The Courier - 1433 by The Courier Online

Issue 1433 Monday 31st Oct 2022

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All the thoughts about My tattoos and Taylor Swift’s Midnights their meanings 4 writers weigh in on whether they think Midnights was a hit or miss Music | page 20 - 21

With something as personal as tattoos, there’s always some kind of story behind them Lifestyle | page 15

UCU ballot in favour of strike action Sophie McNally - Deputy Editor Amana Khan - News sub-editor

The UCU ballot results indicate potential strike action during Semester 1

Newcastle University staff make up part of the 70,000 higher education staff members who are now empowered to strike, as both UCU ballots up for contest passed. With 81.1% in agreement with the pay and working conditions ballot and 84.9% for the ballot on USS pension schemes. The result “show[s] the strength of

feeling amongst university staff about the greatest single real pay cut that we have ever faced after a decade of below inflation pay settlements, arriving in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis”, The Newcastle University UCU brand committee’s spokesperson said. Currently, the UCU has proposed “2 days of strike action across the UK”

during the week commencing 21 November, moving to escalate this action “significantly” from February 2023 onwards when Newcastle University students will have returned for second semester. Additionally, the UCU have suggested resorting to another marking boycott during the second semester of the 2022-

23 academic year.

The UCU has proposed “2 days of strike action across the UK” during November

The “toughest [strike] measure is the marking boycott” Annie Tindley Head of School of History, Classics and Archaeology said. It could affect all students, but especially those in their final stage who require their dissertation and module grades in order to graduate in the Summer. Much like the marking boycott did last year in jeopardising successful graduations for Newcastle students.

onday 24 October saw Newcastle University become part of history, as The University and College Union’s (UCU) national ballot to strike passed. This marks the first time an education union has given the green light to national strike action, affecting all 150 UK university branches under the UCU, including Newcastle University. “[The UCU] will bring every university in the UK to a complete standstill” if nothing is done to rectify issues of pay, working conditions, and pensions in universities, General Secretary of the UCU Jo Grady said.

Continued on Page 3 Image credit: Twitter @NewcastleUniUCU

NUSU open free pantry for all students Alice Holmes - News sub-editor

The Pantry comes as part of NUSU’s plan to mitigate the impact of the Cost of Living Crisis on students

N Image: NUSU // Laura Linceviciute

ewcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) has opened a Pantry on the ground floor of the Students’ Union outside the Welfare and Support Hub, as part of their campaign to help ease the impact of the Cost-of-Living Crisis. The Pantry, made up of donations of food, clothing and hygiene products, is free for all Newcastle University students. The Pantry will hold dry cupboard foods like refillable pasta and rice, refrigerated donations from the Co-Op, hygiene products (including refillable laundry detergent powder), stationary, and donated clothing. As well as Co-

Op donations, financial supported was provided by the University to aid NUSU in building the Pantry and buying products to stock it with. Students will not have to sign up or provide any details to access the resources in order to “provide accessible, stigma free support.”

As well as CoOp donations, financial support was provided by the University Mady Baugh, the President of the Students’ Union, and Mack Marshall, the Education Officer, stated: “with the government forgetting or rather disregarding how heavily students are impacted, we wanted to let you know what we’re working on as your Students’ Union and what we’re pushing for from the University.” The move is just one part of their campaign to help student’s cope

amongst the Cost-of-Living Crisis. On Monday 17th October, The Courier published an article outlining the three strands of NUSU’s campaign.

“Being able to provide free access to [the pantry] is imperative to support students” Baugh and Marshall were also out on Campus speaking to students last week about their concerns regarding the Cost-of-Living Crisis. They asked students about their concerns related to food, debt, rent and bills, course costs, social life, part-time work and clubs and societies.

Continued on Page 3

A note from the Editor

s I’ve just passed the 4-month mark of being in this role, I’ve been reflecting on everything I’ve learned and everything that’s been achieved by both the volunteers that I work with and the rest of the Sabb team. The Courier’s Editorial Team has worked incredibly hard to produce three editions of this paper; NSR has set up a podcast studio for the

first time; and NUTV has reintroduced Video on Demand content to the station. My fellow Sabbs have made great strides, or ‘Big Wins’ as we call them, with lobbying the University across lots of different issues that face students, from the Cost of Living Crisis to wellbeing support. This job is fast-paced; you move on to the next thing before you’ve really had time to process achievements and reflect on outcomes. I’ve

Inside 31st October 2022 Current Affairs | News NUSU announces sexual violence drop-ins The Students Union have launched a safe space for any students to ask questions and seek referrals or advice | Page 5

realised how quickly time passes and that I don’t have an infinite amount of time in this role. I want to make the most out of the opportunities I’ve been given. I want to continue to facilitate important conversations; provide students with real-world media experience; and create and maintain a welcoming and inspiring community. However, sometimes you have to stop, take a breath and reflect on life - because if you don’t look

Meg Howe (she/her) -- mediaofficer.union@newcastle.ac.uk

Current Affairs

News

The beauty of plus-size fashion Every body deserves to feel beautiful... but is the fashion industry really doing enough to cater for all bodies? | Page 16

Culture | TV Saturday night: The art of trash TV From The Chase to The X Factor, the joy of trash TV is a true guilty pleasure! Page 23

Culture | Arts Books that keep us up all night Our writers delve into the unforgettable novels that have have kept them up long into the night | Page 27

xoxo

Editor-in-Chief

Free speech vs disinformation With endless vortexes of opinions and webs of information spun online, the line between fact and fiction is completely blurred | Page 9

Life & Style | Fashion & Beauty

-- Meg Howe

SECTIONS

Current Affairs | Opinion

Long-term relationships can be hard After the honeymoon phase dips down into dusk, what are couples left with? An honest look into the difficulties they can face | Page 13

As the weeks progress, I continue to be in awe of the commitment that so many have to this newspaper! Thank you again to everyone who makes this possible, The Courier would not be The Courier if it wasn’t for you all. As always, thank you for reading. See you next week!

THE COURIER

Senior editor: Elsa Tarring (she/her) -- e.tarring1@ncl.ac.uk

Life & Style | Relationships

around, you’ll miss it! So, that’s my task for you this week. Stop, even if it’s for 5 minutes, and think about what’s made you happy this week! I don’t think the feelings of joy and pride that I feel when I see the faces of everyone who has put their heart and soul into this paper will ever disappear.

Hannah Gul-Khan Alice Holmes Rhys James Amana Khan Ella Winskell

Campus Comment

Alexander James Ashna Mathur Sam Norman

Life & Style

Senior editors: Gabbi de Boer (she/her) --g.de-boer2@ncl.ac.uk Scarlett Welch (she/her) --s.welch11@ncl.ac.uk

Relationships & Blind Date

Ruby Butler Georgia Purcell

Lifestyle

Jenica Davis Zahra Hanif Molly Jackson

Fashion & Beauty

Opinion

Samantha Seidu Lizzie Yockney

Science

Jude Parkinson Elžbieta Voverytė

Ross Bennett Jonathan Lee

Isabel Lamb Anthony Welsh

Sport

Senior editor: Katie Siddall (she/her/they/them) --k.e.siddall1@ncl.ac.uk Campus Sport Liason: Castor Chan (she/her) --k.n.c.chan1@ncl.ac.uk Tom Barlow Arthur Ferridge Paige Rutter

Deputy Editor

Sophie McNally (she/her) -- s.c.mcnally2@ncl.ac.uk

Travel

Food & Drink

Daisy Harrison Abigail Roch

Culture

Senior editors: Carly Horne (she/her) --c.a.horne2@ncl.ac.uk Rachael McCreanor (she/her) -- r.mccreanor2@ncl.ac.uk

Music

Lucy Bower Rowan Christina Driver

Olivia Crowley Imogen Smillie

Film

Rachel Carron Mitchell Hall Jessica McKeown

Arts

Louise Cusine Sarah Tunstall

Puzzles Social Media

Head of Social Media: Autumn Keil (she/her) -- a.keil2@ncl.ac.uk

From the Archives! 4 years ago today! The Courier did a feature piece on POC representation for Black History Month. NUSU's Racial Equality Officer penned this piece, highlighting key figures of black history and events occuring on campus and in wider Newcastle.

Issue 1375, October 2018

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Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Hannah Gul-Khan, Alice Holmes, Rhys James, Amana Khan & Ella Winskell

News

UCU ballot in favour of strike action Sophie McNally - Deputy Editor Amana Khan - News sub-editor

Media and Culture student Jack Evans told The Courier. Postgraduate students also have a lot more at stake as they can both be implicated by, and involved in, strike action with certain PGR students

having their own teaching hours. The strikes are “inconvenient at best” an anonymous postgraduate research student in Bioscience said. Yet staff face a difficult decision when striking. “Our main priority is to

rebuild a community between staff and students after a couple of very difficult years”, Tindley said. When it comes to student support, the university intends to “work with NUSU and [University] colleagues to ensure

Continued from front page In a poll conducted by The Courier, 74% of Newcastle University students stated that they supported strike action. Yet, 82% of students then agreed that they were worried about the impact strike action would have on their studies. These worries were also voiced through poor National Student Survey results in certain subjects heavily implicated by strikes. For instance, Newcastle’s Undergraduate History programme only attaining a 56% overall satisfaction score in comparison to a general national average of 76.3%.

that any impact on our students is kept to a minimum”, a Newcastle University spokesperson said. Furthering this, this year’s Education Sabbatical Officer Mackenzie Marshall passed a motion through Student Council on Thursday 20 October that “mandate[d] Sabbatical Officers to conduct a cross-campus poll on student opinion regarding potential UCU industrial action”. This will collate student voices and allow the Students’ Union to “come to a stance informed by and which best represents student opinion”.

82% of students said they were worried about the impact strike action would have on their studies Though after being contacted for comment, the President, Postgraduate and Education Sabbatical Officers all turned down interviews with The Courier in favour of a joint statement declaring they “are not in a position to comment yet”. This ballot marks a watershed for those UCU members and higher education staff fighting against “The Four Fights” of pay, workload, equality and casualisation. However, the push for these measures can end up as “an internal battle” for staff, Tindley said, as these aims can appear to be too general with no specific roadmap. “We could always be looking for better pay or better conditions”, Tindley said.

Ultimately, students "pay for a degree, not for strikes" The apparent dread and unease that some students feel over strike action was reinforced through students worrying over “feeling unprepared for assessments”, which is exacerbated through “missing out on content”. An additional concern is “disengagement between lecturers and students, especially after having a covid start to university”, third year History and Archaeology student Blythe Pratt added. Ultimately, students “pay for a degree, not for strikes” second year Journalism,

Image credit: Twitter @NewcastleUniUCU

NUSU open free pantry for all students Alice Holmes - News sub-editor

Continued from front page Speaking to The Courier, Baugh told us, “According to the NUS, 1 in 10 students are using foodbanks right now. As inflation and food prices soar, and with a lack of recognition and assistance from the government, being able to provide free access to such resources is imperative to support students during their time at university.” The pantry has opened at a time where inflation is at a 40 year high. In the past year, the price of budget food items has surged in the UK, putting more pressure on students already struggling with the rise in rent and bills. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the overall price of budget food items (such as pasta, tea, bread, and milk) has soared by 17% this year.

"Immediate support is needed before the situation wosens"

Cooking oil saw the largest change in price, with an increase of 65% from September 2021 to September 2022.

"I have to be careful doing my food shop... I often sacrifice food that used to be affordable"

and left to struggle. Another student said, “It’s shocking to hear that students are now having to rely on food banks. As much as it’s a nice gesture and a great idea, it is a worrying sign that students are having to rely on welfare.” Baugh continued with, “The fact that we even need to set up a free food

pantry is reflective of this government’s lacklustre approach to this crisis. The Pantry is part of a wider campaign at NUSU to support students. We have reached out to local MPs to advocate for the student community and we’re lobbying with NUS for a financial support package for students. Immediate support is needed before the

situation worsens.” If you would like to donate to the Pantry, you can currently donate through the Welfare and Support Hub and there will be a donation basket near the Pantry shortly. Donations of all dry goods and clothing are accepted.

These changes have drastically impacted student’s lives. “It really is concerning. I have to be so careful doing my food shop each week and often sacrifice on many types of food that used to be affordable. This stress, on top of the stress of university and exams, is really overwhelming,” one student told The Courier.

Students from lowerincome families are more disadvantaged and left to struggle There is concern that rising inflation is having a disproportionate impact on people from lower-income households, meaning that students from lowerincome families are more disadvantaged

Image: NUSU // Laura Linceviciute

Sub-editors: Hannah Gul-Khan, Alice Holmes, Rhys James, Amana Khan & Ella Winskell

Monday 31st October 2022

News

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Government attempts to crack down on activism and strike action Poppy Bedford

Spurred on by recent Just Stop Oil protests, once Home Secretary Suella Braverman proposed new policies

espite the chaotic scenes surrounding our government in recent weeks, once home secretary Suella Braverman had time to propose policy that would make police “more proactive” in “fighting” protesters, climate activists and strike action. This has been spurred on by the Just Stop Oil protests in the National Gallery where soup was thrown at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and climate activists defaced the New Scotland Yard sign, both taking place on 14 October 2022. The two women involved in the tomato souping of Van Gogh’s painting, Anna Holland, 20, from Newcastle, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, from Lambeth deny “damage to the frame” and refute the claims that the painting has been

affected in any way; supported by the testimonies of bystanders who stated that the soup was already being wiped from the glass and the frame. Lora Johnson, 38, responsible for the orange paint on the Scotland yard sign was released on bail along with Holland and Plummer but is being charged with criminal damage under £5000 as the prosecution claims the removal of the orange paint cost £4750. 28 people were arrested in connection to the actions on 14 October, all involved with Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion. Following in the footsteps of Priti Patel and the clamp down on protesting during the Covid 19 pandemic, Suella Braverman, who was fired as Home secretary on 19 October following a scandal regarding her personal email, put forward the public order bill to “stop the protesters who use guerrilla tactics and bring chaos and misery to the law-abiding majority” in response to the actions on 14 October. This crackdown on protesters is highly controversial even within the Conservative party as Sir Charles Walker, MP for Broxbourne, stated during the House of Commons debate over that the bills were “appalling” with

“plenty of existing laws to deal with people who make other people’s lives miserable.” There have also been many responses to the extreme suggestions put forward about ankle-tagging protesters who have not been found guilty in a court of law. The worrying trend this poses to the public and our rights to be heard is exasperated as the public had no say in the last two prime ministers.

similar to those of the 1980s miner's strikes as police were used as a resource to ‘fight’ protesters rather than supervise and protect. The government aimed to introduce measures to restrict our right to protest as civil disobedience grows and the government seemingly implodes on

itself. Whether or not Braverman’s replacement, Grant Shapps, is carrying on with her crusade against public expression is not yet known, and whether he lasts through the search for Liz Truss' successor, will prove to be seen in the next few weeks.

The measures put people at odds with the government and police It puts the people not only at odds with the government as more and more professions continue to go on strike: teachers calling for a ballot on whether to join the trains, mail, barristers and many others in strike action, but it also places the public at odds with the police as Braverman wants to ‘fight’ protesters with these new measures. This attitude becomes startlingly

Image credit: Pixabay

Baroness Casey's Met Report NCL low on number Joseph Thomas

Following controversies involving the Met in recent years, Baroness Louise Casey has released an interim report

n Monday 17th October, Baroness Louise Casey released an interim report on the Metropolitan Police. It comes following multiple controversies involving the Met in recent years. Most significantly, the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Met Officer. The independent review was commissioned to find the causes and faults in the Met’s culture, investigation and disciplinary procedures on misconduct. It found that overwhelmingly the Met was failing to meet these standards.

Black officers and staff were found 81% more likely than white officers to have a misconduct case brought against them. Similar statistics were found for Asian officers and staff, being 55% more likely to have allegations brought against them. High rates of disparity for dismissals were also found with Black and Asian officers being up to 126% more likely than white officers to be dismissed. Casey described this as a “long standing issue” and “clear evidence for systemic bias”. The letter concluded urging for “radical and wholesale change” to the

current system. In a statement, Sir Mark acknowledged the findings of the report, promising to “radically overhaul” the Met. He promised to improve the culture and the systems creating the issues raised. Similarly, Sadiq Kahn welcomed the findings of the report expecting “every single recommendation” to be implemented. He stated that he wants to continue to hold the Met to account and restore Londoners faith in policing.

of minority students Ella Winskell - News sub-editor

The Times Good University Guide reveals University as amongst lowest for students of colour

ccording to this year's Times Good University Guide, Newcastle university has ranked amongst the lowest of UK Russell Group Universities for percentage of student population coming from an ethnic minority background with just 13.5% of the attendees being comprised of students not from an ethnic majority upbringing. The University ranks third from the bottom, just above the University of Exeter and Queen’s University Belfast

Met failed to meet standards In her letter to the newly sworn in commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, Casey outlined eight key issues within the Met’s misconduct system. Most notably, the lack of action with a 55-60% of all cases receiving a 'no case to answer' decision. This in turn had created attitudes among officers and staff that misconduct would go unpunished and that reporting actions of misconduct were hopeless. Another major point raised was incredibly high racial disparity.

Image credit: Instagram (@metpolice_uk) Image credit: Unsplash

according to the report, (10.6% and 4.6% respectively) and just below Durham University, which was recorded as having a minority student population of 13.7%.

Newcastle was third from the bottom on the rankings of numbers of ethnic minority students Dominating further up on the list was London, taking up the entire top 5: University College London, 58.2%, Imperial College London, 61.6%, the London School of Economics, 62.6%, King's College London 66.4% and at the number one spot was Queen Mary, University of London with 88.4% of the student population being reported as not being from an ethnic majority.

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Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Hannah Gul-Khan, Alice Holmes, Rhys James, Amana Khan & Ella Winskell

Street artist paints mural at Quayside Rosa Gac

The local artist wanted to add "a bit of colour" to the Quayside

ocal North East artist, Alex Mullholland, has painted a 300 foot mural on the ground of Newcastle's iconic Quayside. The mural was painted on an abandoned bus lane right next to the Millennium Bridge. Mullholland named the painting 'Nothing Serious' because he says, in an article by the BBC, that people walking past should know the painting is "Just a bit of colour, a bit of fun, to brighten the place up and definitely Nothing Serious." Alex Mullholland, also known as Mul, is known for his work supporting the Step Up to Beat Covid campaign, where his distinctive artwork appeared in various locations around the North East to spread awareness during the pandemic. Mullholland says that this mural is in front of the “best view in the world”, the Quayside being one of the most recognisable areas in Newcastle with

seven bridges in just half a mile.

His designs can be found on roads, walls and even beer cans The 90 metre mural proved somewhat tricky to pull off with Mullholland saying “the weather was definitely the

biggest challenge to overcome.” He also commented that he could not have done it without help. He recruited family and friends to volunteer to help paint the artwork. It was his first work done on the road; his usual materials are walls, and his designs can even be found on beer cans.

His work is eyecatchingly vibrant - if you're at the Quayside, you'll find it difficult to miss Mullholland, who studied graphic design at Northumbria University, creates bright and colourful street art, much of which can be found in Ouseburn as well as other locations across the city. His art is notable for being eye-catchingly vibrant in style. This is true of his large street mural as well - if you are at the Quayside you will find it difficult to miss. If you would like to see more it can be found on his Instagram: @mul_draws.

Image credit: Instagram (@mul_draws)

News

Students' Union annouces sexual violence drop-ins Ella Winskell - News sub-editor

TW: sexual violence rop-ins with a new sexual violence advisor have been announced by NUSU which began on 20

October. The creation of the sessions is the result of a meeting the Students' Union President, Mady Baugh, had with Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland (RCTN) and the President of the It Happens Here society. Baugh announced that students will be able to book a drop-in slot with a specialist in women's independence and sexual violence. These will take place between 1 and 4pm every Thursday. The sessions, which will take place in the support and advice hub of the Students' Union, provide students with the opportunity to discuss any issues they or a friend may

have encountered regarding sexual violence and assault. The announcement comes as part of an effort by the union to try and “enhance the support that students can receive at the Students' Union around sexual and gender-based violence.”

The sessions provide a safe and confidential space

The drop-ins offered by RCTN, and continuing through the rest of the semester, are a safe and confidential space where students can seek out information, trauma advice, further referrals and ask any questions they may have with an independent and informed expert. Drop-ins are open to anyone and booking can be accessed through the Students' Union’s online welfare centre linked below: http s : / / nu s u . c o. u k / s upp or t / welfare-centre/services.

Liz Truss' resignation: what do politicians in the North East think? Amana Khan - News sub-editor

Polticians in the area are divided over the recent resignation of Liz Truss and appointment of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister

iz Truss lasted 45 days in office before resigning, leaving Rishi Sunak to become Britain's first Asian Prime Minister, after Penny Mordaunt and former PM Boris Johnson dropped out of the race. Sunak's premiership has begun with a reshuffling of cabinet, removing 11 of Truss' previous cabinet members, but still keeping the likes of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary and Penny Mordaunt as Leader of the Commons, despite her being up against him to become Prime Minister. His first few days in the new role have included him placing a ban on fracking and refusing to guarantee the pensions triple lock. He has also said he won't introduce spending increases on defense, all of which stand in opposition to Truss' legacy. The appointment of Sunak and resignation of Truss has provoked differing reactions from politicians, given this is the country's third Prime Minister in less than a year. Politicians from the North East have voiced their opinions, with Labour

politicians calling for a general election. Newcastle Central MP, Chi Onwurah, argued that "the people of Newcastle deserve so much better than a revolving door of Conservative chaos." Onwurah is not alone with this opinion, with Wansbeck MP, Ian Lavery, calling the situation a "total mess" and Newcastle City Council leader, Nick Kemp, arguing that a general election

"The people of Newcastle deserve so much better than a revolving door of Conservative chaos"

needs to be a "priority." Several other Labour politicians within the North East have similar views on the need for an election and share the view that the Conservative Party is in a state of "chaos." However, Conservative political figures have countered these claims. A local Tory politician believes that it is the "wrong time" for an election and instead called for unity behind Sunak. Conservative MP for North West Durham, Richard Holden, shared the view that "we have to have economic competence at the heart of whatever comes next", dismissing calls for an election. There are thus clearly different viewpoints within the North East about what should happen next, and whether there should be general election.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Sub-editors: Alexander James, Ashna Mathur & Sam Norman

Monday 31st October 2022

Campus Comment

Your first assessmentfumbling in the dark Charlotte Lee

Should new students receive more guidance on uni assessments?

tudying at university is always a massive change and most institutions like Newcastle University do provide adequate support to its new students during the first few weeks. However, a common denominator across all universities is the lack of guidance when it comes to writing your first essays or assignments. Whether they admit it or not, students across all departments feel a lot of anxiety towards their first assessments, especially during their first semester. To put it bluntly - most feel like they have no idea what they’re doing or how to do it. A first-year English Literature student (who’d like to remain anonymous) revealed: "I knew that assessments at university would be different to A-levels. However, I do think it is somewhat unfair that we just get asked to immediately write an essay with no idea what is expected of us or what constitutes a 'good piece of academic work.'" Yet, a question can be asked: is the lack of guidance

on what constitutes a degree-level piece of work just a part of higher education? Perhaps new students just have to learn to adapt to independent research and academic writing over time. The evidence has never shown that this method of learning does not achieve good results, as we still see a very high proportion of students graduate with first class degrees every year. Moreover, the university library here at Newcastle does provide a series of academic support, with links on their website to guidance on how to research, how to approach different assignment types and how to submit those assignments. Thus, maybe a solution to helping ease students' anxieties, but maintaining the independent study that is expected at a university level, is for departments to spend more time going t h r o u g h the quality of work required and more guidance on how to research.

Image credit: instagram @libraryncl

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Blinkers: it's neigh horsing around Rhys James - News sub-editor

Taking a look at the controversial horse races popular with Newcastle University students

everal times every year hundreds of students from Newcastle University head to the races. It's a day for drinking, betting, and dancing. What more could you want? However, beneath the dressed-up glamour of it all lies the truth about the races, what it represents and how it treats its horses. In 2015 The North East Chronicle came out with the headline "Racecourse blamed for 'devastating' death of horse" summarising the pivotal ethical issues that everyone should consider when attending the races. In the article, a horse breeder from Saltburn took legal action against Newcastle Racecourse after holes in the ground of the racecourse were found. The ARC, the operators of the racecourse, were fined £4500 by the British Horseracing Authority. Horses dying at the races is not a rare occurrence.

According to Racecourse Death Watch, in 2021 Newcastle had the third highest amount of horse fatalities. While many may see the horses as strong and healthy, many are overworked, drugged, and abused. An article from Horse Racing Sense writes that, "Some racehorses are well taken care of – they live in comfortable facilities and receive outstanding treatment. But many horses are treated poorly; these animals are drugged, overworked, and generally abused." Of course, there are benefits to horse racing. Economically, it provides jobs for feed companies, farm workers, trainers, and grooms. Additionally, in a time of a climate crisis horse racing could be seen as one of the more environmentally-friendly sports. Despite stories of abusive treatment towards the horses being m o r e frequent than

Image credit: Flickr

expected, there are many horse owners who lovingly care for their animals, with many healthy horses receiving wellbalanced diets, having veterinary and dental care, and getting the opportunity to race with other horses. Several of the Newcastle students who attend Blinkers races are generation Z, the progressive generation that protests for better environmental legislation from governments and for better animal and human rights protection, they may find themselves questioning their own hypocrisy.

They find themselves questioning their own hypocricy Therefore, the simple action of attending the races (which I personally have done) could be seen as ironic considering what the money we are spending could be funding: potential over-working of horses and what could be debated as unethical treatment of the horses. At the end of the day, it is everyone’s choice as to what they spend their money on, however it is important that everyone is aware of exactly where their money is going.

Seminars vs. lectures: which do students prefer? Libby Griffiths

They're day and night for some students, but why does it seem seminars get the preferential

eminars and lecturers are the ying and yang for students, but I think it's pretty clear students have a favourite. Most students that I know would say seminars, and so would I. Is it that we prefer seminars because of the approach to learning, in workshops involving more interactivity? Or is it the ability to whisper to your classmate, “Did you understand that?”, instead of the embarrassment of announcing your struggles to the entire group. Before university, I’d never experienced the environment of a lecture or a seminar. If anything, seminars are the closest in relation to previous methods of teaching I’ve experienced.

monly felt when moving to university. For many students, lectures are a new method of learning and can be an overwhelming adjustment. When covering new material, sometimes it’s nicer to be able to chat with your module leaders, rather than silently panicking whilst staring at a presentation that reads as gibberish in a lecture. A lot of us need that reassurance and praise, or at least I do. I spoke to one of my module leaders about writing this article, genuinely unsure on why most of us do prefer seminars. But, I got my answers from simply asking the question itself. We need communication and support. Simply knowing that it’s normal to not know everything immediately. That we’re doing okay. Everyone’s in the same boat. Confusion is a key aspect to learning. Or at least, I tell myself it is.

Elsa Tarring - Head of Current Affairs

on’t get me wrong, lectures are great for dishing out large quantities of content in a short space of time, and they’re perfect for when you’re feeling a bit

hungover and can’t find the strength to contribute, let alone the will to live, but oh, I have to talk about sweet sweet seminars. Assuming that years of university haven’t stripped you of your passion for your chosen degree, and that you like your lecturers, seminars can be described as nothing else but safe places where ideas go to thrive. They give you space to develop your understanding of

You get the whole 'knowing how to talk to someone who doesn't agree with you' covered But after analysing whether Latin American governments are implementing effective policies for the survival of indigenous languages in your last seminar, you’ve got the whole 'knowing how to talk to someone who doesn’t agree with you' thing covered. So, sorry lectures, you’ve got nothing on seminars.

Lectures can be an overwhelming adjustment Being able to interact with each other and gain a deeper understanding, really dispels any signs of discomfort or feelings of isolation com-

niche topics, clarification on the most convoluted of theories, and the chance to debate with your course mates. Not only do seminars prepare you to write essays and get good marks at university, but they also offer invaluable communication skills that can be used in other fields of life, like in conversations with friends, in the workplace and with people that you might not necessarily like or share the same opinions with (although it might sound basic, more people than you’d think seem incapable of having respectful, balanced discussions…).

Image credit: Flickr

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Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Alexander James, Ashna Mathur & Sam Norman

Campus Comment

reality Newcastle University's The of studying modern terminator Anna Nix

Jameela Niwaz

Amnesty International petitions newcastle not to reaserch lethal autonomous weapons

iller robots. A nightmare of the future, the plaything of movies like The Terminator. Lethal autonomous robots are a far-flung idea, conceptual prototypes for things which will only be possible in centuries beyond us. Yet, what if I told you that research into lethal autonomous weapons is happening across industries and universities right now?

Amnesty International is calling on Newcastle University to sign the pledge Newcastle University has a part to play in stopping this by signing The Future of Life Pledge created by the Stop Killer Robots Campaign and supported

by Amnesty International. Amnesty International, as a society and an NGO, have strong concerns over the legality and morality of lethal autonomous weapons.

There are concerns over the morality of lethal autonomous weapons Firstly, machines can’t currently make complex ethical choices. They lack reason and compassion, instead making decisions based on potentially biased algorithmic programmes. The war on terror demonstrated a lesser version of this through the illegal and immoral destruction of remotely piloted drone strikes led by UK and US military. Imagine how many innocent civilians will die in the face of even more inhuman weapons? Furthermore, technologies like facial and vocal recognition often fail in recognising women, people of colour, and people with disabilities, highlighting the way in which autonomous weaponry does not remove the element of human error which some proponents claim, but rather accentuates the potential for discrimination implicit in the programmers' biases.

We all know that war is a brutal event with devastating effects, and that was when only humans had the dominant role. The introduction of lethal autonomous weapons would create a a kind of war with unparalleled fury and viciousness compared to anything seen in human history. Amnesty International is calling on Newcastle University to sign our pledge to not do any research into lethal autonomous weapons that target humans or use algorithms. From 20132018, Newcastle University was involved in the University Defence Research Collaboration (UDRC), wherein the university looked at developing sensors for the purposes of defence. Furthermore, according to the official Russell Group website collaboration between Newcastle University’s National Innovation Centre for Data and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DTSL), it “will help keep the UK safe by supporting research into the responsible adoption of AI across the defence sector.” Amnesty International and Stop Killer

Robots recognises the use of “responsible adoption" but, as outlined before, we are sceptical of this in reality and believe questions of morality and legality arise. Stop Killer Robots is not accusing Newcastle University of direct involvement in developing lethal autonomous weapons, but we are hoping that we can stop the university from putting future funding towards something as dangerous and brutal as this. Once decision-making and geopolitical actions are taken outside of elected, accountable bodies such as the Government and the Ministry of Defence, the very idea of democratic justice is eroded. Do we want our university to be involved in what most likely could be disastrous technology? Or, perhaps the more pertinent question, does our university believe it should have any role to play in the development of lethal autonomous weapons?

Is the amount of reading we're set in a week excessive or just impossible?

xtra weekly readings are presented as a natural component of completing a degree and are said to be essential for those striving for a First. However, this narrative should be explored, and questions should be raised about the accessibility of this for students with diagnosed learning conditions. As a second-year undergraduate, the importance of weekly readings has been repeatedly restated as the scary dissertation proposal and completed project loom. As such I have conscientiously begun to make the effort to do the weekly recommended readings. This is something that truthfully, I didn’t really do in my first year, with the exception of seminar and exam preparation, justified by my assessment marks not at all being negatively impacted by this choice. This year, having newly decided to commit to readings, I found them mostly reasonable with their expectations with my lectures having

on average 3 essential readings, some however set the delusional ambitious amount of 7-11 plus essential readings, with further recommended ones. This is an amount that is and will never be achievable for me. I find these longer reading lists especially excruciating, as the motivation I find to push through the shorter lists is nowhere to be seen, and as a result, these are the readings that I am most likely to neglect. Seminar and workshop preparation add to this expectation of having to read. This is something which, if you have invested time into the readings, can be frustrating if no one but you and the seminar leader can discuss the texts. But that is another discussion to be had.

While I am given extra time in exams, extra time can't be added to a 24 hour day Despite universities becoming increasingly conscious of access arrangements that students with learning disabilities require to help support them through their degree programmes, this nuanced and necessary consideration is absent when discussing readings. As someone who was diagnosed with dyslexia in

ost of us have probably seen Gilmore Girls or Legally Blonde and imagined ourselves as the main characters, pulling all-nighters to get our work done, or going to coffee shops (which always looks aesthetically pleasing) to write our essays. I bet we've all realised by now that getting the work done takes a lot more than a 30-second montage with a banger playing in the background. Our initially romanticised view of how studying looks then turns into the chaos of trying to figure out which readings are for which module. And after you finally finish a reading, you go tick it off your to do list, only to find out there are five more readings waiting for you, one of which is a 300 paged book, all for next week. Then, a more realistic scene sets in - you banging your head against a wall at 3am.

Libraries help me find my productivity Image credit: SVG

Recommended readings at uni - something all students dread Elisabeth Gores

When it gets down to it, it's easier said than done

secondary school, the expectations of readings feel like a harder and longer battle, regardless if one or seven are set. While in exams I can benefit from being provided with extra time to mitigate my slower processing and comprehension abilities, extra time cannot be added to the 24 hours in a day. A university friend with ADHD, like me, dreads having to do readings due to the time they demand, the inaccessibility of the information, the lack of support and the limited alternative options provided. Therefore, I feel the burden naturally falls onto the university to make the independent

learning activities that are essential to degrees more accessible to ensure students aren’t struggling and being left behind due to factors that they can’t control. There are several approaches that could be taken to achieve this, such as capping the number of readings set or encouraging lecturers to provide a wider range of academic media for students to use to support their learning. Realistically, this has a low chance of ever materialising, especially for a university that was just ranked 76 out of 80 regarding the quality of its mental health s u p p o r t services.

Image credit: instagram @allistudy

That all seems like a heavy load, so how do you find your productivity and get it all done? For me, it's a trip to the library. I prefer to find a quiet little corner, so that no one can disturb me. Libraries help me find my productivity mostly because I am in an environment full of other people who are also working, which pushes me to do my own work, as I would feel guilty procrastinating there.

"Whatever you get done before lunch is like it's for free, no effort" I also never forget to pack a snack, as an energy refill can be one of the best pick-me-ups when you're stuck. And lastly, a piece of advice my dad always gave me: "Whatever you get done before lunch is like it’s for free, no effort." So, if you have an assignment due, try to get up in the horrifyingly early hours and strut over to the library - you might just find it works for you.

Image credit: @NCLlibrary

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Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Ross Bennett & Jonathan Lee

Opinion

Free speech vs. disinformation Immy Brown TW: mention of violence

s a nation used to listening to the nonsensical opinions of public figures like Piers Morgan and Katie Hopkins, we often see an individual’s right to free speech debated. However, there is something fundamentally unethical about Alex Jones’ display of this “right”, distressing even. Recently, American radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was ordered to pay 1 billion US dollars over his malicious spread of disinformation regarding the Sandy Hook school shooting massacre. As Jones received this fine, I questioned whether this ‘punishment’ compensates the damage already done. Is free speech merely warped to become an excuse used to minimise the consequences of their behaviour? In December 2012, Adam Lanza brutally shot his mother before going on to murder 20 students and six members of staff at Sandy Hook school in Connecticut. Many conspiracy theorists, rather absurdly, have argued that the US government orchestrated the attack to promote stricter gun laws. Jones took this theory one step further, claiming

the deaths were faked with the use of actors. In 2018, the parents of several children who lost their lives in the massacre launched a lawsuit against Jones for defamation. Not only has Jones repeatedly refused to provide any evidence for his claims, but he has also abused his enormous platform to create an extremely dangerous echo chamber of disinformation, leading to the harassment and abuse of the grieving families of the Sandy Hook victims. Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was

murdered in the attack, endured online abuse, harassment and even death threats in response to Jones’ public singling out. Parker paid tribute to his late daughter, leading Jones to label him as “disgusting”, claiming the girl was not dead but a child actor paid by the government. The abuse of victims did not stop there. Other families

received death and rape threats along with countless messages from Jones’ fellow theorists threatening to defile and dig up their loved ones’ graves. This is not simply an issue of an individual’s right to free speech. Whilst it should be protected, it should not be used as an excuse for power-hungry individuals to incite violence and harassment towards families. The terrifying truth is that according to the New York Times, nearly one fifth of Americans today believe high-profile mass shootings are staged, usually by the government. This communicates the dangerous extent of Jones’ influence as he hides in his podcast studio behind the right to free speech. Regardless of the money he pays out, the damage of disinformation has been done, resulting in a severe mistrust of those who we look towards to keep us safe, and indescribable hurt towards innocent individuals.

Image Credit: CNBC

Why the protests against Assange's extradition matters Harry Sanderson

Wikileaks would go on to leak 391,882 documents from anonymous informants on the Iraq War alone

n 8 October, a protest was held in Westminster to oppose Julian Assange’s extradition to the US, with 7000 forming a human chain around parliament. This occurs at a critical point in his legal battle, as the High Court considers whether to hear Assange’s lawyers’ appeal on the extradition request approved by Priti Patel. It began in early 2010 when US soldier Chelsea Manning, horrified by what she saw being done in Iraq by her comrades, decided to leak classified documents to expose the brutality that was taking place in the name of peacekeeping in the Iraq war. The website she leaked these documents to was the relatively new ‘Wikileaks’, run by Julian Assange. Wikileaks would go on to leak 391,832 documents from anonymous informants on the Iraq War alone. Revelations included complicity in torture, civilian murder and a general degree of incompetence in military operations, but the most famous leaked material was the video titled

‘Collateral Murder’ in which a US army helicopter gunned down a group of civilians and journalists while the pilots laughed in the background.

This is one of the most poorly reported stories in mainstream media The treatment of Assange in the years since the leaks were published is perhaps the most important issue for the future of independent journalism in recent history. It is also one of the most poorly reported stories in mainstream media. It is important to understand that although the US is relentlessly making efforts to extradite Assange, he is guilty of nothing more than the legitimate journalistic practice of publishing documents and files which have been leaked to him in confidence. The manner with which Assange has been treated by the UK and US governments for the past 10 years is

incredibly concerning, with Assange being forced to hide in the Ecuadorian embassy for seven years to avoid detainment before finally being put under maximum security in HMP Belmarsh in 2019 where he remains today. This is despite never having had a trial, intended purely to serve as a warning sign to those that would think to expose the crimes of powerful western governments. If Assange is to be extradited for nothing more than exposing the embarrassing reality of the US’s crimes in the Iraq War, this presents a troubling threat to independent journalism that deserves our attention. What makes this all the more important is the broad decline in real i nv e s t i g at i v e journalism over the past decade, with very

few recent examples of newspapers exposing hidden information aside from the Panama Papers in 2016. Papers such as The Guardian and The New York Times have shied away from investigative journalism much more than they had before the WikiLeaks scandal, preferring to focus on the minute details of parliamentary politics.

This presents a troubling threat to independent journalism It suggests that the treatment of Assange by the US government has had its desired effect - to silence journalistic curiosity about its actions overseas and to create a media environment where the actions of Western governments are not held accountable.

The Ukraine problem

Rosie Brennan

Eurocentrism is affecting how we view different conflicts around the world

oogle ‘Ukraine crisis 2022’. For me, there were about 509,000,000 results in less than a second. Now try ‘Tigrayan crisis 2022’. 50,60,000 results in the same amount of time. Similar numbers when you change the country to Afghanistan or Iran also appear. Personally, I’ve never been that great at maths, but even I can see the clear common denominator presented by these statistics. The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation began on 24 February 2022. Since then, the media has been flooded, and rightly so, with ongoing information surrounding this humanitarian disaster. Families have been torn apart, cities have been destroyed, and the people of Ukraine have witnessed their homes under attack for months. This deserves to be news. Written about, reported about, shouted about. The people of Ukraine deserve a voice, and the media can give it to them. But does the emphasis on Ukraine silence others also experiencing humanitarian disasters? Those in Afghanistan have been experiencing conflict for decades now; is their pain simply not “trending” enough to be spoken about in the media? Their families have been torn apart, their cities have been destroyed, and their people have witnessed their homes under attack for years and years. So why aren’t we talking about them as much? The Tigray conflict is an ongoing civil war that began in November of 2020 in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The conflict has left 350,000 people living in conditions of famine, over 2 million have had to flee their homes and thousands more are dead. Are these people not worthy of 509,000,000 search results? To ask if the media is Eurocentric is like asking a banana if it is yellow. It can’t and won’t answer you, but just look at it, and you have your answer. Even when humanitarian disasters elsewhere are discussed in the media, they are clearly not discussed in the same light. If you just look at the difference between how Ukrainian and Afghanistani refugees are written about in the British media, you'll see very clear Eurocentrism. Ukrainian refugees are said to need our help. They deserve homes, jobs, food, clothing. Afghanistan refugees are said to be illegal criminals, storming into our country to make Britain ‘not British’ - whatever that means - and take 'our' jobs. Perhaps it’s different because there has been peace in Europe for so long. Perhaps it’s because Ukraine is closer to what we call home, but we all know the reason why it’s different is because of whiteness. The media often tends to ignore the pain of people of colour, and highlight the pain of white people: that is the cold, hard truth. That is the difference between how Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton are portrayed. That is why you don’t hear about the Tigrayan crisis. The common denominator has always, and unless we do something about it, will always, be whiteness.

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Sub-editors: Isabel Lamb & Anthony Welsh

Monday 31st October 2022

Science 11 Summer 2022 saw record temperatures Jessica Predko

This summer's heat wave broke a series of records across the UK, pointing to gloomy predictions for the future

emperature data from summer has revealed 2022 to be the hottest summer on record, with the record being reached just three years after the last was broken. Temperatures climbed above 40°C in July for the first time in the UK, with Lincolnshire reaching 40.3°C. One West Yorkshire village, Bramham, broke their previous record by 6.3°C.

More than half of the UK's weather stations recorded their hottest day on record in 2022 More than half of the UK’s oldest weather stations, with at least 50 years of data, recorded their hottest day on record in 2022. Only one in five of these longest-standing weather stations had a

temperature record that was set before 2000, meaning 80% of record breaking highs have been in the last 22 years. To add to this, four in five of the warmest summers have occurred since 2003.

One million plants and animals are threatened with extinction The UK’s temperature record is being broken more frequently. In 1911, the record was 36.7°C and was held for 79 years, whereas, the 2022 heatwave broke a record that only lasted three years. This summer's dry conditions badly hit crops, fuelled wildfires and increased demand for water so much that we saw hosepipe bans. And with the UK only having 62% of its usual summer rainfall, the Environment Agency reported all of the South West of England to be in drought. According to Professor Stephen Belcher, The Met Office Chief scientist, “In a climate unaffected by human influence, climate modelling shows it is virtually impossible for temperatures in the UK to reach 40°C.” We can all do our bit for the environment to alleviate the effects of climate change, including: - Eating more plant-based foods;

- Using public transport, walking or cycling to places, where possible; - Reduce food waste by buying only what you need; - Switch off electrical items if they are not in use, including computers and light switches; - Getting a re-usable water bottle to reduce the amount of plastic bottles; - Buying second hand and/or more ethically sourced clothing; Encouraging companies to reduce packaging and make it more environmentally friendly.

It should be "virtually impossible for temperatures in the UK to reach 40°C" Being more environmentally friendly is crucial to reduce soaring temperatures and to protect our planet from biodiversity loss. If everyone does their bit and countries work together, we can ensure that 40°C summers become a thing of the past and not something to dread in the future.

The tangling tango of protein folding Image credit: Pixabay

Yen Chi TAN

hanks to advancements in science, biologists have identified and catalogued over 200 million proteins. Sadly, the majority of these proteins' structures remain a mystery to us. Knowing a protein’s exact 3D shape is crucial in many disciplines of bioscience, which is why scientists are constantly working on it. First, a recap on protein science! Proteins are made up of amino acids, sets of 20 distinct building blocks strung together like beads on a necklace. On its own, this string of amino acids doesn’t have much use, but become functional as this necklace of beads tangle up and form unique 3D shapes. Proteins get their shape from folding this linear string of amino acids into a 3D spatial arrangement. This is known as the tertiary structure of a protein, comprised of spirals of α-helixes and stacks of β-pleated sheets. The structure of a protein is mostly determined by its amino acid sequences, but looking at the linear string of protein building blocks isn’t helpful (at least to the human eye) in inferring the

protein’s structure in 3D, akin to looking at a crochet pattern and visualising the shape of the final product. Traditionally, protein 3D structures are determined experimentally by methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo EM). In this method, scientists shoot waves like X-rays or beams of electrons at a protein and see what flies past and what bounces off. However, this practice may not be ideal when there is no adequate funding and expertise available. They cost a lot to perform and require highly specialised training. On top of this, each of these experimental methods have their own drawbacks. For example, there is a size limit to the protein if you call for an NMR, while X-ray crystallography does not work if your protein of interest does not crystalise. Collectively, it is also almost impossible with any of these methods to image the structure of protein that sit in the membrane as the purification process of these proteins may alter their configuration. Here come computational methods to the rescue, like the recent Alphafold

developed by Google’s AI offshoot, DeepMind. Alphafold is a protein folding prediction software. It predicts the 3D structure by analysing the sequence of amino acids in query and compare it to the folding patterns of proteins with known amino acid sequences and 3D structure in its database. Alphafold is way above its competitors in predicting protein structures during the annual Critical Assessment of protein Structure Prediction (CASP) competition. In CASP 2020 DeepMind achieved prediction power significantly above with Alphafold and maintained a rather steady performance even in the more challenging stages of the competition. Look, I know what you all are thinking: another workforce replacement by AI and automation? But we need not worry, Alphafold is a prediction programme and we still need to experimentally validate the protein structure. Fellow scientists, your job is here to stay. Alphafold isn’t here to take your job, they are here to be a pal in your research journey. For now, let's celebrate the arrival of a new comrade in structural biology.

Image credit: Free SVG and rawpixel

Word of the week: Nepetalactone Amelie Baker

Kooky kitties and feral felines, why cats go carzy for catnip

e all know that cats go crazy for catnip, but why does this herb have such a chaotic affect on our feline friends? Nepetalactone is a name for the multiple iridoid analog stereoisomers produced by Nepeta Cataria, or Catnip.

extra susceptible to flipping, rolling and the overall hysteria that catnip incites. This gene only presents itself once a cat is between three and six months old - kittens, after all, do not need any added incentive for chaos.

Not all felines are affected So, when your cat has its next catnip fix, you know what’s happening and why.

Nepetalactone targets the 'happy' receptors in the cat's brain Through binding to olfactory protein receptors, and thereby stimulating sensory neurons, Nepetalactone affects the amygdala and hypothalamus (the brain’s master gland), which results in the onslaught of insanity seen in most fur balls. In other words, it simply targets the ‘happy’ receptors in the cat’s brain. Surprisingly, not all felines are affected by this cat drug. It is an inherited gene that makes some

Image credit: Unsplash

Sub-editors: Ruby Butler & Georgia Purcell

Monday 31st October 2022

Blind Date

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Sponsored by Ernest Rate the Date What were your first impressions? It was less like a date and more of a friendly interaction. What did you talk about? Anime mostly and just general information about where we were from. Any awkward moments? We ran out of things to say at points which was ok because the date was more friendly than romantic and I understood from an early point that this person isn't romamtically my type.

Ananya, 18, Journalism

Describe your date in three words: Friendly, formal, polite Will you be seeing eachother again? Not in a romantic sense.

Rate the Date What were your first impressions? Confusion of figuring out who my date was. What did you talk about? We talked about personal interests (anime) and politics. Any awkward moments? No real awkward moments while talking Describe your date in three words: Got. A. Friend Will you be seeing eachother again? I hope we will! But most likely as friends and not as a coupole.

Matthew, 22, Computer Science

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Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Ruby Butler & Georgia Purcell

Relationships

Please mind the gap: the Red Flags complexities of age gap dating that end all shags

Abigail Roch - Food & Drink sub-editor

inding out about your crush’s age might raise your (or others’) eyebrows, but after how many years difference do you draw the line? Is the age gap a dealbreaker? This subject matter has long been stigmatised and people’s stance on it is still divided to this day. Evolution in social and cultural norms has shaped what we consider a ‘normal’ age disparity. As gender equality has been increasing and women have been gaining greater economic power, the former want of an older spouse has declined. However, regardless of the gender of the older partner in heterosexual relationships, couples with large age gaps – 10+ years – can make people

frown. Undoubtedly, the bigger the age difference, the higher the likelihood will be that both partners are at different stages of their life and that they probably don’t have the same vision about the future; the real problem is the mind gap. As a result, one of them might feel pressured into acting upon their other half ’s wish for example. On the one hand, age-gap relationships in which young adults between 18 and 25 are involved is a delicate matter: A 30-year-old individual whose partner is 18 years old will - in many cases - come across as a paedophile. As the younger person will have only just become an adult and might be fresh out of school, the only life experience they'll have had is from the viewpoint of a child and a teenager. Meanwhile, aged 30, the older partner will have gained more life experience. Large age-disparity relationships in which both

partners have reached a more mature stage in their life are more tolerable On the other hand, large age-disparity relationships in which both partners have reached a more mature stage in their life are more tolerable. From the age of 30 onwards, many people start to - if not already- devise concrete plans for their future. Say a 50-year-old and a 30-year-old were together, they would both have been through some of life's challenges. The younger partner might be seeking to settle down with someone wiser, more knowledgeable and who is on the same wavelength as them. So, it all boils down to both partners' life stages and maturity. If you're weighing the pros and the cons of your age-gap relationship, ask yourself this: where am I now and where do I want to be in the near (or not so near) future?

Why long-term relationships aren't all sunshine and roses Rebecca Wright

ong-term relationships can be extremely rewarding – building a strong foundation of trust with someone you love, cheering each other on in your endeavours, planning a future together. But it isn’t all roses; here’s how to overcome the blips, and spot the signs you aren’t right for each other. There are times where you may feel like the relationship is getting repetitive and boring. You might have been dating for a long time and think that maybe your dynamic has changed since you first met: maybe you don’t get butterflies as often, or you don’t go on as many dates. Now, it may be that you have simply got used to each other’s company, and you feel safe and comfortable with your partner. Although, it is integral to a strong relationship that you continue to actively make time for each other – dates should not stop as soon as you are official. Flirt, take each other out, enjoy each other’s company. Actively choose to stay in the relationship because you want to and you love each other, not just because it's the easiest option.

Another issue may be that you feel your lives are going in different directions. Here, it is important to reassess your values. Is this still what you want, or is their presence just familiar? Does your relationship fit the lifestyle you want for yourself? Many couples stay together simply to say that they’re still together. Don’t sacrifice your happiness to stay in the relationship. At the same time, though, your life going in different directions does not have to be a bad thing. It may be that you are very different people doing different things and it just works for you - in this case, like most, communication is vital. Open communication between partners is an invaluable skill, and it affects all the relationships in your life, not just the romantic ones. Related to this, if you have been in a long-term relationship for most of your life, chances are that you won’t always be in the same place as your partner. Distance is also a factor that can put a strain on a relationship. While a little distance can be healthy and assist in you having your own interests and life outside of your relationship, too much can have a negative effect. Making the effort to travel and see

each other, setting dates you can look forward to, and regular texts and calls all aid the longevity of your relationship.

Image credit: IMDb

“Loud and proud”: what it means to be a loud woman Ananya Padmanabhan

omen are often deemed by traditional societies as innocent vulnerable flowers who need to be somehow rescued, taken care of, or subjected to terms such as fragile, timid, soft, and shy. Women who fall out of this dynamic are considered masculine, aggressive, and insensitive, amongst other terms that society views as disapproving or shameful for a woman to be like. I am a loud and proud woman and when I say that I mean it with all my conviction, without a single hint of embarrassment or timidness. Being a loud woman gives me a sense of unheralded freedom, joy, satisfaction, and unexplained happiness. To know that there is a part of me that is loud, bold, fierce, and confident, someone who does not care about

what others think of her. But alas, underneath the surface of it all, many fail to understand how challenging it can get. People view loud women as entirely self-sufficient because of how we carry ourselves with so much integrity and pride.

I am absolutely proud of being a loud woman However, there’s a lingering sense of vulnerability on the inside that many fail to comprehend or understand. Everyone sees our successes but fails to recognize the amount of effort we put into ourselves, and how much emotional and mental strength it takes to be expressive, bold, and optimistic to the world. There are days when we just seek support, encouragement and reassurance because it is easy to forget that strong-headed women need that too. Being a loud woman does not mean that we carry no sense of empathy or femininity inside of us, in

fact, it means the opposite. We understand our empowering feminine sides to take more action and charge forward with a sense of courage and valor, we understand both sides to be a woman. Being loud isn’t a way for us to conceal our insecurities but a way to fully accept them, which is why I am absolutely proud of being a loud woman.

Image credit: IMDb

Emmie Foster

Ever wondered what to look out for in a potential partner?

n this generation, dating seems to be a complete and utter nightmare. Don’t want a relationship? Friends with benefits or ‘situationships’ will suffice. Are you looking for a relationship? Don’t bother, you might get the ick if someone treats you like a human being rather than “a plastic bag, drifting through the wind” - wise words of Katy Perry. Note: These four red flags may help you to avoid the clap and crippling mental health issues for the foreseeable future. 1. Bragging about sexual ability/experience In uni especially, some people have minimal experience and might feel embarrassed if they haven’t had their first kiss. To then meet people who state their body count and brag about who they’ve slept with is unnecessary information to know and overall off-putting. Cockiness is not cute. Realistically, if someone was that good in bed, they’d keep it on the down low ;) 2. Frequent contact with an ex/exes Just no. I am yet to be proven wrong as to why it's okay to be friends with your exes. Being civil is perfectly fine, but RUN immediately if anyone you want to date is still in close contact with them. It never ends well. To describe what this feels like I’ll let some song lyrics do the honours, “Alexa, play The Other Woman by Lana Del Ray” 3. Has no ambition or future plans I know some people just want to ‘live in la Vida Loca' and adopt a YOLO attitude, but this instability does not fit with personal career plans, especially if they're aiming to be an aspiring milf/dilf/WAG. Dating someone like this will make them dependent on you as a result, you want to have a partner, not a child. With that, however, there’s always the option to send them to Supernanny (Queen Jo Frost) to get knocked back down to earth. 4. ‘Billy no mates’ Often, there are reasons why some people have no friends. It’s best to steer clear of these people as they tend to suck the life out of you like a mosquito because they have fewer people to rely on. I suggest buying some bug repellent and ensuring there’s at least one highlight or picture of a friend on Instagram before you try and date the ‘mysterious loner’ who is actually very difficult to get along with. Final thoughts - If you’ve got this far and still (sadly) want to shag someone with at least one of these traits, always use protection as it would be a very sad world to live in if anyone described above, produced offspring.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Sub-editors: Jenica Davis, Zahra Hanif & Molly Jackson

Monday 31st October 2022

Lifestyle

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The best hobbies Some LGBTQ+ book for winding down recommendations Scarlett Welch - Co-Head of Life & Style eing able to wind down is so important, especially as a student when it can feel like the work never stops. Whilst it’s tempting when you get to the end of a long day to sit and do nothing, it can actually be much more beneficial to find a relaxing hobby to enjoy. I might be biased as I’m currently writing this article, but I personally find writing to be one of the most relaxing hobbies. Although taking on a huge writing project can be stressful, it can be very calming to write something without a plan, such as journaling or writing poetry. It can also be a great way to manage your stress, as writing down your thoughts can make them a lot easier to handle.

Why not try something more artistic?

If writing isn’t your thing, then why not try something more artistic to unleash your creativity? Painting, drawing, crafting or scrapbooking are all great ways to wind down, which can be done with very minimal equipment. The great thing about art as a hobby is that you can start anywhere, and if you don’t think you have the talent then that’s all part of the fun. Some people also find that more active hobbies help them to destress. While exercise can

sometimes energise you and stop you from being able to relax, there are definitely ways to wind down which involve movement. Some great examples of this are yoga or pilates. You can do this from your own home using instruction videos online, or join a class if you prefer. Finally, a hobby that’s perfect for beginners and experts alike is baking. Not only is the process of baking something extremely therapeutic, you get something tangible to enjoy from it, which can be very rewarding. And who doesn’t like freshly baked treats? The most important part of any winddown hobby is finding something that you really enjoy, so try a few things and find what works for you.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Rebecca Wright

Your next favourite LGBTQ+ stories to jump right into!

ere are my top three Queer Literature recommendations, from what I’ve read this summer!

Her Body and Other Parties – Carmen Maria Machado Carmen Maria Machado’s ‘Her Body and Other Parties’ is a multitude of things at once – grounding, terrifying, queer, rebellious and experimental. The overarching message is how a woman’s body is never just her own – there are always people who think they are entitled to it. I personally loved the story ‘The Husband Stitch’ for this reason, it was enchanting. This collection of varied short stories is categorised as feminist magical realism, and won the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction, so if that doesn’t make you want to read it I don’t know what will! 100 Boyfriends – Brontez Purnell Described as a “horny, punk love song full of imperfect intimacies”, Purnell’s ‘100 Boyfriends’ was an absolute rollercoaster of a book that I could not put down. It is a fast-paced, slightly chaotic navigation of gay relationships, and is full of hard-hitting realities. ‘100

Boyfriends’ is the kind of book that inspires you in your own writing and has definitely affected mine since reading it. This book is quite an easy read, very humorous at times, and a fun one to tab with your favourite quotes and characters. Giovanni’s Room – James Baldwin Last in my recommendations but certainly not least is ‘Giovanni’s Room’, which is by far one of my favourite books of all time. Baldwin’s book is an addictive exploration of queer desire. Set in 1950’s Paris, it follows the tale of an American man’s journey with his sexuality – particularly with Giovanni, an Italian bartender, who encourages him to expose the most vulnerable parts of himself. Filled to the brim with romance and lust, Baldwin’s writing is achingly beautiful, and everyone should read this book.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Should straight, cis people be allowed in LGBTQ+ bars and spaces? Emmie Foster

Many LGBTQ+ spaces are occupied by those who don't identify within the community – is this fair?

n the surface, straight cis people should not be allowed in our spaces as they are specifically designated for us. However, there are sometimes more complicated reasons as to why we may have to share these spaces. YES - straight cis people should be allowed in LGBTQ+ bars and spaces. Speaking from my own experience as a gay person, the majority of my friends are heterosexual. I have previously gone into gay bars with those friends for our safety, as women in a city at night. After speaking to straight cis women specifically, they said they sometimes prefer to go into gay bars as they feel safer there. In regular nightclubs, there are always some predatory men that think it’s okay to harass women endlessly. The recent uproar surrounding needle spiking also adds to this ongoing anxiety. Albeit, you could criticise me here and say, why don’t you have more gay friends? It’d be more appropriate for them to go. Some LGBTQ+ people might be “the only gay in the village” and find it hard to venture out of heteronormative friendships and relationships. NO - straight cis people should not be allowed in LGBTQ+ bars and spaces. In the UK, being gay was decriminalised in 1967 under the Sexual Offences Act which legalised homosexual acts in England and Wales. Straight cis people, men especially,

have never had to hide their sexuality or gender identity. Most nightclubs are designed for straight cis people, they do not need to enter a space not designed for them. In addition, some people react negatively when members of the community may

Straight, cis people, men especially, have never had to hide their sexuality or gender identity. approach a straight cis person assuming they are LGBTQ+, what do you expect? Furthermore, the AIDS crisis in the 1980s surged levels of homophobia and disgust towards the community. LGBTQ+ bars and spaces were viewed as a safe haven for closeted individuals who were not able to come out openly, and back when homosexuality was illegal, there were secret spaces created for us to feel less lonely and isolated. There are fewer barriers now in the community since same-sex marriage was legalised in 2013 and same-sex parents are viewed less abnormally, but trans individuals, do not receive the same level of support. Many transphobic people are quick to attack the community by saying we should not respect their transition and pronouns if they do not present as the gender they identify as. However, their ignorance and lack of education show that they don’t know how it can take years to get onto hormones, either that be oestrogen or testosterone, to come out to friends and family, and to pay thousands for surgeries. Therefore, trans people have the right to be in LGBTQ+ spaces for their own safety – straight cis people need to respect that and recognise their privilege. Moreover, the growth of gay villages in a number of cities, such as Manchester and Birmingham, are often viewed as public attractions, putting LGBTQ+ people off

these spaces as a result. Women’s safety is vital, but it is unfair on the community to have our spaces compromised. No LGBTQ+ person should feel like a minority in their own space. Men, whether you’re a creep or not, it’s up to you to call out derogatory behaviour that m a k e s women feel uncomfortable. Whether you’re cis-het or trans, we all have a right to feel safe: we all need to do better to make this change possible.

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Monday 31st October 2022

Senior editor: Jenica Davis, Zahra Hanif & Molly Jackson

Lifestyle

The best cultural spots in Newcastle Ella Winskell - News sub-editor

Want to get to know Newcastle? Here are some cultural spots you need to check out

the benefits of urban regeneration and the creative power of the North in one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Newcastle. The Valley offers a plethora of opportunities to enjoy yourself from volunteering at the Ouseburn farm, to alternative music venues, and hosting the national centre for Children’s literature, Seven Stories. Ouseburn is firmly one of my favourite sites for the story it tells about my city's heritage, deprived past, and

regenerated future as well as for the tangible sense of community you can’t find anywhere else. Lit and Phil Definitely the quieter option, and a favourite study space of mine, the ‘Lit & Phil’ is an independent Library opened in 1825 on Westgate

road. It is purpose built to house the ever growing collection belonging to the Literature and Philosophical Society. Here you’ll find upwards of 160,000 books, some dating back to the 16th century, and a very dark academia, non campus, cultural study spot just a few minutes walk from central station.

ewcastle boasts of a rich and coaly culture, from its past powerhouse status during the shipbuilding industry in the 19th century to producing some of the country's most loved cultural icons. Newcastle is packed with artistic and historical sights for everyone. The Seven Stories Symbolic of the Newcastle skyline and some of the only reminders of the momentous impact of the shipbuilding industry in the city, each of the bridges offers something unique and aesthetically different from the other during a walk along the Quayside. From the iconic Tyne Bridge and the first female member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Dorothy Buchanan, who helped construct it, to the tilting Millennium bridge, each offers an individual perspective of the city as well as a share of its history. Ouseburn Valley One of the most vibrant centres of community and culture in the North East, Ouseburn depicts

Image Credit: Pixabay

Is it time to be a My tattoos and little more selfish? their meaning Zahra Hanif - Lifestyle Sub-editor

Are the typical beliefs surrounding selfishness outdated?

f you were to overhear the word 'selfish' anywhere, you'd automatically assume that someone was being insulted. It's a term riddled with negative connotations, of disregard or even apathy for others. But this is only the reality in extreme cases, and it's actually not necessarily always a bad thing to be selfish. I'd even argue that it's natural - when you break down the word, what you're prioritising here is yourself. While maybe not consciously, you will be doing most things with yourself as a priority first, for your present and future maintenance, and ultimately your own wellbeing. And this isn't evil or wrong, it's just human nature. We're all selfish in this way, so we shouldn't be scared of the label or understand selfishness to be an inherently bad thing. If you're completely ignorant of the negative impact of your actions on the people around you, then this is obviously a different story. But we all have needs that we can acknowledge, and there are so many ways we can and do fulfil these on a regular basis, without inflicting harm on to others. Our actions can be centred around ourselves ('selfish') in a gentle and thoughtful way. Say you've cancelled plans to sit at home and do your uni work.

Realistically, nobody's going to call you selfish for this, it'd be ridiculous to categorise you as a bad person for prioritising something as important as your future. But technically, it fits the definition, if you're putting your needs before your friends. In practice, your friends may be temporarily disappointed, but there's quite obviously something more important at play and they'd more than likely empathise with you here. This is why the concept of selfishness needs to be re-evaluated and not be confined to having exclusively negative implications.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Jay Barber

An insight into tattoos and whether they need meaning.

attoos have been around for thousands of years. Over the course of human history, people have decorated their bodies with ink for countless reasons. While I’m not a great believer that tattoos have to have meaning to be worthwhile, a tattoo with a story behind it is a unique look into what a person cares about. Two of my tattoos are about as nerdy as possible. The little twenty-sided die was my first tattoo, inspired by years of playing Dungeons and Dragons. Above it is another D&D tattoo by @ watsonsith, specifically inspired by the podcast The Adventure Zone. The story helped me through a huge part of my teens and inspired my love of fantasy and storytelling. The tattoo itself is beautiful and I love what it stands for – even if nobody gets the reference. My most recent tattoo was done by @bro.hornsby at Evergreen Tattoo Studio here in Newcastle. The little stick-and-poke orange slice is in honour of the poem The Orange by Wendy Cope. The poem is an ode to the little moments of joy in life and the people who make them worthwhile. The final line, “I love you. I’m glad I exist.” has stuck with me since the first time I read it, a reminder that the love we have for others is enough to keep us going, even when times are hard. The little tribute on my ankle keeps that sentiment with me, wherever I go. To me, tattoos are a tapestry

of what a person values and wants to show to the world. Even if the meanings behind your tattoos are silly, or if there’s no meaning at all, I think it's always worth it to customise your body how you want. It makes life that bit more fun.

Image credit: Jay Barber

Sub-editors: Samantha Seidu & Lizzie Yockney

Monday 31st October 2022

Fashion & Beauty

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The factors that fuel our addication to fast-fashion E Adriana Newbury ven in light of the environmental damage and worker abuse that companies such as Shein or PrettyLittleThing cause, we still go back to them. The ultimate question: are we really to blame? Super cheap garments that allow you to have a new outfit for every Soho sports Wednesday, or the ability to have enough jumpers so that you never have to turn up to lectures in the same one twice? It’s the dream for the trendy student on a budget. Yet it appears that anyone who subscribes to this way of filling their wardrobe is burying their head in the sand. It’s common knowledge that these ultra-fast fashion companies aren’t the best ethically, but what exactly are the gruesome details? Channel 4’s new documentary Untold: Inside the Shein Machine reveals some horrific truths; “the shocking insight, workers in both factories worked 18 hours a day”. Not only these atrociously long working days, but “workers were given only one day off per month”. Clearly this is a complete violation of labour law. In addition to this, “workers in one factory earned a base salary of 4,000 yuan (approximately £492) per month to make 500 pieces of clothing per day. That is essentially a form

of modern-day slavery. Honestly, I highly doubt this is much of a surprise for anyone. So why are Shein such a booming business? The first obvious factor is their cheap prices. An overused response to this is charity or vintage shops, or online second-hand sites such as Vinted or Depop. It is infinitely easier said than done to use these for substitutes to Shein. Realistically, it takes a lot of time and effort to find the perfect piece in these shops in comparison to a quick three clicks on Shein. As students, we don’t have to time to spend 3 hours on Depop. What’s more, there’s the gentrification of second-

hand shops and selling sites, made trendy by privileged people… completely ironic. It’s these people with money who buy everything affordable from these sites, and consequently make them inaccessible for those with a smaller budget who need them more. It’s this pattern that pushes people towards brands like Shein. Countless second-hand pieces which are labelled as ‘vintage’ then skyrocket in price, taking these affordable clothes away from those who need it most. So, unless you’re willing to give up ease and time, these so-called

Image credit: Instagram @prettylittlething

‘affordable’ alternatives aren’t actually as great as they seem. Furthermore, we have to blame the influencer. If Molly Mae and Olivia Neill have a new outfit everyday, why shouldn’t I? There is a real temptation to lose love for piece you’ve posted on Instagram because ‘everyone’s already seen it’. A question you should ask when buying something is can you create at least three outfits with this new piece? If not, you’ll probably wear it once and never again. Companies like Shein and Boohoo are relying on your consumerist need to have a ‘rolling wardrobe’. Outfit repeating is no crime! Lastly, we have to admit that a major feature fuelling our addiction is the lack of immediate consequences for us as buyers. We don’t personally know the horrendously underpaid workers, we can’t see the labour abuse they suffer, we don’t have to walk past the polluted rivers that the materials for these clothes cause. Are we really to blame then? In my opinion, the blame is 50/50. Yes, governments should be doing more to tackle violations of labour laws, more to protect our environment from fast-fashion, more to keep the price of second-hand clothing more accessible. But we must also accept some responsibility: quit the impulse to buy a new outfit for every occasion and chose durable pieces. Most importantly, stop burying your head in the sand.

Plus Size Fashion: bigger bodies deserve to look and feel good too Eve South-Klein

Is the fashion industry actually doing enough to cater to plus size people?

But until that day comes, we must remember that we are valid, we are beautiful and we deserve to wear nice clothes

ver the past few years there has been increased discussion surrounding the lack of size inclusion in the size people. Lack of sizing options is fashion industry. a major downfall of the industry Many clothing brands and and although we have come a shops have made promises to long way in the past few years, widen their range of sizes we still need more companies to to accommodate plus size step up their game. Take the fast bodies - but is enough being fashion brand ASOS for example, done? The short answer is who granted do have a dedicated no. plus-size range going up to a The sad reality is that UK size 30. Despite their if you are a ‘plus-size’ size inclusivity, the person (over a size availability of UK 18) walking into bigger sizes your average high is where street clothing shop, t h e y you are likely going seem to to have a hard time fail and finding something I can that fits you, let attest to alone something this - ASOS that you actually never have my size like. This is a in stock! Clearly, there is a result of a number demand for bigger sizes, so of failures by the why can’t brands like ASOS fashion industry. make more items in size 18 First of all, and above? many fashion Another bone I have to companies pick with the industry in are not even regard to plus-size fashion doing the bare is the clothes that they make minimum to specifically for us - why include people with are they such trash? It’s as if bigger bodies. The bare these companies think that minimum being that they people with bigger bodies have simply don’t cater their no sense of style. No, correction sizes well enough for plus- Image credit: Instagram @prettylittlething - they assume we want to hide

our bodies from the world and that we want ugly and baggy clothes to cover ourselves up. While society largely informs how we feel about ourselves and our bodies, the fashion industry doesn’t get to dictate for me how I want to dress. Funnily enough, most of us simply want to wear the same things that straight-size people (UK sizes 6-18) get to enjoy. Thanks, but we don’t need another range of t-shirts with slogans like ‘Wild and Free’ or ‘She believed she could, so she did’, *eye roll*. Overall, I think it’s safe to say that the plus-size fashion landscape still has a very long way to go until we start to feel a sense of true inclusion as plus-size people. I really hope that brands are encouraged to make their clothing ranges more size inclusive because they would undoubtedly become more successful and profitable. Maybe one day we’ll all finally be able to walk into a shop, fall in love with a garment and be able to buy it immediately in our correct size. But until that day comes, we must remember that we are valid, we are beautiful and we deserve to wear nice clothes.

Image credit: Instagram @breekish

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Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Samantah Seidu & Lizzie Yockney

Fashion & Beauty

How to find your 'cute jeans' Libby Griffiths

A truth universally acknowledged is that it is almost impossible to find a pair of jeans that fit

am 5’11. I’m a very tall girl, and rather slim too. Buying a good pair of jeans is extremely difficult for me, because either they’re too short at my ankles or they won’t fit around my waist. Especially considering the style of jeans I like to wear: high-waisted, long, and a baggier fit. I couldn’t make the search for the perfect pair of jeans more difficult for myself. Alas, the system still exists in which we are made to think our bodies should be moulded to fit certain sizing guides. But, in reality we should be making the shift into having clothes made to fit our bodies, rather than the other way round. This is why I didn’t give up on my search, but it was a tricky one I must say. Another complication in my hunt was my strong disliking for the fast fashion industry. Any clothing company that mass-produces and neglects their employees, I try to avoid buying from them as much as possible. But, this isn’t a criticism of those who do engage with the system, because so

do I - it’s nearly unavoidable and inevitable. In a capitalist society, what are individuals expected to d o when faced with corporations with such monumental power? Especially when our next best option is often shopping secondhand and clothes with traditional sizing charts that really don’t fit most human bodies. The cycle is tough, I won’t be the first to admit. To make matters worse, when you do get that eclipsical moment of finding the right pair of jeans, you’re faced

Image credit: Instagram @levis

I prefer spending money on quality, because I like staple jeans in my wardrobe

with another decision and complication: what do you pick, saving money on low quality, or spending more for a higher quality? Both are reasonably justified, and a lot of factors will play into these decisions. How much you like the jeans, how much you actually need them, how long they’re going to last, how long you’ll need them for. Are they a trendier piece, or are they more of a staple in your wardrobe? At some point, everything just gets so completely overwhelming that you end up completely slumped, out of ideas, and with no effort to combat your denimrelated problems. The never ending search continues for most, but I have my solution. I found it a year or so ago, and I own four pairs. I love them. I prefer spending money on quality, because I like staple jeans in my wardrobe (and I’m boring and have no sense of actual style.) So I’d rather have a pair of jeans that will last me a lifetime. The only thing I can actually fully commit to is my pair of Levis. Specifically, 501s,

because they’re my style choice and I can customise the waist and length to fit my body shape. And, as I’m a student, the large discount makes it all worth it.

Image credit: Instagram @jeannedamas Image credit: Lizzie Yockney

Makeup hacks to save time and money Make your makeup slay with these quick tips!

akeup can be very daunting to anyone experienced or not. Most days, doing makeup when you're feeling tired can be challenging task, but there are always loopholes and hacks that can make you look great with minimal time, effort and money! Ananya Padmanbhan One makeup hack that I always swear by is the four-product quick save. Some days when there’s a shortage of time but one needs a pulled-together look, the best way to achieve uniformity is to use concealer, cream blush, eyeliner/ kohl pencil, and mascara. Use a concealer that is the closest shade to your skin tone and conceal all the imperfections on the skin by dabbing it over the spots that seem uneven. Blend it out with a beauty blender to even out the skin (do not forget the under eyes and over the eyelid as well to brighten up the face). Next, use a lighter shade of cream-based blush, dab it thoroughly over the apples of your cheeks and use the same for your lips to achieve a neutral shade of lip. Next using the eyeliner/ kohl pencil, line your upper line and if you’re using Kohl, using some on the water line can significantly brighten up the face. Next, use mascara on your lashes to finish off. An extra step would be setting spray to ensure your makeup stays on for a long period of time. Imogen Smillie TV Sub-Editor If you know me, you know I don’t usually wear the most elaborate makeup looks. If and when I’m leaving the house, I usually strive for a ‘nomakeup’ makeup look – as minimal and natural as possible. Basically just to cover up the acne and dark circles, and just generally make myself look more awake! But even if I’m looking at having a makeup free day, there is one element that must be done (for me personally, as a

highly self-conscious girl in her early twenties…)! The brows. With my darker hair, bushy brows are the way to go – unless I want to be plucking them every ten minutes! Around three years ago, bushy brows were the new trend, thankfully moving swiftly away from the skinny brow of the early 2000’s. Laminating your brows became highly popular, giving them that feathered look for longer, but at what cost? Literally, the treatment is so expensive and only lasts up to two months! So as a student, not ideal. The way I get the bushy brow look is cheap and, in my opinion, effective. Head to any beauty shop and pick up an eyebrow gel. Sort of looking like a clear mascara, just comb out your brows in an upward direction. The gel will not only give you that laminated look, but also stay that way all day until you take your makeup off! I highly recommend it, and it can cost you much less than £5!

Lizzie Yockney Fashion & Beauty Sub-Editor For me, doing my makeup before a night out is my favourite part of the getting ready process, but it isn't something that can be done on a daily basis, as it takes me forever. So, I have a couple of tricks that I do most days to make myself look a little bit more alive and feel more confident. For starters, I use a very lightweight tinted serum for a bit of coverage and to even out my skin tone. I then blend out cream blush over the bridge of my nose, on my cheeks directly under

my pupils (which is a great hack for people with round faces that I picked up from @ rachelocoolmua on TikTok), and on the tops of my cheekbones onto my forehead in a C-shape to tie the look together. Finally, just to brighten up my very basic everyday makeup, I pop a little bit of glitter eyeshadow in the corners of my eyes and then on the bridge and tip of my nose. It takes no time at all and makes me look as if I haven't just rolled out of bed.

Samantha Seidu Fashion & Beauty Sub-Editor I'm not someone that wears makeup often since it can take me several hours but the days I do, I like to go all out! For a good makeup look, I feel like a flawless base is really important, so this is what I like to do to achieve that! Firstly, I like to dust my T zone with some setting powder to get rid of the oily shine since I have combination skin. After that I spray on some setting spray before I start with everything else (it's really weird but it works!). For foundation, I usually apply with a brush and remember that a little goes a long way! My favourite part is the concealer: for this you need your skin tone shade then one that is maybe two or three shades lighter. I go in first with the skin tone concealer and apply it on my T-zone, under my eyes and on my chin. After that, I use the lighter one underneath the skin tone shade. Leave it for around a minute for more coverage and then with a damp beauty blender, I blend it all out then top it off with some setting powder. Using two concealers helps me to create a lifted but natural look, especially since I have darker skin, skin tone concealer helps to mute the lighter one, so it doesn't look too bright.

Image credit: Instagram @glossier Image credit: pixabay lucianapappdesign

Sub-editors: Jude Parkinson & Elžbieta Voverytė

Monday 31st October 2022

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5 Travel The perfect Prague Itineraries L a n g u a g e 18

Charlie Reid

Exploring the famous capital with a historic core

city filled with colorful baroque buildings, quaint cafes and bars galore, you’ll struggle to find yourself without something to do when in Prague. Due to the city’s small size, you’ll find that Prague is very walkable, and that you don’t need to take public transport to get around. However, for maximum convenience, choosing accommodation near the Old Town is wise, as this is the most central area of the city. Whilst in the Old Town, take some time to visit the beautiful Church of our Lady Tyn, and the Prague Astronomical Clock which both rest in the Old Town Square. The cities highlights to visit are well worth your time. Stroll across the Charles Bridge, which is lined with street vendors selling art and jewellery, whilst you take in the music of the buskers. Upon reaching the other side of the Vltava River, a short walk will lead you up to one of the architectural wonders of the city, Prague Castle. If you’re partial to a pint, head over to the nearby restaurant U Glaubicu, which sells the cheapest pint of beer in Prague at just £1.38. Fancy spending the afternoon working your way around art galleries and museums? Head back across to Old Town where you’ll find the Illusion Art Museum and National Galley of Prague, perfect to spend your afternoon musing at art. To finish your day off, head up to Letna Viewpoint with a drink, to watch the sun set over the city, in a park filled with locals and travellers appreciating the view in unison.

Alice Holmes -News Sub-editor

rague is a city which has been on my bucket-list for absolutely ages. Initially I thought 2 nights here would be no where near enough time to explore but actually, the length of this trip was perfect for a short break. We had a great two days filled with lots and lots of walking and exploring - however we also found plenty of time to relax and recharge in this beautiful city. We decided to divide our time spending one day on one side of the river (Old Town side) and the second day on the other side (Mama Strana and Castle side). Our start point for day one was the Old Town Square where you can see the astronomical clock tower. The square is very pretty with lovely architecture and a bustling atmosphere. A highlight of the day was going to a roof top terrace near the square with amazing views. The drinks probably weren’t as good value as other places in Prague (still very cheap by UK standards though) but the view was amazing and so worth it - especially as the sun went down. The rooftop bar we went too was Teresa U Prince on top of the Hotel U Prince which I'd definitely recommend and you don’t have to book. We also headed down to Charles Bridge on the first day. I’ve been told to expect

this to be really busy, so to go outside of peak times but we really didn’t find it too crowded (perhaps because we were out of season). The bridge was lovely and you get great views of the city from here. We walked across and went for drinks at a small wine and tapas bar overlooking the river which was so nice. We also tried traditional trdelnik! The second day was my favourite. We started by wandering through old town and buying some souvenirs and then we went across the Mala Strana. We had coffee overlooking the river to prepare us for a steep climb up to the castle. The views from the castle were amazing, and luckily it was the perfect autumn day. The sky was bright blue and the sun was shining making the autumnal leaves and terracotta tiles on the roofs look amazing. We explored the castle grounds which were really beautiful but didn’t go into the castle itself.We walked down through Mala Strana which is so nice and picturesque and definitely my favourite area of Prague. We couldn’t stop taking photos the whole time. We chose a place to eat in the centre and tried out some traditional Czech cuisine, beef goulash and pork schnitzel.

Image credit: Unsplash

apps abroad Ellen Pinch

Your passport to fluency !

avigating the seemingly neverending public transport maps, ordering the mystery local dish or getting lost in the middle of a new city. Travelling without the local lingo is undeniably challenging. Luckily in the age of technology not all is lost. With such a saturated language app market selling us the chance to dip in and out of over 40 languages at any moment it’s time to drop the hand gestures and the ‘slower and louder’ speaking techniques. But do Duolingo, Memrise and their fellow language platforms really help the travel experience? Falling back on the assumption that everyone will have some level of English takes away from an authentic travelling experience in numerous ways. Languages even at the most basic level open travellers up more to new cultures and even ways of seeing the world, why would anyone want to pass up on that?! The bottom line is that none of them truly claim fluency as an end goal, but instead a fun and easy way to get to grips with a basics of a language. These are the tools that are needed to communicate with locals and it always serves anyone well to step outside of the English bubble and try to use some local phrases even if it's as simple as 'thank you'. A few basic phrases can be completely transformative, rewarding and open so many exciting travel doors. Get downloading before your next trip!

A visit to the ‘Forgotten Isle’ Alternative destinations of the Mediterranean sea for adventurous travellers Rebecca Wright

Want to know where you can find some of the most secluded, picturesque beaches inside of Europe?

charming and criminally underrated Italian island. Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean sea after Sicily. It boasts a stunning mountain range, with 3707 mountains to be exact, making it absolutely perfect for unique expeditions in the Italian countryside. There are opportunities for a multitude of sports in and out of the water, as well as gorgeous beaches and luxury spas if you would prefer to just lap up the sweet Mediterranean sunshine. Essentially, there is something for everyone, making Sardinia the perfect destination for any kind of holiday you have in mind. Whether it’s a girls trip post exams, a family holiday or a first holiday for you and your significant other, you’re guaranteed to leave Sardinia wondering why more people haven’t been! Sardinia is characterised by its gorgeous landscape and nature, which in my mind is what sets it apart from your standard idea of Italy – there are vast, open spaces where nature runs wild, which is something you don’t necessarily get in the cramped streets of Venice. Because of its beautiful panorama, the sunsets are truly divine. Deep hues of pink and orange peeking over the mountain range in the distance, as though the heavens have opened up just for a few hours of the day. The underwater landscape is just as impressive, with deep caves, protected marine areas for snorkelling, and an abundance of multicoloured fish beneath your flippers. Snorkelling at Molara, an island just off the coast, is particularly spectacular. Its natural pools are rich in turquoise and cyan, making for an unforgettable swim. I would not be doing Sardinia justice if I did not mention the food, which is sensational. In line with the Mediterranean diet, menu options frequently include seafood: cuttlefish, mussels, swordfish galore! I would highly recommend

Buffet restaurants if you’re the type of person who wants to try anything and everything. Fresh, authentic ‘Fregula’ and juicy watermelon are also plentiful. Sardinia also has a very rich history. There are 350 tombs throughout Sardinia, dating back to the Bronze age, and over 7000 perplexing towers known as ‘Nuraghes’. It is no surprise that Sardinia feels like a minicontinent, due to the sheer number of different cultures that have been passing through since 8th century BC. There is a charm to Sardinia like nowhere else, and exploring its beauty for yourself is a marvel that is impossible to regret.

Image credit: Unsplasjh

Jude Parkinson -Travel Sub-editor

Alternative escapes from busy crowds and overpriced hotels to rather untouched destinations around the world.

as fulfilling. Offering rewarding hikes in National parks where you can drink the worlds purest water, away from urbanisation along with the chance to meet the country’s mascot, the Tasmanian Devil. Hobart market which holds over 300 stalls also offers a buzzing bar and café area, as well as offering the best local produce including beer and sensational seafood. Instead of Croatia or Italy try Montenegro: Croatia and Italy are fast becoming European hotspots for holiday makers and cruise lovers alike. Their charming old towns and idyllic beaches draw in more tourists year after year, but they are both heavily populated during the summer months. Instead, located just further down the Adriatic is Montenegro with Lake Como’s landscape and Croatia’s terracotta roofs it’s the perfect alternative. With stunning shorelines and mountainous backdrops it's sure to impress, it also has many scattered towns boasting medieval and venetian style architecture. Who could refuse a week discovering Montenegro a place few could even point to on a map. Instead of Cape Town try Zimbabwe and Zambia: Cape town tends to be many peoples go to when visiting Africa for the first time, yet the vast continent has so much to offer it seems a shame to limit a trip to a single city, as Zambia and Zimbabwe are unmissable . With endless culture and impressive safaris in Zambia you can stay embedded in the wildlife, an opportunity little places have to offer. Zimbabwe and Zambia’s border is formed by the Victoria falls, the largest waterfall in the world, it’s a nation park like no other.

ith social media driving over tourism through idealist photos and holiday providers only offering a limited scope of destinations, more abstract destinations often get overlooked for the most popular locations. Instead of India try Sri Lanka: India is a popular destination for holiday makers and both backpackers however it’s neighbouring country Sri Lanka is often overlooked. With a tropical climate, sprawling beaches and unique experiences on offer it should be on many travellers wish lists. With being much more compact compared to India is it possible to often fit more into your trip, great for those looking for a destination offering water sports, wildlife, and history. Home to 26 national parks, Buddhist heritage and outstanding street food, the island is simply unmissable. Instead of Switzerland try Slovenia: As well as being one of Europe’s most expensive countries Switzerland is densely populated with tourists all year round, for ski season in the winter and hikers in the summer. However, on the other side of the alps is Slovenia, a great alternative, it has breath-taking scenery and a vibrant capital. It has world class wine tasting which can be enjoyed from picture perfect towns and lakes at an affordable price. Slovenia is the perfect holiday for both hiking enthusiasts and those wanting to visit somewhere unique. Instead of mainland Australia try Tasmania: Australia is usually at the top of bucket lists as it has something for everyone, yet many don’t even know that Tasmania is just Image credit: Unsplasjh

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Monday 31st October 2022

Lettuce celebrate World Vegan Day!

Jessica Predko

his year’s World Vegan Day will be celebrated on Tuesday 1st November, which not only is an opportunity for fellow vegans to exchange their thoughts with likeminded people, but to also help spread the vegan message to non-vegans. Benefits to the planet: Meat production accounts for nearly 60% of all greenhouse gas emissions from food production. A single kilogram of beef creates a whooping 70kg of emissions! If everyone went vegan, 75% of the world’s farmland could be saved to grow nutritious, plant-based protein to feed more people, helping to alleviate world hunger. Benefits to health: Vegan diets can help protect public health. They are associated with lower risks of: heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer and can lower your cholesterol levels. We are often told of the UK’s high animal welfare standards, but this sadly isn’t true. 85% of the UK’s farmed animals live on factory farms. These comprise of large, unhygienic sheds where the animals are cramped together and cannot exhibit natural behaviours. There are now over 1,000 megafarms operating in the UK, with the largest housing over a million chickens. Going vegan ensures that your food does not involve animal suffering.

What do vegans actually eat? There is a common myth that vegans don’t get enough nutrients, including protein, iron and vitamins. But this simply isn’t the case! There are many plant based foods that can provide all the nutrients you need! Cereals and grains (i.e.: wholewheat pasta, wholemeal bread, brown rice, oats, rye, buckwheat) can provide a range of nutrients including Vitamin B, protein, iron, calcium and fibre. Whereas fruit and vegetables can provide Vitamins A, B, C, E and K, as well as mineral trace elements of iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and potassium. Where can I eat vegan in Newcastle? Super Natural café, serves a range of vegan foods, including vegan brunch and burgers, Belgian waffles, as well as avocado on toast. And what’s better – they are also dog friendly! Earthlings is a vegan juice bar that also sells raw vegan cakes. They sell drinks, such as smoothies for £4.50, and cold pressed juices for £4.95.

Sub-editors: Daisy Harrison & Abigail Roch

Food & Drink

Nutrition and mental health? Here's some food for thought Abigail Roch - Food & Drink sub-editor

An insight into how food affects your mood

ood is one of the most powerful rewards. There’s nothing better than than knowing something delicious is waiting for you in the kitchen. Unfortunately, that pleasure only lasts a short while. But how does science explain our mood after digestion? Recent studies show how our brain, nervous system, gut and behaviour are intricately intertwined. Our gastrointestinal tract accommodates millions of bacteria which influence the production of neurotransmitters. These chemical substances are continuously carrying messages from our gut to our brain.

As soon as our mouths taste exquisite food, dopamine is released into the brain

There are two types of bacteria: the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’. Eating healthy foods encourages the growth of the good ones, which then increases the production of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and dopamine). However, junk food and sugar - which feed ‘bad’ bacteria - can cause inflammation that in turn, hinders production. As soon as our mouths taste exquisite food, dopamine is released into the brain. This pleasure hormone and neurotransmitter controls our satisfaction – without it interest and motivation are lost. Although sugar induces inflammation, it ironically also causes a spike in dopamine. However, sugar rushes are fleeting and they are shortly followed by a mood crash. Sticking to a healthy diet is the answer to Image credit: Pixabay minimising m o o d swings. Stable neurotransmitter production enables the brain to receive clear positive messages which emotions reflect. Which foods boost mental health and wellbeing? Here are some examples: 1. Whole foods such as: fruits; vegetables; seeds; pulses; whole grains; meat; fish and eggs 2. Unsaturated fats: nuts, avocado, olive oil, omega-3 and dark chocolate

Bready or not, we're on a roll this World Sandwich Day! Find out how to celebrate World Sandwich Day in style this November 4th...

- bread that was somehow both stale and soggy, brown bits of salad, and more hummus than anyone should ever have to consume. They were nightmare fuel. That is until I came across the holy grail of sandwich fillings, the humble chickpea salad.

Ashna Mathur - Campus Comment sub-editor

I could, would, and have, eaten the entire thing in one sitting!

love sandwiches - who doesn’t? The herd of students crowding the meal deal section of every supermarket is testimony to this. This Indian streetfood toasted sandwich is literally my favourite thing to make, and it’s the ultimate hangover fix. The Bombay toastie has everything your heart desires. Perfectly spiced mashed potatoes, melted cheese and fresh green chutney placed within slices of bread and toasted with buttery goodness- what’s not to love?

Spicy, tangy, cheesy, crispy... Perfectly spiced mashed potatoes, melted cheese and fresh green chutney placed within slices of bread and toasted with buttery goodness. Authentically, this snack also has sliced onions, tomatoes and peppers, but I have the taste buds of a 7-year-old, so feel free to roast me! This toastie is easy to make if you have the potatoes prepped, and adding some lemon and coriander alongside spices just elevates the taste. If you can handle the spice, some chopped green chillies pair beautifully with the mint and coriander chutney. While you can make this in a pan on the hob, I strongly suggest you invest in a sandwich maker. It’s so convenient and deserves a place in every student kitchen. Spicy, tangy, cheesy, crispy, I don’t think this sandwich gets the credit it deserves! For the full Bombay experience, enjoy with a hot cup of chai. Happy World Sandwich Day!

Image credit: Instagram @karakinc Image credit: Instagram @karissasvegankitchen

Rachael McCreanor - Head of Culture

he Sandwich - a culinary staple for most, an easy option for some, and a long adversary for me. At the risk of being canceled by die-hard bread fans, I have to admit, I used to despise sandwiches. The very mention of them made my skin crawl

Now, I know what you're thinking, chickpeas aren't exactly known for their immensely flavourful properties, but don't let that put you off! With the right accompaniments and some enthusiasm, those little nuggets of joy will change your sandwiches forever. Simply grab a can of chickpeas (drained), a stick of celery, a carrot or two, some dill, a couple of spoonfuls of mayo, and a load of lemon juice, chop them up, mix them together and you've got a ridiculously simple salad perfect for shoving into some pita bread. To make it slightly easier to eat, mash the chickpeas slightly with a potato masher, just so they don't all roll out of your bread. It may not be the most flavourful concoction, but the textures, they are to die for. I could, would, and have, eaten the entire thing in one sitting and I recommend you do too.

can something not be considered a sandwich, but merely an entire meal stuffed between two slices of bread?

Chow Mein actually does slap in a sandwich In honour of World Sandwich Day, I found out. I’m a McChicken Sandwich enjoyer” explained Lew, economics student. “But they haven’t had it in stock recently and it’s really annoying.” I call this financially irresponsible - £4 for a chicken sandwich from McDonalds is extortionate. You’d only be able to afford that with a degree in economics. "Fried chicken and maple syrup.” replied Isaac. This made me gag in my mouth a little bit. Those two things should never be combined, end of debate. This wasn’t quite as bad as Ellie, though, who shoves her leftover Chinese takeaway in between two slices of bread and declares it a sandwich. Her attempted justification was “chow mein actually does slap in a sandwich,” which almost brought tears to my eyes, as a Yo-Yo noodle regular. Regardless of what you like in your sandwiches, I trust you’ll all be joining me in eating one on November 4th to celebrate the go-to student lunch.

Swati Subramaniam

hether you’re treating yourself to a posh brunch at Aidan’s Kitchen, or quickly stopping by the co-op for a meal deal between lectures, a sandwich is always the safest bet. It’s portable, delicious, and cuts out the middleman of cutlery entirely so that you waste no time in getting food straight to your mouth. But what is acceptable to put in a sandwich? At what point

Image credit: Instagram @tenaflyclassicdiner

Sub-editors: Lucy Bower & Rowan Christina Driver

Music

The Car Arctic Monkeys

Daisy Harrison

- Food&Drink Sub-editor

Did Arctic Monkeys deliver on their latest release, The Car?

Monday 31st October 2022

Taylor Swift strikes a Has Swift hit or missed the mark of Midnight(s) with her new record-breaking album?

Amy Dunn

n her tenth studio album, Midnights, Taylor Swift takes a step away from the wellreceived indie-folk influence of folklore and evermore in favour of a more hazy, explorative synth-pop sound. While the album is decidedly marked by Jack Antonoff ’s production style, Swift’s self-reflective and witty lyricism remains her

greatest strength. Swift refuses to shy from topics frequently speculated upon, with her relationship and public image the subject of several tracks, each tackled with the same sharp-witted self-awareness. Although throughout the album she experiments with a darker sound, Swift makes time for a soft ballad written alongside her partner Joe Alwyn. Amongst dreamy, explorative tracks, Sweet Nothing feels like a breath of fresh air. The simplistic instrumental leaves the lyricism as the focal point of the track. While perhaps not the album that we were expecting, Taylor once again surpasses expectations and creates a heart-wrenchingly honest album that feels like arriving home in the hazy darkness, a comfort in the cold midnights. Elisabeth Gores

idnights is less sonically cohesive than her former records notably 2014s 1989 and 2020s folklore, however, Swift doesn’t aim for this but rather allows for an exploration of atmospheric shoe-gazing synthesizers, gently vibrating beats, relaxed pop and soft grooves. The album is also distinctively lacking in the luminous chart hits that have defined Swift’s sixteen-year long career but is still a

The Car encapusaltes the evolution of the Monkeys

Image Credit: Instagram @taylorswift

Live Review: Andrew Cushin

Kirsten Scott

It's their most polished and elegant album yet and certainly envelopes their evolution When listening to the next track, 'Sculptures of Anything Goes', for the first time, my jaw dropped open… it has a dark, imposing bass line, which was an unexpected, yet very welcome surprise. The track is also reminiscent of the band’s older sound, taking influences from the song 'Do I Wanna Know', which featured on their 5th album, AM. But the boys have amplified their earlier track, and given 'Sculptures of Anything Goes' a more mature, refined, and impressive sound. Other songs, such as the title track, 'Big Ideas', and 'Perfect Sense' establish a cinematic tone, inviting you to enjoy Turner’s rich vocals, in accompaniment with the orchestral sounds of the piano, guitar, and drums. Although The Car may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s their most polished and elegant album yet, and certainly envelops their evolution, as the band seem very at-ease with the new sound they’re creating. Image Credit: Spotify

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fter years of waiting, the boys are finally back with their 7th studio album, The Car. And what can be said except: the Monkeys have done it again; they’ve created a masterpiece. Although the band have been criticised for “not sounding like they used to”, with the release of both Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino in 2018, and their latest album The Car, the expectation that men in their 30s are going to remain singing about getting drunk and pulling in clubs is unrealistic.

Just like the Monkeys themselves, the new album has an added layer of maturity, which makes for easy listening. And whilst the loud, upbeat tracks of their earlier albums will always hold a special place in my heart, I can appreciate the boys’ move into a direction of music that they feel comfortable with creating as they grow older. The Car encapsulates the evolution of the Monkeys, as we hear them playing with new sounds, whilst still adding musical elements of the tracks we all know and love. The album’s opening track, 'There’d Better Be A Mirrorball', brilliantly frames the rest of the album, as we take a detour away from heavy drums, and are instead met with a rhythmic, jazzy mix of synth and strings. The second song on The Car, 'I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am', immediately grabs your attention, and with its funky groove, it’s sure to have you tapping your foot, or bopping your head along to the beat. This track is in line to be one of my favourites from the new album, as it seems to be permanently stuck in my head!

THE

Image Credit: Instagram @andrewcushin

reckon it’ll take a long time to come down from the high of seeing Andrew Cushin perform at the NX. The Heaton singersongwriter sold out the venue and gave the performance of his life to over 1600 people. Having seen Cushin perform live multiple times, this was by far the most emotionally powerful of his gigs that I’ve attended. His debut EP You Don’t Belong was only released in April this year, yet Cushin captivated the audience with an extensive setlist. Only a year older than me, his musical achievements are something to be astounded by. Cushin has already been signed to Strap Originals, a label owned by The Libertines’ cofrontman, Pete Doherty. And in October 2020, he released the single ‘Where’s my family gone’ which was produced by Noel Gallagher. The night opened with fantastic performances from SAHAJi and Lottery Winners. The former, a Japanese Brothers band with a resemblance to the Gallagher brothers, provided a fantastic rendition of Oasis’ ‘Stand by me’ and set the evening off to a great start. They were followed by Lottery Winners, an indie pop band from Manchester. Frontman Thom Rylance’s crude humour and great stage

presence were a perfect warm up for what was to be one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. But nothing could prepare me for the electric atmosphere that was to come. Before Andrew came to the stage, Newcastle United flags were hoisted up and swayed at the front of the stage. Black and white clips of the city were projected onto the back wall, whilst Jimmy Nail’s ‘Big River’ blared from the speakers. Most of the audience sang along to the classic tune and let out a roar when Cushin’s face was shown on the projection. I’ll be honest, I’ve never been prouder to live in Newcastle. Andrew took to the stage with a swaggering confidence and burst straight into ‘Catch me if you can’. His voice has a real power and maturity to it and works well alongside the depth of a full band or as a vulnerable note alone onstage. The first few tunes had a heavy rock influence which perhaps indicate the direction his music is moving in, yet the main section of the set featured Cushin alone onstage playing some of his earlier tracks which feature a touch of the blues. At this section of the set, his emotion was palpable as he performed a song written for his dad, declaring it one of the “most personal” he’d ever written. Visibly overwhelmed by the crowd’s respect for him, Andrew had tears in his eyes as he thanked fans for coming and said how much it meant to him. As a thank you, cameras were turned to the audience who will now be making an appearance in his next music video. The encore consisted of two songs, including ‘Where’s my family gone’ and saw Cushin take off his jacket to reveal a United shirt which was met with a chant of approval from the crowd. Andrew has such a promising career ahead of him, I’d be willing to put money on it that one day I’ll be seeing him perform at a sold-out concert at the Utilita Arena and he will be immortalised as a Newcastle hero. So, if you haven’t heard of the lad, I hope this article has convinced you to listen to his music. And if you are already a fan, I salute you. Impeccable taste.

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Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Lucy Bower & Rowan Christina Driver

again with Midnights step back towards the mainstream from her last two albums. The songs centre around confessional yet elusive lyrics, exploring themes such as selfworth, self-reflection and self-criticism, insecurity and naturally insomnia. There is a thin line between mindful and mindless

Sporadic lyrical fatigue is somewhat to be expected song-writing, and this can be seen on Midnights’ weaker moments where the rhyme schemes and album’s witty lyrics feel somewhat unnaturally achieved. However, given that this is Swift’s fourth new album in three years, her sporadic lyrical fatigue is somewhat to be expected. Swift also continues her trend of neglecting female features with Del Rey, like those before her barley being heard on the records singular collaborative track, 'Snow On The Beach'. Lauren Reid

o me, the feel of Midnights can be described as an electrifying mix of 1989’s sound, the lyricism of evermore, and the taste of vengeance granted by Reputation. Yet it’s none of those because Midnights is its own album. The individual brilliance of the sound as a package of tracks is hard to describe. Coming off two years of ceaseless listening to folklore and evermore, I couldn’t imagine a new album that strayed from the folk sound. Yet after a few full listen-throughs, I knew I would grow to love the album; with the electrifying sound that

persists throughout, it’s hard not to. My only dislike was the distorted vocals on 'Midnight Rain'. A great song, meaningful lyrics, but slightly ruined with the robotic effect… As an album, however, I love how authentically Taylor it all sounds. It sounds like she made if for her, and considering her fight to own her music, it’s great to hear. Sophie McNally - Deputy Editor

he album is like [her albums] Reputation, Lover, and 1989 had a three way". My friend's (Giana Cucci's) rundown of Taylor Swift's album is sublime. Midnights marks a lull in Swift's gilded music career so far, certainly not a watershed. The singer's twelfth studio album is effervescent with a laziness that even the astounding level of marketing hype couldn't cover up.

It is effervescent with a laziness that even an astounding level of marketing hype couldn't cover up The lyrics are simplistic at best ("Sweet like honey, karma is a cat / Purring in my lap 'cause it loves me"), whilst the actual sound and execution seems misguided - torn between her previous

musical stylings and an apparent hesitation about what new heights the artist can reach after the exquisite back-to-back folklore and evermore releases. Eighth track 'Vigilante S***' should have been the perfect new wave sequel to the 2017 Reputation era, yet it's palpably uncomfortable and would be more successful as a dark, 'badass', backing track for a Marvel film. Though the track did prove that Swift suits a brooding tone under certain circumstances. Ones where rain dances on rooftops as she sighs and questions personal anxieties, or pains at wearing her heart on her sleeve. Not one where she's scathing and sardonic.

The surprise 3am Edition drop encapuslates Swift's innate artistry far more 'Snow On The Beach', 'You're On Your Own, Kid' and 'The Great War' are outliers to the rhythms and beats on Midnights, (that teeter on being soulless) as they recapture the quintessential Swift craftsmanship with chiselled lyrics and soft, ethereal backing tracks. Every song of the seven released in the surprise Midnights 3am Edition drop encapsulates Swift's innate artistry far more, and is a great attempt at restoring her worthy place as the poet of today's music industry. Though this article is littered with criticisms for Swift, it's solely because she's set the standard for musicians of the 21st century and this time she's sorely missed her own mark.

Standing Ovation for Mercury Prize Winner Little Simz

Adam Lovegrove ittle Simz was up against some tough competition this year, with household names such as Harry Styles and Sam Fender nominated for the award alongside her. The 28-year-old managed to defy the odds and the London rapper’s latest project is crowned the best album released by a British or Irish artist of 2022. From a childhood spent on a council estate in Islington, Simbiatu Ajikawo has been climbing her way up the musical ladder ever since the mixtapes she made at 15. The LP stands as her fourth studio album, as well as the one held to the highest critical acclaim, praised for its introspective lyrics, as well as the versatility Simbi displays as she delves into so many different genres, excelling on almost all fronts.

I could go on for hours about the beauty of this record The album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, opens with the bombastic 'Introvert', where Simz makes a bold statement against the corruption and prejudice of the world she lives in, displaying her desire to bring about her own political involvement through music, all while being backed by a majestic fanfare and an angelic choir. Right after this dramatic and moving opener, the album throws you into 'Woman', a colourful

no one deserves the award soul-jazz joint dedicated to inspiring women of this year more than colour all over the world. Its verses showcase Little Simz. Simbi’s absolute adoration for these women of so many different cultures, whether that be for the things they do for our world, or just characteristics that absolutely charm her. The record continues to display her multi-talented nature, delving into an array of subjects and sounds. Simbi details her conflicted feelings towards her negligent father on the track 'I Love You, I Hate You', with an instrumental that evolves along with Simbi’s own maturity. Starting out with a simple beat and bass guitar, the instrumental develops as Simz comes to terms with her own emotions towards her dad. The strings, the horns, the harp, the choir; all these instruments coalesce into one eye-watering crescendo as Simz finally forgives her father, not for his sake, but for herself. I could go on for hours about the beauty of this record: the afrobeat vibes on 'Point & Kill'; the rapid bars on 'Rollin’ Stone'; and a dozen other ways in which Simbi pushes herself into other mediums. I’m sure you can see by now incredible of a project this is, and why every Image Credit: Instagram @littlesimz ounce of me believes that

Music

Being Funny in a Foreign Language The 1975

Scarlett Welch

- Co-Head of Life&Style

eing Funny in a Foreign Language captures The 1975 at their most authentic. From beginning to end, the album is an honest reflection on love that comes across far more hopeful than any of their previous albums, yet Matty Healy still comes across as self-obsessed as ever. Lyrically, this album is one of their most raw, however a lot of the songs are also drenched in irony at the same time. A perfect example of this combination is ‘When we are together’, which begins with the quintessential throwaway line ‘Our first kiss was Christmas in the Walmart toy department’. In spite of this, the chorus contains one of the album's most beautiful lines: ‘The only time I feel I might get better, Is when we are together’ - summarising on the album’s overarching message that love can save us. I did however find that in certain songs, the overuse of irony detracted from my enjoyment of the music, particularly in ‘Part of the band’. This song appears self-critical but is really just Matty Healy’s love letter to himself, revelling in the self-deprecating yet narcissistic persona he has curated.

It carried a more sincere tone than much of their earlier work Despite this, I generally felt that the album was very sincere. It also carried a more positive tone than much of their earlier work, expressing a cautiously optimistic view of the future. This is a stark, and in some ways refreshing, contrast from A Brief Enquiry Into Online Relationships and Notes on a Conditional Form (their previous two albums), which felt full of anger and dread for the future. Masculinity is also a prominent theme in this album, particularly the toxicity of it. Healy does not shy away from the role he has played in this, with lyrics such as ‘I thought we were fighting but it seems I was gaslighting you’. Whilst the album conveys a strong, overarching message lyrically, there is a huge variation between songs in terms of style. The 1975 have delivered a signature mix of guitar-heavy upbeat pop music and slow, sombre instrumentals. This perfectly captures the band’s musical range in just 43 minutes, almost half the length of their previous album. To summarise, although Being Funny in a Foreign Language is quite a tonal shift from The 1975’s previous work, it certainly still captures the pretentious yet heartfelt energy of the band. Image Credit: Spotify

Ly r

ic o f t h e We e k

And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills, till the landslide brought me down. Fleetwod Mac, Landslide

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Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Olivia Crowley & Imogen Smillie

Saturday night TV: the art of trash television Lauren Reid

Typical trashy telly - what makes the perfect Saturday night watchlist?

ack for a third season, The Wheel has made its return to BBC One! In light of its return to Saturday night telly, it’s time to consider what makes a great Saturday night show. The weeks are long, and for many the weekends offer the time to sit back on the sofa and watch whatever the guide is offering. We need something enthralling, something fun - we need something to end a week on a high and not make us wish we were anywhere but in front of our televisions. ITV's The Chase is exactly what makes a great

gameshow; it's quick, it's fun, and there's nothing like the rush of quickfire questions. It's one of those where the three ad-breaks aren't so gruelling. Yet I wouldn't consider it a 'Saturday' show. I would argue that in recent years, the magic of Saturday night TV has vanished. I miss the time when The X Factor was an enjoyable watch, and I could see beyond the process. It makes me question whether the enjoyability of Saturday night TV lies with the quality of the programme, or with an innocence granted by the viewer’s age. Yet there is no denying that the quality of weekend television is on the decline.

The magic of Saturday night TV has vanished

Image credit: IMDb, Instagram - @harrygorgeousstyles94

It brings to mind a talent show that aired on ITV in April of this year – Romeo and Duet. The premise of the show was a blind date determined by the reception of the contestants singing voice. Arguably the most pointless ‘contest’ ever aired on TV, this show was labelled as a ‘dating game show,’ and yet there was very little dating, very little concept of a game, and a profound misfortune of a show. However, here’s the thing - we hate these shows

Set in an idealised suburban setting, The Watcher seems to be interesting from the outside, but is it really worth the hype?

he Watcher has the set up to be the perfect true crime thriller, and while watching it definitely had me double checking my doors were locked, in retrospect it’s probably not worth the watching time, with a disappointing ending, and a flurry of plot holes. Based on a real-life story, The Watcher appears to satisfy cravings for true crime dramas, but left viewers disappointed and confused. Bobby Cannavale and Naomi Watts play Dean and Nora Branno ck, a couple who have just bought their

Image credits: IMDb

dream home in Westfield, NJ. Unfortunately for them, they are greeted with creepy neighbors, and ominous letters from a stalker dubbed The Watcher. The real-life Brannock’s (The Broaddus’) bought 657 Boulevard in June 2014, and soon after received anonymous letters describing details only someone within the house, or watching very closely, would know. The Watcher also referenced the couple’s children and asked them to fill the house with “young blood”. The case was never solved, but letters did not continue to be sent to the house after the Broaddus’ sold it in 2019.

The eccentric characters make the ‘true crime’ aspect of this story disappear The acting within the series is definitely the high point. The cast sets high expectations (Jennifer Coolidge, Naomi Watts and Mia Farrow), but the series was ultimately sabotaged by a plot full of unexplored leads, unnecessary sub plots, dragging what could have been a two-hour feature, into a 7-part series. There are so many routes the writers of the series, Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, Pose) and Ian Brennan (Ratched, Scream Queens), could have taken, but the last episode is a severe disappointment. As the actual case is unsolved, I assume the writers wanted to stay true to this, but the ending left many viewers feeling unsatisfied. The eccentric characters

Young Royals series preview Jemima Ajayi

Revenge, repentance and rivalry: what’s in store for season 2 of the hit teen drama?

W in theory, and yet we can’t stop watching. It’s the beauty, or perhaps the liability of what is known as ‘trash television.’ There is almost a subconscious question we ask ourselves throughout mocking a show, and that is “could it get better?” The only way we can we find out is to watch the full thing. That is what makes Saturday night TV just that! It’s more about the feel than the actual programme. It’s about sitting with dinner on your lap in the company of friends or family, complaining about a programme whilst equally having a great time. It’s simply ‘Saturday night telly’!

The Watcher: an unnerving plot that leads... nowhere Katy Anya McEwan

make the ‘true crime’ aspect of this story disappear. The whole fear factor of ‘this could happen to anyone’ loses its power when all your neighbours are suspects, and everyone has an apparent motive. There are so many unanswered questions – the secret tunnels, the blood cult – that the series’ only positive is that some of the characters – Karen (Coolidge) and Theodora (Noma Dumezweni) are genuinely entertaining to watch. Mia Farrow told Radio Times that hopefully the real victims of The Watcher “don’t see the series”. The Broaddus' gave the rights to Netflix in order to have some say in what was produced after a film was released in 2016 based on their story and which they had no control over. They only had two requests for the series: their real names were not to be used, and the family in the show should not resemble their own. They also said that they would not be opposed to the idea of the fictional house being burned to the ground, which I do not blame them for.

hen Young Royals was first released on Netflix in the summer of 2021, to say I loved it would be an understatement (if my rewatching it three times is anything to go by). For me, the Swedish teen drama created by Lisa Ambjörn, Lars Beckung and Camilla Holter marked a turning point within the young adult TV genre. Not only does the show have LGBTQ characters and their romance at its centre, but its portrayal of teenagers, their stresses, struggles and general school experience (albeit at an elite boarding school) is presented in a way so natural and delicate. It puts other shows which claim to represent teenagers such as the Spanish mystery drama Elite to shame.

The show marked a turning pount within Young Adult TV The preview and trailer for season 2 respectively reveal a lonely, grieving, and vengeful Crown Prince Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding) who vows to make his cousin August’s (Malte Gårdinger) life “a living hell”. August, however, seems to show remorse for his actions but whether there’ll be any reconciliation between the two is something we’ll have to find out. Sara (Frida Argento) is causing a rift in her friendship with Felice (Nikita Uggla) due to her “situationship” with the Prince’s cousin which started at the end of season 1. Their mutually beneficial relationship would allow Sarah to use August’s influence to be accepted as a boarder at the school and for him to have access to her ADHD pills.

It puts other shows claiming to represent teenagers to shame Of course, what we really want to know is whether Wilhelm and Simon (Omar Rudberg) will get back together, but neither the preview nor the trailer show clearly whether this will happen. What they do reveal is that their relationship will be put to the test by a new face on campus who’s got his eye on Simon. Will the two be able to overcome outside pressures to pursue their love? All will be revealed on the 1st of November!

Image credit: IMDb

Sub-editors: Rachel Carron, Mitchell Hall & Jessica McKeown

Monday 31st October 2022

THE

COURIER

5 Film Black Adam Review: Dumb, Chaotic Fun 24

George Lowes

The much anticipated DC instalment has been released to mixed reviews, with a huge gulf between the opinions of fans and critics.

lack Adam is the latest film from DC and stars Dwayne Johnson (Moana & Fast Five) as the titular character. Joining him are Aldis Hodge (The Invisible Man), Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye), Noah Centineo (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), and Quintessa Swindell in her first major film role. They form the Justice Society (not to be confused with the Justice League), a group of superheroes tasked with taking down Black Adam. In many ways, Black Adam feels like a film from ten years ago. The dialogue is incredibly clichéd; the villain follows the overdone genre trope of being an evil copy of the hero; and hell, the climax even has a sky beam! Yet, despite this, I quite enjoyed Black Adam. Johnson is clearly very passionate about the character, which comes through in his performance. He gives it his all, and while not the world’s best actor, he brings a level of gravitas to the role which works. Exciting action set pieces are one of the most essential parts of any superhero movie, and Black Adam has lots to offer. Mostly, they’re creative, entertaining, and showcase the heroes’ superpowers well. My favourite character was Dr

Fate (Pierce Brosnan), a mystical superhero whose primary power is the ability to see the future. He’s involved in several sequences filled with trippy visuals which felt straight out of a Doctor Strange movie

Creative, entertaining and showcases the heroes' superpowers Black Adam had me fearing the worst. You are immediately hit with a barrage of exposition about ancient kingdoms, fictional metals, and demon crowns. Now, expositional narration can work at the start of a film, see The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). But the information needs to be delivered carefully, at a rate the viewer can keep up with. Also, the flashback was shot in a very unappealing way, with all the colours washed out. However, thankfully, the film slows down eventually and the visuals slightly improve. Black Adam is set mainly in the fictional nation of Kahndaq. Its exact location is never made apparent, but it’s clearly an impoverished country oppressed by a militia called the Intergang. Unfortunately, it’s also a very brown setting, giving quite a dull colour palette to most scenes. The addition of some subpar visual effect work leaves the movie with a bland, unattractive look. Even DC’s lesser films tend to have excellent musical scores, but Black Adam

is, sadly, an exception. It was composed by Lorne Balfe, whose score for Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) I adore. Black Adam’s main theme was serviceable, but none of the other music in the film stood out – other than some truly bizarre needle drops during

the action scenes. One final positive I have for the movie is the costumes. Those of the Justice Society were nicely colourful and felt very comicbooky – thankfully something that’s becoming more common in the genre nowadays. Overall, Black Adam is a mixed bag of a superhero movie. Your experience will depend on your mindset going in. If you’re expecting a film on the level of DC’s best, it will disappoint, but if you go in simply wanting some dumb fun, you’ll leave satisfied. 3.5/5

My Policeman: A poignant tale of heartache and... Harry Styles? Esther Arnold

Harry Styles tries his hand at acting again in this period drama/romance from director Michael Grandage

arry and his love triangles! Does Style's second movie of the year leave a greater impact than any tabloid scandals this time? We shall

see... The cinemas are yet again filled with both film fanatics and hard-core music fans as Mr Harry Styles features in his second movie over the last couple of months. After releasing an award-winning new album this year and featuring in Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling recently, it seems the singer’s talents are extended further as he takes

on the role of Tom Burgess in Michael Grandage’s My Policeman. Based on the book by Bethan Roberts, this moving tale set in 1950s Britain focuses on the continuing effects of societal homophobia, allowing unrelenting strain to spread across communities. We see the story unfold between policeman Tom, curator Patrick (David Dawson) and school teacher Marion (The Crown’s Emma Corrin), as their love triangle unfolds. The trio is first introduced to the audience in the 1990s, where Patrick (now played by Rupert Everett), having suffered a stroke, has been taken in by Marion (Gina McKee), who is married to Tom (Linus Roache). Previous pressures have clearly left their mark on the friends, as tension runs high, the dulled colour palette of

Image credit: Twitter- @HLDMedia

Image credit: Twitter- @KevinTarazi_ @KevinTarazi_,, Twitter - @cosplay_jay @cosplay_jay,, Twitter - @DCComics

these scenes accentuating scars of the past. When Marion finds Patrick’s diaries from 40 years prior, we are transported back in time with her, allowing us to be shown where the friction seen earlier originates from. After having my calendar graffitied with the release date for many months, the anticipation of seeing My Policeman could finally end. Barely knowing what to expect, I readied myself for the next 1hr 53 minutes of heartache. Don’t get me wrong, the story-line of the film was excellent, portraying the struggles of being gay in the 50s, with these issues unfortunately nowhere near extinguished for many of the LGBTQ+ community today. The beautiful freedom shown between Patrick and Tom, whether romantically smoking in the nude in Venice, or simply taking a stroll on a pebbly beach, contrasts to the more forced passion and awkwardness between Tom and Marion. Although a bit wishy-washy at

times, the performances by Corrin and Dawson carry the film for me, with powerful scenes of struggle and distress, well mirrored by McKee and Everett, playing their older counterparts. Of course Roache also pulls it out of the bag, successfully portraying the internal conflict of Tom that has stayed with him throughout his life. Unfortunately, the one thing that doesn’t quite fit is Styles. The star, who no doubt has a talent for acting, is already so famous in a different industry that I struggled to get fully immersed into the movie. Flashing images of him performing ‘Watermelon Sugar’ in a feather boa forced themselves into my head at the most inconvenient times, detracting from the movie itself. Whether this will be my continued outlook for any future movies featuring Styles is an entirely different question. His role as Jack in Don’t Worry Darling also gave off the same vibe; however, I did feel his current role in My Policeman showed more varied emotion and potential for the future. However, by the end of the film, all thoughts of criticism temporarily disappeared as streams of tears flooded onto my sleeve, with a silent journey home vital to recover from this compelling display of persecution and prejudice. Generally, although a bit tedious at times, I would have to recommend this film to others due to the importance of the issues focused on and the skillful talents of the actors and actresses involved.

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Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Rachel Carron, Mitchell Hall & Jessica McKeown

Film

Go Big, Go Holmes: Bill Nighy's newest Enola Holmes 2 film: Living (2022) Ashna Mathur - Campus Comment Sub-Editor

Our first look at Enola Holmes 2 is a promising one

nola Holmes is back- and this time with her own detective agency! However, she finds that making it as a young female detective isn’t that easy as she attempts to escape from her brother’s shadow. This film follows her investigation of a missing girl, or as a clip reveals, her hunt for a murderer. The much-anticipated sequel is set to release on Netflix, and fans have been blessed with two trailers. Netflix has also released a clip featuring potential love interest Tewksbury teaching Enola how to dance. With such amazing chemistry, I am rooting for them to end up together! The trailers are packed with the usual running and fighting as the unstoppable Enola sets out to solve her

case. This time, she’s also attempting to fit into high society by dancing her way to the clues! The previews don’t seem to give away much of the plot (thankfully), but we do know that Sherlock and Enola’s cases are connected. Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) is engaging with us in the series’ classic fourth-wallbreaking style, and I’m certain she will deliver an outstanding performance. She is reunited with her mother, the bold and supportive matriarch played by Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd). Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) is as charming as ever as Sherlock, and I am eager to see the Holmes siblings working together. This film also has some returning characters: Susan Wokoma as Edith and Adul Akhtar as Scotland Yard’s Lestrade. The grumpy Mycroft looks to be absent, but I doubt he’ll be missed very much. Enola Holmes 2 will be available to stream on Netflix from November 4th.

Amelia Thompson

An adaptation of the 1952 Japanese film 'Ikiru', Bill Nighy stars as a dying man granted a new view on life

f you’ve stepped foot in a cinema recently, there’s a high chance you’ll have come across the trailer for Bill Nighy’s latest film; Living. And I’m also almost certain, that by watching this trailer alone, you would have immediately been met with a feeling of warmth and comfort, that makes you too, want to live. Living is director Oliver Hermanus’s first non-South African film, following up his successes in Cape Town including films like ‘Moffie’ and ‘Shirley

Image credit: IMDb

Adams.’ The screenplay by author Kazuo Ishiguro, 2017 Nobel Prize winner and author of Never Let Me Go, and is an adaptation of 1952 Japanese film of Ikiru, meaning ‘to live,’ which is inspired by Tolstoy’s 1886 Russian novella: The Death of Ivan Ilyich. With a history of previous successful adaptations, the trailer for Living looks as though it will live up to the high expectations which are naturally set with any adaptation. Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean, Shaun of the Dead) stars as Mr Williams, a wealthy man in 1953 London who has recently discovered he has a fatal illness and his charming persona and believable character has only been met with great praise upon initial reviews of the film. Williams is described as a ‘changed man’ in the trailer who decides to ‘grasp life,’ who meets a young girl Margaret (Aimee Lou Wood) who inspires him to do so. The combination of Nighy’s reassuring nature and Aimee Lou Wood’s (Sex Education, for which she won a BAFTA for best female comedy performance) sweet demure, makes for a perfectly British, charming winter film, with a moral message. Living has been met with a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which while isn’t necessarily the most reliable source due to its erratic nature, this exceptionally high score is a great indicator of the things to come. Here’s to hoping Living is met with the same warm reception by audiences, upon its release in cinemas across the UK on November 4th. Image credit: @theinsidexpress

Review: Decision to Leave - A Perfect Marriage of Murder and Romance Matthew Barratt

From the director of The Handmaiden, comes a tale of a detective who falls for the suspect who was the victim's wife

irector Park Chan-wook’s slow burn detective romance evokes a quasi-Hitchcockian approach to character-oriented filmmaking, unravelling its narrative with intricate precision. Decision to Leave follows the insomniac detective Hae-Joon (Park Hei-il). Haunted by his history of unresolved cases, the film focuses on the inspector’s developing relationship with the prime suspect in his new case: the ‘suicide’ of a climber on a mountaintop. Coincidentally, the suspect happens to be the wife of the deceased, Seo-Rae (Tang Wei), a young Chinese immigrant whom Hae-Joon, bored of his dwindling marriage and regressing into obsession toward his policework, grows an uncomfortable attraction to. Director Park situates the film over the course of many months and locations, with the narrative complexity of its genre as a detective noir making it a feature that dripfeeds its audience revelatory information over its long run time. Park achieves this through the motifs of barriers and borders, whether it be the division between home and work, the security of smartphones and technology or language barriers and translation. Decision to Leave’s narrative cohesion, therefore, relies on

the fundamental depiction of communication and the subsequent miscommunication that can arise due to secrecy and mistrust. Director Park excels – as he has done previously with similarly composite films like The Handmaiden (2016) – in both writing and directing a multilayered visual mystery with its own original narrative concepts towards presenting the film's developing plot. This is reinforced by the cinematic parallels between Director Park’s film and that of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958) and Rear Window (1954), films that are renowned for narrative suspense and exploring the intertwining themes of love and violence. Director Park utilizes the relationship between Hae-Joon and Seo-Rae to present the concepts of romance and crime, another key marriage of themes depicted in Hitchcock’s Vertigo.

Decision to Leave evokes a Hitchcockian-style, a perverse dichotomy of violent romanticism These two themes don’t necessarily co-exist within Director Park’s prior works, instead permeating his films as separate entities, whether it be excessive violence in his Vengeance Trilogy of films or the romantic eroticism in The Handmaiden and Stoker (2013). Despite this, Decision to Leave evokes a Hitchcockian-style; a perverse dichotomy of violent romanticism. It’s a thematic union of Park’s key concepts, visualized in the film with care and restraint, refraining from overindulgence and working with the multilayered narrative of mystery to craft a unique spin

on romance and mystery. The aforementioned union of themes is particularly evident in Director Park’s subversion of the romantic crime drama, notably in the presentation of its two leads and the way they immerse themselves into an obsessive relationship of emotional co-dependency. Instead, the film opts to dissect Hae-Joon’s

Morbidly bleak but stylishly presented and exquisitely executed

converge to create a uniquely impressive film that counters Director Park's penchant for the excesses of sex and violence that are commonplace in his prior works. Decision to Leave’s characters are emotionally perverse; the film morbidly bleak but stylishly presented and exquisitely executed. Like the metaphorical union of murder and romance, Hae-Joon and Seo-Rae are the perfect match for one another. Decision to Leave is currently in cinemas

unconventional romanticism of his prime suspect; he's a detective whose borderline obsessive dedication to his policework has rendered him an emotionally repressed shell, only capable of finding alternate emotional connection through his policework. Enter the character of Seo-Rae, a character who enables HaeJoon’s reliance on policework to form a romantic bond, as the only way a man like HaeJoon can love Seo-Rae is if she is either a suspect or one of the unresolved cases that renders him sleepless at night. All of these aforementioned facets; the serpentine structure, the amalgamation of unconventional themes and the subsequent subversion of these concepts Image credit: @MUBI on Twitter

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COURIER

Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Louise Cusine & Sarah Tunstall

Arts

Saltwater: In Conversation with Jessica Andrews Jade Woods

An interview with the award-winning author from the North East

essica Andrews is an author from Sunderland. She won the Portico Prize for her debut novel Saltwater which is studied by first-year English Literature students at Newcastle University. She has since written a second novel, Milk Teeth. She is a contributing editor at ELLE magazine and writes for the Guardian, the Independent, and BBC Radio 4, among others. She co-runs literary and arts magazine, The Grapevine, and co-presents literary podcast, Tender Buttons as well as teaching creative writing at Roehampton University. I managed to secure an interview with her in which I asked her what it was like to be an author from the North East and her experience as a workingclass writer. Who, and/or what, inspired you to start writing? And more so, what keeps you inspired? I’ve always written; I have kept a journal for most of my life and wrote stories, plays and blog posts when I was growing up. My love of writing came from my love of reading, and it still works like that; reading something that makes me feel excited inspires me to write, or sometimes seeing an exhibition or a film. Following on from that, do you have any

advice you’d give to writers in the North East who are just starting out? I think the biggest obstacle to writing is selfdoubt. The best writing advice I ever had is to trust yourself and your ideas. It sometimes helps not to look back at your work until you have a substantial amount, which stops your self-critical voice from interfering. It’s also good to remember that your story is valid and deserving of literature; especially if you have never seen a life like yours represented in a literary form. You co-run the online magazine Grapevine which aims to showcase art and literature of the underrepresented. What was your experience of beginning writing to getting your novels published as a working-class writer? I moved to London at 18 to study English Literature at King’s College. The class difference and northsouth divide was huge, and I found it difficult to connect with the texts we studied. I left university feeling disillusioned and worked in bars, writing poems and articles in the afternoons before my shift. My grandad died and left behind a small amount of money, and I decided to Image credit: Goodreads put it towards an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Kent in Paris. It was difficult; I worked many different jobs at once and lived in very precarious places to be able to afford it, but it changed my life in many ways.

It built confidence that I didn’t have during my BA and my tutors were professional writers; I had never met an author before. After my MA I spent some more time writing and working in bars and cafés. I was living in big house shares in London and my life was hectic. I knew I wanted to write a novel, so I decided to move away to try and do so. My grandad was from Donegal in Ireland and he left a small, run-down cottage there when he died. I decided to go there for a few months and write. I had £200 in savings and I tutored a local student for €20 per week. It is very remote, and I can’t drive but the experience was transformative; I had time and space to read and write and I wrote my first novel, Saltwater there. An agent read a short story I had published in an anthology and contacted me to ask if I was working on anything else. I sent him an early draft of my manuscript and we worked on it together, then he sent it out to publishers. In your first novel Saltwater, Lucy talks positively about getting out of the North East but also feels a sense of longing for what she left behind. I’m from Sunderland and initially moved to London in 2020 for university, desperate to get out of the North East, only to move home again after a month. Do you think part of growing up somewhere like the North East is what makes us want to leave? I know as a teenager I felt so isolated from the rest of the world and like there was nothing in the North East for me. Or is it just being human and forever wanting things we don’t have? I think it is to do with access; as a teenager, I was desperate to move to London because it seemed like that’s where I would have access to art. This

was partly true; there is so much inequality in the UK and a lot of arts funding is invested in London. It’s also to do with representation; none of the books I read or films I watched represented my life in the North East, which made me feel like it wasn’t interesting or important – which I now know to be untrue. I believe things are changing – New Writing North do brilliant work to improve access to literature in the North-East and places like The NewBridge Project in Newcastle and Pop Recs in Sunderland are changing the northern art scene. It is also why I believe representation is so important; we are fed so many stories about the lives that matter and they don’t often look like our own. That’s why it is vital to be able to tell our own stories too. First-year English Literature students at Newcastle University have to study Saltwater as part of the Introduction to Literary Studies module. How does it feel to have your debut novel on a university syllabus? It is so validating. I struggled during the first year of my English Literature degree and would never have believed that one day my first novel would be on a university syllabus. It is testament to the power of education and a reminder that it is important to stay true to yourself and to find your way. Image credit: Goodreads

Meet us when the clock strikes twelve Dear reader, we've had sleepless nights over these unforgettable stories

Before the Coffee gets Cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi If you’re looking for a sleepless night, this is the book for you. This 213-page book has a series of intertwined stories, all set in a sepia-toned cafe in Tokyo. The cafe allows you to travel through time before your cup of coffee gets cold, that is. Each chapter teaches a new and charming lesson about life and love. I found myself falling in love with each new character and their story, with witty dialogue and incredibly heart-wrenching intimate moments that I couldn’t stop reading about. This book is worth losing sleep for. - Gabbi De Boer, Head of Life & Style The Legend of the Condor Heroes series - Jin Yong (Louis Cha) The Legend of the Condor Heroes series kept me up past midnight with page after page of backstabbing brutalism and feudal falling-outs. I was dragged headfirst into Jin Yong's masterfully crafted world of fictitious rivalries. Yong reinvigorated my passion for reading tenfold through their illustrative penmanship, that illuminated the real historic backdrop of the Chinese Song Dynasty onwards with a fictitious world of martial arts factionalism blossoming amongst it. Every page enchanted me with intricate familial ties and rival kung fu clans battling it out to bewitching backdrops Image credit: Taylor Swift by Tabitha Hempshall

of volcanic ranges and modest villages. The characters have a real-life depth woven into them with complex emotions of regret, revenge and triumph. - Sophie McNally, Deputy Editor My Policeman - Bethan Roberts My Policeman is a sad, beautiful, tragic love affair set in Brighton in the 1950s. Tom and Patrick fall in love during a time when homosexuality was forbidden. The way the novel is written with multiple perspectives and timelines is the perfect way to keep you immersed in it. The vivid, colourful and deeply poetic descriptions unfold this exceptional story capturing love, suffering and loss. It will make you stay up all night, thinking about those twisted fates. It left me awake at three am sobbing actual tears in my bed. Our trochaic hearts go DUM-de, deep into the night. - Margaux Martinez Carol (previously titled The Price of Salt) - Patricia Highsmith Stay in that lavender haze past midnight with this unforgettable story. Therese Belivet is an employee at a department store, and she falls in love with Carol Aird, a customer who is going through a divorce. Carol is scrutinised by her husband Harge for having Therese around, but Therese handles the scrutiny beautifully, which is new to Carol. The book was first published in 1952 under the pseudonym Claire Morgan and both characters struggle with the 1950s sh*t they want from them. It’s not all midnight rain as the book and Todd Haynes’s movie adaptation starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara will have you dreaming of falling in love in New York at Christmastime and Highsmith’s writing will enchant you:

life of pilot Marian Graves. For history nerds, it is a must as it is set during the Great War and Second World War but the love blackout between Marian and Ruth kept me up the most. I just wish it was 2,190 days long, but Marian is bigger than the whole sky. The lyrical writing is worth staying up for: Marian felt acutely the slight difference in the rhythm of their breathing, but when she synchronised herself to Ruth, the feeling was even stranger, as though they had fused into a pair of lungs (Shipstead) / I’m so in love that I might stop breathing (Swift) Call Me By Your Name - André Aciman

Staying Afloat by Castor Chan Grief is like a toy boat Bobbing along in a child’s bath Disappearing in and out of bubble hills

Elio is the mastermind in this love story between him and his guest, Oliver. They play a ping pong game of not-knowing how each other feels, but Oliver knew all along what Elio’s intentions were. Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer perfectly capture their love and heartbreak and it will make you yearn for Italian summers. There can’t be a more suitable time than midnight to read this book:

Engulfing in its labyrinthian halls

Grow up, I’ll see you at midnight (Aciman) / Meet me at midnight (Swift) - Louise Cusine, Arts sub-editor

Raging among the wet during typhoon fall

Grief is like a cruise ship Filling and emptying in loops

Grief is like a kayak Calm control in certain waters

Grief is like a life raft Always there and never wanted But crucial in cementing you in life’s thrills

My angel, flung out of space (Highsmith) / Your eyes are flying saucers from another planet (Swift) Great Circle - Maggie Shipstead Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction this year and rightly so, Great Circle follows the entire

Image credit: Elio and Oliver by Tabitha Hempshall

Image credit: Public Domain Pictures

Apprentice Puzzles Master: Katie Siddall

Monday 31st October 2022

Puzzles

Crossword

smell. (6) 16. Greek god of the sun. (6) 18. 1997 Backstreet Boys song. (9) 20. Character from Disney’s Frozen. (4) 21. Scrooge’s first name. (8) 27. Cristiano ___, Portuguese footballer. (7) 28. Shakespeare play set in Venice and Cyprus. (7)

Down

12. Bugsy ___, 1976 musical comedy film. (6) 13. Computer shortcut, CTRL + C. (4) 15. Prepare for exams. (6) 17. Spoon used to transfer liquids. (5) 19. UK’s largest supermarket chain. (5) 22. Pen with small metal ball. (4) 23. Three squared. (4) 24. Chess piece that moves in straight lines. (4) 25. Southern Bantu language with 12 million speakers. (4) 26. Buddy. (3)

1. Oldest tennis tournament in the world. (9) 2. Boundary between Earth’s crust and mantle. (4) 3. A tool for weaving. (4) 4. Extinct bird species. (4) 5. Indian-style flatbread. (4) 6. Accommodation. (4) 7. Root vegetable and starchy tuber. (6) 10. Computer programs designed to act humanlike. (1,1) 11. Catalyst for biological reactions.(6)

Word Ladders

Difficulty: Medium

Joke of the Week: George Bell - NSR Production Manager and Courier Jester

I'm addicted to brake fluid, but it's okay because I can stop at any time.

COURIER

Across

1. Novak Djokovic won the 2022 men's singles in the ____ Championships. (9) 6. UK public service responsible for pensions and welfare. (1,1,1) 8. Frida ___, Mexican painter. (5) 9. Beer served from a barrel or tank. (7) 14. Fruit infamous for its terrible

Suduko

THE

Start at the top of the ladder, and change one letter each time to form a new word. By doing this, you will be able to get to the word at the end of the ladder.

Example:

Image credit: Free SVG

Give it a go:

THE

Monday 31st October 2022

COURIER

Apprentice Puzzles Master: Katie Siddall

Puzzles

Nonogram

Instructions

1 4 3

1 17

Colour in the cells in the grid according to the numbers on the sides of the grid to reveal a picture. The individual numbers in each row/ column are separated by spaces of 1 or more squares.

Notes

3 1

Issue 1432 Answers E

D I

U B

U U

I K

S L

O N

I D

C S

R A

A E

E R

L T

N I

A G

A E

E R

N U

N E

U G

N B

L U

N D

A S

E A

WIN A PRIZE! Upload your puzzle

solutions to Instagram and tag @thecourieronline to enter the prize draw!

5 4 4 3

7 5 2 1 15 13 2 1 3 3 2 6

1 5 4 10 15 17 18 4 4 3 12 4 3 3 3 4 6 13 6

5 2 9 12 3

4 2 3

4 4 2

5 3 2

6 2 8 2 10 13 12 12 3 2 2 2 2 2 4

4 3 4

4 3 2

3 1 3

5 2 5 13 11 6

Sub-editors: Tom Barlow, Arthur Ferridge & Paige Rutter

Monday 31st October 2022

Sport

THE

COURIER

Elnaz Rekabi returns to Iran A-Z SPORTING after competing without Hijab SPOTLIGHT: Cristian Turner-Bell

B... is for Basketball Ben Proctor The Newcastle University basketball club consists of five BUCS teams. Both of our first teams play in the BUCS premier division, with the men’s playing in National Basketball League’s Division 1. Last season the women made the semi-finals, while the men’s team made university history by playing in three national finals and winning our first ever BUCS championship! Our men’s second team is playing in BUCS tier 1 following last season’s promotion, while the women’s twos play in tier 2 and the men’s threes in tier 3. We also expanded our men’s intramural program to create a league, which hosted eight teams and over thirty players per session. Last year’s unprecedented success made basketball the university’s biggest sport, evidenced by winning the Outstanding Contribution to Sport award at the Pride of Newcastle University Awards 2022. Our players were also honoured by the university, receiving full and half royals for their dedication.This season we are aiming to make more history by winning back-to-back BUCS championships while mirroring our men's success on the women’s side. We are also looking to expand our club with two new BUCS teams and expanding women’s intramural. Check us out on Instagram (@ nclbasketball) and come along to show your support at our games!

C... is for Cheer Ella Dickinson

The Northern Angels is Newcastle University's Official Cheerleading club. We are made up of 7 cheerleading and dance teams and have over 100 members this year! We are a super fun, friendly and inclusive club that support each other both on and off the mats. We compete all over the country in national competitions with one of our teams placing second in The National University Cheerleading Championships last year, which is a huge achievement, and success we hope to experience again this season. Our performance team will be performing during the half times of BUCS matches next semester so make sure to keep an eye out for us there, or you can catch all of our teams at our Christmas/ Summer showcases.

ranian Climber Elnaz Rekabi was met by large crowds on her return to Tehran after competing without a head scarf in South Korea. Video footage captured large crowds gathered at Imam Khomeini International Airport on the outskirts of Tehran; welcoming the competitive climber back to Iran. Despite landing at 4am, she was given a raucous ovation with people clapping and chanting her name.

She was given a raucous ovation Controversy surrounding Rekabi competing without a hijab took place to the backdrop of widespread demonstrations following the death of 22 year old Mahsa Amini. She was beaten to death by Iran's morality police after they deemed her hijab as being worn incorrectly. A widespread internet and social media blackout has followed across Iran, amidst a strict and violent crackdown. Norway-based Iran Human Rights have reported at least 215 deaths

so far. under "house arrest," whilst authorities Rekabi competed without a hijab claim she is resting. during the IFSC Climbing Asian A statement from the International Championships and friends have Federation of Sport Climbing said they reported being unable to contact her had contacted both Ms Rekabi since then, leading to growing and the Iranian concerns for her safety. Climbing Two days after the Federation and competition on the 18th were "trying to October, a post establish the was made on her facts." Instagram "It is where she important to apologised for stress that "unintentionally" athletes' competing safety is without a p aramount headscarf after for us and being "called we support to compete any efforts unpredictably." to keep The post sought a valued to suppress fears member surrounding her of our wellbeing by stating communthat she was on her ity safe Image credit: Twitter (@yashar) way back to Iran in this with the rest of the situation," team. they added. "The IFSC fully support A source told BBC Persian that the rights of athletes, their choices, and authorities threatened to take away her expression of free speech." family's property if she did not make The video footage from Tehran's the statement. She is now deemed to be airport confirms her return to Iran

Kompany's Burnley: From Brexit to Barca

James Turner

here is no better time to be a Burnley fan, there I said it. And whilst I am outing myself here as a claret, it is slowly becoming more acceptable to be one. Relegation at the end of last season provided the bookend to the Sean Dyche era: Seven Premier League seasons, 2 Championship promotions (including one Championship title), and a remarkable campaign in 201819, in which the club qualified for a European competition for the first time in 51 years. For a small-town club like Burnley, these things do not happen in the modern era. Whilst Dyche brought great success to the club, this has been overshadowed by narratives circulated from media outlets and rival fans. “Brexit-ball” has been coined to (wrongly) describe Dyche and the club’s approach towards Premier League football, painting an image of a footballing monolith tactically and metaphorically both on and off the pitch.

ever since. So why after a relegation, and departure of the club’s greatest manager, is there no better time to be a Claret? Enter Alan Pace and Vincent Kompany. Whilst the old board shopped local, Alan Pace and the new management went on an astute European shopping spree in the Summer transfer window. Vincent Kompany has been handed a fully rebuilt squad with players hailing anywhere from League One to the German Bundesliga, to deploy what can only be described as “fancyfootball”. A new focus on technical ability, possession and ball control has reaped rewards early into the Championship season, with Burnley sitting pretty at the top of the table. I cannot think of another historical footballing transformation quite like it.

Gary Neville under fire after Qatar endorsement

Jack Evans

ary Neville has been slated by many in the media, after striking a deal to work with BEIN Sports, Qatar’s state-run broadcaster. Neville has always been very vocal on social media, with his criticisms of both the British government and the upcoming Qatar World Cup, which starts next month. He also has strong ties to the Labour Party and appeared at their recent party conference. These credentials are why many people are unhappy with Neville, with many feeling he is a hypocrite, by going against what he believes in to work at the World Cup. Neville has, however, knocked back these claims, insisting that he will use his platform to highlight

Painting an image of a footballing monolith Image credit: Instagram @newcastleangels

Famously, during a typical ground-out Burnley draw with Chelsea, defender David Luiz coined the term “anti-football,” which fans have chanted ironically

Image credit: Twitter (@ESPNUK) and (@BurnleyOfficial)

where she was greeted by her family who handed her bunches of flowers. Her hair was notably covered by a black baseball cap and hoodie. A state interview was then broadcast with Ms Rekabi where she reaffirmed her apology to the "Iranian people for the confusion and concerns." She again explained that not wearing the headscarf was inadvertent. "I was suddenly and unexpectedly called on to compete while I was at the women's locker room," she said. "I was busy wearing my shoes and fixing my equipment and forgot to wear my hijab, which I should have worn. "Thank goodness, I've returned to Iran in good health and safety. I apologise to the Iranian people for the confusion and concerns." Rekabi's subsequent comments draw clear comparisons with past Iranian sportswomen who have competed without a headscarf and have been forced to issues similar apologies; some chose to never return to Iran. The Iranian embassy strongly denies the 'fake news, lies and false information' surrounding the treatment of Ms Rekabi since she left the championships held in South Korea.

Image credit: Instagram (@gneville2)

the human rights abuses currently taking place in Qatar. As of now, Qatar still has a ban on homosexuality, with fines, prison sentences and even the death penalty being given to people who are found to be homosexual. The country has also been condemned for its lack of human rights, especially towards women. Male permission is needed for women to marry, work in government roles, act as a child’s primary guardian and many other things. These issues, of course, go against a lot of what Neville stands for in his social media views, leading to much of his criticism. The Qatar World Cup itself has also been criticised, mainly because of the treatment of workers building stadiums in which the matches will be played. While there is no exact number of deaths, as of 2021, 6500 workers had died whilst constructing stadia. Neville has spoken out against, as well as the tournament being held in winter which disrupts the usual football calendar. Neville isn’t the only exfootballer working in Qatar, with David Beckham signing a multimillion-pound deal to be the face of this year's World Cup. Neville is Beckham’s good friend and failed to question his former teammate about the decision when he interviewed him for ‘The Overlap’; Neville’s show. Despite criticism, Neville has confirmed his presence at the World Cup. What hasn’t been confirmed however is Neville’s salary, with rumours suggesting it could reach as high as a six-figure sum.

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COURIER

Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Tom Barlow, Arthur Ferridge & Paige Rutter

Sport

West Indies falter at T20 as BUCS Ireland qualify for Super 12 RESULTS Tom Barlow - Sport sub-editor

ollowing several days of quality cricket in Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe all made it to the main draw of the T20 World Cup. Almost a week of intense cricket saw Scotland, the UAE, Namibia and shockingly, the West Indies all eliminated. 2016 saw the West Indies overcome England in the last over of the final, to be crowned champions in India. Carlos Braithwaite wreaked havoc over Ben Stokes, as he smashed four consecutive sixes to snatch victory from the hands of England. Six years later, the West Indies have now been knocked out in the qualifiers to the main draw of the same tournament. With a rudimentary win over Zimbabwe sandwiched in the middle, the West Indies were pummeled by Scotland and Ireland to seal their fate in Australia. A sad fate for the former champions, as it was far from expected, but also quite revealing of their recent tribulations.

Ireland’s triumph over Scotland with an over remaining in Hobart, put them in pole position to qualify from the group, alongside their subsequent victory against the West Indies. Scotland did have the superior net run rate and so the equation was simple; beat Zimbabwe and qualify for the Super 12. A mediocre score to beat of 132/6 would require a breathtaking bowling display. Scotland did in turn gather five wickets, but Zimbabwe would finish top of the pile with nine balls remaining in their innings. A look across to Group A and Sri Lanka were the firm favourites to come out top of the pile. Their campaign got off to an a ston i sh i ng ly bad start, losing to Namibia by 55 Image credit: Twitter (@ishcricinfo)

runs in the opening game, as the Lions could only muster up 108 runs in their pu r s u it of 163 in Victoria. This was the exact wakeup call that Sri Lanka needed, as they breezed past the UAE and the Netherlands in their next two games. All bets were on either the Dutch or the UAE to claim second spot from the get-go and hopes for their qualifications were pinned on the fixture between the two countries. It turned out that this game, on the opening day, would be the most thrilling. The UAE slumped

Image credit: Twitter (@windiescricket)

to a mere 111 runs, as the Netherlands looked set for an easy victory. However, with their top scorer being Max O’Dowd with only 23 runs, this affair would go right to the wire. Wicket keeper and captain, Scott Edwards, would win the game on the penultimate ball, as he hit a single under immense pressure.

Scott Edwards would win the game on the penultimate ball as he hit a single The Netherlands would therefore join Zimbabwe in Group 2, with India, Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh. Whereas, Sri Lanka and Ireland would slot into Group 1 with England, Afghanistan, Australia and New Zealand. Headed by former England coach, Chris Silverwood, success from the qualifying teams will be pinned firmly onto the shoulders of Sri Lanka, as they will need to orchestrate some cricketing wizardry to overcome the fierce countries in their group.

Poole signs new $140 million contract amidst ‘Punch-Gate’ Daniel Logan

The young star will become one of the highest paid players in the league...

ithin the last 4 weeks, Jordan Poole has gone from punches to pay-day with the Warrior’s most promising player receiving a $140 Million extension to his existing rookie contract. The last month has seen the defending champion Golden State Warriors go through a media sandstorm surrounding two of their most pivotal players. Jordan Poole’s name had been doing the rounds in the news and on social media, however, this had nothing to do with the 23-year-old’s nine-figure contract extension, as a video had been leaked of Poole being punched at training by teammate and club veteran Draymond Green during an altercation. The typically scandalfree group entered, what coach Steve Kerr referred to as ‘the biggest crisis he’s ever had.’

He is expected to be guaranteed $123 Million The scuffle raised questions as to whether or not Poole would sign the extension before the 17th

of October deadline and whether this hostility from a club veteran had put him off from establishing a future at Golden State. It was a shaky week for the Warrior’s organization with the young guard, deemed ‘the future of the Warriors,’ coming fresh off a careerhigh year and an NBA championship. Poole had always looked to remain at the most successful franchise of the last decade. The contract, set to begin at the start of next season, would make the young prospect one of the wealthiest guards in the highest-paid league in the world, with current teammate and face of the franchise, Steph Curry, being the highest paid in the entire league. Poole, last season’s league leader in shot percentage from the free throw line, is expected to be guaranteed $123 Million with the remaining $17 Million coming in incentives and add-ons. Poole couldn’t ask for better mentors in improving his game than the two best shooters in league history, dubbed the ‘splash brothers,’ Curry being one and club legend Klay Thompson the other. Thompson’s injuries over the last 3 seasons have allowed young players like Poole to gain valuable experience alongside Curry, his increased game time helping to raise his value as a crucial and exciting asset for the Golden State franchise. The NBA is too fast-paced and monetarily driven to live in the past, and the Warriors, who have established themselves as a top franchise must still look to the future, in building a tight nit team to continue in the postCurry, Thompson, and Draymond era.

With first picks in James Wiseman and Andrew Wiggins among others, the franchise will look to resume in creating another

dynasty for another generation of players, and this contract for Poole shows the front office wants him in for the long haul, to help achieve this.

BADMINTON

M3 V Hull 2 (A) W1 V Warwick 1 (A)

BASKETBALL

M1 V Durham 1 (A) 90-81 M2 V Sheff. Hallam 1 (H) 86-51 M3 V Sunderland 2 (H) 80-41 W1 V Durham 1 (A) 62-72 W1 V Leeds Beck. 1 (A) 31-38

FENCING

M1 V York 1 (A) W1 V Nott. 1 (H)

129-124 111-135

FOOTBALL

M1 v Loughborough 1 (A) M2 V Leeds Beckett 1 (A) M3 V Sunderland 3 (A) W1 V Sheffield 1 (A) W2 V Lancaster 2 (H)

2-5 2-6 5-0 3-2 8-0

GOLF

1 V Leeds Beckett 2 (A) 3-3 2 V Durham 4 (A) 3.5-2.5

HOCKEY

M2 V York 1 (H) M3 V York 3 (H) W4 V York 1 (H) W5 V Leeds 5 (H) W6 V Sheff. Hallam 3 (A)

3-0 0-1 3-2 9-0 2-1

LACROSSE

W2 V Leeds 2 (A) 14-14 W3 V Leeds Beckett 2 (A) 8-9

NETBALL

1 V Liverpool JM 1 (A)

RUGBY LEAGUE

1 V Northumbria 1 (A)

RUGBY UNION

M1 V Durham 2 (A) M5 V Sheffield 3 (A) W1 V Nottingham 1 (A)

SQUASH

W2 V Sheffield 1 (A)

TABLE TENNIS

M1 V Nottingham 1 (H) M2 V Sheffield 1 (A) M3 V Durham 5 (A) W1 V Hull 1 (H) W3 V Hull 1 (A)

TENNIS

M3 V Sheffield 2 (A)

VOLLEYBALL

M1 V Durham 1 (A) W1 V Durham 1 (A)

WATER POLO

M2 V York 1 (A) W2 V Durham 3 (A)

Image credit: Twitter (@manu1323)

7-1 0-8

62-39

14-48

36-14 22-7 0-34 2-2 1-16 4-13 8-9 5-1 0-3 0-3 3-21 5-12

THE

COURIER

Monday 31st October 2022

Sub-editors: Tom Barlow, Arthur Ferridge & Paige Rutter

Sport

Newcastle hockey club stumble during BUCS clash against York Arthur Ferridge - Sport sub-ed

An overview of the clash between Newcastle and York Hockey BUCS teams

ewcastle hockey twos have endured a rocky start to their BUCS campaign, falling to Durham University in their season opener and facing a tricky schedule. The Durham loss would be closely followed by a visit from York University’s first team. York came into the match fresh off a hard fought 3-2 victory in Leeds, but could they do it on a cold rainy Wednesday night in Benton? The answer to this question would ultimately prove to be a resounding “Yes,” as York romped to a commanding 0-4 victory. Newcastle did not go down without a fight, however, enjoying most of the possession in the match’s opening stages and heaping pressure on their opponents. Unfortunately, they couldn’t quite capitalize on the early pressure and York began to find their feet, creating the first major chance of the game with a shot over the bar after a quarter of an hour. This led to a period of York dominance, but Newcastle’s resolute defense and pace-filled counters kept them very much in the conversation.

They couldn’t quite capitalize on the early pressure and York began to find their feet

the floodgates and two more goals quickly followed, putting York firmly in the driver’s seat with twenty minutes

York finally bundled the ball over the line, making good on the previous ten minutes of dominance remaining. This is not to say that Newcastle went completely without opportunities. The second half saw the trailing side squander two short corners alongside a handful of other attacking breaks. Despite these bright sparks, Newcastle was firmly outclassed for the majority of the game. Speaking after the match, club media secretary Freddy Handy told us that “We started off absolutely incredibly, but our heads went down after the first goal and unfortunately that’s the way it goes really.”

Two other matches were played out between Newcastle and York on Wednesday. York Ladies Ones edged out a narrow 3-2 victory over Newcastle’s fourth side, and the men’s third side also found themselves defeated 1-0 on what turned out to be a productive trip north for York hockey. The Twos return on November 2nd with a Varsity Derby against Northumbria University at the fortress that is Longbenton Sports Ground. They will be joined there by the Women’s first team, who will face Oxford Brookes, where a win will see them move up to second in their division. The men’s first team, who currently sit second in the Northern Men’s first tier, are next in action on the same day away to title rivals Leeds University. Image credit: Instagram (@newcastle_hockeyclub)

“We started off absolutely incredibly, but our heads went down after the first goal...” He promised that the team would come back stronger though, promising that “We’ll be back, and I think we took a lot of things out of this game that we can take on for the rest of the season.”

Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and York broke the deadlock from a short corner just before halftime. While the initial shot was well saved by keeper James Cameron, the flurry of rebounds proved to be too much for him to keep out and York took a narrow 0-1 lead into the halftime break. Things fell apart for Newcastle in the second half. York flew out of the gates with all guns blazing, creating chance after chance, and keeping Newcastle pinned back. The watershed moment came ten minutes into the second half as York finally bundled the ball over the line, making good on the previous ten minutes of dominance. This opened

View from the AU Hannah Danks - Athletic Union Officer

ast week marked an important day in the sporting calendar, Rainbow Laces Day (Wednesday 26th October)! Rainbow laces day (and week for those who don’t have fixtures/ training on a Wednesday) was started by Stonewall in 2013 and has become a symbol of inclusion in sport at all levels since. The aim of getting as many athletes as possible to lace up on one day is to show support to all LGBTQ+ individuals, both those already involved in sport and those wanting to partake in sport, to ensure that all sporting activity and sporting communities, are a safe place for everyone. This year, I ordered 250 pairs of laces for our clubs to wear on their Wednesday fixtures and within 3 hours of sending the email had to order more!!! The laces cost £2 per pair, meaning as an Athletic Union over £800 has gone to Stonewall, where all the profits help towards funding projects aimed at equality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ in sport nationally & globally. It is amazing to see how many of our clubs were keen to get involved and I can’t wait to see all the photos of our teams laced up in solidarity this week! However, the stand for LGBTQ+ inclusion doesn’t end here by any means, we will continue to strive as a Union and to encourage clubs/ other student groups to continue to change their cultures, to make all of our environments welcoming and supportive to all. It is so important to remove barriers to participation through starting conversations, aiding education, reducing stigma, and calling out discrimination so that all LGBTQ+ individuals feel safe and included in sport & I am proud to say that the AU Clubs are contributing to make this happen at our university!

Image credit: Instagram @NUWRFC

Image credit: all photos taken by Arthur Ferridge

INSIDE SPORT THIS WEEK T20 World Cup

New Poole contract

The likes of Ireland and the Netherlands make it to the main draw

Young star set to become one of highest paid players

Gary Neville Qatar controversy Neville’s new broadcast

Image credit: Twitter (@ishcricinfo) Image credit: Twitter (@windiescricket)

Image credit: Twitter (@manu1323)

Image credit: Instagram (@gneville2)