The Courier: 1437 - Christmas Issue

Proposal issued by students to tackle sexual assault on

Scarlett Welch - Head of Life & Style

Meg Howe - Editor-in-Chief

experiences. These have been compiled into a report, written by IHH committee and members and NUSU President Mady Baugh. Special thanks must be given to Elizabeth Marriage and Abbie Hardcastle for their significant input.

comments to the survey, which overall presented “a feeling of being let down” by the University.

Based on these results, the report outlines several suggestions for the University to help support survivors and prevent sexual offences by students. These include:

and sexual violence prevention; -More training for student-facing staff on sexual violence and signposting for students.

-Mandatory sexual violence and consent training for students;

-A review of Disciplinary Panels to ensure they are “survivor-centric”;

-An introduction of a 24/7, in-person crisis space for survivors of sexual violence;

Some of these suggestions are commonplace at other UK Universities. For example ‘Active Bystander training’ has been recommended to Newcastle, which would help staff to recognise and act upon signs of sexual violence, harassment or abuse. This training is already provided at many other Universities, such as Durham, Warwick and UCL.

be validated due to the possibility of duplication”, so as significant as the statistics may seem, the real power of the survey comes from student testimonies.

Speaking to The Courier Mady said: “This is the largest report conducted by students at Newcastle on sexual violence and spiking and provides powerful and moving testimonies from The recommendations come after a survey conducted last academic year that recieved over 400

-More proactive support for survivors

Following a survey conducted in the 2021/2022 academic year, Newcastle society It Happens Here (IHH) have issued a report to the University with proposed recommendations to tackle sexual assault.

Between January and May of 2022, IHH ran a campaign entitled #DoBetterNCL, aiming to improve policies on sexual violence and support services for students. As part of this they conducted a survey about student experiences of sexual violence, spiking and the reporting and support systems offered by the University.

Speaking to The Courier, IHH commented on the significance of this report:

“Students will not be silenced on these issues.

We are demanding the university to make a long term financial investment in sexual and gendered violence. We know they already provide support and services that address these issues, but this report solidifies how what they’re already doing/providing is simply not enough.

The report has over 300 testimonials on how the University has effectively failed students again and again. We need to see change and an ongoing public commitment to recognise this as an ongoing issue that they’re working to address.”

They found that 76.2% of respondents either had been, or knew someone who had been, sexually assaulted whilst at Newcastle University - 60.5% saying that these assaults went altogether unreported.

More specifically, only 13.2% of respondents reported the assault to the University.

This survey received 409 responses, including hundreds of student testimonies, many outlining personal

Students cited multiple reasons for not reporting these assaults: not knowing how to report it, not feeling safe, and fear of not being believed were amongst them. Students were given an opportunity to add their own

NUSU President Mady Baugh notes that “the statistical data cannot not

“This report solidifies how what [the University] are already providing is simply not enough”

“The report has testimonials on how the University has failed students again and again”

the face of everyone this

A note from the Deputy

Hi legends, and welcome to my first note from the Deputy for the academic term!

This has been an absolutely fantastic term for The Courier, from scintillating stories to illustrative interviews our entire team has pulled out all of the stops to achieve the highest quality of writing and second-tonone lay-ups.

All of our contributing writers, sub-editors, senior editors, and Student Media Officer herself, have devoted an immense amount of time and effort to all of

the eight issues we’ve put out this term. The work readers don’t see behind the scenes is tremendous, from morning editorial meetings, to setting-up for Student Media Afternoons (SMAs), editing WordPress articles late into the night and meticulously placing InDesign clipping paths and Photoshop colour gradients. So an absolute huge thank you to any and all who’ve contributed to The Courier this year — your hard work never goes unnoticed and you’ve all came on leaps and bounds in your journalistic and editorial abilities over the past

Inside 12th December 2022

Current Affairs | News

Newcastle's Disability Officer wins 'Influencer of the Year' Lauren Gilbert has been honoured for raising awareness for students with disabilities | Page 7

Current Affairs | Campus Comment

All I want for Christmas is... an effective PEC system

Our extensions system is flawed at best, lacking comprehensivity and inclusivity | Page 8-9

Life & Style | Relationships

How long should you date before spending Christmas together? Is spending Christmas together so soon a bit too U-Haul? | Page 14

Life & Style | Food & Drink

Sleigh ride guide to the Newcastle markets

Until 23 December, feast your eyes and stomachs on glittering lights and fries | Page 26

Culture | Music

Best albums of 2022

From Beyonce's empowered Renaissance to the 1975's 43 minutes of musicality in Being Funny in a Foreign Language, who was on top? | Page 29

Culture | Arts

Which fantasy world would you stay in over the Holidays?

Hogwarts or Olympus? What's the best way to spend the festive season? | Page 34

four months. You should be incredibly proud of yourselves. The past few months have truly been a whirlwind, with scores of article pitches, SMAs and synonym searching, and it's all been completely worth it. To watch your work go from a word doc draft to a front page story spread across campus, and trending online, is so rewarding. But more than that, seeing the work of those around you gain recognition means the world — absolutely everyone I work alongside deserves the world and a huge congratulations from me. It’s genuinely such a joy to

be in this role, and to have a say alongside all others who contribute to The Courier. Truly thank you all so much for reading today and every Monday. Student Media is absolutely vital to student life and at the heart of the Student’s Union, covering topics that resonate on a national and international scale (such as the UCU strikes and Iran’s treatment of women) and conveying messages every week that need to be heard and seen.

So to anyone considering

THE COURIER SECTIONS

Editor-in-Chief

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

Current Affairs

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

News

Alice Holmes Rhys James Amana Khan Ella Winskell

Campus Comment

Alexander James Ashna Mathur Sam Norman

Opinion

Ross Bennett Jonathan Lee Science

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

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

Samantha Seidu Lizzie Yockney Travel

Jude Parkinson Elžbieta Voverytė

Food & Drink

Daisy Harrison Abigail Roch

writing for us next year, know just how much people want to read your words — your thoughts, fears, passions and all in-between. Put yourself out there, you'll not regret it.

On another note, have a wonderful Christmas and balance as little work as possible with as many pigs in blankets as you can stomach.

-Sophie McNally <3

Deputy Editor

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

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

TV

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!

43 years ago today!

For just the price of 5 pence, you can read all about the festive topic of homophobia as a writer writing in to The Courier detailed the difficulties experienced when students attempted to access news outlets that covered gayorientated news. The topic of unsolicited censorship surrounding sexuality was importantly discussed here.

Reflections from the Editor

Welcome to, and thank you for picking up, The Courier’s final edition of 2022. With 40 glorious pages, this issue of The Courier is our biggest and best yet! Not only do these pages house a variety of festive content across each section, but, as always, they showcase the incredible work and dedication of our writers and Editorial Team. After working tirelessly on six issues so far this academic year, I truly believe that the pages of this issue highlight how the creativity and skill sets of the team have expanded during the weeks of term one.

This edition is also a very bittersweet one. This is the first issue of The Courier not to be printed at the Reach Printing Services site at Teeside since February 2018. Unfortunately, the site has closed down. Whilst the original plan was for this edition of The Courier to be the last one printed at Teeside, for reasons - outside of my knowledge - that has not been the case. The climate we live in means that the popularity of print media is on the decline, and it is in that vein that I am so sad to hear about the closure of the Teeside print site.

However, this certainly does not mean the end of The Courier! After many, many hours of phone calls at the start of last week, a fair few tears and the help of Andy from Reach, from February 2023, the plan is for The Courier to be printed in Glasgow. It is such a shame that we are unable to print anywhere locally to the University, but in order to ensure the continuation of The Courier, this seems to be the best option. I’d like to thank Andy and the rest of the team at Reach for their continued support over the last four years. I hope this relationship remains strong and stable, and look forward to working with the team moving forward. I’d like The Courier to act as a reminder for how important print media is, not only in the

rich history of the printing press, but to those who contribute weekly, monthly or termly to student papers just like ours!

That’s enough of the negatives though…

I’m delighted to see the return of The Courier’s Festive Fashion Shoot, which has been increased to 4 pages this year. This was a project that I absolutely adored getting to direct last year during my time as Head of Life & Style, so it was a pleasure to watch a new team take on this challenge. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Gabbi de Boer for orchestrating that project this year; to James Turner for his fantastic photography skills; and to the members of the Editorial Team who were keen to get involved!

The publication of this edition comes just before I celebrate 6 months as Student Media Officer and Editorin-Chief of The Courier. It’s probably cliche to say, but it feels like yesterday that I was canvassing outside the SU during that freezing week in March. Looking back at these last 6 months; the only way that I can describe it is as a whirlwind! In two words, it has been “intense and rewarding”. As I’ve said far too may times over the last few weeks: “there is never a boring day in this job!”. Sometimes that means that the plans I had for the day completely go out of the window because something comes up that I didn’t expect; but other times that means I get to sing to the Nativity sound track at the top of my lungs with a team of people who I’m lucky enough to call my friends! This job really is magical and something I’ll be forever grateful for.

Reflecting is something that I’ve found myself doing a lot of over the last few weeks. Having to write my Trustee Board and end of term reports meant that I’ve had to wrack my brain for all of the highlights and lowlights of the job so far.

Being asked what my biggest achievement has been really

got me thinking that the thing I cherish most about Student Media is the community that we have built together.

I am incredibly proud of the management teams for all three branches of Student Media. This term definitely hasn’t been easy, and each one of the dedicated volunteers has persevered; shown their creativity; and made me the happiest and proudest Student Media Officer! My team, YOU are my biggest achievement this year!

After a couple of years where Student Media was either impacted by a global pandemic or attacked by technology that hated us, it has been a pleasure to watch the engagement within Student Media grow this year. It’s been something beyond my wildest dreams! To see so many creative and talented students using the Student Media platform to have their voices heard and express their opinions is all I wanted from this job. Thinking back to the first Student Media Afternoon, when everyone was crammed into the Daniel Wood Room, I realise that The Courier, NSR and NUTV give space for voices, for mistakes, for passion and for community in a way that is special to so many students.

I’d like to also take this opportunity to say a few ‘Thank Yous’ to those who have made this term a little more manageable than it would have been otherwise.

Firstly, thank you to Sophie Mcmillian and James Turner. I know that being in charge of NUTV and NSR has not been an easy job this term, but you’ve done a cracking job. Thank you for succeeding to take on such a challenge with grace and optimism. There is nothing that I enjoy more than seeing your smiling faces and warm personalities hurrying in to the Student Media office with your next crazy idea!

Similarly, thank you to The Courier’s Senior Team. Without any of you, this very paper would not be possible.

Thank you for pouring your heart and soul (and often blood, sweat and tears) into this paper. I adore each one of you with my whole heart, and would not manage half as easily without your hardwork and dedication. As Sophie has said across the page, this does not go unnoticed and I will forever be indedbted to you all!

Finally, I’d like to thank the other Sabbs and the permanent staff at NUSU. Thank you to Simon and the directors for the consistent encouragement. Thank you to the Go Volunteer team for welcoming a little Sabb into the office and helping me with the silly things like “how do I answer this email?”. Thank you to the other Sabbs for your friendship and support. And finally, thank you to the Luther’s staff who know my coffee order off by heart! (An oat milk flatwhite for anyone who’s asking…).

Every year, we make resolutions; we think about what we’ll do differently next year in order to better ourselves as people. “I’ll wake up at 7am every day”; “I’ll start running twice a week”; “I’ll read more books”. These are all things that we’ve all promised ourselves at least once as we enter a new year, but really how much of that do

we stick to?

The new year is time for reflection, gratitude and observation. It’s a time to think about growth and development: where we are in relation to where we have once been. A lot happens in 365 days. We grow and our lives are shaped in ways we could never have predicted - I know that mine definitely has. Every day brings new challenges, new opportunities and new adventures. So, rather than thinking ahead, I’m using the end of this term to reflect and be mindful. It isn’t often in this job that I get the opportunity to be still… until now…

The Courier will now take a 10 week break!! We’ll be back with another Student Media Afternoon on February 1st and another paper on February 13th. Until then, I wish every one of you a wonderful holiday season. Take time for a break, reflect and come back with as much talent and creativity as you have had this term.

Thank you for reading a rather long and rambling Editor’s note. I’ll leave you with this: “The Courier: a great fucking paper” - Andy, Reach Printing Services!

All my love,

- Meg Howe xoxo

Porposal issued by students to tackle sexual assault on Campus

Scarlett Welch - Head of Life & Style

Meg Howe - Editor-in-Chief

responsibility in the overall wellbeing of a students academic and non-academic life in university”.

Mady’s final comments were: “I am looking forward to developing these recommendations with the university and hope that a greater sense of urgency across the institution, and commitment of new resources are allocated towards such prevention. We are moving in the right direction, and I am so grateful to all those who supported and contributed to the campaign and survey. Student voice is powerful and it will be heard.”

hundreds of students. I will also note and am grateful that [the University] wellbeing [service] have been supportive of us in this process and the University are looking to support our recommendations where possible pending further discussions.

As ever though, it should not have to take so many students to go through these experiences, or even students having to gather this data themselves, for institutions to act, invest and believe survivors. It is not even about catching up with other institutions who have committed to bystander and consent training, it’s about reading those student testimonies and data that otherwise wouldn’t have been available to the University and being proactive, innovative and dedicated.”

These feelings are shared by many of the student testimonies.

One student’s testimony said: “[I want to] see the university themselves saying #DoBetter not just leaving it to other students to fix their problems”.

In relation to specific training for staff, one student said: “Staff are regularly the first point of contact for many students and they need to acknowledge their

In order to ensure the longevity of this report, one of IHH’s Peer Support Facilitators, Aimee Bond proposed a motion to Students’ Union Council. The motion’s resolve was for the “Student[s] Union to lobby the University to implement the recommendations in the It Happens Here Report”, demonstrating widespread student support for these changes.

The motion was discussed on Thursday 8 December, with Aimee Bond, Abbie Hardcastle and Olivia Wilson all speaking in favour. Aimee stated that “[IHH] are very lucky to have Mady’s support”, however, indicated that it was important to ensure that the Students’ Union continued to support those who indentified as survivors.

Speaking in favour of the motion, IHH President, Abbie Hardcastle argued that the testimonies within the report show “how much more the University need to do” in order to support survivors of sexual violence.

Echoing the comments from Aimee and Abbie, Olivia Wilson, Welfare Officer for IHH, noted that every person who chooses to come to University should be able to “study in a safe environment”.

Similarly, the SU’s Disability Officer, Lauren Gilbert, advocated for the work of IHH due to the positive experiences that they have had due to the accessibly nature of the society.

The motion passed with 94% in favour, meaning the the SU is committed to ensuring the reports recommendations are followed through.

In response to the report being published, Newcastle University stated “We will not tolerate sexual violence or sexual harassment within our University community.

It has been helpful to have the feedback from the It Happens Here Society report to further strengthen our approach.”

The University state that they already have a series of steps in place “that were highlighted as being of importance in the report”.

These include, but are not limited to,

the creation of a “new Student Survivor Support Worker role - a post appointed in collaboration with the Students’ Union President”.

Responding to the fact that other Universities offer bystander and content training, the University stated that “it is not sector-wide practice to provide active bystander training”.

The spokesperson continued: “Following the report, members of our Changing the Culture Working Group are taking forward the recommendation for in-person, active bystander training for students. In collaboration with the Students’ Union President we are

looking to pilot this in an academic school to ensure any created course is student-centred and effective”.

IHH plan on holding a rally outside of the SU building in an attempt to further highlight the necessity of the report. The plan includes speakers and a display showcasing some of the key findings from the report.

It’s clear that sexual assault is an ongoing issue, and this report is the first step in the process of change. It Happens Here and President Mady Baugh continue to work alongside the University to act on the findings of this report.

also mentioned how the Support and Advice Hub officially opened on 7 December and that a cost of living crisis survey closed yesterday, which had 309 responses.

The final Student Council of 2022 took place on Thursday 8 December. This council held a lot of (e)motions - get it? - but it held even more "slaayyyyys". Context: after each motion, at least one person would say "slaayyyy".

First there was a state of the Union report from our President, Mady Baugh, who said that all Sabbs are settling into their roles and have had lots of student engagement so far throughout the year. She

The main news from Mady though was an update on her Let's Talk About Sex, Baby campaign. She said that it is going really well and there has been a lot of participation from people all over campus!

There are also £1 meal deals across campus until 16 December - these meals can be found in Chicken Shack, the Courtyard, Bites (in the Med School) and the Business School Cafe.

Before we got into motions, the Welfare and Equality Officer, Aleena, spoke of how, in the next semester, she will be working on support for

students who are wanting to terminate pregnancies and working with our very own NSR and NUTV. Hannah, the AU Officer, will be working on including more people within sport - such as opening the Sports Centre for longer during faithful periods such as Ramadan.

who proposed the motion with 97.8% voting against the name change. Another motion which did not go through was a change to Hootsuite - the website the university uses to upload social media content. A whopping 67.6% said

However, the rest of the motions that went through council passed with a significant percentage. One passing motion saw 75% of students wanting a pond on campus to save frogs and other amphibians!

Council then took to motions... where the first motion was to change The Courier's name to 'The King's Courier'. The student who put this motion forward did not show up, and with many questions aimed towards the seconder... it did not go well for those

Katie Siddall - Head of Sport

NUSU's President announced £1 meal deals across campus

"It's about reading those testimonies that otherwise wouldn't have been availible to the Uni"

It is clear that sexual assault is an ongoing issue and this report is the first step in the process of change

Image: Instagram @ithappensherencl

International student loses university place after being wrongly detained at UK borders

Izabela Marie Kirschnerová

contained a spelling mistake, the Border Force officers concluded that Khadka was not really a student because he had “little interest” in his course.

They accused him of trying to avoid immigration controls and transferred him to an immigration removal centre in Scotland.

for travel and expenses.

In response to why it had not held Khadka’s place open for him in the exceptional circumstances, the University's spokeswoman said that it had to report all non-enrolments to the government on 17 October.

Sulav Khadka, an international student who came to the UK to study hospitality and tourism at York St John University, was arrested at the airport earlier this year. He was held in custody after not being able to answer detailed questions about his course. Despite providing valid documentation, he lost his place at university after 12 days in an immigration removal centre.

The 23-year-old from Nepal had a valid visa, proof of admission and documentation showing he had paid his first year’s fees.

Still, after his arrival at Manchester airport in October, he was accused of being a fake student and interrogated by Border Force officers.

The interrogation included listing the titles of the six modules he would be studying and naming the exam body that would award his qualification at the end of his course. After a 16-hour journey and having not yet started the course, Khadka provided only two of his modules' names and didn't know the name of the exam body.

Based on his answers and the fact that a letter from his bank in Nepal

The University’s admissions office sent documents proving that Khadka had a place on the course, and confirming that he had paid the course fees, as he claimed. Despite all the provided documents, he was held in the immigration removal centre for a further 10 days.

“On this date, Sulav was still in detention in a holding facility and we understood that he was being returned to Nepal,” she said.

The university offered to pay for his visa application fees for September 2023 and to help with travel costs and temporary accommodation, as well as a tuition-fee refund, but Khadka has not yet accepted this.

The Home Office's spokesperson said: “We have a crucial role in keeping the UK and its citizens safe. Border Force’s priority is to maintain a secure border and we will not compromise on

security.”

After being reminded that Khadka had never posed a security threat, the spokesperson replied: “Thank you for your questions, however this is our statement.”

“I was treated like a criminal, but I did nothing wrong. I showed them my documents and they even called my University. I had all the papers, but they didn’t believe me,” Khadka said.

After his release, Khadka received an apology letter from the Home Office saying it had “carefully reviewed” his case and that an error had been made. But by that time, Khadka had missed the deadline for enrolling in the university and his partial scholarship had been withdrawn.

Khadka will have to fly back home, after borrowing thousands of pounds

Backlash after unis threaten to dock pay of striking staff

Lyndsey Sleator

Thousands

Guardian that this further threat of pay uncertainty is entirely demoralising and could have long-lasting impacts on staff wellbeing. In the current economic situation, staff cannot afford to not get paid.

An academic at Wolverhampton remarked that “it could knock people off the edge."

After historic University College Union (UCU) strikes in November seeing over 70 000 staff and students at picket lines across the UK, Queen Mary University London (QMUL) and Wolverhampton University have threatened striking staff with the docking of 100% of their pay unless they reschedule the teaching missed whilst they were striking.

Striking staff expect to have their pay docked for the three days of scheduled striking. However, this further blow in the face of the current cost of living crisis has been described by the UCU's General Secretary, Jo Grady, as an attempt to put staff off taking industrial action.

One lecturer at QMUL told The

Both universities have told union members that failure to reschedule missed teaching will be viewed as a breach of contract and, as a result, pay will be deducted from staff for “partial performance”. Academics across the country agree that conceding this threat would undermine the entire premise of the strike itself.

Many students however have been worried about the impact on their studies of this missed teaching.

NUSU found that 39% of students do

not support the strikes, suggesting that much of the student body would want this missed teaching to be rescheduled. Student anger is entirely justified after months of online teaching and Covid-19 disruption in 2020-21, however, the focus should be on future resolution for the benefit of both staff and students rather than continued conflict arising from further damaging threats such as these.

This issue of threatening staff into giving up their right to industrial action is not a new tactic by QMUL. In July, the university deducted 21 days of pay from more than 100 staff who refused to mark students' work in June. This further threat is therefore a very real

one to those staff who opened empty payslips in July - but morale is reported to be higher than ever.

"We are going nowhere", states UCU. And with the recent news of upcoming negotiations between now and 31 January 2023 to resolve pay for 2022-

23 and 2023-24, we can only hope that progress will be made for the good of both students and staff struggling through these harsh winter months.

Sub-editors: Alice Holmes, Rhys James, Amana

Despite providing his documents, he was held in an immigration centre for a further 10 days

After being held in custody at the UK border, an international student has lost their place at York St John University

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

This "could knock people off the edge"

The universities have threatened striking staff with docking 100% their pay

Striking staff expect to have their pay docked for the three days of scheduled striking

Man is rescued from River Tyne

A

Aman visiting Newcastle on a stag do fell into the River Tyne three weeks ago. Luckily, he was saved by John Dickinson, a security guard at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art on the Gateshead side of the river, who set a rescue mission into motion.

The party-goer jumped into the Tyne from the Millenium Bridge.

John Dickinson called 999 when he saw what had happened. Later, he told The Chronicle that he was "pleased he helped to save somebody's life.”

A fire boat ended up retrieving the man from the river.

This coincides with the Royal Life Saving Society UK launching a campaign named 'Don’t Drink and Drown' as a result of the increased drinking from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The campaign is running until 18 December, and aims to encourage people to watch out for their intoxicated friends, particularly around bodies of water.

After the incident, the Area Manager Rickaby told Yahoo! News, “Cold water shock can be deadly and if you have had a drink then your reaction time is even slower, making it more difficult to get to safety.

"This is why, especially around this time of year, we would advise people to take extra care when walking near to rivers, lakes and ponds after being on a night out with friends,” he continued.

80 people in the UK die every year from substance related drownings.

Although this incident fortunately ended in the man's favour, it's essential to make sure to watch out for your friends this world cup season.

Newcastle's Disability Officer wins 'Influencer of the Year'

Zahra Hanif - Lifestyle sub-editor

Newcastle University's Disability Officer, Lauren Gilbert, also known as @ neurodiversitywithlozza on Instagram, has been awarded Sense’s Influencer of the Year. They won for their outstanding work in their efforts to raise awareness about issues that the disabled community still face, as a means for spurring change.

They also act as a representative for all students with disabilities across Newcastle University’s campus. They highlight the issues students may face and actively fight to overcome them, as they themselves have lived experiences of ableism in an educational setting, and are well aware of the lack of support that their disabled peers receive.

Speaking to Lauren about their win in an influencer category, they said: "I still can't believe I've won, all the others that were nominated have been huge role models for me and I look up to them so much, so I feel so lucky to have not only been nominated but to have won too.

"It really means a lot; I never intended to become an 'influencer' of any kind, I just really enjoy writing about my own

experiences, political issues and making information accessible to people. If that helps even one person then that's a win," she continued.

Alongside their role as Disability Officer, they also act as Treasurer and Social Media Officer of the Disability, Mental Health and Neurodiversity Society at Newcastle University. As well as this, they are a member of the

NHS Youth Forum, meaning their work is used by mental health nurses as a source of information about autism in the workplace.

They are certainly deserving of this influential title, for both their hard work and their admirably candid talk of their personal experience as someone with complex disabilities.

Local MPs respond to cost of living concerns

Newcastle upon Tyne Central, responded to the letter with an invitation for an in-person meeting with the SU that is set to take place on 16 December.

Catherine McKinnel, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North, has pledged her support to the student cause.

better support for students".

He also emphasised his opposition to the recent changes in student loans which will “increase the cost for lower-earning graduates while reducing it for higher-earning borrowers.”

Earlier this year, representatives from our Students' Union wrote to local MPs of student areas regarding the cost of living crisis and the growing impact it was having on students.

This is especially important as the weather continues to worsen and the new year dawns.

Due to the cost of living crisis, food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 13.1% in the 12 months leading up to August 2022, and inflation remains at a high level.

Chi

Onwurah, Labour MP for

She said that, should the debate over the cost of living's effect on students be raised in the House of Commons, she will support students and "press for greater support" as the government has failed in their “appalling” handling of the cost of living crisis.

Nick Brown, Independent MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East, responded with a letter as well as an invitation to talk about the impact the cost of living crisis is having at an in-person on 11 November.

The results of the meeting have yet to be published, but he made his support for students clear after expressing that he wants to "press the government for

Overall, these responses are not ground-breaking or even effective in combating the cost of living crisis or other problems that face students, but they do show that we have the support of the people who represent us and who will be making important decisions about our futures.

If nothing else, we will be supported by our local communities and our concerns are being documented by those who need to know about them.

For more information and access to support and advice, visit the Newcastle City Council website.

Sub-editors: Alice Holmes, Rhys James, Amana

Rosa Gac

man who fell into the River Tyne during a stag do in November was rescued by local services

Image credit: Instagram (@neurodiversitywithlozza)

Poppy Bedford

Local MPs have responded to a letter from our Students' Union

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Image credit: NUSU

Campus Comment

I’ll Be Home for Christmas: what I’m looking forward to the most about going home

Castor Chan - Campus Sport Liason

It’s been more than a year and a half since I’ve seen my parents, and honestly, I’d be content with that only. But to keep this from being too short of an article, I’ll go down my Christmas list just for you all.

Second on the list is my mum’s soup. I wrote an article last year on home-cooked meals, and my want for this dish has only gotten stronger. It’s a radish, carrot, and pork bone soup, and it’s just so warm and cosy.

As a child, I used to hate soup, but now that I’m miles from home, I want nothing more than to have an entire pot of this soup at dinner with my parent's love

The next thing I’m looking forward to the most is being back to my favourite spots. Whether they are shops I like, restaurants with food that I can’t find alternatives for here (I’m craving this one cheese mochi so badly), or just the familiarity of

walking through my home city, I want to be back where I grew up and treasure it as an adult.

Lastly, I miss the warmth of home. Partly because I feel like I’ll never get used to the bitter English winter, but also the joy and love of being near my family and city again. I’ll get to have cuddles with my dog Piper, actually know what I’m hearing when my granddad and cousin talk football, and play endless rounds of mahjong surrounded by chaos and noise (and probably lose). It’ll be hard to see how much time has gone past while I’ve been gone, but it’ll be well worth it for the hugs.

The last week of this semester is slowly coming to an end and with that Christmas is fast approaching. Having moved away for university there are some things I have missed and that I am patiently awaiting to enjoy once again.

Who would I be kidding if the thing I missed most weren't food? And then especially anything and everything my mum cooks. With that ties the privilege of not having to cook every meal for myself, which I will gladly accept.

Zoom calls and texting with family and friends have been a way to fillin the gaps in our regular rendezvous schedule. Yet, they are of course nothing compared to the reality of hearing their laugh, hugging them and hanging together side by side. My whole life I lived in a village in the Czech Republic that is surrounded by a lot of nature and other villages and small towns. So, moving to a quite populated city with a

Christmas balls: No, No, No

Mitchell Hall -Film sub-editor

and social than, well… anywhere else. House parties, pubs, clubs, karaoke, all cheaper options where socialising is put at the forefront, not a big hall and faux fancy food.

Christmas society balls: in my humble opinion, just not worth all the hassle or money.

'Tis the season for me to become the grinch once again and turn down what many see as a highlight of the holiday period: Christmas balls put on by societies and the University.

I love socialising around Christmas

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy getting dressed up and going somewhere ‘fancy’ too, but during a time of year where so much money is spent on gifting to others and things can be a little tight, a relaxed party with friends seems the more seasonal option.

Another ball will roll around in a few months at a better time of year, where walking to your destination in formalwear won’t see you frozen or soaked from our lovely north-east winter weather.

My best memories from christmas

activities, markets and ice skating and lights galore fill the city, for me there’s so much better to do this time of year.

Now, don’t let me ruin this for you, if you love Christmas balls, go and have

All I want for is an effective

Alarge portion of students will have likely submitted a Personal Extenuating Circumstance (PEC) request via S3P at some point during their time at Newcastle University, but whether the request is granted or not is another question. The PEC system has its pros and cons but is rarely discussed, and as such I will be sharing my thoughts.

My flatmate's opinion on submitting a PEC has nothing to do with the process itself but rather with the S3P website, where the request is submitted. In her wise words, the website is comically outdated compared to other university sites such as Canvas, stating that ‘it's giving 2003 realness’.

Maybe Newcastle University’s expansive budget, annually funded by the nine or twenty-two thousand pounds paid respectively by home and international students just couldn’t be stretched out to bring the software out of the digital dark ages and into the modern day - but what do I know about university budgeting?

This faux pas of the PEC submission process can easily be forgiven, as the university's expectation of students to pour out their personal circumstances in a 400-word text box is arguably much worse. It results in much greater anxiety around the ability to request an extension for your assessed work, something which the PEC process ironically aims to minimize.

The PEC system feels so impersonal and clinical - submitting your personal information into a void and then waiting anxiously for an email telling you of your fate. In my opinion, this contradicts the university's notion of it being a safe space for struggling students. However, this impersonal approach may be beneficial for some, for whom the thought of oversharing your personal situation face-to-face with a personal tutor or welfare officer is much more daunting that to an online void. As the thought of in person rejection following the sharing of problems – perhaps deeply personal is much worse than rejection in email form.

Circling back to the 400-word description box, this requirement of a description to accompany the PEC can cause more problems. This is a necessary precaution for the university to take, as they need to know that students aren’t abusing the virtues of the PEC system. However, you can argue that students may be likely to overcompensate with their description, even if their situation is already deeply personal or sensitive

Are they overpriced or a fun night out? Let's talk Christmas balls

Elisabeth Gores

Does our system for requesting extensions meet the needs of struggling students?

Image Credit: Public Domain

Anna Nix

I miss the warmth of home

Campus Comment

God Save the King: the low -down on Student Council

Sam Norman - Campus Comment sub-editor

Ashna Mathur - Campus Comment sub-editor

Interested in submitting a motion to honour the King? The key is to show up Council

ast Thursday the history, reputation and dignity of The Courier came under attack. That may seem dramatic, but I believe no other word appropriately describes the proposition at the Student Council other than an attack.

A motion was put forward in which two Newcastle University students, who have no role in student media, propositioned to change the name The Courier to The King’s Courier. They cited two main reasons for this renaming, the first being, that the Students' Union is yet to properly honour the Queen with a ‘meaningful gesture.’ To which I ask, why are they demanding the name reference the King rather than the Queen? With

that, any students who want to make a meaningful gesture to a figure, I kindly guide you towards The Courier’s Opinion section, or even better yet, if you have a message for the Students' Union, here at Campus Comment. The solution is not transforming the name of an outlet for your own political motive – and let’s be clear here, it is political.

The frankly rude and condescending second point referred to how the name would ‘lend to the legitimacy of the past.’ This point refers to how when Newcastle University was still incorporated with Durham University as ‘King’s College,’ we were known as King’s Courier not a reference to the monarch, but the college. Following the transformation to Newcastle University, we became simply The Courier and have been publishing weekly ever since. Now, I would be fascinated to know what legitimacy would be gained with the reinstalment of a simple noun. And more so, how ignorant to suggest it would “add to its reputation as a professional organisation.”

The Courier approaches 75 years next year, and in that time,

for Christmas... effective PEC system

the newspaper has won the Student Newspaper of the Year in 1994, 2012 and 2014, and continued to be a voice for all Newcastle Students, regularly connecting students interested in journalism to people in the industry. These points were mentioned by a range of student media representatives at Thursday’s student council. Meg Howe, Student Media Officer and

Editor in Chief of The Courier highlighted the origins of the newspaper name, and reiterated how it is no connection to the monarch.

Sophie McNally, our Deputy Editor, discussed how “journalism is about the lack of bias or affiliation, it’s the golden rule.”

Strangely, the proposer of the motion did not attend the council on Thursday evening.

As a result, the student who seconded this motion was left to defend it. This student was the only person to speak in favour of this – even going as far as admitting to not having read the motion properly before singing his name. This student was met with several questions from irritated and enraged student media representatives and others present.

Lauren Gilbert, our Disability Officer, asked if the proposers were aware of the decolonisation issues related to this subject. She argued that “this motion would go against every attempt made by our Students’ Union to

decolonise education.” Lauren was not the only one to raise this issue, with the representation of international students and their views on honouring a British monarch in this way being discussed.

Sophie McNally also touched on the topic of decolonisation stating the new name would be “both gendered and reignite issues of monarchical colonisation.”

The criticisms did not seem to meet a valid reply or answer, with the proposer of the motion, unfortunately absent. This, therefore, surprised no one when an astronomical 98% voted against the motion, conserving The Courier in its original status. Though the Student Council is a completely democratic and free approach for students to suggest motions, one must once again question the motives behind this proposed renaming. To demand such defining change upon an institution you have no part of, to propagandise a belief central to oneself epitomises the sense of entitlement that has no place in the University. Luckily the Student Council recognised that too. Thankfully, the 98% saw one (or a couple) of people’s views cannot reflect an entire body of people. Maybe next week I’ll propose ‘The Gregg’s Courier’ – it’s not like you have to turn up to back up your ideas anyway.

Seasonal hire jobs:

Rachael McCreanor - Head of Culture

the red flags... and the green!

Regardless of whether you’re looking for a job to work alongside your studies or a way to make some extra money over the holidays, as with most things in life, there are a few signs to look out for to avoid turning into Scrooge this Christmas.

Zero-hour contracts. This is a tricky one (and I know this from experience). Zero-hour contracts can be great for flexibility and the opportunity to pick up extra shifts left right and centre, but they're also risky. You could easily go for a week with no shifts, just to be followed by a 60hr week with no days off. If you’re looking for consistency and don’t want to risk having to work full-time, maybe avoid zero-hour contracts.

Cash in hand – this is the reddest of red flags. As much as your employer may seem lovely, if there’s no paper trail you run a massive risk of being taken advantage of, being underpaid, not being paid on time and not understanding your rights. Avoid at all costs.

A friendly atmosphere – if you’re lucky enough to get an interview onpremises, you have been awarded the perfect opportunity to scope out the vibes. As stupid as it sounds, an interview is as much for you as it is for the employer. Have a look around, try and see how the other staff seem. If they’re getting on and not crying in a corner, green flag!

A clear, detailed contract – this is the most important thing when you’re thinking of accepting a job offer. A contract which details your expected hours, pay rate, shift patterns etc. is the ultimate green flag. Knowing what is expected of you before you actually

start working will set you up in great stead to actually be treated like a person, which is always a bonus. So, keep these in mind when you’re out looking for work this Christmas and, most importantly, good luck!

Sub-editors: Alexander James, Ashna Mathur

We all need money to get through the uni years, but here's some tips to avoid being exploited in the process

Image Credit: Public Domain

Image Credit: Wikimedia, Rawpixel and Unsplash

Should the world have a top Cop?

Aritraa Dhar

Since 2006, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHRC) has been a well known international body that deals with matters related to human rights violations throughout the world.

It has been noticed that after one and half decades there has not been any real change in the situations where long term conflicts have been raging. There have been situations where the actions of UNHRC resulted in nothing except the loss of funds to support the conflicted areas.

Article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter expressly prohibits the threat or use of force against a state's territorial integrity or political independence, and Article 2 (3) requires that all interstate disputes be settled through "peaceful means." Regrettably, the UN Security Council does not frequently authorise the use of military force to maintain or restore international peace and order.

Roe v Crime: Is legalised abortion the best way to reduce crime?

Anna Davies

during his time as Mayor of New York City, in an attempt to gain the Republican Presidential bid.

Abortion has been one of the most controversial topics in US politics for the last 50 years. While the focus tends to be centred around who exercises control over reproductive rights, should more consideration be given to the influence of legalised abortion on crime rates?

Many American politicians, particularly those in the Republican party, choose to ignore the irrefutable evidence demonstrating the link between the legalisation of abortion and reduced crime rates. This is best exemplified by Rudy Giuliani’s 2007 presidential campaign trail, during which he consistently boasted about statistics on crime rates that demonstrated a decline in offences

physical and mental wellbeing.

In a 2014 Abortion Patient Survey, it was discovered that 49% of women receiving abortions were below the poverty line. The consequences of children brought up in poverty are low education and a higher chance of unemployment as they grow into adulthood, which are significant factors in encouraging criminal behaviour.

While Giuliani was ultimately unsuccessful in obtaining the bid, which was awarded to John McCain, it was his recurring flaunting of his “accomplishments” with regards to crime that provoked people to question whether the reduction in crime rates could truly be attested to Giuliani’s aggressive stance on crime rather than the legalisation of abortion.

The legalisation of abortion results in a far fewer number of people being forced to raise a child when they do not possess the necessary financial means nor a comprehensive support structure. This often leads to such children being raised in unstable homes, which can have detrimental effects on their

To put it simply, due to the legalisation of abortion, there are fewer people vulnerable to the temptation of illegal activity. Therefore, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, roughly 25 years after the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, when Giuliani was Mayor of New York City and supposedly tackling crime to great effect, he was in fact dealing with a far smaller cohort of late-teens and early 20s in their highest crime years.

2024 presidential draft

The customary rule of international law that it is illegal for one state to use force against another is codified in Article 2 (4) of the UN Charter. Well, it can be observed that the Nations with stability in both military & economic aspects tend to intervene in the foreign affairs of other nations where there is a violation of human rights, predominantly.

To maintain peace & stability in every corner of the world, it is important that the government of every nation provide the basic human rights. In some cases, however, the elected authority chooses to violate the rights of the commons without any legitimate cause, thus leading to further global instability.

It is the moral duty of the global leaders and the powerful countries to take a step ahead and ensure the rights are well maintained in the conflict zones. Countries like the USA, UK and France, which are democratic nations who can understand the value of people’s rights should not only intervene but also take the responsibility to change the situation of violations that are happening worldwide.

Every nation has its own sovereignty but when the questions arise about basic human rights violations like abductions, arbitrary arrest and political executions, then it should be the time for the powerful nations to take action for stabilising the zone. They not only have sufficient funds, but also military presence in every corner, meaning taking control over the situation should be easy.

I believe it’s the duty of all to take part or rather intervene in the foreign affairs where there are continuous violations resulting in loss of peace & harmony of collective humanity.

Sam Norman - Campus Comment sub-editor

Tis the most wonderful time of the year... midterms are out of the way, and now all eyes look to 2024 as the next American presidential race begins.

Exploratory committees are soon to be formed, jabs are being made at opponents and the first few names have already been thrown into the hat. It’s time to take a look at the predicted field.

is the odds-on favourite to win the whole thing – part due to an incredible performance in the mid-terms. The Republican Governor is beloved in Florida and his popularity is only growing in the party. Should he (likely) win the primary, the right VP pick would give him an incredible edge in the 2024 race.

Likelihood of winning the 2024 race: 8/10.

Nikki Haley – American Diplomat and Former Governor of

South Carolina

Nikki Haley may be an outside Republican bet, but I wouldn’t doubt her. A former Trump ally, turned enemy, Haley could make a stunning VP for DeSantis or a formidable candidate within her own right.

four years: 6/10

Kamala Harris – Incumbent Vice President of the United States

If Biden were to stand aside, the natural candidate would be Kamala Harris. Though, looking back at her 2020 Presidential campaign, she must exhibit how she has evolved since, as a similar performance would be an embarrassment for the VP. With no standout successes as VP to campaign on, going up against a strong Republican or a challenging Democrat in the primary, Harris may struggle.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The former Mayor Pete had a career-defining performance in the 2020 Democratic Primary, going further than most would have expected for a relatively unknown candidate. Pete would top my list of preferred candidates, and should he run, though it may still be a few years premature, he stands a better shot than most.

Likelihood of becoming President: 5/10.

Honourable Mentions for Democratic Candidates: Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Jon Ossoff.

Republicans Democrats

Likelihood of becoming President: 3/10 through an election… but there’s always the other way.

Pete Buttigieg – Incumbent Secretary

Wild Card: Kanye West

Donald Trump – Former President of the United States

If starting with the Republican side, the only candidate to start with is the former President. Trump announced his run on 15 November and frankly, no one was surprised. Does the businessman stand a chance? In a word, no. Trump’s time has gone. Losing an election and blaming fraud, and not even to mention 6 January have dampened his reputation and it’s clear he’s lost touch with his base. Will he get to the final two in the primary?

Probably. Will he win his primary?

Not a chance. But who’s to say he won’t run independently…

Likelihood of becoming President again: 1/10.

Ron DeSantis – Governor of Florida

At the time of writing, DeSantis

Likelihood of winning the 2024 race: 5/10

Honourable Mentions for Republican Candidates: Gov. Christopher Sununu, Former VP Mike Pence, Sen. Josh Hawley.

Joe Biden – Incumbent President of the United States

As current President Biden stands as the obvious choice for the Democratic nominee, but given his age, no one would be surprised to see him pass the sword onto a younger candidate.

Likelihood of winning another

It is the moral duty of global leaders to step forward and ensure rights are maintained

Many politicians choose to ignore the link between legal abortion and redcued crime rates

Image credit: Santa Hat [Walmart. com], boy [Geekologie..com]

In a 2014 survey, 49% of women receiving abortions were below the poverty line

Legalised abortion reduces the amount of correlating factors that could lead to a life of crime

Image credit: Santa Hats [Walmart.com]. Kanye West and Donald Trump [FirmDaily.

I predict a riot: will our current political situation spark protests?

Khan - News Sub-Ed

Since 2019, Britain has seen three new Prime Ministers enter No. 10, which has encouraged calls for another general election, but the current Conservative government seems unwilling to do so. This, along with the cost of living crisis, has proved to destabilise British society.

The cost of living crisis is at the forefront of people’s minds. There are people who cannot afford to heat their homes or are having to choose between heating and eating. There are students who are left with less than £30 a week, which is inevitably affecting their education.

teachers are some of the people striking in order for their employers and the government to ensure fairer wages.

Protests and strikes are nothing new, however as a result of the current political situation they seem to have become more prevalent, with some arguing that Britain could see a new ‘winter of discontent’ this winter as a result.

wages.

With the increasing prices of energy and everyday essentials but the unchanging nature of wages of certain sectors, there is no doubt in my mind that there is an outbreak of strikes and protests on the horizon.

The rising inflation and economic instability coupled with the resistance to increase people’s wages has guaranteed strikes and protests from a variety of sectors. Lecturers, rail workers and

Protests and strikes are not meant to be convenient. They are meant to disrupt the day-to-day running of society and this is what these strikes and protests are doing. Lecturers on strike means that students are missing out on their education and rail workers on strike means that people are unable to travel. All this causes disruption to our everyday lives.

However, this is needed in order to grab the attention of the government and make a stand regarding the unfairness of working conditions and

In fact, I believe that we are already starting to see this take place and it is not going to get any better until the government provides the people with a solution on how to survive this period of high inflation and the cost of living crisis.

Although, it does not seem that the current government’s economic policies are going far enough to help the most impoverished, with Enough is Enough arguing that the new budget is “the budget of a

Ready for Rishi! Is our new PM a big win for diversity?

all this overblown excitement about Sunak’s appointment as the first non-white PM coming from? Well, Indian commentators on social media have completely gone into overdrive appropriating him as a son of India. Many of them are even seeing his victory as sweet revenge against the former British empire with comments like “reverse colonisation” and “Indian sun rises on Britain” popping up on social media platforms.

colleagues Suella Braverman and Priti Patel, has enthusiastically acted as a wingman of the Conservative Party’s blatantly racist “anti-woke” policies. His immigration policy includes deportation of asylumseekers and refugees to Rwanda. He has also reappointed Braverman, who has vowed to reduce immigration, to the post of Home Secretary.

Is cancel culture the new 'Dark Lord'?

Hemangi Chakravarty

Helena Bonham Carter, Harry Potter Universe’s Bellatrix Lestrange, expressed support for the story's author J.K. Rowling and co-star Johnny Depp at a recent interview published in The Times.

During the interview, Bonham Carter addressed the controversy around Rowling’s views, which are often criticised for being transphobic. She denounced the backlash as “horrendous," and said the author is “allowed her opinion, particularly if she has suffered abuse.”

The Fight Club actress also talked about Johnny Depp during the interview, who is famous for playing roles such as Grindelwald in two films related to the Potterverse. With reference to his recent defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, Carter considers Depp “completely vindicated.”

“People will jump on the bandwagon because it’s the trend and to be the poster girl for it,” Bonham Carter told The Times of Heard and the #MeToo movement.

She also talked about cancel culture, saying, “It has become quite hysterical and there’s a kind of witch hunt and a lack of understanding.”

Bonham Carter has painted cancel culture as a means of harassment and publicity here. However, it is also a tool for holding people in power accountable for their words and actions. Also known as call-out culture, it refers to a form of ostracism in which one is excluded from social and professional circles as a result of their actions, statements, or public opinions.

TMinister is without an ounce of doubt, a significant moment. A big whooping victory moment for the Tories as well.

But, the newly appointed Prime Minister himself clearly prefers to be recognised for his perceived competence, expertise and integrity rather than his skin colour or ethnicity. In his first statement as the Prime Minister outside Downing Street, Sunak said, “I’m here because of my ability to fix problems and my race is immaterial.”

Indeed, if we look at the current British political scenario; the Conservative

Why, just a few days ago I got into an argument on YouTube with a random Indian guy about how Rishi Sunak becoming Prime Minister of the UK is not a victory for India and Hinduism.

Shashi Tharoor, an Indian politician has even claimed Sunak’s “breathtaking” achievement has overshadowed Barack Obama’s election to President of the United States.

But is diversity the same as equality? Can we expect Sunak to be a herald of diversity and equal rights?

I don’t think so.

Rishi Sunak, like his fellow British-Asian

Rishi Sunak represents a carefully concealed oligarchy in Britain. One viral video clip even shows Sunak boasting about taking funds allocated to deprived areas and diverting it into wealthy Conservative constituencies.

A staunch supporter of the Tory policy of keeping wealth in the hands of the privileged few, Sunak promises of “difficult decisions to come”.

With funding cuts to state schools, the NHS, a steep cost of living, unaffordable energy prices, cuts to public services and frozen pensions, one thing is for certain: it’s going to be really difficult for those who are impoverished and struggling, as if it weren't already.

So, why are we seeing Sunak’s appointment as a huge leap in diversity? It is outlandish and laughable to ignore a politician’s policies and uncritically celebrate their triumph based on their ethnicity. Sure, Rishi Sunak represents the minority. But it’s not Britain’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic. It is his own happy, little group of plutocrats.

In this case, had there not been a public outcry against the transphobic tweets that Rowling has been posting ever since 2020, the author would never have been held accountable for violating the safe space that the Potterverse was for people from all identities and backgrounds.

Moreover, public figures’ social media posts are often said to shape the masses’ opinion and discourse. Hence, calling Rowling out was an essential step towards safeguarding trans women’s rights.

When it comes to her comment regarding Johnny Depp, Bonham Carter is right in saying the actor has been vindicated. Nevertheless, a survey regarding sexual harassment published by the Government Equalities office in 2020 found at least 72% of the UK population has experienced some form of sexual harassment. Indicating that people might share stories of harassment and abuse to jump on the alleged bandwagon of the #Metoo movement jeopardises every sexual harassment and abuse survivor’s fight for justice.

So the ever-potent question remains: is it cancel culture or just internalised misogyny?

broken economy.” With the current economic policy being regarded as not enough, there is no doubt that protests and strikes will continue over Christmas and

Amana

People are having to choose between heating and eating

Anirban Debnath

Image credit: Santa Hat [Walmart.com], riot [IBTimes.co.uk]

Protests and strikes are meant to disrupt the day-to-day running of society

But is diversity the same as equality?

Image credit: Bauble [BlackByDesign.co.uk], Rishi Sunak [Covidnineteen.

"People will jump on the bandwagon"

New trade protections put in place for endangered song birds and sharks

Multiple species threatened with extinction have been given new and

The wildlife trade industry is estimated to be worth £8 billion per year, and is relied upon by many people for their livelihoods. However, due to considerable international trading, numerous species have been pushed to the brink of extinction. Crucial trade protections have now been put in place to prevent several species of shark, songbird and amphibian

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

(CITES), which protects species against unsustainable trade was held in Panama this November. Members of CITES considered 52 proposals to increase or decrease protections of a range of species.

The convention took place in Panama

Just under 50% of the 52 proposals focused on the exotic pet trade. The scope of the exotic pets trade is vast. Capturing frogs, snakes, lizards and turtles fuelled by demand in Europe, the USA and Asia; and elephants for ivory. According to the IUCN Red List, 41% of amphibian species are threatened with extinction. Successes at CITES include the enhanced protection of the transparent glass frog; a ban on crossborder trade in the Australian pygmy bluetongue lizards; and a ban in the trade of red-crowned roof turtles, found in both northern India and Bangladesh. The song-bird trade in Indonesia has also been detrimental to species survival. Both straw-headed bulbul birds and white-rumped shama have been severely impacted, with strawheaded bulbul bird numbers declining by 80% in the last 15 years. Both were

Universal flu vaccine may be here by 2024

Chi TAN

Scientists have tested in animals a vaccine that may protect against 20 strains of influenza

It's that time of the year again when the weather gets cold, and people start being picked off by coughs, sneezes and sore throats. Along with covid, the government and NHS strongly message for those most at risk to get their annual flu shot.

Thankfully, scientists are working on a universal flu vaccine. The study, published in the Science journal, said the new vaccine triggered high levels of antibodies in all tests and may help reduce the impact of future flu pandemics.

This vaccine packs the mRNA recipe of all known H and N protein variants into the shot instead of fragments of proteins from 4 to 5 strains of influenza virus found in the typical seasonal flu shot. Given the RNA being smaller in size than protein, they could pack four into one vaccine, meaning no more annual flu shots!

So far, scientists have shown success in mice and are now at the clinical trial phase — the final step before going to market.

Vaccines are a form of artificial immunity that functions like a training module for your immune system. If your immune system was the Karate Kid, think of a vaccine as your very own Mr Miyagi! Many vaccines are specific to a certain antigen, a piece of

biological material that functions as an identification marker for your immune cells.

Generally speaking, manufacturers cover only a handful of influenza virus strains in each year’s production. The strains typically included in a dose of the shot are based on which influenza variant is most prevalent that year.

shot vaccinates you against H4N1 or H1N5, it may be less effective than the H1N1 shot, given only 1 surface protein is matched. An H4N5 vaccine would be useless against H1N1 infections as there are no matched antigens.

Influenza can mix their genetic material around when two different strains of influenza virus co-infect a host. When someone catches the flu from both the H1N1 and H4N5 flu virus, they can now spread up to 4 influenza variants H1N5 and H4N5. Influenza LOVES to mix around its segmented genes.

given enhanced protection by CITES, with a complete ban on trading of straw-headed bulbul.

Protections were granted for over 90 species of shark, including bull sharks and tiger sharks. A major cause of shark decline has been through fisheries –taking the lives of 100 millions sharks per year. Many shark species had never had any protections before, so many are hopeful that these new protections will ensure species have time to recover from exploitation.

“These species are threatened by the unsustainable and unregulated fisheries that supply the international trade in their meat and fins, which has driven extensive population declines,” said Rebecca Regnery, the senior director for wildlife at Humane Society International.

Whilst many proposals at CITES saw success, some were sadly rejected. The trading of hippo teeth (known to be an alternative to the illegal ivory trade) has long been debated, with many countries seeking to a ban on trade at CITES. Unfortunately, the proposed ban was not passed, with those opposing

the ban arguing that wildlife trade is not implicated in hippo population declines.

Hopefully, the approval of many of these protections now placed on frequently traded species will revive

Word of the week:

Ba Humbugi

Harrison - Food & Drink sub-editor

famous catchphrase, turning your nose up at the whole period. Perhaps you will feel you have no

Is the flu virus just one variant? Nope! Influenza comes in different varieties. The virus has two main surface proteins which our immune system recognises. You may find strains of influenza viruses named in the format of a letter and a number, e.g. H1N1. This is due to each influenza virus having some variation of the Haemagglutinin (H) and Neuraminidase (N) surface proteins.

Let's consider H1N1 "swine flu" strain. It has the Haemagglutinin variant 1 and Neuraminidase variant 1. Currently, the most effective flu shot you can get against H1N1 are vaccines that are specifically against H1N1. If your flu

Jessica Predko

Yen

Daisy

Currently, the most effective flu shot you can get against H1N1 are vaccines that are specifically against it

Image credits: NIH on Flickr.com

Image credits: Unsplash

Image credits: Unsplash

Relationships

Rate the Date

What were you hoping for?

I was hoping the date would be an activity of some sort but Ernest bar was still a decent location.

What were your first impressions of the date?

I thought she was really quite freindly and also quite attractive

If Lucy was a drink, what would she be?

A gin and tonic - sophisticated, not too crazy but still enjoyable. What do you think Lucy made of you?

Honestly I don't know, I think we both knew we didn't have that much in common.

Will you be seeing your date again? No, I don't think so.

Tristan, 21, Business Management

Rate the Date

What were you hoping for?

Someone fun that I could have a laugh with!

What were your first impressions of the date?

Very polite and a great listener.

If Tristan was a drink, what would he be?

Espresso martini

What do you think Tristan made of you?

Couldn't quite tell but the convo flowed well so can't be that bad!

Will you be seeing your date again?

Probably but very very early days to see anything romantic.

Lucy, 19, Architeccture

Relationships

The World Cup and its ties to domestic abuse

Anna-Louise Davies

It is tragic that during periods of sporting competition, such as the World Cup currently taking place in Qatar, that domestic violence rates see a sharp incline. What can be done to make these supposed demonstrations of great national sporting ability, which should bring people together and inspire unity, less menacing and dangerous?

second game of the tournament.

The advert pans across a stereotypically English street, where St George’s flags appear proudly draped across the houses. As the camera moves down the street, the football commentary quietens and loud and aggressive tones become clearer. It is a harrowing visualisation of how the elation, and frustration, of such a sporting event can lead to sinister outcomes.

The charity acknowledges that while it is not the football itself that causes the devastating increase in domestic violence, awareness needs to be raised regarding the heightened emotion and excessive drinking culture that exists around events such as the World Cup. Particular concern was expressed for this year’s tournament, as many more fans will choose to watch the matches from home while it is cold and dark - when the communal atmosphere of a pub is not there to deter overly aggressive behaviour.

ongoing World Cup as an opportunity to uphold a culture where misogyny is seen as acceptable. It is therefore unsurprising that rates of domestic violence see a rise - and although no one wants to detract from the celebration of sport, this unwelcome byproduct of sporting passion needs to be addressed.

Women’s Aid have been praised by media and public alike for the launch of their recent ad campaign, entitled ‘He’s coming home’. The charity launched the campaign on Friday 25th November, the day marking both the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and England’s match against the USA, the Three Lions’

Women’s Aid, as part of the campaign, conducted research on public attitudes which revealed that nearly 24% of UK adults believe that there are occasions where it is acceptable for sports fans to sing disrespectful chants about women. It is shocking and worrying that nearly a quarter of the country sees sporting events such as the

Set a budget: how much to spend this Christmas

can fairly agree on a spending limit in advance (£5-10 seems to be standard). For individuals, the idiom is cringey but true; it’s the thought that counts. Gifts are nice for their association with the person that gave them – something small but specific is better than something more expensive and generic.

Cuffed for Christmas?

excusable. They are likely to have met your immediate and extended family, hopefully, enough times to enjoy the day.

Though the festive period is a great time of year, it’s not without its stressful elements. One of these stresses is buying presents, particularly for students and during the cost of living crisis. Forget Halloween Town, the true nightmare before Christmas is deciding how much to spend on gifts.

Showing your appreciation for friends and partners through presents and watching them smile as they unwrap really does feel good. But then again, so does not being broke in January… Thankfully, it’s more than possible to strike a balance. Arranging a secret santa in a

All in all, there’s no ‘right amount’ to spend; it’s more about putting the right thought into it. Finding small, inexpensive things that really resonate with them might require more

Like many things on Christmas, such as gift-giving, a classic Christmas dinner and spending time with certain family members - you have to pretend you like it. To then bring another person into the picture at that time of year, can be more terrifying than the random Christmas Carollers that rock up to your door.

In regards to spending Christmas together, I’d say it really depends on your partner's situation. The majority of people spend it with their family, and a few lucky ones spend it with friends. To ask someone if you want to spend Christmas together generally insinuates mass gatherings of possibly problematic family members that love being political just to spice things up. But how long should you date before inviting someone into that? Let’s see.

If you’re 15 and haven’t even sat your first GCSE, and want to spend Christmas with your boyfriend of three months, that’s a definite no-go. To put it into perspective, the likelihood of them splitting up on Christmas day is high, the useless boyfriend got his girlfriend the wrong scented Yankee Candle. Big mistake. It may be embarrassing to look back on yourself and also for your family to witness. However, if you’ve had the same partner for three years since you were 15, it may be more

Overall, if you’re in a relationship where your family approves, you’ve said those three little words and can spend a reasonable amount of time without arguing it’s a good sign. I’d advise at least a year or two (not including the wretched talking stage) that has built a pretty solid foundation. Although, the downside to bringing your partner brings the unnecessary Q&A from some members of the family that seem to never stop talking. My advice, try to hide the obvious yawns with an excuse of tiredness and drink lots and lots of Eggnog or Bailey's to drown them out. Happy Holidays!

During periods of sporting competition domestic violence rates see a sharp incline

Emma Hunter

As a student, how much is the right amount to spend?

Forget Halloween Town, the true nightmare

before Christmas is deciding how much to spend on gifts

Exciting as it is, it may not be right to bring your partner to every christmas...

Emmie Foster

Image credit: Pixabay and IMDB

Image credit: Pixabay

If you're 15 and want to spend Christmas with your boyfriend of 3 months, that's a no-go

Relationships

Couples Christmas compromises

Mitchell Hall -Film Sub-Editor

As Christmas rolls around for my second year at University, my girlfriend and I started to talk about where we would spend it, and how much time we could spend together due to our unique and clashing plans. Christmas couple compromises are often a fact of life when in a relationship with someone you met at uni, where each person tends to have strong links and commitments to home and family that often mean spending such a cosy part of the year away from each other. This issue can be especially apparent when one of you is an international student, and going home means a specific date picked months in advance, and a longer period

seeing the lights and markets, followed up by the warm cuddles and hot chocolate that are perfect to share with your significant other in the cold winter.

Now, bringing your partner home to your family after what tends to be a relatively short amount of time can be risky, and it won’t be an option for some - we can’t choose our families after allbut there are still ways to make the most out of Christmas in Newcastle as a couple before heading home. From ice skating to the Christmas markets to an all nighter of Christmas classics at the Tyneside cinema, you can cram as many of these dates in as you want even before the semester finishes. Equally some of these run well into January, so if your plans forbid doing pre Christmas festivities, keep the spirit alive afterwards.

and was a big part of my relationship’s beginnings after going on a first date just a few days before heading home for a month.

Spending Christmas away from home...

Lenka Minarovicova

But there are always options for making sure you can experience some of the festive season as a couple, after all, the Christmas period is longer than people often consider. In our case, my girlfriend is coming not for Christmas so much as before Christmas for a few days, which lines up nicely with our respective plans and fills both our weeks with new, fun dates. Now we have the reign of pre-Christmas London for almost a week: all the time in the world for Christmas activities like

It’s not like you can’t spend time together when you’re away either. In our golden age there’s a million ways to stay in contact and fill the void that’s created.

Netflix watch parties mean couples can enjoy cheesy Christmas flicks from any distance. Even regularly texting and sharing your days can be really important,

You can even fill in more personal habits. I sometimes read to my girlfriend to help her sleep so I will look to record her some sections or video call and read so she can have a little bit of our relationship at home. With a little ingenuity, Christmas separation doesn’t have to mean Christmas misery. We all have different commitments around this time of year, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get to share it with all the people you love, family or not.

There are so many new experiences that university students go through. Some of them are great, some not so much. Spending Christmas away from your family for the first time may be really difficult, especially if your family is close-knit. On a positive note, you will learn a lot about yourself; I certainly did.

Last year in December, I came to Newcastle for the first time, as the lockdown restrictions were being lifted. I hoped that things were getting better, and my university experience would become somewhat normal. Silly me.

Around that time, people were starting to go home for holidays early. Some of my new flatmates in the uni halls were going the day after my arrival. The last person from my flat left the day I got out of self-isolation after travelling from abroad. In the whole house, there was no one. Just me, myself and I in a foreign place. And I knew I would have to spend my Christmas there.

Dealing with a loss during the holidays

Castor Chan -Campus Sport Liason

She wasn’t the aunt I was closest to, but she would always give me hugs when we saw each other at family dinners. She died suddenly, after a period where she seemed to be doing better and the two of us finally started to get a little closer.

Afew years ago, I lost my aunt. She died near the end of the year, and although I wasn’t young, my memories are blurred as to exactly what date it was. Her passing was something I’ve had to slowly learn to process from then to now, and all my feelings towards it still crop up when the winter days roll around.

My aunt is the first in my close family circle that I remember passing away.

I’m incredibly fortunate in that both sets of my grandparents are still here, and my aunts, uncles and cousins are in good health as well. My late aunt had Parkinson’s, and I was aware that she was often ill when I was a child, but I didn’t properly understand what her diagnosis was until my teens.

I remember not knowing how to express my feelings about her death, with a particularly sharp memory about an exchange with one of my best friends. It was December, during my high school’s annual open day, but also my aunt’s funeral. I’d gotten permission to leave the event early, and was heading down to meet my parents with my friend. When she teased me about how lucky I was to get the afternoon, I couldn’t say a word back. There I was, near tears with all black clothes in my bag, quiet not only because she would have felt terrible, but also because I hadn’t processed my aunt’s death myself.

counsellor because I couldn’t work out why I was numb during the funeral. It took a few sessions to figure out that one of the reasons I wasn’t handling her passing well was due to feelings of guilt. I was beating myself up over not getting closer to her earlier, over not feeling worse at her loss because I didn’t know how to handle grief, and knowing that I was going to see the open gap at the dinner table and be reminded of it all over again.

It will be four years now since I’ve gotten one of those hugs, and I hate that my relationship with loss means I now grip onto people because I don’t want to grieve again. I hate that it took the death of a loved one to make me truly understand how important cherishing your time with your family is. I hate that winter resets the rollercoaster year after year. But I’ve forgiven myself because I know that I was trying to do better in my relationship with my aunt leading up to her passing, and that is all we can do sometimes. I still feel that tiny pinprick of guilt often, and the holidays are only a reminder of that gap in my family, but I focus on my loved ones and keep myself busy, so the winter passes a little easier every year.

I had to come up with a plan to enjoy my time even by myself. There were two options: 1/ try not to let it get to me and act like it’s just a day like any other; 2/ admit being disappointed about not being able to spend the time with my family. I went with the first one.

Every day I would go for a walk, explore the city a little bit, cook something nice for myself and binge-watch shows and films that I hadn’t had time for during the term time. I was thriving, or at least thought so; however, slowly but surely it was getting harder and harder to get up in the morning, I was getting out of my routine and you could even say that I got depressed without me noticing.

Luckily, I was able to go home shortly after Christmas, but my mental state didn’t change until at least two months later. Now, a year later, I finally see how bad it was and if I had to go through this again, I would choose option number two. Therefore, my advice to anyone spending Christmas far from their loved ones is to be honest with yourself. If you’re sad, that’s okay. If there’s anyone you can spend your Christmas with, please do so. It may not be the traditional Christmas you’re used to, but it will certainly give you the warm feeling people are so desperate to get, and Christmas with friends may be another unique experience added to the collection.

In the following months, I briefly saw a school

Christmas couple compromises are often a fact of life

The holidays can be a painful reminder of who is no longer in your life

My aunt had Parkinson's, and I was aware that she was often ill when I was a child

'There are still ways to make the most out of Christmas in Newcastle as a couple'

Image credit: [pixabay]

It took a few sessions to figure out that one of the reasons I wasn't handling her passing well was due to feelings of guilt

My advice to anyone spending Christmas far from their loved ones is to be honest with yourself. If you’re sad, that’s okay.

Christmas with friends may be another unique experience added to the collection.

Being alone at Christamas can be hard, be kind to yourself

Lifestyle

Magic to Mundane: does Christmas

part of the day for me seems like any other, but I guess it is a different experience for everyone.

The anticipation and excitement of Christmas as a child is a feeling we all distinctly remember – whether you would spend the evening before meticulously preparing carrots for Rudolph, or getting cosy on the sofa, illuminated by the light of your tv screen as your favourite Christmas film plays out before you. Christmas is a magical time for children, but as an adult, it seems that this festive magic has dissipated. Don’t get me wrong, Christmas is one of the best times of the year, but can it ever be as magical as it was in our innocent little minds?

As a child, at the core of Christmas excitement is the belief that Santa will climb down your chimney, whilst his reindeers rest on the roof above you. However, as an adult, there is inevitably less excitement surrounding Christmas – as we know what to expect. I think I can speak on behalf of most young adults when I say that waking up to open presents is most definitely still exciting, but after gift exchanges and festive breakfasts, the day soon becomes normal. As an only child, the latter

However, whilst we may not spend endless hours wondering how Santa can possibly get around the whole world in one night, the festivities of the Christmas period are certainly something we don’t want to miss out on...just substitute the hot chocolates for baileys and the magic is revived! Christmas is a period for celebrating with loved ones, so for those with large families and little ones, the magic is still prevalent. In a discussion about this with my colleague, she commented on how “Christmas is about spending the day with your loved ones, whether they are here or whether we are remembering the ones who have left us. It is a time for happiness and reminiscing on old Christmases”. She went on to say how your “Christmas magic resurfaces” when you have children, seeing “your little ones face light up” on Christmas morning. So, whilst we may not believe in all the Christmas magic ourselves, we

can certainly still experience the joy of Christmas, especially through others.

It is hard to say whether Christmas has lost its magic as an adult or not. Those of you that have big family gatherings with little ones running around your feet would probably say that Christmas is still a magical experience. However, as an only child, and someone who doesn’t have any children around to revel in the magic with, I am inclined to say that Christmas is not as exciting as it once was. Don’t get me wrong, I love the festive period…but is it as magical as it was during childhood? I’m not too sure.

Baubles, Bublé, Bible: the true meaning of Christmas Wesołych świąt! Polish Christmas celebrations

then making one of the best meals you’ve ever had in your life. You can count on an advent calendar, even at the big age of 20. These things come around every December, like clockwork. And we welcome them, every single year without fail.

When I reflect on past Christmases, I always think of my living room. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first house we ever lived in, my dad’s house, or our shared house at uni. It’s a collage of every festive experience I’ve ever had, anywhere.

There’s always the tree. Usually decorated with silver baubles and tinsel, gold lights meticulously placed by my mum. There are presents under it, at first. Then a flurry of red wrapping paper, spread messily around the perimeter of the room. Then there’s my dad, with the role of cleaning up said wrapping paper. There’s a cinnamon candle, there’s paper crowns, and there’s always my grandma with a new dressing gown for me (yes, every single year.)

Christmas

For a generation that is defined by throwaway culture and a rapidly decreasing attention span, we sure know how to recycle the exact same Christmas experience every year. I think, in this way, Christmas is defined by tradition.

Not necessarily a religious tradition, or even a family one, but a sense of predictable community. Whether that’s the annual argument with your relatives over the dinner table, wearing ridiculously ugly jumpers, seeing your friends from home or sitting with a hot chocolate in front of a warm fire with a good book.

An insight into Wigilia, a Polish Christmas celebration

’m assuming that for lots of British families, Christmas Eve is a day for final preparations before the big day itself; making sure that everything for Christmas dinner is ready, ensuring all the gifts are wrapped (maybe even buying some last minute), putting up decorations, and potentially beginning the festive drinking. Of course, Christmas Eve telly is also a wonderful way to spend the night before having to interact with countless family members that you see once, maybe twice a year. However, for me I am privileged enough to have, for the past few years, celebrated Wigilia, the Polish celebration of Christmas

Wigilia is a traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in

In my home, Wigilia mostly centres around the meal. The dinner always excludes meat and is instead extremely fish-heavy; personally, not my favourite food group, however I can appreciate it every now and then. The fish of choice is traditionally Carp, an extremely bony and chicken-like fish – of all the fish, Carp is an acceptable option for my tastebuds.

Prior to the fish however, I must battle through the task of eating a bowl of borscht. Essentially, Borscht is red beetroot soup, served with bread. Again, not my favourite. Following the beetroot soup and serving of Carp, my favourite part of the meal is served. Dessert. This varies from year to year, with my personal favourite being poppy seed cake, Babka.

To be honest, Wigilia is not my favourite day of the year because the food is simply not to my taste, however celebrating a Polish holiday with my Polish family is very joyful, and we get to open one present on Christmas Eve. To answer the question of; is it just as

For me, Christmas is characterised by its comforting and never changing aesthetic. It is the most predictable, most distinctive time of year, which comes as an absolute blessing with the last few years of absolute chaos we’ve endured. Christmas is dependable. You can count on the red and green, on hearing ‘Fairy-tale of New York’ about 60 times, and you can count on Michael Bublé coming out of hiding. You can count on your housemates watching ‘Nativity’ every night like it’s a competitive sport. And to be fair, if it was, they would win it.

You can count on your mum telling you how stressed she is trying to make Christmas dinner by herself, refusing everybody’s help, and

Rebecca Wright

What are your Christmas traditions?

is a lot of different things, to a lot of different people

Rhys James - News sub-editor

Roman Catholic Churches all over Poland and in Polish communities worldwide.

When the illusion of Santa, elves, and reindeers disappear, does the spirit of Christmas disappear for adults too?

Christmas is about your loved ones, whether they are here or whether we are remembering the ones who have left us

become less festive as an adult?

Image credit: Unsplash

Image credit: Pixabay

Lifestyle

Last-minute shoppers, look no further...

Finch

In a panic trying to get a gift for that co-worker you've shared two sentences with? No fear, we have you covered.

There comes a point in the month when the dreaded act of Christmas shopping can no longer be avoided. For me, the process goes the same every year. By mid-December, I have ticked off all the utmost important recipients. The challenge then dawns upon me when I'm left to tackle the less prioritised few.

It's not that I mind buying gifts for those I'm less familiar with. The problem is that I’ll always know which kitchenware accessory my mum has been eyeing up for months; the perfume that my sister unfailingly requests each year is common knowledge at this point. Unfortunately, it's not so easy working out the contents of Claire-fromwork’s wish list when an obligatory Secret Santa is organised at your part-time job.

the perfect method for covering the masses without breaking the budget

Thankfully, I've found that certain generic items never go amiss. We’ll start with things to avoid. It

is always vital to consider the practicality of the gift. Novelty ones can be fun, but it's only so long until a ‘Grow your own boyfriend’ ends up in the bin. The same goes for Christmas ornaments, a concept I’ve never understood. Nobody wants a bauble given to them a week before the tree returns to the attic. And lastly, it goes without saying: avoid fluffy socks at all costs.

They may be basic, but candles are always a good shout. Not only do they capture the cosiness of the festive season, but they are long-lasting. Perhaps, you struggle choosing the right scent. In that case, an even cuter gift can be found in the form of a Jellycat. These adorable soft toys are the latest rage, which comes as no surprise as they are so huggable. However, you may run into trouble finding one that the recipient doesn’t already own. Trust me, I have seen some absurd collections.

A trusty D.I.Y approach will also serve you well. Back in school, I found that baking and dishing out cookies to a large group of friends was the perfect method for covering the masses without breaking the

Get yourself into the festive mood

Zahra Hanif - Lifestyle sub-editor

Pitch-black darkness at 4pm and the puffer coat over three layers of clothes? It can only mean one thingChristmas is fast approaching us.

As the workload piles up and the thought of removing your soft, soft duvet to venture to a dingy lecture hall becomes unbearable, it can be hard to really get yourself into a festive mood, or deem yourself to be carrying this magical, yet elusive ‘Christmas spirit’. So, here’s some suggestions for activities to cheer you into becoming less Scrooge-y, or at least for maximising your enjoyment of this dark, chilly season.

First of all, ice skating. What better way to utilise the freezing-cold than to skid all over it? Whether you’re a dancer, a glider, or, like me, a plummeter, it’s great seasonal fun that you can participate in no matter your skill level (do be cautious though, hold on to the side if it’s your first time!).

Next up, another classic - give the Christmas markets a visit. Most city centres have one, Newcastle’s certainly does, and even if your pockets are tight from Secret Santas and such, just walking around those wooden stalls with the pretty lights and cheery music is bound to bring you a step closer to feeling the special seasonal spirit.

Another recommendation would incorporate either your friends and family - after all, Christmas is a time to celebrate your loved ones. Get together and put on a Christmas film marathon! So low effort, yet so festive. If you want to go the extra mile, get yourself down to Poundland for tinsel and Santa hats to enhance the atmosphere. Argue about whether you’re putting Die Hard on or not.

budget. Besides, everybody appreciates a homemade treat.

Finally, I will leave you with some fundamental words of advice in case you truly do become too stuck: I have personally never known anyone to be dissatisfied

A guide to winter foraging in the city

Ruby Taylor

Foraging is such a fun and rewarding hobby! There is nothing more satisfying than eating a meal that you've found and picked the food for yourself. It is also a great way to get out on more walks in nature, and to explore the lovely green spaces we have here in Newcastle. Although this is a time where a lot of the edible plants have gone to sleep, there is still lots to find if you know what to look for!

However, this is why it's so important not to take too much, and to leave lots for the birds and mammals. Never take the first that you find, because it might be the only one left, and never take more than half of what you find of a plant. You'll have a sense looking at a plant if it can take being foraged, or if it will be damaged by what you take.

Chickweed

Chickweed grows absolutely everywhere in most months of the year. It is perfect for making a winter salad, or for cooking as a substitute for spinach. It tastes similar to salad you might buy in the shops, and is a great way to get in your greens! Pick whole stems of the branch instead of just the small leaves, as the whole thing can be eaten.

Chickweed grows on the ground, so it's always a good idea to pick some off the path if you want to minimise the risk of eating dog wee! Make sure to watch out for similar looking plants like stiff, hairy, mousehair chickweed and petty spurge.

Crab Apples

Crab apples are much smaller than normal apples, and will taste sour if you eat them raw. They are also ripe much later on than normal apples and can be foraged in December!

However, they make a fantastic jam or jelly. You are less likely to find them in the city, but if you head out to the countryside you are much more likely to find them. Using the windfalls, as long as they haven't started to rot, is a good idea if the tree is quite tall!

Rosehips

Rosehips have normally been and gone by now, but with the milder autumn, I have definitely still seen them about. These fruits are bright red, and have more vitamin C than oranges do! You can make a tincture for easing colds from them, or a bright orange jam. Just make sure the fruit is still firm and doesn't collapse when you squeeze it, and that you have removed all the hairs and seeds from inside!

Sloes

Sloes are fruits from the blackthorn tree, similar to plums or damsons. They are the most bitter thing you will ever taste when they are raw, but make delicious sloe gin or jam! It is traditionally thought that they should be picked after the first frost.

And that is my guide to foraging in Winter –happy foraging everyone!

Dan

Sub-editors: Jenica Davis, Zahra Hanif

Samantha Seidu & Lizzie Yockney

Fashion & Beauty

Christmas colours to brighten your holiday

Castor Chan - Campus Sports Liason

Christmas is

The ultimate Christmas style guide

so many outfits, both casual and more dressed up. A personal favourite for casual winter attire is a black leather skirt, a roll neck jumper, tights, knee high boots and a classic black handbag. For extra warmth you could also chuck on a leather blazer or a fur jacket, and you’re good to go.

It’s that time of year again, the exciting festive season where one can never be over-dressed! ‘Tis the season to dress classy, sophisticated, and stylish, but also keep nice and toasty. Whether you’re unsure of what to wear for a Christmas shopping trip, a Christmas party, or even a boxing day walk with the family, I have got you covered. It’s time for glitter and sequins to come out to play, however you can never go wrong with the more understated, yet still timeless option of subtle metallics, suit sets and fur jackets, which are all perfect for casual or party attire.

When the Christmas work parties rock around, it can be a task to find the perfect balance between casual and fancy. Instantly making the outfit more glam but not too fancy, a pair of knee high boots are a fabulous solution to this problem.

season

Despite sequins and glitter seeming like the obvious choice for festive party attire, alternatively you could go for the more subtle yet eye-catching metallic option. This Rezek two-piece's fire-like orange tone is very apt for this time of year, and the corset neckline adds a feminine and classy touch. You could dress it up with a pair of slinky heels, or platforms and a little handbag. What’s also fabulous about this two piece is that it is available to rent, which will be music to every university student’s ears!

colour,

how to style these for all of your festive events

It’s that time of year again when we all want to be festive, and we break out those dark, mysterious winter colours. Are there ever any set palettes we should be wearing this Christmas season? No, but there are surely some staples that look timeless year after year. (But do feel free to roast my advice alongside your chestnuts!)

Red

Who can deny that red is the colour of Christmas? Well fun fact, the tradition of using red at the holidays came from the red and green holly boughs the Celtic used to put up in their homes during the winter solstice. (Aka, the idea of 'decking the halls’) With the amount of clothing and makeup out there, from Santa costumes to lipstick, there is surely some way that red will sneak its wayor down the chimney! - into your wardrobe. Personally, I think red lipstick is an absolute classic but it washes me out a little, so I would just pair a red sweater with black clothing pieces to make the colour pop.

Green

The counterpart to its complementary colour, the rest of Rudolph to her nose, green is a less garish, but no less festive, colour. There are so many shades of green you could go for, from emerald to olive. While I wouldn’t put much green on my face, it’s a really nice option for an elegant manicure! I think green also looks really nice in knit or satin, and I’d pair a green cami top under a blazer for a slightly more put-together look.

Champagne & Gold

Well, I’m hoping you won’t have any champagne problems this holiday season, but in regards to the colour? It’s a yes from me. Simple but luxurious, it’s an understated but no less pretty alternative. Gold will definitely find a place among your rings and necklaces, but also I’d do a sweep of glitter across the eyelids or as a highlight. One reason I love the NARS Orgasm is that it has a subtle gold shimmer that hits the light and is perfect for a holiday look.

With all that being said, this is a very vague and stereotypical guideline for Christmas colours. If you know me, you know that I will be wearing whatever it takes to keep me warm, whether or not it’s traditionally festive. So as long as you’re warm and comfortable in your looks, choose any colour you like! If blue fake Christmas trees exist, you deserve to wear what you want.

An absolute staple for this time of year is a pair of black or brown knee-high boots, heeled or flat, real leather or fake. Not only do they add a bit of warmth during these frosty months, but they also effortlessly glam up any outfit. Look to H&M for a more affordable pair, or Russell and Bromley have higher end pairs that may be more long-wearing. They’re incredibly classy, and can be paired with

To get in the festive spirit or kick off the new year to a sparkly start, you’ve got to bring out the sequins. Whether it’s a pair of sequined straight leg trousers paired with a little top and heels, or a sequined skirt, a blazer, or a dress, you cannot go wrong. Pair the sequin trousers with a matte top or blazer, and the contrast will create an aesthetically pleasing finish.

Sparkle and shine: the winter trends of 2022

Winter beauty trends to try out during the festive season!

Snow is falling but these trends are on the rise!

Glazed Donut Nails

Hailey Bieber’s infamous pearly manicure seems to have visited all of our socials, and just in time! These beautiful chrome nails can be created by using a neutral gel-based coat, to then top with a chrome powder. The result is a timeless, classy nail with a bit more of an It Girl vibe. Alternatively, opt for bolder colours such as red or gold for a festive look.

Winter is where you shouldn’t be afraid

a bit of colour

Bold Blush

Classic Red Lip

Old reliable! The red lip comes back every year without fail, and I’m not complaining. But don’t be fooled, there’s still a variety of shades within this. Whether you’re a maroon wearer, a burgundy, or you prefer a lighter scarlet, there’s a lipstick for you this winter. My favourite this season is Glossier's Generation G collection in shade 'Zip'. Use alongside a slightly darker lip liner and some clear gloss for the appearance of plump, pillowy lips to kiss

to add

Too much blush? Never. I think more than any other time of year, Winter is where you shouldn’t be afraid to add a bit of colour! Elevate any makeup look with some applied to the apples of your cheeks (and a little on your nose.) I find that Glossier’s liquid ‘Cloud Paint’ blushes have a nice pigment and are easy to apply. Darker shades like ‘Eve’ may be better for winter months, adding a soft feminine glow to your face.

‘Tis the season to dress classy, sophisticated, and stylish, but also keep nice and toasty

Olivia Gaskin

Stuck with what to wear this Christmas? We’ve got you covered with this festive style guide

the

for sparkle and plenty of

so here’s

Rebecca Wright

Image credit: Instagram @rezekstudio

credit: Instagram @abbeyclancy

Festive Fashion Shoot

THE COURIER

Photographed by James Turner Directed by Gabbi de Boer

Festive Fashion Shoot

Festive Fashion Shoot

Happy Holidays!

Festive Fashion Shoot

Fashion & Beauty

Christmas pyjamas:

Frankly, I’m surprised this is even a question. Call me crazy but there’s no feeling like throwing on a new pair of tartan pyjama bottoms and a matching top. Snowmen? Little robins? Reindeers? Baby mince pies? Sign me up. Not being a massive pyjama fan myself (my pyjamas every other night of the year usually consist of a Shawn Mendes t-shirt I’ve had since I was 14 and a pair of joggers that only reach a quarter way down my leg).

nice feeling to get matching pyjamas, my five housemates and I purchased some navy pyjamas last year with little snowmen and reindeers and you could still find us wearing them in the depths of summer just due to the pure nostalgia they give us – there’s definitely something about wearing the same pyjamas as a house that brings you closer, and If you never have I would recommend immediately finding some, banging The Holiday on and grabbing a hot chocolate with Baileys in... I promise it will cure your exam stress even just for a minute.

Christmas is the one time a year where I feel like I can go all out on the pyjamas. Especially in student houses where it feels like a Christmas elf dies every time the heating is allowed to come on, it’s vital we get some sort of warmth. There is also such a

I love the idea that even though we are all in 20’s it’s perfectly acceptable to be wearing a matching ensemble with pictures of polar bears wearing Christmas scarves, when other time in the year do you get given the excuse to do that?

This year I have my eye on the M & S Percy Pig pyjamas with the little Christmas hats on (Mum, that’s a hint x).

stylish than the norm. Their new colourways, including neutral tones of brown and sand, will add an extra element to your casual outfits, making your errand running look or matching gym wear set all the more Pinterest-worthy. Practical yet aesthetic, these are definitely a staple on my Christmas wish list.

Gisou Honey Infused Haircare Set

This set definitely takes the top spot of my wish

Fill your boots: Makeup & skincare stocking fillers

Sometimes, the Lynx Africa gift set just doesn't cut it, and with Christmas coming fast and prices rising, the premise of Secret Santa and stocking fillers can be daunting - so here is a small roundup of some makeup and skincare stocking fillers for under £5, £10 and some fancier ideas as well!

Some of the best stocking fillers are useful and practical - lip balms are likely to be used often, especially in the colder weather, so you can’t go wrong! Brands such as Burt’s Bees (currently £2.99), Carmex (£3.09) and Dr Pawpaw (£3.95) are all on offer at Superdrug, with the store's own brands being even cheaper. Superdrug also has some other good value gifts, with their candle sets and Nail varnish trios both under £5. Boots also have hand cream duos at £2.50 each, and Ted Baker body sprays at £5. K-Beauty sheet masks are also a good choice, with a range available online at stores such as Yesstyle. com, for only a few pounds per mask.

Can’t think of what to buy a co-worker for Secret Santa? Want to treat your bestie to a special gift? Or do you need some inspiration to send to Santa? From big spends to stocking fillers, this wish list contains all my Christmas must-haves for 2022!

Matching Pyjamas

Sleepwear sets are perfect for the winter months and definitely something that crops up on my Christmas list year after year. With so many different styles and colours, you can never have too many. This year, Primark are definitely winning on the Christmas pyjama front, as their collection of traditional matching gingham sets (yes, the ones you’ve seen all over TikTok) and stylish yet comfortable loungewear will make your Christmas evenings all the more cozy.

Charlotte Tilbury Glow Kit

After seeing Charlotte Tilbury’s award-winning liquid blush all over social media, this kit was immediately on my wish list. Containing two of their best Beauty Light Wands, this set of liquid blush and highlighter promises glowing cheekbones that last all day. Having read so many raving reviews, I can’t wait to try it!

Dior Lip Glow Oil

Nike Socks

As we all know, socks are a staple Christmas present. However, Nike’s classic Everyday Plus Cushioned Socks provide something a little more

In the under £10 range, higher-end sheet masks such as The Ordinary’s Vitamin C may be a good option - if you know the gift recipient well enough, picking out some other specific Ordinary or Inkey List products, such as niacinamide or salicylic acid, would be a nice treat. Permanent additions to someone’s collection such as new hair brushes, makeup brushes, sponges or even a lash curler may be appreciated, especially if they’ve been using the same one

For a fancier gift, perfume mini sets are a much safer way to buy someone a fragrance rather than a full-priced bottle. These can range from £15 all the way to the hundreds, though the Moschino mini collection is £20, Versace £27 and the Maison Margiela Replica set £33. There are also websites such as fragrancesamplesuk.com, which have the option to mix and match your own variety of small perfume samples for a few pounds each. This would allow for a more personal, meaningful and curated set. Going back to the practicality aspect, you may consider a makeup bag for someone to organise all their skincare and cosmetics - sustainable options

available on Etsy at a variety of price ranges, and may be more useful for someone than any of

There’s something about wearing the same pyjamas as a house that brings you closer

Having read so many raving reviews, I can’t wait to try it!

Sophie McMillan

Macy Russell

Christmas gift guide for travel enthusiasts

Alice Holmes - News sub-editor

It’s a great combination of nostalgia and organisation.

Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2022: What’s the one thing better than travelling around the world and exploring new places? It’s reading about travel and exploring new places! Especially when this comes as a beautiful hard back book with lots of beautiful photography.

Christmas is fast approaching, and as much as buying gifts for those around you can be exciting and fun, it can also be a stressful time. Everyone is extra busy around the festive season and finding time to find a thoughtful gift for loved-one’s is difficult. Here’s a list of great present ideas for the person in your life who loves to travel. Whether they love exploring cities on short breaks, enjoying long relaxing holidays in hot countries, camping in the English countryside or hiking up mountains – this list has a variety of different options from budget-friendly to slightly more expensive, that are sure to impress.

A travel journal:

This gift is the perfect idea for those who love to travel and will make planning and prepping for their next trip easy! This particular journal from Papier is not only designed beautifully, it has space to write travel wish lists, plan budgets, itineraries and packing lists. That’s not all! It also has pages dedicated to recording their travels, so they can write about their favourite places, add photos, and write about their memories and highlights.

The Lonely Planet best in travel 2022 book details a reflective view on travel throughout 2022, listing the top 10 countries, cities, and regions. It’s a must-have book for every enthusiastic traveller!

If you’re not sure about this book, Lonely Planet also have a variety of different travel books including train travel in Europe, ultimate UK travel list, epic hikes of the world and loads more. Have a look through their selection and see which is best suited as a gift!

Personalised travel art work:

Nothing shows you know what a person truly likes and wants as much as a personal, hand-made gift. This print on Etsy is perfect for anyone who loves to travel! Gifts based on nostalgia are hugely popular and thoughtful, and this gift will ensure the recipient remembers their travel experience.

You just add the recipients names, the place they’ve recently travelled too and some specific memories as you add it to your basket!

Alternatively, you could pick out a beautiful piece of art or print of the place they’ve travelled too so they can be reminded of good memories. Whistle Fish do beautiful prints of places in Cornwall for

Tis the ski-son...but not for me

Norman - Campus Comment sub-editor

inter paves the way for skiing season, but as someone who has been there, got the T-shirt (and the blisters), I won’t be

In February 2018 I went to Andorra on a school ski trip – and it was a lot. I don’t come from a family where ski trips are a regular getaway, or a school that casually does this sort of thing, so the majority of us on the trip had never skied before. Prior to leaving, several of us had lessons at a mock ski facility. You got certificates for each stage you got through, I was the only one not to get a stage on certificate – at this point I should have known the trip wouldn’t

go smoothly. It also wasn’t particularly smart of me to then not get any more lessons. Arriving to Andorra itself is rather interesting. We flew to Barcelona, then coached to Andorra. Scenic wise, it was pretty, and the views from the ski mountains were mesmerising. But the skiing part… not so much. My biggest nightmare are the ski shoes. The blisters, the aching in my ankles, I would walk on pavements of Lego for the rest of my life rather than put on another pair of ski boots. The actual skiing part itself is outrageously overrated. There were a few fun parts, jumps and going through tunnels, but 90% of time it felt like a 30 second wizz down a hill, 20-minute queue for the lift and 10-minute lift, then repeat. Now, on the better side those ski lifts were amazing. Seeing the entire mountain landscape from a little ride in the ski was beautiful. And at the top of the main ski path, the hot chocolate served there was on another level. If skiing was just the lifts and relaxing on mountain tops drinking hot chocolate

then maybe I wouldn’t mind it. I would never discourage anyone from going skiing, as long as a traveller is aware it’s not all fun and exciting; there is a lot of stop and starts. In truth, the only thing I came back from Andorra with was a suitcase of the ski resorts carton hot chocolate and ankles so bruised I could barely walk.

Noel in the North East

A look at all the best festive fun in and around Newcastle during the holiday

After weeks of festive themed socials and cosy movie nights in, Newcastle students now start to head home for the holiday period. However, plenty have chosen to celebrate Christmas in Newcastle and are faced with the all exciting question of how to spend it. Thankfully, the Northeast comes to life during the festive period, with plenty going on across the region that never fails to get people in the Christmas spirit! The holiday period is definitely the perfect opportunity to venture out into Northumberland

and explore what the Christmas magic it has to offer. The Winter Light Trail at Alnwick Garden in the beautiful market town of Alnwick has returned for Christmas 2022 for those tempted by a day browsing lovely local shops for gift inspiration followed by a wander through spectacular displays of sparkling lights. If one day in Northumberland isn’t quite enough, it’s also worth heading a little further North to Bamburgh Castle whose interior has been transformed into a cosy winter wonderland for Christmas!

Closer to home, there's the open-air ice rink by the Life Science Centre in Newcastle that guarantees festive fun, whether you gracefully glide across the ice or are the spitting image of Bambi! Newcastle Christmas markets, brimming with mulled wine and tasty, sweet treats, are also the perfect place for post-skating replenishment. No UK city has mastered Christmas markets quite

like Edinburgh, so alternatively, make the easy day trip from Newcastle to Scotland’s beautiful historic capital and get lost in its endless stalls of gifts, food, rides, and drinks galore.

December also means panto season, so if you fancy a weird and wonderful evening of entertainment, there’s no better place than the theatre! Favourites in the Northeast include The Empire in Sunderland, showing Aladdin throughout December and Theatre Royal in Newcastle, where they're putting a festive spin on the classic Cinderella. Finally, for those still deliberating over New Year’s Eve

celebrations, Newcastle is hosting a laser light spectacular, which for three nights over New Year will dramatically light up the skyline around the city’s famous Quayside. So, with markets, lights, and panto galore, students planning to stay in Newcastle over Christmas are most definitely spoilt for choice, never having to travel far to enjoy all the festive fun that the Northeast has to offer!

Sam

Image credit: Pixabay

Annie - Rose Edwards

Thankfully, the Northeast comes to life during the festive period

enthusiasts

‘The Holiday’ – travel like Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet in Shere

Rhys James - News sub-editor

Fan of the Christmas classic

'The Holiday'? Find out how to travel to the town where the main characters spent their holidays.

If you fancy experiencing the inside of a Christmas classic, then it’s time to head to Shere, Surrey. The rom-com

‘The Holiday’ (2006), now synonymous with the December month, was shot in a quintessentially English countryside village; only half an hour away from London and with a small population of less than 4,000.

‘

The Holiday’ starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, follows a house-swap between American Amanda Woods (Diaz) and British Writer Iris (Winslet) over the Christmas period. Throughout the film, romantic interests transpire to the beautifully contrasting backgrounds of snowy England and sunny California

So, what does the village of Shere actually have to offer? One of Shere’s best features has to be the architecture. The beautiful 12th-century St James Church is a wonderful place to simply admire the Christmas magic of Shere, or if you wish to actually attend a service at the Church then there are multiple communions and carol

services throughout December. The village also offers to visitors a tearoom, a few pubs: White Horse, The Bray or The Dabbling Duck, and a small museum. The Shere museum has free access to all and will guide you around the surprisingly interesting pre-Domesday village of Shere. Oh… and Shere offers some of the most idyllic looking public toilets that you may come across in England.

While you may not run into the lovely-looking Jude Law in Shere and start a complicated ‘situationship’, you are guaranteed to get into the Christmas spirit amongst the quaint buildings, have a few pints at the local pubs, and learn more about the village at the museum. All in all, a lovely daytrip to take.

Best UK Christmas markets

Tom Barlow - Sports sub-editor

Christmas markets are one area where the UK are held seemingly to the same standards as Europe, but where is the best city to go to?

People from far and wide travel to Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park, but videos and comments have flooded social media over the astounding costs.

To physically be on site, an adult will have to pay just shy of £10. Rides will cost upwards of £5, with food and drink being on the more expensive side too, even by London standards.

Alternatives across the country have always fallen at the door of Manchester and Edinburgh, striding closer to the more traditional Christmas markets than that of Winter Wonderland.

Although you’ll find bratwurst at any market you go to, a Bailey’s hot chocolate, Nutella waffles

or even just a cold pint of beer, the vibe, cost, atmosphere and experience has always been just that bit better in Manchester in years gone by. Videos have however, gone viral of construction work surrounding the market and detracting from the Christmassy feel and perhaps explaining the extra influx of people attending the York Christmas market, where room for movement has been at a premium. A look more locally wouldn’t go amiss though, as the Newcastle Christmas market has expanded since last year. A brand-new Alpine styled bar called “Moosenwirt” has certainly caught people’s attention, serving beers, cocktails and mulled wine. A great part of Christmas markets is the wide variety of food coming from all different types of cultures, for people to share in one space and Newcastle

has certainly done this well.

Whatever city you find yourself in, there is always a guarantee of good food on offer and special Christmas pieces to help tick off family Christmas presents.

Where you go, solely depends on if you want to dedicate your day to the market, or just have a quick mooch.

Hallstatt has been the star atop my travel bucket list for some time, and for good reason! A true Christmas wonderland, this postcard town in Austria will delight and excite you this holiday season.

As a notoriously quaint and tranquil destination, Hallstatt is nestled aside a vast lake and towered over by snow-smothered alps. This glorious conjunction of charming alpine houses and white mountains is what makes the town truly original, and the ‘pearl of Austria’. Its majestic landscape is just as pretty in summer, but there’s something about the enchanting energy of this town that can entice even the most devout sun-lover to find joy in the colder months. Plus, a benefit of travelling here during the winter is that tourism is way down,

adding to the feeling that it really is just you and nature in this blissful winter paradise. And, most importantly, it’s way cheaper.

Hallstatt is more than just a pretty picture. It is home to the oldest salt mine in the world, which might not sound that exciting, but give it a chance! Salt mines are notoriously beautiful. Think strange, rippling beauty shimmering across tunnel walls. With over 7000 years of history to find, you can take the funicular railway to the top of the mountain for a tour of the glittering mines.

Alternatively, take a trip to the Hallstatt skywalk. 838 metres up the mountain is a lookout platform named ‘World Heritage View’, from which you can gaze over for a panoramic view of the landscape. The surrounding region, UNESCO-listed, also boasts thrilling winter sports. Stroll around Hallstatt’s historic old town with a hot chocolate in hand, visit the Christmas tree in Marktplatz, see

Image credits Pixabay

Image credits @scienceatlife on Instagram

Image credits: Pixabay

Rebecca Wright

Train image credit: Pixabay

Tree image credit: @jetsetlyss on Instagram

Image credit IMDB

The Christmas markets in Newcastle city centre are running up to the 23 December, open from 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, and from 10 am to 5pm on Sundays.

This year the markets have expanded with a brand-new Alpen style bar called Moosenwirt and an added section in Old Eldon Square, where you can find Laura’s Confectionary. But the majority of food and drink can be found at Monument. Most of the stalls are run by local sellers, such as Meat:Stack, with their American style cheeseburgers, or head to Hatch 76 for loaded duck fries and wraps. There are also some traders that you may recognise from Grainger Market.

For example, Redheads’ mac and cheese have a stall, as do Acropolis which do great Greek food including gyros and spanakopita. I can personally recommend the halloumi wrap.

Geordie Bangers are selling their handcrafted sausages, where my girlfriend got the loaded Banger dog and described it as the best sausage she’s ever had. Alternatively, you can also find the German specialities of bratwurst and currywurst at the Grill Tower. For another Christmas classic, you can also get hot chocolate with Baileys or brandy from the Cadburys stall, or go to the North Shore Coffee Co. stall for Nutella or Biscoff ones. There is, of course, other festive favourites

presents for any foodies in your life. You can find local beers from Firebrick Brewery and infused liqueurs from Riverside Craft Spirits, while the north east’s top cheesemonger Matthew’s Cheese Specialists have a great range of cheeses to choose from, including fruity, smoked and pickle

flavours. You could even pair them with a spicy chutney or piccalilli from Calder’s Kitchen. If that is not enough, there will be even more food and drink at the Jesmond Food Market Christmas special on Saturday 17th at the Armstrong Bridge at Jesmond Dene. Additionally, every Sunday, including during the run up to Christmas, the Quayside is host to its much-loved market, with yet more local traders and street food!

Flapjack is a notoriously simple sweet treat, and this recipe is no different. However, with some festive spice, it can be a sophisticated tasty treat!

Ingredients for 16 bite-sized pieces (adjust accordingly!):

350 g fine rolled porridge oats

80 g plain flour

200 g dairy free butter

175 g golden syrup

200 g soft brown sugar

100 g mixed nuts roughly chopped

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 160 °C, and line a square cake tin with baking paper.

2. Mix together the oats, flour, cinnamon, nuts, fruit, and seeds in a large bowl.

3. Place the vegan butter, golden syrup, and brown sugar in a pan over a low heat. Heat, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth

4. Pour the mixture into the oats and stir until thoroughly combined.

5. Tip the mixture into the tin, spreading it out level and press down firmly until compact.

6. Bake for 25-35 minutes until set and golden (they will still be a little soft to the touch and will firm up a lot as they cool).

7. Leave to cool for 10 minutes then cut into slices while still in the tin. Leave to cool completely then turn out and re-slice.

8. Enjoy! You can store these

Party season is back, and this year it’s filled with more mince pies and mulled wine than ever. If you’re stuck with how to host the perfect Christmas party, then look no further. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you host the party of the season. Plan ahead: After a couple of years indoors, yours won't be the only invite on everyone’s agenda. Pick a date, let your mates know and get planning. And don’t forget, the more the merrier - it is

Keep it classic: Depending on your music taste, the festive period may or may not be the most wonderful time of the year. For hosts at least, you can’t go wrong with sticking a playlist on and letting your guests wail the chorus of All I want for Christmas is you at the top of their lungs. Spotify’s Christmas Hits is filled with festive gems, or you can opt for something a little more mellow with their Christmas Classics playlist.

Ciara Rivers

Rebecca Wright

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A love letter to the humble Yorkshire pud

Abigail Roch -Food & Drink sub-editor

They’re soft, they’re light, they’re fluffy – they’re just, wonderful. Anything made of dough, batter or pastry makes my heart skip a beat and the adrenaline rush to my head. This obsession all started when my grandma would make Yorkshire puddings for Sunday lunch. Although I was only 9 years old, I had (and still have) the appetite of a horse and I'd stuff myself with 4 of them - if I could get away with it…

As the years go by and maturity develops, one of the highlights of the festive period is the much-anticipated Christmas lunch.

cranberry sauce and most importantly – Yorkshire puddings! (However, according to tradition, these were first incorporated into the typical Sunday roast beef).

The rich gravy poured over the plate makes it gently drip over the puddings. Once you’ve dug into them, the sensations felt inside as your mouth tastes the batter warmed up by the gravy are indescribable.

Whilst some family members will be complimenting the cook, others will just indulge in their food in complete silence, savouring every bite. Both adult- and children-friendly, Yorkshire puddings are bound to put a smile on many faces during this festive season.

Rate it or hate it... Greggs Festive Bake

Arthur Ferridge -Sports sub-editor

The first semester has been a slog. We’re getting down to the tail end of the year, assessments are piling up, and it’s getting dark at 3 in the afternoon. You’d be forgiven for thinking there is very little to be looking forward to at the minute besides submitting that mountain of work. But all hope is not lost! It is December in Newcastle, and that can only mean one thing: the Greggs Festive Bake has returned to cure your seasonal depression. What better way to get yourself ready for the holidays than enjoying a roast dinner wrapped in puff pastry? It almost sounds too good to be true.

Controversially, I had never actually tried a festive bake before this week, and I had high hopes. I had been told for years that the Festive Bake was a high point of the Christmas season, the best thing Greggs had to offer. The bar was set high, but would the Festive Bake deliver?

things. I don’t believe I came across any bacon, and the presence of any stuffing was definitely up for debate. Despite these shortcomings, I would not say that this was a bad product. If I’m honest, I really enjoyed it and would probably go back for another. I thought the seasoned pastry was a nice touch, and the filling reminded me of a chicken bake, a mainstay in my Greggs lunch rotation. All things considered, I can’t say whether I rate or hate the Festive Bake. I certainly don’t hate it, but I can’t quite bring myself to go so far as to say I rate it either. It was just fine, neither here nor there. It faced a mammoth challenge living up to the hype and couldn’t quite deliver. While it’s a nice reminder of the impending festive season, I won’t miss it

For centuries now, the classic British Christmas lunch has mainly consisted of turkey, gravy, pigs in blankets, stuffing, vegetables, roast potatoes,

The boozy battle of Ballycastle vs. Baileys

Sophie McMillan -NUTV Station Manager

Ballycastle, Aldi’s own version of Baileys, has an original Irish cream flavour, as well as a range of festive editions, two of which are new this year. These festive treats are priced at a brilliant £7.49 for a full 70cl bottle!

'Chocolate clementine' and 'white chocolate' were available in previous years, the two new editions for this Christmas are 'caramel and hazelnut,' along with 'espresso martini.' I got a hold of the festive flavours for some of our writers and editors to try - unfortunately, I could not get the caramel and hazelnut flavour, as it appears to have gone viral for tasting like 'The Purple One' from the Quality Street box. Someone who managed to find it in a different area told me “it's so yummy I could die!” and confirmed the resemblance to the Purple Quality Street.

Out of the three we tested, 'white chocolate' definitely reigned overall, with comparisons made to cake batter, vanilla milkshakes and mini-milk ice cream - also mentioned, was how drinkable it was, with not a lot of alcohol taste present.

Most controversial went to 'chocolate clementine,' with some really enjoying it and

It is hard to describe the emotion that came with the first bite of the Bake. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I was disappointed, but I was certainly underwhelmed. Greggs' website promises that the Festive Bake contains “All the best bits of Christmas dinner,” from chicken and bacon to cranberry sauce and stuffing, and, if I’m honest, I couldn’t taste half of those

The UK's most loved chcolate tubs - ranked

Jenica Davis -Lifestyle sub-editor

An (unofficial) ranking of the UK's most-loved chocolate boxes...

You may have noticed those colourful tubs starting to pile up in your household, which can only mean one thing – the festive season is here!

With Christmas comes a whole lot of chocolate, and from Celebrations, to Heroes, to Quality Streets, to Roses, there is definitely quite the selection. Whilst some chocolates are universally agreed as classics, others are not given the same treatment. I know I would happily never eat a Dinky Decker or Roses’ Caramel Bite again. For me, Quality Streets and Heroes do remain superior.

Being a fan of nuts, I will never not enjoy The Purple One in Quality Streets, and who can say no to a creme egg from a Heroes tub? Well, I know quite a few people who would already disagree with me there – wait till they find out I’m a bounty lover too!

The beauty of this chocolate controversy is that there really is something for everyone, so either way, the tub will always be empty. Without further ado, let’s get even more controversial, with my personal (and correct if I do say so myself) tier list rankings of the chocolates!

Absolutely sleigh: Celebrations Malteser’s Teaser Galaxy

Quality Streets The Purple One Orange Creme

Roses Hazel in Caramel Hazel Whirl

Jingle bell stock-ing filler: Celebrations Bounty Snickers Heroes Wispa Dairy Milk Caramel Roses Golden Barrel Strawberry Dream

Ho-ho-NO: Quality Streets Toffee Penny Toffee Finger On that note, happy

To add a touch of je-ne-saisquoi to your festive meal

Yorkshire puddings are bound to put a smile on many faces during this festive season

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Does this budget friendly Irish Cream live up to its branded counterpart?

Comparisons were made to cake batter, vanilla milkshakes, and ice cream

Step (back) into Christmas: why the oldies are still goldies!

been going through this with the song becoming the number 1 single last Christmas for the first time, something it didn’t do when it was originally released. This is the beginning of a new classic which is still over 25 years old.

With Christmas comes movies, music and decorations that we only allow this time of year, and shun in the summer months as ‘bad luck’, but why is it that we tend to stick to the old classics even when it becomes acceptable to partake in them again?

One simple answer is repetition, the reason we’re drawn towards all the ‘old classics’ is because we’ve heard them 100 times every Christmas since we were born, we all know the words and we come to expect them when Christmas rolls around. This is one of the reasons traditional Christmas carols persist in popularity even though hymns and other religious music haven’t been popular for decades.

Darren Sproston, professor of music at the University of Chester, argues that “Ultimately, there’s no reason why an original track can’t become a Christmas classic in the future. All it needs to do is find itself getting played every year, and that takes time. A Christmas song needs years in order for it to percolate and enter that festive canon.”

Some classics like Mariah Carey's ‘All I want for Christmas is you’, released in 1994, have recently

Michael Bublé breaks this trend with his status as a Christmas icon despite his Christmas album only being released in 2011, however, this cannot be completely surprising as Bublé brands himself in a nostalgic light, the thing we look for at Christmas.

Alexandra Lamont, lecturer of music psychology at Keele University comments “Christmas pop songs are all about nostalgia – think about 'White Christmas', which is the biggest selling song of all time… All the lyrics are about nostalgia and going back to Christmases in the past.”

because we inherit the musical taste of our parents when it comes to Christmas music, says Carr, “We pass these records on to our kids, we listen to them, and consequently these records seem to be having this cyclic impact on generations.”

McNally - Deputy Editor

Twenty-two-year-old Lizzie Esau attends lectures so she can have word-perfect footnotes, breeze through tutorial questions, and hand in her dissertation proposal.

What her tutors wouldn’t realise is the extent to which they’ve inspired her latest songwriting and grounded her lyricism.

The touring musician, and concurrent final year Newcastle architecture student, has one internet tab open with her 8000-word

Furthermore, decades-old Christmas songs persist because of nostalgia, “Many of us, regardless of our generation, listen to Christmas music that tends to have come through from the early seventies,” says Paul Carr, professor in popular music analysis at the University of South Wales. This is

The reason we listen to the same Christmas clas sics is the same reason they become classics, we share them with each other, we all learn the words from a young age, and we pass them on to those who want to share them with us. It’s, simply, all part of having a wonderful Christmas time.

yric of t he Week:

ever since her band formed and she gained a manager in 2019.

With seven singles behind her, and an EP on the way, the North East based artist takes inspiration from everything that surrounds her. From student binge drinking (a prominent theme in her recent single ‘Bleak Sublime’) to the trials and tribulations of mental health, and even the pre-reading for her university architecture classes.

Esau can transport listeners into whatever world she decides to tap into, even writing songs that are about “absolutely nothing” according to the budding artist.

This fine balance between weighted and weightlessness is at her artistic core. “I want the music to be danceable, or to make you feel good, with some more hard-hitting things in there too”.

Esau’s reflection on lived experiences, and creative take on whatever she’s exposed to, has never been more apparent than in her latest single: ‘Stay on the Phone’, where Esau tackles the fear and danger felt when walking home alone.

November 11 witnessed the single’s release, a song kickstarted and guided by her university architecture lecture on urban planning and the fact that the streets we walk day and night were certainly not designed with safety in mind.

“Even yesterday I was walking to my car, and called my Mum,” the artist said, reeling off the countless times each of her family members have told her how to stay safe when travelling home

Phone calls, modest clothing, befriending security cameras. For the up-and-coming artist, none of this makes the cut.

“Why are we analysing that? […] Why was this the conversation rather than how not to be a creep,” Esau said with interlaced hands and undeterred gesticulation; a powerful body language echoing her pursuit of transparency on the topic.

“I like being political [… but] I don’t want to be

a politician,” Esau stressed.

This has been true since her May 2022 release of ‘The Enemy’. A song that cast Esau in a fresh light from her previous lyrical musings, pushing her to discuss heavier topics like grappling with social pariahdom, aligning some of Esau’s former frivolity with her comparatively steely guitar licks.

Lyrics like “hypocritical barely analytical excuse of giving us a warning,” demonstrate Esau’s distinguished ability to make the unthinkable thinkable again — manoeuvring the static lip service that can surround such horrific acts of violence into a poignant three-minute message that calls listeners to action.

‘Stay on the Phone’ proves just how much the London-born, Ryton-raised, musician embellishes the mundane, turning PowerPoint slides and academic instruction into a formative listening experience for her fans.

‘It’s like rock but it’s got a bit of pop, it’s like pop bop rock’

In spite of clear inspiration from renowned indie artists like Wolf Alice and Beabadoobee, the singer likes to remain“as uninfluenced as possible”.

Esau’s sound is distinct in a whole different way, with herself and her band crafting a whole new self-titled denomination in music: bop rock.

This nomenclature perfectly summarises the fine line of Esau’s musical stylings. A middle ground between her floor-filling harmonies and incandescent percussive and vocal accents, alongside opaque screens of emboldened drums and walls of gas-fired guitars.

“I would never finish a song, or keep working on one, if there wasn’t a part of me in it” Esau said, nurturing everything she writes and sings down to its syllable with a depth that leaves your chin at a water-bound height. Audiences can feel this throughout Esau’s music, the sculpted lines and deadpan expression of ‘Shade of Green’ is a testament to this, with lyrics like: “It’s kind of half expected / From mind that's so self-neglected / To fixate on how it would be to live in a body that you

see as more perfected”.

Singles like ‘What If I Just Kept Driving’ feel otherworldly with the amount the frontwoman invests into coating and re-coating her salted vocals and bibliographic sounds. “I always want it to have those layers that aren’t just in your face, like ethereal layers with the harmonies and the interesting sounds” Esau said.

The artist’s iPhone ‘Notes’ app is filled to bursting with hundreds of scattered lyrics, ideas and voice notes that fraternise with one another until everything falls into place. This stripped back process is something Esau has embraced, never resented, echoing it (though somewhat unintentionally due to monetary reasons) through the ‘live’ feel of her production, with first-take recordings and minimal overdubs and edits actually elevating and energising her work.

“It’s always the ones that don't take as long that I like the most,” Esau admits as any song that she puts on the shelf for over a few weeks rarely makes it into a fleshed-out demo.

Despite the clear-cut nature of Esau’s songwriting in a practical sense, it can simultaneously be an emotional odyssey. In Esau’s eyes, making demos is another way of baring your soul, “it’s quite private for me, especially at the start” the artist commented as her formative work is for her eyes only.

Her music is also healing and allows the artist to come to terms with things through this unique form of therapy — “I don’t know how else people deal with things” Esau confided.

Stereotypically the artist figures out the music loop that fits and just goes with it, letting the lyrics flow out of her. Rarely does it happen the other way round with pre-made lyrics, but song ‘Bleak Sublime’ is a glaring outlier to this as the words “just rolled out” Esau said.

‘I want to be memorable’

Read the rest of the interview online!

Sophie

Merry Christmas your arse I pray God it's our last

The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl, Fairytale of New York

One of our writers questions why we always go back to the classics at Christmas...

Poppy Bedford

A Christmas song needs years in order for it to percolate and enter that festive canon

Image credit: Pixabay

Lizzie Esau: the architecture student who builds a different type of bridge!

Best albums of 2022

After a year that involved the Lionesses bringing it home, the Queen's death, and coming 2nd in Eurovision, 2022 has been a crazy year. But what are some of our writers' favourite albums of the year?

Fear of the Dawn by Jack

Jack White has made a reputation as one of the most ambitious and zanily experimental artists in rock for the past decade.

His departure from his White Stripes days led to quite the opposite of him basking in his past glory and settling down, instead choosing to sample every possible colour from the musical palette with each solo album and each getting as consistently crazy. Following the funky and electronic slap of 2018’s Boarding House Reach, Fear Of The Dawn shows White going harder than ever with skull-rattling riffs and an All-Cream-No-Oreo sugar rush of genre bending.

Songs like 'The White Raven' and 'What’s The Trick?' are buzzing powerhouses akin to Captain Beefheart highlights doing powerlifts. 'Into The Twilight' combines shrill backing vocals and keys with contrastingly heavy drums and riffs that really shouldn’t work from any other artist. But it’s 'Hi-De-Ho' that is the album’s crown jewel of wonderful bizarreness, with an eerie Cab Calloway sample, illegally hard bass and complete 180 flip into hip hop with Q-Tip.

Fear Of The Dawn is my album of 2022 out of its unparalleled meshing of the rock genre into twisted and wonderful new shapes simply because Mr White can.

- Music Sub-editor

The world got just that little better

Being Funny in a Foreign Language by The 1975

On the 14th October 2022, The 1975 released their fifth studio album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language. It's silly and profound and I absolutely love it.

The album conveys this overwhelming sense of yearning, while simultaneously harbouring some of the most questionable lyrics you'll hear - "think I've got a boner but I can't really tell"? - the fact that they can somehow pull this off is an ode to the band's sheer musical genius.

It's their shortest album yet, at 43 minutes long, yet it still manages to cement itself as their best work to date, by taking on this new, streamlined approach to their artistic vision, which is all about love, to which Matty Healy has to say: "don't fuck it, you muppet!".

This isn't even to mention my new favourite song ever, 'About You'. Oh my god, is it devastating. Anyone who also went through a breakup this year can likely rival me in the amount I've cried to the words "something about you, that now, I can't remember...". It's as beautiful as it is haunting, and well deserving of its 28 million+ Spotify streams.

'Being Funny in a Foreign Language' - it's sincere, absurd and heartfelt, and it's my top album of 2022.

Christina Driver - Music Sub-editor

From Martha to MUNA, Harry to Healy, 2022 has been littered with personal musical highlights. I was captivated by Lizzy McAlpine and entranced by Florence + The Machine, but there was only one who had me in a complete and utter chokehold.

The winner, unsurprisingly, was Taylor Swift’s Midnights, a musical autobiography of “13 sleepless nights throughout [her] life”.

Although last year saw two re-records, Midnights is Swift’s first complete body of new work since the surprise releases of 2020’s indie-folk duo folklore and evermore

Midnights is simultaneously personal and impersonal – its delicately confessional yet metaphorical approach to “a journey through terrors and sweet dreams” allows Swift to delve into the self-intrusive darkness of midnight, all while keeping an arm’s length from her listeners. The best artists are generally the scrupulously selfaware, and Swift is no different.

Encompassing influences from across her past repertoire, Midnights could well be Swift’s most

sonically diverse material yet. Synth-pop beats reminiscent of 2014’s 1989 meld with cryptic lyrical narratives strikingly similar in style to the poeticism of folk/more. Dreamlike sentiments allude to Lover (2019), while the appearance of more vengeful themes would not be out of place on 2017’s reputation. It is an amalgamation of each and every version of herself Swift has presented us with in a cleverly crafted and multi-faceted offering.

And Midnights only shines brighter in its 3am edition, where 7 additional tracks continue the precedent set by the “magic thirteen”.

While it would be far too bold to say it’s her best album yet – Swifties love all their children equally, and it is not without its weaker moments – Midnights is certainly a worthy addition to an already remarkable back-catalogue.

Just as the 13th track declares, Swift continues to prove that she truly is a mastermind.

disappoint with a ten-song collection of some of the best songs to be released this year.

Fontaines D.C. have always been utterly unique across their whole discography, as this album cements their everchanging techniques whilst sticking true to their own identity outside of their home turf. Fontaines ensure that we won’t forget their Irish roots as Skinty Fia explores their dissatisfaction that comes with being Irish in England. A colourful alloy of heart wrenching love songs and political passion, for me, this album covers all grounds. Even in the epitome of a love song (because you can’t argue with a song called ‘I Love You’) we are faced with political spite - ‘every young man wants to die’. This song is particularly interesting as its subject is not a person, but instead a country, seeking out the different types of love we can feel.

Lead singer Grian sings, chants, and drones out his lyrics which are as interchangeably extravagant as they are callous. It translates into powerful contemporary poetry that not all musicians are capable of – and this poetry is only enhanced by their menacing guitars and forceful drums.

Undeniably fierce and just as menacing, Skinty Fia is by far one of the most exciting albums to have been brought into the light this year. Bring on album 4.

CRASH seems a fitting name for Charli XCX’s fifth studio album, given its momentous impact within this year’s pop catalogue. A decade of producing bangers, from mainstream to experimental, has established Charli as a master of her craft. And yet, it seems as though she arrived at a new peak this year. Our first taste of the album arrived in early September of last year. The punchy production and breathy, pre-chorus falsettos of ‘Good Ones’ introduced the exaggerated popstar persona that would prevail across each track on CRASH. Unsurprisingly, Charli delivers a fresh sound, blending classic pop customs with futuristic risks. Take ‘New Shapes’ as a prime example: that avant-garde, synth arrangement simply shouldn’t work as well as it does.

The album’s third single, ‘Beg For You’, was notably bound to be a smash with the ultimate sample of September’s ‘Cry For You’. Guest appearances from names like Rina Sawayama and Caroline Polachek equally promise an electrifying listen. Nonetheless, it is not exactly like Charli couldn’t have pulled off a completely solo feat, as proven by anthems too stubborn to leave your head, such as ‘Lightning’.

I think I speak for all dancefloor-fillers and pure-pop-lovers when I thank Charli for her contribution to our 2022 playlists. Miss XCX certainly kept us fed.

Yet another sonic reinvention from the consummate pro.

Beyoncé’s most recent album, Renaissance, is as sharp, suave, and sexy as we have come to expect from her work. However, never one to rest on her laurels, Beyoncé’s desire to keep pushing her musicianship, image, and artistic vision remains clear to see – or rather, to hear.

Renaissance, as the title suggests, signifies a rebirth. It marks yet another musical renewal in Beyoncé’s career, drawing a sharp contrast to her previous solo album, Lemonade (2016). It also, though, reflects the contemporary spins put on 1970s disco, 1980s dance, and 1990s house that constitute the album’s core motifs.

But perhaps most importantly, Renaissance is a love letter to the queer community. It is dedicated to Beyoncé’s Uncle Jonny, who died of an AIDS-related illness over 20 years ago. His influence on a young Beyoncé is spotlighted in both the lyrics (“Uncle Jonny made my dress / That cheap spandex / She looks a mess”, on ‘Heated’) and in her fresh adaptation of the classic house music that he so loved.

I imagine that Renaissance will be an album that most of you will have heard of. But if you haven’t yet taken the time to listen to, I strongly suggest hitting play, turning the volume up as far as your living situation will allow, and, as Queen Bey commands, “Release the love, forget the rest”.

Skinty Fia by Fontaines D.C.

Midnights by Taylor Swift

White

CRASH by Charli XCX

Lucy Bower

Renaissance by Beyoncé

Image credit: Facebook

Rowan

George Neal

Dan Finch

Zahra Hanif - Lifestyle Sub-editor

Martha Lilli Probert

Image credit: Facebook

Image credit: Facebook

Image credit: Facebook

Image credit: Pixabay

Our favourite festive franchises

Familiar favourites, one-off specials, and hidden gems – what to watch on the small screen this Christmas

This year’s festive programming brings treats-a-plenty to enjoy whilst in a post-Christmas dinner food coma. The BBC are offering up another year of Christmas specials of Call The Midwife, Strictly Come Dancing, and EastEnders, while Channel Four will be showing a festive edition of The Great British Bake Off.

This Christmas will be particularly enjoyable for comedy fans, with a wide range of specials designed to tickle every kind of funny bone. Bad Education makes its return after eight years away from our screens, alongside festive versions of panel

shows QI and Would I Lie To You Perhaps the most wholesome – and underrated – show on television, Detectorists, will also return to our screens this month with a feature-length special, as will the heart-warming ensemble comedy Ghosts. For those with a darker sense of humour, even at Christmas time, the twisted anthology series Inside No. 9 is set to release new episode for the season entitled ‘The Bones of St. Nicholas’.

Two new animated specials are also set to air, both on BBC One. The Boy, The Mole,

Horse, an adaptation of the book of the same name by Charlie Mackesy which was named as Waterstones’ Book of the Year in 2019, will air on Christmas Day. Following the success of previous adaptations of books by children’s author Julia Donaldson, including 'The Gruffalo' and 'Stick Man', BBC One will also be airing an animated version of her book, The Smeds and The Smoos, featuring the voices of Bill Bailey and Rob Brydon. Both are sure to be fun for all the family (even if there aren’t actually any little ones watching!).

Other festive features worth catching include Mark Gatiss’ adaptation of M.R. James’ short story 'Count Magnus'; the ever-delightful partnership of Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse in a Christmas edition of Gone Fishing; the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, a tradition dating back almost 200 years, lead this year by Professor Dame Sue Black; and Channel Four’s 2022: The Year From Space, a documentary covering many of the year’s major events through satellite images.

Preview: Emily in Paris, Series 3

Amana Khan - News sub-editor

An un-christmassy watch to cosy up to this winter

It may be the festive season, but sometimes a cheesy comfort show is all anyone needs. And with the new season of Emily in Paris on its way, a comfort show is what we will be getting on the 21st of December.

The trailer for season 3 of Paris was recently released and it has left me wanting more. Last season we were left wondering where Emily’s future lied regarding her work life, and more importantly so, her love life.

The trailer gives so much away, but at the same time nothing at all. As always, Emily seems to have many difficult decisions at hand ranging from where she decided to work, whether she stays in Paris, and whether she chooses Gabriel (who we are all rooting for) or Alfie.

However, love and work aren’t the only things Emily is in for, with the trailer showing that she is guaranteed some much needed

TLC this season.

All this does is leave me with so many unanswered questions as to who she picks, leaving me in anticipation for when the season finally comes out. There is no doubt that I will be binge watching this in a day as a result of this trailer.

The Santa Clauses: Tim Allen finally returns as the main man of Christmas

Jessica Mckeown - Film sub-editor

Since 1994, Tim Allen has appeared on our screens as the white-bearded icon but now he is back and better than ever!

When you think depictions of Santa Claus in film, who do you think of?

I've always thought of Tim Allen as Scott Calvin or Santa Claus in The Santa Clause and its sequels. It has become a yearly tradition for my sister and I to watch The Santa Clause trilogy and yet we always fail to make it to the third film. I was delighted to hear that Disney was doing a mini-series but four out of six episodes in, does it recreate my childhood or is it a blatant money-grab?

If you (like me) need a little reminder of the franchise so far, the first film follows Scott Calvin as he grapples with his new role as Santa Claus after he accidentally startled the former one off his roof.

The second film introduces 'the Mrs Clause' which requires Scott to find a wife quickly, ending up marrying headteacher Carol from his son Charlie's school. The third film introduces Jack Frost who takes over the North Pole and the

role as Santa using 'the Escape Clause'. It's not really a surprise then that they introduced another clause to create the plot of this mini-series - the 'Secessus Clause' - which allows a dissatisfied Scott to retire as Santa.

The audience is quickly reacquainted with the Claus family we met previously - Scott, Carol and Buddy, who was the baby at the end of the third film and whose name is likely a reference to Elf (2003). A younger daughter Sandra (clearly a feminine spin on Santa) is also introduced, played by Tim Allen's real-life daughter. But where is Charlie, Scott's first son? Fear not, we reunite with a grown-up Charlie in the second episode who has a family of his own and, much to Scott's disappointment, does not want the role of Santa to become a family business.

A major issue facing the franchise is the child actors playing the immortal elves inevitably growing up. The series therefore has to bring in a new generation of elves and make them as memorable as Bernard, the Head Elf from the first two films and who is confirmed to be returning in the series by his actor David Krumholtz. We are introduced to Noel, Santa's self-appointed best friend, and his wife Betty, the new Head Elf.

For me, both Noel and Betty have been fleshed out enough with backstory in personality in such a brief time that I feel like I will remember them.

mysterious figure at the end of episode four is (totally Bernard). The Santa Clauses is available on streaming on Disney Plus.

The Claus family storyline is intercut with wannabe tech mogul Simon Chowski and his daughter Grace, drawing parallels from Scott and Charlie in the original film. It comes to no surprise then when Simon is lined up to be the Santa. However, as we only have two episodes remaining and lack a Jack Frost or Toy Santa type of antagonist, I think it's clear that Simon's misguided Jeff Bezos like ambitions make him an accidental antagonist who will most likely be redeemed through his love for his daughter.

A revival of 'The Santa Clause' franchise was an unexpected one but I'm finding that it works well as a miniseries. It's great that it introduces the franchise to a new younger generation and is the perfect family watch for the holiday season. I look forward to seeing the final two episodes, and who the

Martha Lilli Probert

It's great that it introduces the franchise to a new younger generation

A revival of 'The Santa Clause' franchise was an unexpected one

Image credit: IMDB, Pixabay

Image credit: IMDB, Twitter, @BritComSociety, Pixabay

Image credit: IMDB, Pixabay

The Gotham Awards 2022: Winners

Jessica McKeown - Film Sub-Editor

On Monday 28 November, the 32nd annual Gotham Awards was held in New York. It's likely that many readers are not aware of these particular awards, particularly as it occurs before the main awards season, but it celebrates films with budgets under $35 million. In a move we are beginning to see be considered in the other award ceremonies, the Gotham Awards have removed gendered performance categories so there is no 'Best Actor' or 'Best Actress'. They opt instead for one list of ten performers from all genders. Let's see which films (and series) won!

Best Feature - Everything Everywhere All at Once Is it any surprise that this A24 film won? The better of this year's multiverse films (sorry Doctor Strange), Everything Everywhere All at Once instantly became a hit with audiences and critics alike. Starring Michelle Yeoh, the film is one best going in blind. The film is currently available on Prime Video.

Best Documentary Feature - All That Breathes This Hindi language documentary centres on two brothers who devote their time to protecting Black Kite birds amid air pollution. The documentary screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival where it won two documentary awards.

Best International Feature - Happening Up against The Banshees of Inisherin and Decision to Leave, Happening debuted at the 78th Venice International Film Festival. Based on Annie Ernaux's novel of the same name, Happening deals with pregnancy and issues of abortion in 1963.

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director AwardCharlotte Wells for Aftersun

Another A24 wins an award, this time for breakthrough director Charlotte Wells for Aftersun, starring Normal People's Paul Mescal. Aftersun delves into the relationship between a father and his daughter in her childhood and her reflection as an adult. The award was named after Bingham Ray in 2013 but has existed as the Open Palm Award since 1991.

Best ScreenplayCentering on fictional conductor-composer Lydia Tár, Tár stars Cate Blanchett in the titular role, who was nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance but missed out.

Outstanding Lead Performance - Danielle Deadwyler in Till

A biographical drama, Mamie Till-Mobley who sought justice after her son was murdered in a racially aggravated attack in 1955. Danielle Deadwyler stars as Mamie whose activism in the light of her son's murder played a role in the civil rights movement. In recent times, President Joe Biden made lynching a federal hate crime by signing the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act into law earlier this year.

Outstanding Supporting Performance - Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All At Once Starring as Waymond, main character Evelyn's husband, Ke Huy Quan plays multiple versions of the same character across the multiverse and gave us the heart-breaking line "So, even though you have broken my heart yet again, I wanted to say, in another life, I would have

really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you.”

Breakthrough Performer - Gracija Filipović in Murina

Murina premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, winning the Caméra d'Or.

Breakthrough Series (under 40 minutes) - Mo Released on Netflix in August, Mo stars Mo Amer as the titular character and is loosely based off his own experiences as a Palestinian refugee living in Breakthrough Series (over 40 minutes) -

Pachinko is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name, following a Korean immigrant family over four

Outstanding Performance in a New Series - Ben Is Going to Hurt Based on Adam Kay's book about his experiences This Is Going to Hurt was released on BBC and stars Ben Whishaw (also played Paddington) in the lead role. The show will inevitably make you feel as stressed as the doctors and nurses, showing how underfunded and

Breakthrough Nonfiction Series - We Need to Talk About Cosby

Premiering all the way back in January at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, We Need to Talk About Cosby explores the life and career of Bill Cosby and his

Aftersun: the full holiday package

Esther Arnold

Paul Mescal impresses audiences in his move onto the silver screen alongside Frankie Corio in awardwinning Aftersun

On the holiday, 11 year-old Sophie surrounds herself with older teens, yearning to be more grown-up, as those around her are busy having casual holiday flings and drinking through the night. A more fittingly aged Michael (Brooklyn Toulson) soon comes into view amongst all the madness, with their relationship blossoming into a cutesy childhood crush, producing wistful sighs from the audience and allowing us to momentarily

We can see older Sophie trying to put the pieces together as she watches the tapes back, clearly searching for answers about what her dad was going through, with the audience uncertain whether he is still alive. Flickers of the father she knew fill the screen as she is unable to identify the other side of the man who was quietly drowning in front of her. Painful scenes of isolation and discomfort are perfectly paired

costumes flawlessly reflecting the characters and their surroundings. As the holiday comes to an end and reality calls, Calum re-enters a world of strobe lighting and loud music; a clear metaphorical mental state that he can't avoid, leaving Sophie with an image of a man she once knew.

Holiday of a lifetime- 10/10

Camazingly realistic acting teleporting us to a world we once knew. Buckle up and prepare yourself for a journey through grief and solitude.

With boundless success at the BFI awards and a triumph at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, director Charlotte Wells knows exactly what she is doing as she presents us with a troubling tale of pain and struggle to stop us in our tracks. As the film begins, camcorder clips from the 90s and nostalgic sun-bleached images flick onto the screen, transporting us back to memories of infinite ice-creams and endless mocktails in the sun.

However, this nostalgia shared by both the audience and now adult Sophie (Celia Rowlson Hall), who plays back the videotapes 20 years later, is soon tainted as deeper problems begin to surface. Both the tapes and Sophie’s memories provide distressing insights into the internal battle of Sophie’s single dad, Calum (Mescal), with references to mental illness, alcoholism and suicide darkening the grainy colour palette of their memories on video. Calum is not the only one who deals with internal struggles, as Sophie encounters the typical hardships of adolescence.

Sub-editors: Rachel Carron, Mitchell

Directed by

Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović (her directorial debut), Murina stars Gracija Filipović in the lead role.

Image credit: Twitter- @DailyJenniferL

Violent Night - Is this Home Alone / Die Hard mashup a new Christmas classic?

Santa comes to town in this Christmas themed action/ comedy starring Stranger Thing's David Harbour

When a team of mercenaries, led by John Leguizamo (Moulin Rouge!), takes the Lightstones, a wealthy family, hostage in their home, Santa, played by David Harbour (Stranger Things), must come to the rescue and deliver some “season’s beatings”, to quote the film’s trailer.

When I first saw Violent Night advertised, I feared it would be little more than a puerile, edgy movie about a badass Santa – a trope that’s been done to death. Thankfully though, the film proved me wrong. Despite insane levels of violence and gore, it contains a surprising amount of heart, managing to capture the Christmas vibe nicely.

The seasonal warmth comes mainly through the relationship between Santa and a young girl, Trudy, one of the hostages. She receives a walkietalkie as an early Christmas present, which allows her to communicate with Santa, becoming the Al to his John McClane, in a way.

In fact, Violent Night very much has the feel of a hybrid of Die Hard (1988) and another Christmas classic: Home Alone (1990). The mercenaries,

each of whom has a Christmas-themed codename, clearly take inspiration from Die Hard’ (Leguizamo’s character) in the role of Hans Gruber. And the large family house is a definite homage to Alone direct references to the film, setting traps and re-enacting Kevin’s iconic scream.

The Lightstone family matriarch is Gertrude, clearly an uber-wealthy tycoon, although we never discover the nature of her business. Others taken hostage are her children and their partners, Jason, Linda, Alva, and Morgan, and Gertrude’s grandchildren, Trudy and Bert. The characters of Trudy and her parents, Jason and Linda, develop nicely throughout the film, while Alva, Morgan, and Bert remain one-dimensional caricatures. In truth, they annoyed the hell out of me! I understand that’s partially intentional, but it doesn’t make them any less grating to watch. But that’s enough

similarly brilliant action scenes.

A particular set piece in a barn was a joy to behold. Seizing hold of a huge hammer, Santa sets to work, obliterating the army of mercenaries coming for him. The only time the action failed to please was towards the end when Santa chases the bad guys fleeing on snowmobiles. However, perhaps I’m being somewhat harsh as, overall, it’s not a massive deal, and I greatly enjoyed the final confrontation between Santa and Scrooge immediately after.

With its beautifully crafted action set pieces, surprisingly solid emotional core, and strong lead performance from David Harbour, Violent Night has all the makings of a new Christmas classic. While the humour didn’t always land, and some of the characters left a little to be desired, it certainly wasn’t enough to hinder my enjoyment. 4/5

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special: Mantis's Time to Shine

Jessica Mckeown - Film sub-editor

With Christmas soon approaching, Marvel has released a holiday special to keep fans of the

Phase Four of the MCU is now officially over with the release of the 45-minute Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special onto Disney Plus. This is the second of Marvel's socalled Special Presentations following which released in the run-up to Halloween.

From the very start of the opening Marvel credits, you get that festive feel with 'Fairytale of New York' playing over Christmas comic panels. The special opens with an animated flashback to a young Peter Quill trying to celebrate Christmas with the Ravagers until Yondu (with Michael Rooker returning to voice him) ruins it, tainting the memory of Christmas for the young Star-

Lord. The animation style was different to the styles we have seen before in Marvel movies, reverting back to traditional 2D animation rather than the 3D animation What If...? (2021) series. The simplistic style of the animation did look a little strange to what we are used to seeing but it's only for a short portion of the

The makeshift space family have not been the headliners of a MCU project since Volume 2 in 2017 so it made perfect sense to centre a Christmas special around them. You forget that the events of Infinity War (2018) and Endgame (2019) are fresh in terms of in-universe for those victims of the Snap, but for us the audience it has been nearly five years. The special does an effective job at quickly reacquainting the audience with the characters, even (semi re)introducing new ones such as Cosmo, the telekinetic dog (gender-flipped from the comics Cosmo).

The focus this time is on Mantis, introduced in Volume 2, who truly gets a chance to shine. The special reveals early on that Mantis is Quill's halfsister, something that was unfortunately spoiled in her Marvel Legends episode a few days prior. As fans took to social media, the episode was quietly removed just hours before the

released onto the platform. Not having had much to do in the final Endgame battle, we finally get to see Mantis' martial arts skills and her powers are expanded upon, showcasing how her mind control abilities can have a sinister element to it.

The special is light-hearted in tone, a welcome relief after tearing up at Wakanda Forever. The pairing of a naive Mantis and literal Drax is a comedic pairing we had a glimpse of before, now getting to fully enjoy them kidnapping Kevin Bacon. One of the aliens perform a very amusing song where they completely misinterpret the meaning of Christmas.

There is a post-credit scene featuring Groot, who has a Baby Groot face and Adult Groot body (little bit disturbing to look at to be honest), decked out as a Christmas tree and Rocket saying "Now we've got to have another special". It would be great to see the Guardians in another special, but it seems likely that a few of them are Volume 3

The special answers what have the Guardians been up to? But the one burning question I have is whether Santa Claus is a mutant and exists in the MCU like 616 Santa Claus. In a universe of talking trees, aliens and magic, surely the existence of the figurehead of

Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday is now available to stream on Disney Plus.

George Lowes

Where Violent Night really shines is the action sequences which are as brutal as they are entertaining

Image credit: Twitter- @mcucomfort, @novacomforts

Image credit: Twitter- @screenrant

A review of NUTS' All My Sons

A review of Arthur Miller's classic, All My Sons as performed by NUTS in Newcastle University Jon Deery

As Tilda Bilsberry-Grass, director of NUTS’ 2022 production of Arthur Miller’s 1946 masterpiece, writes in the show’s programme: “All My Sons is an incredibly challenging play, with each part requiring patience, measure, maturity and energy.”

Fortunately, Bilsberry-Grass and her team are firmly attuned to the demands of Miller’s script, and deliver a sellout show that does justice to the ambitious source.

All My Sons opens with thunder, lighting and a gut-wrenching scream, and ends in a similar emotional place. It’s a searing 20th century indictment of capitalism and war, telling the story of a family in decline when their suppressed past re-emerges.

The plot’s biggest reveals occur around Joe Keller, father of the Keller household, who Konrad Klappholtz plays with verve and confidence, delivering with charm the wisecracks at the start of the play, and with grim weight the character’s later moral reckoning.

At the emotional center of the play, though, are Joe’s son Chris Keller (played by Josh Marks), and Ann Deever (Morven

Renfrew’s deft subtlety, his tearful explosions and rage embodying the empathy that tears at this sympathetic character.

Miller’s tale is enlivened in this production by the supporting cast - from Kate Wiselka’s confused but spirited Bert, to Daisy Price’s delightfully geeky astrologist Frank Lubey, Grace Jolley’s delicate Lydia Lubey, and Tom Martin’s endearingly deadpan Jim Bayliss. Olivia Barnes stands out here, giving a superbly charismatic performance as Sue Bayliss, equal parts humour and humanity.

Conor Love is restrained as George Deever, embodying the patient rage of a man who can’t allow himself to fully feel the extent of his own anger, and each movement is purposeful, each outburst brief and affecting.

Abi Hymas, on the other hand, plays a woman driven to the brink of hysteria by years of emotional suppression, and her guttural bellows that bookend the play will, I imagine, prove memorable for most audience members, long after the production’s end.

This production pays as much attention to the details as to the grand explosive setpieces. A production for all involved to be proud of.

Which fictional world would you stay in over the Holidays?

Jenica Davis - Lifestle Sub-Editor

There are far too many fictional worlds that I would love to spend even just an hour in, but when it comes to Christmas, Narnia from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe would be the land for me! Mythical and magical, it would be impossible for anyone to not catch the Christmas feels when wandering through snowy Narnia. It’s been in debate for a long time whether the first The Chronicles of Narnia novel and film falls under the Christmas category. Whilst it has a whole lot of snow and an appearance from Father Christmas himself, it isn’t a story directly about Christmas. Nonetheless, the world it’s set in is certainly one I wouldn’t hesitate to spend my Christmas in if I was offered –

ideally without the Narnian war that takes place at the end of the story. In my fictional Christmas, you will, without a doubt, find me outside; most likely having snowball fights or making snow angels with my family. Walking to the iconic frosted lamp-post would be an essential part of the day – the pure sight of the landmark, tucked in amongst the trees, is enough to spark the festive spirit in anyone. If the White Witch in her grand sleigh was to ride past and offer me some Turkish delight, I wouldn’t be opposed – but that’s as far as our interaction would go in my fictional Christmas. Then we’d warm up with a cup of tea in Mr Tumnus’ cosy cave, before heading back out to ice skate across the frozen lake, where perhaps Father Christmas would stop by with some gifts. Having built up our appetite, it would be time for Christmas dinner at Mr and Mrs Beavers. For me, that magical feeling is what makes Christmas so wholesome. Narnia is the place I can trust to inspire those feelings – for that reason, I would walk into the wardrobe without hesitation!

camp is set up as a friendly, welcoming space, establishes it well within the confines of a great Christmas. Picture this: you’re spending your Christmas at the camp and enjoying the day with the rest of the campmates. Of course, it’s snowing (that magical weather boundary which allows you to decide on the climate of the camp really works its magic) so the Christmas atmosphere is flawless. So, you wake up in your cabin on Christmas morning to the view of snowy hills in the distance. The day comprises of games in the Big House, the opening of presents (if you’re lucky, you may even get a gift from your godly parent), and a special festive edition of capture the flag in the Woods. In the evening, everyone gathers in the dining pavilion for their Christmas Dinner, before moving on to the amphitheatre and gathering around the campfire. Imagine the wholesome, cosy vibes.

dangerous with a lot of student deaths, a casual Basilisk under the school and evil Defence against the Dark Arts teachers popping out every year... its a very magical place to spend Christmas.When I think of Christmas at Hogwarts I think of the huge Christmas trees, floating candles, a choir of frogs and of course, the Christmas day feast. I feel like there would be no better place to walk into Christmas morning than the Great Hall and seeing all of the decorations across the walls. This is after, of course, Harry shows off his swanky new invisibility robe that I would in turn, be extremely jealous of. It would truly be the warm, cosy British Christmas we were all promised from watching these films! That is of course, if no one gets eaten or murdered by something or someone depending on the year you know!

It’s officially the season of magic and imagination. Christmas is essentially the crossover of the real world and the fantastical, so it’s only right that we take a look at what Christmas would look like in other, fantasy worlds

When we think of Percy Jackson, we generally associate it with Summer, since that’s when most of the books take place. That being said, the way the

England in reality, doesn't fulfil the Christmas standard we're used to in the films. No snow, no charming British love interest, just slush and an abundance of infections when you all come down with the same cold.If we just ignore the fact that Hogwarts as an institution is inherently

Image credit: @nutsncl on Instagram

Leah Knights

Sarah Tunstall - Arts Sub-Editor

Nostalgic Christmas Stories to read over the holidays

Visions of Sugarplums and Walking in Air – My Favourite Childhood Christmas Books

Frankie Eavers

Iwas never a bookworm as a child. And yet, there was something about the ritual of unearthing piles of Christmas books from the loft that made reading irresistibly magical, even for my younger self.

Today I want to dash through the recesses of my memories and discuss two of the best children’s Christmas books. And, in an effort to bring out your inner child, I’m dragging you along with me.

For the first stop on our sleigh ride, we’re floating through the midnight blue to a timeless classic…

The Snowman (1978) by Raymond Briggs

The Snowman deserves every ounce of its iconic status, even if its creator would be turning in his grave at my labelling of the book as a “Christmas” work.

Every element of The Snowman has embedded itself deeply into my memory in its beautifully bittersweet, wonderfully wordless way. From its soft rounded illustrations, to the innocence of the friendship between the main two characters, The Snowman’s magic lies in its ability to make a story about loss and winter fill the reader with warmth.

And for our second delivery, we’ve crossed the Atlantic to…

A Visit from St. Nicholas (or The Night Before Christmas) (1823) by Clement Clarke Moore

Completely quotable, from its listing of the

reindeer to its iconic final line, this rich, colourful poem is a festive staple, and each syllable reminds me of the feeling of being kept awake by excitement hours before Christmas morn. As an adult, it’s not easy to conjure up that same magical joy towards Christmas

Image credit: bibliotecaepb.blogspot.

Family Gatherings

Family holidays never look the same from every corner of the room Women have a very particular place in family gatherings

They piece them together tying snacks with drinks and matching crockery, pinning up curtains for inebriated gazes meted out by strangers, and washing away signs of inhabitation from the house

Once the sun goes down, they station themselves behind stoves and set a streamline of snacks going to satiate mouths spewing half-baked political knowledge; when that runs out, there's always sports, the weather, the cosmos, and everything that takes them further away from home

It's only after tongues running amok can no longer be irrigated with whisky that potbellies stuffed with over a day's toil retire to bed

At long last, these women caged in kitchens and lost behind curtains come forth

They must rid their homes of the remnants of an evening that they couldn't be a part of, and trade it for a quiet night —their only moment of respite before they coax themselves into being mothers, wives, cooks, cleaners, and everything that they can't choose not to be The refuge of the silent night invites them

to be who these women seldom are —themselves

by Hemangi Chakravarty

Short reads to help you complete your Goodreads 2022 challenge

Later - Stephen King

Jessica Mckeown - Film Sub-Editor

You may have set yourself a goal of reading x number of books this year with Goodreads Reading Challenge. I am proud to say that I hit my target of 20 books this year. As we enter December, don't cave and lower your target. Here are some quick reads that will get you closer to your target in less time.

Stardust - Neil Gaiman

Kicking off our list is Neil Gaiman's Stardust. Coming in just shy of 250 pages, the book is an easy fantasy read following Tristan Thorn as he seeks to retrieve a fallen star to woo the girl he wants to marry. There was a film adaptation in 2007 which expanded on the book and added many other elements in. The lack of these elements however do not make the book any less enjoyable and is a great stepping stone if this is your first time reading Gaiman's works.

Released as part of his Hard Case Crime collection, Later is a crime story with a supernatural element. Also coming in just short of 250 pages, Later focuses on a young boy who can see ghosts and ends up involved in helping a police investigation. It's short but a soft launch into King's other books.

Good Omens (The Nice & Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter) - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

If Good Omens sounds familiar, you have probably heard of the Prime original starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant. The Gaiman and Pratchett book is, of course, the source material and is a whimsical read. I devoured it in a day and a half because it was so addictive.

Finally, a book I can’t imagine myself ever not reading: Angela Carter’s ‘The Bloody Chamber.’ Putting a feministic twist on some of our favourite fairy tales, Carter’s collection of ten stories will leave you equally enthralled and unsure, exactly how I feel about the prospect of hitting my GoodReads goal.

Good luck!

Sarah Tunstall - Arts Sub-Editor

As someone who never really finishes their Goodreads challenge, and I will never show the state of it currently... there was one year I achieved the whole thing through means of short stories and novellas!

Whether you’re one or twenty books behind on your GoodReads goal for the year, here are three short but fascinating stories that can easily help you catch up…

Starting off with a classic that will not only quickly boost your total, but will also get you thinking about existentialism: ‘The Metamorphosis,’ Franz Kafka.

This novella published in 1915 follows Gregor Samsa, who awakes one morning as a gigantic insect, although the ambiguity of that conclusion remains to be said. Kafka’s prose is rich in obscurity, and will probably leave you with more questions than when you opened the novella.

Sticking with the obscure, but certainly less existential, is Tim Burton’s ‘The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories.’

This short blend of prose, poetry and illustration follows ‘misunderstood outcasts.’ Stick Boy, Junk Girl, Anchor Baby…Burton doesn’t shy away from the unlimited possibilities of charecterisation.

First I bring attention to Truman Capote's Breakfast At Tiffany's Not just an amazing Audrey Hepburn film but also in its origin, a short 1940s novella. The story, as we know, folllows Holly Golightly in New York city as narrated by her neighbour and writer, Paul Varjak. The book is filled with 40s New York City glam and the charachters are so bizzare that they're completely lovable. You will become as infatuated by Holly as Paul is in the book. If you consider reading this for your challenge I would warn you that its plot is that of a very typical late 50s novel, detailed plot in its first half and then a sudden finish as if the author couldn't be bothered to continue it properly.

My next book, has to be, my ultimate favourite, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald another New York City classic. Following narrator, Nick Carraway, his neighbour and friend, we see the drama of Jay Gatsby's life unfold throughout the novel. The whole book is stuffed with 1930s New York glam and, if you liked Baz Luhrman's rendition of the novel I can guarentee you will love

Lauren Reid

Christmas Carol (3)

Last word spoke in the Christmas carol (3)

The kids are alright: Young stars break out at Qatar World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is notoriously a global showcase of the world’s most popular sport, giving a multitude of players from various leagues an opportunity to flourish on the world-wide stage.

Since the inception of the tournament in 1930, many players have grasped the opportunity to play at a World Cup and used the competition to propel their careers. Ranging from Pelé dominating in 1958, to Mbappe displaying his flair in Russia, the World Cup has truly thrusted multiple players to greatness.As we approach the end of the tournament, here are some of the breakout stars of the 2022 edition:

Tyler Adams:

As the youngest captain at the competition and the youngest USA captain since 1950, the responsibility Adams shouldered was rather large for

the maturity and professionalism he displayed was incredible. On the pitch, he anchored the midfield which allowed his midfield compatriots, Yunus Mensah and Weston McKennie, to break forward and create chances for the forwards. His professionalism was also demonstrated off the field, in a press conference before the USA’s group stage clash with Iran, an Iranian journalist called out Adams on his mispronunciation of Iran, followed up by a question on discrimination in the United States, he dealt with both in a classy manner by apologising

White clothing policy relaxed at Wimbledon

Paige Rutter - Sport Sub-editor

In a bid to relieve the stress faced by female players who are required to wear all white whilst menstruating, Wimbledon have made a change to their rules.

The Wimbledon code specifically highlights that clothing should be specifically white and allows a strict one-centimetre trim of colour. However, for female players during their period this can bring a wave of anxiety around bleeding through on to the colourless clothing.

“they already have enough stress”, without the stress of having a period too.

Address The Dress Code’ was an organised Wimbledon holding such as “Wanted: Ball in our court”. The protesters donned red shorts underneath their all-white outfits in order to campaign the issue.

One of the co-organisers of the protest, Gabriella Holmes, stated, “you can uphold tradition and still move with the times”. There have also often been debates over this relating to the number of young girls who also drop sporting activities after reaching puberty.

Following multiple protests and various female tennis players speaking out on the issue, a change has now been brought in allowing players to wear dark undershorts. It is specified that these shorts can be no longer than the skirt.

The Wimbledon organisers stated that the change had been made following discussion with the Women’s Tennis Association, clothing manufacturers and medical teams.

Multiple players have expressed their concerns over this issue, with Australian star Daria Saville even admitting that she did skip her period around Wimbledon over fears. Adding in her comments that

This is not just an issue within tennis but also across multiple sports in which white clothing makes a prominent appearance. It was also recently announced that multiple football clubs including Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion would change the colour of their shorts in order to reduce concerns for female players.

During the success of the Euro’s, England’s Lionesses also highlighted the unpracticality of wearing an all-white kit. Whilst no change was made during the tournament, the women delivered their thoughts to Nike in hope that changes can be made for the team in the next year.

for his mispronunciation, and answered his question with maturity and confidence by detailing US progress on how they combat discrimination.

Andries Noppert:

A newcomer on the international scene, the 28-year-old goalkeeper has cemented himself as the Dutch number 1. Although they are well respected as a footballing nation, one component they currently lack is a genuine highclass keeper, ergo the Dutch gloves were majorly up for grabs during the build up to the tournament. Louis Van Gaal opted to give Noppert his shot on the world stage when he handed him his international debut in the Netherlands’ tournament opener against Senegal. Measuring at an immense 6 foot 8 inches, he has proven to be a solid addition in between the sticks, his large stature allows him to command his area shrewdly and use his long limbs to make stretching saves. Even though he may not reach the levels of Edwin Van Der Sar and Hans van Breukelen, there is good reason to believe he will be lining up for the Oranje for the foreseeable future, as well as attracting the attention

of larger clubs outside of the Eredivise.

Harry Souttar:

Having suffered an ACL injury during November 2021, the Aussie centre half's comeback is quite remarkable. Entering a group in which most tipped Australia to finish bottom, they were always going to require a sturdy back line. In spite of the fact France shipped four against them in their opening game, the Socceroos showed nerve in their final couple of games with two wins and two clean sheets. A significant contribution in their victory against Tunisia, being Souttar’s last ditch challenge on Taha Khenissi, which kept Australia’s lead intact and led them to their first World Cup finals win since 2010. He possesses the foundational qualities required to be a modern-day centre back, standing at 6 foot 6 inches he boasts aerial superiority, and has found success in his distribution, thus bringing into play his attacking input as a defender. It is quite simply phenomenal that Souttar has displayed high-octane effort and skill, when just over a year ago he had picked an injury that has stunted the development of various players.

Festive footy: the best fan fits

Imogen Smillie - TV Sub-editor

Around the festive season, how can sports fans show their Christmas cheer? Time to bring out the classic Christmas jumper, but with a twist!

Getting a head start on my Christmas shopping recently, and everywhere you look, there's another festive sweater. But if you're sports mad, and more of a Grinch, there are always specific designs to trick an onlooker into thinking you're in the festive spirit.

With the Qatar World Cup currently underway (Come on England!), shops up and down the high street have taken the opportunity to make some money. In Primark, not only do they have remakes of the classic England strip, but also the Three Lions among snowflakes, letting you wrap up warm as you listen to Mariah Carey and watch the quarter finals!

BooHoo Man also capitalised on the situation creating different styles of Christmas jumper, despite not being as stylish as their usual clothing line.

Of course we chould mention an NUFC cosy jumper to wrap up warm in this Northeast weather. Castore,

the creators of their kit, have added some sweaters to their collection... for the fans obviously. Looking quite subdued and almost smart, this might be the perfect sweater to keep on supporting the lads on this Premier League break.

Despite the World Cup taking over this year, it isn't for everyone, and it's time to show your spirit both in and out of the sporting season. Formula One have been a little more subtle with their attempt at Christmas, with a stylish jumper bearing the F1 logo surrounded by simple Christmas themed patterns. Again, perhaps allowing those who aren't really into the classic Christmas dress up to show even a little festive cheer!

Castore have also got one for the England Cricket fans. After their win at the T20 World Cup earlier on this year, this winter might be the perfect time to don this manic patterned jumper. I love the little touches of the cricket bats in the classic festive pattern, but others may find it a little cheesy.

For other sports, or specific teams, I suggest heading straight to Etsy. They may not be as cheap as those you find in Primark, but they have everything under the winter sun, and also possibly hand-made! So whether you're wrapping up by the Christmas tree to watch the football, or finding solice at the pub dreaming of the cricket, there's a sporty Christmas sweater for you!

Image credit: Twitter (@ALocalRadgie)

James Kellett

The change was made following multiple protests

Image credit: Twitter (@tyler_adams14, @BBCMOTD, @AboutScotland)

2022: What has happened this

after a 22-year long career, winning a record seven Super Bowls.

January

2022 saw several major events in the world of sports, and its first month was no different with stories in the world of football and Tennis.

It was the battle of two Liverpool stars in the African Cup of Nations, as Sadio Mane’s Senegal faced Mohammed Salah’s Egypt in the final. The tournament in Algeria did finish at the very start of February, but it mainly took place throughout the second half of January.

The final was a very close affair, with Senegal just scraping a win on penalties.

The Premier League continued without some of Africa’s best players, and it was Manchester City and Liverpool who continued to set the pace at the top. It was Newcastle and Everton who had the biggest months maybe with both signing multiple players in the transfer market.

Newcastle’s marquee signing was Kieran Trippier who arrived from Athletico Madrid, while Everton turned to both Dele Alli and Donny Van De Beek to help their Premier League relegation battle.

Tennis saw the 110th Australian Open, which included both singles and doubles events. It was Rafael Nadal and Ashleigh Barty who took home singles titles, while Nick Kyrgios of Australia was the most significant winner of a doubles title. It was perhaps Novak Djokovic who took January’s main Tennis headline however, as his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19 led to him being detained in Australia and banned from competing in the tournament.

February

The Winter Olympics were held in Beijing, with Norway topping the lot on a record 16 gold medals. They thus stretched their overall lead to 35 Olympic victories over the US; a truly staggering feat by the Scandinavians.

The US Women’s football team also struck goal, but in the courts, as they were promised equal pay to the men’s side.

from football, to skiing, and even the International Olympic Committee recommended that athletes be barred from competition if possible. Apart from the personal exclusions, the sanctions also meant that events to be held on Russian soil were changed or cancelled indefinitely.

Although February was only the second month of the year, countless sporting events across the globe made history.

The greatest NFL Quarterback of all-time, Tom Brady, announced his retirement at the start of the month

Turning the focus back to Europe, France won the Six Nations and Grand Slam for the first time since 2010. Italy also ended their pitiful seven-year winless streak in the tournament, by shocking Wales at the Principality Stadium. Liverpool also claimed their first trophy of the season at Wembley, after a goalless game involving multiple offside goals, saw the affair go to penalties. All of the first 21 penalties were scored, before Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was substituted on specifically as a penalty saving expert, skied his penalty into a sea of red shirts.

March March brought about the bulk of sporting sanctions against Russia and Belarus, a devastating blow to promising and more importantly, innocent athletes. It was a practically

Even athletes who have spoken out against the war have been punished. Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev, who wrote “No war please” on a camera lens during the 2022 Dubai Open, has called the Wimbledon ban “complete discrimination”, and claimed that the ban “will not change anything”. The Belarusian Tennis Federation said that “Such destructive actions in no way contribute to the resolution of conflicts but only incite hatred and intolerance on a national basis.”

While some athletes and teams certainly have hurtful perspectives, and hosting events in warring countries is irresponsible and dangerous, such bans hurt the world of sports. There is no doubt that Russia should face consequences, but is labelling and treating its citizens under one big umbrella the right way to do it?

April

most of the month but also heralded a sprinkling of important results for Newcastle United, whose reinvigorated squad claimed four wins from six matches, giving title contenders Liverpool one of their toughest games of the season and grinding out an important 1-0 home win to Crystal Palace, which saw Miguel Almiron’s winning strike awarded Goal of the Month, compounding Newcastle’s best month of results since PIF’s takeover.

Alexander Zverev in straight sets as his sparkling young career continued to excite fans. Perhaps the highlight of his road to the final was the overcoming of his Spanish predecessor, Rafael Nadal, in the quarter finals. Tennis fans were also denied a mouth-watering third round clash between former rivals Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, with the Scotsman being forced to withdraw due to illness. Ons Jabeur took the Women’s singles title as the Tunisian continued to climb the rankings in a superb return to form.

As spring weather began to warm up in April, so too did sporting action worldwide. The Premier League was getting down to the business end of the season, and lights had just gone out for a new year of Formula One racing. April showers kept Tyneside damp for

April also played host to the second and third rounds of the 2022 Formula One season in Melbourne and Imola. Melbourne saw Charles Leclerc claim his second of three race wins on the season, teasing F1 fans worldwide into thinking that we had a proper title fight to look forward to. This dream, however, would be quickly quashed in subsequent rounds, as Verstappen won in Italy and went on to dominate the remainder of the season. These races also hosted two new podium finishers, as George Russell and Lando Norris both finished third. This would be the first of eight podiums in 2022 for Russell, but Norris wasn’t quite so lucky. The MCL36’s lack of performance became apparent in subsequent rounds, the Briton later commenting that "I still don't know how I got a podium with the car that we had!"

May

It was a relatively quiet month of Rugby Union as the Premiership slowly built up to its climax that would take place in June. Leicester Tigers continued their dominance at the top whilst Saracens and Northampton Saints played out a thrilling eighty minutes in which Saracens came out on top 42-38 despite a late fight back from the Saints. England’s domestic cricket season continued to produce a staggering amount of runs as Surrey scored 671 and 673 runs in two separate innings whilst Leicestershire put 756 runs on the board in a mammoth run fest against Sussex. This turned out to be a sign of things to come as England began their test match summer in the following month, under the new leadership of Ben Stokes.

June

The month of May saw the Premier League reach a thrilling end in a turbulent final day that saw Manchester City crowned champions thanks to a sensational second half comeback against Aston Villa, overturning a 2-0 deficit in the last fifteen minutes. Despite Liverpool doing all they could and beating Wolves 3-1, they lost out to City by just one point. Leeds United crowned this sensational Sunday afternoon of football with a last-ditch winner, maintaining their place in the Premier League and sending down Burnley instead. In what was an action-packed month of football, Liverpool suffered a second heart break in the space of a week as they were defeated 1-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League final, courtesy of a Vinicius Junior winner. In the Europa League final, Rangers’ magical run came to a devastating end as they were beaten 5-4 on penalties by Eintracht Frankfurt, after a 1-1

Teenage Spanish sensation, Carlos Alcaraz, won the Madrid Tennis Open, beating

As the sporting calendar transitioned to June, Brendon McCullum oversaw his ‘Bazball’ cricketing revolution, The Golden State Warriors secured their fourth NBA championship in eight years, and Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick claimed his first golfing major with a one-shot victory in the U.S. Open.

‘Bazball’ started with a flourish for England, they decimated the current World Test Champions, New Zealand, with a 3-0 whitewash. Furthermore, the English white ball team also found success in June as they managed to break their own ODI scoring record, hitting a gargantuan 498 against the Netherlands.

Whilst the Golden State Warriors asserted their Basketball dominance, a true great of the game, Stephen Curry, achieved another personal milestone as he was named the NBA Finals MVP for the first time in his illustrious career. The Warriors reigned supreme overall in the Finals, obtaining a 4-2 win in Game 6.

Matt Fitzpatrick claimed golfing glory at Brookline, Massachusetts, having won the U.S. Amateur Championship nine years before his first major victory, this historic win was also surprisingly

Our writers take a look at what has been an eventful year in the sporting world

Liverpool claimed their first trophy of the season

Image credit: Twitter (@NUFC)

Carlos Alcaraz won the Madrid Tennis Open beating Alexander Zverev

England's domestic cricket season continued to produce a staggering amount of runs

Stephen Curry achieved another personal milestone named the NBA

Finals MVP

Jack Evans

Tom Barlow - Sport Sub-ed

Castor Chan - Campus Sport Liaison

Arthur Ferridge - Sport Sub-ed

Image credit: Twitter (@NFL)

Image credit: Twitter (@Carlitosalcarazz)

Dan Balliston

James Kellett

year in the world of sport?

his first on the PGA Tour. Fitzpatrick etched himself into an extraordinary club, being only the second player to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open on the same course.

July

Carly Horne - Head of Culture

Concluding in July this year was one of the year's most iconic sporting events - Wimbledon. Aside from the strawberries and champagne (certainly a highlight!), Wimbledon also brings some of the World's most remarkable tennis talent to London's All England Club, including this year's gentlemen's singles champion, Novak Djokovic, and ladies' singles champion, Elena Rybakina. British tennis player, Emma Raducanu suffered an early defeat in the tournament and Swiss tennis legend, Roger Federer missed the tournament as a result of his recovery from a knee surgery - preceding his retirement from professional tennis at the Laver Cup later in the year. Elsewhere in British sport, England’s lionesses claimed victory at the 2022 Euros. The lionesses defeated their German counterparts 2-1 in extra-time - a victory which has inspired young women across the country.

early in the following month, capping an excellent summer of test cricket.

New Zealand were historically beaten 25-18 by a thrilling Argentina side as a quiet Rugby Union summer built up towards a new season. In Tennis, the US Open continued to grip fans as Brits, Jack Draper, Dan Evans, Cameron Norrie, and Andy Murray all progressed to the second round along with Rafael Nadal. September saw the business end of the tournament, in which none of the Britons progressed past the last 16 stage. Finally, major sport in August finished with a continuation of Max Verstappen’s dominance as he emerged victorious in the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

September

September was marked by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and most sporting bodies the following weeks events as a sign of respect.

One notable exception was the Great North Run where 60,000 runners took to the Newcastle streets.

Founder Brendan Foster described it as 'a moment for communities to come together' following The Queen's passing.

In football, Arsenal continued their great start and still edged Manchester

month that boasted many significant supporting events, both cheerful and tragic. The first day of the month was very memorable for the football world as it was gripped by tragedy when it was reported that 135 lives had been lost in a stadium crush during Arema’s game against rivals Persebaya Surabaya in Kanjurhan, Indonesia, devastating for both the nation and the sport that these catastrophes can take place. On a more positive note, for Newcastle fans, Miguel Almiron and Eddie Howe began the respective campaigns that saw them swoop both manager and player of the month awards, with ‘Miggy’ also taking home the goal of the month with his delightful volley in the Toon’s 4-1 slaughter of Fulham. The 4th day of the month saw Liverpool host Rangers to a 2-0 victory in the two sides’ first-ever competitive fixture. October saw the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup group stages commence. The men’s rugby league opener saw England cruise past Samoa 60 – 6 at St James Park. In the Women’s tournament, likewise, the hosts opened with a victory by some margin beating Australia 41 – 17. England’s successful campaign in the T20 world cup began on the 4th Saturday of October when they took victory over the Afghans in Perth. The 4 F1 Grand Prix's during the month saw Max Verstappen claim 3 race wins as well as sealing the drivers’

awards including Eddie Howe getting manager of the month for October. This month also saw a wrap on the tracks as the F1 season came to an end with Max Verstappen securing his second Championship victory. In an emotional departure under the Abu Dhabi lights, Sebastian Vettel passed the checkered flag for a final time before his retirement. There was also glory in the men’s T20 World Cup final as England managed victory over Pakistan and went on to secure their second title.

December

Sophie McNally - Deputy Editor

After a phenomenal end to the 2022 World Cup we were met with a new wave of global momentum, readying us for another anticipated phase of the

Against a backdrop of picturesque Parisienne scenery, fleets of paddle boards braced and battled it out in the 14km race down the infamous River Seine. Endurance was certainly key for these athletes, as any mid-race injury or fatigue left them in hot water.

Michael Booth really stepped up to the board, winning the Overall and Sprints titles for the day. Whilst competitor Fiona Wylde came storming through the ripples and surges to place first in the Long Distance portion of the day.

With 2022's June SUP in LA, September SUP in London, and

beginning of the 2022-23 Premier League season as early pacesetters, Arsenal, won the first match of the new season in a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace. We also saw the dawn of a new era of Manchester United, as new manager Erik Ten-Haag began his tenure in nightmare style, losing 2-1 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion before an astonishing 4-0 defeat away at Brentford the following week. Erling Haaland announced himself on the biggest stage as Manchester City’s marquee signing scored nine goals in just four games, including back-to-back hat-ricks.

Paige Rutter - Sport Sub-editor

Sub-editors: Tom Barlow, Arthur Ferridge

Paige

Image credit: Twitter (@lionesses)

Dan Balliston

Cristian Turner-Bell

Image credit: Twitter (@redbullracing)

Daniel Logan

Michael Booth really stepped up to the board, winning the Overall and Sprints

Gabbi de Boer - Head of Life & Style

As the year draws to an end and Christmas comes closer, there was only one thing on the Pole and Aerial club members’ minds - their Christmas showcase.

Held every year, it gives members an opportunity to show their incredible strength and talent in a relaxed setting. This year’s show was no exception.

Kicking off the show, viewers bared witness to group performances.

Opening with a duet to ‘Do I Wanna Know?’, beginners Katie and Hannah put on a simple but sexy performance, giving just a taste of what the rest of the show had to offer.

Following this were two filminspired pieces - one inspired by Magic Mike, the other a recreation of Mean Girls’ ‘Jingle Bells Rock’.

To the tune of Ginuwine’s ‘Pony’, Millicent, Rachel and Alex put on an entertaining, acrobatic routine, with just the right balance of comedy and stunts. After this, whilst putting the audience in a Christmassy mood, Holly, Ruby and Ilsa’s Mean Girls inspired performance kicked the

showcase into full swing.

It was at this point in the show that the solo performances began, and we got to see some stunning displays of strength and expertise. Beginners Lydia and Jessica opted for slower-paced performances, with the music perfectly reflecting the thoughtful choice of movements and choreography to capsulate what they had learned in their short time with the club. Castor chose ‘Breakfast’, a more punchy, rebellious tune, and filled her performance with mesmerising spins. These routines closed off the first section of the show.

After each interval, the wonderful host and natural entertainer Ella Pie entertained the crowd by putting some of the guests in the hotseat. One particular highlight was asking someone their relationship to one of the performers, to which they replied, ‘situationship;’ something we can all agree was very bold! It was refreshing to hear Ella’s hilarious quips and introductions to each performer, and it was clear that they both loved being part of NUPAC and hosting the showcase.

Following the short break were some intermediate performers, who made

each move look easy. Ruby began this section with Avicii’s ’Feeling Good’, bringing together a mixture of floor choreo and pole tricks that gained momentum as the music kicked in. There was a standout performance of the night by Meg, who tapped into the spirit of Beetlejuice, bringing energy and vibrancy to ‘The whole being dead thing’. Polly then showcased her incredible flexibility in her routine to the song ‘Fly me to the moon’, and Hermione slowed the tempo with ‘Steal’, incorporating gentle spins and poses into her routine. The final performances of this section by Emma and Lili displayed masterful poses and slick choreography, climbing the poles and transitioning into each new move with ease.

The final section of the night saw everything turn up a notch, as the most experienced members of the club blew the audience away. These routines saw heels, drops and incredible strength as the performers swung themselves around the poles effortlessly.

Ellie’s ‘Pink Panther’ routine had everyone mesmerised, and the energy she brought to the stage really highlighted her skill. Emily’s routine to ‘Don’t blame me’ included elegant spins and precise choreography, while Shannon J and Shannon T brought out big heels and even bigger performances, illustrating their skill. Closing the show was Sara, whose routine to ‘Russian Roulette’ captivated the audience through her perfect spins and pole

tricks that included a perfectly executed drop at the end.

Overall, the performers really showed the talent this club has to offer, and beautifully demonstrated the strength

Wimbledon clothing policy

Sub-editors: Tom Barlow, Arthur Ferridge

An insight into what went down at the NUPAC showcase

The rule change constitutes a big step towards period equality in sport

year in

of the ‘best’ sporty Christmas jumpers

Image credits: Gabbi de Boer

The performers swung themselves around the poles effortlessly

Image credits: Panida Wiriyachaiporn