The Courier’s elections pullout is back. With every candidate and every manifesto, this is your place to get truly informed before voting week begins! The
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The Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) Student Elections are officially underway, with 34 candidates running across 12 positions to represent Newcastle students in the 2023/24 academic year.
This year, there are four male candidates running for NUSU President: Anuraag Roy, Rajnish Lochab, Shah Yaseen Ali, and Abjol Miah. This means that for the first time in 5 years, there will not be a cis-male President of the SU. The last time that NUSU had a male President was Raffaello Marioni in the 2018/19 academic year.
Candidates running for other positions within the elections have expressed “surprise” at the maledominated candidate list. Yancy Zhang, who is running for Activities Officer, commented that “because of the leadership nature of this position, women are more likely to lack confidence [to run for the role of President] in comparison to men”. Current NUSU President, Madeline Baugh, added that “women and marginalised genders face far more scrutiny than a male candidate, and this scrutiny and judgement is often personal and offensive”. Despite having elected female Presidents for the past 5 years, only one woman has run for the role each time. This year’s candidate list could be considered a backwards step for the Students’ Union and the work done by Baugh.
Baugh’s manifesto during the 22/23 Student Elections centred around proactively tackling sexual violence and spiking, moving away from victim
blaming, and prioritising support for survivors. She has also introduced workshops surrounding sex education, and their ‘Let’s Talk About Sex Baby’ campaign aims to promote sex positivity. When asked if she has faced gender-based challenges as her time as President, Baugh recounted the “internalised misogyny projected onto me, and what I do”, as well as “feeling as though I’m seen as bossy and emotional, when those attributes on a man are a strong leader and passionate.”
The Courier reached out to Presidential candidates, Abjol Miah and Shah Yaseen Ali to find out their thoughts on Baugh’s current educational campaigns, and how they will ensure the safety of all students, if elected as President. Miah commented that the ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’ campaign
was “executed nicely, but just didn’t have the reach it could have”. He also said that “it’s important everyone feels like NUSU is a positive space”. Yaseen Ali noted “it is vital that we continue to raise awareness of sexual violence and aim to tackle it. This includes building upon the work the current President has done, such as continuing with the push to make Student Sexual Violence and Consent training mandatory, working closely with It Happens Here society, and continuing to raise awareness of sexual health clinics and counselling services in the North East”.
In a breakdown of the 23/24 Presidential manifestos, from an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) perspective, The Courier found that Anuraag Roy aims to ‘organise culture events and diversity training initiatives’;
Abjol Miah intends to ‘create schoolwide societies, with departmental integration, building belonging, identity, and networks’; Shah Yaseen Ali wishes to ‘hold regular multi-cultural food fairs to promote EDI’; and Rajnish Lochab’s manifesto does not contain any specific points regarding diversity. Each of these manifesto points focus on improving EDI for students that come from ethnic minority backgrounds, but the candidates do not clarify how they will tackle issues surrounding gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, and socio-economic background status, which are other fundamental factors within the EDI framework.
Candidates running for Welfare and Equality Officer include Lucy Leeds, who aims to ‘further the support to victims of sexual violence
by making the incident reporting process more accessible’. Leeds’ manifesto also details ‘listening to the voices of marginalised communities, collaborating with Liberation Officers and underrepresented societies’. Azra Anver intends to ‘provide more readily available sanitary towels and tampons on campus’, and Pratishtha Verma aims to ‘promote diversity, address discrimination, and ensure equal opportunities and resources for all students regardless of background or identity’.
Athletic Union Officer candidate, Kimiko Cheng, aims to ‘incentivise starting a new disability sport club’, as well as ‘encourage clubs to organise at least one session dedicated to teaching new players the rules of the game’. Candidate for Disabilities Officer, Leo David, promises to ‘gather feedback from students with disabilities, neurodivergences, and long-term health conditions through forms and feedback sessions’ and ‘offer robust accessibility training for clubs and societies’.
Charlotte Pickles, who is running for Marginalised Genders Officer, aims to ‘better the education surrounding lesser-known gender identities’ and ‘work alongside the Welfare and Equality Officer to provide advice and awareness to students affected by gender discrimination’.
You can follow each candidate during their campaigns by following their social media pages, and tuning into the Student Election Debates, which will be livestreamed between the 27th of February – 3rd of March.
Voting opens on the 6th of March and the candidates’ full manifestos are available to view via the NUSU website. Results Night will take place on the 10th of March.
One of my favourite lyrics of all time has to be “I can’t promise that I’m going to be fine, but I’ll throw my best punch every single time”, because of its prominent meaning in everyday life. That lyric has crept into my mind on several occasions this week, and I truly believe it’s a subconscious reminder that as long as I continue to give my all to everything I do, then things will work out just as they should. I am a firm believer that no one can ask more of you than your best. But something I’m not so
good at remembering is that your ‘best’ is forever changing and is completely situational. Doing your best is evolutionary; it requires progress, failures and reflection, and this week I think I’ve faced all three of these things. Lots of this job centers around legacy. The legacy that I will create and the legacy of those who have been before me. I am constantly reminded that I am one tiny part of a vast and diverse Student Media history, and sometimes that hits hard. I think I can speak for those who have come before
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me, that the legacy that has been created makes it hard to facilitate changes; even if these are for the better. I spent a long time in this job worrying that if I changed something about Student Media, then I would be damaging the prolonged history we have here. I was worried that the changes wouldn’t be taken wellbecause who really likes change anyway? But, big changes are coming, and deep down I know that these will better those who will come after me; and I think that makes it all okay. As I’m writing this, I’m looking forward to a relaxing weekend
before we hit the ground running with the Election Debates from Monday (the day this paper is published!). It doesn’t quite seem real that 52 weeks ago I was preparing my campaign and was then elected into this role. I can sympathise with every candidate wholeheartedly, and whilst the prospect of putting yourself out there to thousands of students across campus may seem scary, you’ll definitely learn an awful lot - I definitely did!
Editor-in-Chief Meg Howe (she/her) -- mediaofficer.union@newcastle.ac.uk
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It’ll soon be time for me to start handing over to my successor, and I cannot wait to welcome whichever lucky candidate that is in to the family of Student Media Officers and Editors!
As always, thanks for reading my ramblings. Have a wonderful week and I’ll see you on the other side. Much love,
-- Meg Howe xoxo
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After taking a drunken ride on one of Newcastle's many Neuron Scooters, two Newcastle Students found themselves in court
Two Newcastle students were banned from driving after they were caught riding e-scooters while intoxicated.
Alisdair Anderson and George Breese were both stopped by the police to give roadside breath tests, after which they were arrested. Anderson gave a reading of 62mcg and Breese 51mcg in 10ml of breath. They both failed the test, as the UK legal limit is 35 mcg.
The 21-year-old students have both pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and were banned from driving for 12 months and fined £120 each along with £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
The prosecutor Lilian Yanes Hellevik stated that the police found Anderson driving the e-scooter on Osborne Road at around 12.20am on 18 January.
According to The Chronicle, Ms Yanes Hellevik said: "They could see the defendant was moving from the pavement to the road and swerving in the middle of the road, they stopped the defendant and spoke with him. He told them he had been drinking. He was arrested after failing a roadside breath test."
The student was over the alcohol limit and found "swerving in the middle of the road"
Michael Gibson, defending, said Anderson is an economics student in his final year at Newcastle University. He added: "As he was walking back from town with friends in the early hours of the morning, they came across these orange scooters. The idea came to them collectively to ride them.
"He didn't know it would be treated the same as if he was driving a vehicle. He rides it for one or two minutes until he's stopped."
The other student, George Breese, was caught by the police on Sandyford Road on 19 January.
Sophie Allinson, defending, said Breese felt embarrassed to end up in court.
She said: “These scooters are parked up in student areas and next to the nightlife. It’s not well publicised that they are under the same legislation as a motor vehicle.”
Andrew Tate's influence causes concern amongst British schools
Known to the public since the beginning of the 2000s and made famous by a kickboxing career, the social media influencer Andrew Tate has raised many concerns in British society in the past few months.
Influential on TikTok and Instagram, Andrew Tate presents himself as a role model to young boys and men, posing with fast cars, young models and displaying his money in his videos. He claims to offer men a recipe to become as rich and powerful as him.
However, his lifestyle goals are also seen as deeply misogynistic, often showcasing himself harassing women and considering them as inferior to men. Currently arrested in Romania since December 2022 on suspicions of human trafficking and rape, his influence remains important.
In the UK, many accounts of boys in schools perpetrating Tate’s ideas about women have been reported. According to The Guardian, a student told his female teacher, “What do you know, you’re a woman, you can’t
teach me anything”. This harassment of teachers and female students has been seen all over the country.
Schools have tried turning to Prevent, an intervention programme designed to protect individuals from extremist and radicalist views. Worried about the weight of Tate’s ideas on young children, they wished to have it classed under it to help take action.
However, Tate’s views have somehow managed to escape fitting into the Prevent sphere, not being recognised under the term ‘incel’. Dr Tim Squirrell denounces this saying that “claiming that it is not and shouldn’t be considered a terrorist threat is misguided”.
Schools have thus been obligated to talk about Andrew Tate as part of a larger discussion surrounding hate. In Newcastle, a specific class was created to allow a conversation on the impacts
of gender stereotypes on children and teenagers. As Tate’s opinions are shared everywhere, it becomes a necessity for schools to educate their pupils on such topics.
Girls report that it is hard for them at school because of some students' misogynistic reflections on their ambitions, led by Andrew Tate’s influence.
It is also hard for young men who do not fit the expectation of a man and are seen as weaker by their friends. “A big strong rugby lad is the kind of person you’re supposed to be”.
Opening a dialogue is the first step to take in tackling Andrew Tate’s influence in schools. It might even lead to greater discussions regarding gender roles and stereotypes.
Read more about Andrew Tate on pg. 11
"It's not well publicised that they are under the same legislation as a motor vehicle"Image credit: Geograph_Russel Wills
Opening up the conversation is the first step in tackling his influence
Schoolgirls report that it's hard because of some students' misogynism, led by Tate’s influence
The councillor representing Ouseburn took matters into his own hands and removed padlock from children's playground
Gareth Kane, a councillor who represents Ouseburn, used a hacksaw and pliers to remove a padlock and chain from a children’s playground following a call from a resident.
Mr Kane, who has represented the Ouseburn Ward since 2004, was called on 6 February by a resident who complained about the playground having been padlocked.
Initially, Mr Kane believed that this could have been done for safety reasons, but became suspicious when he noticed it was a “cheap chain and a padlock” that had been “glued and held together with gaffer tape”.
He asked the Council to reopen the playground but noticed they still hadn't done it
The Liberal Democrat Councillor asked Newcastle City Council to
reopen the playground, but three days later spotted “about a dozen kids playing football outside the area”. Soon after, Mr Kane returned with pliers and a hacksaw to take matters into his own hands.
Northumbria Police were called to a possible vandalism, but shortly realised that no criminal activity had taken place.
Mr Kane said, "While I was sawing away I spotted a police car - with blue lights flashing - circle the area before two officers inside it came over to have a word. Luckily I had my councillor pass and they didn't take any further action."
Following this incident, Mr Kane reiterated the importance of these play areas for children in the Shieldfield area, saying that they “give the local kids the opportunity of having something healthy to do and they shouldn’t be excluded from what is their own space.”
An amendment to an online safety bill has been put forward to protect women and girls impacted by online abuse
Under the new rules proposed by British peers to the Online Safety Bill, social media platforms would be required to follow guidelines which protects women and girls from online abuse. In 2021, online abuse and violence against women and girls experts
launched a campaign urging the government to include women and girls in new online safety law. Whilst the online safety bill gives media companies a duty of care to their users, the bill fails to protect women and girls who are disproportionately affected by online abuse.
Studies show that women are 27 times more likely than men to be harassed online
Studies show that women are 27 times more likely than men to be harassed online, 1 in 5 women experience online
harassment or abuse, and Black women are 84% more likely to receive abusive tweets than white women. Furthermore, online abuse against women went up by 46% during the pandemic, and it was even higher for Black women and nonbinary people at 50%.
The amendment to the bill has been put forward this week in the House of Lords by Baroness Nicky Morgan who believes “the intention is to get the platforms to think about how to keep female users safe. They are not thinking about the safety of female users at the moment.”
The proposed change would require Ofcom to issue a code of practice on preventing online violence against women that social media platforms would have to follow.
Under the amendments, legalisation would require social media platforms and tech companies to tackle illegal content such as revenge pornography and behaviours such as cyberstalking. It also contains provisions that would require the biggest platforms to give users the option of opting out from misogynistic content. If a platform’s terms of service ban misogynistic abuse, then they will be expected to enforce those conditions or face action from Ofcom. Breaches of terms will carry a potential fine of 10% of the companies global turnover.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology spokesperson said:
In a tweet about the issue, with a photo of the make shift lock, Mr Kane said:
"Well, this escalated. I got fed up and went and sawed through the chain (with a bit of help from a passerby) and “somebody” called the police on us. Police turned up with blue lights flashing as they had been told that someone was breaking into a building."
“We are committed to tackling online abuse and violence against women and girls. In the Online Safety Bill, we have made it a priority for platforms to proactively tackle the most harmful illegal content which disproportionately targets women and girls. Women will also benefit from new tools that give them greater control over what they see on social media, including content that is abusive or incites hatred on the basis of sex.”
The Tab Online student paper conducted a survey on student support of UCU strikes, finding that only 64.6% of Newcastle University students support lectures in their pursuit for fairer wages and pension protections compared to a 70% average across all surveyed institutions.
Newcastle finds itself 16th out of 23 of Universities, with more than 100 responses to the poll, trailing behind the likes of King’s College London with a reported support rate of 74.7%, Cambridge, with a rate of 80.3%, and at the top with the highest reported rates of support for lecture strikes Glasgow University where just over 16% of students said they didn’t support the industrial action compared to some 83.6% who did.
While Newcastle may seem low in comparison to other responding
Universities a YouGov poll taken in January that surveyed some 2,000 people found that only a paltry 36% of the general public were in support of the university strikes.
Newcastle finds itself 16th out of 23 of universities
In response to these findings Jo Grady, the UCU general secretary, told the Tab “Students back their staff taking action because they see day in day out the way that it treats those who do the work inside our universities,” Singling out the Vice-chancellors that hold “£40bn in reserves,” Grady says university leadership would rather “hoard,” this money then use “a fraction of it,” it to settle the disputes; adding “everyday of teaching students lose is completely the fault of vice-chancellors who refuse to invest in staff and refuse to invest in students".
These play areas
"give the local kids the opportunity of having something healthy to do"
A new devolution deal proposed for the North East could see £4.2 billion invested into the region
Following extensive negotiations with the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, the government announced in December a new devolution deal for the areas of County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, and Sunderland, replacing the North of Tyne devolution deal made in 2018. This deal would see significant powers transferred to the North East from central government and offers a potential £4.2bn investment into the region:
• An investment fund of £1.4bn, £48m a year, to support
economic growth and regeneration projects
• A budget of around £1.8bn, £60m a year, for adult education and skills – to meet local skill priorities and improve opportunities for residents
• £900m for investment in transport systems, with £563m from the City Regional Sustainable Transport Fund, on top of funding already announced for buses and the metro system
• £69m of investment in housing and regeneration, to bring forward new housing and commercial development
• 24,000 extra jobs and 70,000 courses per year to give people the skills to become employed, and leverage £5 billion of private sector investment
This deal comes with the next mayoral election in 2024 where North of Tyne Combined Authority (NATC) and North East Combined Authority (NECA) would combine into one new council, an area which would encompass around 2 million people.
Cabinets of seven local authorities agreed to the terms of the devolution deal and the next stage of the plans,
which includes public consultation; residents, businesses, and other stakeholders can give their feedback online or by attending a number of faceto-face or virtual events taking place across the North East.
At the end of the consultation period, which ends on 23 March, a report will be brought back to each Cabinet with a summary of the responses. Any proposed submissions by the Councils will be sent to the Secretary of State to consider before laying an order in parliament.
The phrase ‘Wider and deeper’ has been used repeatedly around this deal. ‘Wider’ is certainly true as the new authority would be some 3000 square miles bigger than previously thought with the addition of South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland, and County Durham. While ‘Deeper’ is used to refer to the greater powers this new council would receive in housing, skills, and transport. Transport will be a big focus of this new council as it gains control of the Tyne and Wear metro, subsidised buses, and Shields ferry.
As we learn about the process of devolution in England, it seems that deals like these are a foundation to build up from, mayors regularly
negotiate for further funding, like in the case of Greater Manchester where the combined authority spent almost double the amount set out in its initial deal after further negotiations. It seems that this deal is a starting point for the new, combined northeast and, if
nothing else, as the deal is discussed and debated, many councillors have noted that they’ve “never known the North East as united as this” and that if we keep discussions open and stay united, the North East is in a ‘prime position’ for the future.
on March 31st; which has incited many leaders from the North East’s transportation sector to speak out about the immense amount of pressure the bus service is already under. Following a year of cuts in 2022, it will only be exacerbated as this key government scheme comes to an end.
Gateshead Council leader, Martin Gannon, being one of these voices has gone as far to voice his worries that the bus industry in the North East could be plunged into “terminal decline,” if something is not done soon.
The North East bus industry is under pressure as the Government Bus Recovery scheme comes to an end on March 31st. Following the 20% cut to their funding, we will expect to see a rise in costs of bus tickets and cuts to rural routes.
Nigel Featham, on behalf of the North East Bus Operators Association has warned that “if the Government decides to axe funding for buses - which is now looking more likely - it will put an end to a huge amount of routes. The North East will be particularly hard hit as it has many rural and semi-rural routes, which are the ones most at risk.”
His warning comes in the face of the Government Bus Recovery Grant coming to its end next month
North East Bus services are looking at a 20% slash to their funding as the 31st of March approaches. The severe cutbacks from last year had already crippled a community service disrupted by driver shortages and industrial disputes.
The threat of higher bus ticket costs and cuts to essential routes to rural areas has lead to louder cries for the future Mayor of the North East to restore transport services back into public ownership. That could be possible under the powers the region is to be granted as part of the £4.2 billion devolution deal for the North East.
The region has proposed modifications to rehabilitate the transportation system, including a £163 million plan funded by the Government and ambitions from leaders to create a more joined up ticketing system. With just one ticket, an individual could hop across services and traverse the county. Whether these ambitions materialise into reality is yet to be proven.
As 31 March approaches, and Government funding runs out, the affordability of the North East transport service appears increasingly under threatImage credit: Creative Commons Image credit: Unsplash
As knife crime continues to destroy lives throughout the North East, The Chronicle Live launches it's Stop Knives Taking Lives campaign
In the wake of 15-year-old Holly Newton’s death, The Chronicle has launched a new campaign to call upon the community to put an end to knife crime in the North East.
Tomasz Oleszak, 14, from Gateshead; Gordon Gault, 14, from Benwell; and now Holly Newton, 15, from Haltwhistle. All three have lost their lives to knife crime within the last four months alone. Stop Knives Taking Lives campaigners are urging parents to educate their children about the devastating consequences of carrying knives and encouraging members of the community to inform police if they know of anyone carrying a blade.
Both Northumbria Police and the
Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuiness, have expressed their support for the campaign, with the emergency services experiencing a staggering increase in stabbings across the North East, particularly those
involving young people.
Assistant Chief Constable, Brad Howe, described tackling knife crime as "a collective responsibility," reiterating the message that "your actions today could help to save the life of a loved one."
Throughout the campaign Chronicle
Live will give a voice to the families torn apart by knife crime, like that of Gordon Gault, whose mum Dionne Barrett, strongly endorses Stop Knives Taking Lives, explaining that "something has
to change." Through a combination of testimonies and efforts to raise awareness of knife laws, campaigners hope to expose the harsh realities of knife crime and deter people from reaching for blades.
Many families have welcomed guidelines published this month by the Sentencing Council: which sentence those who sell knives to under-18s. But, Alison Madgin, mother of 18-yearold Samantha who was killed in 2007, highlights that more needs to be done to safeguard young people.
"The trouble is kids can get knives from anywhere. They can just take them out the drawer in the kitchen." While anything that keeps knives off the street is a step forward, campaigns like Stop Lives Taking Knives will work alongside these measures to challenge existing attitudes about knives.
Over three years ago, the UK left the European Union, and to say the road has been smooth sailing would be a grave insult to all that we have lived through. Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent fallout have been influential on the UK economy, and we are still living in the aftermath of that, however, as we move forward, the price of Brexit and poor leadership has become increasingly apparent.
It is no longer uncommon to see empty shelves in supermarkets, nor is it an unusual sight to see shops closing on the high street, as they are unable to afford the rising costs of remaining open.
easier and more comfortable (missiles aside) than trying to do the same in peace-shattered Penrith.”
Farmers are a key example of the repercussions of Brexit. As strike action reinvigorates itself this year, it is becoming more apparent that no one is happy with the situation we have found ourselves in.
58% of farmers who voted for Brexit were subsidised £3 billion from the government in the run-up to the 2016 Brexit referendum, despite the fact farming in England is only 0.7% of our overall GDP. Farming practices are crucial to Britain's economy and as such this money was largely undisputed as it was deemed necessary for the industry to run efficiently.
However, since leaving the European Union, the scheme to subsidise farming has changed almost every year, and with each new government, payments keep getting cut away. It has reached the stage where, on average, farmers saw a 22% loss of government funding last year, with a suspected 36% this coming year.
a large farm on the Holkham Estate in Norfolk, saw the farm’s subsidies cut by 45% last year and estimated a loss of £100 million in government funding. Holkham Estate are trying to prepare for the same amount of underspend this year as well.
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat's environmental spokesperson has said “They [the Conservatives] have rushed to cut basic payments and failed to deliver the new schemes on time. […] This will lead to farmers going out of business, which means that we will fail to deliver vital environmental goals. […] It’s hard to know if this is incompetence or deliberate betrayal of our rural communities, but they amount to the same thing.”
Freelance reporter Liz Cookman returned from documenting the war in Ukraine and commented, “working in war-torn Ukraine is
Some farmers, however, like Jake Fiennes, a conservationist who manages
With 12,000 farmers leaving the profession from 2021 to 2022, it is somewhat underwhelming that the government has only had 2,000 farmers signed up to its latest scheme for sustainable farming practices, especially as 92,100 farmers are currently in business in the country.
"Your actions today could help to save the life of a loved one"
It's no longer uncommon to see empty shelves in supermarkets and shops closing down
Farmers saw a 22% loss of government funding last year, with a predicted 36% this year
12,000 farmers left the profession last year, and only 2,000 have signed up to the new scheme
For the past couple of years, I have been trekking in and around Newcastle by Metro with a 19-21 Pop Card, which offers a welcome discount on fares.
Having just turned 22, however, my Pop Card is now (unsurprisingly) invalid. What was costing me around £3 a day is now £5.70 – a sharp increase to say the least.
single year, even this cheapest option culminates in a staggering total of over £725 on transport just to get to and from campus.
As full-time students, it is expected that we spend 40 hours studying every week. While only some of those hours are timetabled university sessions, we are also encouraged to spend our independent studying time making use of on-campus facilities and libraries.
students’ presence on campus by offering aid with transport costs?
So, your third year of university seems to be coming to an end this year. Feelings of anxiety and general dread might be piling on to the existing stress of your endof-year projects. The world is an unexpected place, and it's scary to try to move out of the familiar academic atmosphere and to a professional setting. Henceforth, many of you might rely on the thought of a master's to help with this newfound existential crisis.
As a student studying for her master's, it is an amazing experience. You get to learn more about your discipline and you are able to take more initiative and challenge yourself better. Although, it is best to contemplate and question the need of doing a master's immediately after your bachelor's degree.
For one, acquiring a master's education is an expensive affair. It requires thousands of pounds to study for just a year. Therefore, it is best if you are prepared and know which subject you intend to learn for your master's. There is no rush in joining a master’s degree course. You can always experiment and understand your niche before emptying your pockets.
Waiting before your master's will allow you to delve into the professional world. Though it may seem intimidating, gaining professional experience would only help you in the future. Build and hone the skills you can receive in professional settings. If you are short on funds for a master's degree, working a job after uni can help you pay for your master's.
Giving yourself a little bit of a break is also necessary. After a strenuous three years of academic progression, a break would be the best choice. The master’s degrees aren’t running away and there is no pressure to join one immediately. Take your time understanding your preferences and strengths and soon you will be on the track to gaining your master's.
Now, I must admit until this point, I was oblivious to the student season ticket option for use on the Metro. Priced at £55.80 for four weeks –payable in one instalment – it is a cheaper option than the Pop Card I had previously been using. Yet, over a
most of these if we cannot afford to travel to campus? And with public transport in the Northeast facing a hike in ticket prices amid government talks to axe funding for buses, it seems the problem may be about to get a whole lot worse.
This then poses the question – should universities themselves be doing more to ensure
If it is a case of how this could be done, there are a handful of ways that spring to mind straight off the bat. Simply offering subsidisation of the costs may suffice, or perhaps even arrangements with local councils to ensure free access to public transport for those possessing a valid student ID would not be out of the question. Northumbria University already provides free travel between its two campuses, yet this system still works under the assumption students can afford to travel to one of these campuses in the first place. Newcastle, on the other hand, does not offer any aid towards transport.
What the issue here is really addressing, however, is much greater than having to cough up twice as much for the Metro. Financial aid for students is simply not good enough. At a time when prices are going up in the current cost of living crisis, student loan figures remain relatively unchanged compared to where they were three years ago. And even then, for many, the entitlement was stingy at best. It is assumed that they will be able to afford my education and all that comes with it because I have two cohabiting, working parents.
Full disclosure: I’ve never actually been to one of NUSU’s Discover Newcastle fairs. The long queues and having to put your email account through hundreds of spam adverts just for some free sweets doesn’t seem worth it to me. But it seems there was also a much more morally justified reason not to go to this Monday’s fair: the presence of online fashion retailer SHEIN.
NUSU gave it a stall where it ran a competition to win a rack of clothes and a £200 voucher for having a picture taken with their branding and (surprise) putting in your email.
In other words, our Students’ Union promoted SHEIN'S brand, expanded its clientele and therefore was an enabler of its unethical and harmful practices.
The global budget clothing company plays a major role in the fast fashion industry, where cheap items of clothing are mass produced, then mass wasted. Producers overstock then quickly dispose of items to keep up with shoppers’ demands, and even if items are bought consumers will most likely chuck them within months of use. This practice is obviously incredibly wasteful, of
energy, water and manpower as well as of the fabrics themselves. Even if SHEIN’s clothes weren’t regularly thrown away, their production methods are literally toxic. The dyes it uses contain hazardous chemicals which are harmful to humans and the environment, its carbon emissions are sky high, and their cheap synthetic materials contain polluting microplastics.
Just as bad is the treatment of its workers. SHEIN employees slog through gruelling 18-hour days for next to nothing pay in dangerous working conditions. Its factories don’t even abide to Chinese labour laws, let alone the UK’s; our government’s Modern Slavery Act should require it to disclose its working conditions, which it hasn’t. I wonder why.
The British government, the SU… everyone in power seems to be letting SHEIN get away with it. To be fair, as it’s the Tories I’m disappointed but not surprised. But for NUSU this is unacceptable. Their website states that they’re sustainable because they “take all reasonable steps to minimise our adverse impact on the environment, society and the planet”, and employ an ethics and environment rep. The hypocrisy is laughable.
I acknowledge and am pleased that the Union has since released a statement announcing plans to “amend our approach to promoting fast fashion brands within the Student's Union building” following student complaints. It shouldn’t take significant criticism and backlash for them to recognise this, though. Usually the SU makes a positive contribution to university life, putting on a wide range of events, offering support to students and successfully lobbying the University;
I urge them to maintain these standards by taking this criticism constructively and learning from their mistakes.
Two further important points also need to be made. The first is that much of the complaints around the SHEIN controversy have been directed towards the University, with many people quick to point out its awards for sustainable development and climate action. This is true, but it’s irrelevant; the university and the union are two politically and organisationally separate bodies, so as far as I know, the university doesn’t have much say in who the SU invites to their fairs. Let’s make sure we’re accusing the right people.
The second point should also be some food for thought for NUSU: how exactly does SHEIN help you “discover” Newcastle? The fair was apparently for “local businesses” to promote themselves to students and gain exposure, seemingly benefiting the local community. Having SHEIN there is then not only unethical,
- Music sub-editor
At a time when prices are going up in the cost of living crisis, student loan figures remain unchanged
My journey has gone up from £3 to £5.70, almost twice as much as what it used to cost meImage credit: Freefoto
favourite verse being from a song about carbs being ‘Bread, bread, it’s the OG fuel, Simple, yet versatile, always in the tool, From loaves to bagels, we got it all, Ain't no carb king that can make us fall’.
For those who don’t know about the revolutionary existence of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, you are missing out. Using a natural language processing software, a chat bot and discussion page hold the answers to any question or information you want to know. Gathering data from across the internet and the world wide web, the algorithm created by OpenAI collects and summarises answers for research, language learning support, productivity and writing assistance.
It can also be used for fun, for brain storming and idea generation - its great at telling jokes, creating writing prompts, giving advice, and my personal favourite feature is the ability to write humorous songs. My favourite thing I asked it to do was write a song a song about something random in the style of Kanye West and it definitely out-performed; my
In terms of education, a student can use AI to help them learn simple facts, translate texts, and use it to broaden their understanding over a subject area or topic for example, ask Chat GPT to ‘Write a summary on the events of The War of Roses 1445’, or ask ‘How does the law commission influence parliament’, or ‘translate this text from Spanish to English’. For those interested in code, Chat GTP has the ability to write code for software and computing technology engineering for example ‘write a code for a traffic lights’. The chat box allows someone to have quick and easy access to essay,
code and report writing right at their fingertips. The ease and ability of this means students can be more efficient and productive in their essay writing, tasks and learning because the information is all curated and put in simple terms of understanding. This tool is very good in its trained ability to generate human-like and engaging text that can be used freely but here is where the problem and concerns can start to arise. ChatGPT may be used to facilitate cheating and academic dishonesty.
answers to test questions, essays, or assignments, rather than putting in the time and effort to develop their own understanding of the subject matter. This may have implications for the role of educators and the nature of the learning experience. If students can access information and answers at any time and from anywhere, the traditional role of educators as the primary source of knowledge and expertise may be diminished.
those who are already struggling to keep up with the demands of higher education.
The last three paragraphs were written by ChatGPT when I asked ‘What problems can ChatGPT cause for higher education in the UK’.
It is interesting the ability the software has and recognises the issues Universities may or will face with the number of users growing and easier access.
The problem of plagiarism may grow with lecturers and markers being unaware of the use of ChatGPT assisting or used in student essays, code and work because of the software’s trained ability to adapt and replicate academic tone. The authenticity of our work will still rely on our own academic integrity, and our responsibility to produce honest work and desire to learn and educate ourselves.
However, the question is how Newcastle University and higher education will respond to ChatGPT and the risk of students using it. Will they put a ban on using it removing access on the Uni server or will they find ways of tracking the use of AI in our work.
(Artificial intelligence helped me write my article, how cool yet bizarre is that!?)
Yet another success story from Newcastle student media, upon her brief return to campus, I discussed the looming anxieties for students as they face the jobs market upon graduation with Kayleigh.
So it’s nice to see you again! You’re starting a job with the Northern Echo, right? What will your official title be there?
Next week is my official start date, and my title will be ‘Trainee Reporter’!
And how was the process getting that job? Assumably alongside studying your master's?
It was a fast process, honestly. I had an online interview, then a few days later I had the offer, it moved really quickly
So how did you come to find the job?
So, when starting my master's, I had no idea I’d get a job like this alongside. It was actually my friend, they had the job, and I realised, wow that’s cool, then when the vacancy came up, I quickly applied, and then, yeah, the rest!
Would you say then, as you began your master's, you had no plans for a job of this calibre alongside?
No, definitely not, not a clue. I looked at grad schemes, none of them stuck out. I applied for The Beagle, didn’t
get through. I had the mindset of summertime, get a job, and that just completely flipped.
Prior to this, were you even aware it was an option to have this kind of job alongside studying?
No... I think a lot of people see university as cause and effect. You go to uni, then you get a job, they don’t mix together – like a one step process and you cant combine the opportunities. It’s refreshing to see these opportunities arise, especially for media students, usually they’re on a voluntary basis.
We’ve established there’s a definite lack of awareness – does responsibility lie with the universities to fix this?
University is what you make of it. It’s your job to excel and get involved. They can preach opportunities to you all you like, but it’s on you to take action in yourself. You say you “want a job in journalism,” well do something about it then – it’s all cause and effect.
As I’m sure you know, Newcastle loves a good job fair, do they do enough today?
Newcastle’s ‘Discover Fair’ had Shein and Frankie and Benny’s, is this where they should be plugging jobs?
With job fairs, there’s a clear lack of media related jobs or companies in attendance; that definitely doesn’t help at all. The journalism world is already so marginalised within institutions, by the time we get to job fairs it’s majority all stem and engineering – or marketing, Jesus Christ, I don’t want marketing!
On that note, would you agree immersing yourself in student media is
the best strategy for media careers?
Yes – a thousand percent. You can’t expect opportunity if you don’t put in the work to do it. Any little experience is the best, even if it’s scary. I was a girl who was too scared to go to freshers, then there I was, presenting on NUTV. It’s terrifying but get involved as much as you can.
Looking back, how do you feel that you had to discover opportunities through friends rather than University guiding you?
My tutors have always given good guidance, they were happy to do references, but it is networking that is key, especially in these careers. It is unfair to place sole responsibility on the university. You have to get up and do it, they tell you to network… so set up a LinkedIn or a Twitter and actually use it. Get yourself out there and connect, send people DMs, they’ll respond, if anyone messaged me asking for advice, I’d be more than willing to help. These people are passionate about the industry and want it to grow, so of course they’d help. I guess my central message is the university can guide you, and they do, but it is on you, no one is going to come to you, you have to go to them.
Final question: if you could have dinner with one dead, one alive and one fictional person, who would they be?
Okay, killer question, right. Fictional: Steve Rogers but specifically post super soldier serum, like the fog is just covering him leaving the pod. Alive has to be Donald Trump, I want to get inside that man’s head. And dead… Princess
What is ChatGPT and how are students using it to cheat their degrees?
"From loaves to bagels, we got it all, ain't no carb king that can make us fall"Image credit: Unsplash
In the early hours of 6 February, a major earthquake hit southeastern Turkey, and was followed by a second, equally destructive aftershock just hours later.
7.8 in magnitude, the quake and the second tremour have caused mass devastation. There are over 40,000 known fatalities, with thousands severely injured and the fate of many missing completely unknown. Official rescue efforts are coming to a close in Turkey, but deaths are expected to rise further, with the UN warning that the final death toll could be over double the current figure.
Yet it wasn’t just the powerful nature of Turkey’s earthquake that lead to such mass destruction. A fortnight after one of the 21st century’s biggest natural disasters, Turkey’s government has found itself under intense scrutiny as criticism grows over the state’s level of preparedness, as well as the speed of the immediate response and the arguably flawed nature of government policies and hazard management plans.
Granted, in a region of Turkey that hasn’t suffered a major earthquake in decades and where, just hours from the border with Syria, political conflict remains at the forefront of conversation, natural disaster management was not pre-emptively prioritised. The reality
is that Turkey sits between two major fault lines in an active earthquake zone and experts for years have warned of the region’s vulnerability to a natural disaster of such magnitude. Seyhun Puskulcu, seismologist and coordinator of the Turkish Earthquake Foundation, has admitted that the current catastrophe unfolding “wasn’t a surprise”. All of this begs the sobering question of whether such a devastating disaster could have been avoided if Turkey had been more prepared.
In 1999, northwest Turkey suffered a tragic magnitude-7.4 earthquake, killing more than 17,000 people, in light of which the Turkish government vowed to improve protection against natural disasters, introducing new building codes as well as levying an earthquake tax to raise funds for better preparation for future quakes. However, implementation of the new regulations was weak, with buildings built before the turn of the century remaining unmodified and unable to withstand the intense seismic activity that Turkey was evidently prone to experiencing, leaving many densely populated buildings, including the Iskenderun Devlet Hastanesi hospital - which in 2012 failed earthquake resistance testshighly vulnerable to impending disaster. Further protection efforts have trickled in and out of political conversation, including a complete National Disaster Management Plan which was instituted in 2015 but never actually implemented.
On top of that, serious questions have been raised about how money generated by the state’s earthquake insurance system was actually spent. In short, the Turkish government may have had various plans in place to support its population against the threat of seismic activity, but the bleak reality is that little action was taken. The consequences of this has been all too evident in recent weeks.
But is it all too easy to cast the blame on the Turkish government and overlook the political landscape that has destabilised life at the TurkishSyrian border? The truth is that in both Syria, which has endured more than 11 years of violent conflict, and parts of Turkey, which frequently suffer from their own waves of political unrest, prevailing warfare and political turmoil have rendered it virtually impossible to focus on natural hazard management, including the successful and widespread enforcement of new building standards, because more immediate and pressing problems have seemingly been on the two nations' plates.
In Syria, where years of warfare has steadily destroyed key national infrastructure, buildings in conflictstricken cities have seen themselves provisionally replaced with low quality structures made of any materials at hand. The result of this, with almost 6,000 dead in Syria, is clear and devastating. So, perhaps it’s too easy to make Turkish and Syrian policies the scapegoat of
Is this the new wave of the patriarchy? Popular male influencers are targeting young boys, feeding them the idea that they are being wronged; where equal rights are being established, these boys are being told their rights are being taken away. Many young boys perhaps feel that their masculinity is being villainised; we need to showcase the amazing men who embody masculinity whilst advocating for equality.
If we let young boys look up to misogynistic, transphobic men, we are in danger of transgressing back to prejudice and hatred. Take Jordan Peterson’s take on transgender
someone else who’s a hell of a lot less trouble”. How about just treating people as people? He is openly admitting that he would discriminate against trans or non-standard gendered people in favour of someone who fits the social norms. This is a scary rhetoric to place into struggling and vulnerable young people’s minds, especially if boys feel that they are being ‘overtaken’ by minorities.
What’s more, Andrew Tate has managed to influence so many young boys, that even after his arrest for human trafficking and rape, they still defended him.
I was recently with some male friends, discussing Tate: one of them said he was the “greatest of all time” and I was in complete shock. He is accused of imprisoning women and forcing them to film porn; I’m not sure what’s great about that. People who hold this belief are either seriously uneducated or worse - they believe Tate’s opinion to be fun ny and somewhat true. Some young men are lured into his ideology be cause it makes them feel powerful in a world where they feel they’re losing power. The consequences to this are unbelievably harmful. Rape culture still perpetrates our locker rooms and school corridors. If young men think these acceptable, line get
Whilst solutely wrong men havrole modcannot take away mas culine role models.
Take Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock, who has tackled ideas of negative masculinity and suffering in silence. Something crucial about The Rock is that he is also a symbol of classic masculinity; we don’t need to be telling young men that they all need to start painting their nails and wearing pink: you can be strong and ‘masculine’ while also encouraging women and respecting trans people. The main lesson is that the two ideologies are not mutually exclusive. Another outstanding role model is Lewis Hamilton. Undisputed champion of F1, with 103 pole positions and 7 world titles, Hamilton is an incredible athletic figure of masculinity. He also advocates for gay rights, especially by his helmet designs in the countries he races in with anti-
the unfolding humanitarian disaster, when the West has turned a blind eye to the majority of the catastrophic struggles Syria has faced in recent years. Interestingly, it is only now, when closer relations between Turkey and Russia are potentially on the cards, that the West taken action, providing the nation with humanitarian aid to facilitate relief efforts as well as unleashing a scathing attack on Turkey’s political decisions.
So, whilst the complicated political situation in Syria and parts of Turkey warrants, to some degree, the scarce focus on earthquake protection in the years leading up to the catastrophe, it is in no way enough to ignore the brutal fact that February’s earthquake was quite literally a disaster waiting to happen, due to flawed political decisions and a lack of policies to support both the countries and their people.
and a hard place during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The first priority internationally should be urgent aid, including the donation of cash to trusted charities and aid organisations providing immediate humanitarian relief.
With so many lives taken or destroyed in both Turkey and Syria, maybe this month’s earthquake will be the desperately needed wakeup call to prioritise earthquake resistant infrastructure once and for all, albeit heartbreakingly too late and at the unnecessary cost of so many. Only when initial relief has been provided can the conversation of exactly what needs to change in light of the disaster carry on, instead of waiting until another, perhaps more deadly crisis strikes, and more lives are unnecessarily lost before learning vital lessons and doing something about it.
Nevertheless, that shouldn’t be used for political gain by Turkey’s opposition parties in the run up to May’s election day, nor manipulated by the West, made up of many nations like us who have never had to contend with such devastation from seismic activity, yet are quick to criticise Turkey at a time when it already finds itself in between a rock
Community focused projects offer a safe social space to many individuals across the country. But will an increase in these projects guarantee a decrease in crime?
Community focused projects can include youth clubs, sport clubs and community centres. I think these projects can have a huge impact on an individual's life. After the countless COVID 19 lockdowns I am sure many appreciate more than ever what a community can offer. And to me, these projects could have an effect on crime rates. I think they provide role models, stability and a support network to individuals who may feel excluded or frustrated within their own lives. This enables stronger community ties, which reduces the chances of people seeking connections in other groups such as gangs. For ex offenders, the homeless and other groups, community projects can fill the gaps in care they receive, such as upskilling sessions for ex offenders. This can mean that these individuals have the chance to break their cycle of reoffending.
Finally, community based projects have been increasingly used to combat knife crime. Youth clubs often carry out daily anti knife crime sessions on topics such as the consequences of using a knife. And the closures of many youth centered projects have been linked with the rise in knife crime. Because of all these reasons, I believe community
projects have the power to deter people from committing crimes.
Yet can community focused projects cure all crime? Crime is complex, and there is no one solution. For example, I believe that stopping crimes such as sexual assaults against women has to involve other areas of society where misogyny is present. Until changes in areas such as education and the media happen, crimes against women will continue to rise. I appreciate how much a community focused project can offer, but in the end it is only a small part of society.
I also believe it should not be relied on as a solution to crime as people may not even use them. Communities could reject them due to distrust or intimidation by outside sources. This means projects may not have any impact on crime rates within an area as not all community members would use them.
To add to this, I think that the effectiveness of community focused projects also depends on if it is in a rural or urban area. In an urban area, community centres can be set up in the middle of a community with good transport connections. Yet, as I myself know from living in a rural part of Northumberland, communities can be more spread out and have little to no transport connections.
Overall, I cannot help but feel this recent push for more community focused projects is an act of shifting responsibility for the rising crime rates. By presenting these projects as a solution to crime, wider systemic causes are effectively brushed under the carpet. I believe community focused projects can have some impact on crime rates within their area, but it can never be the complete cure.
This was quite literally a disaster waiting to happen
Sub-editors: Elisabeth Göres, Isabel Lamb & Anthony Welsh
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have solved the mystery of how fingerprints form, and it's all to do with a mathematical theory
Fsince the 1800s. However, how they formed has remained unknown –until now.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh have found that the recognisable arches, loops and whorls of fingerprints develop in the
womb in waves starting from 3 different points.
mice to examine how they interact with each other and give rise to patterns in the skin. Developmental biologist Denis Headon from the University of Edinburgh described the process simply as “turning a dial – or molecule – up and down”. It was then observed how these actions caused the patterns to change. For example, increasing levels of EDAR caused ridges to form, whereas decreasing it led to the production of spot-like patterns.
Fingerprint ridges first form as downward growths in the skin, which then start growing upwards resulting in bands. The unique patterns we see arise due to interactions between 3 signalling molecules which follow a Turing Pattern. There are 3 key molecules involved in this process – WNT, EDAR and
The team of Edinburgh researchers adjusted levels of these molecules in
New study reveals Goffin's Cockatoos are capable of using tools and transporting tools
Noun: 'bird-brain' - a silly or stupid person. Bird brain has been used as an insult since at least 1910, but due to recent findings – bird brain is more likely a
Caledonian Crow has been known to have the capability to craft tools. Recent findings have shown that the Cockatoo has the ability to take that to a more complex level.
Dr Osuna-Mascaró alongside a team of researchers conducted the study by placing a cashew nut behind a thin membrane inside a box. The 10 cockatoos were provided two objects, one which would pierce the membrane and one longer tool to draw the nut out.
6 out of 10 cockatoos managed this with ease, some even completing the task in just over 30 seconds.
In a second experiment, the bird was
The Turing reaction-diffusion is a mathematical theory that describes how chemicals interact to create patterns seen in nature, such as the stripes ofr a tiger. The change between ridges and spots seen in this study is a signature aspect of systems governed by the Turing reaction-diffusion. The
Jessica Predko
Every year, 14 million tonnes of plastic is estimated to get into our oceans and only 9% of the world’s plastics are recycled. Despite there having been an increase in published work on plastic pollution in recent decades, plastic pollution wasn’t always a welcomed issue in the scientific community.
It all started in 1971, when marine biologist Edward Carpenter found small bits of plastic in the Atlantic Ocean every time he towed his net whilst studying algae. He was shocked that the plastic was found such a long way from shore and even started measuring the weight of the plastic he was towing. There were around 3,500 particles of plastic per square kilometre, and there was a variety of different plastics.
Carpenter was convinced this would go onto harm marine life. Whilst studying fish larvae, he discovered not everything he thought was fish larvae, was actually fish larvae. To his shock, when squeezed, a piece of plastic about 1mm – 2mm in diameter poppedout. He then went further to publish 2 papers on his findings in 1972, but these were not accepted by the scientific community. His bosses even told him to stop measuring plastics in
our oceans and to “just concentrate on biology”. But Carpenter would not give up, and continued his research in secret.
Fast forward to 1997, Captain Charles Moore was competing in a race in the Pacific Ocean, when he stumbled across fishing nets which were miles long, plastic bags and other pieces of plastic. This mass of plastic was what is now known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
In 2015, a video of a turtle with a plastic straw stuck up its nose went viral online. Pliers were used, but these were no use and the turtle cried out in pain. Eventually the straw was removed, revealing itself to be 10cm long. The video was watched by millions worldwide. Carpenter believes that the video demonstrate the harm plastic was causing to other organisms. In addition to injury, plastic in the ocean creates other issues. Organisms will feed on plastic and during bird autopsies, plastics have been found in
The amount of plastic in the ocean has continued to increase. An Oxford University study in 2016 found that 11 tonnes of plastics are dumped in our oceans each year alone. However, the world has started to wake up to the plastic problem and in 2022, The Ocean Clean-up removed 10 tonnes of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Echolocation, the ability to ‘see’ using sound, is typically associated with animals such as dolphins and bats. These mammals can navigate their surroundings by making clicking sounds and listening carefully to how the sound is reflected - or echoed - back to them.
But did you know that humans can do it too? In particular, some blind or partially sighted people have developed echolocation as a skill to help them mentally picture their environment. Humans can create sounds such as mouth clicks, finger snaps, whistling or even just footsteps to echolocate. Just like bats hunting for prey in the dark at night, blind people need to rely more heavily on their hearing than those without visual impairments. The use of echolocation in humans is a powerful illustration of how our senses can adapt to the world around us.
Widely associated with bats and dolphins, echolocation is actually a skill that can be learnt by humans
Roseanna Leconte
Some partially sighted people have developed echolocation
Johnstone
It's a mathematical theory that describes how chemicals interact to create patterns
Fingerprints start developing in the womb in waves from three different
Aquestion I often dread to be asked: “So, what’s your type?”. In this current day society, I find that often, people try to place each other in boxes, attempting to make sense of our attraction for one another through categories; blondes, brunettes, short, tall etc. But often I think, when it comes down to it, these ‘types’ we narrow ourselves down can seem superficial and overly simplified.
Ellie Cornforth
To what extent are men and women treated differently in the wrokplace?
There’s no denying that men and women within the workplace encounter vastly different experiences in regards to how they are treated. Unfortunately, gender inequalities are still at play within the workforce, demonstrated by a survey conducted with 1,000 women, in which a measly 47% admitted to being treated equally to their male colleagues.
Whilst it is easy to pinpoint the more major inequalities women face at work, such as the gender pay gap, there are several other ways in which women are undermined, making them feel forced to mask their femininity.
A prominent example would be the actions which male employees seem to find appropriate, even in a professional setting. Imagine this - it’s an important meeting and all the men in the room were greeted with a handshake and nod. For some reason, it has been normalised to greet a woman who walks in with a kiss on the cheek, with a hand placed on the low of their back. Whilst arguably not inherently sexist, it’s yet another reason that causes women to feel objectified in the work environment, and let’s be honest; it’s unprofessional. Employers should be
prepared to greet everyone in the same manner, because let me tell you, it was fairly degrading when I left one of my shifts at the bar to be met with a wink and a ‘see you later babe’, when the boys on shift had been shaken hands with.
Enter now the argument that women should disguise their femininity in order to be treated with more respect by their male counterparts. Less skin on show, more frumpy clothing and less makeup equals respect, right? Not entirely. Whilst I’m not advocating for rocking up to work in a leather mini skirt, fishnets and thighhigh boots, women should not feel coerced into dulling down their style in order to progress in their career.
Furthermore, the glass ceiling phenomena means that, even nowadays, women often reach a certain point in their career and struggle to make it any further. Often, the promotion ends up going to the middle-aged, white man, who shares the boss's love of golf. This could also be due to the fact that men are often threatened and intimidated by women in positions of authority and power, so find it easier to prevent them from reaching such positions at all. It’s vital that women keep striving to break through such barriers, as we have already come a long way. But as long as certain men remain in positions of power, with misogynistic mindsets, we still have a long way to go.
With attraction being so subjective, it’s no surprise that people differ on what they are attracted to, with some preferring some face shapes or hair colours to others. However, to only date that specific type I think would be ultimately limiting as by restricting yourself, you may be missing out on a number of people who could be right for you. Not to mention, people are also much more than just appearances. Each person has stories, experiences, passions, and dreams that blend and accumulate and often it is these traits that cement our attraction to humans. It’s watching someone talk excitedly about an interest or being kind and helpful to a stranger they’ve never met; it is these types of individual qualities that I think we should be acknowledging for attraction rather than just the physical attributes.
The difficulties of coming out to your friends and family
I’m bisexual, and honestly, that felt easy enough to write. Why am I less afraid of publicly publishing this fact about me, this fraction of who I am, than I was by telling my own parents?
whatever the reason, I had nothing to worry about, and my relationship with them remains the same if not with more trust. However, I’ve not told the rest of my family as I’m still scared. My personal philosophy about that is until it comes to it and I’m bringing a girlfriend home, I’m probably not gonna say anything. Even though that still worries me, I know my close family and friends are there for me whatever the result is.
Dating outside your comfort zone also allows you to learn more about yourself; you learn to separate what you like from what you dislike, and this can be fundamental for later years. Being in your early 20s means you're young and still trying to figure yourself out, let alone other people. What we find attractive is still developing and changing. So, date the athlete, date the stoner boy, the nerd, date a brunette and a ginger and a blonde, but just don't limit yourself. Because at the end of the day, as cheesy as the idiom “it’s what's on the inside that counts” is, there’s an element of truth in it; stop narrowing people into ‘types’ to pick and choose from, go for the person who makes you laugh, who makes you feel comfortable and who you can be yourself around.
I came out to my parents through a Christmas gift I sent them last year. This present was made up of a series of letters to each of them, and in just one of those to my dad, I wrote to himplus a note saying that he could tell my mum - that I was bi. The 10-15 business days that it took for the letters to send was one of the most stressful fortnights of my life, but I think it felt easier in the sense that I didn’t have to verbally say it, and I couldn’t back out either.
As for my friends, most of them know, and if I’ve not told them, my flat has a massive bi flag in the living room, so they’ll know if they get an invite over. My boyfriend is well aware, and we share a mutual crush on Lily James. Despite being in a straight-passing relationship, my partner is still comfortable with
and accepting of my sexuality, and that’s all I can ask for. In terms of my friendships, how I label my sexuality does not really affect any facet of my relationships, perhaps with the exception of extra jokes. I’m as comfortable around them as I am with those who aren’t, and honestly, if you have real friends, that’s how it should be. Coming out has only been a positive experience for me as I know that there is nothing I need to be afraid of when I’m surrounded my people who care for me. And while this experience is different for everyone, just know that there will always be someone willing to support you.
My parents didn’t make a fuss about my sexuality, apart from a couple of casual conversations with my mum over video call. I think one reason I was so worried was that while my parents have always been supportive of me, I watched them tell my brother it was alright to have whatever sexuality, but I didn’t get much of that same conversation. And as well meant as that was for my brother, I got worried because I wasn’t personally reassured the same.
Was I treated like that because my parents thought I was more emotionally mature, or did they just think I would be straight? Well
My partner is still comfortable with and accepting of my sexuality, and that’s all I can ask for
Each person has experiences, passions, and dreams and it is these traits that cement our attractions
Stop narrowing people into ‘types’, go for the person who makes you laugh, who makes you feel comfortableImage credit: Pixabay
Sub-editors: Ruby Butler, Georgia Purcell & Rebecca Wright
Rebecca Wright - Relationships sub-editor
My relationship with identity is a tricky one. Whilst I think that a lot of our identities are constructed by the world around us, a significant part of who we are relies on where we came from. How else are we to measure how much we’ve changed, how far we’ve come, or whether we’re straying from what is so undeniably us?
As an adopted child, I had a lot of questions concerning where I came from, what they were like, whether I was like them. I think that was the big question. I felt so different to everyone else my entire childhood, because as lovely and caring my parents were, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was something else entirely, something I didn’t know. In Science, we’d draw punnet squares to see which alleles were dominant and submissive in biological parents, and which would show in a child. I found myself asking what they looked like, whether my blue eyes were really my own or they were the product of a complete stranger. In Sociology, we were asked to draw family trees, a task which confused me to great lengths. We had to label ourselves as a type of family. Kids around the room would say they come from a nuclear family,
or a blended family – I wasn’t sure there was a word for what kind of family mine was. While the teachers were certainly trying to raise awareness of ‘other’ family types, it was just that –the other, again. The non-nuclear family. It felt as though everyone around me had a sure sense of where they were from, and it felt unfair that I didn’t.
In adolescence, it’s common for adopted children to struggle with developing their own values, beliefs and ideals as easily as other children do. This leads to lifelong issues with loss, rejection, guilt and shame, grief, identity and intimacy. This is certainly the case for me, at least. In not knowing where I’m from, it’s difficult to know where I’m going. What I want. What I believe. My values feel like an outwards projection of what I’ve been told they should be.
In many ways, I feel like I look outwards to find inwards feelings. Answers don’t seem to come naturally; I have to forge my identity by interacting with the world around me. In a lot of ways, this feels like a blessing. I’m instinctively curious, introspective and inquisitive. I’m very appreciative of what I have, the friends and family
With renewed talk recently of a safe contraceptive pill for men, I considered my position on contraceptives within my relationships, and how I would react if a pill for men came out, as well as how it might affect relationship dynamics in society as a whole if adopted en masse. Currently, my girlfriend and I rely on condoms for contraception, and personally, if a male contraceptive pill came out I don't think that would immediately change, depending perhaps on the nature of the pill. Condoms would still most likely be the most convenient option available to me, I would inevitably forget to take them if the pill came in the form of a regular dose, and the uncertainty of trying to remember if I had remained up to date would introduce stress into my sex life that I could do without. If it somehow was a use-only-before-sex form then there would likely be side-effects that I wouldn’t get with condoms, and for peace of mind you can visibly see when condoms might have failed, allowing you to take action on any potential failures reliably.
The reality
Have you ever made friends online before? Or used a dating app? Building relationships on the internet is a common thing now. But what if you can just put on a VR headset at home, be an avatar and immerse yourself in a creative world?
In the Metaverse, we can connect with people worldwide by using sensory experience. We can touch and feel. More importantly, we will have so much more freedom to express ourselves in this world and we can have a second life here!
What about relationships in the Metaverse? Is there any possibility we can find good friends or a partner in this world? I think the answer is positive.
In the Metaverse society, we are not restricted by the social norms of the real world, I guess we can be more ourselves without caring so much about our appearances, facial expressions and behaviours. Imagine - we can talk to our dates’ avatar with their real voice, we can hold hands before we actually meet, we can “hang out” inside of the Metaverse. It sounds exciting to build a life in the Metaverse with someone. You can live the life you want without worrying so much about realistic conditions like long-distance challenges and judgements from your family and friends. Your avatar can have perfect hair, body shape and overcome the insecurities with your real body. However, with the disguise of our avatars, a lot of people will probably fall in love or trust people too easily. We only know what people want us to know, only see
what people want us to see. No matter how real we feel in the Metaverse, it still is not the real world. If we fall in love with the someone’s avatar, perhaps we just fall in love with the
We shouldn’t devote all of ourselves to the Metaverse and neglect the real world. Eventually, people need to spend more time in the real world. It is another challenge to develop our Metaverse relationship in the real world, we may have expectations before we meet virtual friends and have disappointments when we finally meet them. But who knows! What if we are so lucky to meet our life partner and best friend in the Metaverse? The Metaverse can be a great escape from reality and a brilliant tool to develop relationships and friendships, but we should still value the connections we have in the real world and not get lost in the fantasy of the Metaverse!
But the fact is that these are all concerns which already affect those who can get pregnant and take pill contraceptives to prevent that, so although I imagine the vast majority of men will find condoms more convenient as I do, it’s important that we are open to conversations with significant others regarding the division of responsibility in a relationship. The pill has the potential to chip away at the preconception that women are responsible for their contraception in a relationship in pill form. Couples would have more options to divide contraceptive responsibility in a way that ensures that everyone is comfortable and can enjoy sex without stress. Some might prefer sex without barrier method contraceptives, couples would be able to enjoy sex their way whilst maintaining two layers of protection for peace of mind.
More options for men and couples can only be a good thing, and men should universally welcome a contraceptive pill even if they personally don’t plan on pursuing that method. If one does come out in the near future, the key to approaching the topic is, as always, healthy and honest discussion. If you have concerns, if you would rather switch to that method from the one you currently use, whatever the case, talk to your partner and inform them of how you are feeling. If your partner approaches you and asks to talk about the current division of contraception, be open, it is not an attack on condoms, simply another option that can provide extra comfort to couples.
Couples would have more options to divide contraceptive responsibility and ensure everyone is comfortable
should
We may have expectations before we meet virtual friends and disappointments when we finally meet themImage credit: Pixabay Image credit: Pixabay
Why it's important to consider all of your contaceptive options
Is queerbaiting as harmful as it's made out to be?
Queerbaiting is a technique often used in media and marketing, a common practice of heavily implying non-heterosexual relationships without ever actually depicting them in the form of a bait-and-switch tactic.
The term itself is accusatory, but is queerbaiting necessarily always harmful?
The short answer is yes. Representation of nonheterosexual relationships remains few and far between in mainstream media. The few depictions of queer relationships we do get often fall victim to the “Bury Your Gays” trope, meaning at least one of the characters won’t make it to the end of the story – take the finale of Killing Eve, for example. Queer representation plays a crucial role in the shaping attitudes towards LGBTQ+ identities, and for many young people in particular the media they are exposed to forms a major source of their education on LGBTQ+ matters.
To represent these stories is to validate queer individuals. When such representation appears to be present, only to be stripped away to nothing, it perpetuates the stigma from which queerness seems unable to break free. Thus, denying queer individuals the opportunity to see themselves represented through media, which undercuts any
and all validation they may feel by discouraging the normalisation of queer experiences. And, with those identifying as LGBTQ+ disproportionately affected by mental health issues, is it not crucial that we aim to destigmatise however we can?
Stonewall previously reported 52% of LGBT people had experienced depression in 2018, while the figure for young LGBT people (aged 18-24) stood even higher at 68%. While these figures alone are alarming enough, given that post-COVID studies have shown widespread deterioration in mental health since this report, it is safe to assume it now more important than ever to address the correlation between mental health and the LGBTQ+ population.
on, yet this is exactly what continues to happen. Queerbaiting is often reflective of widespread problematic attitudes towards queerness. To take an example – the most recent series of BBC hit Line of Duty featured longstanding character Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) appearing to develop some level of romantic relationship with her new boss Joanne Davidson (Kelly MacDonald). A trickle of flirtatious exchanges, tentative physical touches, and a getaway car-chase later, both characters forget the other exists entirely explanation whatsoever for the subplot which began to unfold between them. A classic queerbait scenario, by all accounts.
While also seen in film, literature, and almost every other conceivable media form, TV shows are generally regarded the most common culprit of queerbaiting – slow-burning narrative arcs are crafted across entire seasons to develop a relationship between two characters, only to amount to nothing after all. Using this seemingly promised representation to pander to an entire demographic who may not otherwise find appeal in something, is little short of exploitative. The term rainbow capitalism comes to mind, utilising LGBTQ+ themes as a tool for profit. A person’s identity is never something to be capitalised
Series creator Jed Mercurio told Den of Geek in 2021 that the “specific trajectory” of the so-called “Flemson” relationship was scrapped due to COVIDrelated filming limitations. And it is this, more so than the queerbaiting itself, that spotlighted a bigger problem. Queer relationships continue to be sexualised in media, worthy only of
representation when they can satisfy the fetish of a heteronormative society through explicit physical intimacy. Because, of course, it is unfathomable that queer couples may communicate with feelings. Whatever way you view it, queerbaiting is fundamentally homophobic. It diminishes LGBTQ+ narratives into little more than figments of our imaginations instead of using valuable platforms to promote affirmative attitudes towards them. And frankly, when media such as film and television is created as a form of popular culture –which is by nature reflective of the society from which it emerged – is it not wholly inaccurate to erase these narratives completely, or reduce the stories that are told to something unworthy of the conventional happy ending?
Gabbi De Boer - Head of Life & StyleDon't buy into everything you see on the internet!
De-influencing: the newest trend that makes us challenge the difference between what items are a want, and what items are a need.
With influencing and influencers being the main form of marketing we encounter on a daily basis, it’s no wonder that, inevitably, we end up with things that we thought were lifechanging. Think about it: we’re faced with a real person (or several) showing us a product and raving about how amazing it is. Can you blame yourself for wanting to buy it?
And that’s the whole basis of de-influencing. Taking place mostly on TikTok, users are taking it in turns to show products that they were influenced into buying. As expected, Dyson air wraps, unique shaped beauty blenders and expensive items of clothing all made the list. They’d taken in the rave reviews, impulse bought the item, and regretted it. At a time where cost of living is at it’s highest, it’s unsurprising that we’re looking into our spending habits with a more critical eye.
As well as this, platforms like TikTok shop advertise such “amazing” deals that it seems you shouldn’t miss, and this partially feeds into it. As attention spans become shorter and the need for instant gratification gets stronger, it seems like a solid way to make money - fast. However, it’s out of control. Social media is so permeated with adverts like these that it’s time to take a step back and accept that we, as a culture, rely so heavily on aesthetics and impulse buying that often times, isn’t worth it at all.
Now, I’m not saying that all of the products are trash and shouldn’t be bought. Most of the time, products just aren’t suited to certain people and their lifestyle habits, which is part of the reason that de-influencing is such a successful trend. Influencer marketing relies heavily on appealing to a mass market, and many products are marketed to a general population. So, although a product may be amazing and ground-breaking to one person, to another, it’s a waste of money. As previously stated, it’s time to start looking more critically at what we buy. It’s time to break free from cycles of consumption and evaluate our wants, and more importantly, needs, in a better way.
Sam Norman - Campus Comment Sub-editor
How can you improve your uni decor?
Minimalism is out (I pray) and maximalism is in. If you want to clutter your house with obnoxious and random decorations please do, but please, no more painfully vacant white rooms.
My hanging rail is my life saver. It’s neat, it’s tidy, it reminds me of the jackets I own when I’m tempted to by another. It’s also quick and easy when leaving. And most, like mine, have a shoe shelf attached, could it get any more convenient? My only issue is a lack of coat hangers, but that’s another story, hanging rails get a triple thumbs up.
Plants are quite honestly the answer to everything. Bit of empty space? Plants. Need colour? Plants. Void in your soul? Plants. That’s how I got Franklin, my treasured bonsai tree. But don’t fear, real plants aren’t a necessity, fake plants that don’t look tacky are easily
situation for students, speaking generally, over the three years at university, we have three different accommodations. Three different bedrooms to make your own, and to live in, something silly and trivial like pictures really enhances the ability to find comfort and make that space your own.
As Vicky Pattison once said, “luxury in a box isn’t it pet.” Approaching moving into my final house for third year, my flatmates and I have planned a cardboard cut-out of Vicky Pattison to greet people as they come into the house, and of course, she’ll have some Ferrero Rochers with her. If anything on this list is essential, this takes the cake.
The trend itself it’s probably something that we all needed: a wake-up call into influencer culture and what we accept as truth.
it’s unsurprising that we’re looking into our spending habits with a more critical eye
it perpetuates the stigma from which queerness seems unable to break free
within fairy tales forces children to perceive only one type of beauty, which could lead to a tough battle of self-acceptance.
And they all lived happily ever after… The End: a sentence that we’re all familiar with, one that has been driven into us since we were children, but does it misguide us and our peers into thinking that life is one big “happy ever after”? Is it really “The End” for impressionable young readers, who anticipate that their own lives will have the same romantic outcome as the characters in fairy tales?
Looking back at some of the most popular fairy tales, we can see how unattainable standards of beauty are enforced upon us from a young age. The media we consume as children tells us that there’s only one acceptable type of body shape, skin colour, and facial features. If you do not align with this specific (and largely unrealistic) model of beauty, you are inadequate, unworthy of love, and destined for an unhappy life. Most of the Disney Princesses are based upon fairy tales; each one is slim, follows a carefully curated set of looks, and the majority of them are white. Before Tiana (Princess and the Frog) graced our screens in 2009, Disney had no black princesses, and they are yet to introduce another one. The standard of representation
Fairy tales are dominated by patriarchal structures. Women are framed as passive objects, who can only be saved by men
As well as this inherent lack of representation, fairy tales are dominated by patriarchal structures of authority. Women are framed as passive objects, who can only be saved by men. Even two of the most universally regarded and cherished fairy tales, Cinderella and Snow White, depict women’s role as tirelessly cooking and cleaning. In these tales, the protagonists’ only functions are to clean for men whilst they are away at work, or to find a ‘handsome prince’ to fall in love with, as obviously this will solve all their problems… These fairy tales reinforce rigid gender roles upon easily influenceable children, teaching them ideas of a hierarchy between men’s and women’s importance and power within society.
In addition to outdated perceptions of gender roles, fairy tales exhibit internalised misogyny between women, by forcing them to battle against each other, to win the love of a man. In each fairy tale, the conventionally ‘pretty’ women are
Articulating my feelings was a real struggle
Healing isn't a linear process and that's okay
Over the past few years, we have become much more open about discussing mental health, with social media being a huge factor in promoting therapy and positive wellbeing.
We are really trying to understand each other more and support one another through life’s trials and tribulations.
I’m only nineteen, but the past six years or so have taught me a lot as I have tried to navigate my way through my teenage years - but most of all, my anxiety.
Healing isn’t a linear process. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.
My parents and I first started to notice my symptoms of anxiety around the age of 13 during meals out, holidays, and increasingly at school. From this point onwards, school was a challenge, especially with the pressure I put on myself to succeed. This was a difficult period for me, as I was suddenly experiencing a multitude of new emotions, not knowing what they meant or how to talk about them. I tried speaking to the school counsellor in year 10, and later tried therapy outside of school during sixth form. But I wasn’t ready. I didn’t know how I felt or how to speak about it. Articulating my feelings was a real struggle at this point, and I will always regret the impact this had on my parents as they struggled to understand what I was
experiencing.
Then university came around. Although this was a scary concept, my anxiety when moving to Newcastle was surprisingly low. After taking a low dose of anxiety medication for two years prior, I gradually stopped taking it during first year as I noticed a significant change in myself. Getting out of the monotony of school, becoming more independent, and creating a more flexible routine gave me the space and time to work on my anxiety. It was so refreshing to feel more at ease, rather than waking up every day with a knot already tied in the pit of my stomach. Since moving to university, I have been much more proactive in trying to understand my anxiety, what triggers it and how to manage it. However, like I have said, the process is never straight-forward. I still have weeks where I lose my appetite, become physically exhausted from overthinking, and simply can’t beat my anxiety. It isn’t something that will just disappear, which is why I am more accepting of it - letting it happen and trying to manage it before it gets bad. I’m certainly getting the hang of it, but I’ve got a long way to go.
Healing, mental or physical, is never a linear process, and anxiety is a complex thing to understand. The constant ‘what if’s’, fear of judgement, pressure to achieve, cancelling plans last minute … I don’t think I will ever fully understand it all, but that’s okay. Anxiety has changed my life, but it won’t stop me living.
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Unsplash
Hyper-independence: a good or worrying sign?
Lucy Reevesdecide how to live your life. But it doesn’t mean that you don’t need any support at all, whether it be from friends, family or professionals. As humans, we are always looking for connection with others, to live enjoyable and meaningful lives. Throughout our whole lives as independent adults, we will rely on each other, whether it be emotional support, advice when making decisions, or even help with mundane daily tasks.
Hyper-independence is independence taken to an extreme, when someone takes on all responsibility for every aspect of their life and doesn’t accept support, even when it’s really needed. They often take on too much work and then suffer with stress and burnout. Although it may seem that a hyper-independent person is thriving and has their life together, that is most likely not the case.
Hyper-independence is often a trauma response; it may develop as a coping mechanism to deal with other personal problems. Taking on all responsibility for yourself and having no reliance on others can give you a sense of control over your life, and can be a reassurance that you are a strong and capable person. On the surface, this appears to be a good thingmost of us look on with admiration at people we think have their lives organised and put together. The reality is that having this level of control over your life can be used to suppress and invalidate the problems in your life.
So when does independence become hyperindependence? To be independent is an exciting thing: you learn a lot about how to take care of yourself and you also have the freedom to
A hyper-independent person may be closed off when it comes to talking about personal problems with friends or professionals, believing that they can deal with it themselves and to admit they need support from someone else would show weakness. They would be confronted with the reality that problems exist in their life, and this is a scary thing. I think it’s very common for people to be reluctant to reach out for help when they really need it. There is still stigma attached to therapy, despite becoming a much more openly talked about topic. As with any mental health issue, the most change can be made when you actively acknowledge your problems yourself and make decisions to confront them. The same is relevant in the context of hyper-independence. It’s a good idea to be aware of your mindset, to question yourself about your lifestyle and habits, and to recognise where you might need emotional support in some way. For many students, living at uni is the first time experiencing this level of independence - and where some may struggle, some may thrive, and some may take it to an extreme. My advice is to be self-aware and to be open-minded.
is a trauma response and a coping mechanism
The consequences of hyper-independence and the stigma surrounding asking for help
A modern perspective on the fairy tales we know and love, and their crucial impact on younger generations
It’s very common for people to be reluctant to reach out for help when they really need itMia Dale Image credit: Pixabay
A deep dive into the decade in fashion that continues to thrive
When we imagine a specific era, the first thing we always picture is the clothing we associate with the time.
Fashion can encapsulate an entire aesthetic more so than anything else. And this could not be truer than for the decades of the 20th century – everything from the floating swing dresses of the 1950s to the neon-saturated looks of the ‘80s is seemingly iconic. This is certainly the case for the 1970s. As the swinging sixties were left behind, the dawn of the seventies showed no signs of the fashion letting up. In a continuation of hippie trends, miniskirts and corduroy persisted, all while the fashion scene became infiltrated by more signature looks like flares and platforms. The seventies bridged the gap between traditional styles which clung to trends of the past, all while exploring new ones as fashion became increasingly available on a widespread and mainstream level.
Feeling like your outfits are missing some final touches? Wanting to spice up the well-loved (for a good reason!) Jesmond white linens and quarter zip combo? Or just looking for some inspo? Look no further as these everyday accessory staples will level up any outfit!
Scarves
Who said scarves are just for winter? In Newcastle anyway, they are not going anywhere- and we should use this to our fashion advantage! I love to layer a chunky scarf over a leather jacket or coat in the colder weather, or a cute skinny knit one with a cami top and linens in the summer.
with scarf-tieing hacks such as the recent craze of scarf balaclavas- whatever your way, scarves are an accessory essential!
I mean does this one even need explaining? Versatile, cool, and great to keep your night-out essentials in without them falling off your arm. I love my plain black one as it goes with virtually all my outfits, but colourful ones can help you add a pop of personality to your look. Cool and usefulwhat is not to love?
Hoop earrings
A classic staple of a minimally cool look. Hoop earrings are a lifesaver when you are just feeling a bit meh about your outfit. Big or small, day or night, hoops can always add chic. Chunky ones are my favourite for adding depth to your face- if in doubt, always add hoops!
Headbands
Finding the best way to tie your scarves for your own personal style preference is also a cool way to individualise your fit. TikTok is abundant
Recently resurfacing again as a 2023 accessory addition, headbands are making their fashion comeback- and I am here for it! Whether you have a 9am lecture and don't want to wash your hair, or just fancy having your hair out of your wayheadbands are here to save the day. Plus, anything
that hides my forehead is always a win LOL!
Chunky Rings
Last (but definitely not least) chunky rings are the ultimate accessory oozing cool vibes. Building your own ring collection is a fun way to explore unique vintage pieces- finding hidden gems is always a flex!
The fun thing about accessories is that it is totally up to you. Individualise your outfit and get
Gender boundaries became increasingly blurred in this period too – jeans became commonplace in women’s wardrobes in a way they hadn’t previously been, while men were donning more tight-fitting feminine cuts. Androgynous looks inspired by glam rock and the New Romantic movements were also on the rise, alongside other fashion trends forged from prevalent music subcultures. The former years of the period arguably saw the birth of Northern soul from the earlier Mod culture – discernible styles here included polos (notably Ben Sherman and Fred Perry), knitted vests and brogues. With the period also dominated by disco style, seventies eveningwear was categorised by a heavy amount of sequins and velvet. Men often wore three-piece suits with flared bottoms, a la John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, in shades of pastel and white. For women, however, the most popular choice was the universally flattering jersey wrap dress. With a modest knee-length skirt and nipped-in waist, this option became favourable for both style and versatility.
As the latter part of the decade arrived, so did shoulder pads. Leading designers debuted heavy-shouldered styles during the Fall 1978 season and, while these looks were initially met with hesitation, it was the start of a craze that would eventually become distinctive of the decade to follow.
The influence of 70s fashion trends can still be seen today. In fact, some of these styles are even making modern comebacks, especially thanks to the likes of big stars including Harry Styles and Taylor Swift adopting this kind of retro aesthetic into their image. Swift notably incorporated the signature muted tones of brown into some of her most recent looks, complete with bold coloured stripes and wide-leg pants, demonstrating that some things truly never go out of style.
The world is facing a global cost of living crisis. However, the UK is one of the worst affected among the world’s advanced economies, forcing an overwhelming number of Britons to become increasingly concerned about their daily spending
habits. Although the conversations seem to principally surround the impact that the crisis is having on gas and energy bills, there have been notable consequences on the fashion and beauty industry.
The fashion industry has responded to this tumultuous period with a new trend that focuses on minimal fashion and makeup, which is rather bleakly referred to as ‘Recession Core’. And while I agree that society must acknowledge its overconsumption, there is something oddly dystopian about labelling the growth in minimalist aesthetics due to a global recession as a trend that I myself have been influenced by. Like many of us, I have spent the past couple of years trying to shop more sustainably, even going so far as to delete all the clothing apps from my phone and resisting the temptation to pop into Urban Outfitters between lectures. This has, however, resulted in me spending hours a day scrolling through Depop, but at least it’s not fast fashion, I guess. Despite already trying to tackle my overconsumption of fashion because of its impact on the planet, the cost-ofliving crisis has forced me to acknowledge its effect on my bank account. However, I feel this crisis has had a much greater influence on
the beauty products that I choose to invest in. I was scrolling through TikTok recently and came across a video of someone saying ‘You don’t need ten blushes’, and although I quickly scrolled past as I wasn’t particularly intrigued by her video at the time, I found myself thinking about that statement later on. No one needs ten blushes. No one needs five foundations. And no one needs ten different lipsticks. Yet I, and so many others, do. Despite having all these different makeup products, I always find myself reaching for the same products and recently asked myself why I have so many foundations, for example, when I have a clear favourite that I almost always use anyway. Due to the rise of social media and influencer culture, we are constantly being told that we need to buy the newest products. And although I have bought several new makeup products in the past after being convinced to buy them by someone on TikTok, makeup is starting to feel like an unnecessary purchase.
Once you find a makeup routine that works for you, there is no reason to depart from that, whether there is an ongoing cost-of-living crisis or not. And, as someone who preferred a minimal makeup look anyway, there is absolutely no need for me to add to my already too-big lipstick collection when I only really alternate between two lipstick shades anyway. This difficult time has forced me to look at my spending habits and realise that I already have all the products that I could ever need, and I should only be purchasing replacements when I run out of the products I already own, because no one needs ten blushes.
The fun thing about accessories is that it is totally up to you
Heather Adams
the cost-of-living crisis has forced me to acknowledge its effect on my bank account
With the cost of living crisis hitting hard, many of us have been forced to change how we view and consume fashion and beauty products
Sub-Editor
Fashion can encapsulate an entire aesthetic more so than anything else
'No one needs ten blushes': beauty and the cost of living
Lyndsey Sleator
There is something oddly dystopian about labelling the growth in minimalist aesthetics due to a global recession
About Me:
MA Social Research + BA
Urban Planning
President of Politics Society, President of Planning Society, Leader of INTOgration
Skilled in Events and Project Management, with a passion for strategic leadership
Lover of Rock Climbing, Backpacking, Hiking, and Vibing
Manifesto:
• Transform NUSU from lame-duck to national exemplar studentship
• Growth-First focus, creating an higher-quality student offer
in the future
• Reform the financial system for NUSU programmes, monetary-pots should not expire
• Campaign to outsource education, bypassing lecturers who choose to strike.
• Research first. Empirical reform of all NUSU programmes to help us grow together.
• Power Sharing between President and Management
• Creating school-wide societies, with departmental integration, building belonging, identity, and networks
• Ending isolation at university, bringing structure
to disenfranchised student. Supporting the corollary mental health crisis.
• Innovation first. Bring the best society Presidents, stakeholders, and students together to create novel solutions to SU problems.
The era of NUSU unilaterally defining policy solutions must end.
• Decoupling the student experience from alcoholexcess, with proactive measures (e.g enhancement of student networking, outside clubs)
The students are our clientsthe client must come first!
I have never led such positions, but I think it will be fun- We should enjoy whatever we do, or else it won’t reach the desired outcome. These are my visions for the future of NUSU: Increased transparency: The student union should work to increase transparency and communication with the student body through regular updates on the union's activities and financial information and open forums and meetings. Accessible resources: Ensure all students know the available resources.
Representation: The student
union should represent all students’ interests and advocate for their needs and concerns to the university administration and officials.
Security: The student union should work to improve campus safety and security through initiatives such as increased lighting (Address the Bike thefts), security patrols, and emergency response training.
Extracurricular: Sports eventsfree trials, Clubs, and other social events especially targeting International Students. The clubs must be more active.
Environmental sustainability:
Organise recycling programs, energy conservation efforts, and education on the importance of environmental stewardship.
Multiculturalism: Organise cultural events and diversity training initiatives.
Mental health and wellness: Prioritise mental health; support groups for students suffering from stress or other personal issues.
Career development: career fairs, networking events, internship opportunities and mock interviews.
Hi, I am Rajnish Lochab pursuing MSc Adv Comp Sci, and I’m running to be your next President.
I believe in ‘‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’’ which means "The World Is One Family".
I’m truly passionate about ensuring that all the students live their life to the fullest and continue their lives with excellence and determination.
If I get elected, I will strive for:
• Lowering Cost of living: Instruct the university
to spend more money on lowering the taxes related to student expenses.
• Creating Job opportunity: Mandate the university to create more job opportunities for students.
• Mental health: Mental health would our first and most important priority, providing mini-holidays or trip days for students to relax.
• Sexual health: Easy access to hospital dispensaries around campus.
• Social learning; Increase the number of social events
in every society and sports club, ensure every student gets better opportunities to socialize and build social skills.
COST OF LIVING
• Increase funding for the student pantry;
• Tackle housing issues by considering introducing a legal advisor to the NUSU advice centre, BRING THE FIGHT TO THE LANDLORDS!!!;
• Advocate for cheaper prices in University cafes, eateries, and the ridiculously expensive vending machines;
• Free doughnut Monday;
• Aim for a 5% reduction in international and home fees;
• Create more Jobs on Campus for students to help tackle the
cost-of-living crisis;
• Free breakfast for all students;
• Expand University memorabilia and cut down on those OUTRAGEOUS prices.
MENTAL HEALTH
• Provide students with the ability to self-certify PECs for reasons related to mental health;
• FREE ice cream during the summer exam period;
• Subsidise the University gym for ALL students AND alumni;
• Get each school on campus there own welfare animals.
SUSTAINABILITY
• Increase eco-friendly travel
on campus by trialling electric bikes;
• Increase sustainability on campus by providing all students with a free Newcastle University branded water bottle and increasing filing stations on campus.
EDI
• hold regular multi-cultural food fairs to promote EDI.
EDUCATION
• FREE iPads for all students to help everyone with their studies.
• LET’S HOLD
Hi, I’m Anirban, and I’m running to be your next welfare and equality officer. I am a final year Archaeology student, a project lead for N.E.S.T and course representative for PGT Archaeology. As your welfare and equality officer I will prioritise…
1. Promoting mental health support by pushing the university to provide resources for professional counselling services accessible to all, out of hour support, organising support groups, and campaigns to spread awareness and reduce stigma surrounding mental health. I will also strive for increased support for students with disabilities and ensure support is
tailored to the needs of individuals.
2. Ensuring that underrepresented groups are given a voice and platform to share their perspectives by continuing lobbying the university to decolonize the curriculum to promote diversity and inclusivity. I will also push for increased financial support for the students during this cost of living crisis.
3. Fostering positive relations with the wider community by organising events to encourage students to volunteer with those in need. I will also advocate for making our campus greener by organising community sustainability projects and cleanups.
Hi, my name is Azra, and I am a final-year law student. I’m running to be your next Welfare & Equality Officer because I want to be a voice for students. My aim is to make sure that students feel represented during their time at university and comfortable enough to seek help during challenging moments. If elected I would particularly focus on the following:
Mental Health
• Advocating for more significant investments in mental health services for students particularly during and in the build-up to exam periods
• Ensuring that students find it easy to access the different services available to them
• Planning more activities for students to de-stress
Sexual Health and Drugs & Alcohol
• Providing more readily available sanitary towels and tampons on campus
• Giving better access to condoms
• Establishing safe spaces for students to discuss any drug/ alcohol-related issues they may face
Equality and Awareness
• Introducing a monthly welfare email reminding students of the services available to them
• Ensuring that all teaching staff and society committee members receive appropriate welfare training.
Hi everyone! My name is Lucy Leeds and I am a third-year geography student running to be your next Welfare and Equality Officer! My goal is to make Newcastle University a community which empowers marginalised students and makes student welfare a main priority. I believe my background in social justice as the president of the feminist society, and previous Welfare Officer, allows me to champion student voice, with the understanding and pragmatism needed to work within a large institution that represents many voices and interests. I would use the position of Welfare and Equality Officer to collaborate with the university to expand on my work as the president of a society that
campaigns for contemporary social issues.
Thus, my campaign prioritises, The 3 – Cs:
Clarity: I want to further support victims of sexual violence by making the incident reporting process more accessible, clearer and fairer.
Cost of Living: Lobby the University about the acute impact of the cost-of-living crisis on students and minority student groups, expanding the current campaign into the next academic year Community: Listening to the voices of marginalised communities within the student body is my priority and I will collaborate with liberation officers and underrepresented societies.
Hello everyone I'm Pooja doing my masters in Environmental Engineering. I am Nominating myself for welfare and Equality officer role. I don’t know how to give a perfect manifesto so I am sharing my personal experience which motivated me to nominate for this role. I was so excited to start a new phase in my life , moving to new city and starting a new course and being independent of course. But then reality hit in , it was so difficult for me to handle my studies , physical health , mental health , finances etc. I was facing lots of struggles and loneliness made
it much more bitter. When I was craving for some help , the support and advice hub came to my rescue. I will not say it sorted out all my issues but it gave me some confidence to face my issues. I want to bring in this confidence to thousand more unknown Pooja. I wanted to be that real change that helps someone to move forward towards their goal. I want to be a part of this change. Vote for me make this progress , Thank you.
I am Pratishtha Verma, a digital business (e-marketing) master's student running for Welfare & Equality Officer.
As a Welfare & Equality Officer, my goal will be to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. For that, I plan to enhance access to resources and support services that promote mental and physical health and well-being. This includes working with counselling and health services to provide care to all students and promoting awareness of mental health issues and decreasing stigmas.
I will also promote diversity, address discrimination and harassment, and ensure equal opportunities and resources for all students regardless of background
or identity to eliminate campus inequality and discrimination.
I will also work with the university administration to provide safe space for students, especially marginalised communities, by establishing policies and processes that make all students feel respected and aggressively promoting campus inclusivity and acceptance.
I will also work with student unions and organisations to identify issues and concerns and collaborate with the university administration to address them. My goal is to establish an inclusive, supportive, and equitable community for students. I will work hard to make this happen, and I look forward to working with everyone in our university community.
Hi! This is Tanvi Sharma, nominating myself to be your dutiful Welfare and Equality Officer. With experience of 3 years working in different organization with human development as focus, I look forward to work for you.
I’ll try to be your good friend who is there to listen to your concern and queries so, don’t be shy to come and have chat with me. Also, according to me (and my friends) apparently am a good human who makes friends no matter from where or which course you belong to.
Voting for me will basically:
• increase your chances to enhance your mental health and nutrition.
• Provide you with easy techniques to plan your assignment and schedule your worktime table.
• Try making video content about new things happening in University/Union or regarding conveying important information along with written mails.
• Put up an anonymous box in the University where students could put up their concerns regarding any officers and their work that they could work towards helping you.
• Events to support people over the world who are underprivileged.
• Eye Test and Dental Check-ups which haven’t really been done in the university as much as other check-ups.
Hi!IamChiragKumarandI'mastudentinthe renewable energy, enterprise and management program. As your representative, I want to make sureyourtimeatNewcastleUniversityisamazing fromstarttofinish.Here'smyplanforus!
BeforeYouArrive:
• Upgrade NCL's online presence with a modern website and centralised info hub for easy accesstoupdatesandinformation.
•MakeFreshersWeekaccessibleandenjoyable for all, regardless of any challenges you may face during/inyourabsence.
Hello everyone,
My name is Asad Qayyum and i am final year student of MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL. I believe that I am a suitable candidate for the SU education officer because I have diverse experience on volunteer positions in different organizations in past. I have been taking part in different SU activities for four months and exploring new things. My ambition is to work for the well being of the student because I believe in equality. So, every student can get the equal chance to grow academically, professionally and personally.
I want to work for new initiatives for the well being of the students such as academic well being and cost of living initiative. My motto is equality, inclusivity, empowerment and collaboration. Moreover, I ll develop better collaboration in the representative network and provide all sorts of guidance and support so that they may become the powerful voice of the students and highlight their academic issues in a better way. you can empower me with your vote and make your voice.
Hello! My name is Chloe, and I want to be your next Education Officer! I’m running for this role because researching Education throughout my degree has given me a distinct insight into Education.
I’d love to make positive changes at Newcastle University with the resources I’ve acquired over the last three years.
As Education Officer I would:
• Make Education Accessible and Inclusive for Everybody
Work with student representatives to implement feedback.
Develop schemes providing cheaper transport to university.
Make it easier to get a student support plan.
• Prioritize Wellbeing
Make sure every school has a visible wellbeing advisor.
Create an easy referral structure within the wellbeing systems.
Make it simpler to access university services online.
Encourage more wellbeing support.
• Improve academic support and decrease deadline bunching
Ensure staff offer clear office hours.
Ensure efficient and effective use of personal tutors.
Create at least 48hrs between deadlines.
Offer mitigation due to disruption and a more accessible PEC system.
• Reform Assessments for Transparency
Ensure assessment requirements are set out clearly.
Guarantee useful, informative feedback.
Encourage innovative assessment methods.
Implement procedures to appeal grades.
Vote Chloe for Education!
Hi! I’m Cerys and I’m running for Education Officer. I’m a third year linguistic student and am passionate about our education, from how it is delivered to external factors that impact it. I am already involved in improving our education as School Rep for English and would love to continue this progress.
Student wellbeing and support
As coordinator of Nightline, I know wellbeing is a massive factor in our education. I want to remove barriers to education by increasing wellbeing support and resources for students and ensuring that Newcastle is an inclusive, accessible campus, for everyone.
PECs
I want to improve the current PEC system and address common reasons behind PEC requests, for example, not enough time between assignments and lack of wellbeing support.
Assessments I want to work with staff and students to change assessments to contribute to learning rather than being something that seems tacked on to the end of a module.
Cost of Living
I want to continue the £1 meals and introduce Cost of Living as a reason for absence on S3P. I also want to ensure all lectures for UG are between 9am-5pm and all course materials are accessible online.
• Provide support and guidance for the ATAS application process, making it stress-free for all postgraduatestudents.
WhileYou'reHere:
• Prioritise your mental health by researching andaddressingpotentialissues,providingsupport
beforetheybecomebigger.
• Set up anonymous support for drug and alcohol use, with anonymous drop-ins, chatbuddy, email counselling, and support groups.
• Improve accessibility on campus by prerecorded online resources access, longer study space hours and a day off for extracurriculars/ socials.
AfterYouGraduate:
• Expand career opportunities with upskilling programs in software-hardware, and hands-on experiences, making you more attractive to employers.
• Support student's involvement in charity and volunteerworkinNewcastle.
• Revamping Post-graduate Alumni community
My name is Rishabh and I’m running to be your next Postgraduate Sabbatical Officer. I am dedicated to advocating for and representing the needs and concerns of all postgraduate students. My manifesto is built on three pillars: support, representationandprogress.
First, I will ensure that postgraduate students haveaccesstotheresourcesandsupporttheyneed tosucceedintheirstudies.Thisincludesproviding funding opportunities, improving mental health resources, and creating a community that promotesinclusivityandasenseofbelonging.
Second, I will work to increase representation for postgraduate students within the university, giving them a voice and platform to express their views and ideas. This entails collaborating with
I am a currently an international student from China studying for a Master’s degree in journalism at Newcastle University. As a Course and School Representative, I am proactively working to improve the quality of learning experience for all students. I have a good rapport with fellow students and appreciate their needs and concerns. I am committed to educational excellence and diversity.
Now I want the opportunity to make a real impact!
MY PRIORTIES: STUDENT SUPPORT
• Organise skills acquisition and employability workshops with the Career Service to prepare us for future roles.
• Create better access and support networks for student mental health and wellbeing.
• Promote that international students should have tutors that speaks their language, creating a safe environment for students to speak freely about their issues and concerns.
• Ensure accessibility for all to essential resources for students.
INCLUSION
• Ensure BAME attainment gap and voices are kept at the forefront and this university addresses this accordingly.
• Work with course representatives and tutors to improve the learning and teaching experience for all.
• Diversifying assessment and fight for the introduction of an interdisciplinary credited module across all departments.
student groups, organising events and convening forums.
Lastly, I am committed to promoting progress and innovation within postgraduate education. This includes advocating for increased research opportunities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and working with the university to improvetheoverallpostgraduateexperience. Postgraduate education should provide students with the skills, knowledge and experiences they need to succeed in their careers and positively impact the world. I am dedicated to making that a reality for all postgraduate studentsandIaskforyoursupportinmakingthis manifestoareality.
My name is Stephen Affiru and I am running to be your next Postgraduate Officer. I am passionate about supporting distinguished groups by encouragingparticipationanddiverserepresentation ofourpostgraduatestudentsinNewcastle
In my role, I hope to identify and bring to the forefront the various challenges students face and developactivitiesandprogramsthatempowerthem andleadtosuccess.Iwillalsoactivelycollaboratewith other sabbatical officers to develop ideas to address suchchallenges.
Ifelected,Iwillensurethatjointeventsthataddvalue toallpostgraduatesreceivedueattention.Forinstance, we will organize celebratory events and create an
opportunity for students to come together to share their academic experiences and feel comfortable doingso.
Change is always romanticized but rarely implemented. But why is real change so hard to achieve?Ibelievethatwecanbringaboutchange.Iwill usemyexperiencetobringabouttherightchanges. Therefore, I ask for your overwhelming support sothattogetherwecancreateabetter,moreequitable, moresustainable,andmoresuccessfulstudentlifeon campus. I pledge to work hard to earn the trust you placeinmeandachieveprogressivechange.
I’m Alex, I’m a third year
Combined Honours student and I’m campaigning to be your next Activities Officer! I want to continue working towards improving societies and hosting great events, making them more accessible in light of the pandemic and cost of living crisis. My goals include;
Improving society training
Working together with the Welfare and Equality Officer, I will aim to improve Committee training when it comes to welfare, harm reduction and EDI - having been in eight societies and five committees over the years I’m aware there are many internal issues not often acknowledged.
Promoting engagement and
accessibility I want to introduce a ‘Society Spotlight’, one society selected each month to host a free event open to all students, advertised and endorsed by NUSU - like a large scale taster event. This would promote engagement past freshers week, be counted for the NCL+ award, and allow students to participate without worrying about the cost, also allowing societies to prove their accessibility to all students and further their eligibility for Earn Your Stars. ..and more! Representing the university through societies is something I’m passionate about and well suited for, and your vote secures it!
Hi, I’m Jade and I’m running to be your next ActivitiesOfficer.
Eyesonme!I’llshowyouwhatIcando!
AboutMe?
Outgoing,easytogetalongwith.
Good listener, open to being judged and makingchanges.
Hobbies:
Singing,playingguitar. Chinesecalligraphy.
Cooking, especially various classical Chinese food.
Handcrafts,DIY.
Trynewthings,havenewideas. Enjoydifferentlanguagesandcultures.
Myresponsibility?
Maintain communication with each society, makeeveryonefeelpartofthestudents’union family.
Foroldersocieties,keepthemalive.Alsoopen newonesaccordingtostudents’interests.
Attractmorestudentstojoinin. Involved in each society's activities, help with planningandunderstandtheirwork. Meeting regularly but not too frequent to shareexperiences. Getmorefunding.
Newtobring?
Highlight: Allow each student to discover their own valuesfromactivitiestheyenjoy. Doesn'tmatterifnotgoodatitornotdoitwell, justmakeeveryonehaveagreatmemory.
Newthings: Music Festival, Street Dance competition, Singingcompetition. WorldFoodFestival.Food-relatedsocieties. Paintingexhibitionandcompetition. Chinesecalligraphysociety. Throughvariousevents,givestudentsfrom all countries the opportunity to share their culture.
Hi, I'm Dan and I want to be your activities man!
You may recognise me from my failed presidential campaign, but I’m being serious this time. Having founded SockSoc last year, I’ve spent considerable time working with the SU; I have enjoyed the way it works but have also thought of many ways it could be improved. Therefore, I believe I will bring my own fun spin to the role!
I want to focus on three things: Inclusivity, Inter-connectivity, and Charitability.
Inclusivity: Expand the role of a society's welfare officer , offering in depth training and advice. Push the ‘Earn your stars’ campaign.
Inter-connectivity: Act as a liaison between societies wishing to collab. Organise more campus wide events, which societies will be invited to attend.
Charitability: Incentives for societies doing the most for charity. Organise a charity week where campus wide events will be run, and societies will be encouraged to run their own.
I also intend to make it easier for societies to work with the union. Committee training will remain accessible on your student dashboard, and I will also be available as the first point of contact for queries.
Don't forget– VOTE DAN FOR ACTIVITIES MAN.
Hey there, I’m Ethan!
Currently I’m studying a Master’s in Data Science after completing my BSc in Maths and I want to be your next Activities Officer. Since day one studying at Newcastle University, I have been involved in societies. It has been a continued highlight of mine getting involved with them. They are an incredible creation, allowing for great opportunities amongst students to embrace themselves in pretty much anything!
I want to improve this further though; how can we make societies better while keeping the fundamental principles behind them? I want to highlight
three main areas which I would like to improve upon if elected:
• Communication – The way information is conveyed to societies
• Control – Giving societies more authority
• Collaboration – Providing opportunities for societies to work with one another Having been involved in several committees of varying roles and with my knowledge of how the SU operates, I believe that I have the experience to be the right candidate for your next Activities Officer! I have so much to bring and offer, so vote Ethan number one for AO!
Hi! I am Yanan Zhang (Alex), a postgraduate student of Applied Linguistics and TESOL in the School of Educational Communication and Language Science. During my study, through participating in various activities, I believe that I am very suitable for the Activities Officer.
I am passionate about Activities Officer because I also have rich experience in organizing activities. As a member of the society's executive committee, I review all decisions and implementations of the society. As a course representative, I organize students to participate in the workshops. I participated in the Tennis Society and NEST volunteer activities. As the administrative assistant of the
Confucius Institute at Newcastle University, I organized a series of activities.
If elected, I will strive to organize more attractive and colorful activities
• Provide more than 180 societies with the support and benefits they need.
• Organize annual Societies Awards and develop policies to incentivize society member welfare and support.
• Organize and deliver more inclusive and accessibility training for society committee members.
• Provide more relaxation and stress relief extra-curricular activities unconditional support for all students and engage them to join us.
Hi, I'm Yancy and I'm running to be your next Activities Officer. I believe that I’m the ideal candidate for this position as I’m someone who enjoys a challenging and fresh approach to life.
If elected I’ll strive to:
• Put more emphasis on the links between societies and those outside of them, ensuring that every student has a full experience and understanding of the societies they may be interested in, so that they don't miss out on the opportunity to join.
• Organise more unique and exciting events in Freshers' week, society activities and
ball, conceiving the format from the students' immediate perspective and aiming to make it memorable for everyone who attends.
• Take a greater interest in working with the Welfare and Equality Officer to get more budget for student welfare and mental health, and fight for every student to have the same experience at Newcastle.
I hope you consider giving me your vote this election season! By choosing me you are choosing someone representative of a cosmopolitan and progressive university who can empathise with many of the issues we face.
Hi! I’m Rowan (she/her), a Stage 3 History student, and I’m running to be your Student Media Officer. After two dedicated years in my role on The Courier’s editorial team, student media has become a defining part of my university experience, and I would love to provide the same for you.
You, as students, are the heart of our student media outlets - that is why the following policies have been curated in collaboration with existing student media contributors.
Thus, as your Student Media Officer, I will:
• Create a cohesive NUSU MEDIA brand, incorporating The Courier, NSR, NUTV and a fourth outlet focussed on artistic media and photography.
• Appoint a breaking news team to
manage urgent coverage of breaking stories for The Courier, NSR and NUTV to provide up-to-date content by maintaining high-quality, active digital outlets.
• Increase dedicated campus correspondence reporters to ensure inclusive and relevant content across all branches for students from all societies, sporting teams and academic schools on the issues they feel matter most.
• Reintroduce guest speakers and provide workshops with industry professionals, enabling student contributors to gain invaluable industry-based knowledge and networking opportunities for careers in journalism, TV and radio. I hope you’ll consider voting #Ro4SMO!!
Hi, I'm Robishu Mukherji and I am running to be your next Student Media Officer. I study Media Communication and Cultural studies and I am currently in the third year of my degree. I believe I am the perfect candidate for this position because of all the experience I have gained over three years in Uni studying media.
• Voting for me ensures that you will get :
• More out of The Courier
• Increased inclusiveness in student media
• Create more employment in student media
• Increased student
Hey, I’m Castor and I’m running as your next Student Media Officer!
Student media has been a constant during my university years. Having presented, edited, and been a senior member of NSR and The Courier, it’s safe to say I know the ropes. Why else am I your perfect candidate?
Increase diversity and community
As an international, getting started was intimidating, so I want people to feel welcome whether they are currently involved or potential contributors. I would also continue building our relationship with societies/clubs by increasing event coverage, which in turn will improve awareness for us.
Promote skills development
Having tried all three branches, I know how valuable it is to encourage that for more people next year. I will host a monthly rotation of skills workshops/ writing sessions and bring back expert talks to give students a better springboard after university.
Receptiveness to feedback Everyone makes mistakes, but I aim to be someone people can talk to and trust to make real changes by providing time for open discussion. I want to improve student media for those it couldn’t exist without, contributors, editors, and senior members, so I would love your vote.
representation
• More opportunities for people, from any course, interested in journalism/ media
Hi I’m Kimiko, a third year maths student and I’m running to be your next Athletic Union Officer! I’ve been a member of Water Polo club for two years, participated in an intramural netball team and been secretary and treasurer of Mathsoc. The introduction of funding students to get coaching qualifications is great as it allows someone who knows the team on a more personal level to teach less experienced players and I’d like to continue to promote that. A few of the other things I want to do are:
• Put on more regular taster sessions so people who missed tasters at the start of term feel encouraged to try a new sport
Hello, I’m Gabbi, and I’m running for Student Media Officer. I’m a third year Combined Honours student, studying English Literature & Media and Communications, and I’ve been part of The Courier since first year. In second year, I had the pleasure of being a Relationships sub-editor, and to branch out into the other areas of Student media, having my own radio show and filming Fight Nights live for NUTV. I’m now Co-Head of Life and Style at The Courier, and Social Sec of Archery Club. I believe that Student Media should inform, inspire, and involve all students on campus. By voting for me, you're voting for:
• Central reference point for all
branches of Student Media that contributors from across Student Media can access.
• Better student involvement through improved communication with other university societies and clubs.
• Increased opportunity for casual student engagement through the Blind Date feature, confessions, and an ‘Agony Aunt’ column.
• More social opportunities for all contributors, not just senior teams.
• Assess where we can make Student Media more accessible.
• Streamlined approach to software training based on skill level, allowing more targeted help to those that need it most.
• Encourage clubs to organise at least one session dedicated to teaching new players the rules of the game
• Work with GIAG to put on taster sessions for sports which do not have a competitive team or intramural league
• Give support to clubs who want to get involved in charities
• Work with clubs who have trials and often have to turn away a large number of people to try and make more teams
• Incentivise starting a new disability sports club
My name is Selim, and I am currently an international student studying Biomedical Sciences. As an international student myself, being reassured that you are represented at the university makes a massive difference for us. Most of us come from different countries and distinct backgrounds and have personal aims and goals, which makes us unique. Therefore, sometimes we need extra reinforcement to settle into the community.
I want to be the voice of all international students, and be
there for them whenever they need it. It is essential for me to care for the mental health of international students. I firmly believe our mental health makes our experience in Newcastle delightful and entertaining, and should be put at the centre of attention at the university. I will strive to diminish any cultural gaps any international student might feel anytime throughout their campus life. Therefore, I promise to be the first point of contact for any international student whenever they need a helping hand or a safe space.
Hi, my name’s Tom Wilson and I’m currently doing MA International Relations. You might recognise me from previous years, as I’ve been doing my BA in Politics on Newcastle University.
LGBTQ+ community issues have always been at my heart. In high school I started an all-inclusive student club, where everyone was welcome regardless of who they were. I also launched the Rainbow Friday innitiave in my school, which has been a day where teachers and students could show their support for LGBTQ+ community rights.
A vote for me as your future
LGBTQ+ Officer would mean a vote for a responsible, caring, passionate and ready for the challenge person. The examples of my previous acheivements would be the starting point for my initiatives as LGBTQ+ Officer. I’d like to ensure that everyone on campus feels safe and that any act of discrimination is dealt with adequatly. If you decide to cast your vote for me I promise you that I will defend the LGBTQ+ students from day one of my job. I’d like to keep up the great work started by current Officer and create more safe spaces around the campus.
I’m James, a first year combined honours student, studying music and classics. If I were elected to this role, my main aim would be to increase discourse between different faiths and beliefs, and also to create spaces where people feel comfortable sharing their faiths and beliefs in a welcoming area.
I would also be interested in increasing awareness of different faiths and beliefs by having public lectures regarding different faiths, which would not only increase students’ acceptance of different beliefs, but also improve their general education.
I have been a member of various councils, including the Bishop of Durham’s council, which I feel gives me the requisite experience in creating and enacting faith-based policy to be able to fulfil this role. My main hope and goal, should I be elected, is that no student at Newcastle feels that they are unable to express or practice their faith and beliefs. Everything I would do in this role shall be to that end.
My dearest international students, Since you are the reason why I'm running for the position of International Students' officer (ISO), I will be brief about myself. The main things you may want to know are:
Name and ethnicity: Albena, Bulgarian Course: Combined Honours –Politics, History and Classics (currently 1st year)
What motivated me to run for ISO:
An article on how the challenges we face are neglected by the host countries. Now, let's look at some of the things I will introduce/develop further:
Representation and cultural life:
• events – organising traditional (foreign) celebrations
• infographics – providing information (to all students) on different
cultures
• meetings – establishing friendships between international and British/other international students
• information on national (British) and regional (North-Eastern) traditions
• drop-in sessions for homesickness/ nostalgia
Adjustment to living in the UK (advice from international POV):
• health – food and weather
• accommodation – help with searching
• further education/work – reducing uncertainty about prospects in the UK/ elsewhere in the world
If you think of yourself as an international student whose culture is just as valuable as anyone else's in the community аnd want it to be properly represented, vote for me!
Hi, I’m Charlotte (she/her), third-year modern languages student, and I want to be your next Marginalised Genders Officer. Everyone here at Newcastle deserves to feel heard and represented, contributing to an experience free from inequality. I feel passionate about cultivating a safe and welcoming environment for all members of our community, especially those who are more likely to suffer discrimination because of their gender identity. I have previously held a position on the EDI committee, worked as the Decolonising Student Lead for the SML and volunteered with the ‘Reclaim Your Education’ initiative of the It Happens Here society, for which I currently act as Social Media Officer. These positions have all allowed me to gain a useful insight
that I believe makes me the ideal candidate for Marginalised Genders Officer. If elected I will strive to:
• Better the education surrounding lesserknown gender identities.
• Support non-cis-male students in feeling accepted and integrated into the student community.
• Collaborate with inclusive and intersectional societies and projects, such as It Happens Here.
• Work alongside the Welfare and Equality Officer to provide advice and awareness to students affected by gender discrimination.
• Improve the accessibility of free menstrual products for all students on campus.
Hi, I’m Leo, and I’m running for disability officer. I’m a second year Zoology student and I use they/he pronouns.
My university experience has been shaped by my multiple disabilities. I use mobility aids and have had many aspects of university impacted by disability. I’m well aware of things that I find inaccessible which nondisabled students might not even notice. This is why my first priority as disability officer would be to gather feedback from students with disabilities, neurodivergencies, and longterm health conditions through forms and feedback sessions.
I don’t want my priorities as disability officer to be informed
solely by my own experiences as a disabled student.
Another priority would be to offer robust accessibility training for clubs and societies. This would include things such as delivering accessibility information for socials, creating accessible social media posts, and finding accessible venues.
I’d also love to work with next year’s course and module reps to identify spots in teaching where accessibility could be improved. I want to amplify disabled voices and campaign for a better university experience for disabled students, and I hope you’ll consider voting for me to make this possible!
Afro-textured hair or simply because they found it easier to style their hair when it is straight.
Over the course of this month, several lawsuits have claimed that the use of chemical hair relaxers from companies such as L’Oreal cause uterine cancer and other health problems. These lawsuits allege that these companies sold these hair relaxers knowing that they contained dangerous chemicals that could be detrimental to a person's health. Whilst these companies adamantly deny these claims, we cannot overlook how dangerous chemical relaxers are even though they are widely used.
Regardless of this, one fact that remains the same is that hair relaxers are not always safe to use. As relaxers are made with harsh chemicals, contact with the scalp can cause chemical burns, which can lead to alopecia. As well as this, hair relaxers are known to make your hair brittle, cause breakage and sometimes hair loss (in the worst case scenario, permanent hair loss). This also isn’t to mention the potential link to serious health conditions such as uterine cancer, breast cancer and fibroids.
So this begs the question; why do Black women feel the need to compromise their health to achieve a straight hair look? The simple answer is that Eurocentric beauty standards have and continue to fail to accommodate to Black women. Attitudes to Afro hair have been and still are overwhelmingly negative, even in the present day where we see people being chastised for wearing their natural hair. Despite how dangerous hair relaxers can be, Black women and girls across the globe continue to relax or texturise their hair. As a matter of fact, hair relaxers have seen a recent resurgence in popularity.
The use of hair relaxers is something that is most familiar to people with Afro-hair, in particular, Black Women. To put it simply, they are strong chemicals used to weaken bonds in tightly curled hair to permanently straighten it. There are several reasons why someone would want to relax their hair: historically, Afro-textured hair hasn’t been viewed favourably and could affect your job prospects and sometimes your ability to own property. Since the Eurocentric standard preferred straight hair, many Black women opted to get their hair relaxed. People may also prefer to get their hair relaxed as they don't know how to manage
It is important to note that hair discrimination is not the sole reason why Black women would want to use relaxers.
The lack of professional guidance and education on how to look after Afro hair means that many people don’t know how to care for their hair. We also have to recognise that caring for Afro hair can be time consuming. Whilst hair relaxers can be dangerous to use, getting your hair done by Afro-hair specialists
and using the right products and having regular treatments can allow for your hair to be as healthy as possible.
Ultimately, the decision on using hair relaxers or not lies with the individual. Hair relaxers do have their perks but also have their problems, it is simply down to the user to decide what they feel the most comfortable with. However, it is always important to ask yourself why you would like to use chemical relaxers and what you hope to get out of it. And finally, whilst natural hair may not be for everyone, there are many alternatives to hair relaxers that can help you to achieve the straight hair look, without potentially damaging your hair.
to. Most are similar to Wisdom’s featuring a lot of leather, red colour palettes, and ‘Stussy’ related pieces.
Everyone is talking about the big, red boots from MSCHF. I think it’s safe to say incorporating them into a decent outfit is a challenge, and only a few have managed to do it and wear them well. Still, the viral boots are dominating the internet. But, why?
The vibe I’m getting is ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’, mixed with cosplaying a garden gnome, or a supersized ‘Peppa Pig’. Personally, I don’t see the hype. But I am heavily invested in watching people make them look good, it just might be the biggest flex of 2023 so far.
If anybody was going to make them look wearable - it was always going to be Wisdom Kaye, @wisdm8 on social media platforms. Some of his styling ideas take inspiration from ‘Astro Boy’, then incorporating a white and red colour palette with two layered puffer jackets.
However, in some of the most viral trending styles, most are cargos and a sweater. Arguably, one of the most overworn outfits of 2022 carried into 2023. Don’t get me wrong, it works, but only because it’s easy, plain, and straightforward. This way of styling almost feels like the boots aren’t a central piece to the outfit, despite retailing for $400.
As Wisdom himself says, “posing changes the whole game”. As we’ve seen in much discourse over the fabrication of social media, this begs the question, are they actually possible to style out in the real world, away from social media?
This leads me to segment into the new era of fashion, hyperreality. With recent developments in virtual reality and AI, these boots feel like a fever dream. I would be shocked to see anybody wearing them out in public, despite seeing them everywhere across TikTok and Instagram. Despite grabbing the attention of much controversy, they do have everyone talking. I think these boots might just be the first fashion statement of this idea of ‘hyperreality’ fashion. And, where better to showcase this on social media? Debatably, one of the most ‘hyperreal’ places of all.
Katy Anya McEwan - Food & Drink Sub-EditorTired of your trusty Air Force 1s? Here are some alternatives
The grip Nike Air Force 1s have on uni students is unmatched. Try and walk through campus without spotting a pair – you can’t. Their popularity is absolutely justified. They're timeless and versatile, perfect being for dressed up or down. However, if you are tired of walking into your uni house and not being able to identify which trainers are yours, there are alternatives which are just as fashionable, and will make you stand out from the crowd.
VEJA
Veja V10s really are the shoe for every occasion. All white options are available to replicate the Air Force look, but a splash of colour helps make this shoe stand out. Although the most expensive on this list, these are undeniably the shoes that go with anything, but perhaps a little basic for some.
New Balance 530
The New Balance 530s really tap into the dad shoe trend which has been circulating, and they are becoming increasingly popular. With a more unique look than Air Force and a retro feel, this is a shoe I can get behind and a variety of colour options means there’s something for everyone. If this is straying too far from your beloved Air Force, try the 550s – a tad more expensive, but stays closer to the Air Force look.
New Balance is really set on making an it girl shoe, and with this being their second mention on the list, I think they might be onto something. The CT302s have a traditional court silhouette, with a chunky platform for a more modern feel. Suede and rubber elements add dimension creating a shoe that makes a statement. The New Balance 373 is a similar option, for a slightly cheaper price tag.
The Stan Smiths are certainly an iconic Adidas staple, with a minimalist design. They are a firm celebrity favorite, being worn by the likes of Barack Obama and Meghan Markle. I will never forgive Adidas for the grip Superstars had over girls in 2016 – but if you do not have personal beef with Adidas, these may be the shoe for you.
These trainers have more of a vintage feel than the rest of the list, and the pop of color gives a retro vibe. Similar to Club c 85s are the Puma Cali Dream - with a little more colour, these are bound to make you stand out.
Although definitely not an Air Force dupe, I couldn’t leave Converse off this list. You really can’t go wrong with any pair of Converse – a classic option that should not be forgotten when looking for a new pair of trainers.
Or, Arabella, @lilrotini on TikTok. I trust her styling abilities, as I’ve written articles about her iconic Tim Burton fashion sense. Even though she says that she’s “not a fan of the big red boot” she does provide ways to style if she absolutely had
Something needs to be said about the process of removing the boots and putting them on, because by the time this article has been read - I bet MSCHF boot owners are still struggling to take those cartoonish boots off. Like something out of ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’.
Libby Griffiths
Love them or hate them, the MSCHF big red boots might be here to stay
As Wisdom himself says, “posing changes the whole game”
Lawsuits allege that hair relaxers cause serious health conditions, but how dangerous are they?
Beauty Sub-Editor
Eurocentric beauty standards have and continue to fail to accommodate to Black women
I think these boots might just be the first fashion statement of this idea of ‘hyperreality’ fashionV10s Image credit: Instagram @wisdm Image credit: Lizzie Yockney Image credit: Instagram @breezypuffss
What is reverse culture shock?
Culture shock is a common experience - arriving in a new place, excited and ready to explore, only to feel completely disoriented and surprised by the new environment. It can take some time to get used to a new climate, food, language, surroundings. So why do we experience this again when returning home? Is reverse culture shock a real phenomenon, or is it just the come-down from the excitement of travelling?
When I returned home after living for nine months in Barcelona, I was surprised to come home and feel stuck, demotivated and out of place in my own hometown. I had been looking forward to coming home, and the first week was amazing: seeing my family, my friends and enjoying the comforts of living at home again. But then reality set in and I realised that life was the same as it had been before I’d left - the same routines, the same town, nothing new or too exciting. You’ve just had this incredible experience yet can’t put it into words for those around you and have to just get on with normal life again.
This feeling is known as reverse culture shock and many people experience it after travelling for long periods or coming back from a year abroad studying. It’s an unexpected experience because you want coming home to be comforting and familiar, rather than feeling out of place and alienated.
From my experiences, feeling somewhat miserable when returning home is a reflection of the change of lifestyle you may have experienced abroad. Moving to a new place and feeling excited, meeting new people, identifying with the culture and enjoying a different pace of life are all the perks of travelling - returning home can feel like the opposite of this. I had been looking forward to coming home and having a break from the schedule of looking after three younger children and living in a chaotic family. But it felt like going back in time and losing all the personal development I’d experienced by being abroad, including a lot of confidence and enthusiasm.
Even now at university, I don’t think I’m the only one who gets a train home for the weekend when life’s getting stressful or overwhelming - I always expect that the familiarity of home is going to solve my problems and make me feel better. Although it’s always comforting to see my parents and relaxing not to have to think about cooking and washing up, ultimately I start to get this feeling again of being stuck. Once you’ve experienced the excitement and thrill of the travel lifestyle, life back home is incomparable. Now I’m always planning and looking forward to the next time I can get away again.
Is it worth travelling, knowing that coming home can give you negative emotions? Yes, absolutely! Travelling gives you so much opportunity to feel alive, to learn and to experience. So coming back may be difficult, your sense of ‘home’ changed, but you’d be missing out on so much to live without it.
Jude Parkinson - Travel sub-editor
The celebrification of certain vacation destinations, has it gone too far? Is it all for the perfect Instagram ?
For the under 35 category in society the interest in knowing where our favourite celebs vacay is more than intriguing. From their accommodation to holiday attire and destination pics on Instagram it’s the ultimate insight into how the rich list vacation.
A recent destination that has become popular with celebs and, therefore, the public is the island of Mykonos in Greece, with visits from super models like Bella Hadid and celeb royalty, Leonardo Di Caprio, the island has become for the mega rich. island known for its blue domed roofs and breath taking sunsets, has had to raise its prices in recent years to profit from the influx for visitors wanting to have an ‘Instagramable’ post just like their famous favourites. Some have
even gone as far to say it is the new Ibiza as DJ’s flock to the island to keep up with the trend.
Italy is often the most sort after destination by celebrities, located in the heart of Europe with stunning shorelines and winding vineyards the country has endless spots for celebrities to soak up the sun. Lake Como, the upstate resort in Italy’s northern region, known for its dramatic scenery and Renaissance architecture is a luxurious stay for anyone. Celebrities love the location for their grand guest houses, for example, George Clooney and Richard Branson who both have properties on the lake. Another Italian location loved by the rich and famous in non-other than the Amalfi coast, known for its pastel-coloured houses and surround islands like Capri, you’re almost always guaranteed to see a super yacht docked from the likes of Kylie Jenner to Jeff Bezos. Its expensive hotels and boutique shops give the island that lavish feel that attracts many A-listers every year.
The cobblestoned streets of Saint Tropez the coastal town on the high-end French Riviera has long been popular with musicians as it has a reputable nightlife, most popular with those who have yachts as it has a sense of privacy for many celebs away from the paparazzi. However, over the years more of the public have chosen it as a holiday location due to it being slightly less expensive than Cannes yet still exuberating a ‘old money’ type rich feel.
In my opinion, the places that celebrities influence others to visit seem to very picturesque and less about opportunities and experiences available. Largely due to Instagram and the media presenting grand photos which make many envious and with pressures to keep up with society celebrities have the ultimate grip on many dazzled by
Elžbieta Voverytė - Travel sub-editorLocation: Vilnius, Lithuania. September 9th, 2022
Each week the Travel section will be runing a 'Travel Photo of the week' oppportunity to have your picture possibly chosen to be added to the spread. Whether your a seasoned photographer or a novice we want to see your travel snaps. From Wales to South America to South East Asia all submissions are welcomed and encouraged.
Please send your submission to one of our emails, which you can find on page 2 of any of the papers from this academic year. Include your full name, location, date and if you used a certain camera we'd love to know that too.
So, if you have a catalog of amazing travel photos you'd like to share or don't have time to write a full article piece every week! send us your
When you fly somewhere, more often than not, you’ll be crammed in between strangers after hours in an airportqueueing, security and allstuck in that little seat for hours while you try to nod off to pass the time. Driving, or being driven, is a much more liberating experience. A road trip means you have the comfort of being able to stretch your legs, being able to take a break whenever you feel, and being surrounded by your friends and family, where you can chat for hours on end without feeling awkward about the people around you.
This isn’t even to mention one of the best partsthe scenery. While on an aeroplane, you can be pretty limited for views unless you have the much sought-after window seat, while a road trip means you, and all of your fellow passengers, get to take in all of your surrounding landscape from start to end. The journey becomes just as gratifying as the
destination.
While often deemed ‘the American ritual’, this is not to say that the practice of road tripping has no
you take a trip, consider doing it by car for a much more freeing and memorable experience!
Two weeks ago, my pals and I spent galentine’s day crafting heart-shaped pizzas and baking red velvet cake before heading to Vienna (via Tyneside) in what could be described as one of the best romantic dramas of the last few decades.
After meeting on a train as they sit reading opposite each other (does it get more romantic than that?), Before Sunrise follows two strangers as they spontaneously decide to spend the day together in the Austrian capital.
Both new to the city, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) visit famous landmarks and stroll along the river, meeting friendly yet eccentric strangers who, through poetry and palm readings, bring them closer together. Although they wander this grandiose city at night, there’s no sense of danger as they discuss everything from childhood to religion to love, and by the end of their time together, when they both have to jet off to their respective countries, it’s clear they’ve fallen in love.
undoubtedly a beautiful love story between
two strangers, it’s also an ode to Vienna itself, with its majestic buildings and gentle, slow-paced ambience. Set during the summer, the couple look out over the sunlit city at the top of a ferris wheel, drink stolen wine together in a park, rest on a fountain as the sun rises – it’s a realistic depiction of how real people would actually explore a city, inhabiting the spaces in between landmarks, narrow streets and secluded cafes. It’s in this way that the film is quintessentially European, and it left with an overwhelming
Ellen Pinch - Travel sub-editorEverybody has heard of Money Heist, right? The 2017 debut that won a global audience and changed the Spanish-language streaming game. As a languages student studying Spanish I’m constantly on the lookout for new series and films to get stuck into, and it’s fair to say that Netflix has upped its game recently with a number of new gripping storylines set across Spain and Latin America arriving at our One of my favourites has to be The Mess You Left Behind (El Desorden que Dejas) set in Galicia in North West Spain and based on the winner of the literary Primavera Award in 2016.
With a landscape of mountain ranges and forests offer up the perfect backdrop for one of Netflix’s freshest and darkest dramas.
Rare is it that the popular media’s portrayals of Spain stray beyond beaches, sangria and fiestas fuelled by scorching Mediterranean sun, but quite frankly this only represents a fraction of what the country has to offer
When Raquel leaves her old life behind to teach in one of Galicia’s most prestigious schools she learns a dark truth beneath the facade. In a town where everyone knows each other and protects one another she has to grapple with intense personalities, drama, but most of all, overwhelming tragedy set in one of Spain’s most beautiful yet underappreciated backdrops.
Spanish screenwriting giant, Carlos Montero takes audiences on an unconventional yet gripping crime investigation and features fan favourite Aron Piper from hit series Elite (another good Spanish binge). The series content is a little more heavy than that of Piper’s previous work in high schooled based series, but he shines in this new role and captivates us from the first episode. I can only advise that you grab a cup of tea and sink your teeth into this ode to the Galician landscape.
Fancying a fresh break from mundanity of regular life? Not sure how to do it? Thinking of a vacation but saving account is too low for it? Why not try a staycation!
Everyone dreams of a luxurious vacation at some idyllic beach or to have a picture in front of Instagram suggested hallmark places. But a vacation is not only about posing for perfect pictures, enjoying long walks in one day and getting back home as fresh as a daisy. On
If you ask me, no interrailing trip would be complete without at least a few days in Hungary's capital. What with its vibrant bars, serene outdoor spaces and fascinating cultural richness, Budapest truly is a one-stop-shop for a fab little city break. One immense draw of Budapest it that it's the perfect place to party on a budget. Stepping into Szimpla Kert - the city's oldest and most famous ruin bar - feels a bit like your eccentric great aunt Greta has converted her living room into a nightclub. The interior is something of a labyrinth decorated with random sculptures, plants aplenty, and enough fairy lights to dress the Times Square Christmas tree. It's hoarding at its finest which, combined with the cheap drinks, friendly company, and pumping music, makes for a pretty phenomenal night.
the other side of vacation are big budgets, a lot of planning and waiting for flights, and sometimes weather differences and language barriers too. Whereas, staycation is a comparatively cheaper and easy-to-go and 'get it done' idea. It saves you from hassle of pet care as your love-bundle can join you if you are not going far from your home. You can feel amused to roam in those cities and towns that are not projected and presented in limelight media. A romantic country side (and there are many in the UK!) with its sweeping views can be as peaceful as a 2000
km away forest in another continent. Local museums, art galleries and even community centers can break the ice of your routine life and can cultivate cultural and scholastic sense of learning. Staycation can be as fun filled as you want and can be less frenzied in comparison of a vacation. But both have their bright sunny sides. It is up to you where do you like to sun bathe!
For the more sedate traveller, a quintessential attraction of Budapest are the thermal baths. By far the most well-known of these is Szechenyi, a huge indoor and outdoor complex boasting 18 pools, as well as saunas and steam rooms. However, due to its grandeur, Szechenyi isn't quite the experience it used to be. So, if you want to avoid massive crowds, expensive entry fees and the very likely probability of bathing in kids' pee, I'd recommend heading just slightly off the beaten track to the Király Baths. This modest but beautiful structure is home to the city's most peaceful pools, with the added bonus of much cheaper tickets due to their 3-hour stay options.
Returning to the city centre, it may be time for some cultural enrichment. As well as plenty of art galleries and museums, Budapest is of course home to the country's parliament, a magnificent looking building but probably not one worth venturing into if you're short on time. What I would absolutely recommend however is taking a few hours out to visit the House of Terror. As the name suggests, this one isn't exactly a cheery experience. What it does offer though is a brutally honest depiction of the ordeals faced by victims of Hungary's communist and fascist 20th century regimes. Devastating at times but fascinating throughout, this eerie experience is well worth a visit.
for this brilliant city, but for the sake of concision, I'll leave you with one final piece of advice: If you're wondering where to jet off to for your next trip, make it Budapest.
Travelling can be expensive at the moment, let these foreign language films whisk you away instead...
No interrailing trip would be complete without at least a few days in Hungary's capital
How
If there's one documentary that'll make you think twice about that bacon butty you just ate, it's Cowspiracy...
Up until my early teens, I refused to eat anything that vaguely resembled a vegetable. I have a distinct memory of being with my docile grandma at the age of about six, and being told I could have a chocolate mousse with whipped cream (her speciality) if I ate one – yes, just one – pea. I reluctantly scooped a pea onto my fork, then into my mouth, where I subsequently stored it in my cheek like a squirrel for what I can only assume must have been a good 15 minutes. I just couldn’t swallow it, and after what I thought was a well-justified tantrum, I spat it out. My grandma gave me the mousse anyway. Fast forward 15 years, and I’ve gone from being a meat and dairy fiend to teetering between vegetarian and veganism. Part of this transition was natural – as I grew up, I gradually learned that vegetables weren’t out to get me, and I started
becoming more aware of the environmental and animal welfare benefits of reducing my meat intake, until I stopped eating it altogether.In 2020, after happily being vegetarian for two years – and by this point only slightly irked at the predictably quizzical expressions every time I confirmed that I did not, in fact, miss bacon – I decided to watch Cowspiracy. The documentary, released in 2014, follows filmmaker Kip Andersen as he investigates the impact of meat and dairy production on the environment.
Admittedly over-dramatised, slightly scaremongering and sometimes even factually inaccurate, there’s a lot to credit in this documentary. The deeper Andersen digs, the shadier it gets, and it soon becomes clear that global organisations hide important information to protect the US animal agriculture industry, which accounts for an estimated 6-18% of the country’s economy. It’s for this reason that, according to the documentary, the FBI sees climate activists as the number one domestic terrorism threat. Similarly, in the 20 years before the making of Cowspiracy, over 1100 environmental activists were killed in Brazil, the home of the Amazon rainforest.
As veganism becomes much more widespread, and virtually all supermarkets and cafes are offering plant-based alternatives, so too does criticism for the lifestyle choice. However, Andersen explains
that, by going vegan, per day you can save over 4500 litres of water, 20kg of grain, 30 squared feet of forest, 4kg of CO2 and one animal’s life. He also notes that, worldwide, 50% of grain – like soy – is fed to livestock, meaning that as well as the huge areas of rainforest that are cut down to make space for cattle, much of it is also destroyed to feed them. As soon as I finished the documentary, I ran downstairs and declared my newly adopted veganism to my family, ambitiously urging them to follow my lead – I was met with disinterest. Now, two years on, I’ve gone through periods of strict veganism, a year-long stint of vegetarianism whilst on my year abroad (it’s hard enough not eating meat in southern Europe), and now my diet consists of an amalgamation of oat milk and cheddar cheese, dairy-free butter and dairy-filled Dairy Milk. I might be wholly vegan again in the future – or I might not – but one thing I know for certain is that I’ll never eat meat again.
Super Size Me follows the journey of Morgan Spurlock as he attempts to eat only McDonald's over a period of 30 days. But has my decision to watch this at the age of 14 impacted my ability to enjoy fast food?
It's no secret that the U.S.A has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world, and something needs to change. But as someone who now studies a medical science degree, I have some real issues with Morgan Spurlock's celebrated documentary.
As a young teenager, I had neither the critical thinking skills nor the detachment to appreciate Super Size Me for what it was - entertainment for an adult audience. This film offers no solutions to the obesity issue, no attempt to produce robust scientific evidence and instead presents an unrealistic picture of life in the Western World.
Spurlock's decision to eat more than the average person (double the recommended nutritional intake) with no attempt to exercise was bound to end in some unappealing consequences. But as a young teenager only beginning to explore my relationship with food, I recall watching this film and swearing to limit my indulgence in fast food to the bare minimum.
To this day, I've never quite enjoyed fast food. The visual of Morgan Spurlock's mouth full of French fries on the poster does something quite unpleasant in my brain. But the deterioration in Spurlock's health - heart palpitations and the accumulation of fat in his liver, particularly - had me terrified that my next fast food meal could lead to all of the drastic effects we saw in Super Size Me.
And the thing is, I can't recall any fast food companies ever claiming that it was healthy to consume their food in the excess consumed by Morgan Spurlock. I can rationalise that the way to enjoy fast food is to do so in moderation, to enjoy fast food as part of a balanced lifestyle, that is.
But I have never looked at a Big Mac the same ever since.
One thing I know for certain is that I'll never eat meat againImage credit: IMBD
A documentary that has changed relationships with food
It had me terrified that my next fast food meal could lead to all of the drastic effects we saw in Super Size Me
I recall watching this film and swearing to limit my indulgence in fast food to the bare minimum
Food waste is an enormous problem in the western world, however it is one that we rarely think about, and is usually overshadowed in the media by ‘bigger’ issues. Whilst we have the privilege to choose what we eat, what we (dis)like, and what we are feeling on that specific day, it might seem like there's an obvious solution to stopping food waste at home: eating leftovers. But what about businesses, who are the main contributors to food waste? There's something we can do to save that food as well.
An app called Too Good to Go is offering discounts in collaboration with supermarkets and eateries to help save food that is, otherwise, going to be thrown out. This is an amazing opportunity for students looking to save money, and add to the good cause.
How does it work?
Shops post on the app what food they (will) have leftover, with a time slot for you to pick it up. Depending on where you get
your items from, it might be that the shop hasn’t sold out before closing, or they have left over food that will go out of date and will end up in the bin. You can get anything from groceries, to ready meals, and baked goods. You will get a ‘magic bag’ meaning you won’t know what’s inside until you pick it up (some shops offer specific meals, however, this is rare).
Not knowing what’s inside your bag is one of the fun parts of this app for me, however, it depends on a personal perspective. Obviously, you can be left disappointed, and I wouldn’t recommend it if you have common allergies. I find it is something similar to a mini Christmas gift, when you open the bag for the first time, after receiving it! Or maybe that's just my inner child having a little fun with dull adult things like grocery shopping...
The key to the app is being flexible. You can even turn this into a challenge of
making a meal out of products you get,
without the app. I got a salad which was my dinner, a wrap, and a sandwich which ended being mine and my friend’s lunch the next day; sausages that I froze for later use, and an Italian burrata that my flatmate used in a salad. So I got a two dinners and lunch for 3 people all for the price of £5. Need I say more?
is £3. I have given it a try, and so far, have not been disappointed. A £5 M&S magic bag would’ve cost me £20.25 normally, or £10.20 if I would’ve bought it the same day
My second try was Jesmond Starbucks and that was just as good – for a bit more than £3, I got a panini, focaccia, and caramelised biscuit loaf. Breakfast and lunch for the next day sorted. Although the prices weren’t on the items, I can imagine this combination of items would normally cost around £12. The most popular bags will be snatched up by the most vigilant users pretty soon after they’re uploaded to the app – so don’t count on getting a Starbucks breakfast every other day, and keep an eye out for good bags to pop up. A wholesome addition to the app reminds you why it was created in the first place – you can see how many food bags, money and CO2e you’ve saved by shopping on the app. While as students we might do it more so for the price than the cause – it’s still a cute reminder that you’re doing good.
Image credit: Instagram @larichebourgeoise
Ihave a condition called anosmia, meaning I have absolutely no sense of smell. I cannot smell anything, never have done, and never will. Most people are quite confused when they first hear this; the first time I noticed anosmia get any attention was during the pandemic, because, as you probably remember, Covid can cause a temporary, or even permanent loss of smell. It should be getting even more attention this Monday 27th, though, as it it’s Anosmia Awareness Day. Ever the faithful anosmic, I’m going to do my bit, by talking about my own experience.
The type of anosmia I have is genetic, which means it comes with a whole host of other potential health issues, but one way in which it has made me noticeably different to others is my relationship to food. Taste and smell are inextricably linked, because the odours of the food go through your nasal passage when you eat – which means I guess I’m missing out on a major part of the eating experience. Basically, I can’t taste very well. If I eat something sugary, I know it’s sweet, but it pretty much ends there: you’re telling me chocolate, the hard brown crunchy stuff, can taste like orange, the tangy juicy stuff? Or that ice cream can taste of vanilla? Or crisps of cheese and onion? To me, it just doesn’t add up.
To make up for it, I think I’m very sensitive to the texture of food, which makes it very easy for certain foods to gross me out. Sometimes this can come across as childish picky eating – it is embarrassing when all your flatmates are enjoying, say, cheesecake, or custard, and I have to say no because eating it is just… unpleasant. I also often don’t see the appeal in cooking and end up eating the same basic meals multiple times a day – my flatmates are used to me eating whole tins of chickpeas in one go now, but I bet they were weirded out at first. Whether I eat, and when, also comes down to hunger rather than cravings and taste, which seems to be more the case for you normies. Another fussy behaviour I have is that I like to eat individual foods separately, because if I eat everything together (taking a whole bite of a burger, for example), I can’t taste anything at all. I have to admit, it can be a little frustrating sometimes when people berate me for this; the whole aromatic world is already
inaccessible to me, okay? Let me enjoy my weird anosmic meals.
That said, take what I describe with a pinch of salt (that I can barely taste); though I’ve had this condition for my entire life, it’s much more common for people to lose their sense of smell at a
point during their lives, due to things like head injuries or illnesses.
I’ve heard it’s incredibly disconcerting and distressing to go from experiencing the full range of taste and flavours to barely anything. Many become depressed and lose all interest in food, or even overeat just to get a feeling of satisfaction that they would normally get from the balance of flavours. There are certain techniques to help you increase your enjoyment of food to combat this. Thankfully though, I’ve never known anything different, so I’m content the way it is. With regards to food, inherited anosmia on its own is no bad thing at all – I’d obviously much rather choose this than deafness or blindness. It’s even given me quite a few funny anecdotes: I clearly remember asking my parents, aged 5, when they were going to teach me to smell because everyone else in my class had already learnt. I can also down whole jars of mustard in one go – a good party trick. If you do ever meet someone with anosmia though, some words of advice: we really don’t want scented candles or diffusers as gifts; and don’t panic: we don’t have Covid. I do wonder though, without a sense of smell, am I missing out on anything? Who nose...
How does having zero sense of smell affect your enjoyment of food?
I cannot smell anything, never have, never will
It can come across as childish picky eatingImage credit: Pixabay
The 17th of February marked a big day for Inhaler fans as their second, highly anticipated album Cuts & Bruises was released.
This release is what made their gig at Newcastle’s iconic NX that more special, as we joined them to celebrate the only way music fans know how; mosh pits and spilt beer.
We were treated to not one, but two supports before the big name. Nieve Ella opened with a catchy set that sent energy through the whole audience. That’s just before FEET swaggered out onto the stage with their infectious melodies and undeniable rhythm.
Returning to the main act, it’s been almost two years since their debut album was released, and the Irish band have been growing from strength to strength. After announcing their upcoming support for both Arctic Monkeys and Harry Styles, the lads will undeniably rise in the ranks (as they should). Now, facing us in Newcastle, the quartet looked fully comfortable up on the stage. From the beginning of the show, it was clear that frontman Eli has inherited his dad’s talent, as traces of U2 streak their way through the music and their performance.
Opening up the show with their aptly named song ‘These Are The Days’ from the new album, the gig broke out into an energetic sprawl of dancing, cheering, and jumping. Looking around the NX, there was an unbreakable atmosphere that
only continued to gain momentum in the gig. Fan favourites were mixed with brand new tunes that the crowd had the pleasure of listening to for the first time.
Looking around the NX, there was an unbreakable atmosphere that only continued to gain momentum in the gig.
Muttering small fillers in between songs, there was a much heavier emphasis on the one thing that we were all there for: the music. Thunderous guitar riffs from Josh Jenkinson worked in perfect unison with Keating’s booming bass and McMahon’s striking drums. Eli’s impressive range became the cherry on top, as his voice didn’t falter from the recorded versions. The only difference really being that there here it was louder (and I will not be complaining about that).
Eli's impressive range became the cherry on top, as his voice didn't falter from the recorded versions
After the more unknown of the setlist - ‘Just To Keep You Satisfied’ and ‘So Far So Good’ – were played, the band returned to the compelling ‘When It Breaks’ that seemed to inject a vigour into the crowd. It set the atmosphere up perfectly for ‘My King Will Be Kind’, as all 2000 of us chanted ‘I fucking hate that bitch’ – potentially the most
Katie Siddall -Head of Sport
Since the Super Bowl took place on Sunday 12th February, and went into the early hours of the following Monday morning, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding Rihanna.
Yet, all these claims seems mediocre because her performance was... powerful!
With the likes of Donald Trump and Bill Goldberg being opposed to Rihanna's performance, many others like Cara Delevingne worshipped the show that was put on.
Whilst Rihanna was singing, more than 118.7 million people tuned in with 113 million there purely (or maybe not so purely) for the Super Bowl match.
The performance consisted 'We Found Love' and 'Diamonds', after her newest release 'B**ch Better Have My Money'; where listeners went up by 2,600%. The Super Bowl definitely has it's benefits for a half-time show that doesn't pay the performer!
Having only 13 minutes to perform,
Rihanna gave it all. She sang a whopping 12 songs, performed at 60 feet off the ground, announced her second pregnancy and even sniffed her hand after scratching her crotch.
Rihanna knows how to deliver news as she was suspended in the air before she turned to undo her coat and reveal her six-month pregnancy. There is a lot of praise for the singer as she, yet again, breaks stereotypes of those who are pregnant with her singing and dancing (which are harder to do whilst pregnant).
tasteful lyric written by the band. The rest of the gig continued with a buoyant environment, before they went off for the inevitable encore.
Finishing on ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’, the whole place continued cheering to their unstoppable melodies and dynamic riffs. There was a strong feeling of unison that is only ever present in gigs, and it was a brilliant.
Inhaler will next be in Newcastle on the 9th June supporting the city’s own Sam Fender at St James’ Park, but until then we will just have to listen to their music extremely loudly to try and replicate the feeling.
Ethel Cain, the alter ego of Hayden Silas Anhedönia, is in the early stages of what is a blossoming music career and following the release of her debut album - 2022's Preacher’s Daughter, which provides a refreshing yet deeper layer of indulgence within the southern country gothic americana sound.
Her music should be on any self-proclaimed music lover’s radar, with being the start of a promising career.
Anhedönia and her alter ego Cain share many parallels, with Andedönia growing up in a tightknit rural Southern Baptist town, being homeschooled by her father, the town's deacon. At age 16 her coming out as gay, followed by coming out as transgender, sent shockwaves through the small town, setting up the background for Ethel. The name Ethel Cain is in homage to the biblical story of Abel and Cain, which Andedönia has stated is a biblical story that has stuck with her due to its disturbing nature, with the inspiration for this character coming to her one night in 2018.
Preacher’s Daughter sits at 1 hour and 16 minutes in length, and we meet Cain in 1991 in her hometown of Shady Grove, Alabama, just a decade after the death of her preacher father. Through the album's 13 track epic, we follow Cain on her condemned journey, experiencing her complex and challenging relationship with religion, her preacher father and the abuse she suffered at his hands; her doomed relationships and her murder and final cannibalization. The depth of the album’s lore is incredibly impressive, and to such a scale even on the hundredth listen a new layer will always be uncovered. Whilst the topic matter is dark and complex, the music itself is simultaneously
beautiful and disturbing, using dreamlike ethereal haze and exorcism screams to captivatingly tell its tale.
Whilst the topic matter is dark and complex, the music itself is simultaneously beautiful and
Looking around the NX, there was an unbreakable atmosphere that only continued to gainImage credits: Popsugar Image credits: Facebook, Pixabay Image credits: Facebook @inhaler, Pixabay
On Valentine's day, everyones favourite sad girl Lana Del Rey released the second single to her upcoming album. Mimicking the name of an American fast food brand, 'A&W' is a seven minute long soft rock track split into two clear parts. From its innocuous title, it seemed listeners would again be enveloped in Lana Del Rey’s traditional nostalgic Americana. However, what lies behind this unannounced Valentines release is perhaps one of Del Rey’s most introspective arrangements.
She attacks her critics, her society, and herself
Part 1: 'American whore', takes on a haunting folk sound. It reflects Del Rey’s escape from California, from the American Dream she has written so despairingly of for over a decade. 'American Whore' tells a gut-wrenching story about the loss of
her innocence, her troubled relationship with her mother, and her pessimistic views on love. She attacks her critics, society and herself. It is curious then, that such an emotive opening would be met with a complete sonic breakdown. Abandoning the original melody, a bass kicks in we are with a 2-minute trap-inspired instrumental.
Part 2: 'Jimmy', is highly reminiscent of the early years of Del Rey’s career; Singing about troubled
self-proclaimed favorite song to perform, is a beautifully tragic, overwhelming cinematic slow ballad, where Cain mourns and longs for her
multiple forms with 'Hard Times' showing Cain's inability to escape this familial violence at the hands of her now dead father. 'Throughfare', the longest song at 9.27 is a traditional country epic, that changes the albums tone and pace, creating an
'Gibson Girl' starts Cain's death spiral as she arrives in California with her new lover Isiah, who drugs and pimps her out resulting in Cain's detachment from reality. 'Ptolemaea', a reference to Dante's inferno, is the albums darkest track, with Cain losing herself to the all-encompassing darkness surrounding her, and this resulting in her death. 'August Underground' and 'Televangelism' are two distinct instrumental songs on the album, providing the listener time to reflect on the journey so far as well as providing the soundtrack of Cain's Preacher’s Daughter is a musical masterpiece sonically, lyrically and conceptually, with the seamless blending of classic rock, religion, sexuality, violence, death, and pure emotion
On 'Sun Bleached Flies' Cain reflects on her life and death, her detachment from religion, and longing for her true love Willoughby, repeating over and over that all she has left is that she can pray. The albums closer 'Strangers' is just as tragic as its predecessors with Cain stating how she just misses her mother, hoping that they’ll one day be reunited, with Cain repeating 'am I making you feel sick?’ in reference to her cannibalization and the listeners journey over cymbal crashes, synth distortion and moody
Preacher’s Daughter is a musical masterpiece sonically, lyrically and conceptually, with the seamless blending of classic rock, religion, sexuality, violence, death, and pure emotion, leaving the listener emotionally devastated. If inspired to listen to the entire record that is ideal but if only three songs I would recommend: 'House in Nebraska', 'American Teenager' and 'Strangers'.
boyfriends and losing her mind on top of a backing track of heavy bass. Yet it is laced with contemporary ideas, sampling the violins from her 2019 track 'Norman Fucking Rockwell'. Upon first listening, the sudden shift in tempo may catch listeners off guard, but the altered rhythm proves to be a refreshing and addictive change that urges you to relisten.
While 'A&W' may not cater to everyone's taste, it signifies a new dawn in Del Rey's musical journey. Departing from her signature ballads, the song showcases raw and anguished vocals, intimately personal lyrics, and innovative composition. An exciting preview for whats to come. Lana Del Rey’s new album Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd is set to release on March 24th.
Accurately described as "an upbeat anthem" in a review from iHeart, the song released back in November and reminds me of Justin Timberlake's 'Can't Stop The Feeling' (from Trolls). Hear me out, both are catchy "upbeat anthems" about dancing when you feel like it.
Set to perform at Sunderland's Stadium of Light this June, pop royalty Pink has released her ninth studio album TRUSTFALL. Inspired by personal events in her life such as her father's death and her children becoming ill, TRUSTFALL is a heartfelt album that balances meaningful lyrics and addictive tunes (a staple of hers).
I was first introduced to Pink's music with the release of her 2008 single 'So What' and I am glad that I continue to be drawn back to her music fifteen years on. Pink has an incredible voice and you can always feel the emotion behind every single song. This album is no exception. Collaborating with The Lumineers, First Aid Kit and Chris Stapleton, this album will surely be listened to on repeat and will surely secure award nominations.
The titular song 'TRUSTFALL' (all capitals, not just for emphasis on my end) takes on a drastically different feel to the more reflective 'When I Get There', which kicks off the album and is a clear ode to Pink's late father. 'TRUSTFALL' has a catchy synth tune that will definitely be amazing to blast in the car with the windows rolled down. Shame I can't drive.
Speaking of catchy, 'Never Gonna Not Dance Again' is one of the catchiest on the album.
The album's slower songs include 'Lost Cause' and 'Our Song', which showcases Pink's incredible vocals accompanied by a piano. Whilst it is usually Pink's more upbeat songs that have remained popular in the past (case in point: 'So What' and 'Funhouse'), her slower songs have always been emotionally charged, appealing to emotions and experiences that her audience can relate to. The love Pink has for her children and husband ooze out of her lyrics.
In my eyes (or ears) Pink has never put out a disappointing song or album and she certainly isn't going to start. TRUSTFALL is probably the first of Pink's albums I have listened to in a single sitting and I look forward to seeing her at Sunderland this June.
It is curious then, that such an emotive opening would be met with a complete sonic breakdownImage credits: Instagram @lanadelrey Image credits: letsdraw.it
Her slower songs have always been emotionally charged, appealing to emotions and
We've broken the kids at lastMelanie Baker, Waiting List Image credits: Pixabay
Olivia Crowley - TV sub-editor
producers of My Lover, My Killer, have come under fire constantly for their consistent streaming of true crime documentaries. In particular, their handling of the crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer has recently been heavily criticised after the recent release of Dahmer and the newest instalment of the Conversations with… franchise focusing on his crimes, something that seemingly was a blatant money grab for the global company. Due to a lack of notification for the victim’s families, many were left feeling betrayed by the streaming giant.
relationships, equipping viewers with the ability to spot red flags before it’s too late. Whilst statistically domestic violence is a gendered crime, with 94.6% of perpetrators shown to be male, the Netflix show doesn’t shy away from female on male violence, reminding viewers that it happens to everyone, providing a gateway for men who are struggling to
affected have since created fundraisers and trusts, including The Ruggles and Gazzard family. Here you can find The Alice Ruggles Trust (https://www.alicerugglestrust.org/ alices-story) and the Hollie Gazzard trust (https://holliegazzard.org/hollies-story/).
The recent release of My Lover, My Killer season 2 on Netflix takes a look at when love turns deadly; despite its morbid themes, the documentary highlights awareness regarding domestic violence and the taboo that surrounds it. The show raises the conversation of whether the documentation of true crime for entertainment is wholly damaging to viewers and victims alike.
The first episode documents the tragic murder of Alice Ruggles at the hands of her stalker ex boyfriend Trimaan ‘Harry’ Dhillon; she was a Northumbria University graduate, living in Gateshead at the time of her deathwe are provided with shots of Newcastle paired with the tragic tale, making for a haunting first look at the season to come.
The constant availability of true crime documentaries on streaming services alike, provides a long debated issue as it begs the question as to whether victims and families can achieve closure if their story is constantly projected onto people’s screens. Netflix, the
A recent example of exploitation within the true crime genre, comes after Channel 5 released a documentary about the currently missing Nicola Bulley. Whilst it included exclusive interviews with Bulley’s partner, friends and family, many viewers felt it was distasteful, particularly due to the limited amount of time between her actual disappearance and the release of the documentary. Personally, I feel this was entirely wrong of the TV giant, as I feel it could in turn create damaging effects in the future, particularly as we are yet to find out what happensNicola’s welfare and legacy should be the priority here and somehow it feels like it isn’t.
My Lover, My Killer this exploitative nature on its head, as the families and friends that are involved, use the platform of Netflix to create a level of awareness regarding domestic violence and the murder of their family members. As a result of this, they hope to increase awareness surrounding the risks involving
The Mandalorian returns on the first of March, and we will return to being glued to our screens. This is the way with the Mandalorian, and hopefully the third season will not disappoint. If there’s one thing that Disney’s Star Wars has taught us it is the bitter taste of disappointment, but when it comes to The Mandalorian, fans can relax just a tiny bit. In Jon Favreau’s capable hands, the first two seasons have been a major success, helped of course by Grogu’s fame, but where will season three take us next?
Following on from The Book of Boba Fett (where, spoiler alert, Grogu and Mando were reunited), the trailer seems centred on the subject of Mandalore, now a burnt-
Mando’s backstory as well as the politics of the scattered tribes of Mandalorians. Some scenes of Mando wielding the dark sabre wouldn’t go amiss either. Afterall, it wouldn't be Star Wars without some super cool fight scenes to match the political strife.
According to the trailer, it looks like the New Republic could also be taking a more prominent role, with flashes of Coruscant appearing just as it was in the prequels, as well as scenes with multiple Jedi in a possible pre-order 66 flashback. Emotionally devastating and painful? Sounds perfect. Speaking of Jedi, Grogu also seems to have powered up, throwing monsters out of caves and looking extremely cute - deep-fake Luke Skywalker is evidently a great Mandalore, Coruscant, pre-Order 66 Jedi, and Pedro Pascal - what more could you want?
Ncuti Gatwa, who plays Eric Effiong in the Netflix hit series, Sex Education, has announced that the upcoming fourth season will be his last on the show, posting an announcement on Instagram that reads, “Last day. Last time. Bye, bubs. Thank you for all the lessons and for all the strength.” This news should hardly come as a
surprise considering Gatwa’s exciting involvement in some of the most highly anticipated projects: Barbie and Dr Who, in which Gatwa is taking on the iconic titular role. Nevertheless, fans of the show will no doubt be sad to be losing another beloved character, in particular one who delivered some of the most memorable comedy and most important representation on the show, with storylines focusing on his journey to understand the intersections of his identity as a gay British Nigerian teenager.
Gatwa joins Patricia Alison, Tanya Reynolds and Bridgerton's Simone Ashley, who have also announced their departure from the show. Considering the last season also ended with the cliff-hanger of Maeve moving to the US and Moordale High closing down, it feels to me like hangs in the balance. I found that its third season was definitely its weakest, with a number of plotlines that felt recycled or underdeveloped. Concepts that are as ground-breaking as this often struggle to recreate the magic of their first season, but that being said the show is still covering new ground. Dua Saleh as non-binary character Cal Bowman, for example, stands out, but even new themes like this seem tonally forced and less comedic than before. The show relies increasingly heavily on the captivating performances of its cast, thus making the departure of Ncuti Gatwa all the more disappointing. Only time will tell the real extent of its impact on the
[the show's third season] was definitely its weakest, with a number of plotlines
With the release of My Lover, My Killer on Netflix, we take a look at whether the documentation of true crime can be justified or whether it remains morally challenged.Image credit: Twitter @IetsOTT Image credit: Twitter @NewOnNetflixUK, Pixabay Ciara Rivers
Eating disorders are undeniably a major problem facing the world today, with the number of individuals struggling constantly increasing. In the UK, it is estimated that around 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder and a large percentage are aged 12-25, although it must be noted that eating disorders are hard to define and due to the sensitivity of the subject data can be unreliable. My question, however, is whether this crisis is worsened by the showcasing of it on the big screen, or whether the representation of eating disorders actually helps those that struggle.
During my early teenage years, the Netflix film To the Bone was released. It starred one of my favourite actresses of the time- Lily Collins, so me and my sisters were convinced to watch. At fourteen I was very naïve, and I didn’t know much about mental health problems, but the film immediately struck a chord with me. Collins depicted 20-year-old anorexia sufferer Ellen. I had never seen her play such a raw, truthful, yet haunting role. The film certainly didn’t shy away from the realities of disordered eating, with one character losing out on his dream of being a ballet dancer, and another losing her baby. Of course, these are real-life tragedies that happen every day, and so there is an argument that they need to be given
attention in the media. To the Bone, to its credit, also doesn’t intentionally glamourise mental health issues. The film makes it blatant that being sick is not a good thing. However, even at age fourteen, I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that there was something dangerous about this film.
Does the film play a part in encouraging audiences to practice harmful behaviours?
Firstly, there is an irony. It calls itself out by making a key part of Ellen’s storyline dealing with the guilt of releasing Tumblr art that influenced a young follower of hers to take her life. We must consider whether films like To the Bone may lead to similar results. Does the film play a part in encouraging audiences to practice harmful behaviours by drawing attention to them? It is definitely not incomparable that films like this one may trigger those who already have problems with food. It is hard to know where the line is, as eating disorders are very complex. It is a known fact that anorexia is particularly competitive and so by seeing characters starve themselves, count calories etc., it may lead those in recovery to relapse. Although, if you’re an individual that has never suffered from an eating disorder, films like To the Bone may be a useful and accurate insight into those that are facing challenges with eating. For
example, To the Bone shed light on how disordered eating is often caused by underlying issues that have nothing to do with appearance, such as family problems. These films may instil some empathy and understanding in audiences. Additionally, I’m glad that To the Bone ended with Ellen finally choosing to take recovery seriously, sending a positive message and encouraging people to seek help.
The Whale, released more recently, features Charlie who suffers from a binge eating disorder. Consequently, Charlie becomes hugely overweight to the point that his life is at risk. Some reviews reflect offense at the title and the storyline in general. They argue that the film is fatphobic and dehumanizing. Charlie’s life is essentially portrayed as being joyless because of his weight and some are tired of seeing fat people depicted in this light. Charlie also forgives the abuse that others direct at him, which can send the wrong message. Others see the film as generating compassion for those that are suffering, with watchers commenting on how they fled the cinema in floods of tears.
feel less alone. I would, however, encourage those who are not in the best head space to not watch anything that may be damaging.
If you are struggling with disordered eating, here are some helpful resources:
Eating Distress North East (EDNE) - 0191 221 0233 or email enquiries@edne.org.uk
Beat - helpline 0808 801 0677 (open 365 days a year from 9am-midnight during the week and 4pm-
It’s evident that films revolving around disordered eating are subjective. They can cause a lot of harm, but they can do a lot of good in terms of raising awareness and making sufferers
George Lowes
We're delving into the heart of award's season with a comprehensive look into the 2023 Oscar's Best Picture Nominees
Awards season is upon us once again, with ten films nominated for the coveted Best Picture award at the Oscars. Ranging from intimate character dramas to adrenaline-charged action spectacles, here are my reviews of them all, ranked from worst to best.
10. TÁR
Coming in last place is TÁR, a film about Lydia Tár, a fictional composer played wonderfully by Cate Blanchett. It’s nearly three hours long, which feels entirely unjustified as there simply isn’t sufficient plot to fill that runtime. I applaud the film’s commentary on cancel culture, although ultimately it’s all quite surface-level. 2.5/5
9. Elvis
film progresses. Austin Butler is fantastic as Elvis Presley, though the script misses an opportunity to delve deeper into his character, leaving this a disappointingly shallow biopic. 3/5
8. Triangle of Sadness
A satire of the uber-wealthy is not the most original idea, but it does lead to some genuinely funny moments. My main problem with this film is that every scene is twice as long as it needs to be. In fact, editing out close to an hour of this movie’s runtime would improve it drastically, quickening its glacial pacing and preventing the jokes from wearing thin. 3/5
7. Everything Everywhere All at Once
On release, Everything Everywhere All at Once received almost universal acclaim. Maybe this set my expectations too high, but I can’t say I entirely agree. The film’s emotional beats didn’t always land for me, and I found most of its weirdness annoying. That said, it is undoubtedly a great movie, with well-choreographed action sequences and some very inventive sci-fi concepts. 4/5
6. Women Talking
Women Talking is an intimate drama about the women of an isolated religious community deciding how to proceed, following a series of sexual assaults perpetrated by the colony’s men.
5. All Quiet on the Western Front Kicking off the top 5, we have All Quiet on the Western Front – one of the best war films in recent years. Its superiority compared to most other movies in the genre results from its success in not glorifying any aspect of war. Every part of the film, from its editing to its acting, is deliberately designed to portray World War 1’s barbarity and pointlessness. The only other movie that portrays the brutality of war so effectively is Saving Private Ryan, with its famous D-Day sequence. Felix Kammerer plays our protagonist in a stunning debut, and it’s hard to believe this is his first film role. 4/5
4. Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water is visually breathtaking from start to finish. Unfortunately, start to finish is 192 long minutes, most of which were painfully felt – a common theme among this year’s nominees. On the plus side, James Cameron is a master of action, so, unsurprisingly, every sequence was exhilarating. Exploring a new region of Pandora was interesting, and I really appreciated the stronger focus on character development compared to the first film. However, the movie does feature a few too many characters, sometimes resulting in a cluttered feel. 4/5
3. The Fabelmans
This movie is Luhrmann at his worst. The first ten minutes are genuinely nauseating, the insane editing giving the movie the feel of a drug trip.
love of film and how he uses it to cope with a troubled home life. Paul Dano and Michelle Williams are similarly brilliant as Sammy's parents, gelling wonderfully with LaBelle. Spielberg's direction is exquisite, but given that he's arguably the most iconic director ever, that's hardly surprising. 4.5/5
2. The Banshees of Inisherin
My runner-up is The Banshees of Inisherin, a movie as hilarious as it is deeply depressing. Director Martin McDonagh balances tone incredibly well here. The film shifts from delightfully funny to incredibly distressing and then back again several times in the same scene, impressively never once feeling jarring. The two leads, Colin Farrell (The Lobster) and Brendan Gleason (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) are both excellent in their roles. The history between the pair is almost tangible, and I was instantly invested in their relationship, desperately wanting things to work out for them. 4.5/5
1. Top Gun: Maverick
Words struggle to do justice to the sheer excitement I felt watching the movie's jawdropping aerial sequences on the big screen. Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible) truly is one of the last Hollywood mega-stars, committing his all to every film. Throughout the movie, you feel the care and effort that went into ensuring the audience has the best possible experience. For my money, one of the greatest action films in recent memory. 5/5
These films can raise awareness and make sufferers feel less alone
After a mediocre 2022 for Marvel projects, can the first film of phase five bring them back on track?
It is well known that superhero movies in general tend to follow the same narrative structure, the same formula to generate easy money for studios.
MCU. It's humorous, on the wholesome side and serves as a solid origin story.
The second film, whilst amusing, is utterly forgettable, possibly because it came out in the period between Infinity War and Endgame. The standout of Quantumania is easily Jonathan Major's portrayal of Kang, who previously knocked it out of the park with his one episode of Loki. With Majors set to appear in Loki season two (releasing this year) and be the 'big bad' of phases five and six, hopefully he continues to deliver.
The standout of Quantumania is easily Jonathan Majors' portrayal of Kang
I first became acquainted with the character of Kang and city of Chronopolis through Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 as a 'child' (ssh... I was 15 when it came out). Rest assured, no matter that the previous Ant-Man films were on the lighter side, Kang is intimidating as hell in this one. Regardless of how intimidating Kang was, the film has a lack of consequences for it's heroes. On the topic of what the film lacks, there is no real character development throughout the film for anyone. Come to think of it, I could not name a single of the supporting characters from the Quantum Realm (where they even named?).
At the heart of the Ant-Man films is the relationship between Scott and his daughter
Cassie, who is now portrayed by Freaky (2020) actress Kathryn Newton. Newton's performance is not bad by any means but it didn't blow me away. Her casting as Cassie is of course overshadowed by Marvel's unceremonious sacking of Endgame actress Emma Fuhrmann through a Twitter announcement. It seems a shame that Fuhrmann was not given more screentime, but Marvel clearly wants someone with more experience particularly as it seems likely that Cassie will feature in a future Young Avengers slate. Considering the film is called "Ant-Man & The Wasp", the latter is consistently underused and rarely given a chance to shine, feeling more like a sidekick in the trilogy.
Of course, the audience (mostly) waits patiently for the credits scenes which, like the rest of the film, serves as set-up for future projects. In this case most likely Avengers: Secret Wars and season two of Loki
With a setting such as the Quantum Realm, the visual effects, set design and costume design were working overtime. Visually, the film looks pretty great, but when all the multiverse and cosmic Marvel films look like that, the awe wears off. M.O.D.O.K. makes his film debut in Quantumania, a character who is so wacky there is no way he wouldn't look as goofy as his comic counterpart. Using Darren Cross, the villain of the first AntMan film, gave us many humorous moments in the film but is definitely under-utilised.
Sadly, Marvel has once again put out a relatively soulless two hours of mediocrity that seems to serve as groundwork for a future team-up film. If you want two hours to switch your brain off, maybe wait for it to drop on Disney Plus in three to four months.
2.5/5
as a film ever hit you so hard on a first watch that you wish you could go back and experience the emotion again? Perhaps a twist you never saw again that you wish you could relive the shock of. Perhaps you just want to fall in love with your favourite film all over again. Our writers break down their approach to recapturing the magic of special cinema.
If I had the chance to watch a film for the first time again, it would be Chunking Express (1995) by Wong Kar Wai.
The first time I watched the film was when I was 18 years old and at a public screening at my undergraduate university. Chungking Express was the film that drew me into my love for cinema.
If I had to re-watch a film with my memory of the first watch being wiped, it would have to be Aftersun. Weeks of Twitter hype and Paul Mescal’s face enticed me into watching it, but if I’m being completely honest, I wasn’t immediately won over when I put it on. The first hour or so felt like watching paint dry, yes these father-daughter interactions were heart-achingly wholesome, but that’s all that this movie seemed to be. It was nice - but was this really what people had been raving about? Cut to another forty-so minutes later and I’m bawling my eyes out. Oh my god, ‘this is phenomenal’. The real plot of the movie lies within its implications, a truly groundbreaking concept from first-time feature film director Charlotte Wells. Would wholeheartedly recommend having your first watch if you haven’t yet had the privilege.
Like most people, I grew up watching lots of films. I watched popular Hollywood productions, Bollywood classics, and many other kinds of cinema as I grew up. Yet, it was this film from Hong Kong that captured my heart and I delved into appreciating and studying cinema in detail. The film describes two different stories featuring two lovesick cops in Hong Kong. The film takes on the genre of romance, comedy, and drama.
The film showcases the multicultural elements of the city of Hong Kong. Along with its release in the 90s, Hong Kong had been transferred from the British colonial administration to China. Hong Kong as a nation has had various definitions implanted into it as its colonizers have changed over the years. Hong Kong was originally a territory in the
Qing Dynasty and then it was colonized from 1843 to 1941 by the British. The Japanese also acquired Hong Kong briefly from 1941 to 1945 and after it was reclaimed by the British Empire from 1945 to 1997. Through the British Empire, Hong Kong was a manufacturing hub that became a melting pot for both eastern and western cultures. Chungking Express is an immersive experience that highlights the impermanence of the idea of Hong Kong. The film incorporates visually incoherent shots and bright colours. This chaos is a semblance of the uncertainty Hong Kong was facing during the time of the handover.
For me, Chungking Express is an unexplainable phenomenon. The film provides a magical escapade and narrates the stories with a beautiful flow. I would love to watch it again for the first time and be entranced by the story and filmmaking.
memory to watch again in my view isn’t quite straight forward. On first thought, you would go to your favourite film, however, is that really your favourite film because of the first time you watched it, or for other reasons.
On that note, the film I’d love to watch for the first time again would be the 2015 film Circle. My first impression from this prompt would be Silence of the Lambs – probably my favourite film of all time. But when thinking about it, my love for that film increases with every re-watch, not because I fell in love at the first watch. This also made me realise I have that relationship with a majority of my favourite films.
Circle however, is a psychological thriller, where fifty people awake in a room, only to find one of them will die every two minutes, but the decision of who lasts with them. Given the fact, the entire plot is based on predicting the order of 49 deaths, watching again for the first time would definitely add another level of intensity. The films interesting yet subtle political commentary also adds and extra layer, and I would do anything to watch the final twist for the first time again. That leaves me confident on my decision, Circle is the film I’d love to rewatch for the first time again.
Visually, the film looks pretty great, but when all the multiverse marvel films look like that, the awe wears off
With the popularity of immersive art experiences on the rise, we ask whether they celebrate seminal artworks, or reduce them to selfie backgrounds
Immersive art exhibitions are the latest form of entertainment in the art world –you have most likely seen them all over your social media, as they have soared in popularity in recent years. Whilst it is fascinating to watch the unusual ways in which art is displayed today, do immersive art experiences act as a revival of historic art or are they simply a new way to commercialise it?
From Picasso, to Kahlo, to Monet, immersive art experiences bring historic, familiar pieces of art onto a digital stage. In these exhibitions, audiences will often sit or walk through large rooms that have a series of artworks projected onto its ceilings, walls, and floors. Soundscapes – and often elements of virtual reality – are also integrated to add to the mesmeric dimension of the experience.
Whether you’re gazing up at Van Gogh’s 'The Starry Night' or walking through Diego Rivera’s streets of Mexico, the idea is that you feel as though you have been submerged into the painting, like you have been teleported directly into the world that the artist has created.
I am no expert in the art field whatsoever. However, having gone through the most debilitating, stress-inducing part of my life that was A-Level fine art, I have eternal admiration
for artists and a genuine appreciation for art itself.
Last summer, I visited ‘Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience’ in York and it was certainly a different and refreshing experience compared to most art exhibitions that I have been to. Nonetheless, it did feel like the ‘immersive’ aspect of the exhibition was rather exaggerated – after half an hour, you are essentially staring at the same pieces, they’re just being projected onto more walls in different ways. Whilst I did enjoy my experience, I couldn’t help but notice that many people were quick to leave once they had got the pictures and videos they wanted; it wasn’t difficult to spot who was there for the art and who was there for the aesthetic. In this digital age, a part of me does believe it is important to explore different ways of showcasing
art and bringing in new audiences, particularly trying to engage younger generations. However, I also feel like some artwork should simply be left alone. I can imagine many of these beloved artists rolling over in their graves merely at the thought of people using their art – which they dedicated their lives to – as the backdrop of their new Instagram post. A lot of media outlets even advertise these types of exhibitions as "Instagrammable rooms" or ''the next big thing on TikTok''; the educational context and emotional value of the artist’s work appears to get lost with their art being seen as a trend. It is another way of society romanticising an artist’s life, turning their legacy into a ‘tortured artist’ aesthetic. The connection between the art and its audience has thus become extremely
superficial; I can’t say it would surprise me if the number of visitors started to plummet if these exhibitions were to have a photo ban. Social media is an inescapable part of today’s world and the depressing reality is that people visit many places purely to exploit it for the sake of their Instagram. Immersive art exhibitions are definitely a unique experience that I think everyone should explore for themselves – with your eyes, rather than your screen – and many rising artists are embracing this new form of art. For now, the controversy surrounding immersive experiences of historic art remains – do we adapt the past to suit the cultural vanity of current society or hope that the renowned genius of the artwork is enough to preserve itself?
Over 100 of the museum's staff balloted for a week of strike action during the halfterm holidays
Staff at The British Museum are among museum workers across the country who have participated in strike action during half-term week in protest over jobs, pay, pensions, and redundancy terms.
Striking staff are members of the UK’s largest civil service union, the Public and Commercial Service Union, known as the PCS. Striking staff are amongst 100,000 members who voted in favour of industrial action in the week beginning the 13th February.
Members are seeking a pay rise of 10%, in line with inflation
Around 100 workers at the museum, including those in visitor services and security, are striking during English schools’ half-term
week. The museum’s programme of holiday events and activities was cancelled as a result. It remained open to visitors for the first four days of the strike, albeit with restricted gallery access, and without information desk, ticket desk, box office, and cloakroom services. The museum decided to close temporarily on the 17th, 18th, and 19th February, the final days of strike action.
This comes after previous strike action forced the closure of the British Museum, the Museum of Liverpool, and Scotland’s National War Museum on February 1st.
More than 86% of workers who took part in the PCS’ ballot voted in favour strike action. The ballot was prompted by a pay rise offer of only 2% from the government. Members are seeking a pay rise of 10%, in line with inflation.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, stated that, “If the government was serious about resolving the dispute, ministers could resolve it tomorrow. Instead, they’re shamefully hiding their heads in the sand, hoping we’ll go away. We won’t.”
The strike will be followed by another national walkout by PCS members on the 15th March, the date on which the next government budget will be announced.
by Sarah Tunstall -Arts Sub-Editor
Why don't we stop fooling ourselves?
I wanted you to love Simon and Garfunkel.
I'd skip Overs
Paul knew too much About falling out of love.
I thought this album has twelve songs?
I'd skip Overs
Paul knew too much about People deteriorating, How did he know about us.
The game is over, Over Over.
Simon and Garfunkel, Bookends (1968)
Unless you hardly pay attention to your surroundings (understandable) or really haven’t gone to a single seminar this semester (not so much), it’s pretty certain you’ll have seen the tall, brown, blocky construction on King’s Walk between the Students' Union and Northern Stage. It was installed in January after the exam period as an addition to the various other pieces of public art on campus. But this isn’t just any old artwork: it’s Clasp, a sculpture by the famous artist Antony Gormley. As sculptures go, it’s got it all: it looks good, it’s meaningful, and best of all, it’s controversial. Clasp and the university go back years, and they have beef. Clasp represents two bodies holding each other – hence the name. If you look carefully at it, especially from the SU side, you can see it. The modernist work is 4.5 metres high, made of cast iron, and is part of Gormley’s 'Blockwork' series, where blocks replace anatomy. According to the Turner Prize winner, “the two stacks of blocks find mutual support and together, they make a concentrated, single sculpture that is both body and building”. The intention is for
the blocks to rust naturally, going from grey to orange to reddish-brown.
Students who have studied here for some time might already know this though - they might even have noticed the blocks gradually go rusty. This is because it first came to campus in 2018 as part of a 5-year loan. Poor old Clasp didn’t make it that long though; it had to be removed for maintenance in 2021, ironically because months of rainfall had over-oxidised its surface. Isn’t that the same surface that’s supposed to evolve naturally? No matter, it’s back now, with a protective coating applied.
Even before it was removed however, Clasp’s time on campus didn’t go smoothly. Soon after its installation students launched an online petition to remove it, mainly because it didn’t keep to the aesthetic of the other university buildings. Fine Art students then climbed it and placed a white gnome on top in support of “reclaiming campus space”. It was also graffitied twice, first in 2019, after which the perpetrator was taken to Newcastle Crown court, and then again in 2021.
Despite this, Clasp has defied the haters and is standing proudly at the heart of the university once more. In my opinion, campus is better off for it. Its presence is a display of pride for the wonderful North East, given that Gormley is the sculptor behind the piece of genius that is the Angel of the North in Gateshead. He also has an honorary degree from Newcastle University, and his drawings are on display in the Hatton Gallery. As someone who appreciates a good hug, I think the embrace is striking and beautiful - a clever contrast between brutalist and affectionate.
And even though students were opposed to it for spoiling graduation photos, to me the rusty hue blends in well with the red brick buildings that dominate central campus. You can’t complain that the university spent unnecessary money on it either, given that it’s being kindly lent out. All in all, a fine piece of art.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Gormley statue on a university campus without being controversial in some way. Imperial College London came under fire when it installed another 'Blockwork' series sculpture that from the side resembles a man with a giant erection, and the University of East Anglia faced calls to remove Gormley’s life-sized human statues on top of buildings because it looked like they were about to commit suicide. In comparison, ours is pretty innocuous. Half a semester in, Clasp 2.0 has yet to face much criticism. Let’s hope it stays that way.
Anew exhibition has just debuted at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Titled The Procession, the exhibition initially featured at Tate and is the brainchild of Hew Locke.
The exhibition, situated on the fourth floor, invites visitors to "reflect on the cycles of history, and the ebb and flow of cultures, people and finance and power". It opened on Saturday 18th February and will be open until Sunday 11th June.
examining the figures and still spot new details to awe at. For a birds eye view, I recommend going up to the fifth floor as there is a balcony overlooking the exhibition. Since the exhibition tells a story, it is best to slowly walk around first. The nature of using figures means that viewers spot new details as they circle round the room, seeing the figures at different angles. Using processions as a key element evokes a variety of emotionsBased in Brixton, Locke's works feature in collections in both the Tate in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Last year, Locke became a member of The Royal Academy of Arts in London.
Taking inspiration from his childhood in Guyana, Locke revisits his "artistic journey so far". The Procession is rich in colour and made up of dozens of figures traveling through space and time. Extremely detailed, viewers can take their time
The Procession is rich in colour and made up of dozens of figures travelling through space and time
The embrace is striking and beautiful - a clever contrast between brutalist and affectionate
1. Largest rodent (8)
5. A fencing or duelling sword (4)
9. Song by the village people (4)
12. Capital of South Korea (5)
14. Type of worm (4)
16. Murder (4)
19. Geographical region and former province on the West Coast of the Netherlands (7)
20. Monkey (3)
22. Type of radiation 100-400nm wavelength (2)
23. Type of Italian bread (8)
26. Card game where you shout the name on the last card (3)
27. Body of an arrow (5)
30. First person in space (7)
31. Canadian singer (5)
32. Jose Mourinho is the special __ (3)
Start at the top of the ladder, and change one letter each time to form a new word. By doing this, you will be able to get to the word at the end of the ladder.
2. Who discovered oxygen (8)
3. To __ or not to __ (2)
4. ___ Charles American singer songwriter (3)
6. Main character in Kung Fu Panda (2)
7. Danish footballer who collapsed at Euro 2020 (7)
8. Type of electric current that periodically reverses (2)
10. Mario Kart track Coconut ___ (4)
11. Sign language where letters are signed with one hand (3)
13. Disney Pixar film released in 2009 (2)
15. Yell (5)
16. Walter White quote: "I am the one who ____" (6)
17. Sigmond Freud's ego, superego and ___ (2)
18. "There" in French (2)
20. Artificial intelligence (2)
21. Friend (3)
23. Brand of buttery spread (5)
24. French open is played on which court (4)
25. Famous bunny whose catch phrase is "What’s up Doc?"? (4)
28. 2012 film featuring John Bennet and his childhood bear (3)
29. Chemical symbol for silver (2)
We are gathered here today to celebrate the life and death of boiling water. You miss be mist.
Colour in the cells in the grid according to the numbers on the sides of the grid to reveal a picture. The individual numbers in each row/ column are separated by spaces of 1 or more squares.
Arsenal suffer the Blues after being blown away by City
Without a win in their last four matches and having only managed to score one non-penalty goal in that time, it’s safe to say Arsenal are faltering somewhat. However, suggestions that they have “bottled”
the title may prove to be premature. They are equal at the top on points, have a game in hand over City and are still at the heart of the title race.
It might be worth looking deeper at the games that have made up Arsenal’s troubled past few weeks. Out of the aforementioned four games, two have been against Manchester City, who having won four out of the last five Premier League titles, are indisputably one of the top teams in the world. Whilst Arsenal would’ve liked to beat them to further their gap at the top, defeat to the Cityzens is a pain most Premier League fans face, with Erling Haaland terrorizing defences almost weekly. Their draw to Brentford four days before might’ve materialised into a win, if a costly VAR mistake hadn’t occurred (the official in charge, Lee Mason, has subsequently been removed from his post), and the costly loss against Everton, arguably Arsenal’s worst performance this season, also happened to be new Everton manager Sean Dyche’s first game at the helm of the Toffees, with the Everton players clearly out to impress their new boss.
Embarrassing bloopers happen to teams who go on to win the title.
Liverpool in the 2019/20 season fell to a humiliating 3-0 to Watford, and even Manchester City who went on to win the title with 98 points in the 2018/19 season suffered consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace and Leicester City. In the era of Pep Guardiola’s Man City side and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, we have almost come to expect robotic, ruthless efficiency from title winning sides. But the fact of the matter is, tough patches like this happen to top teams, and it is how Arsenal react now that will determine their place in the league come May.
needed to be league leaders, and in the game against Everton you got the sense that the media pressure did get to them. Their January signing of veteran Chelsea midfielder Jorginho may prove an astute one, as he arrives with an experienced head on his shoulders, and may help revitalise an Arsenal who seem almost stunned by their success. Their best performances this season came when they were chasing the top spot, and it was only with the recent back-to-back victories over Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, both keen rivals of the Gunners, that Mikel Arteta’s side were catapulted into the title debate for this season, and became hunted by the rest of the league and the media. For now, Arsenal are back as hunters, and that could be exactly where Mikel Arteta wants them.
Their position as underdogs after the City result may suit this Arsenal team, who are the youngest side in the division this season. Whilst players like Bukayo Saka and William Saliba play at a level far beyond their years, they do lack the experience and tolerance to pressure
In fact, fans of the club would have to wait until the middle of January for their first league win under Jones, a 2-1 win away against fellow relegation candidates Everton. But in the true fashion of this chaotic period, their cup form soared, Jones overseeing wins against Lincoln, Crystal Palace, Blackpool, and most impressively Manchester City in the EFL Cup, a competition traditionally dominated by the blues. He couldn’t squeeze them through to the EFL final however, suffering defeat over two legs against a strong Newcastle United side.
The League form certainly didn’t follow, consistent one goal defeats giving way to a 3-0 dismantling at the hands of Brentford and placing Jones’ job under immense scrutiny going into the home game against a struggling Wolves side. Jones’ stranger tendencies emerged in the build up, with a press conference rant about how he “could’ve stayed in a mining community and been a PE teacher and had a nice life married a nice welsh girl.” To the delight of the press in attendance he continued on, “I wanna test myself, and that’s nothing against Welsh women by the way.”
Jones’ consistent ability to pat himself on the back despite poor performances (earlier in the season referring to himself as
one of the top coaches in europe through his metrics at Luton Town) alienated fans who saw their club fighting to stay in the division, and wanted to see his credentials on the pitch, not the back page.
If all eyes weren’t on the game before the conference they certainly were now, so they were probably surprised when Jones’ side took the lead and gained a man advantage within the first half an hour. This before reality came crashing down, a comical own goal and an 87th minute winner from the 10 men of Wolves meaning Saints fans left empty handed. After the game Jones demonstrated his ability to blame everything but himself once more, stating the red card was “To our detriment because it made it a free hit for them then… in terms of stuff.” It was understandable that his way with words deserted him here as his mind was probably elsewhere, he was after all sacked the very next day.
Jones’ stint as manager of Southampton can arguably be best demonstrated with one fact. As of his sacking, 11 managers had won at least 1 point at Southampton’s home ground St Mary’s this season. Jones was not one of them.
If all eyes weren't on the game they certainly are nowOllie Withers Image credit: Twitter (@90min_football)
Liverpool in the 2019/20 season fell to a humiliating 3-0 to WatfordImage credit: Twitter (@TrollFootball)
Which team will achieve glory and who will battle relagtion?
With the 2022/23 Premier League Season reaching its halfway point, it’s time to make a set of predictions about how the teams will fair come the end of the season in May.
With a 5-point gap and a game in hand, the title is Arsenal’s to lose this season. Although many pundits have predicted Manchester City to string together an impressive set of results to close the gap, this looks increasingly unlikely amid their issues both on and off the pitch this season. The Gunners will not make the major slip ups necessary to finish second this campaign.
Rounding out the Top 4 will be the two Manchester clubs and Spurs. City are
simply too good to finish anywhere other than second and United appear to have once again become a really competent outfit under new manager Erik Ten Hag. As for Spurs, they currently sit 5th and are two points behind Newcastle in 4th. The tactical nous of Antonio Conte and the as-ever sensational form of Harry Kane, coupled with Newcastle’s lack of goals in recent weeks should see them qualify for the Champions League in back-to-back seasons.
For me, this prediction comes down to the managerial ability of each team in the bottom 6. David Moyes (West Ham), Sean Dyche (Everton) and Julian Lopetegui (Wolves) all have a wealth of experience and are capable of keeping their sides in the Premier League. Despite some encouraging January signings by both Bournemouth and Southampton, neither team has the quality to sustain a fight for survival this season. With the relative inexperience of both Gary
O’Neill and Nathan Jones (who I suspect will find himself unemployed soon), both sides are shoe-ins for relegation.
The third team I believe to be going down is Leeds. Their recent performances have been dire and the overdue dismissal of Jesse Marsch plunges them into even further chaos.
The fans look destined to be welcoming Championship football back to Elland Road next season. While many may have written off this league season as a dud due to the unprecedented Winter World Cup, the second half of the 22/23 Premier League promises to have some really exciting football in store.
The reshaping of Test cricket continues
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum are looking to become the fastest captain and coach to pick up ten test match victories as they travel to New Zealand to face the side that were the first team to fall victim to the new rage of cricket: ‘Bazball.’
Whilst this term has now turned into a satirical jest, disliked by McCullum, and joked about by players and pundits, the style of cricket that it refers to has revolutionised test cricket and seems to overcome every hurdle put in its way. Six test match victories out of a possible seven crowned a historic home summer for England.
A team who had won just one out of their last seventeen test matches, including a humiliating 4-0 Ashes defeat, convincingly outplayed New Zealand, India and South Africa as Stokes’ progressive and radical on-field tactics superbly backed up a now flourishing batting line-up, given the license to attack.
Jonny Bairstow, a man whose test match future lay in doubt, scored four sensational hundreds as
J... is for Jiu Jitsu
Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that focuses on grappling with opponents and using throws, joint locks and strikes to take them to the floor where they can be controlled. This is done using timing, technique and by taking an opponent’s balance rather than simply using sheer strength, making it a practical and accessible activity for everyone.
As well as the traditional selfdefence aspect of Jiu Jitsu, there is also a competitive sporting element. Entrants seek to pin or submit an opponent while grappling on the ground, or aim to throw their opponent during standing grappling contests.
Our club has grown back stronger than ever since the end of the pandemic, with our Women’s Team finishing joint 3rd place at the 2021-22 BUCS Jiu Jitsu Championships and our current Club Secretary Lydia claiming silver in this year’s BUCS Women’s Individual event. We’re currently looking forward to our next big national competition at the end of April where we hope to see even further success!
he spearheaded a rejuvenated England side. Former captain, Joe Root, oozed class as both a player and a man as he not only continued his sparkling form, but showed no spite to his successor, and despite his captaincy struggles, openly backed the new regime throughout the summer. Stokes’ England then became the first team to secure a whitewash in Pakistan, as they brushed them aside 3-0. This series win was made even sweeter by the lack of variation in the pitch. A batsman’s paradise that was somehow exploited by Stokes and his bowlers to take twenty wickets in the
After this resurrection of English cricket, the test squad turn their
attention to 2023. A home Ashes series awaits Stokes and McCullum, which will be their biggest test yet. First, though, the squad travel to New Zealand in a two-match series, in which they welcome seam-bowling veteran, Stuart Broad back into the side, having missed the Pakistan tour due to the birth of his child. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett look set to keep their place opening batters, with up-and-coming Yorkshireman, Harry Brook, being the most-anticipated batsman to watch this series. The reliable trio of Broad, Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson will be partnered by spinner, Jack
his retirement from test cricket. Tim Southee will do the brunt of the bowling, with Neil Wagner offering his unique left-arm pace. Tom Blundell and Daryl Mitchell provided the only real resistance against England last time out, and will hold the key once again with the bat as the out of form Kane Williamson will look to regain his touch ahead of the series.
In only our 6th year as a club Newcastle University’s Korfball Club are reaching new outstanding levels of success. This season within BUCS our first team has qualified for the Korfball National Championship which will take place at UEA on 18th/ 19th March. This automatically places us within the top 16 university teams across the country an impressive feat that Newcastle have never before achieved.
Leach, as England’s four man attack will look to exploit the batsman friendly conditions that they are likely to face.
the Black Caps will be without primary bowler, Trent Boult, who has announced
The day-night aspect of this series will certainly fascinate viewers with the pink ball offering a new dimension to the final session of play. Victory is essential for New Zealand, who seem to be losing their way as a test force, whilst England are flying, and will look to continue their excellent form as they prepare for Australia in the
However this year we also fielded a second BUCS team for only the second time in our club history. Despite most of the team being brand new to the sport they played excellently and narrowly missed out on a place at BUCS Shield.
Furthermore our first team remain unbeaten in the local league and we now look ahead towards the Northern Regional League promotion play offs.
This is the first time the University has qualified for these play offs and is a huge step forward for the club. In addition to our on court success we hosted our first tournament in October where we welcomed teams from across North England and Scotland, rebranded as the Newcastle ‘Sharks’ and have boosted our club membership throughout the year!
If you fancy trying out a new fun, friendly, mixed gender sport and representing Team Newcastle at BUCS give us a message on our Instagram @nclkorfball
Sub-editors: Tom Barlow, Arthur Ferridge, Elena Photiadou & Paige Rutter
Dive into the British University Swim League with a recap of NUST’s landmark meet!
On the 12th February Newcastle University Swim Team hosted phase 2 of the British University Swimming League. Newcastle and Durham went head to head in the last stage before the National Final at the end of March.
The event list included 50m and 100m Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke and Butterfly, as well as a 200m Freestyle and the team relays. Newcastle started the individual races well with Erin O’Meara finishing 1st in the 100m Individual Medley.
Newcastle will still have qualified for the National Finals in Leicester as one of the fastest teams
The girls continued this success into the 100m Freestyle, won by Lara Sinclair-Banks. Lucy Clifford dominated the Breaststroke races, winning both the 50m and 100m events. The last women’s success of the morning was achieved by Hannah Slater, winning Backstroke. The boys team had to wait a little longer for a win, but this was unexpectedly achieved by the boys
Captain, Harvey Jones in the 100m Breaststroke. Although this is not Harvey’s usual event, the whole team was behind him as he beat the Durham’s boys captain. Despite racing 5 events for the team, Harvey also stole the win in
individual event, the 50m Freestyle. Newcastle had some fantastic swims from the whole team against a tough Durham side who have won the North East conference. However, Newcastle will still qualify for the National Final in Leicester on 18th March as one of the fastest second place teams. This will be the second time Newcastle qualify for the finals but the first time that they will attend having been unable to take part in 2022. The team will be looking to improve on this performance at the upcoming Long Course BUCS in Sheffield this weekend (24-26th) with 11 girls competing across 16 events and 7 boys competing across 13 events. This will be an opportunity for the team to test themselves against the best in the country and race in our new swim caps organised and designed by our Kit Secretary Robbie Wright. The swimmers to watch will be Robbie Wright in the 50m Backstroke, the women’s 4x100 Freestyle team and Lucy Clifford in the 200m Breaststroke who will likely be up against Swedish Olympic swimmer Sophie Hansson.
INSIDE SPORT THIS WEEK BazBall returns as England face New Zealand
cricket
At the halfway point Premier League title race
Have Arsenal bottled their league lead?
Which teams should be looking forward to the rest of the season?