on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Christmas Bluesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, he sounds like heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trying to give the infamously gravel-throated Tom Waits a run for his money. Combined with the sentimental production and the Hallmark card artwork, it makes for forty of the strangest minutes of music youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hear this year. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no way around it: from conception to conclusion, this might just be the most gloriously bizarre and odd thing heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever been responsible for. That score down there? Trust me, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no joke.

?/10 Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor

Them Crooked Vultures Gatecrasher

Saving Aimee Club Anthems 1993-2009 Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re The Good Guys

Cancel The Astronauts Alberta Cross I Am The President Of Your Fanclub Broken Side of Time And Last Night I Followed You Home

The concept of a super group is always an exciting one, yet rarely delivers musically. Consisting of Josh Homme, Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones, Them Crooked Vultures became one of the biggest names of the year before even releasing a record. Previewing songs from this debut record at Reading and Leeds festivals over the summer proved the super group could match the prestige of the individual members on the live scene, but with this release not even a dream combination of Nirvana and Led Zeppelin can break the cycle. Catchy old school riffs are at the forefront of the approach, yet with Josh Homme on vocals, songs regularly feel a little too familiar to his main project. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;No one Loves Meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Warsawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; give the impression that this is a group of musicians who simply want to have fun without such grand expectation and publicity (not that his prevented so). Rock music has rarely sounded so pure, but in an age of digital recording and unlimited access to such high levels of creativity and diversity, this old-school sound may be dismissed as clichĂŠ. With promise of a second record to come, Them Crooked Vultures have the potential to grow into their own.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the rating fool you. This could easily be a 2 out of 10, if you consider the fact that anybody whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buying this has probably heard all these tunes a million times before, and probably has owned them on CD before as well. But never mind all that, because what Gatecrasher have done here is release what should be seen as the ultimate lazy personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dance music compilation. You get your newish tunes, a boatload of remixes by everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite DJs (Tiesto, Armand Van Helden, and the like), and classics like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lonelinessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Papua New Guineaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Goâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Right Here Right Nowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. OK, so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no prize for originality in song selection, but the mixing is as good as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect from Gatecrasher, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough quirkiness in the choices to keep this from being utterly repetitive. This is perfect stuff for that cheesy student party at Richardson Road, and all thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s missing are the crates of cheap lager and obligatory vodka shots to get the girls drunk. Midway through your session, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be glad you bought this threedisc set to avoid the mammoth task of drunken music selection. And you can even revise to it, if you want the full Ricky Road experience.

In a world where even Pete Wentz says that emo is dead, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something to be said for a music industry that thinks this band would be a good prospect. Saving Aimee are a Hertfordshire based six-piece who trade in a sort of pop-synth-emo hybrid that never fails to make you feel embarrassed for them. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost too many irritating aspects of this album to even start recounting here, but when you have an intro track whose sole words are â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;When I say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Savingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;/You say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Aimeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;/â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Saving!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Aimee!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; it seems to sum things up. From the ridiculous cod-heavy metal guitar lines on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fresh Since â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;88â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (choosing Justin Hawkins as a producer might have something to do with this) to the fact that any kind of emo-tion that should be coming through from the tracks is FRPSOHWHO\ QXOOLĂ&#x20AC;HG E\ ERXQFLQJ club synths, it quickly becomes apparent that each track isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just bad, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actively annoying. After six I wanted to put an end to the band, after all eleven I wanted to put an end to myself. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all make a pact, no one buy this turgid shite or even acknowledge that Saving Aimee exist and they might just go away. Deal?

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be honest here: you know exactly what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to get when you buy an EP with a name like I Am The Present Of Your Fanclub (And Last Night I Followed You Home). Self-described as a band that writes â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;songs related to stalking and inappropriate lustingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Cancel The $VWURQDXWVDUHDQRWKHUORZĂ&#x20AC;LQGLH band peddling a quirky style that went out of fashion along with The Wombats back in 2007. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing new on offer here beyond some mildly acceptable songwriting, and though the weakest link is the title track itself, the standard picks up later, such as on tracks like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Late In The Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Lacklustre production doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help, either. The lead vocals have been mixed far too high, drowning out the rest of the band and draining the songs of the energy and fun theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to put across. Unexpectedly, Cancel The AsWURQDXWV Ă&#x20AC;QLVK WKH (3 ZLWK DWPRVphere-laden â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Go Expoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a bleak yet poignant depiction of a night on the town that stands head and shoulders above any of their other material. Perhaps Cancel The Astronauts would be easier to love if they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t trying so hard to be lovable.

The long-time-coming debut release from Alberta Cross has undoubtedly come at a fantastic time, as the American folk genre has taken not just the underground music scene by storm, but the likes of Fleet Foxes DQG%RQ,YHUKDYHVORZO\LQĂ&#x20AC;OWUDWHG the more mainstream markets. Whilst many others before them have found ways to pioneer the traditional acoustic folk sound, Alberta Cross strive for a darker, more arWLĂ&#x20AC;FLDO VRXQG :KLOVW WKHUH DUH IHZ VWDQG RXW WUDFNV WKH UHFRUG Ă RZV seamlessly and is enhanced by the darkness of the winter months. Whilst an easy comparison to draw, the sound is comparable to that of the more melodic Kings of Leon songs, such as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Knocked Upâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Closerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Softâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, minus the overpowering vocals. The bass heavy tones of tracks such as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Broken Side of Timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Thief & The Heartbreakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; brings a sense of scale and variety to an often forgettable initial listen. What Broken Side of Time does lack however, are key lyrical hooks which draw you in to the concept of the individual tracks, but this is to be expected from a young pair of aspiring writers. Timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maturity and experience may evolve Alberta Cross into a cult name to remember.

6/10

9/10

1/10

3/10

7/10

Stuart Edwards

Romain Chenet

Joe Skrebels

Elliot Bentley

Stuart Edwards

Them Crooked Vultures

32

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

CULTURE

TV & Radio

TV & Radio TV & Radio Editor: Aimee Philipson - courier.culture-tv@ncl.ac.uk

TV Highlights Big Top BBC1, 7.30pm, Wednesday 2nd December

Delia’s Classic Christmas, BBC2, 9pm, Tuesday 1st December

COURTESY OF BBC

Waking the Baby Mammoth, C4, 9pm, Friday 4th December

COURTESY OF BBC

The Impressions Show BBC1, 9pm, Saturday 5th December

COURTESY OF CHANNEL 4

What’s happening this week in the land where anything is possible... Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor

COURTESY OF BBC

Coronation Street

Rosie announces to John that she wants to be a doctor. He is diplomatic until he realises she wants money from him for her ‘funding’ and politely declines. However, scheming Rosie threatens to accuse John of assault if he does not give her the money.

I don't know about you , but I’ve always found the circus pretty creepy. Strangely enough that is why the idea of Big Top appeals to me. Instead of actually going to the circus, you can get a glimpse of the behindthe-scenes world, and instead of being expected to laugh at the performance you can laugh at the real people, which let's face it, is a lot more fun. Starring Amanda Holden as the circus leader desperately trying to keep order among her performers, Tony Robinson as the cynical accounts manager, and a team including those who’ve worked on Jonathan Creek and dinnerladies, expectations are running high for this upbeat new comedy series. As with a lot of new shows this one deals with some of the 'now' issues, such as immigration. Whilst I worry that this will detract from the show itself I’m hoping that they strike the right balance, and I think that if they do, they could have a new hit on their hands. Jamie Sherwood

If Nigella puts the sex in cookery and Gordon adds the expletives WKHQ'HOLDLVWKHPLGGOHFODVVKRXVH wife who can still make your mouth water. ,W·V WKH ÀUVW WLPH 'HOLD·V EHHQ RQ our screens for over ten years and in this festive cookery special she’ll be showing us what we’ve been missing. 60 minutes of indulgent recipes IURP SDQHWWRQH WULÁH DQG FKRFRODWH and sour cherry crumble to the traditional bronzed turkey with all the WULPPLQJV DQG ÀOOHW RI EHHI ZLWK wild mushroom and red wine sauce will get your mouths watering for the holiday season. The programme includes planning tips for those important festive meals DQG'HOLD·VVWHSE\VWHSJXLGHVZLOO help with common cooking issues. Give your mam and dad a break this Christmas (or save money and offer your services as a Christmas SUHVHQW" DQGJHWEDVWLQJDQGEUHDG FUXPELQJWKLV'HFHPEHU

When out for a walk in 2007 in North Western Siberia, a nomadic reindeer KHUGHUFDPHDFURVVZKDWDWÀUVWDS peared to be the body of a reindeer. Upon closer inspection it actually turned out to be the preserved body of a one-month old baby mammoth, who last walked the earth about 40,000 years ago. She was named ‘Lyuba’ and is the most perfectly preserved woolly mammoth ever found. Scientists are very excited to experLPHQWZLWKWKH'1$RI¶/\XED·DQG expect to make many new discoveries about how she died and what she can reveal about the ice age and climate change. I love a good documentary and this should be a really interesting one to catch, with what her body may be able to tell us about 40,000 years of the Earth’s history. Scientists are fascinated by her, so hopefully this enthusiasm will come across in the documentary. I’ll certainly be watching!

Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor

Eleanor Wilson

The Impressions Show continues its run with another satirical look at the world of celebrity using an assortment of uncanny impressions. Jon Culshaw is well known for his impersonations, having come to fame on BBC Radio 4’s Dead Ringers and the BBC Two television series that followed, he’s also featured in ITV shows Headcases and 2DTV. 'HEUD 6WHSKHQVRQ LV D QHZFRPHU to impressions having started her career in acting, most known for her part in Coronation Street, but she moves into her new role with ease. ,Q WKLV ZHHN·V HSLVRGH 'DYLQD McCall and Claudia Winkleman face another dilemma, there’s a showdown between Anne Robinson and Simon Cowell while even A-list stars Brangelina can’t escape Culshaw and Stephenson. All impression shows tend to be hit and miss but there’s enough variety here to keep your attention for the full half hour. Particular highlights include Culshaw’s fantastic Michael MacIntyre and Gok Wan impressions DQG 6WHSKHQVRQ·V SHUIHFW 'DQQLL Minogue. Adam Williams

Start your week with NSR Christian Allen NSR Station Manager Monday mornings are never an easy time for students, the excitement of Saturday evening is but a distance memory and the headache of another day’s recommended reading a reality. To get over those start of the week blues NSR has a line-up that will cure the strongest of hangovers. From 10-11 ‘Seb and Adam’s NS Arrrrr’ pirate radio combines great music with excitable banter unrivalled by any other breakfast slot, keeping listeners entertained with features such as walk the plank and plenty of jokes and disgusting forfeits along the way! Following on from this, ‘Progressive

$PSOLÀFDWLRQ·LVDPXVLFVKRZWKDW aims to kick start your day with a satisfactory dose of alternative rock. Nothing too heavy just a bunch of WXQHV WKDW LQÁXHQFHG PRGHUQ URFN music as well as tracks from bands that continually raise the bar today, with the occasional bit of social commentary! From 12-1 Monday’s ‘NSR Lunch hour’ is with Arabella and Sarah. Last week the girls discussed burning issues such as X Factor, Facebook applications and Christmas gifts as well as giving their take on Ape-x and Zap going head to head. Music included recent hits from Cobra Starship and Shakira as well as some of their own choices. ‘How to’ with Lucy and Jess fol-

lows from 1-2 providing a survival guide for the students of Newcastle. Recent topics have included ‘how to survive November’ and ‘how to chill out’ for those students feeling the pressure of multiple essays. Expect the latest chart hits and feel good tracks, this week courtesy of Kings of Leon, Eagles and Bob 0DUOH\7KHÀQDOWRSLFRIGLVFXVVLRQ from the girls this week was ‘what fruit or vegetable would you be’ so if you think a blueberry and a passion fruit make for good radio then be sure to tune in!

Inside today >>>

The best boxsets to buy this Christmas Culture, page 34

Eastenders

0D[ LV VR GHVSHUDWH WR ÀQG WKH …N he needs to pay off his debts that he asks Masood if he can help deliver the post, but turns to selling stuff from the house after receiving Abi and Lauren’s Christmas lists, which include a real tree with lots of decorations. What will Ronnie do when she returns home to ÀQG5R[\LQEHGZLWK'U$O"

Hollyoaks

The pressure is on as Zoe’s murder trial looms. Meanwhile, Jack’s impressed DV7KHUHVDÀ[HVKLVFDUZKLOH'DUHHQ looks on. Elsewhere, Josh is still busy lusting after India and is delighted when he manages to steal a kiss after he steps in when her credit card is reMHFWHGDW7KH'RJ

Emmerdale

Belle, Will and Sam are showing Olena around the Home Farm estate when Will suddenly falls to the ground and starts convulsing. Natasha is distraught and when Mark comes home to the commotion she demands to know why he wasn’t here. Will Mark lie about )D\HDJDLQ":LOO2OHQDEHGLVFRY HUHG" Coming to you from Newcastle’s only student television station, we have brand new programmes to check out. Plus, we are making new shows all the time, so if you still want to get involved email us at nutvsoc@ncl. ac.uk. :H SURYLGH ÀOPLQJ DQG HGLWLQJ equipment for all those interested in PDNLQJÀOPV:HEURDGFDVWRXUSUR grams online at NUTV.co.uk. This week watch the new Music Show: ‘Ouseburn Sessions!’ featuring Twilight Sad. Also, stay updated with the news by watching NU-TV News, a weekly current affairs documentary. Ioana Pescaru

Neighbours

Zeke’s stood his girlfriend up, he’s got Harry looking for him, Robin is making a move on Sunny - and all the while he’s stuck in a cupboard at the radio station! Elsewhere, it looks like Elle and Lucas’ relationship is about to become public knowledge. Lucas doesn’t seem to PLQGEXWZKDW·VERWKHULQJ(OOH"

Home and Away

Kirsty is rushed to hospital after collapsing, but the doctors don’t know what’s wrong with her. She LV UHDVVXUHG WKDW WKH EDE\ LV ÀQH but things take a turn for the worse when she has a seizure.

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

33

TV & Radio

CULTURE

with

Lucie Jones Tom Delamere & Emma Chandler This week, The Courier met with X Factorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lucie Jones at Powerhouse. After performing and signing numerous autographs for excited fans, the Welsh WHHQDJHUUHĂ HFWHGRQKHUGHDGORFNZLWK Jedward, chatted about fashion and turned the questions on the interviewers... So what have you been up to since the X Factor? Just been touring around the country, doing clubs and turning on Christmas lights and stuff like that. I opened a shop the other day, I felt really royal cutting the ribbon! It was really good. So having a lot of fun then! Going back to the night that you were eliminated, before then you had never been in the bottom two before, the public seemed to love you and the judges opinions seemed really positive â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what do you think caused the vote count to be so low that night? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, I think to be honest it could have been anyone because I thought that week was really good... Yeah, a lot of people said that was your best performance. A lot of people have said that but the song was quite unfamiliar and I think maybe thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what did it for me. Do you think Simon was wrong to push the vote to deadlock, giving an act he has previously described as â&#x20AC;&#x153;vileâ&#x20AC;?, a chance of survival? ,GRQ¡WNQRZDWĂ&#x20AC;UVW,ZDVDELWOLNH â&#x20AC;&#x153;Okay, never mind,â&#x20AC;? but he did say he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think either of us could win so if he had chosen it would have been for the wrong reasons

> Compulsive viewing from the gruesome twosome Helen Atkinson Most girls (and some guys) Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come across have an opinion on Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bitchyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is probably the most popular word used to describe the twosome, who revolutionised television make-over shows with What Not to Wear ZKLFK Ă&#x20AC;UVW DLUHG RQ %%& LQ  What Not to Wear was groundbreaking for a make-over show (I kid you not). Fat arse? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t draw attention to it. No â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;titsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry, neither has Trinny. Trinny and Susannah taught us to make the most of our assets, with-

anyway. Would you buy a record by Jedward? I would yeah! Why? Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re cool! Why, would you not? (Shocked at the switch of interviewer) Alright! No I would yeah, I think they are a good act. Who did you get on with best in the X Factor house? Erm, I got on really well with Stacey and Rachel. Now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen you doing a spot of shopping this week, I think it was Lipsy we saw you in, tried on a few dresses. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been reported that you thought the X Factor got your style a bit wrong... Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve not said that, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where that came from. We tried out all different styles, I was comfortable with them all, thought they were all really cool. 6R \RX¡YH JRW QR RXWĂ&#x20AC;WV WKDW \RX regret? No, not really at all. I really like them; I really want to keep them all.

tated questions.

$QGĂ&#x20AC;QDOO\

Erm, I went to see Twilight (New Moon) today so I thought that would be a really good date because LW¡VVXFKDJRRGĂ&#x20AC;OPDQG,ORYHLW

What is your favourite favour of crisps?

Are you a massive Twilight fan then?

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got two, well three. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Walkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be the green ones, salt and vinegar, or prawn cocktail. If Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m feeling really daring itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got to be Sensations, Thai Sweet Chilli.

Yeah, probably Team Edward.

Oh do you not get to keep them? I think you do but they are getting used for the X Factor tour. Who do you think has got the best chance of winning, or who would you like to see win the X Factor this year?

If you could have any superpower what would it be and why? 3UREDEO\WRà \EHFDXVH,¡PVREXV\ it would be so convenient! If you were an animal, what would it be and why?

I think that Joe is the most talented in it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to see Stacey win but I think Ollie will win.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d probably be a lion cub because I think they are quite cute and cuddly and I like cuddles.

Yeah he seems to be quite a favourite. Now a few more student orien-

Where would you like to be taken RQDĂ&#x20AC;UVWGDWH"

out resorting to surgery or parading around naked, and for this it should be recognised. Each week, an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;unfashionableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; person was nominated by friends and family to be scrutinised by the fashionable pair. Cameras followed the participant in secret for two weeks, before Trinny and Susannah ambushed them. As a consolation to the shame of having your frumpy wardrobe displayed to the UK public, the show JDYH SDUWLFLSDQWV Â&#x2026; WR EX\ clothes. Jealous, moi? However before being let loose on the high street, contestants had to IDFH WKH KRUURUV RI WKH  GHJUHH mirror. This was the cruellest part of the show without a doubt, as contestants were forced to stand in their underwear while Trinny and Susannah dissected every part of their body. Woodall and Constantine succeeded in always looking immaculate, making the dumpy contestants feel even worse. But no matter what you think of them, the pushy pair nearly always got it right. Participants looked betWHU DQG JDLQHG VR PXFK FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH after getting a makeover from the twosome.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying spending your student loan at the Metro Centre will solve all your problems, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure most of you can testify that you DOZD\V IHHO PRUH FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQW LI \RX look good. And before you discount this, lads, as another one of those â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;patheticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; girly shows, men werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exempt from being ambushed by the Trinny and Susannah. I for one loved the episode where Top Gear anchor Jeremy Clarkson was given a make-over, famously declaring afterwards that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather eat his own hair than â&#x20AC;&#x153;shop with these two againâ&#x20AC;?. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve watched Top Gear lately, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see the pair didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t manage to successfully change Jeremyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ă&#x20AC;[DWLRQZLWKSDOHEOXHKLJKZDLVWHG jeans. Shudder. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not suggesting that this show should be revived, as the market no longer requires another TV makeover show. However I believe What Not to Wear deserves credit for revolutionising the way we think about our bodies. Trinny and Susannah believed in tough love and were harsh, but fair. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about you, but I would run a mile if I saw these two approaching me on Northumberland Streetâ&#x20AC;Ś

Other than your mentor, who was your favourite judge? Cheryl, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s absolutely adorable, she is what she is. You see her on TV and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how she is in real life. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really nice.

backstage and behind the scenes do you get to interact with the acts and judges? Yeah well the acts, we all live together so we are together the whole week. On the weekend we all go and do the same thing so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all really cool, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all supportive of each other â&#x20AC;&#x201C; well not anymore now because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m gone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but it was cool because we supported each other going through the same kind of thing. Yeah you do see each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mentors and they are kind of looking out for you all, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really nice. Well thank you very much for a brilliant performance tonight.

So did you get to speak to Cheryl a lot then?

Thank you, thanks for having me!

Yeah we spoke to all of them really but Cheryl is the most approachable.

Love them? Loathe them? See them live DQGPDNHXS\RXUPLQG

The way that the programme portrays it, it seems in the week you have a lot of direct contact with your own mentor. When you are

X Factorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s John and Edward will be perIRUPLQJDW3RZHUKRXVHWKLV)ULGD\WK December.

34

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

CULTURE

TV & Radio

TV boxsets for your Christmas lists One Tree Hill Season 6 ÂŁ34.68 A must-have DVD boxset this Christmas has to be Season Six of One Tree Hill. Why, you might ask yourself? Well if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve watched the show you will know that out of all the dramas for young adults to come out of the U.S., this is pretty much as good as it gets. It basically follows the lives of a group of young people from a small North Carolina town. The main protagonists are two half brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott, who are unfortunate enough to have the Devil for a father, not literally of course, but Dan Scott is certainly no saint. This season begins with the fallout from Danâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accident and Lucas making a surprise phone call, but to who - Brooke, Peyton or Lindsey? We see our cast continue to struggle with adult life postcollege and make some truly life altering decisions. Will it be make or break for Brookeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothing line? Will Nathan make a shock NBA comeback? Has Dan met his match? And the million dollar question, ZLOO/XFDVĂ&#x20AC;QDOO\FKRRVHZKRKH wants to be with for keeps? If like me you would like to know the answers to these questions and more, then send a memo to Santa ASAP! Imran Javed

The Tudors Complete Series 1-3, ÂŁ34.48 Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s factually inaccurate, bursting with menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tight-clad thighs and 16th century sex positions and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to tell whether the axe or the King gets more action; but if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the mood for some historical indulgence, The Tudors has it all. The series follows the wellknown story of King Henry VIII and his infamous line of wives; Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. 7KH Ă&#x20AC;UVW VHULHV IRFXVHV RQ +HQryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationship with Catherine of Aragon and his controversial seduction of Anne Boleyn. Other key characters include Cardinal Wolsey (played by Sam Neill) and Thomas Moore (played by Jeremy Northam). I have to say the main attraction of the series is the tanned and toned male cast. Jonathan Rhys Myers steals the show with his rippling torso, loud grunts and numerous conquests but if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not a Jon fan, there are plenty of other sexy, cod-piece wearing men to keep you interested. I warn you though (or encourage you...) this series is not family viewing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a term-time pleasure to be watched with your JLUOĂ&#x20AC;UHQGV,Ă&#x20AC;QGER\VGRQ¡WDSpreciate the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;historyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; too much. Beware not to watch it with history undergraduates either otherwise all youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hear is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen...thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not right...â&#x20AC;&#x2122; which does tend to ruin it. ,W¡V Ă&#x20AC;OWK\ YDJXHO\ HGXFDWLRQDO and easy to follow. What more do you want in a TV series boxset? Aimee Philipson TV&Radio Editor

Sex and the City Complete Boxset ÂŁ50.28

The Sopranos Complete Season 1-6 ÂŁ57.97

The West Wing Complete Season 1-7 ÂŁ44.97

You seldom come across a show as all-encompassing as The Sopranos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A drama closer to the sweep and heft of Shakespeare than anything before itâ&#x20AC;?, is how one critic put it. Few who have seen it would disagree. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than a Mob series, more than a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hard hittingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; drama; it is a brutal depiction of humanity through the exasperated eyes of a gangster. Family life, power struggles, youth, old age, sex, depression... the topics covered are endless. And the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insight into each - perfection. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the plot then? Tony Soprano suffers panic attacks from the stress of running two families: his wife and kids, and the North -HUVH\PDĂ&#x20AC;D He sees a psychiatrist. They talk about his Mother (and ducks). Then we are thrust full throttle into the storm that is his life. Tony is the ultimate anti-hero - a menacing sociopath, with a compassionate edge, whose foul-mouthed rants are more poetic than vulgar. He is surrounded by a sadistic crew of shell-suit wearing mobsters who, when they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t whacking someone, are eating or cracking jokes; becoming as much DSDURG\DVDJORULĂ&#x20AC;FDWLRQRIWKHLU lifestyle. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s violent, very violent. But poignant, and one of the funniest shows ever made too. At 50 minutes long, each episode (83 in toWDO FRXOGDOPRVWEHDĂ&#x20AC;OPVXFKLV the quality of the writing. With subtle nods to a range of LQĂ XHQFHV IURP The Godfather to Yeats, it never fails to surprise and keeps us guessing to the very end. The only problem arises (much like The Wire  ZKHQ \RX¡YH Ă&#x20AC;Qished them all and your life feels empty. Just do what I do. Watch them again.

Set in a hospital, Green Wing follows the dramas, romances and rivalries between the (generally quite odd) staff in a highly comedic way. From dwarf killing to accidental incest and subsequent ambulance theft, this really isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your usual sitcom. The main characters include: the unlucky in love. new surgical registrar Caroline Todd (Tamsin Greig); the incredibly self-conĂ&#x20AC;GHQW ODGLHV PDQ *X\ 6HFUHWDQ (Stephen Mangan); the handsome and quick witted surgeon Dr â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Macâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Macartney (Julian RhindTutt); the anal, easily antagonised perfectionist, and exceedingly strange consultant radiologist, Dr. Alan Statham (Mark Heap) and the brilliantly funny, MacREVHVVHG VWDII OLDLVRQ RIĂ&#x20AC;FHU 6XH White (Michelle Gomez). With such a range of great characters and bizarre situations in the very ordinary setting of a hospital, Green Wing canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really go wrong! It was written by the same team that brought us Smack the Pony, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high quality stuff; for any sitcom fans out there Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say that Green Wing LV GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ D PXVW see (and for any ladies interested, Oliver Chris and Julian RhindTutt make for some very goodlooking viewing).

Politics may not seem like the ideal base for TV entertainment yet Aaron Sorkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s multi award winning (a staggering 88 in total) comedy drama raised the bar of critical and commercial acclaim on so many levels. )ROORZLQJDĂ&#x20AC;FWLRQDOGHPRFUDWLF administration under the leadership of President Josiah â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Jedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bartlett, The West Wing offered an indepth analysis of the structure of American politics and examined universal social, economic and political issues in an enlightening and very watchable way. Armed with a hyper intelligent and witty script and a highly talented cast it was no surprise that the show received the attention it did. Although The West Wing was ripped apart by its right wing critics and nicknamed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Left Wingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Sorkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show remained balanced on the quality of its content and never failed to present both sides of an argument; it did not fall into the trap of dramatising Barlettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republican rivals as discriminative upper class snobs determined to take advantage of the lower classes. While there were many star cameos throughout all seven series including Chrisitan Slater, Matthew Perry and Glenn Close, the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regular cast deserve a special mention; especially Allison Janneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turn as White House Press Secretary C.J. Cregg. The West Wing may not have been the most accurate depiction of politics, however it does show us what we would want modern day politics to be more like without ever failing to entertain us in the process.

Paul Christian

Eleanor Wilson

-DPHV)DLUĂ&#x20AC;HOG

Green Wing Complete Collection ÂŁ17.97

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been a recent convert to Sex and the City, becoming glued to the lives and loves of New Yorker Carrie Bradshaw and her three friends Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte in a matter of weeks. My housemate Jess deserves a mention for bestowing this love upon me. Cheers. The showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s protagonist, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker, no less) writes a weekly newspaper column entitled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sex and the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, featuring anecdotes from her sexual encounters, not to mention those of her friends. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had abuse for declaring my love for this show from male friends. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Why watch that when you can watch The Wire?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; they say. Sorry lads, but SATC is so much more emotionally satisfying! (YHU\HSLVRGHLVIXQQ\Ă&#x20AC;OWK\DQG fantastic. Its frankness with regard to promiscuity and sexuality make Sex and the City a breath of fresh air from many other American TV shows, and the half- hour episodes are great for a bit of indulgence. You will laugh, you will cry, you will wish you had a wardrobe like Carrieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s , you will ask yourself the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;which character am I?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; question, but you will not regret buying the box-set featuring all six seasons. So as I sit in the Cochrane Lounge with my coffee (not my Cosmopolitan, Ă la Carrie Bradshaw) I wonder, could this box-set be the answer to your Christmas gift woes? As Samantha would say, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fabulous!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Helen Atkinson

Vicar of Dibley Ultimate Collection ÂŁ24.78 Dibleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s female vicar - whose two favourite things in life are chocolate and Jesus - is to my mind one of the best characters to come out of British television. She describes herself as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;babe ZLWKDEREFXWDQGDPDJQLĂ&#x20AC;FHQW bosomâ&#x20AC;?. She is a bonne vivante and a large, liberal woman who enjoys nothing more than a good laugh. The Vicar of Dibley is my nomination for best TV boxset because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a series for the whole family that you can watch over and over again and never tire of, and it always puts me in a good mood. Each character is hilarious; the â&#x20AC;&#x153;no, no, no, no, no, yers...â&#x20AC;? of Jim, the crude English farmer Owen, boring old Frank, crazy Mrs. Cropley, simple country bumpkin Hugo and his condescending dad David; and of course dippy Alice, Geraldineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side kick whose naivety and stupidity are cause for great laughter. Each episode is side-splittingly funny, especially the Christmas specials which normally feature a big celebrity. The box set of this charmingly (QJOLVK VHULHV LV PRVW GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ on my Christmas wish list. Cordelia Rosa

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

35

Puzzles Editors: Suzi Moore and Ned Walker - courier.puzzles@ncl.ac.uk

CROSSWORD

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ACROSS

DOWN

1. The most common element in the air (8) )ULGD\QLJKWWDONVKRZKRVWĂ&#x20AC;UVWQDPH 

9. Kitchen appliance (7) 10. Act of combining and heating food (7) 11. Line of objects; argue (3) 12. Keep people amused (9) 15. Distant in space or time (3) 18. Pandasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; native country (5) 19. Train system in Newcastle (5) 22. Female tennis sisters (8) 9LFWRULDQSRHW86LQYHQWRURIĂ&#x20AC;UHDUPV

26. Uncertainty/distrust of fact (5) 27. Film starring 32 down (5) 0DWHUQDOĂ&#x20AC;JXUH

30. Person who designs buildings (9) 33. Everything (3) 36. Smallest bone in the body found in the ear (7) 37. West End Musical set in a ladies prison (7) 38. Harry Potterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s school (8) 39. Manual (8)

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2. Surname of 4 across (4) 3. Colour made by combining yellow and blue (5) 5. ----- Campbell, model famous for throwing tantrums (5) 6. Assume; accept (4) 7. Former British colony in W Africa on the Gulf of Guinea (7) 8. Someone who takes things from place to place; type of bag (7) 13. Having a profoundly detrimental effect on you (9) 14. Deserving high esteem (9) 16. Lacking depth (7) 17. Your parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father (7) 7RSOXQJHEULHĂ \LQWRDOLTXLG

21. A single item (3) 24. Someone who lives in a town or city (7) 25. Manny in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ice Ageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is this animal (7) 28. Young or castrated male cow (7) 31. Tool for measuring length (5) 32. Sacha Baron -----, comedian (5) 34. Panorama (4) 35. Hard skin that grows over a healing wound (4)

SUDOKU

Solution to last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword

ODD ONE OUT Spot the crook amongst the crocs

7KHREMHFWLYHLVWRĂ&#x20AC;OOWKHJULGVRWKDWHDFK column, each row and each of the nine 3Ă&#x2014;3 ER[HVFRQWDLQVWKHGLJLWVIURPWRRQO\ one time each. For the completed puzzle FKHFNQH[WZHHN¡VHGLWLRQRIThe Courier

PICTURE PHRASE PUZZLE

Solution to last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sudoku

Use the pictures to come up with a phrase, thing, place or name. 7U\WRĂ&#x20AC;QGWKHFRPPRQWKHPH

WORD HOPPER Fill in each lily pad with a genuine 4 letter word. As Fred the frog hops from lily pad to lily pad, change one letter of WKHZRUG7KHGHĂ&#x20AC;QLWLRQVZLOOKHOSEXWWKH\PD\QRWFRU respond to the order of the lily pads. Clues 1. Not all of, Clue 2. Hurting, Clue 3. Small opening in the skin, Clue 4. In front of, Clue 5. Protection of defence

ANSWERS Odd one out: In the left column of crocodiles the second one down from the top has a smooth tail. , Picture Phrase Puzzle: Arctic MonNH\V%DVHPHQW-D[[6QRZ3DWURO Atomic Kitten. Theme - Bands. Word Hopper: FORK, FORT, FORE, PORE, SORE, SOME, SAME.

A

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

37

NURL crush John Moores > Sport, page 38 Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Jamie Gavin and Tom James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk

All that he touches turns to gold Christopher Hay Comment Why does everyone suddenly hate Thierry Henry? He isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a cheat - heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pioneer, a maverick, a sporting deity. And he clearly doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care what the footballing press thinks of him either. In a few monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; time, the Frenchman will be making his Australian Open debut in front of thousands of fans who do appreciate his talents. Having cemented his spot at the top of the ATP world rankings, by October heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be helping Europe to Ryder Cup success in Wales. Despite the current uproar, Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handball in Paris will soon come to be celebrated for the sublime brilliance that it was. It will go down as the historic moment that he decided to show the world that he is a genius with his hands as well as with his feet. His act is being interpreted far too literally - yes, it broke â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the rulesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t they there to be broken anyway?), but it also broke boundaries and conventions. This was no ordinary, clumsy handball. This was absolute sporting perfection. In the blink of a Swedish refereeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye, he nimbly caressed a slippery, spinning football back into play with his hand before setting up a matchwinning goal with his feet. Contrary to popular belief, Shay Given didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t run up to the referee with his hands aloft in order to protest. Rather, he ZDVVKRXWLQJDQGSXQFKLQJKLVĂ&#x20AC;VWV in celebration, rejoicing in the majesty of what he had just seen Henry do. Henry has recently claimed he considered retiring from international football in the aftermath of his wizardry. Not surprising, considering all the other sporting bodies that must be vying for his time. International football may well have to take a back seat if he is WR IXOĂ&#x20AC;O KLV GUHDP RI PDNLQJ WKH

/H+DQGRI*RGDIWHUKLVGLYLQHLQWHUYHQWLRQWRSXW)UDQFHWKURXJKWRWKH:RUOG&XSÂżQDOV7KLHUU\+HQU\PD\QRZWU\SXWWLQJKLVKDQGWRRWKHUVSRUWV

French table-tennis team at the 2012 Olympics. Ronnie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Sullivan must be quaking in his shiny shoes, now Thierry and his perfect hand-eye coordination are in town. The sporting landscape is in the palm of his hand... Gillette must be foaming. The shaving giants are estimated to have shelled out around six million pounds for the services of Tiger Woods and Roger Federer alongside Henry in their advertising campaigns - surely money wasted,

now the Frenchman has shown to be more than a match for their combined talents. Why expensively employ three sportsmen, when with one shrug of his Gallic shoulders, Henry could GR LW DOO E\ KLPVHOI" 7KDW GHIW Ă LFN had all the guile and disguise of an angled Federer forehand, and all the precision of a thirty-foot Woods putt. And, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proven he can do it at the highest level, with the whole world watching. There may yet be those who can

challenge Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imminent domination of the sporting landscape. Those lovable Neville brothers are alleged to be decent cricketers, while Rafael Nadal is supposed to be a talented footballer. Well, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to follow Thierryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead and prove it. Rafa, next time youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on court, put your racket down and hammer down an overhead-kick ace. Gary, if you see a teammate in acres of space, pick up the ball and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see that overarm throw, eh?

Talk of Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handball should not be bogged down by rule books and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fair playâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; debates. With Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handling skills, France no longer needs to put a reserve goalkeeper on the bench. We should be praising the strikerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovation and versatility, not attacking his honesty. Because if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest ever sportsman may never return to football. Which would be a travesty. Hands down.

<RUNVFRUHIRXURQPLVHUDEOHGD\IRUĂ&#x20AC;UVWWHDP Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Football

Newcastle 1sts York 1sts

1 4

Jamie Gavin Sports Editor at Cochrane Park Newcastle were thrashed at Cochrane Park in a game that deals a devastating blow to their promotion hopes. They are now ten points adrift of OHDJXH OHDGHUV 6KHIĂ&#x20AC;HOG  ZKR EHDW Hull 2-1 last Wednesday - and they PXVW QRZ ZLQ DOO Ă&#x20AC;YH RI WKHLU UH PDLQLQJĂ&#x20AC;[WXUHVWRKDYHDQ\FKDQFH of league success this season. The 4-1 result matched a dismal display from the home side, who were out-thought, out-passed and out-tackled by a York University side who had clearly come for all three points. )URP WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW PLQXWH WKH DZD\ side imposed themselves on the game and the Royals were simply not at the races on a wet and blustery Wednesday afternoon. The damage was done by halftime,

with York â&#x20AC;&#x201C; playing down breeze - going into the break with a three goal advantage. The hostsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defence looked increasLQJO\IUDLODQGGUDLQHGRIFRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH as the half wore on, with the third goal right on half-time acting as a killer blow to any hopes of a comeback. And the Royals could have no complaints. Particularly in the opening stages they were plainly second best as the visitors looked the much VKDUSHURXWĂ&#x20AC;WRQWKHGD\ They broke the deadlock after just eight minutes when a single pass from the right unlocked the Newcastle defence. A York striker raced clear and coolly rounded â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;keeper Andy Kilshaw before slotting home to open the scoring. Just after quarter of an hour the Royals should have been level. A lovely piece of full-back play by Phil Nelson on the left saw him break GRZQ WKH Ă DQN DQG GHOLYHU D FXUO ing cross towards the far post. Will Deledicq attacked it well, but he got underneath the ball from close range and it sailed agonisingly over the top.

The game was scrappy at times and the home side struggled to win the battle in the middle of the park, where play became increasingly tight with both sides opting for a Ă&#x20AC;YHPDQPLGĂ&#x20AC;HOG However, as the half wore on, the Royals began to put a string of passes together, and this culminated in another move down the left. This time it was winger Ben Burt who crossed, with Deledicq again on hand round the back of the far post. His touch was excellent and he FXWEDFNIURPWKHE\OLQHDQGĂ&#x20AC;UHGD left foot shot against the bar. Deledicq was the one glimmer of KRSHLQWKHĂ&#x20AC;UVWKDOIIRUWKH5R\DOV but they were dealt a blow minutes later, as the away side doubled their lead on the half hour mark. ,Q VLPLODU IDVKLRQ WR WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW D through-ball split Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defence down the centre. The Royals lost possession down the right and this allowed a visiting full-back to surge forward and play the crucial pass. In the clear, Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s striker took just one touch before calmly placing an early left-foot shot which was slot-

ted beautifully past Kilshaw for 2-0. This shocked the hosts, who had enjoyed a positive twenty minute spell prior to the second goal. But York were to hammer home their advantage just before halftime, and they effectively ended the game as a contest before the break with their third. A left-foot corner was put in from the right and - as Newcastle claimed Kilshaw was impeded - a York midĂ&#x20AC;HOGHU OXUNHG MXVW EHKLQG KLP DQG headed home unmarked inside the six yard box. The referee waved away the protests, but the Royalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; inquiries might have been better spent on how the unmarked man was allowed so much space so close to their goal. With the wind, the hosts put up PRUH RI D Ă&#x20AC;JKW LQ WKH VHFRQG KDOI They dominated possession for long periods of time and carved chances, Ă&#x20AC;UVW WKURXJK VWULNHU -DPHV 6ZDLQ VWRQZKRĂ&#x20AC;UHGZLGHIURPWKHHGJH of the box, and then through Rob Thackwray, who looked certain to score from a corner, but his misguided header went just wide. To make matters worse, York

scored a breakaway goal with 15 minutes remaining. As the Royals searched for a lifeline, the ball was cleared and York played down the left before another through-ball set the away striker through on goal once more. In somewhat of a mirror image of WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW JRDO KH URXQGHG .LOVKDZ and poked the ball in to the EMPTY net to make it four. Will Deledicqâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late header was nothing more than he deserved for his performance, but it was no consolation for Newcastle, who will Ă&#x20AC;QGLWGLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOWWRWDNHDQ\SRVLWLYHV from the game, on a day the home side will want to forget. With potentially two big games left before the winter break, the Royals will have to learn fast, or they could Ă&#x20AC;QGWKHLUVHDVRQVOLSSLQJLQWRPH diocrity before the New Year. 7KH\IDFH+XGGHUVĂ&#x20AC;HOGLQDFUXFLDO cup second round encounter, before, should they prevail, playing either 1RUWKXPEULDUGVRU6KHIĂ&#x20AC;HOG+DO lam 2nds in their last BUCS game of 2009.

38

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

SPORT H. NEUENDORF

Spotlight on... American Football Tarren Smarr

Bonkers Brady stars for NURL Men’s Rugby League

Newcastle 1sts Liverpool JM 1sts

36 14

Kevin Davey at Cochrane Park With NURL only playing once over the last month, the team went into WKLV À[WXUH ORZ LQ ÀWQHVV EXW KLJK LQ FRQÀGHQFH  $IWHU ZLQQLQJ WKH FRUUHVSRQGLQJDZD\WLHZLWKDQHDU LGHQWLFDOOLQHXSRQO\WUDJHG\FRXOG GHUDLOWKH'HDWK0DFKLQH 7UDJHG\RIVRUWVGXO\VWUXFNZKHQ KXPDQLQJHVWLRQHQJLQH:LOO:LQWHU JUHHGLO\VFRIIHGIRXUWLQVRI5HG%XOO DQGZDVVWUXFNGRZQZLWKVWRPDFK FUDPSV DQG SURMHFWLOH YRPLWLQJ 5XOHG RXW IRU WKH PDWFK 1HZFDV WOHZHUHGRZQWRDV:LQWHUFXWD IRUORUQÀJXUHRQWKHWRXFKOLQHZLWK RQO\ KLV SXWULG EUHDWK IRU D ÀJXUD WLYHGRJ

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THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

39

SPORT

D. POLLARD

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy and you know it clap your feet > Dominic Pollard delivers an insight into the world of Intra Mural newcomers Happy Feet This week I have been shadowing the Intra Mural sporting side â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Happy Feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as a means of gaining an insight into their life both on and off WKHĂ&#x20AC;HOG My discovery was that the Happy Feet football and hockey teams must certainly be one of the most interesting sides in their respective Intra 0XUDOFRPSHWLWLRQV The football team, which is captained by Oliver Fisher, also provides the core of a mixed sex hockey side which is captained by Guy RobHUWV The two sides that make up the Happy Feet organisation consist of D JURXS RI DURXQG  SHRSOH 7KH\ are housemates, course mates, boyIULHQGVDQGJLUOIULHQGV Happy Feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Claire â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Big Buildâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Barnsley, cornerstone of the hockey side, quoted them as being â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a slight-

O\LQFHVWXRXV¡EXQFK The abilities of the players vary from some of the more technical and athletic individuals to those who have never played before; like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sophus Maximusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; who had never handled a hockey stick before this \HDU The football team currently sit bottom of Intra Mural Division Four making them the worst team in the competition after six losses in as PDQ\JDPHV The hockey team on the other hand have enjoyed more success as they have won two, drawn two and ORVW RQO\ RQH RI WKHLU RSHQLQJ Ă&#x20AC;YH PDWFKHV However what is immediately obvious about Happy Feet is that their success in these competitions LV VRPHZKDW LUUHOHYDQW ,W EHFRPHV abundantly clear to anyone who

+DSS\GD\V,QWUD0XUDO'LYLVLRQ)RXURXWÂżW+DSS\)HHWVPLOHIRUWKHFDPHUDVDIWHUWKHLUGHIHDWWR0ROHVRNDW&ORVH+RXVHODVW:HGQHVGD\

watches any of their matches that banter and a comic team spirit re-

PDLQVSDUDPRXQWWRWKHWHDP As long as the players are enjoying themselves, which they invariably do, the result can easily be glossed RYHU)RUH[DPSOHWKHIRRWEDOOWHDP preferred to say that they are enjoying a successful run of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;moral victoULHV¡ The Wednesday football games and Sunday hockey games are followed by post-match â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Happy Drinksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; when the team goes out to FHOHEUDWHWKHVHÂśPRUDOYLFWRULHV¡ The social side appears to provide the fundamental basis for the inYROYHPHQWRIPXFKRIWKHWHDP 7KLV LOOXVWUDWHV KRZ RIIWKHĂ&#x20AC;HOG activities are often the main reasons for people getting involved in Intra 0XUDOVSRUWV7HDPVDUHDVPXFKD social club as they are a means of getting involved in sport, especially IRUWKHORZHUGLYLVLRQVLGHV For Happy Feet the humour doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t subside on game day as the team turn up in their fetching skintight, stripy, multicoloured kits from WKHZRPHQ¡VVHFWLRQRI3ULPDUN This, coupled with their traditional warm-up routine of side stepping while singing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy and you know it clap your feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, does well to set the tone for their sporting SHUIRUPDQFH This weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s match saw Happy Feet take on Molesok in a slightly RQHVLGHGDIIDLU&RQGLWLRQVDW&ORVH House were not favourable to Happy Feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usual approach of total football and they suffered a heavy ORVVDJDLQVWFOLQLFDORSSRVLWLRQ A brace by tight-wearing Molesok striker Johnny Addy saw them take an early lead before Eddie Collingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cross-cum-shot deceived Happy Feet utility man Jack Wilson, who had the misfortune of being this ZHHN¡V JRDONHHSHU WR PDNH LW  Two more goals resulted from sloppy defending as Molesok took a 5-0 OHDGLQWRWKHEUHDN Happy Feet did storm home to a second half victory however which KLJKOLJKWHG WKDW WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDOI VFRUH line was not an accurate representation of the division in quality beWZHHQWKHWZRVLGHV James Claxton knocked in a couple of second half goals for Happy Feet, which were followed by ironic cries of a potential comeback which, VKRFNLQJO\QHYHUPDWHULDOLVHG Defensive errors and a lack of composure going forward plagued Happy Feet throughout the match

as they slumped to a sixth straight GHIHDW7KHVHFRQGKDOIDOVRVDZGHfender Sean Smith endure a knock to the knee as the sideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unfortunate UXQRILQMXULHVFRQWLQXHG Despite suffering another heavy loss, the emphasis in the halftime and fulltime huddles remained on the players enjoying themselves and SOD\LQJZLWKDVPLOH Throughout the game any moments of good play, however simple or rare, were met with a chorus of DSSUHFLDWLRQDQGHQFRXUDJHPHQW This sense of humour and positive team spirit, which survives regardless of the performance or result, is just one thing that is unique to the +DSS\)HHWFRQJORPHUDWH They have also introduced the concept of literal rolling subs into their hockey games where players must HQWHU RU OHDYH WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOG ZLWK D IRUZDUGUROO And they are the only team you are likely to see accompanied to games by their team mascot: someone dressed as the penguin from the Ă&#x20AC;OPÂś+DSS\)HHW¡ The Happy Feet organisation is now said to be looking to expand into the Intra Mural netball competition as well as even possibly entering a rugby sevens tournament in WKHVXPPHU There are also talks of Leo â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Big Dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hacking arranging a European tour in January 2010, dates yet to be FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG What should have become evident is that Happy Feet is a team that does not take itself too seriously which, when taking part in a sporting competition, is extremely refreshing and XQLTXHLQPDQ\ZD\V Their ability to laugh at their own mistakes on the pitch and still enjoy themselves in the face of some very one-sided score lines ,combined with the banter within the group off the pitch, has created an infectiously SRVLWLYHDQGXQLTXHÂśRUJDQLVDWLRQ¡ I would suggest that similarities can certainly be drawn between Happy Feet and the recently departHG ;IDFWRU DFW -HGZDUG :KDWHYHU they may lack in talent they make XSIRULQHQWHUWDLQPHQWYDOXH For those who wish to follow the team, they have also created their own facebook fan page â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Happy Feet Hockey and Football Conglomerateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for their ever growing fan base.

40

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

SPORT

Late Smith try seals narrow win for Fairies Intra Mural Rugby Union

Southern Fairies Armstrong

15 9

William Robinson at Close House The Southern Fairies edged out Armstrong, 15-9, after a thrilling end to a somewhat messy and physical contest. $WU\LQWKHĂ&#x20AC;QDOWKUHHPLQXWHVE\ the Fairiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dave Smith, who ended with ten points overall, was enough to sink his opponents despite a second half, nine point comeback. The Fairies, on the back of a three game winning streak started strongly, with Armstrong rarely seeing beyond their own twenty-two in WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW  PLQXWHV DQG WKHLU ODFN of discipline giving away constant penalties, eventually leading to three points from Smith the Fairiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ten. As the pressure built, the Fairiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; forwards pushed on as the Armstrong defence tried to hold out, but this resistance was short-lived as the ball was delivered to outside centre Charlie SLBG, after the Southerners had built up a number of phases, who broke the tackles of his opponents back line to give the Fairies WKHĂ&#x20AC;UVWWU\ After the Fairiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dominance, possession in the last ten minutes of the Ă&#x20AC;UVWKDOIZDVHTXDOEHWZHHQWKHWZR

sides, but dropped balls and more and more penalties meant that the rugby before the break was played in the middle third, and proved to be nothing more than a dirty scrap while the referee was very much overworked. 7KH WDEOHV GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ WXUQHG LQ the second half after both sides regrouped, with Armstrong looking by far the stronger side. But they were helped along by their oppoQHQWVDVĂ \KDOI-DFN6DPOHUFORVHG WKH JDS WR  DIWHU D OD]\ UHWUHDW by the Fairiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defence, which led to a penalty for offside. He followed this up with another three, after the Southerners took over as the ill-disciplined side in the second half, closing the gap further to just four points. In spite of the gap between the two sides getting closer as the game progressed, the dynamics of the game remained the same, as the forwards played amongst themselves while the opposing stand offs tried to kick for possession and used the windy conditions to take advantage of the high ball. The backs were left twiddling their thumbs and wingers reGXFHG WR ERUHGRP LQ WKH IUHH]LQJ cold wind. Then, a forward surge from the Armstrong pack, who had dominated up front for the majority of the encounter, took their side deep into Fairy territory, and the mass pressure led to a third set of three

H. NEUENDORF

points from Samler. Another drive followed, but amounted to nothing as the Fairies turned the ball over DQG PDQDJHG WR FOHDU EXW WKH  score card set the stage for a thrilling Ă&#x20AC;QDOWHQPLQXWHV Despite the tension, handling errors and penalties still dominated proceedings, and the chance of any form of exciting rugby was very small, but a break from Fairiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Richard Davies was the inspiration that was desperately needed as he found a gap in the Armstrong defence. 7KLV OHG WR DQ RIĂ RDG WR 'DYH 6PLWK ZKR Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHG RII 'DYLHV¡ break by touching down in corner, taking the game beyond Armstrong, who, despite having fought back strongly in the second, couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t creDWHDQ\PDJLFLQWKHĂ&#x20AC;QDOPRPHQWV Even though the score line suggested otherwise, the rugby wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t by any means attractive, as the referee constantly had his arms out and the ball was constantly on the Ă RRU EXW WKH KDUGKLWWLQJ VFUDSS\ FRQWHVW SURGXFHG D UHDO Ă&#x20AC;IW\Ă&#x20AC;IW\ challenge that in the end could have gone either way. The Fairies now face Larrikins, as they look to carry on their four game winning streak and close on the Cheeky Ladies at the top, while Armstrong were left to lick their wounds, and face Agrics 1 next week.

Rising high: Fairies came out on top in a tight affair with Armstrong at Close House

Cena there, done that Intra Mural Football Division One

Lokomotiv FC Real Politique

2 2

Graham Matthews at Longbenton Real Politique were denied a fourth victory in a row after a late Colin Cena goal for Lokomotiv led to the points being shared. While quite a few other games were postponed due to waterlogged pitches, this game went ahead due to it being played on the superior 3G pitch at Longbenton. This didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop the poor conditions however, which proved a tough challenge for this reporter and must have made it torrid for the players. Real Politique came out full of FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH DIWHU ZLQQLQJ WKHLU ODVW WKUHH JDPHV WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;UVW JDPH EHLQJ their only defeat, and with the sun on their side. Politique started off better, forcing DW OHDVW WHQ FRUQHUV ZLWKLQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW ten minutes, but couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t capitalise on the pressure. Lokomotiv then PDQDJHG WR ZLQ WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;UVW FRUQHU of the match which led to their best chance of the half. The ball was crossed in amongst the scramble of SOD\HUV RQO\ WR EH Ă&#x20AC;UVW FOHDUHG RII the line and then brilliantly saved from the rebounded effort. In the 19th minute, the game had LWV Ă&#x20AC;UVW JRDO WKDQNV WR VRPH SRRU

Lokomotiv defending. Matthew Jowsey dribbled through the defence, before slotting a low shot past the keeper Mike Tickle. About a minute before half time, Politique scored again. This time Marchington took the ball round one defender before scoring from a tight angle. It looked like Politiqueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winning streak would be extended. That changed in the second half. Lokomotiv rode their luck, attacked a lot more and a goal seemed inevitable, especially when winger Adam Ball had a shot bounce off the top of the crossbar and a few other long range efforts were well-saved. With 15 minutes left, Lokomotiv got back in the game, striker Steve McLovin scoring with a well directed shot from inside the six yard box. 7KLV JDYH /RNRPRWLY D FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH boost, McLovin picking the ball up and sprinting back to the centre circle. Then, two minutes from time, Colin Cena received the ball and somehow managed to tap it past the surrounding defenders and keeper. It was a fairly scrappy yet deserved goal. In the remaining two minutes, both sides went all out for the win, EXW FRXOGQ¡W Ă&#x20AC;QG WKDW HOXVLYH ZLQner. Lokomotiv manager Alex Smith said after the match that â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a dogged performance with some poor defending, but our battling team spirit pulled us throughâ&#x20AC;?.

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

41

SPORT M. CASIMIR

Royals bottom after thrashing Men’s Rugby Union

Newcastle 2nds Leeds 1sts

7 48

Rob Logan at Cochrane Park

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Rugby ladies enjoy double success Women’s Rugby

Newcastle 1sts Liverpool 1sts

25 12

Ellie Robinson at Cochrane Park $IWHU VWUXJJOLQJ WR ÀQG D WHDP WR WUDYHO DZD\ ODVW ZHHN ERWK WKH VW DQGQGWHDPVÀHOGHGVWURQJVTXDGV IRUWKHLUKRPHÀ[WXUHV ,W ZDV ZLWK IUXVWUDWLRQ WKHQ WKDW 1HZFDVWOH JUHHWHG WKH QHZV WKDW /LYHUSRROWKHOHDJXHOHDGHUVZRXOG EHDUULYLQJZLWKRQO\SOD\HUV  %8&6 UXOHV HQIRUFH WKDW WHDPV PXVWPDWFKGRZQWRSOD\HUVVR VRPH KDVW\ UHDUUDQJHPHQW ZDV UHTXLUHGZLWKVHYHUDONH\SOD\HUVVWLOO RQWKHVLGHOLQHDVWKHJDPHNLFNHG off. 'HWHUPLQHG WR FDSLWDOLVH RQ WKH H[WUD VSDFH RQ WKH ZLQJV WKH DLP ZDV WR VKLS WKH EDOO ZLGH DW HYHU\

RSSRUWXQLW\WRH[SORLWWKHRQHPDQ RYHUODS However, the forwards were NHHQWRSOD\WKHLUSDUWDQGLWZDVD VWURQJ VFUXP ZKLFK DOORZHG &DQDGLDQLQWHUQDWLRQDO$UDED&KLQWRKWR SLFNDQGFKDUJHRYHUWKHOLQHIRURXU ÀUVWWU\ :LWK /LYHUSRRO UXFNLQJ ZHOO DQG keen to do so, their defence were TXLFNO\ GUDZQ LQWR WKH EUHDNGRZQ DQGTXLFNKDQGVIURPWKHEDFNOLQH DOORZHGELUWKGD\JLUO6RSKLH%DOHWR score in the corner. )XUWKHU WULHV LQFOXGHG D VWURQJ EUHDNIURPWKHZLQJHU%DOHZKRUDQ WKHOHQJWKDQGRIIORDGHGEULOOLDQWO\ WR *ZHQ 7LEEOHV LQ VXSSRUW WR WDNH the points. &RQWLQXLQJ ZKDW KDV EHHQ D IDQtastic start to the season, ‘Back of the 0DWFK· )UDQ ,QIDQWH UDQ D IDQWDVWLF OLQHDQGVWD\HGVWURQJWRJHWWKHEDOO DFURVVWKHOLQHRQFHDJDLQ :LWK ZKDW ZDV EHJLQQLQJ WR IHHO

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Defeat signals relegation fears for Royals Men’s Hockey

Newcastle 1sts Durham 1sts

1 5

Charley Wright at Longbenton A windy encounter between the North East’s best University hockey VLGHV SURGXFHG D ÁDWWHULQJ UHVXOW for the visitors, who scored three JRDOVRQWKHFRXQWHUWRSXWWKH5R\DOV·LQWRWURXEOHDWWKHERWWRPRIWKH North Conference 1A. )URP WKH ÀUVW ZKLVWOH 'XUKDP ORRNHGWRLPSRVHWKHPVHOYHVRQWKH 1HZFDVWOH GHIHQFH ZKR GHDOW ZLWK WKHSUHVVXUHZHOOXQWLODVFUDPEOHLQ WKH¶'·OHGWRDSHQDOW\FRUQHUEHLQJ JLYHQDJDLQVWWKHKRPHVLGH $ORQJVLGH WKH DZDUGLQJ RI WKH FRUQHU 1HZFDVWOH DOVR ORVW RQH RI WKHLUVWDUIUHVKHUV(G<RXQJPDQWR DGLVORFDWHGVKRXOGHU LQ WKH VFUDPEOH 7KH FRUQHU ZDV H[WLQJXLVKHG

EULOOLDQWO\E\WKHVWLFNRIPRXQWDLQRXVFHQWUHEDFN0DWWKHZ0F(UODQH who was on top of the forward as TXLFNDVDÁDVK +RZHYHU VRRQ DIWHU 1HZFDVWOH IRXQG WKHPVHOYHV D JRDO GRZQ ZKHQ D 'XUKDP IRUZDUG IRXQG KLV DWWDFNLQJ PLGÀHOGHU XQPDUNHG DW WKH WRS RI WKH ¶'· 7KH 'XUKDP SOD\HU SURGXFHG D VWXQQLQJ VWULNH VHQGLQJWKHEDOOLQWRWKHURRIRIWKH QHWOHDYLQJWKHFURZGVLOHQFHG 7KHJRDOVHHPHGWRFOLFNWKHKRPH VLGH LQWR JHDU ZLWK &DSWDLQ ,DQ 5RVVLWHU VHQGLQJ WZR SRLQWEODQN chances everywhere but the back of WKHQHWKLWWLQJWKHSRVWDQGÀQGLQJ WKHJRDONHHSHU·VSDGVLQTXLFNVXFcession. %XW WKH PLVVHG FKDQFHV RQO\ VSXUUHG 1HZFDVWOH RQZDUGV ZLWK WKH 5R\DOV FRQWLQXLQJ WR GRPLQDWH SRVVHVVLRQ XQWLO KDOI WLPH $JJUDYDWLQJO\ WKH DLOPHQWV RI WKH SDVW VWDUWHGWRKDXQWWKHKRPHVLGHDJDLQ FRQYHUWLEOHFKDQFHVEHLQJPLVVHGRQ

a few occasions. At the start of the second period, 1HZFDVWOH·V KDOI WLPH JDPH SODQ ZDVTXLFNO\XQGRQHE\DFRQWURYHUVLDOJRDOIRU'XUKDPZKR·VIRUZDUG FOHDUO\ REVWUXFWHG GHIHQGHU -DFN :LOOLDPVRQLQJHWWLQJWRWKHEDOO :LWKWKHGHÀFLWDWWZR1HZFDVWOH KHDGV GURSSHG ZLWK WKH PLGÀHOG XQDEOHWRJHWDKROGRIWKHEDOOOLNH WKH\ KDG GRQH LQ WKH ÀUVW  PLQXWHV 3DVVHV ZHUH RIWHQ ÀQGLQJ RSposition sticks, one such stray pass OHDYLQJWKHGHIHQFHRSHQWRDFRXQWHU DWWDFN ZKLFK 'XUKDP FOLQLFDOO\ SXWDZD\WRPDNHLWWKUHH ,W ZDV RQO\ ZKHQ WKH WKLUG JRDO IRXQGWKHQHWWKDW1HZFDVWOHSHUNHG XSDQGVWDUWHGWRSOD\WKHH[SDQVLYH KRFNH\WKDWKDVEHHQDWUDGHPDUNRI WKHLUSOD\WKLVVHDVRQ6RRQDTXLFN VZLWFKRIWKHEDOOIURPWKHOHIWZLQJ WRWKHULJKWIRXQG5RVVLWHUKDPPHULQJWKHEDOOLQWRWKH¶'·ÀQGLQJWKH RXWVWUHWFKHGVWLFNRI5ROOR/HZLVWR JHWWKH5R\DOVFRPHEDFNJRLQJ

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1HZFDVWOH QGV IDFHG WKH WRXJK FKDOOHQJHRIVXSSUHVVLQJDQLQIRUP /HHGVWHDPRQ:HGQHVGD\WKDWKDG ZRQ WKHLU ODVW WKUHH PDWFKHV DQG ZHUH KLJK LQ FRQÀGHQFH  7KH WHVW SURYHGWRRPXFKIRUWKH5R\DOVZKR were defeated 48-7. 7KH VFRUH GLG QRW UHÁHFW WKH KDUG ZRUNDQGGLVFLSOLQHVKRZQE\1HZFDVWOH·VGHIHQFHZKLFKVWRRGVWURQJ IRUORQJSHULRGVRIWKHPDWFK+RZHYHULQGLYLGXDOHUURUVDQGPRPHQWV RI WUXH FODVV IURP WKH RSSRVLWLRQ ZHUHHQRXJKWRVHDOWKHYLFWRU\ 7KHÀUVWÀYHPLQXWHVRIWKHPDWFK GLG QRW UHVHPEOH D JDPH EHWZHHQ WKHWRSDQGERWWRPWHDPVRIWKHGLYLVLRQ 1HZFDVWOH·V GHIHQFH ORRNHG VWURQJ GHQ\LQJ DQ\ /HHGV DWWDFN DQGIRUFLQJHUURUV +RZHYHU /HHGV· ÀUVW WU\ FDPH ZKHQ DQ LQJHQLRXV VFLVVRUSDVV FXW RSHQ 1HZFDVWOH·V EDFN OLQH DOORZLQJWKH/HHGVSOD\HUWRWRXFKGRZQ XQGHUQHDWK WKH SRVWV PDNLQJ WKH FRQYHUVLRQDVLPSOHWDVN 7KLVGLGQRWGHWHUWKH5R\DOVZKR SXVKHGRQIURPWKHUHVWDUWDSSO\LQJ SUHVVXUHDQGIRUFLQJVHYHUDONQRFN RQVZLWKLQDWHQPLQXWHSHULRG +RZHYHU D VWUHWFKHG EDFNOLQH ZDV OHIW YXOQHUDEOH WR /HHGV· FRXQter-attack, which struck with pace IURPWKHKDOIZD\OLQHDQGUHVXOWHG in their second try of the afternoon. 7KH QH[W WHQ PLQXWHV RI SOD\ VHHPHG SLYRWDO WR WKH JDPH·V RXWFRPHDV/HHGVVFRUHGWKUHHWULHVLQ TXLFNVXFFHVVLRQ7KHPRYHPHQWRI WKHEDFNVZDVWKHGULYLQJIRUFHEHKLQG WKLV DV /HHGV VHDPOHVVO\ FUHDWHGVSDFHIRUWKHLUZLQJHUVRQHDFK occasion. $ VFRUHOLQH RI  ÀYH PLQXWHV EHIRUH KDOIWLPH ZRXOG GLVFRXUDJH PRVWWHDPVEXWWKH5R\DOVSORXJKHG RQZLWKVRPHDJJUHVVLYHZRUNIURP WKH IRUZDUG SDFN GULYLQJ /HHGV back into their own twenty-two. 1HZFDVWOH WKHQ FDSLWDOLVHG RQ D /HHGV LQIULQJHPHQW ZLWK TXLFN WKLQNLQJ DQG D IDVW EDOO SOD\HG RXW WR $OH[ 0F.HQ]LH ZKR VWRUPHG RYHU WKH OLQH IRU 1HZFDVWOH·V ÀUVW WU\ZKLFKZDVDGGHGWRE\6WX5RELQVRQ·V FRQYHUVLRQ NLFN JLYLQJ WKH 5R\DOVDJOLPPHURIKRSH 7KHVHFRQGKDOIZDVPXFKPRUHRI DFORVHDIIDLUZLWKERWKWHDPVKDYLQJDQHTXDOVKDUHRISRVVHVVLRQDOWKRXJKXQIRUFHGHUURUVPHDQWPRVW SDVVDJHV RI SOD\ IDLOHG WR FUHDWH RSSRUWXQLWLHV 1HZFDVWOH·V GHIHQFH VWDUWHGDVLWKDGÀQLVKHGVWURQJDQG DJJUHVVLYH 7KH 5R\DOV VWDUWHG WR FRQVWUXFW VRPHZHOOZRUNHGSDVVDJHVRISOD\ LQ WKH ÀUVW WHQ PLQXWHV RI WKH VHFRQGKDOI +RZHYHU /HHGV VHHPHG DGHSW WR GHIHQGLQJ DQ\ RQVODXJKW DQG VXEVHTXHQWO\ 1HZFDVWOH IDLOHG WRPDNHDQ\VLJQLÀFDQWKHDGZD\ 7KHWZRUHPDLQLQJWULHVVFRUHGE\ the visitors were both on the counWHUDWWDFN DV 1HZFDVWOH ORRNHG WR FORVH WKH GHÀFLW 7KH LQWURGXFWLRQ RI IUHVK EDFNV LQWR WKH /HHGV VLGH SURYHGFUXFLDODVRQERWKRFFDVLRQV SDFHZDVWULXPSKDQW 1HZFDVWOH FRXOG KDYH JLYHQ XS EXWWKH\NHSWSUHVVLQJULJKWXSXQWLO WKHÀQDOZKLVWOHDQGPD\KDYHEHHQ rewarded if it had not been for a NQRFNRQLQIURQWRI/HHGV·WU\OLQH 7KH 5R\DOV ZLOO VXUHO\ WDNH WKLV GHWHUPLQDWLRQ LQWR WKHLU QH[W PDWFK DJDLQVW 1RWWLQJKDP ·V QH[W :HGQHVGD\ ZKHUH WKH\ ZLOO KRSHIXOO\HQGZLWKDZLQEHIRUHGHSDUWLQJIRUWKH&KULVWPDVEUHDN

42

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

SPORT

Once, twice, three times Musonda Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Football

Newcastle 2nds Leeds Met 3rds

6 1

Tom James Sports Editor at Cochrane Park Newcastle Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second string put in an all round exceptional performance to thump Leeds Met 3rds 6-1 last Wednesday. Playing a few yards away from the VWUXJJOLQJ Ă&#x20AC;UVW WHDP WKH VHFRQGV could easily have claimed to deserve D SODFH LQ WKDW VLGH DV HYHU\ PDQ showed commitment and desire. By the end it was just a question of how many they would score. It was a complete team performDQFHOHGIURPWKHEDFNE\FOXEFDStain Sam Newton who put himself everywhere and inspired from the ZLQJV E\ WKH LPSUHVVLYH -RHO (QJOLVKDQG0LNH3HDFH The plaudits will once again fall DW WKH IHHW RI &KULV 0XVRQGD DV KHVFRUHGDKDWWULFNWRJRZLWKKLV RQHIURPWKHSUHYLRXVZHHNWDNLQJ DOORIKLVJRDOVFOLQLFDOO\EXWLWZDV the team around him that made his JRDOVSRVVLEOH 3OD\LQJDWDEDOWLF&RFKUDQH3DUN 0LNH )RUUHVW DOPRVW SXW KLV VLGH DKHDG RQ Ă&#x20AC;YH PLQXWHV EXW VDZ KLV KHDGHU FRPH EDFN RII WKH SRVW $ WHQVH DQG IDLUO\ IRUJHWWDEOH WZHQW\ PLQXWHV IROORZHG DV ERWK VLGHV ORRNHGWRĂ&#x20AC;JXUHRXWWKHRSSRVLWLRQ $ PRPHQW RI LQVSLUDWLRQ ZDV UHTXLUHGWREULQJWKHJDPHWROLIHDQG LWZDVUHVXUUHFWHGRQWKHWZHQW\Ă&#x20AC;YH PLQXWHPDUNFRXUWHV\RIDQH[TXLVLWHWZHQW\\DUGYROOH\IURP)RUUHVW which nestled in the top corner. 7HQ PLQXWHV ODWHU WKH OHDG ZDV GRXEOHG DV DQ (QJOLVK FURVV IRXQG 0RVXQGDXQPDUNHGLQWKHER[KLV

cushioned header placed perfectly in the corner. The Royals were now in the asFHQGDQF\ EXW FRXOGQ¡W DGG WR WKHLU WDOO\ GHVSLWH FKDQFHV IRU (QJOLVK and Peace. They were then given a warning when a Leeds counter atWDFNHQGHGZLWKDVKRWZKLFKUDWWOHG WKHEDUZLWK0DFDXO\VWUDQGHG Newcastle went into half time two goals to the good and started WKH VHFRQG EULJKWO\ EXW ZHUH WKHQ SHJJHGEDFNDJDLQVWWKHUXQRISOD\ as Macauly spilled a cross and after DVFUDPEOHLQWKHER[WKHGHĂ&#x20AC;FLWZDV reduced to a goal. Memories of recent games where the 2nds have let leads come and go may have entered the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minds DW WKLV SRLQW EXW ZHUH TXLFNO\ EDQished as a short corner to Peace saw KLPULĂ HDVKRWWRZDUGVWKHERWWRP FRUQHU $ Ă&#x20AC;QH VDYH IURP WKH /HHGV ÂśNHHSHURQO\FDPHRXWDVIDUDV0XVRQGD ZKR FDOPO\ VORWWHG WKH EDOO home. Macauly then saved well at his IHHWEHIRUH0XVRQGDFRPSOHWHGKLV KDWWULFNZLWKWZHQW\PLQXWHVOHIW Good pressure on the Met defence saw the Royals win possession. /HDFK WKHQ IHG 0XVRQGD ZKR KDG ZDOW]HGLQWRWKHER[DQGKHĂ&#x20AC;QLVKHG to shouts of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t missâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from the sidelines. He certainly doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Newcastle should have added to WKHLU WDOO\ WKURXJK 3HDFH DQG VXEVWLWXWH+DEHHE$ODREXWERWKIDLOHG to convert their chances when they RQO\KDGWKHÂśNHHSHUWREHDW 0LOQHVPDGHLWĂ&#x20AC;YHLQVW\OHKRZHYHU ZKHQ RQ HLJKW\ PLQXWHV KH JDWKHUHG WKH EDOO WKLUW\ \DUGV RXW DQG SXOOHG WKH WULJJHU (YHU\RQH VWRSSHG DQG DGPLUHG KLV VKRW LQFOXGLQJ WKH 0HW ÂśNHHSHU DV LW Ă HZ into the top corner. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t save those. 7KHUH ZDV VWLOO WLPH IRU DQRWKHU

Waltzing Musonda: Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-form striker produced his second consecutive hat-trick as the seconds thrashed Leeds Met 3rds 6-1

DQG WKLV WLPH $ODR JRW KLV JRDO DV a precision King cross found him DW WKH EDFN SRVW IRU WKH VLPSOHVW RI tap-ins. 1HZWRQ ZDV TXLFN WR KHDS SUDLVH RQWKHLQIRUP0XVRQGDDIWHUZDUGV

DQGKHZDVXQGHUVWDQGDEO\XSEHDW after his sideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excellent result. ´0XVRQGDZDVH[FHSWLRQDODVZDV 0LNH\>)RUUHVW@ZKRUDQWKHVKRZLQ PLGĂ&#x20AC;HOG ´7KHLUIXOOEDFNVUHDOO\VWUXJJOHGWR

cope with our wingers and it was an all round good display. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Particularly in the second half we ZHUHIDQWDVWLFDQGKRSHIXOO\ZHFDQ EXLOGRQWKLVSHUIRUPDQFHDQGPDNH a real push for promotion.â&#x20AC;?

Musondaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all round performances have been outstanding Tom James Commentary Chris Musonda: heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the cult hero RI1HZFDVWOH8QLYHUVLW\IRRWEDOO DQGWKHVXEMHFWRIFKDQWVVXFKDV WKHZHOOWKRXJKWRXWÂśZDOW]LQJ Musondaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. 7KHODVWWZR:HGQHVGD\VKDYH EURXJKWKLPWZRKDWWULFNVDQGKLV

DOOURXQGSHUIRUPDQFHVKDYHEHHQ RXWVWDQGLQJ <HWGHVSLWHEHLQJDSURYHQJRDO VFRUHUVKRXWVRIÂśKHGRHVQ¡WPLVV¡ demonstrate his team mates faith LQKLP RYHUKLVWKUHH\HDUVDWXQL YHUVLW\KHKDVQHYHUKDGDUXQLQ WKHPHQ¡VĂ&#x20AC;UVWWHDP 6XUHO\DIWHUWKHODVWWZRZHHNV¡ GLVSOD\VKHGHVHUYHVDFKDQFHWR SOD\DWWKHKLJKHVWVWDQGDUGDYDLO

DEOH" With his pace he will always FDXVHGHIHQFHVSUREOHPVDQGKLV EDOOUHWHQWLRQZKHQKROGLQJXS WKHEDOOLVH[FHSWLRQDO:LWKWKH Ă&#x20AC;UVWWHDPĂ&#x20AC;QGLQJJRDOVRFFDVLRQDO O\KDUGWRFRPHE\WKHQ0XVRQGD could represent the answer to their SUREOHPV :DWFKLQJKLPODVW:HGQHVGD\ he was the stand out player in a

WHDPZKHUHHYHU\RQHSOD\HGZHOO VRRQWKHVXUIDFHLWPDNHVVHQVH WKDWKHVKRXOGJHWDZHOOHDUQHG promotion. 7KHSURFHVVPLJKWQRWEHDVHDV\ DVWKDWKRZHYHU 7KHUHDVRQZK\KHLVVRSUROLĂ&#x20AC;F LQWKHVHFRQGWHDPPD\EHEHFDXVH WKDWLVZKHUHKHHQMR\VSOD\LQJ KLVIRRWEDOO$Ă&#x20AC;UVWWHDPVSRW EULQJVSUHVVXUHDQGDQH[SHFWD

WLRQWRSURGXFHWKHJRRGV:KLOVW KHKDVQ¡WSOD\HGPXFKIRUWKHĂ&#x20AC;UVW team, whether he can adapt to the HQYLURQPHQWLVVWLOOWREHVHHQ +RZHYHULIKHGRHVQ¡WJHWKLV FKDQFHWKHQZH¡OOQHYHUNQRZ whether he can repeat his stun QLQJIHDWVIRUWKHĂ&#x20AC;UVWHOHYHQDQG SURYLGHWKHĂ&#x20AC;UVWVZLWKDQHDUO\ Chrismusonda present

6SLULWHG5R\DOVĂ&#x20AC;JKWEDFNWRSURYHDSRLQWDJDLQVW3RO\ Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hockey

Newcastle 1sts Northumbria 1sts

2 2

Jenna Watt at Longbenton 1HZFDVWOH¡V Ă&#x20AC;UVW HOHYHQ UHWDLQHG their undefeated status after a tough WZRDOOGUDZZLWK1RUWKXPEULD 7KH JDPH VDZ D ORW RI DWWDFNLQJ SOD\ SDUWLFXODUO\ IURP 1HZFDVWOH ZKR VHHPHG WR EH GRPLQDQW

throughout. +RZHYHU 1RUWKXPEULD WRRN DGvantage of Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slow start DQG PDQDJHG WR VQHDN DZD\ WZR VFUDSS\JRDOVLQWKHĂ&#x20AC;UVWTXDUWHU 7KH Ă&#x20AC;UVW FDPH IURP DQ XQOXFN\ EUHDN LQ 1HZFDVWOH¡V DWWDFN LQ WKH FHQWUH RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOG 1RUWKXPEULD WXUQHG RYHU WKH EDOO DQG PDQDJHG WR FUHDWH SUHVVXUH RQ WKH GHIHQFH DQG DOWKRXJK WKH\ VHHPHG WR VRDN PRVWRILWXSWKHSRO\ZHUHDEOHWR convert some of these errors into a rather scrappy goal.

The second of these goals was FURVVHG E\ WKH 3RO\¡V PLGĂ&#x20AC;HOG LQWR WKH'7KHĂ&#x20AC;UVWVKRWZDVZHOOVDYHG however defence were slow to react DQG 1RUWKXPEULD ZHUH DEOH WR XVH WKLV WR WKHLU DGYDQWDJH LQFUHDVLQJ the margin to two. 1HZFDVWOH VRRQ SLFNHG XS IRUP DQG EHJDQ WR SOD\ WKH KRFNH\ WKH\ usually play. They soon reduced the GHĂ&#x20AC;FLWZLWKVRPHEHDXWLIXODWWDFNLQJ SOD\Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHGRIIZLWKDFUDFNHURQH RQ RQH JRDO IURP $QQD %XWOHU LQWR WKHERWWRPOHIWKDQGFRUQHU

The game moved on to see the Poly JDLQEHQHĂ&#x20AC;WIURPVRPHTXHVWLRQDEOH GHFLVLRQV ZKLFK PDGH WKH JDPH VHHP RQHZD\ KRZHYHU 1HZFDVWOH managed to up their game against WKH RGGV WR SUHYHQW 1RUWKXPEULD increasing the score line. $IWHU VRPH WDFWLFDO SOD\ XS WKH ULJKW KDQG VLGH 1HZFDVWOH Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ received a well deserved short corQHU$OOLVLD%HUNLQSXOOHGRXWDVKDUS SDVVZKLFKZDVĂ&#x20AC;QLVKHGQLFHO\ZLWK D EHDXWLIXOO\ WDNHQ Ă LFN E\ $P\ $VNHZLQWRWKHEDFNRIWKHQHW

Newcastle continued to dominate the play throughout the match. ReEHFFD 6PLWK ZDV SDUWLFXODUO\ VROLG LQ FHQWUH PLGĂ&#x20AC;HOG DQG $OOLVLD %HUNLQZDVGRPLQDWLQJSOD\RQWKHOHIW hand side. The Royals appeared to have the EDOOWKURXJKRXWWKHPDWFKEXWVWUXJJOHGZLWKWKHLUĂ&#x20AC;QDOSDVV7KHSDFH\ IRUZDUGVVKRZHGWKHLUVNLOOXSIURQW EXW XQIRUWXQDWHO\ IDLOHG WR FRQYHUW VRPH JRDO RSSRUWXQLWLHV PDNLQJ the score 2-2 at full time.

THE COURIER Monday 30 November 2009

43

SPORT M. CASIMIR

Poly break Royal hearts Netball

Newcastle 1sts Northumbria 1sts

43 44

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On target: Roanne Minshull scores for Newcastle, but they were agonisingly edged out by Northumbria in the closing stages of the match

Seconds suffer same fate in narrow Nothumbria loss Netball Round-up Kathryn Jones Netball Correspondent

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44

Monday 30 November 2009 THE COURIER

Why Henry should not be made the villain > Sport, page 37 Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Jamie Gavin and Tom James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk H. NEUENDORF

Poly in their pocket: despite ice hockey not being part of the Stan Calvert Cup this year, Newcastle Wildcats secured a resounding 3-0 victory against Northumbria Flames in front of 3,500 people at the Metro Radio Arena

Nyman hat-trick sinks Poly Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ice Hockey

Newcastle Wildcats Northumbria Flames

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Ben Craighead at the Metro Radio Arena In possibly the most physical and intense of all the Varsity clashes, the Newcastle Wildcats destroyed the Northumbria Flames 3-0 in front of 3,500 fans at the Metro Radio Arena. Following an impressive start to the season which has seen NewFDVWOH ZLQ Ă&#x20AC;YH RXW RI Ă&#x20AC;YH OHDJXH Ă&#x20AC;[WXUHV WR EHFRPH WRS RI 'LYLVLRQ One, the Wildcatsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; victory last Sunday saw them regain the bragging rights over their North-East rivals,

having lost last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arena encounter 6-5. And they had Frederik Nyman to thank for the victory, with his hattrick proving to be the difference between the two sides. The Poly were boosted with the return of captain Shane Hewitt, and Matt Hinkley to their starting line up â&#x20AC;&#x201C; two players who had missed WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW OHDJXH Ă&#x20AC;[WXUH ZKLFK VDZ Newcastle prevail as 8-5 victors. In spite of their return, Newcastle came out strong with captain Mike Hall crunching Hewitt in a big open ice hit that kept the Northumbria captain quiet for the rest of the game. With the majority of the fans in the arena cheering on the Wildcats, the boys in blue kept Northumbria at

bay and created numerous scoring chances. Fast plays from Joe Bateman, Johnny Hughes and Frederik Nyman tore through the Northumbria defence, forcing the Flames goaltender to pull off some impressive saves in the early stages. The Flamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; frustration began to show as they began throwing cheap hits in an effort to intimidate the Wildcats. Whilst skating back to the home bench, Wildcats forward Joe Bateman was hit by a Northumbria player, much to the anger of the fans and the Newcastle squad. Northumbria had their man sent WR WKH SHQDOW\ ER[ IRU WZR PLQXWHV as the Wildcats went on the power play.

And they made it pay, as Nyman slid the puck between the goalieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legs to break the deadlock. Chris Clapham and the Wildcatsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defence continued to repel every Northumbria attack, with Kevin &RUFRUDQ DQG -DPHV +DGĂ&#x20AC;HOG KDU assing every Flames attack at every opportunity. Ultimately the Flames resorted to long ice passes which the Wildcats picked off, continually catching Northumbria on the break, Mike Hall having several one-on-one chances only to be denied by the Northumbria goaltender. ,QWKHĂ&#x20AC;QDOSHULRG1\PDQVFRUHG two more goals to seal his hat-trick and put the game well beyond the reach of the Flames. A well placed shot from inside the

slot saw Nyman roof the puck in the net to the delight of the thousands in the stands. Northumbria attempted to provoke the victorious Wildcats with cheap hits, but Newcastle resisted the urge to retaliate and saw the game out as comfortable victors. The result signals another victory to their unbeaten season, and Chris Clapham was awarded man of the match for his shut out and another immense display between the pipes. Team spirit in the camp is clearly high, under the guidance of Head Coach Pete Winn - and the Cats are ORRNLQJ WR Ă&#x20AC;QLVK WKH VHDVRQ XQGH feated and reclaim the University Championships which they lost several years ago.