Courier 1339 by The Courier Online

www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 14 November 2016 Issue 1339 Free

NUSU ELECTIONS Keen nominees hope to win your vote p.13

The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students

PRESIDENT TRUMP The students of Newcastle share their

views on the recent election, p. 11

Est 1948

THE EMOJI DEBATE Can Emjois be classed as moden art in today’s society? p. 24

In the midst of debate, Thursday’s Council meet Image: Valentina Egorova The Student Council’s meet-

LifeSoc deratification rejected Student Council vote overturned proposed deratification

By Valentina Egorova News Editor Newcastle University Student’s Union has rejected a motion to sideline an anti-abortion society. Last Thursday, November’s council voted against overturning the Life Society and striping it of the official status. The motion was defeated by 63% votes to 35%, with 2% abstentions that means the Life Society will continue to exist as an official NUSU society. The meeting was far better attended than usually with people having to sit on the floor. The divisive issue set off a heated exchange between two groups that lasted for half an hour before the final decision was taken. The motion was called by the secretary of the Socialist Society, Elena Sirett, who made an emotional plea to vote against the Life Society, which had “a negative impact on the mental well-being” of students. Fope Olaleye, the president of the Feminist Society, backed the motion

63% voted against the motion and 35 % were in favour

calling for students to avoid anti-choice rhetoric. But the Student Council voted against the motion as the majority believed it was not democratic and contravened the principle of freedom of speech. Sunil Nambiar, who voted against the motion, said: “If we’re aspiring toward a community of open discourse, every point of view must be kept engaged. “Conflicting stances need to be challenged by debate and example, not excluded.” Sirett said: “I detest that many of those who argued against my motion attempted to depict the argument as an issue of the Life society’s freedom of speech. “No woman on this campus should have their own personal choices shamed and, to quote the Life society members who spoke at the meeting, ‘challenged’ by a group that spreads false scientific information about the consciousness of embryos”. Matt Wilson-Body, the president of the Socialist society, was disappointed that the motion failed to pass only because “the debate was framed as a free speech issue”.

He said: “The Life Society has every right to hold and voice their opinions as they wish. “However, with a number of women informing that union’s support for the anti-abortion group has made them feel unwelcome, NUSU’s continued association with the Life Society will make more and more students shy away from using union services and support avenues.” He added: “NUSU has a duty to make students feel safe and supported on campus. “With recent reports showing that they provide some of the worst mental health support in the country, it is clear that it has no interest in doing so.” The Life Society claimed it would be “unjust” to cut them off from the Students’ Union because of “false accusations, presumptions and prejudices”. The president of the Life Society, Roisin Stanley, said: “I think one reason these people want us de-ratified is because they believe the negative stereotypes that the media portray of prolifers and have not actually taken time to have a conversation with us about the

Pro-Life society to remain as NUSU society

society.” Benjamin Eckford, the secretary of the Labour Society, explained his choice to back the motion, saying that the Life Society “was not what it said”. He said: “It was not the case of being pro-life. “We are all pro-life, and they are antichoice.” “What I don’t believe is fair for the Students’ Union is to fund and therefore approve of a society, which seeks to limit and deny people a choice.” Eckford added: “But they are perfectly entitled to make a free speech argument.” There is no proof of any wrongdoing by the Life Society, but a few expressed concern that members might soon embark on damaging campaigns against abortions. Sirett admitted: “It is true that the Life society has yet to do anything overtly offensive”. Speaking after the event, Stanley told the Courier the Life Society would not take any actions following the meeting. She said: “We have done nothing to contravene our constitution or harm

anyone. “People pointed out concerns about how our activities would affect the welfare of students. “However these concerns had already been raised by the societies exec, when we were ratified last year. “And we have already put appropriate measures in place in our constitution to mitigate these concerns. “So, we will not be changing anything because we weren’t doing anything wrong prior to this meeting.” The Life Society was ratified last spring and currently has about twenty members. It claims to promote “a culture of life and respect of human dignity amongst society members” by hosting pro-life talks, debates, movie nights and socials. Last year a pro-life group of students from Strathclyde University, Scotland, was rejected in receiving financial support from the University of Strathclyde Students’ Association (USSA). It was later followed by an online petition that called to oppose a ban on the funding - about 5000 people have signed the petition.

News

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NEWS

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Freedom City launch to commemorate MLK

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Deputy Editors Ollie Burton & Daniel Robertson News Editors Liam Carson, Valentina Egorova, Louise Hall Kotryna Kairytė & Helena Vesty

Sexual assault survey on campus

November Student Council round-up

COMMENT

Media bias debate discussed

CULTURE

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Blind Date:

Fran and Jed

Your weekly horoscope The revival of 80s fashion Album Review:

James Arthur

Game of Thrones spoilers

The death of the condom

By Saffron Kershaw-Mee Marginalised Genders Officer I am Saffron, NUSU’s part-time Marginalised Genders Officer. My role is a voluntary one, put in place to represent, raise awareness of and most importantly listen to students of all genders (and those who don’t identify as any gender) that are oppressed, silenced and abused in society. This includes those who identify as female, trans*, non-binary, genderqueer, agender etc. As your part-time officer, I will focus on informing students on ‘Learning to Ask’ for consent in sexual situations through the medium of workshops, booklets and informative videos and will run an awareness campaign on consent classes to dispel the myth of them as ‘patronising’ and ‘needless’. Sexual consent leads me to discuss the revolting prevalence of sexual assault and rape in university settings. Results of a study by YouthSight shows that rape is not just a women’s issue: one in three students who identify as female have “indicated they had experience some form of assault or abuse, […] meanwhile, one in eight male students had

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also been subjected to groping or unwanted advances. One per cent of student of either gender said they had been raped at university.” As NUSU’s Marginalised Genders Officer, I wanted to collate results specific to Newcastle University. I therefore compiled a questionnaire to distribute to Newcastle University students and gathered data from over 110 recipients. 70% of respondents had been sexually harassed or raped in the city of Newcastle (18% on University campus itself). A mere 8% of the responses reported the incident to the relevant authorities. This data shows only a portion of the deeply rooted problem at hand - the trivialisation and silencing of sexual assault, harassment and rape cases. Students, and any other person who has experienced a sexual crime, often feel afraid to discuss their experi-

ences and aren’t provided with enough guidance to report the incident to the Northumbria Police or their GP. Only one student in the survey approached NUSU after being raped. When I informed Rachael Kitching, NUSU’s Welfare & Equality Officer of the survey’s results, she felt disappointed that students had not been sufficiently informed of the reporting system in place. Kitching claimed that NUSU has an “‘It’s Not Ok’ reporting system for sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination. Survivors can either report with a name or anonymously, so that the survivor is given choice over their disclosure.” Comfort is one of the most important thing for survivors – NUSU also has ties with a local charity called REACH, who are “always recommended for those survivors who are not yet ready to take official police action [meaning] the sur-

“Sexual assault and rape is unfortunately commonplace at university and needs to be urgently combatted”

Editor Jade Holroyd Deputy Editors Ollie Burton and Daniel Robertson News Editors Liam Carson Valentina Egorova, Louise Hall, Kotryna Kairytė and Helena Vesty Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Sinéad Corkett-Beirne and Sunil Nambiar Culture Editors Jack Oliver Parker and James McCoull Lifestyle Editors Ana Beretsos, Antonia Coleman-Harvey, Ruth Loeffler and Brooklyn Shakeshaft Ward Fashion Editors Liz Rosling, Izzi Watkins and Zofia Zwieglinska Beauty Editors Miranda Stoner, Ellie Trent and Ellen Walker Arts Editors Johnathan Hastings, Meg Holtom, Tamsin Rees Film Editors Emma Allsopp, Zoë Godden and Simon Ramshaw Music Editors Sophie Ahmed, Serena Bhardwaj and Ben Grundy TV Editors Luke Acton, Dominic Corrigan and Alison Scurfield Science Editors Matthew Byrne, Natalie Farmer and Ciara Ritson-Courtney Gaming Editors Errol Kerr, Jared Moore and Jordan Oloman Sports Editors Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin and James Sproston

vivor can take the time to process the incident and whether they wish to take this further.” Rachael and myself will be working together in the coming weeks to ensure that the online reporting system is more publicised to widen accessibility for all students. We will also be discussing potentially providing Newcastle University and NUSU staff with training in how to attend to sexual violence complaints. Sexual assault and rape is unfortunately commonplace at university and needs to be urgently combatted. This should include preventative and reactionary measures – as one of your parttime liberation officers I will ensure that a portion of my time as Marginalised Genders Officer will be devoted to informing students of ‘Learning to Ask’ for consent, and raising awareness of the reporting systems at hand in the North-East, such as Tyneside Rape Crisis, REACH and the NUSU online reporting system, ‘It’s Not Ok’. If you have any queries, suggestions or feedback for myself, please do not hesitate to contact me at gender.union@ncl.a.uk.

The Courier is printed by: Print and Digital Associates, Fernleigh House, 10 Uttoxeter Road, Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, DE3 0DA. Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge. The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of The Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s opinion pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of The Courier, the Students’ Union or Newcastle University.

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Monday 14 November 2016

Bad blood over medical staff ’s rising wages By Cameron Charters

King’s Walk Image:: Andrew Curtis

Anger is mounting over £100,00 paypacket revelations obtained through the Freedom of Information Act at Newcastle, Durham, and Northumbria Universities. Since 2014, the wages of highly regarded workers have soured upwards. At Newcastle University, clinical staff are paid in accordance with NHS guidelines implying that many earn over £100,000. Other members of staff, who earn over £100,000, include a highranking professor and a registrar. The university stated those within the top pay bracket remained within the national standards. A Newcastle University spokesman said: “The number of staff earning £50,000 or more has increased over the past few years due to staff promotion and progression. “Our University is home to a highly regarded medical school. “This means the majority of staff members who are paid more than £100,000 are those who are also clinical academic staff and who are paid in line with NHS rates. “The University’s rates of pay are in line with the higher education sector nationally.” Out of the 5,170 employees of the university, only 118 are paid £100,000, while other employees are not paid as well as those working within the highly

regarded medical school. The spokesman added: “We employ many highly skilled staff whose knowledge, expertise and experience mean that we provide our students with excellent teaching, learning and research. “Our School of Computing Science is ranked one of the best in the world, Newcastle University is in the top 1% of world universities and our students consistently rate us as one of the best universities in the UK for student experience.

“The university stated those within the top pay bracket remained within the national standards” “We are committed to continue providing excellent opportunities and investing in quality facilities today’s students need and expect. “These include a £30m investment in new state–of-the-art sports facilities and a £75.5m project, which will transform Newcastle University’s largest student accommodation at Richardson Road into six new student accommodation blocks. “Our Library facilities are also expanding. Last year we opened Newcas-

tle University’s latest library building, the Marjorie Robinson Library Rooms, which features over 550 study spaces, 220 desktop PCs and areas for group study.” The University and College Union, which represents staff said: ‘’UCU members will be amazed that over 100 people at the university are earning over £100,000 per year. Universities are telling us that lower paid academics can only have a 1.1% pay rise, and our members are seeing their pay decline in real terms on an annual basis. Our members will regard this as one rule for senior managers and another for them.” A spokesman for the Union said, “UCU continues to be concerned about the pay of Higher Education staff, and took strike action recently over an initial pay offer of 1%. The fact that this has been increased to 1.1% will do little to address the pay inequalities that exist in the sector, particularly in relation to gender pay differentials.” The battling of UCU has left the organisation hardened to their member’s struggles. Their spokesman added, “We are unsurprised about the number of staff paid in excess of £100K at Newcastle University and we will continue to look for pay claims across the board that reward all of the staff working in Universities, and address issues such as casualisation. “There continues to be too many people on temporary, fixed-term contracts.”

Deborah Levy discusses award winning book By Errol Kerr Initiated by the Booker Prize Foundation, the One Book event aims to encourage students across UK universities, no matter their chosen degree programmes or fields of study, to read, discuss and engage with modern literature and modern fiction. This is the seventh time that the university has held this event with the Booker Prize Foundation, this year with Deborah Levy. Threethousand copies of Deborah Levy’s shortlisted novel, Swimming Home, are available across the University for free for any student to pick up and read. Levy, a poet, playwright and novelist, has herself also won a Lannan Award for her novel Billy and Girl, and her most recent novel, Hot Milk, has also been shortlisted for a Man Booker Prize this year. Each of these events has culminated in this manner. With the author of the One Book novel coming to Newcastle University to engage with readers and other audience members. This past Thursday 10th November, Deborah Levy herself attended a discussion event at Newcastle University’s King’s Hall, alongside William Fiennes, creative writing lecturer at Newcastle University, and critically acclaimed and bestselling author of The Snow Geese and the Music Room. The university’s One Book Project live-tweeted the event as it went on. The newly-refurbished King’s Hall was packed full for Levy’s discussion, and the atmosphere was electric – William Fiennes described the One Book event as an “unusually

large book-group with a sparky bonus” - and conversations on her novel began in earnest. Not only were we constantly engaged, but on our toes, too, as I was caught off guard on topics multiple times – being forced to do double takes when conversations on female pubic nudity just occurred. Topics varied significantly, from emotion to location. Shortlisted in 2012, Levy’s novel is set in the French summertime, where a poet and his family have made their holidays in a villa. Over the space of the week on which the family are on holiday, due to the introduction of one of the poet’s fans, the family starts to slowly unravel due to experiences of depression. The novel discusses mental health, and the harm that illnesses such as depression can cause to individuals that may seem entirely and apparently healthy and stable. Themes such as anxiety and control dominate the atmosphere of the novel, and Levy herself felt that her novel is able to “cut closely to the deepest human experience”. Levy’s own identity and her dislocation from it – as a South African woman who moved to the UK – is a theme used within her novels, but Levy herself acknowledged she passes further than her own knowledge. Levy noted that “If you only write what you know, you never meet an other”, commenting on the trope of solely drawing on your own experiences to compose your literature, and she encouraged emotion and writing emotionally, to discourage closing off feelings as without those, it is impossible to work. Levy also provided the opportunity for autographs to individuals who had her novel.

“This is the seventh time the university has held this event with the Booker Prize foundation, this year with Deborah Levy”

A copy of Swimming Home handed out to students Image:: Charlotte Roskop

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Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Sexual Health awareness ‘turned on’ with SHAG week By Kotryna Kairyte News Editor This week Student Union is holding an annual S.H.A.G (Sexual Health and Guidance) week that will raise awareness around sexual health amongst students and encourage difficult conversation on the topic. Monday to Wednesday (14th-16th November) various events and workshops will be held around campus and provide support and guidance on sexual health. Racheal Kitching, NUSU Welfare and Equality Officer, said: “This year, the focus of SHAG week will be discussions around difficult or u n d e r- d i s c u s s e d topics of conversation. This includes topics such as sex work sexual health, the lack of sex education in schools, verbal remedy podcasts, and body image.” Events will include sex work sexual health information at NUSU reception where students will also have a chance to try their “beer goggles” to see how they would manage it in different social situations, Beyond the Birds and the Bees informal session on Sex Ed and “A little respect” workshop with Newcastle University graduate Bridget Hamilton who runs her own Verbal Remedy blog and podcast. The week will end with a talk on fe-

male body image led by psychologist Dr. Liz Evans who will be encouraging women to fight against an airbrushed, sexualised and idealised image. The three-day event will also be a chance to get tested and get some information on STIs at NUSU reception from 11am until 3pm every day. This will include a competition for clubs and societies – one society that gets the highest percentage of their members tested will win a prize of £250! “The purpose of this prize competition, is to encourage students to engage in peer discussions about the importance of sexual health testing; again to encourage what are sometimes deemed to be difficult conversations,”- Racheal explained. If you are lucky, you will spot one of the sabbatical officers on campus in a giant inflatable penis so keep your eyes peeled! If you want to have a go at winning a Chromecast, you have to take a picture with it and email it to Racheal on welfare.union@ncl.ac.uk. You can also follow the week on social media using the hashtag #Don’tBeADick. For more information on sexual health, you can visit Welfare and Equality section on NUSU website and drop in Student Advice Centre for personal advice.

“This year, the focus of SHAG week will be discussions around difﬁcult or underdiscussed topics of conversation”

The inflatable penis you’ll be sure to see around campus this SHAG week Image: Jade Holroyd

Robbery on campus By Oliver Assogna Two teenage students were allegedly attacked and robbed in the early hours of Friday 4th November, in Newcastle City centre, close to the University campus. In two separate incidents, an 18 and 19-year-old student are believed to have been pounced upon by a group of assailants, who targeted the pair’s mobile phones and wallets. Both alleged attacks occurred within 20 minutes and 500 metres of each other. The first alleged attack is believed to have taken place at around 2.30am, when a gang of seven or eight people stole the 18-year-old victim’s phone and wallet, on Kings Walk, not far from the Newcastle University campus. It is claimed the large group approached the student before stealing the student’s phone and wallet. The second theft is claimed to have happened merely 20 minutes later on Windsor Terrace, close to the Robinson Library, where a 19-year-old student is alleged to have had their possessions stolen, in a ‘similar style robbery’. It is not yet known whether the claimed attacks are related. Police attended the scene and have since arrested three males, aged 15, 19, 20 and an 18-year-old woman, on suspicion of robbery. The Newcastle University Student Union’s Welfare and Equality officer, Rachel Kitching, has since reinforced the University’s aims to create the safest and

most secure campus possible for its students. Rachel Kitching said: “We want to create a safe campus for our students, and it should be within our grounds that students feel most secure in Newcastle.” “The robberies of two students on our University campus last week have unfortunately upset this message, reminding us of the need to be mindful of both our own safety and the safety of friends when walking home at night.” The City centre Neighbourhood Inspector, Nicola Wearing said: “I am appealing to students themselves to think about their own safety.” “When they are out and about it is advised that they keep valuables such as mobile phones secure and out of sight, and to also plan routes and methods of getting home in advance; looking out for friends and fellow students along the way.” Rachel Kitching has also appealed for any witnesses of the alleged attacks to come forward with any information that could help the Police, in their on-going investigations. “Please do come forward if you have any information about either of these crimes, which took place outside the Students’ Union on Kings Walk and also outside the Robinson Library on Friday 4th November.” The Welfare and Equality officer continued. Anyone with any information in relation to the alleged events are being asked to contact the Police on 101.

“We want to create a safe campus for our students and it should be within our grounds that students feel most secure in Newcastle”

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Monday 14 November 2016

‘Jinglebooks’ spreads Christmas cheer By Louise Hall News Editor A group of second year students have orgnaised a new charity event called ‘jinglebooks’ to share Christmas spirit and a spread a sense of community through the University. The project involves students donating loved books to the ‘jinglebooks’ team, for them to be wrapped and redistributed as Christmas gifts to members of the community. The donation sessions are being held once a week on alternate Mondays and Wednesdays at 1pm in the Kate Adie room in the NUSU. Students bring a book to donate, and write a short message to accompany it while student volunteers wrap the book festively to add some extra Christmas spirit. Roisin Markham a second year English Literature student and one of the ‘Jingle Books’ volunteers told The Courier “we really hope people will be excited about this project and bring books that have significant personal meaning, to share the excitement of reading with others” “We just really wanted to make ‘Jinglebooks’ a fun and easy project that anyone could get involved in, to encourage students to make the festive season about giving rather than receiving.” Rosisn will be donating her favourite childhood book ‘Ballet Shoes’ in the hope that it will be passed onto someone who will enjoy it just as much as she did. Anya Gair, leader of the project commented “I was inspired by the ‘blind date with a book’ project that I saw online, and thought I could adapt this con-

cept to spread good will at Christmas” She said “ we will be donating books loads of different parts of the community such as international students who might not be able to go home for Christmas and would benefit from a Christmas gift, to elderly people living in care homes who become lonely at this time of year. We will also be donating some of the books to underprivileged schools and children, just generally anyone who would especially benefit from receiving a gift.” “I always received books for Christmas, and really valued the fact that someone else had put the thought in to choosing me a book they though I would enjoy, that’s the feeling we’re trying to create for people with ‘Jinglebooks’.” “We’re encouraging both staff and student involvement and have high hopes that the project will be a success” At the first session, the team had appropriately set the mood with festive projections and choir music in anticipation for donations, obviously enthusiastic and passionate about the project. The good intentions of the project have also spread across campus, as the Law school have expressed interest in setting up their own branch of the event, working in partnership with the team to receive as many books as possible for the cause. If you’re interested in donating a book to ‘Jinglebooks’, the next meeting takes place on Monday 14 of November at 1pm in the Kate Adie room in the NUSU.

The Jinglebooks team prepare for their first event Image: Louise Hall

Freedom City launch commemorates Martin Luther King By Helena Vesty News Editor

November 13 marked the 49th anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s receiving of an honorary doctorate from Newcastle University, and was celebrated accordingly with the launch of the Freedom City 2017 programme in the Armstrong Building’s newly reopened King’s Hall. Freedom City has been produced by a coalition of both local and national groups, forming The Martin Luther King Legacy Steering Group, which includes the University and Northern Roots among the numerous organisations contributing ideas and funding. The partnership aims to celebrate his legacy with the new generations living in Newcastle, with the objectives of educating people on the relevance of King’s work today, and inspiring fresh work and research which will draw upon the themes raised during the historic visit. Freedom City has been shaped around three elements: academia, culture and education, and will be hosting activities based on these strands. On Friday evening, the wider community came together to participate in the opening ceremony of the programme. Chi Onwurah, the MP for Newcastle Central, who has been directly involved in the programme’s development, spoke of her personal response at the event, identifying closely with the speeches of King. The Creative Director of Freedom City, Patrick Collerton, also gave an address, quoting King by saying “we’re all bound together in an inescapable network of mutuality”, giving a sense of the community based nature of the planned

events. The emphasis that Freedom City will be placing on engagement with residents was a particularly striking feature of the evening, with the launch showcasing professional choruses and school choirs alike. Dr Ben Houston, Senior Lecturer of US history and member of the planning team, commented that one of the greatest challenges, was “the fact that so many people around the city were so inspired, so eager to be a part of it, and had such compelling work that they wanted to add to the mix “This meant the scale of potential activities was pretty giant and was getting a bit overwhelming.” However, with the grants provided by organisations such as Arts Council England, the Steering Group will be able to “make even more connections across the city between institutions and cultural venues. In particular, the funds have enabled a “mass participation” city-wide theatre piece and memorial concert to be planned, which Houston notes, will be “really terrific to experience”. Dr Houston highlighted that the connection between the city and the civil rights leader has been thoroughly embraced by the “a wide cross section of society”, who are invested in renewing King’s wider vision of a cohesive community. The launch provided a preview of the energy and dynamism with which the Freedom City programme will be carried out over the course of the coming year, drawing attention to the commemoration which Dr Houston feels “will be very powerful”. A comprehensive schedule of events will be announced next year, on Martin Luther King Day, 15th January.

“The events will be really terriﬁc to experience”

Stage set in anticipation for the Freedom City launch Image: Helena Vesty

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Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Vera Baird gives law school’s annual public lecture By Jack Parker Culture Editor Northumbria Constabulary’s Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird has delivered the Newcastle Law School’s annual public lecture. The lecture, titled ‘Making a Difference?’ was delivered to an audience of students last Thursday in the law school lecture theatre. Ms Baird, a Visiting Professor of Legal Practice at Newcastle University, delivered a talk on her time spent overseeing the force, as well as her role as chair of the National Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. Offering both national and regional scope of her position. Ms Baird has held the role of Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner since the position was created in 2012 and has overseen wide-ranging budget cuts. She has managed to reduce the force’s costs whilst strengthening the force’s stance on supporting victims. She created Victims First Northumbria, a single point of contact for people who

have been the victim of crime. She has also strived to strengthen the force’s stance on sexual crimes, including introducing a rape scrutiny panel to see what can be improved in terms of victim support. Speaking ahead of last Thursday’s talk, Ms Baird said: “I’m delighted to have been invited to give a lecture to mark my fourth anniversary as Northumbria’s elected Police and Crime Commissioner. Over the last four years much has been achieved - we have ensured that Northumbria continues to be recognised as one of the best forces in the country for tackling ASB (anti-social behaviour), we have revolutionised the way complaints are handled and our vulnerability training has been recognised as a model of good practice. “There is more to do, I’m up for the challenge and will continue to ensure Northumbria Police delivers effective policing for all communities and that we continue to be on the side of victims of crime, ensuring they have all the support they need.”

“We have revolutionised the way complaints are handled and our vulnerability training has been recognised as a model of good practice”

Vera Baird Image: Wikimedia Commons

Uptin House in Ouseburn to be demolished By Chris Middleton Newcastle City Council has approved the controversial plans to demolish Uptin House in Ouseburn in order to create brand new students flats. Earlier in the year, Newcastle developers proposed plans to construct a sixstorey student accommodation scheme. The chosen location for the development was Ouseburn, an area which is believed to be developing as a prime area for students. Uptin House, located on Stepney Road, is currently used as a community building, and is emblematic of the cultural hub that has become the Ouseburn area. The City Council has given the go ahead to a plan that will see this building replaced with a six-storey building full of student accommodation. The site is being developed by the Adderstone Group, who argued to the council that the building is “no longer economically viable,” but that the rejuvenation project could create upwards of £4million a year for the Newcastle economy. A report to councillors said that “the redevelopment of the site brings a number of benefits including the provision of active frontage on to Stepney Road and provision of purpose built student accommodation whose spending would help to contribute to the local economy.” Ouseburn already has several student accommodation developments underway, and this new 225-bedroom block is poised to firmly mark Ouseburn as a “student area”. In 2013 the National Union of Students ‘New Economics Foundation’ calculated that students will spend “approximately £20,000 per annum in the

local economy (including rent and average university fees of £5,000).” This works out to about £2,500 more per year than non-students in the same agebracket. The developers argued that, based on the above calculations, the plan will potentially generate up to £4.38 million per year. They also argued that purposebuilt student accommodation will allow houses in multiple occupation to be released back into the market, which will “increase council tax payments within the city.”

senting the Ouseburn ward, bemoaned that campaigners “feel the committee have shown a complete disregard for the strong community feeling against this development.” The building itself was originally opened as a boarding school in 1896. Today it has become the hub for a vibrant community and is home to various businesses including a fitness company, a pizza business, music rehearsal rooms, artist studios, and many more; businesses that, according to Powers, will have nowhere else to go. The proposal to demolish the “outdated” building was passed by the Newcastle City Council’s committee with eight votes in favour, and five against. Adderstone Group have said that the building’s existing businesses “will not be interrupted for at least five years”, though this is of little consolation to campaigners. There is a strong feeling from residents that the levels of student accommodation have already far exceeded a reasonable level. The other main concern is that the proposal will be detrimental to both the culture and history of the area, with a vital lynchpin in the community in jeopardy. A Change.org petition was started and currently has over 2,700 signatures, with many other residents lodging their complaints directly with the council. The former Northumbria Police offices in Newcastle city centre are also a sought after location for student accommodation developers. A 225-bed student scheme for the former police HQ offices has been revealed recently.

“The proposal to demolish the “outdated” building was passed by Newcastle City Council’s committee with eight votes in favour, and ﬁve against”

Ouseburn area Image: Wikimedia Commons

The project has caused a backlash within the community however, with many residents dismayed at yet another block of student accommodation. Ouseburn is known as a diverse and interesting area, and residents are concerned that development plans like this might tarnish what the area is known for. Local business owners are also worried that an even bigger influx of students, rather than bringing more money to the area, will have a detrimental impact on their businesses. As more residential developments are built, the potential for noise complaints becomes higher, which will potentially threaten local venue’s vital licensing hours. Stephen Powers, the councillor repre-

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Monday 14 November 2016

PhD student launches educational competition By Liam Carson News Editor A new competition, launched last Wednesday by a Newcastle PhD student, is scouring the campus to find students wanting to develop their own educational event. The competition will be adjudicated by a panel of three judges and the winners have the chance to win an eye-watering £250. All students have to do is create an educational event that they can propose, promote and participate in. The event will then be judged on attendance levels, the scale of the event’s promotion

and crucially, how interesting the event is. Students will then be able to use a range of resources and rooms at the Robinson Library, in order to create the most intriguing event. Dan Lambton-Howard, a first-year PhD student, studying Digital Civics at Newcastle University, was the brains behind the competition. When asked about the competition, Dan Lambton-Howard said: “It’s about students having an idea for a learning event, sharing that idea with their friends and colleagues to get support, and to get help in designing it.” Mr Lambton-Howard has also developed a webpage called ‘EventMove-

ment’, which will be at the heart of the competition. The website provides assistance, support and inspiration to those aiming to create their own events. The PhD student, on the origins of the website, said: “EventMovement came about as a result of my MRes, in Digital Civics project, at Open Lab. It is a platform that allows communities to come together to propose, support and design events that they want.” “It comes from a desire for learning to be more ‘bottom-up’ and led by learners, rather than ‘top-down’ and led by institutions and organisations.” ‘EventMovement’ will therefore be crucial to the success of applicants in the competition, as the site will provide

the tools to propose, promote and carry out an educational event. The event that competitors must create could be something small like a study group or even something on a larger scale, such as a full-lecture or even a developing course. Dan has urged students to take the plunge and get involved in the competition by suggesting that the monetary award is not the only thing that students could gain, from participating in the competition. “Apart from the fact that they could win up to £250, it is also a great opportunity to create the perfect learning event and to really have your say as to what, where and how you’d like to learn.

This isn’t just some survey tool, its real, genuine student-led learning and a chance to be part of an exciting new technology and new way of getting the training and skills you want.” Dan continued. To be in with a chance of winning the £250, you merely need to be a student at the University, create an event, using ‘EventMovement’, and host it at Newcastle University’s Library by December 18th 2016. Judges will use the documented evidence from the events, which will include photographs of the event and a short description of the event, to decide on the best idea. If successful, competitors will be contacted by January 2017.

Reaching new heights: Kilimanjaro Challenge Trans Awareness week By Laura Higgins A group of brave Newcastle University students will be embarking on a once in a lifetime opportunity in Africa climbing Kilimanjaro in order to raise money for Dig Deep charity. This exciting fundraising challenge involves an 18-day trek. Along with Dig Deep, students will not only be helping African citizens to improve their standard of living but also will experience a unique adventure. Mount Kilimanjaro is the longest freestanding mountain in the world with a contrasting climate. Students will also have a chance to take the opportunity to immerse themselves in African heritage and culture. Whilst participating in the challenge of a lifetime, students will be provided with three meals a day, clean drinking water and tents. Dig Deep’s fundamental aim is to

provide the citizens of East Africa with basic clean water. Due to poor infrastructure in countries such as Kenya unfortunately this is not always possible. Thanks to a close network with local

their families to donate. Before embarking on the adventure, it will be compulsory for every participant to raise £1495 that will be distributed to the most vulnerable citizens of Eastern Africa. Lukas Schneider, Group leader for the trip told The Courier: “my job is to recruit fundraisers. Then support and give them help over the year organising group fundraising events and socials.” The trip is next year late August/September, we will be climbing 4 days up the mountain and two days down, as on the way up you need to acclimatise to the altitude.” The charity is a clean water initiative called dig deep, they aim to break the cycle of poverty by offering the ‘three Ts’ of taps: clean water harvesting system with clean water taps. Toilets: clean safe toilets and Training: teaching people to stop the spread of disease and not have to walk 6 hours to get unclean water.”

“Before embarking on the adventure, it will be compulsory for every participant to raise £1485 that will be distributed to the most vulnerable citizens of Eastern Africa” communities, schools and hospitals, Dig Deep are transforming lives every day. Their triadic technique of constructing taps, toilets and basic hygiene in regions is contributing to long lasting and sustainable change. Dig Deep will be urging students and

set to spread acceptance

Trans Flag Image: torbakhopper, Flicker

By Alex Firth Newcastle University will be participating for the first time in the global Trans Awareness Week between 14th and 20th November. Following a number of events during last year’s LGBT+ Awareness Week that focused on transgender issues such as trans health and a day of action on ‘unnecessarily’ gendered toilets, the Student Union is running a week in conjunction with the LGBT+ society devoted to encouraging conversations relating these issues. The week will offer stalls, talks and panels about those who identify as transgender in an effort to combat stigmas and stereotypes about the letter ‘T’ in the LGBT+ community. Speaking on the decision to hold a separate week devoted entirely to the discussion and teaching of trans issues, Courtney Levin, Part-time LGBT+ offcer and also trans representative for the LGBT+ society, said: “Transgender people face the highest murder rate in society, so I think it’s very important that we educate people on the most basic difficulties that the trans community faces. By having our own week, we can draw attention to these unique issues, as well as remember those whose lives were lost this year as a result of transphobic hate crimes.”

Events on the calendar include a question-and-answer panel featuring Saffron Kershaw-Mee and Asher Amor-Train, the Marginalised Genders Officer and the LGBT+ society’s non-binary representative respectively, between 3-4:30pm on Wednesday 16th in the History Room, as well as a talk led by LGBT+ Officer Courtney Levin titled “The Transgender Reality” from 7-9pm on Friday 18th in the Students’ Union lounge. In this talk Courtney will be discussing the issues trans* people face every day, why transphobia exists, and how we can all work together to combat it. These events will be open to everyone who wishes to learn more about people who identify as transgender. “We’re very proud to be participating in a worldwide event that can spread awareness and acceptance of our community,” - Courtney added. The week will close on Sunday the 20th, coinciding with the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, with a candlelit vigil led by Courtney Levin in front of the Students’ Union building. Anyone is welcome to attend and show their support; candles will be provided. To find out more about the events, you can visit Part-time Officers’ facebook page and LGBT+ facebook group, or contact Courney Levin regarding LGBT+ and tras related issues.

“Transgender people face the highest murder rate in society, so it’s important that we educate people on difﬁculties that this community face”

A-freaking great time Image: Wikipedia Commons

news .9

NEWSTACK Birmingham City

New Black Studies course Birmingham City has become the first university in Europe to offer Black Studies as a course for students at degree level, beginning September 2017. The course will explore black history, politics and culture in both a British and international context. Specifically, the University has stated that the course will focus on the“African diaspora before the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade” as well as “how Black populations resisted and fought back during

this period. There will also be lectures involving “Blackness in Britain, including migrations to Britain and the contributions Black people have made.” The subject has been said to be overlooked by universities in the UK, in comparison to colleges in the United States. Hence, BCU is presenting their new course as a “unique opportunity” “to gain a thorough education in an insightful, rich subject.”

Oxford

Grads launch app Graduates from Oxford University will launch an app to make nights out more affordable for students. The Dealer will help students find best discounts around town. It will also give retailers a chance to constantly monitor levels of demand and popularity at different times of the day and week. This will allow them to offer discounts to students during off-peak times.

Ed Alun-Jones, the app’s co-founder said: “We help all manner of venues including restaurants, bars, clubs, theatres even football stadiums. We are now moving in to processing events through The Dealer. Such that any university play, night out etc can push their tickets through us and we can help them with their marketing.”

Sheffield

Unethical architecture The University of Sheffield has been heavily criticized for an architecture campaign that handled the procurement process of a new proposed university building unethically. Project Compass, a non-profit campaign group that aims to improve how architectural firms are sourced for projects, said that the way in which the University appealed for designs for the future Music and Theatre building. Russell Curtis, Director of Project Compass, said: “The University hasn’t

gone down the restricted procedure route - they’ve done an open procedure, meaning that anybody interested, can submit a design including proposed price, from which the University chooses from, and there’s not going to be a shortlisting process.” Keith Lilley, Director of Estates and Facilities Management, responded to criticism: “We have made the process as open, fair and transparent as possible to encourage interest from a wide range of potential bidders.”

Bristol

New PhD fund Michael Dreyfus, a Bristol University graduate who died in Africa has had a scholarship set up in his name that aims to aid understanding of volcanoes in Ethiopia. Dreyfus died in a crash near the Great Rift Valley in neighbouring Kenya, on his birthday in 1978, an area where volcano research is taking place. The fund was partly donated by Mr Dreyfus’s friends, with support from Bristol Univeristy, with the overall aim of developing a network of trained Ethiopian scientists who can research volcanology and advise and shape government policy.

The first beneficiary of the the £102,000 PhD place, Tesfaye Temtime Tessema, 35, will study volcanology in Bristol for three years. Mr Tessema, who recently completed his Masters in Addis Ababa, will focus his research on studying the landscape using specialised techniques as part of the on-going five-year £3.7m RiftVolc study, which both universities are involved with. A cntributors to the fund, George Elliston, said: “It’s a nice way of keeping his memory alive in our hearts, and establishing some continuity between successive Bristol generations.”

By Kotryna Kairyte and Helena Vesty News Editors

10. news

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Student Council: No to de-ratification, yes to debate By Samantha Cooke Chair of Students Council Whispers of a particularly exciting motion for the November Council started to circulate before October had even come to a close, and it was confirmed two weeks before Council that a motion had been submitted to de-ratify the Life Society. The formation of this society caused contention last academic year during its ratification process. Many students took issue with the fact that the Students’ Union could be funding an anti-abortion discussion group, and the implications that this could have. With the current media firestorm surrounding free speech on University campuses, there was no doubt that the motion would be controversial. Once The Tab wrote an article on the matter, Council’s fate was sealed - it was going to be a doozy. Council has 20 casual voting places available for each meeting, and this time round more than 40 people applied for these - something which has never happened before. At the meeting, the room was so full that some people even had to sit on the floor, but this didn’t deter anyone and the room was buzzing with excitement and discussion throughout. As always, we began with passing reports, a State of the Union address from Jack Taylor, NUSU President, and questions to the Sabbatical Officers. The first two motions passed easily - Steering

Committee was granted the power to amend motions beyond the student deadline and NUSU was mandated to vote yes to a risk assessment of the NUS boycott of the National Student Survey. Once we were finally able to discuss the last motion, regarding the Life Society, I took the decision to extend the time given for debate. Usually, after the proposer has spoken, Council hears from two further speakers for and against the motion. However, I felt that I’d be doing a disservice to all attending if I kept the debate so short. It was of course an issue on which many people had closely held opinions, and emotions were felt on all sides of the debate. People of many different ideologies made contributions: we heard from those of faith and those of none, feminists, socialists and scientists. I knew that this issue was so close to many people’s hearts, and I have great respect for all those who spoke. Despite the wide range of clashing opinions that were expressed, the speakers treated each other and the Council process with respect and dignity. As the Chair, the result was almost an irrelevance for me. Of course, the outcome of the vote was important for all involved, but what I enjoyed most about Thursday’s Council meeting was the way in which so many students came together to discuss the issue. One speaker quoted the philosopher John Stuart Mill, who said that “the truth emerges from a clash of adverse ideas.” Whether or not the decision against de-ratify-

“I would love for the large turnout to Thursday’s Council meeting to extend throughout the year. This was Council at its best, and I can only hope that it continues”

ing the society was “the truth”, I believe firmly that those who made this decision did so after a rigorous and robust examination of all the arguments before them. Even though this motion was Council’s main event, we still had to perform three paper ballots for the remaining places on Steering Committee, Scrutiny Committee and the Welfare & Campaigns Executive Committee, followed by the open debate. Education Officer Chris Duddy had been mandated earlier in the year to discuss cutting a week off the Easter vacation in order to introduce a post-exam break in January. During the Open De-

bate, we discussed an alternative suggestion where the University would scrap teaching week 12 (the first week back after the Christmas break but before the examination period) and hold the exams a week earlier, allowing for a break before the start of Semester 2 without cutting the Easter break. Response to the idea was fairly mixed, although we all agreed that a post-exam break would be useful - the exact method of achieving this remained unclear.I would love for the large turnout to Thursday’s Council meeting to extend throughout the year. This was Council at its best, and I can only hope that it continues.

Sam Cooke chairs latest Student Council Image:: Valentina Egrorva

12. elections

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

ELECTIONS

Voting opens Monday 9am to Thursday 12 noon

Who will be the next Freshers’ Week Organisers, Scrutiny Officer, Students with Disabilities Officer and Students with Faith or Belief Officer?

Although Freshers’ Week has only just passed, it’s time to start planning Freshers’ Week once again. This elections week you have the opportunity to elect a team of four to organise Freshers’ Week 2017. Newcastle University Students’ Union is one of the few SUs in the country to offer the opportunity organise Freshers’ to its own students, ensuring that the week is entirely for the students, by the students. This year, only one team has submitted a manifesto, however in the voting process there is also the option to abstain or to vote to re-open (RON) the nominations. Additionally, there are three Part-Time Officer positions up for contention: Scrutiny Officer, Students with Disabilities Officer and Students with Faith or Belief Officer. When elected, these Officers will work alongside the six other Part-Time Officers, as well as the 6 Sabbatical Officers, all of which

Freshers’ Week Organisers FRESHERS: TAKE 2017 Josh Turner, Chloe Burton, Alice Boniface and Kieran Peel Nights: 1. Moulin Rouge Get a taste of some of Newcastle’s well-known clubs; decked out in their 1900’s cabaret finest. 2. Clash of the Halls: Jungle Book Halls dressed as different animals will battle it out on the dance floor with later pickups @ 11pm. 3. Prohibition Night A pop up speakeasy is coming to Newcastle for ‘The Roaring 20s’ and we host a jazz night elsewhere as a more chilled night mid-week event. 4. Headline Act TBC In a sci-fi/fantasy world with Avatar stilt walkers and a Tardis photo-booth. 5. PANDAMONIUM: Fairytales Imagine a magical fairy-tale filled land for the return of PANDAMONIUM. Final Day - HIT-REFRESH: TAKE TWO. All day detox: food, pampering, petting zoo. Alternative events EVERY NIGHT for the first time, using NORTHERN STAGE and VENUE: • • • • •

Formal Dinner Murder Mystery Comedy Nights Horror Tours Poker Tournament

STILL NOT CONVINCED? • • • •

9 weeks of Crew and Supervisor experience Performance slots for societies and AU clubs Headliner and Pandamonium open to all students Increased variety of daytime activities

Put #1 beside “Freshers: Take 2017” when voting opens on 14th November!

were elected in the February elections. You can read the candidates’ manifestos on the following pages, or alternatively you can view them on the NUSU website, along with videos of the candidates asking questions submitted by your fellow students. Any current Newcastle student can vote for any position in these elections. Voting is your chance to influence so many things that impact upon student life at Newcastle. So, once you’ve decided who you’re keen to vote for, head on over to www.nusu. co.uk/vote between 9am on Monday and 12 noon on Thursday. These elections will be run using the Alternative Vote, so you will be able to rank the candidates in order of preference. Jade Holroyd

The Courier

elections .13

Monday 14 November 2016

Scrutiny Oﬃcer

Students with Disabilities Oﬃcer Pranav Kumar Gupta

Haaris Qureshi

Vidhya Gupta

Vidhya Gupta by name and Scrutiny by Nature. I’m currently pursuing my Masters in Human Resource Management. Being a woman coming all the way from India, I cannot tell you how important democracy and equality is to me. All the members of the student union play an important role not only in our lives but also in the lives of the future students. So why shouldn’t they be accountable for their actions? My aim through your votes will be to ensure that everyone is responsible for their actions. When elected as your Scrutiny Officer I will ensure that transparency, fairness and justice is reflected in every action taken, especially by the ones who are responsible for the wellbeing of students and the community we live in. I am approachable and a very friendly person, with a good sense of judgement and excellent decision making skills. It will be an honor to represent each one of you and be your voice through this role. I am running for the elections 2016/17 to be your Scrutiny Officer. Vote for # 1 (Vidhya Gupta).

Devaditya Agnihotri

HEY GUYS I am running for the post of Scrutiny Officer. Who is a Scrutiny Officer? The Scrutiny Officer is a part time officer of the NUSU who chairs the disciplinary committee. The committee looks into the performance of the different bodies of the NUSU and the people running them. And takes action against those people who are found guilty of any type of offence. Why I believe I am qualified for this position? - I am a very responsible person - I was part of the student council of my school as the Vice Head Boy - I used to look into the working of the different student bodies in my school - I used to also represent students in meeting with teachers regarding examinations etc. Things I would like to change if elected as Scrutiny Officer: - Create a mechanism which will allow students to complain online - Keep the person who complained informed about the progress of his/her complaint - Allowing the person against whom the complaint has been filed to also present witnesses in their defense. I hope that you vote for me. Remember, voting opens at 9am on 14TH November, and closes at 12pm on 17Th November. It will be online on the NUSU site. Good Day

Students with Faith or Belief Oﬃcer

Hello everyone! I am Pranav Kumar Gupta, visually impaired M.Sc. Town Planning student, standing for the post of Students with Disabilities Officer. I personally believe that through my personal experiences being a disabled student and active involvement with disability rights, I can bring positive, strong and realistic change for students with disabilities. My goals: - Create a “Mobility Service” for students with disabilities through a digital platform/social media. Encourage students to volunteer in helping students with disabilities travel between their accommodation and the university. - Possibility of extra time during exams and for submission of assignments, along with student mentor service (academic support) for students with disabilities at school-level. - Organize a disability awareness week to inform students about various disabilities, including locomotive disability, visual-impairment, mental illness, long-term illness and invisible disabilities. - Create disabled students’ forum on social media, where students can post their problems and needs directly to me. I truly believe that I will be able to confidently represent students’ opinions. By working closely with students’ wellbeing, the Welfare and Equality Officer, and other officers, I will make sure that students’ needs are heard and swift actions are taken. Vote for Pranav!

Errol Kerr and Daniel Wood (job share)

As founding members of the Disability and Neurodiversity Society, we’re both aware of undergraduate and postgraduate disabled student experiences and have a history of fighting for equal opportunities. Our aims are to: - Expand the services available to Students with Disabilities (SWD), maximising opportunities provided by the Careers Service and Student Wellbeing, and creating a drop-in service for students with mental health illnesses, to assist in locating support and reducing waiting times. - Increase on-campus information and awareness regarding all disabilities and related illnesses, holding advertising campaigns, open information sessions for schools, and expanding knowledge and convenience of accessible study spaces for SWD. - Hold monthly drop-in sessions, and have a constantly open inbox available for SWD in order to document, discuss and respond to disabled students’ experiences. - Implement a fully-inclusive guidance program for teaching and learning between ourselves, Student Wellbeing and the University, supporting the needs of SWD, introducing specialist Transition Officers across schools and encouraging the use of Blackboard material, specifically for access by SWD. - Raise the profile of SWD across campus, ensuring their voices are heard. Expand support events for SWD, allowing students to familiarise themselves with University facilities, and make spaces for disabled students’ voices in University affairs.

Chelsie Boyd

I’m Haaris Qureshi, a MComp CompSci Student. I am intending to run as the Faith or Belief Officer. I am social activist and a person of faith (in particular, a person of faith of a religion that faces a lot of societal pressure and stigma, the effects of which I have had to face and deal with personally at university). - Core belief of my manifesto is to encourage and promote interfaith dialogue and interaction. - NUSU career: Have been committee of six societies (including one faith society), committee of NSR and TCTV, active Council, Disciplinary Committee and Society Executive Committee member - Strong believer in interfaith discussions, will continue to support faith and belief societies in holding these as they have before. - Will chase up plans that had been previously discussed to create interfaith space for all students of faith - Ensure dietary requirements of students are catered for on campus (Halal, Kosher, etc.) - Encourage the SU to support religious festivals - Encourage more socials to cater for students who do not drink - Allow meditation and prayer areas to be more readily available. - Discuss with schools how obligatory prayer times can be accommodated

Karishma Joshi

Hi, I am Karishma Joshi and I want to be your Students with Faith or Belief Part Time Officer. There’s a diverse composition of students with religion and beliefs around the university. I plan to foster healthy interfaith and intersociety relationships for students with faith and belief. • I have represented Go Volunteer at the Fresher’s fair and Early Arrival fair. • I have been part of RAG crew, and •I am part of TCTV and NSR • I am the Community Representative for Jesmomd. Also, I am part of the Disciplinary Committee, Scrutiny Committee and Education Executive Committee. If elected I would: • Introduce Faith Week: Encourage sharing of beliefs, interfaith dialogue, discussion and events. I believe diversity is important for students to be aware of and learn about. • Enable a more easily accessible support system for students with faith and belief. • Campaign for timetables to accommodate religious observances leave respective times for Sabbath and Jummah. • Convene faith and belief forum. I believe that it’s important for opinions to be heard and rights to be explored by all students and SU is the place where it can be expressed without being offensive. Vote for me, vote for change.

14.

Comment thecourieronline.co.uk/comment

Monday 14 Novermber 2016

The Courier

Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Sinéad CorkettBeirne & Sunil Nambiar courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Comment

Brexit means Brexit, means what?

Alexandra Sadler defends the high court’s non-shock of a ruling that leaving the EU must be approved by parliament

he High Court ruled last week that Parliament must be consulted on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the EU. I would argue that this was inevitable from the onset.

“Brexit is a life-changing event for many people, and they do not want to see the process of leaving the EU unscrutinised”

The Brexit result in itself firmly divided those who voted, and a decision like leaving the European Union was never going to proceed lightly. People who feel that they have lost control of their futures want to take back some of the sovereignty that was promised during the referendum campaign. However, the government argues that they alone wield this newfound sovereignty by using

its executive powers, given under the royal prerogative, to control Brexit. Whatever your views on the High Court decision, it was inevitable that a legal challenge would be brought against the Prime Minister’s powers to trigger Article 50. This is largely due to the fact that Brexit is a life-changing event for many people, and they do not want to see the process of leaving the EU unscrutinised. The High Court’s decision does not reverse the referendum result, but instead forces the government to consult Parliament before triggering Article 50. Therefore, it seems that the judges are being unfairly criticised for something that they actually did not do. Shouting about how involving unelected judges in the political process goes against democracy does not help either argument in the debate on this issue. We also live in a liberal democracy, whereby individual rights are also held up as an example, and so taking this issue to court demonstrates the individual rights of people to

disagree with the political process. Smearing judges in an attempt to show fury at the result of the vote is like throwing a tantrum after being told that you have to share your toys. Brexit was always going to be controversial, and in my opinion, was always going to come down to a vote. Throwing the toys out of the pram, because

“Smearing judges in an attempt to show fury at the result of the vote is like throwing a tantrum after being told that you have to share your toys”

some sovereignty has been transferred from government to Parliament, does not help your cause and does not advance your argument. The ruling was made on a legal basis, with the Lord Chief Justice stating that the arguments of

the government were contrary to ‘fundamental constitutional principles of the sovereignty of parliament’. Attacking and sneering at the judges for doing their job does not serve to further your argument. For example, Patrick Flynn stated that he was ‘delighted’ by the newspaper coverage attacking the judges. In what world does using ‘gay’ as a smear, and calling law experts ‘enemies of the public’ show that you are the bigger person and that your grasp of the complexities of Brexit is greater than that of the judges? Accepting Parliamentary approval of something so complex and massive as Brexit would provide greater accountability to the government’s actions. Arguably, the referendum decision is so highly unlikely to be overturned, and slowing the process down to enable such a challenging process to be scrutinised and thought over carefully can only be a good thing.

Media bias? I think shmedia bias

Chris Murray discusses the bias in our media, arguing that its the public’s responsibility, but is in some ways beneﬁcial

t is common to distrust the media. Most young people, in particular, approach it with great caution. Our minds hum with cynicism whenever we pick up a newspaper or turn on the television. We complain that ‘the Man’ is attempting to shackle the freethinking youth of the day, trying to control us. Many people perceive the media to be a powerful and Machiavellian institution, riddled with biased coverage to suit their agenda. The reality is that a significant amount of what is printed in newspapers is down to the people who read them. Often people forget that the most important thing to media outlets is that people read or watch them. For that reason, media outlets are not going to produce content that doesn’t interest their readership. Instead, the stories published in The Guardian lean to the left whereas The Telegraph is more right wing respectively because that’s precisely what their audiences expect. Yes, there is sometimes a bias but that is not an example of the media abusing their power as

SOAPBOX

COMMENT’S HOME OF WEEKLY RANTS

providers of information. There is a bias because the public desire one. To a large extent, then, if there is a bias one way or the other in which our news outlets detail current affairs it simply reflects the current political feeling within the population. Putting this debate into context, it’s fair to say that there have been a lot of articles published discussing the media bias against Jeremy Corbyn of late, particularly by The Independent and The Guardian. These accusations are not unfounded but they themselves, rather ironically, are misrepresented. It would be very difficult to find an article published in either paper over the last few years about Nigel Farage which did not present a cocktail of the facts, with a twist of subtle ridicule and a double shot of cynicism. A healthy bias in the media generally hinders those politicians at the more extreme ends of the political spectrum. For most of us, who hold some relatively central view of politics, this is a positive thing. Even for those who don’t subscribe to a ‘middle-ground’ view, it’s important that new and radical ideas are challenged to ascertain whether they have anything to contribute to the discussion.

DAILY FAIL

Henry Holborn The Daily Mail has recently been doing justice to its reputation as a vicious, protofascist rag. The front-cover on November 2 printed photos of ’17 foreign truckers’ after a ‘Polish lorry driver [was] jailed for killing a family while on his mobile’. Exploiting the ethnicity of the driver to make a reactionary tirade exposes flagrantly racism and xenophobia. This builds on The Mail’s habit of blaming immigration as the root and cause of people’s fears. Furthermore, a headline on the Brexit court ruling called 3 judges ‘enemies of the people’, even revealing that one of them was ‘openly gay’. Then again, it should be no surprise that the Mail has a skewed view of ‘democracy’

Fortunately, we live in a country that protects freedom of expression and more specifically, the freedom of the press. Surely it can’t be morally correct for the Government to dictate the style in which our news is reported to us? To me, that seems like a very slippery slope. Currently, we have dozens of national sources reporting news to us, and many thousand smaller ones. Most of them are biased but their sheer number ensures that modern reporting covers the entire political spectrum.

“Bias doesn’t necessarily detract from the integrity of the press” Bias doesn’t necessarily detract from the integrity of the press, far from it. By providing the people with varying perspectives on an issue, instead of simply presenting facts in a mechanical way, we not only have infinitely more interesting news outlets but also a much more informative and inclusive national press.

SANTA’S GRUBBY PAWS

REPUBLICANS Alex Bie

It’s that time of year again. Christmas is drawing closer and it’s the only time of the year when people find it socially acceptable to openly enjoy advertisements. The latest John Lewis advert, which features a cover of an old song and revives it, seems to dominate conversations. Christmas doesn’t start until you see the Coca Cola advert that features the truck, apparently. The adverts are not a subconscious spiritual experience. The creators of these adverts aren’t trying to get you excited for Christmas; they are trying to make you purchase unnecessary items. Not only have they found a way to keep your naïve eyes on the television for an extra five minutes. They’ve also found a way to get you to go and talk about it with the rest of your friends and colleagues.

Last week, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for grabs as well as 34 of the 100 Senate seats available. Despite the Democratic Party making a small number of gains in both houses, the Republicans trumped them. Consequently, they have control over both houses in Congress. It will be difficult to predict what the next four years will bring. Will Republicans be divisive and argue amongst themselves? Will some members of Congress rebel in an attempt to block some of Trump’s policies in a desperate attempt to save their own seats and protect the image of the Republican Party? The American system prides itself on their checks and balances the same process that has stalled the last two years of Obama’s Presidency. If the ill feelings from the Republican primaries resurface, President Trump may find that he has his own wall to climb.

Alexander White

comment .15

The Courier Monday 14 Novermber 2016

woke up like this. Shocked. Just like the rest of the world, America is in disbelief as well. What’s truly scary about the fact Trump won is the people who voted for him - particularly the more religious parts Bible Belt. There’s so much preaching in the south, but not enough acceptance of differences. The United States claims to be the land of the free that welcomes all the nations, religious and races. Yet, a man who insults women, minority groups, or literally anyone who is not rich and white with a last name Trump, wins and will represent US for the next 4 years. A lot of people have been denying the fact that racism and inequality still

“A lot of people have been denying the fact that racism and inequality still exists, but...it is very much alive ’’ exists, but...it is very much alive and present. That was definitely shown by this election. The decision cannot be changed or undone for the next 4 years and Trump will be president whether we like it or not. As of right now, all we can do, both the world and the American nation, is to learn to love and respect each other little more and judge and hate a little less.

ho would have thought that something even more shocking and worse than Brexit could happen? As always, we have been outdone by the American public. The whole world had something to say about the elections, and they became shocked when the only two ‘serious’ candidates left on the pedestal were Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

“Only one candidate could win. It seemed to be an obvious choice”

We saw the debates, we saw the intense campaigning, and we heard a lot of speeches. Only one candidate could win. It seemed to be an obvious choice. It was another surprise for America and the rest of the world when the candidate with no background in public service, Donald Trump, was elected the next president of America. How could have this been prevented? Well, by giving Donald Trump and his stupidity less coverage across the media. Every news outlet was relentless in its coverage of him. He hardly spent anything on advertising. How do I feel about Donald Trump being president? Scared.

?’ TABLE N E V E ‘PR li

t’ll never happen’- words we heard on a prospective Trump presidency not too long ago after Brexit. Sure, we can hate Trump, we can call him a racist, sexist, or even compare him to Hitler. But, where’s the hate on our selves? Brexit and Trump becoming president is only down to the people. This is the product of democracy; the product of giving power to imbalanced nationalists, racists and incompetent individuals. Churchill was right, democracy is the worst form of government. We are seeing many social media posts about how Trump is going to ruin his nation and the world. But, that’s not necessarily true. We can relax. His budget plan is impossible. His pointless $20bn wall will likely only ever be built with American tax dollars. His ‘foreign policy’ – a curious collection of nearmythical saloon bar declamations on entities like ‘Putin’ and ‘China’ – will have the entire American political class running rings about him. Congress abhors his guts. Politics has become a game of hate. Good luck Trump .

’ A MAN E R E W ‘IF SHE da Yap Aman

’ RELAX N A C ‘WE aur preet K Simran

T N E D I S E R P P

S’ LE LES T T I L A ‘HATE ov

hat was once a joke has become a reality. I never expected the elections results to take a massive swing towards Donald Trump. Even afterwards, I was half-expecting a string of accusations of him tampering with the votes. However, another thought came to mind: was it all about gender in the first place? Hillary Clinton may be sneaky, but there is no denying her capability to be Commander-in-Chief with years of experience under her belt. If she were a man, most likely, the elections would have gone her way. This is 2016. We’d like to think gender equality has progressed, yet the results have shown it hasn’t. Now that Hillary has been defeated, what does it mean for other aspiring women who want to fight for leadership campaigns? Are they about to be side-lined when another blustering, unrealistic, egotistic candidate comes into the picture?

A Dayam

ajk Leana T

DENT the STUECTIVE PERSP

M U TR

. ly wrong . e t a r e p s got it de president-elect s t i d n u p e s and the hey feel about th l l o p e t E t. Th D HAV L He did i rs react with how U O RS W te ‘SANDE Our wri

‘STAND HER’ TOGET de Mea Megan

omething inconceivable has happened; Donald Trump is president. The entire election process has played out more like a reality TV show than a political race for, arguably, the most important job in the world. The depressing fact is that this result provides an emboldening validation for the racist, misogynistic, homophobic population of the USA. They’re filled with a false sense of majority that their radicalised views are shared and accepted. It’s hardly surprising that Americans from minority groups, which Trump has vocally targeted throughout his campaign, are looking at options to leave the country. Now, it would be easy for us to claim that democracy has failed us once again; but the good thing about democracy is that it doesn’t end even when we’ve lost. Trump being elected is beyond our control, but our reaction to it is not – it’s time for us to stand together. We need to lend our support to politicians who oppose Trump’s agendas, and allow their voices to be heard above the noise; let this strengthen our compassion for one another. Even if you can’t look past this result, be comforted that Brexit is no longer the biggest political mistake of 2016.

R PLE FO M A X E D ‘A GOO ’ KIDS r iste Ben Gla

hilst a Trump win was emphatically not on my Christmas list this year, one has to give the man his due for pulling off an astounding victory. I am debating whether this truly is the greatest democracy on earth - insofar as a complete outsider, beyond the political class, could actually gain popular support and sweep to victory. Or, whether indeed this was the death of Western democracy, in that a man with very few standards and clearly no restraint could be elected to the most powerful office in the land. I decided it is neither. This election has proven to be a rebirth for democracy. If anything good can come out of Trump’s election, it is the fact that it has radically shaken a corrupt, dynastic and antiquated political system - controlled by a few select, wealthy families - to its very core. Despite being completely crass and utterly feckless, Trumpmay set a good example for kids. It is important for children to see that it is OK to be different - even if, in the beginning, everyone is against you, and you are called every name under the sun. As long as you have the courage of your convictions and you work hard you can achieve anything you want. I’ll give Donald a reluctant well done. I do hope you realise, Mr President-Elect, the enormous capacity for good your new office holds, please use it.

WON’ in Eckford Benjam

his year’s probably the darkest year that humanity has faced since 1941. It’s been defined by Donald Trump. Who do I blame for this inescapable nightmare? A lot of blame lies at the door of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The Republicans put up the most outlandish, disgusting, racist and misogynistic candidate in history. It should have been a Democratic landslide. The Democratic Party’s defeat reflects the conflict at the heart of the Democratic Party. The Democratic establishment - personified by Hillary Clinton - wishes to protect Wall Street, cut taxes for the rich, ensure that the 1% is further enriched and is happy to let the working and middle classes be squeezed indefinitely. The Democratic grassroots, represented by Bernie Sanders, cares about fighting poverty, taxing the rich, breaking up the ‘too-big-to-fail’ banks and investing in health and education.

“Anti-establishment radicalism was always going to win this election” The DNC is supposed to be neutral during the primaries, but leaked email evidence shows they were biased in favour of Clinton. They are now reaping their reward. Anti-establishment radicalism was always going to win this election. The Democrats had a radical anti-establishment candidate, and they threw him away. Sanders would have won by a landslide.

EDGE & L W O ‘ACKN ’ FIGHT isy Rees Da Tasmin

t’s 6.48am Wednesday, 9 November 2016 and I think I’m going to be sick. BBC news coverage is a fucking joke. ‘Tears and cheers’ at the results — grow a backbone and call it out for what it is: an absolute fucking nightmare. It’s an episode of Black Mirror we can’t turn off.

“We need to be kind to each other. We need to fight his hate with love. Don’t be scared” He is a cartoon character. He’s a meme in himself. But, what he represents is far worse: a racist, sexist, homophobic, Islamaphobic, antisemitic, misogynistic, xenophobic head of state. Congratulations, America. You’re one up on Brexit now. There are so many issues causing this nightmare. We need to address them head-on. It’s about white power and racism. Internalised misogyny. Capitalism. Greed. Homophobia. Transphobia. Islamaphobia. It’s about a lack of education, exposure, and brainwashing by the media. There are no one-liners that justify this. Orange idiot. Fascist cunt. We can’t just say that and brush Trump off. We cannot dismiss it with memes. We can process it through humour and deadpan jokes. But, ultimately we have to acknowledge his power head on, and fight against it. We need to be kind to each other. We need to fight his hate with love. Don’t be scared. Love each other unreservedly, and know that you are loved and you are valued and you are valid.

Culture

16.

thecourieronline.co.uk/culture

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Culture Editors: James McCoull & Jack Oliver Parker Sections: Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Arts, Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Science courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierOnline

Another Battle of the Halls Ciara Clarke, Krissa Ford and Brooklyn Shakeshaft-Ward on what your halls say about you Manor Bank

St Mary’s College

Manor Bank with its brightly multi-coloured exterior means you always stand out from the crowd and are up for a laugh; Garish and sweet, just like your trebles. Unique to this accommodation is the study room, allowing you and your fellow students an environment to work in in the comfort of your new home away from home… not that you ever will.

St Mary’s College may appear quite far away but with a courtesy bus which picks you up both morning and night, free of charge, you’ve never felt more in touch with the city! Living in a “Pride and Prejudice” stately home has never seemed more attractive. At least that’s what you tell yourself as you watch your Windsor terrace mates roll up at 9.05 to a lecture – try not to become bitter!

You’re so fancy, we already know

The View

You are the Alan Sugars of Newcastle, the spirit of the business block next door has clearly rubbed off on you. Get yourself a friend at the view to set you up for the year – I’ve even heard one guy leasing out his toilet when the queues in Cosmic were just moving too umm… slowly. Certainly one of the tallest of Newcastle’s accommodation, you can easily survey the peasants below. They probably couldn’t afford your whopping accommodation prices anyway.

Manor Bank...cheeky, colourful and full of mischief

Liberty Plaza

You’ll never have as much fun as you do in Liberty Plaza! Not only does it come with the big TV in each living area but the common room is also filled with a pool table, making sure University life isn’t just all work and no play. Make sure you do some work… Liberty Plaza students love getting on the sesh, but be careful it doesn’t take over your life.

Leazes Parade sometimes gets a bad rep for being one of the older accommodations but this charming accommodation has the support of its residents who love its neighbourly feel and opportunities to socialise before hitting the toon. You’ll spend half your year trekking through a field, so you’ll either become one with nature or shudder internally whenever you hear a cow mooing

One of the older halls of Newcastle but by no means out of touch with what students want. Communal kitchens and spacious kitchens make getting to know flat mates a breeze. It is expertly situated right next to the library so if you live in Windsor terrace, chances are 2nd and 3rd years hate you. You love to swan about the library and complain about work, safe in the knowledge your insulated, bills included flat is just two minutes away. Damn you all.

Liberty Quay

The lesser known of the ‘libertys’, Liberty Quay with it’s luxurious double beds means you can chill out in style whilst at University. Being located close to the heart of the city and many other surrounding accommodations, such as Victoria Hall, means you’ve never felt more connected to the lifestyle of Newcastle with hundreds of other students around you.

Kensington Terrace

The main thing Kensington Terrace has going for it are the big flat-screen TVs, you and your flatmates can get to know each other whilst watching Bake Off or Corrie… this does mean you’ll all fail your courses as you’ll spend all your time in the lounge… the lure of Mary Berry in high definition is just too strong.

“You’ll shudder internally whenever you hear a cow mooing”

Park Terrace

“Chances are second and third years hate you”

Park Terrace has a lovely view overlooking Newcastle’s Exhibition Park. With a fashionable interior, you’ll never feel more at home with this accommodation and its close walk to campus. You’re the laziest students in town because your beds are amazing and you can literally see the uni from your window. Lap up now freshers…

Castle Leazes

We all know Marris is grimmer than this...

Liberty Quay ... clearly built for procrastinators

“ The lure of Mary Berry in high definition is just too strong”

Windsor Terrace

Marris House

One for the more trendy types, the fashionistas and the modern well-to-dos. Get the catered option and you’ll be able to spend even more time preening for the upcoming inevitable sesh. Not that you’ll make it far of course, as Marris tends to be a bit quieter, typically full of medics and those that have ‘found themselves’ in South America. Of course, if you’re one of the few party animals who happens to live here, get your full freak on in front of the onlooking studiers. It’ll be a magical moment for everyone involved.

Leazes Parade

Socialising has never been so easy with Castle Leazes. It’s a pity everyone already knows each other from boarding school. Residents here get the best of both worlds with great meals on offer and a bar onsite, you’d need never move from the accommodation. Chances are, if you picked Leazes, you heard it from one of bezzie mates from Cheltenham Ladies College or somewhere similar. Don’t worry about being far from home though, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right back into Chelsea with the amount of husky voices and vintage Ralph Lauren shirts along these corridors.

Bowsden Court

Bowsden Court also has a modern feel to it with excellent links to the finest pubs and food outlets for those who like their grub and a few beers. As a result you’ll all gain about 20 pounds… but don’t worry, first year doesn’t count! Luckily, the Metro is only a short distance away meaning the whole city has never been as close to your fingertips.

Victoria Hall

Hanging around in packs, eating free food... the ducks are basically Leazes students

You’re living in the hip-as-f*** East End of Newcastle, so naturally you’re the classiest boys and girls in town. However your reflexes are also on point - you’re living in Northumbria territory so you’re constantly on guard. It’s like something out of West Side Story

The Courier

Fran on Jed

.17

Monday 14 November 2016

Fran Tomlinson, 3rd Year English Literature meets Jed Buttress , 3rd Year Fine Art

So how was the date? It was honestly really really good! Where did you go? We went to Blake’s in town to have some brunch because I was really busy in the afternoon so we kind of had to do a day thing. I feel partly responsible in pressuring you about going early in the week, sorry about that. Yeah but it was fine, he actually first asked if I wanted to go for cocktails but it was half one so I thought maybe too early! So we had a really nice brunch, had some coffee. Aw nice, how long were you actually there for? Ah about three hours! Yeah we just got on really well. I can also chat to anyone and he’s also very chatty so that was really good. Three hours is pretty impressive! To be fair, time just flies if you give me 2 cups of coffee and a bagel. I could actually sit there for hours and get my money’s worth! Horribly white girl, but oh well. Well sounds ideal! So as a lunch date, was it romantic at all? Umm... it was in the day so maybe partly why but I didn’t quite get a spark. Was that an immediate impression? No, I don’t know, I really liked the guy but no. So what were your first impressions? Did you have a cheeky facebook stalk? Yeah I’ll admit to that. I did stalk his facebook although there’s really not a lot on there, but no, first impressions were really chatty and really lovely and I’ve introduced him to Blake’s now and I think he’s going to go again so that was nice. So what did you eat at this famous Blake’s? I got scrambled egg and a bagel. He got pancakes, great choice. Okay so the whole experience of blind date - do you think you would do it again? Yeah, because it was a blind date there was... maybe a little bit of preconception because I stalked him on Facebook but not really. It was more organic I guess? So would you see Jed again? I’d definitely love to go to coffee with him again but maybe not in a like romantic way? I mean we got along really well. We chatted about everything. Obviously it was the day that Donald Trump got elected so we talked about that for a while. I know talking about politics isn’t exactly ideal on a date but we kind of needed to discuss that! Oh god, was there any conflict of opinions or anything? Oh no we were very anti-Trump, it wasn’t a divisive topic at all. Okay so if he was a type of egg (I’m relating it to the scrambled eggs for breakfast!) what would he be? If he was a type of egg I would go for... fried? Any reason for fried? Who doesn’t like a fried egg? Quite a solid choice! What would you rate the date out of 10? I would say a 7.5. What would have given it the extra 2.5? Umm, I don’t know! Well I wasn’t really flirting so maybe some kind of a spark or something? Okay, thanks Fran!

Jed on Fran

Hi Jed, so you and Fran went to Blake’s yesterday, whose idea was that? It was hers. Had you ever heard of it? Umm, no, but I should have done... one of my friends works there but luckily she wasn’t working when I went on the date. So it was like a lunch date? Would you have preferred like an evening activity? I don’t really mind to be honest. Actually typically I prefer to go to bars than cafes anyway, I go to cafes more often... I like coffee. It was great, I got pancakes which you can’t do in a pub. Well that’s definitely a bonus. So, what were your first impressions of Fran? Really great, and that really carried on throughout the date actually. When I first saw her she was kind of hidden behind a scarf and a big jacket because she was cold but she did tell me that before I saw her so that I knew how to find her. Were you not cold too? No, I wasn’t. Probably the fact that I basically ran to Monument. Oh no, were you late? No, no I wasn’t late. I just wanted to be early enough, you know? That’s nice to make sure she’s not waiting! So did you keep it a real blind date or did you do a cheeky facebook stalk of Fran? My friends did, and I looked through her profile pictures just so I could recognise her. But for some reason I kind of thought blind date should be a blind date and I mean, my Facebook is terrible. But yeah the only thing I knew about her was that she worked in Cake Stories which was inconvenient since all my friends all recommended me to go to Cake Stories when I said I was going on a date. I was like brilliant, never mind. Ah, how annoying. Okay so was there any romance or chemistry between the two of you? Umm, we definitely got along, I thought, and I’m not sure if I’d be able to tell if there was or not but there weren’t any moments where we spoke about relationships or each other or the future or anything. So because it wasn’t like spelled out I would say no. But we did definitely get along, I was worried at first that we wouldn’t have much to talk about but we did which was amazing. Fran mentioned Donald Trump, but what else did you talk about? We went through everything we had in common, which was actually quite a lot like how we both look at our degrees and people in our degrees and took it in turns to tell relevant stories! Right last few questions, so this doesn’t relate as much because you had pancakes instead of eggs but if Fran was an egg what kind would she be? I’m going to be really clever about this. If she was an egg she would be an Easter Egg in the way that they’re great anyway but in terms of Easter Eggs are like a hidden clue in a movie or something that only certain people would understand and I felt like I had so much in common with her and it was just full of Easter Eggs! Okay, possibly the best answer we’ve ever had there. Nice one. So what would you rate the date out of 10? I don’t know, what’s the safe answer? I had a great time - oh f*ck it, I’ll give it 10 because I had a great time and I had pancakes as well. And then she won’t feel uncomfortable about saying a bigger number than I did.

Fancy a date? We’ll set you up. Contact us! Find us on The Lifestyle Writers 2016/17 Facebook page

18.lifestyle

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Lifestyle Editors: Ana Beretsos, Antonia Coleman-Harvey, Ruth Loeﬄer & Brooklyn Shakeshaft Ward

Horoscopes from Astrological Antonia & Sorceress Shakeshaft Ward Antonia ColemanHarvey and Brooklyn Shakeshaft Ward use their mystic powers to guide you through your week Aries March 21- April 19

Your friends have noticed that your a bit down recently, remember they’re there for you! If work or life is getting you down, there are plenty of ways to relax and unwind.

Taurus April 20- May 20

The one with the bullish temper. We advise you to surround yourself with peace and love or else your anger might push away the ones who mean most to you.

Gemini May 21- June 20

Your ruling planet Mercury will be aligning soon, which means that your love life might be spicing up like Christmas Starbucks Coffee!

Cancer June 21- July 22

Dear Moonchild, stop talking about boys, it’s annoying everyone around you... In other news, if in recent years you have fallen out with a good friend, now is a good time in your planets alingment to rekindle old friendships.

Leo July 23- Aug 22

Christmas carnage or chill? The Fenwicks display has gone up, the adverts are on - but how early is too early to start with the Christmas shopping? Grace Dean and Victoria Aﬄeck have a festive ﬁght! For:

ven though everyone is happy and abuzz with excitement for Christmas at this time of year, many people simply just hate Christmas shopping. Although it is expensive and can be tedious to some, Christmas shopping really is the best – the earlier you do it, the more you’ll enjoy Christmas. I tend to start my shopping as early as I can, sometimes even in the Boxing Day or January sales, which most people find crazy but there is a method to my madness…

“I tend to start my shopping as early as I can, sometimes even in the Boxing Day or January sales”

I find that the earlier you start, the less stressful it can be and the easier it is to budget ensuring you don’t spend all that is left of your student loan on presents in the upcoming months to the big day! It enables you to make sure all presents are bought with plenty of time to spare so there’s no mad rush when it comes to Christmas time and finding out everything you hoped to buy is low in stock or out of stock - it’s all about organisation. So due to the fact the majority of presents are bought before Christmas has arrived, there are no worries about having to find last minute presents for friends and loved ones and resulting in buying things such as Lindt chocolate and Ferrero Rocher... Therefore the more time you can spend enjoying Christmas to the full, seeing Christmas lights, going to Christmas markets and possibly even taking a trip down to London to visit the infamous Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

Leo, this is the week to get stuff done. You are an excellent self-motivator and encourage those around you. Recently you may have been slacking, however. Do those things that you’ve been putting off, call your parents, change your sheets, you know your future self will thank you!

Virgo Aug 23- Sep 22

Anticipate surges of creativity, Virgo. You could paint, or sketch or write a poem; your creative juices are bursting at the moment. You will be feeling instinctive on Sunday so follow your heart. If your friend has been pestering you to go on a trip, just go!

Libra Sep 23- Oct 22

An interesting change in your love life this week. Although the flame may be strong at first, make sure this isn’t fuelled by lust ... looks fade. Hair recedes, etc etc.

Against:

Your shoulders are still bronzed from your gals summer holiday to Greece. You haven’t quite finished unpacking from moving back to Newcastle in September and are even still sniffling with the endless aftermath of freshers’ flu. To top that, you keep finding bits of black face paint from your Halloween skeleton costume on your neck and ears. Don’t you think it’s a bit too early to start Christmas shopping? Every year the festive season starts earlier and is increasingly commercialised; shops realise they can play on your emotions with advertising campaigns that are seemingly innocent and heartwrenching, yet surreptitiously designed simply to get you to part with those pennies (John Lewis, we’re looking at you).

“Shops realise they can play on your emotions with advertising campaigns that are seemingly innocent and heart-wrenching”

Shops adorned with tinsel, fake snow and festive bunting lure in innocent passers-by, enchanted by the feeling of cosiness, family and joviality evoked by these enticing wintery displays. The Halloween pumpkins may still be outside, yet the necessities of preparing the Christmas cake, inviting guests round the for the big day and organising your holidays off work must be organised in the months leading up to Christmas. But does the buying of Christmas presents really need to start this early too? NO! I’m no Scrooge, yet I still believe that it’s perfectly possible to over-prepare for Christmas. Buying presents early inevitably leads to them being lost over the year, as that ‘secret hiding place’ you put them in was so secret that you forgot it yourself. And even over the course of just a few months many things may change – friends may come and go, interests may change, and you may just regret buying that phallus-shaped bottle-opener for your cousin or that Pandora bracelet for your ex-best friend who’s now on Santa’s naughty list. By shopping too early, these changes can’t be accounted for, and depending on the amount of time lapsed they may not even be returnable

anymore.

“Many things may change - friends come and go, and you may regret buying that phallus shaped bottle-opener for your cousin” Ultimately the festive period means to me a time in which distant families can be reunited, carol concerts can be attended and enticing food can be prepared and shared round – think pigs in blankets, homemade stuffing and mince pies. But is spending hundreds of pounds on buying Christmas presents for everyone on your Facebook friends list really part of the festive spirit? Christmas is a time focused on sharing love with your family, and the best form for this is something homemade and heartfelt – bake them their favourite sweet treat, write them a heartfelt greeting in a card or make a scrapbook of your memories together. Ultimately the Christmas spirit can’t be bought or sold; Christmas presents just don’t do the trick.

The bare necessities for student life

Sometimes you feel like you have far more crammed into your uni room than you really need. Bethany Graley tells you what you really need in order to survive. Get investing!

Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21

hether you’re a fresher, fighting your way through final year or anything in between these 5 university essentials will help to ease your way through the good, the bad and the ugly of your time at University.

family, or fairy lights EVERYWHERE, room decorations will help make your tiny block room in halls or your horribly overpriced student house feel welcoming, fun and most importantly, like home.

physically possible. Combat these stressful times by having at least one fancy dress outfit to hand when that dreaded event invitation lands in your Facebook notifications. P.S. Stock up on glitter, it improves everything.

Sagittarius Nov 22- Dec 21

1. Hot water bottle

3. Speakers

5. Sponge on a stick

This is the week to get creative. Scorpios are usually intense and passionate. Channel your feelings by doing some embroidery, or building an effigy to Donald trump in your garden. You choose. Sagittarius, hang in there! Your calm demeanor will carry you through. This week you should focus on yourself, you often don’t do that enough. In the lead up to your birthday celebrations it’s a wise idea to plan way in advance...

Capricorn Dec 22- Jan 19

As the months get colder so will your attitude towards certain people in your life. Don’t worry, this could be a good thing—but tread with caution, your actions could come back to (frost) bite you!

Aquarius Jan 20- Feb 18

The water sign, always fluid and able to adapt to change. Make sure people don’t take advantage of this, and keep away from those pesky capricorns this week!

Pisces Feb 19- March 20

From the ashes rises the phoenix, or in your case the pisces! You might’ve had a rough time recently, but keep level headed and good things could be in storw for you on Tuesday!

An obvious start… Newcastle is freezing! If you’re lucky enough to have bills included or your halls have full blown round the clock heating this little gem can just help to top up your heat levels and warm your toes on an evening. Alternatively, you may be a poor soul who lives in a freezing student house – in this case your hot water bottle will stay by your side through thick and thin. Wear it under your clothes while watching Netflix; it is a great fashion accessory to keep you warm and happy through the upcoming cold winter months. If you’re slightly worried about the possibility of hot water leakage opt for a dressing gown instead.

2. Decorations

Groovy décor is a crucial part of uni living. Whether it’s cute photos of your mates and your

! Spotted

Big or small, portable or not, speakers are always necessary. Every uni situation can be improved by a pair of speakers. Pre-drinks? Sorted. Study time? Sorted. Annoying your house mates with your great music taste? Sorted. Invest in a pair, you will not regret it.

4. Fancy Dress Outfit

Love it or hate it, at some point in your university career you are going to have to wear fancy dress. There’s the inevitable Halloween night out where you’ll be shunned if you fail to dress up, then throughout the year it is more than likely that you’ll be invited to countless ‘theme’ parties, where you’ll try with every ounce of your being to create some kind of outfit using your actual wardrobe so you have to spend the least amount of money

The least exciting of the bunch, but trust me, this implement is sent from the Gods to save us from all things disgusting and washing-up based. The sponge on a stick is cheap, cheerful and your new best friend. At University everyone, literally everyone, is DISGUSTING; your kitchen will be a constant horrible mess but then suddenly, stage left… the sponge on a stick enters - no more will you have to touch any kind of gross old food residue or chicken juices. You can thank me later.

Have you seen something weird and then wished your friends were there to witness it? We’d love to know who/what you’ve seen around campus that has made you chuckle in the last week. The weirder the better. Just Facebook us and let us know, because chances are we’d love to have a chuckle too.

The Courier

lifestyle .19

Monday 14 November 2016

thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierLifestyle

Autumnal breaks at awesome prices Need to take a break?

Sophie Schneider lends a hand to help you ﬁnd the thriftiest autumn city breaks going

student budget & holidays don’t usually go hand in hand, especially when ‘splashing out’ usually involves buying a second £2.75 pint. However, it’s this time in the semester when you’re starting to crave a trip that isn’t to Tesco’s on Northumberland street. I’ve come up with three thrifty weekend trips which might help: Edinburgh – Yes, okay it is even further North and if you’re a soft southerner like me, the thought of minus degrees centigrade is more than mildly terrifying, but it’s undeniable that Edinburgh is a Mecca for students/travellers looking for a culture and countryside combo.

bored of Britain’s pathetic efforts at summer, as you start visualising log fires, hot chocolate and the prettiest ice rink in the world. This medieval city has all the above plus bratwurst, horse and carts, and shit loads of beer: it really is heaven.

“In Krakow you can enjoy the city without watching tourists take sickening selfies for Instagram”

“A student budget & holidays don’t usually go hand in hand”

What to do: Book yourself a £20 Air BnB near the Arthur’s seat park, which is a lot cheaper than anything in main town. Alternatively, Castle Rock Hostel is at a pretty reasonable price and has a lively bar inside the hostel (although you may be swarmed by obnoxious Australians left right and centre). Edinburgh isn’t short of countryside literally inside the city, so if you want to kid yourself that you’re being adventurous and rural then walk up the crags to Arthur’s seat, or a walk to Port Edgar. Another fake rural activity is to take a 30-minute bus to the sweet village of Berwick which is the equivalent Durham to Edinburgh (pretty, but boring as shit). Night life ideas: Boteca is a cheap cocktail bar featuring blaring salsa music and some Scottish teens attempting to salsa dance, which is always an experience to remember. The Dome is a bar in a huge old market building – there’s a damn good insta to be made from that ceiling.

Krakow – with flights cheaper than a train to Barnsley this is a surprisingly cheap trip, especially if you stay in travelling hostels. Eastern Europe, as every student is aware, is the place to go, due to ludicrously low prices, beautiful architecture and a mental night life – Krakow is no exception. What to do: Walk down old town, which appears like an Eastern European fairy-tale complete with cobbled streets and castles at every other turn. A real bonus of Krakow is that there aren’t nearly as many tourists here than in Prague or Budapest, so you can enjoy the city without watching tourists take sickening selfies documenting every step on to Instagram. It’s super cheap here, and you can enjoy a swanky hotel room for £12 in the centre! Bruges – This may not strictly count as an ‘autumnal’ trip, but a late November getaway to Bruges Christmas market might be everything you didn’t know you needed. Bruges really is that place you visit in your mind mid-summer when you’re

What to do: I mean, Christmas markets itself is pretty self-explanatory, but find a base away from the hub of the markets (Grote Markt) for cheaper options and then hobble on the cobbled streets into town where you’ll find all those things that aren’t acceptable before December in the UK, such as Bailey’s hot chocolate (don’t we all love it really?) and massive slabs of gingerbread. So there you go, three trips which don’t break the bank but may mean you are limited to pasta and pesto until June.

To chat with friends

Toby Bryant gives you all his best running routes around the toon for every kind of run

Shorter Runs - Town Moor The Town Moor is a running hub, especially the Exhibition Park area which is only a five to tenminute walk from the city centre. There are concrete paths across the park which is very flat, making it ideal for fast running and intense training. However, it is also great for runners looking to cover shorter distances. I would recommend laps across the Moor which means that whenever you’ve had enough, you aren’t far from where you started. Exhibition Park is also the location for the weekly Parkrun. The company organise short, free timed runs across the nation which are becoming more and more popular every week. In Newcastle the runs start at 9am every Saturday and are attended by runners of all abilities and all ages. The course runs over five kilometres and is well signposted which is why I would recommend giving it a go in

“Laps across the Moor mean whenever you have had enough, you aren’t far from where you started” order to get to know the Moor a little better!

Longer Runs – Jesmond Dene and Quayside

One of my personal favourites around Newcastle is a long run starting in the centre and winding around Jesmond Dene, to the Quayside and finishing back in the town. It’s a long 13km schlepp and a hilly one too but it is more than worth it for the scenery. From the centre head up towards the Town Moor and follow it across to West Jesmond. Run along Osbourne Road onto Lindisfane Road and you’ll soon find yourself in Jesmond Dene. The Dene is a wooded valley that follows the river Ouseburn and

ewcastle’s big campus can be quite daunting as a fresher if you’re just looking for a place to relax, meet for a coffee or do some work. Luckily the campus offers a variety of spaces perfect for studying, chatting and grabbing a bite to eat, including plenty of outdoor seating if you’re prepared to brave the October winds and get some fresher air to blow away your hangover.

Lets hit the ground running

ewcastle may be a big city with a bustling centre but it, nonetheless, has a lot to offer runners with a number of parks and sites across the Toon that are easily accessible. As a member of the Newcastle University X Country squad I’ve experienced running in Newcastle first hand and here are two of my favourite routes around the city!

Grace Dean has the goto places to chill on and oﬀ campus for whatever the occasion.

is a haven for wildlife all of which makes it perfect for runners. Once out of the Dene run for Heaton Park and then head towards The Cluny. From here just follow the river down towards Tyneside, turn right and with a couple minutes of jogging you’ll recognise the famous bridges. Now, any right turn will lead you up a hill, into the centre and back to wherever you started from.

Others for those feeling adventurous Seaburn – Only a metro journey away from the city centre, Seaburn offers runners a brilliant coastal trail with a softer terrain underfoot. Perhaps even try a well earned fish and chips or ice cream by the sea at the end! The Angel of the North – A popular run in Newcastle is from the centre out to the statue. The route is around nine kilometres and has a perfect picture opportunity at the well-known monument. Hadrian’s Wall – This is a bit more of a trek, around nine miles from Newcastle just to get there, but is a great way to experience Northumbria. It’s easy to run whatever distance you fancy, be it only a couple of kilometres or a half marathon. There’s also a brilliant carvery called The Swan to fill up in afterwards!

If you have a two-hour gap between lectures and want to procrastinate from your essay due in tomorrow, then Men’s Bar in the SU offers comfy seating and Starbucks, allowing you to get a caffeine kick and motivate yourself through your next lecture.

To grab a bite to eat

If you’re feeling a bit peckish, head over to Eat@ Central with legendary popcorn chicken and chips, which are literally, as cheap as chips. Want to splash the cash? Campus Coffee offers a panini and hot drink for under £5, while Subway and Domino’s in the SU offer a little post-lecture pickme-up.

To impress your parents

Your parents know about Newcastle’s infamous nightlife – what they want to be reassured of is that you’re in a enriching cultural environment in which your learning will thrive and you have more to do than simply waste hours away on Netflix. A visit to The Great North Museum will prove to your parents that you came to Newcastle for more than just the trebles. Similarly, the Northern Stage showcases various comedians, plays and music acts at affordable prices, and maybe your parents will even treat you to a meal at the restaurant inside.

To grab some fresh air

If you want a breather in between a busy day of lectures then there are many green spaces near campus to explore. If you’re feeling adventurous then you can go further afield to Jesmond Dene, Tynemouth or Durham for a walk with beautiful views, however equally as enjoyable is a quick trip to Leazes Park (though we are up north so this is very weather-dependent!). With geese, sports facilities and a view of St James’ Park, you can never go wrong with a stroll around Leazes Park.

To explore the city

As beautiful as campus is, sometimes it just doesn’t cut it. Newcastle is abundant with eateries, cultural hubs and stunning architecture. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of campus, Quilliam Brothers just round the corner offers a tranquil haven where you can study, natter and satisfy any tea-related needs, while Mog on the Tyne allows you to destress by literally drinking coffee and stroking cats. And ultimately, if you need to just get away from it all and calm down from the stresses of the day, the view over the Tyne, Quayside and city centre from the viewing platform at the Baltic Gallery just can’t be beaten.

20.fashion

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Fashion Editors: Liz Rosling, Izzi Watkins & Zoﬁa Zwieglinska

The Blast from the past: 80’s Revival Fashion Kitty Marie focuses on snoods and leg warmers as a key trend from the long lost pop era Awards Emily Higgins F introduces us to the most

important British fashion event of the year

ashion relies on returning classics and unexpected favourites from the past, and it is these two key trends from the 80’s that I believe are going to be this winter’s hottest trends on campus.

saw a surge in the wearing of snoods; coming in various colours and patterns. Some were even fashioned from lighter materials so they could be worn in the summer to prevent sunstroke- these looked amazing with sunglasses, giving an uncanny resemblance to Audrey Hepburn’s famous Breakfast at Tiffany’s look. Snoods have somewhat waned in popularity since then and quite frankly, they deserve a return. They are warm, convenient, and easy to carry around and they save you the effort of trying to wrap a scarf around your neck! To really nail this season’s key look, get a fake fur snood to

“You couldn’t hear the word ‘legwarmers’ and not instantly think of the neon pop bands and films like Fame and Flashdance”

Instagram @wacommunity

he Fashion Awards, formerly known as The British Fashion Awards are one the most famous and prestigious fashion awards ceremonies, honoring designers and models alike for their contribution to the industry over the past 12 months. Taking place at the Royal Albert Hall in association with Swarovski, the Awards are seeking to branch out and celebrate diversity. This introduction of the new “Urban Luxury Brand” category is a clear sign of just how significant brands such as Yeezy, Adidas and Off-White have become in the fashion world. Social media’s ever-growing impact could be partly to thank for this, with the rise of Instagram and Tumblr becoming platforms for advertising and promotion. Although it may seem that introducing this new category may seem fairly insignificant, this small step is very telling. The fashion world is becoming less exclusive and is seeking inspiration from realms that it may previously have ridiculed. Some would never have imagined the likes of Versace or McQueen competing with Adidas for the same award. Furthering the aim to be more diverse, the “Best International Model” category looks set to be the most diverse in history with nominees including Adwoa Aboah, Lineisy Montero, and both Hadid sisters, Gigi and Bella.

“The fashion world is becoming less exclusive and is seeking inspiration from realms that it may previously have ridiculed” Noting up-coming and emerging contributors to the fashion world, the “Emerging Category” celebrates young and growing talent. Award winners last year included, FKA Twigs, Thomas Tait, Grace Wales Bonner and Jordan Askill. The Awards themselves also deserve some attention. Designer Marc Newson has collaborated with Swarovski to create the 15 statuettes which have all been hand-crafted at Swarovski’s headquarters in Austria. The hexagonal design takes inspiration from crystal clusters, described by Nadja Swarovski as an “innovative crystal design concept (that is) a fitting tribute to the global creative talent we are celebrating”. This adds to a busy month for Newson who is also designing Claridge’s Christmas tree. However, innovative changes have not removed the usual for the ceremony, with all of the staple categories still remaining; British Menswear Designer, British Womenswear Designer and the Swarovski Award for positive change which recognizes an individual who has promoted the welfare of others and benefitted a good cause. Last year, JW Anderson received both awards for British Menswear Designer and British Womenswear Designer. This year, JW Anderson is once again nominated for both categories. The competition is strong however with names such as Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford and Christopher Kane proving to be a strong completion, all making notable contributions to the fashion world this year.

Instagram @king.queen.of.pop

The snood is basically a large piece of material with a hole in both ends that can suffice as a scarf, shawl or hood. Mainly made from wool or polyester, the snood was a first in three-in-one winterwear. The name suggests it could be both a scarf and a hood; the two words conjoined together made a convenient name for the item- snood. The accessory was originally released in the nineteenth century as a net for keeping women’s hair back during work. Over time the net was made so that it not only covered hair on the head, but male facial hair too of course. Since then someone had the idea to make this ‘snood’ out of thicker material and sell it as winter-wear, where it has stayed a firm favourite for its universal appeal. We have been wearing them ever since. Or have we? The 1980’s

look both glamorous and in line with the 1980’s. Legwarmers are definitely a cliché from 1980’s fashion. You couldn’t hear the word ‘legwarmers’ and not instantly think of the neon pop bands and films like Fame and Flashdance. This is understandable since pop music required a lot of dancing for its upbeat tunes and it was originally invented for dancers to keep the lower calf muscles warm and prevent cramping; they are footless so grip can be maintained while sashaying across the floor. Mainly made from wool, legwarmers can come in various colours, patterns and even lengths. The 1980’s saw a mass of legwarmers being worn with cat suits or tight spandex-like pants, similarly to what we now call leggings, another popular fashion item. Clearly we don’t see a whole lot of legwarmers being worn today, maybe because spandex has become less fashionable, and this is a real shame! They are quite useful and highly practical, especially in the winter, for keeping your legs warm and looking stylish. Stick a woolly pair of legwarmers on the radiator before you go out and put them on under, or over, your trousers and you’ve instantly got warm legs for that walk to class.

Repetto Acrylique Leg Warmers, £12.00

Jack Wills, Blisthorpe Faux Fur Snood, £39.50

The Depop debrief

Molly Macnamara shows us how to hunt down your wavy garms on our fave fash app

or those of you out there on the hunt for vintage finds, quirky antique art or even that newest pair of trainers that you narrowly missed out on, Depop is the place for you. This handy app everything you can imagine and more when it comes to second hand clothing, its clever design makes it much more user-friendly than its big brother Ebay, and has ensured it’s the number one destination for second hand retailers to buy and sell. All this has means Depop comes out top when scouting out the best hidden vintage collectors and the waviest of garms.

“Since I’ve been drawn into the vast purse-shrinking hole that is Depop, I’ve found so many sellers and new brands that I would recommend looking into”

If you’re missing your fave home thrift shop and are disappointed with what Newcastle has to offer then look no further as you don’t even have to get out of bed to find those Tommy Hilfiger jeans you’ve been lusting over. Soon you won’t go a day without a good Depop stalk. Since I’ve been drawn into the vast purse-shrinking hole that is Depop, I’ve found so many sellers and new brands that I would recommend looking into, but it really depends on what you as a buyer want and how much you’re willing to spend. Although I would say Depop has some of the best vintage going, it is also some of the priciest vintage out there as well. But hey-ho, we all need a treat sometimes (or all the time, in my case). The first seller I would recommend is one for all you girls who aren’t too fussed

about branded vintage, @elenasenor’s profile mainly consists of pretty feminine pieces, with the odd bit of vintage Gap and Calvin Klein thrown in. Her shop, ‘Aurora Vintage’ sources all the clothes ethically and this is pretty much elena’s full time job so the shop is tastefully curated and you can buy safely knowing you’re going to receive a reliable service. Unfortunately, as with most popular Depop sellers, to get the best of the picks you have to move fast as her stock is often snapped up within the hour of being listed. The next seller worth checking out is @mellowhill who stocks a ton of cool laid-back clothing. When I personally wear vintage it’s normally in the form of a men’s vintage worn in an over-sized stylesuper comfy for those dreaded 9AM lectures! This shop sticks all the big names, from Tommy Hilfiger raincoats to Polo Sport Puffa jackets; it’s definitely worth checking in regularly as there is a constant stream of fresh new stock. However, if donning the cast offs of some sweaty old man isn’t your scene, have no fear! Depop isn’t exclusively all about the vintage, there’s also a world of smaller sellers offering a range of handmade jewellery and unique clothing designs for really reasonable prices. Alternatively if you want to invest in some really special designer pieces then shops such as ‘My Wardrobe’ will be right up your street. The shop manages to offer rock bottom prices as it sources any of its clothes from sample sales, and the stocks of old photoshoots- perfect for a student budget! Depop isn’t only for buying, you can also sell you’re unwanted clothing as well. My main tip when it comes to selling is to take a good picture with a subtle but cool background and start to

build up a brand by using the same background each time as it looks more professional. Also stay an active user, always follow new people and like new items as you will be promoted more, if you use the @Depop tag and your item is deemed rare or interesting you could be featured on the Depop explore page where your item will be viewed by

“If donning the cast offs of some sweaty old man isn’t your scene, have no fear! Depop isn’t exclusively all about the vintage” millions of users! There’s a science to this business but if your bank balance is making you feel slightly queasy this could be the perfect solution! My final tip as a Depop user is to just to take the time to explore what’s out there- the explore page is one of the best things about Depop as it highlights new brands or sellers you won’t have heard of before and from them you may find another cool seller. You could spend hours on this app, and I hope you do, as I can guarantee you will find some absolute gems.

Depop: @elenasenor

The Courier

fashion .21

Monday 14 November 2016

thecourieronline.co.uk/fashion

Victoria’sSecretFashionShow Katherine Rawlings gives us the low down on the latest announcements regarding VS

www.victoriassecret.com

Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend

Kitty Marie lays out the pros and cons of expensive jewellery brands, advising how to best beat the prices

t’s that time of year again. No, I don’t mean Christmas or the associated unmovable streams of people clogging up the high street trying to spend all of their money. I’m referring to an occasion where people don’t tend to wear their winter coats and scarves… you’ve got it: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Their next show has just been announced and is set to take place on the 5th of December in none other than the beautiful city of love, Paris. Having never previously been held in Paris, this decision is possibly a consequence of the damaging drop in viewings in 2015, as an attempt to reignite the love for the famous lingerie show. Although, I must add, despite this undeniable drop, the show was still aired in over 190 countries and is by no means in danger of falling into the background. The show is set to take place in the glorious Grand Palais, situated on the adored street of Champs-Élysées, showing that they really are pulling out all the stops to maintain the show as one of the biggest fashion events of the year. Of course the location of the show isn’t the only thing worth talking about – there are already 54 gorgeous models,

J including Gigi Hadid and Karlie Gloss, confirmed to be walking the stage, in addition to a possible return of everyone’s favourite, Cara Delevingne. However, not everyone is quite so excited for the prospect of this soon-to-be-aired show. Somewhat inevitably, the industry brings up several reservations regarding what body types are being shown, and whether they are unrealistic aspirations for young, impressionable viewers. These queries are particularly high when in relation to a show that is so widely aired and known for its ‘Angels’ who are always in perfect shape.

“There are already 54 gorgeous models, including Gigi Hadid and Karlie Gloss, confirmed to be walking the stage” On one hand, the company doesn’t appear to try and show any ridiculously unachievable body shapes. Although all the girls are the typical ideal shape – thin, tall, with an hourglass figure – they are definitely not starved nor showing evidence

of eating disorders. The brand tends to promote fitness and health as opposed to any horrendous crash diets, which is surely the option that we want, and really we cannot criticise the models for being healthy. Nonetheless, not all of us can maintain such figures that the Angels do, and sometimes it’s just a matter of natural metabolism and genes (take Cara and her supposed love for fast food, for example). The problem with VS appears not to be that the body ideals are simply unachievable or unhealthy, but that they just do not represent out society. Is it damaging for our society, in particular young girls, to be seeing these sorts of body shapes as the ‘norm’? Although they may work wonderfully for one girl - as perhaps an incentive to join the gym - they may break another’s self confidence when she realises no matter what her body may not ever achieve that look. All body types are good body types, and the main things that the models should aim to be promoting are good health, a positive outlook and confidence, and of course to enjoy wearing lingerie!

Compassion in fashion Fashion editor Liz Rosling shows where she stands in the real vs. faux fur debate this fall

ith winter well and truly on its way, wrapping up to keep warm this November is an absolute must. As the days get colder, you may find yourself thinking more about the debate surrounding fur in fashion, and if this is the case, my advice would be to think twice. When it comes to the use of animal fur, everyone has their own opinion, and the complex nature of the industry only complicates things further. If, like me, you care about animals and don’t want to contribute to such cruelty but love the look, then faux fur may be the one for you. True, there are complications with faux fur and its negative effect on the environment - but in the world we live in, human activity rarely has zero impact on the planet. The main problem with the fashion world is its throwaway trend mentality, so my recommendation would be to invest in quality faux and wear it for more than just one year’s winter. It’s important to remember that major retailers have been found selling real fur mislabelled as faux, so if you have any doubts when you’re scanning the shelves you’re better off not buying. Made in Chelsea’s Lucy Watson as the face for PETA’s anti-fur campaign has helped to raise awareness. With Giorgio Armani recently confirming his intentions to no longer use fur in his fashion collections as of this autumn/winter, it seems as though the message is also managing to get through to major designers in fashion. Chairman of the Fur Free Alliance Joh Vinding stated that ‘Armani’s fur-free announcement makes it clear that designers and consumers can have creative freedom and luxury all without supporting animal cruelty’ and I for one couldn’t agree more. Animals on fur farms experience tremendous suffering, and for those who are interested I would recommend finding out more about the ways in which farmers (particularly in countries where animal rights aren’t as regulated as in the UK) use the cheapest and cruellest methods of keeping and killing rabbits, foxes, raccoons, bears, cats, dogs… the list goes on. Stella McCartney’s decision to make fur free coats came under criticism from those believing that faux in fact perpetuates the fur problem, but in

my opinion it is undoubtedly the better alternative, especially considering the fact there are now stickers and pins that can be worn on the clothes stating ‘fur free’. For those who feel even more passionate about the issue, PETA has a fur-free pledge available to sign online, helping to spread the message and prevent profiteers of the industry. @dreamyfoxillustrations “With Giorgio Armani recently con- instagram: @al.wisniewska / @pumpkingtheraccoon // @erinbuckleyillustration fiming his intentions to no longer use fur in his fashion collections as of this autumn / winter, it seems as though the message is also managing to get through to major designers in fashion”

Shrimps and Fabulous-Furs are two companies that have made big faux fur fashion statements. Granted they’re on the pricey side, but these winter warmers are definitely products that are worth saving up and investing in. Founded by Hannah Weiland, Shrimps sells faux fur womenswear approved by both PETA and the fashion world, with evident success on the runway. Fabulous-Furs is another company that has managed to grab the attention of the rich and famous, whilst also making their prices affordable enough for the everyday customer to purchase. Made from a petroleum-based product, their faux fur can be made to look like any animal’s real fur. Both companies faux fur coats and accessories are bound to keep you as warm as if you were to wear real fur, with Fabulous-Furs claiming that the heat retention is strikingly similar, be it animal skin or fabric fibres. If you’re going to do it, do it right and buy from reputable companies where you’re guaranteed to know what you’re buying. Though this article omits faux fur options for men, Fabulous-Furs has some great options for guys too. The tobacco military-style parka provides the perfect casual coat for the outdoors, faux-fur lined with an insulated hood, it’ll be sure to get you guys through the season.

Fabulous-Furs

1. Pastel Chevron Stripe Faux Fur Jacket £175.20 2. Lemur Shawl Collar Faux Fur Jacket £263.24 3. Black & Beige Fox Faux Fur Jacket £157.59 4. Lavender Mink Shawl Collar Faux Fur Coat £303.74

ewellery can come in many different shapes, sizes and colours; it’s an accessory that complements our outfits, but many have argued that it can be ridiculously expensive and for this reason, pointless. Let’s have a look at both sides of the ‘spending’ coin: Jewellery is NOT worth the expensive prices: The expensive jewellery we see displayed in the affluent stores such as Northern Goldsmiths and Rox on the end of Northumberland Street is undoubtedly appealing to the eye, but for us students most of it is just too expensive to wear on a night out or in everyday use. The problem with such expensive accessories is that after buying you’d probably end up keeping it in the house for fear of losing it or it being stolen. Expensive jewellery is argued to be the chief reason why celebrity and mother-of-two Kim Kardashian was robbed in her apartment. Reports outlined that Kim was held at gunpoint while having millions of dollars’ worth of jewellery stolen from her. The celebrity was said to be mildly traumatised, not leaving her home for days after the event. Some could speculate that if it wasn’t for Kim’s penchant of advertising her vast amounts of wealth by attiring large amounts of jewellery that she wouldn’t have ended up being robbed in the first place. Jewellery is simply an advertisement to opportunist thieves of how much money you earn and how frivolously you use it. Furthermore, there are plenty of high-street stores out there that sell appealing accessories at much cheaper prices, stores such as Primark, Next and Select stock items that are sometimes so similar to the real thing that no one can tell. Surely it is far better to buy a cheaper product than to buy something which is more or less the same for a much more expensive price?

“Jewellery is simply an advertisement to opportunist thieves of how much money you earn and how frivolously you use it”

Jewellery IS worth the expensive prices: On the other hand, if you wish to splash a load of cash on the next piece of jewellery that catches your eye then it is your own prerogative to do so. After all, the expensive jewellery we see is made from real silver and gold, materials that are, and always will be, in high demand. They also last forever and don’t erode. The higher price we pay for an accessory, the more we can be certain that it will last throughout our lifetime and can be passed down to our children and grandchildren who can then decide what they wish to do with it. It can be argued both ways by various people whether jewellery is worth the expensive prices or not; for those who are richer and can afford the expensive accessories, they probably should buy them as they have the money to spend and it is an investment so why not spend it on something they desire. For those of us who are not so affluent and have to be careful when simply shopping for groceries it is probably best to buy the gimmick from the high-street store. After all, why bust the bank buying the real thing when you can have a perfect replica for under half the price. instagram: @thelustlist

22. beauty

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Beauty Editors: Miranda Stoner, Ellie Trent & Ellen Walker

Cracking Stuﬀ

Miranda Stoner discusses MAC’s seasonal Nutcracker collection

Image: @maccosmetics on Instagram

eap into a magical land that’s a bit nutty, a little naughty, and bursting with whimsy. Lose yourself in an eccentric kingdom of oversized treats and rosy-cheeked nutcrackers. Twist, turn and tumble deeper into the Land of Dolls. Our story has only begun.” Once upon a time in a store far away on the 20th October the candy coated Nutcracker collection hit the MAC counters of stores across the UK. The collection is huge with over 40 products from make-up to colour complimenting brushes. Unlike some of MACs recent campaigns the Nutcracker collection features palettes including the beautiful Nutcracker Sweet Eye Compact in Warm with tones from black to pale mauve, it even comes with a pretty little lollipop sized brush. Other treats in this collection are the mini kits, which mean that you can buy 4 mini lipsticks for the price of 2 larger ones, which lets face it you would probably never finish. These kits come with beautiful packaging and their size means they are easy to carry around. The variety is great and means that you can alter your look every day of the Christmas season. Don’t be put off by the bold pink false eyelashes of the campaign or the highly pigmented pink cheeks and lips of the models because the collection also comes with a nude lip set and glitter in more subtle tones for a traditional smokey eye or more toned down daytime look. That said the collection also provides scope for extreme pantomime colour for a last social night out on the town or the special kind of family party. The stylish packaging consists of fuschia and burgundy eyeshadow pots, gold and burgundy lipstick bullets and gold stars a plenty. In true MAC style not only is the packaging dressing table worthy but the names are also cute. Kingdom of sweets and Magic Dust eye shadow give a real sense of Christmas spirit that makes turning them down very difficult. The best way to create a look from this collection is to get your normal foundation base and use Nutcracker sweet Plum eye bag £39- the bags are coordinated colours and this one is a lovely dusky rose hue. Press the shadow under your brow bone as a subtle highlight, the paint pot on the lid and and use the matching pencil over the lash line to make eyes pop. Then add a layer of mascara for that false lash effect. Then the sweet nude lip bag for daytime or a candycane coloured lippie from the sweet red lipstick kit for a look with more pazazz. MAC have really got into the Christmas spirit and brought a sense of occasion to their make-up which reminds me of the feeling I had as a child waiting for Santa. The prices are what you would expect from MAC- so a little on the pricey side- starting at £15 but the quality is as always stunning. Definitely products for the Christmas list but make sure to ask for it well in advance as it leaves stores on the 8th December.

Rush hour restrictions

Helena Buchanan argues against the recent controversial ban made in Japan to stop females from applying make-up on public transport and discusses the consequences

understand that this is the beauty section, but I feel I should start with a disclaimer that I am completely useless with makeup. My collection starts and ends with two lipsticks (Mac, though, because if you’re doing it do it well) and I am constantly in awe of those who have the dedication to make the effort to do make-up properly, though I personally can’t be arsed. This is partly due to my lack of skill with makeup: my eye shall never be beautifully winged and to be honest I’m not sure that any degree of skill with contouring could disguise my somewhat ‘curvaceous’ cheeks let alone the tiger stripes I once attempted. As such I’m ever impressed when one can achieves any feat of make up. When one can manage it on a tube my awe is increased tenfold. My mum once admitted that one of her proudest achievements was the ability to do mascara on the Northern line without stabbing her eye out and lipstick without ending up with a joker-esque smear across her cheeks (for non-londoners, it’s a jolty line).

with their colossal, bazooka-esque lipsticks (let’s ignore man-spreading for a moment). Perhaps the packaging (I’m a fan of the particularly gorgeous patterned Paul and Joe lipsticks) is somehow offensive or too inappropriate for public use (let’s forget that page three still exists and is, well, scrutinised on the underground/overground/bus/park bench). Perhaps… nah I think I’m out. Arguments from the worldwide web: Kelly Barker (speaking for Australia) states “Yes. We are judging you. Absolutely” and recommends that you buy nicer makeup if you plan on doing it in public… Sonia Harria of The Telegraph suggests that you are being lazy by not doing it at home… We’ll call that nugget of wisdom karma for looking at The Telegraph.

“Stop judging each other, as mean girls taught us “calling her ugly didn’t make me any prettier ”

“How dare women lift the veil of mystery by doing their make-up in public”

It shocks me (really) that anyone could be anything other than impressed by the steady-ness of hand and time-efficiency of these women. Alas I forget the omni-present bullshit of the patriarchy. How dare women lift the veil of mystery by doing their makeup in public. How dare they destroy the illusion that women do not naturally have flawless skin, vibrant lips, mega-eyelashes and mysterious black lines below or above the eyes… Perhaps I’m wrong- perhaps there are practical reasons for preventing women doing their makeup in public? Much, perhaps, like the arguments against breast-feeding in public (starve your child

Image: @lauriecastelligair on Instagram and feel ashamed of your body please love, it offends me).

“One of the frightening things about this is the amount of aguments we hear are coming from women”

In Japan, an advert has recently been released, along with others informing people of the dangers of using their phone on the platform or not cutting queues, attempting to dissuade women from doing their makeup on public transport. So being a dick and queue jumping is as rude and disrespectful as applying foundation. One of the frightening things about this is the amount of arguments we hear are coming from women. We seem, once again, to be shooting ourselves up the arse. Stop judging each other, as mean girls taught us “calling her ugly didn’t make me any prettier.” We need to stop policing other women’s actions. Don’t do it if you don’t want to but don’t condemn others, maybe ask yourself why you give a shit what they’re doing anyway?

Stress-resistant strategies Perhaps women are taking up too much space

Phoebe Bower shares some of her top beauty hacks and gives us the lowdown on how to keep our skin fresh, beautiful and free from blemishes even when times get tough at uni

tress is something we are all familiar with. University is a high-pressure environment and we, as university students, are right at the centre of it. Whether you are an English Literature student with an essay due, a Biology student dissecting a brain or a medical student on a 9 to 5 hour day 5 days a week, you are under constant pressure (Except you Freshers, enjoy it while you can). Being under pressure causes stress, and it is this mental stress that is causing us to break out as Lisa A. Garner, Professor of Dermatology, explains “When you already have acne and you get into a stressful situation, that seems to be when your acne really flares up.” Although the overall process is still unclear, scientists understand that the cells that produce sebum (The oily substance that mixes

Image: @monclaire_laurence on Instagram

with dead skin cells and bacteria to clog the hair follicles, leading to pimples or acne cysts) have receptors for stress hormones.

“A cleanser removes makeup, dead skin cells, oil, dirt and other types of pollutants from the skin”

Picking at your spots is the last thing you want to do, believe me. Although if you absolutely can’t cope with them use a needle sterilised in boiling water or put under a flame to pop it. Otherwise there are a variety of ways to keep your skin clean (Preventing the spots from emerging) and how to deal with them if they do. First is a simple one: Make sure to remove your makeup using a makeup wipe and then use soap and water to wash your face. Makeup products left on the skin do not allow skin to properly shed, and the makeup and old skin cells can accumulate on your pillow. Washing your face removes the excess oils, helping to tackle the ‘oily skin’ often associated with acne. Make sure to wash your hands before washing your face, as this will prevent the transfer of dirt. If you want to upgrade your face washing routine, then I would recommend buying a three set of a cleanser, toner and moisturiser and incorporating these into it. Simple is a good brand to go by and sells the three discounted. A cleanser removes makeup, dead skin cells, oil, dirt and other types of pollutants from the skin. This unclogs the pores and prevents acne and other skin conditions. The toner does much the same, and is good for people with oily or spot-prone skin and extra cleansing after wearing makeup or heavy skin products such as sunscreen. Lastly, the moisturiser is instantly ab-

sorbed by the skin, helping replenishing moisture and nutrients to keep your skin soft, smooth and hydrated. Another good product is facemasks and nose strips to clean out and open your pores. They are not suitable for everyday use as they are deepcleaning, and you do not want to expose your skin too much, otherwise it can become more susceptible to dirt and spots. However, just every now and again, using a facemask or nose strip will remove the dirt and grime, open your pores and make you feel fresh. A good face wash routine is the best way to keep spots away, but what do you do if they are there already? I recommend a spot stick. These have worked wonder for me in the past. Before bed, simply apply the formula to the spots on your face and in the morning, you should see a reduction in redness and size. The Superdrug Tea Tree Spot Stick is my favourite or Boots have awitch hazel and tea tree stick which also acts as a concealer. Following these cheap and easy solutions should help keep your skin clean and healthy, which is particularly important as we will be using makeup a lot in the coming season, simply just to keep our faces warm. Do remember, try not to pop them. There is nothing worse for them, and if you real feel the need, just click on over to YouTube and watch Dr Sandra Lee, I’m sure those videos will scratch that itch for you. Also never forget the power of the food you eat, eating lots of leafy vegetables and fruits will make your skin glow from the inside and have in some cases been proven to keep stress levels down as they keep the immune system strong and the body ready to fight off infection when cold season hits. Bags of vitamin C rich oranges are 50p at Grainger Market and they are tasty too!

22. beauty

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Beauty Editors: Miranda Stoner, Ellie Trent & Ellen Walker

Cracking Stuﬀ

Miranda Stoner discusses MAC’s seasonal Nutcracker collection

Image: @maccosmetics on Instagram

Rush hour restrictions

Helena Buchanan argues against the recent controversial ban made in Japan to stop females from applying make-up on public transport and discusses the consequences

“Stop judging each other, as mean girls taught us “calling her ugly didn’t make me any prettier ”

“How dare women lift the veil of mystery by doing their make-up in public”

Image: @lauriecastelligair on Instagram and feel ashamed of your body please love, it offends me).

“One of the frightening things about this is the amount of aguments we hear are coming from women”

Stress-resistant strategies Perhaps women are taking up too much space

Phoebe Bower shares some of her top beauty hacks and gives us the lowdown on how to keep our skin fresh, beautiful and free from blemishes even when times get tough at uni

Image: @monclaire_laurence on Instagram

with dead skin cells and bacteria to clog the hair follicles, leading to pimples or acne cysts) have receptors for stress hormones.

“A cleanser removes makeup, dead skin cells, oil, dirt and other types of pollutants from the skin”

The Courier

beauty.23

Monday 14 November r 2016

thecourieronline.co.uk/beauty Instagram @courier_beauty | Twitter @CourierBeauty

Treacherous tanning

Amanda Jane Yap tackles the classic tanning debate and weighs up whether you should hit the sunbeds to get the glow, or use false tan and fake it until you make it this winter

he time of the year has dawned upon us again; I’m not referring to Christmas exactly. It is that time of the year where the sun is barely out and it is just far too cold to stay outdoors for more than 10 minutes. However, turning into a pasty-white version of yourself is not seen as an option for a lot of people either. Hence naturally tanning is completely out of the question, so moving on to the next best options: Applying fake tans or Sun beds? Fake tan is extremely accessable and relatively cheap to buy; the only problem people face is how to apply it evenly to make the tan look natural. Fake tan creams do not penetrate through the skin, as some people would assume, it just stains the outermost layer of the skin. The ingredient that causes the staining is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), when it combines with the amino acids in your skin DHA causes a browning reaction akin to meat cooking on top of a barbecue pit. The only danger associated with tanning cream is the risk of inhaling the chemicals from the tanning products that have been suggested may give rise to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or even cancer.

sensitive areas, like the eyes, nose and lips, there is minimal health risks. However, just a cautionary reminder, tanning creams are NOT sun screen so do not apply generously and expect your skin to be protected against sun damage. Sunbeds are the ideal choice for busy, urban citizens like you and I. Just lie on the bed for the reccomended time and voila! It is fuss-free and hassle free, you do not need to worry about whether the tan looks natural down your back, saving the em-

“The only danger associated with tanning cream is the risk of inhaling the chemicals from the tanning products”

Previously, worries ensued that the DHA might seep through people’s skin and into their bloodstream. However, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has clarified that as long as DHA is not applied over open wounds and cuts or over

Image: @minetanbodyskin on Instagram

barrassment. The sunbed works by emitting UVA or UVB rays to speed up the production of melanin in our skin, so that it will darken more rapidly compared to a natural tan. The positive effect is that sun beds provides our dose of Vitamin D needed to replenish the calcium in the body, especially when winter is drawing near and there is barely a hint of sun.

“This is where sunbeds come to use, a short session of five to ten minutes every 6 weeks is more than enough. However, that is not where many people draw the line” This is where sunbeds come to use, a short session of five to ten minutes every 6 weeks is more than enough. However, that is not where many people draw the line. Five to ten minutes every six weeks is not about to give me the bronze-tanned look I see on Hollister advertisements. So some people choose to stretch and even over-extend their time on the sunbeds. It becomes slightly addictive to the point that you will go weekly just to keep the tan. Overexposure to the UV rays would put people at a greater risk of developing skin cancer later in life, known as malignant melanoma. Medical research has revealed that using sunbeds can increase the risk of skin cancer by up to 75 per cent. If you are unsure of your skin type, it is best not to venture into unknown territory. In conclusion, though it is troublesome and cumbersome, applying the fake tan is the safest way to go. After all, your health is the most precious thing you possess, so treasure it!

Colour correction to perfection Sally Mu shares her expertise and provides a guide to the illusive art of colour correction

n recent months colour correcting has begun to unapologetically storm the beauty world and many brands have recently launched their own user-friendly versions of the product. Although it is true that, colour correcting was originally used by pros, they’re now (thankfully) making a mainstream splash making the technique accessible and help us get on board with the trend. But for those of you who are still confused about those ‘clown’ faces you see in the tutorials or those who still think that it’s a complex and professional art used exclusively by makeup artists read on to discover the truth.

“The main reason for using colour correction is that most of use need a little complexion help every once in a while”

Colour correction it’s basically using coloured makeup to counteract discolouring on your skin. To hide imperfections correctly, the first thing to do is to neutralize the colour you are trying to conceal, so look it up in the colour wheel—and whichever colour is opposite on the wheel is the one which cancels out that shade. The main reason for using colour correction is that most of us need a little extra complexion help every once in a while. It isn’t unusual to want to cover up discoloured areas like scarring, pigmentation marks, spots or heavy eye bags. Normally the first port of call is foundation or concealer but if you’re after more extreme coverage for a special occasion or in need of cover for an emergency spot— this is why a colour correction comes in handy. It ups the coverage to a new level and will leave you with an even and airbrushed base for flawless looking foundation. If you’re interested in starting out using colour correctors but don’t want to spend too much money, then look no further than the ultimate pro tool—Sleek Colour Corrector Palette. Packed with 6 blendable neutralisers this all-in-one palette

has all you need to master colour correcting and the texture goes on really creamily which makes the perfect base to flatters every skin tones easily achievable. Read on for the definitive guide of how to use each colour. Green is opposite to the red on the colour wheel and can be used to neutralise redness on your face. Whether you spot some pimples, red broken veins or capillaries, or maybe you struggle with obvious scars and blemishes, then you’ll need to soften and banish red bits with green. Your skin will appear a lot more flawless as a result of having this on! Moving on to the next colour, lilac, this one confuses people the most. What it does is to battle out any ‘yellowness’ on your face, so strategically paint it on target areas to improve dull, tired-looking skin. The most versatile colour in this savvy palette is rose, which is directly across the colour wheel from green. It works wonders on all parts of your face! Layer a small amount of this under your eyes where you get severe dark circles, puffiness or green veins, or maybe tap it around your mouth, it’ll brighten the dark pigmentations with just a few blends. The yellow and orange shades work for similar purposes but the orange will double coverage when yellow just can’t quite do the job. They’re both good-for-all colours and are used specifically if you tend to get any purply or blue tones under your eyes, for freckles, or veiny eyelids. You pat them over these problem areas to minimize discolouration. You can also apply it on bare skin to even out your complexion and instantly re-energise skin. So, the last one on this palette is the blue shade, which is ideal for cancelling out any orange undertones: say, those of you who suffer from hyper pigmentations, freckles, and sallowness and notice darkness shadowing your skin. Dab blue on these spots with your fingertip to disguise unwanted imperfections and give your skin a super dewy and perkier look in seconds. A good alternative for this is the Kiko Colour Correction Concealer Wheel and this will allow you to swirl all colours to get the max effect!

Products to try...

1. Dior: Fix It- 2 in1 Prime and Conceal £21.15 each (Image @ chrislimamakeup on Instagram) 2. Sleek colour corrector palette £7.99 (Image @sleekmakeup on Instagram) 3. Urban Decay NAKED color correcting fluid £17.50 (Image @ urbandecaycosmetics on Instagram) 4. Stila one step correct £24.00 (Image @ eyelashesbyalex on Instagram)

4. 3.

Fleek out Susanne Norris shares her thoughts on the ungroomed brow

e can all relate to the dreaded anticipation of having to shave our legs before a night out in THAT miniskirt. It just always seems like too much effort, especially for those of us in halls whose tiny showers were not built with the idea of leg shaving in mind. Repeat this for underarms, bikini line etc. and it’s safe to say most of us are pretty sick of hair removal. So naturally, when a trend comes along that involves removing as little hair as possible, it sounds too good to be true. Rejoice ladies, because messy eyebrows are the latest trend rocking every catwalk. Say goodbye to plucking, tweezing, waxing, and threading and hello to messy brows. I mean Cara Delevigne gives us total brow envy, right? Her thick and messy brows are so inspiring that more and more girls are choosing to opt for them, with designers worldwide choosing them for the runway too. But they aren’t for everyone. To be perfectly honest, I don’t know how I feel about the messy brow look. As someone who’s been a diehard fan of Cara for years I’ve always liked having thick eyebrows, but not necessarily messy ones. The reason being if let my eyebrows grow out I look less like Cara and more like a yeti, which isn’t quite the look I want to go for funnily enough.

“When we can’t be bothered with hair removal we can still look fashionable”

As a dark-haired girl, stray hairs are so obvious that I don’t feel like messy brows are the look for me, however many fairer haired girls rock them perfectly. That’s not to say dark haired girls can’t have messy brows too though; I’ve seen many a dark-haired girl with beautiful messy brows. The trick to, be it as a blonde or a brunette, is to think like Cara. Whilst your brows are growing out, let them do so but pluck or thread any strays to keep a nice shape. This way, you get messy brows but nicely shaped messy brows, as no-one wants a monobrow. Another top tip is to buy a brow brush (No7 do a great one) and brush your brows upwards. This way you can give the allusion of messy brows without having to let them grow out and lose shape completely. Of course, you can always opt for somewhere in the middle. I’m a massive fan of HD brows; a 7-step process done by brow specialists that allows you to achieve brows that girls for miles around will be jealous of. HD brows signature look is the perfectly arched brow, which I must say I swoon over. But just because this process involves getting the perfect arch, it doesn’t mean your brows must be thin. Whenever I’ve gotten HD brows done, I’ve asked for an arch shape but for my brows to remain thick, which the stylists have always adhered to. The result? The thickness of the messy brow but the shape of a perfectly styled one. And that’s the most beautiful thing about brows; you can take any style that you like and mix it up with your personal preferences to create a gorgeous look. You like messy brows? Awesome. Perfectly groomed brows? Fab. A bit of both? Equally awesome and fab! The messy brow trend may have given us some inspiration for totally new brows or just helped us to put a new spin on our current brows, and both of these things are great. It’s reassuring to know that when we can’t be bothered with hair removal we can still look fashionable, which is always a winner for me.

Image: @robbiejonsson on Instagram

24. arts

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Arts Editors: Meg Holtom, Jonathan Hastings & Tamsin Rees

WHAT’S DOON IN THE TOON??? 15 November

The Nutcracker Tyne Theatre @ 19:30

17 November

Persepolis Side Cinema @ 19:00-21:00

19 November

Beat It - Drag Make up Workshop Prohibition Caberet bar @ 13:0015:00

17 November

Christmas Lights! Grey’s Monument @ 17:30-19:00

SALTY CLASSICS SIOBHAN FULLER

What classic do you tell everyone to read, and why? Anyone who tells me they love The Great Gatsby time period is immediately directed towards another member of Fitzgerald’s literary scene, Hemingway. A Moveable Feast is such a fantastically intricate account of that era from an author at the heart of it. What's the most overhyped/awful classic? Any Jane Austen novel but particularly Pride and Prejudice. I cannot understand the appeal for Mr Darcy, even when played by Colin Firth. How Elizabeth (and every other woman for that matter) falls for his rudeness and mood swings, I will never know; he is definitely not my idea of the perfect romantic hero! Which classic do you always lie about having read? Shamefully, I have never read A Christmas Carol all the way through. Every December in high school the English teachers would whip out a few extracts, so I’ve technically read it in fragments over the course of six years, although I’m not sure that counts. I can bluff the plot pretty convincingly though thanks to the Muppets’ movie. Snog, marry, kill, the characters in the last classic you've read. I’ve just finished The Picture of Dorian Gray, so I don’t have the best selection… snog Dorian Gray because he’s hot; marry Basil Hallward despite his obsession with Dorian; and kill Lord Henry Wotton because he’s just unbearable. From two different classics, what is a likely ship? Eponine from Les Miserables and Gabriel Oak from Far From The Madding Crowd, purely on the basis that I think Eponine deserves a little bit happiness for a change. Gabriel may not be the typical love interest in literature but he’d be a safe bet for Eponine.

Should Emojis be modern art? Rosie Minney discusses MoMA’s decision to immortalise the aubergine and smiley poo.

o, as it turns out, your smartphone, along with everyone else’s on the planet, is now home to a collection of modern art. Every text you send, decorated with a smiley face, a martini glass or a pair of suspicious eyes is, effectively, an exhibit of modern art. You can thank the Museum of Modern Art (Moma), New York City, for this. As of 26 October 2016, Moma has immortalised 176 of the original electronic illustrations as “modern art” in their permanent collection. First designed by Shigetaka Kurita in 1999 for Japanese mobile provider NTT DoCoMo, it wasn’t until over a decade later that Apple monopolised on these “modern-day hieroglyphs”, today bringing the count up to 2,000.

“With over 92% of people online incorporating Emoji into their messages, doesn’t this new collection truly embody the word “modern”?”

Long before we started sending the “Smiling Pile of Poo” Emoji to our friends – along with peaches, aubergines, and the image of someone having their nails painted – these emoticons were nothing more than 12x12 pixel grids, actually intended to help companies reach their target audience. This included

weather reports, pubs and fast-food joints. Originally just black and white, the company expanded their colour range to black, red, orange, lilac, green and blue. As Paola Antonelli, a Senior Curator at Moma, remarked, “They’re so beautiful and expressive, even though the technology at the time was so limited.” I can imagine the cynics now, rolling their eyes and sighing, “What has art come to?” And to an extent, I can understand – how can we include small cartoons intended for text messaging on the walls that once exhibited the likes of Degas, Pollock and Picasso? But they’re so much more than that. Representational images are both an ancient and modern phenomenon, from Egyptian hieroglyphs to manga. Jonathan Jones from The Guardian couldn’t disagree more. He argues that Moma, “thrown off balance by the triumph of the Tate Modern”, now feels the urge to give every “cultural spasm” undeserved value, and that this “spasm” looks like “a teacher trying to twerk.” Jones believed Moma

to be the pinnacle of modern art, stating examples such as The Starry Night by van Gogh to The Red Studio by Matisse, as what modern art “can, and should be”.

“Here we have Emoji: a global digital sensation, belonging at once to everyone, and to no one”

Could it be that, had these Emoji been painted, his outlook would be different? With over 92% of people online incorporating Emoji into their messages, doesn’t this new collection truly embody the word “modern”? Paola Antonelli believes this, starting out with Emoji collection with “[no intention] to stop.” She says, “This is not one moment in Moma’s history, it’s a period. With this digital collection we’re moving very close to people’s skin.” Can you remember the last time you sent or received a message without an Emoji in it? We have managed to transform these primal images into a language of sorts – we can use them to string together entire sentences; give them personality traits to describe our friends as different Emoji sit next to different names in our contacts. The line between technology and art is slowly being erased. Hockney’s fantastic iPad landscapes prove “old-fashioned” paints and brushes aren’t the only means to create artwork. And here we have Emoji: a global digital sensation, belonging at once to everyone, and to no one. What could be more modern than that?

Our North-East Picks of the Week WAITING FOR GODOT

PEOPLE’S THEATRE

kay, so you must have heard about Samuel Beckett, right? That Irish, avantgarde, playwright and director. Well, I went to People’s theatre in Heaton last week to see the epitomes, and tragicomedy, Waiting for Godot: a play about two gentlemen Estragon (Gordon Russell) and Vladimir (Steve Robertson) forever in a stand off with, you guessed it, Godot. This titular character makes no appearance in the play, for obvious reasons. I mean, seriously Beckett, your metaphors are so tongue and cheek that they might as well be similes. Yes, Beckett is very sneaky, and boring, and funny, and perceptive, but maybe that’s what it’s meant to be. Pretentious, yes, but real, dealing with complex themes of existentialism and the extent of the human consciousness. It may be boring in parts, but this is some common and juxtaposes perfectly with our experiences on this world.

THE OTHER TIGER NCLA

A BODYSSEY ODYSSEY BALTIC 39

odytalk- certainly one of the stranger experiences of my life. Having not looked into it extensively, I expected a bit of making and maybe a performance? I was sort of right. Upon arriving we were told to start making ‘body appendages’. I instantly had a massive mind blank (my mind’s go to when required to be creative) not aided by feeling mildly intimidated by the very cool costumes made by everyone else. It may be a sign of most adults’ lingering childish impulses or somewhat clichéd Freudian undertones but most seemed to have gone for some sort of phallic construction.

Now on to the theatre itself: Everyone we encountered - from the stewards to the bar staff to the duty manager - were absolutely lovely; eager to help, friendly, and created a warm but ultimately professional environment. After the first act I had to remind my friend that it is a volunteer run: the standard of acting, directing, production and design is not what you would normally associate with an amateur group! The People’s Theatre surpasses amateur theatre. It is, as their tag line says, ‘great theatre just around the corner’. It is the start of their autumn winter events, with popular shows like Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van, the classic Jack and the Beanstalk and even Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest over the next couple of months. So go an see them, there’s plenty to see, even if Beckett isn’t your cup of tea.

he Other Tiger was an event that took place last Monday, bringing together a collection of anthologists and contemporary poets from 16 Latin American countries; focussing on the national familiarity of poetry in many different languages and in different cultures through the translation of Latin American writing. The impressive audience turn out and ‘professional’ atmosphere, captivated by the intimate setting and ambient lighting, caused my friend to remark “it feels as if we’re about to eat cheese and wine and talk about Brexit”. However, the environment was far from intimidating. It was comfortable and the intimate setting reflected the honest and exposed nature of these poets sharing their own experiences. Many of these marvellously crafted poems reflected on exposing the horrors people face. This ‘exposed’ nature was entrancing by poignantly uniting ‘us’ and ‘them’ to one responsibility. There was a definite sense of simplicity as well as power in their writing as words such as ‘hanging’, ‘forgotten’, ‘scared’, ‘alone’ echoed around the room. The night featured many of the themes relevant to a contemporary period, such as belonging, family, relationships, politics, society, environment, illness and grief. I believe that once poetry is heard, it becomes a part of you and it shines back. This night was an intriguing and gripping experience, mainly for presenting poetry and the issues faced to allow the audience to both understand the shared social experiences between cultures, whilst also becoming aware of the harsh reality some people face; and how sometimes the only way we can relate to something is through such honest, enthralling, often heart-breaking, anecdotal writing, such as poetry. This night strongly gave justice to the beauty of other languages and the potentially powerful impact of poetry. It was instantly clear that emotions speak all language and one does not have to share the same language to be able to engage in and communicate with them through an art form.

Tommy Harees

Rachel Priestley

Helena Buchanan

“Yes, Beckett is very sneaky, and boring, and funny, and perceptive, but maybe that’s what it’s meant to be”

“I would leave feeling empowered with a new perspective on my post-eating-disordered life”

Always up for a bit of junk-modelling we soon got into it, but we were interrupted with the instruction that we would now be doing some ‘movement’. The friend I had brought, who had done even less research than I had, aptly summed up our reaction- “Oh god, so fucking art”. ‘Movement’ started small with a wriggling of fingers before progressing to parading in a circle trying to shake your body as much as possible then to deep squats and a throaty roar etc. It was a liberating experience to say the least. And I feel my body did, perhaps ‘talk’. I’m not entirely sure why I assumed an art session (particularly female run) with the word ‘body’ in the title would be to do with body positivity, and I would leave feeling empowered with a new perspective on my post-eating-disordered life and would go and eat a jar of peanut butter with glorious abandon. This weird and quite wonderful experience was a refreshing surprise, made me very happy, and generated a lot of discussion about what the fuck it meant- I’ll let you know if ever I work out the answer.

The Courier

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Monday 14 November 2016

thecourieronline.co.uk/arts c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk | Instagram: @CourierArts

The Great. Northern. Poetry. Slam. Immortality We sent Carys Rose Thomas to unleash her competitive streak at Northern Stage.

Little parts of creative arts from your student hearts

KRISSA FORD POET

o you’re going to a rap battle?” was my flatmate’s first remark when I explained to him what a Poetry Slam is. Essentially, he was right. A poetry slam is for those poets with perhaps a more competitive streak. It takes the art of weaving wonderful words together and calls for said words to be pitted against each other. Essentially, pretty much like a rap battle.

“Amy McAllister’s poems ranged from hilariously frank to touchingly optimistic” I had watched plenty of clips of poetry slams on YouTube, but Northern Slam was my first proper experience of a poetry slam. Therefore, I hadn’t really clocked that it would be the audience who got to vote for the “best” poem in each round. Unfortunately, I was late to the event, so missed the handing out of excitingly technological handsets people used to vote. This was both a blessing and a curse. I felt blessed not having to choose a favourite poem and could simply enjoy listening to all of the brilliant poetry that was recited. However, as the evening went on the competitive streak in me began to take over, and I found having no say in who won what round somewhat agonizing – es-

What am I? pecially cases in which there was only one vote’s difference between the two poets. There was a sort of brilliant sense of agony to the whole audience as the evening progesses and the rounds got more vocal. Everyone found it more and more difficult to choose between each pair of poems; sort of like we were sent into agony by how brilliant the poets before us were. One small criticism I have is the lack of diversity of the poets. Slam Poetry, as a form, has become somewhat renowned for its popularity amongst marginalised groups in society, as it offers a creative way for them to express their frustrations. At Northern Slam, 2 out of 16 poets were women, and all were white. I’m sure it is clear to you how this somewhat limits the range of cultural viewpoints offered in the evening. Although, the two women poets were the finalists, so maybe that was some form of positive action. The overall atmosphere of the evening was marvellous. Constant interaction with the audience lead to a comfortably informal and equal atmosphere in the room and even when we had to sit through about 5 minutes of technical issues, commentary from both audience and the compare alike provided top quality entertainment. I can’t lie, the correct poet definitely won. Amy McAllister’s poems ranged from hilariously frank

to touchingly optimistic. You could sense a sincere undertone of honesty in her work, which some poets seem to lose when attempting to “flower-out” their work. It wasn’t just her words that sold me on her, though. 60% of communication is non-verbal and as slam poems are written to be read aloud, the non-verbal communication of the poet’s crucial. Amy’s tone, facial expressions and gestures added to her work and fleshed out her already brilliant words.

“Slam Poetry as a form has become somewhat renowned for its popularity amongst marginalised groups in society, but at Northern Slam, 2 out of 16 poets were women, and all were white”

I’d recommend a Poetry Slam to any poetry nerds out there - you won’t believe how into it you get. In spite of the lack of diversity of poets, all were stellar performances and the evening even inspired me to look into how easy it’d be to set up Newcastle University’s very own Poetry slam, so watch this space.

Man Booker prize 2016

I am the mind that guides you on your way. I am the voice that shakes no matter what you say. I am the hand that writes the cursive. I am the eyes that seeks the subversive. I am the smoke in the cold winter breeze. I am the night that brings you to your knees. I am the quiver in the broad light of day. I am the body when it begins to decay. I am the source of all that is new and old. I am the prophesy that’s already been told. I am the street lamp that shines down the avenue. Most importantly, I’ll always be a friend to you.

Amy Baird gives us the low down on this new and revealing, racially charged, satire The Sellout, its winner, and how this may change the future of the Man Booker Prize.

ELENA TRAYANOVA POET

Between Two Cans

he Man Booker was established in 1969, and as well as earning £50,000 the winner of the award can also expect worldwide acclaim and a new and wider readership. Arguably the Man Booker is up there with the Carnegie Medal as one of the leading literary awards, and has set a strong precedent for literature over the past four decades.

“Arguably the Man Booker is up there with the Carnegie Medal as one of the leading literary awards” Previous winners of the prize include Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Bringing up the Bodies, Yann Martel’s Life of Pi and Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient. All of these winners then went on to inspire award winning adaptations on both stage and television – this is testimony to the excellence of the literature associated with the Man Booker. A few weeks ago, on the 25/10/16, it was announced that the 2016 winner of the Man Booker Prize was American writer Paul Beatty with his book The Sellout. This marks the first win of the Man Booker for an American author. Beatty, a dweller of New York City, is the author

of three other novels and two poetry books. It was a close competition between this year’s 12 shortlisted books and to some, Beatty’s triumph was surprising. Madeline Thien’s novel Do Not Say We Have Nothing was the favourite to win with both William Hill and Ladbrokes. The plot revolves around a mother and her 10-year-old daughter inviting a young woman, who has fled China in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square protests, into their home. However, in terms of the most sales during the competition Graeme Macrae Burnet’s His Bloody Project surpassed the others. A book which lives up to its title, the plot unfolds around a brutal triple murder in a small and remote community. Furthermore, His Bloody Project book sales are witness to the legacy of the Man Booker Prize, Burnet used to be a Waterstones bookseller and in the week before his book was nominated for the prize only 1 copy was sold, however after his nomination his book sales soon exceeded the other nominations. An additional triumph considering his small, independent Scottish publisher. However, despite conjecture and much debate amongst literary fans and critics alike, The Sellout was named as the 2016 winner, with the chair of the judges commenting that ‘The Sellout is a novel for our times’. The Sellout is narrated from the perspective of

an African-American called Bonbon, a resident in Dickens - a deprived town in LA county. Bonbon is being tried by the Supreme Court for attempting to reinstitute segregation and slavery iWn his local high school as a way of enforcing civic decorum. The novel explores ‘institutional racism’ and the death of Bonbon’s father at the hands of the police, something so personal and profound in the lives of the African-American youth. Indeed, The Sellout is a brave satire about race relations in America. The New York Times stated that Beatty’s novel was a ‘metaphorical multicultural pot ALMOST too hot to touch’.

“The novel explores ‘institutional racism’ and the death of Bonbon’s father at the hands of the police” Certainly, if you’re looking for an engaging autumnal read The Sellout is a good bet, and if the thought of a modern, multicultural satire doesn’t capture your interest, take a look at the shortlist there’s something on there for everyone: http://themanbookerprize.com/fiction Personally, I’ll be giving His Bloody Project a read this autumn.

You and I are like a tin can telephone On the two ends of an eternal wire. Hold on to it and I will never let you be alone Through ashes and dust and rubble and stone And sometimes even water and fire. You and I are like a tin can telephone. Strained and twisted like a broken bone, More like ache and less like wire. But don't let go, or you will fall into a skip zone Don't cut it either, I'd like to see how much it's grown; If it spells loathing or desire. You and I are like a tin can telephone. As I press you to my ear, in the shadow over my cheekbone There's just the silent echo of a lyre. I listen close and try to find you in its tone. Centuries ahead and we're still made of stone And the lyre now has turned into a choir. You and I are like a tin can telephone Close in separation but we sing alone.

26. music

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Music Editors: Sophie Ahmed, Serena Bhardwaj & Ben Grundy

Toon In Robyn Wainwright interviews Great Waves about their passions and inspirations

guitars, 2 singers and 1 drummer. Great Waves, who haven’t been together all that long, gave one of the best acoustic performances I have seen in a long while. It’s always a pleasure to write about a band that truly excites you, and Great Waves do that. Describing themselves as indie-pop, they create an ambience through their infatuating original songs and brilliantly worked covers. With music influences differing from Biffy Clyro, Foals and Foo Fighters to Eric Clapton and Frank Sinatra, this diverse group of artists come together to make a spectacularly refreshing sound. I first asked the band about their passion for music and their influences. Khyle, singer and guitarist, was the first to comment ‘Music always has been a passion for me. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember and started playing instruments at the beginning of my teens. Honestly, I wanted to be a drummer. But I was never allowed a drum kit, so I picked up the guitar’. Bassist Jack added ‘Music has always been a big thing to me, always listening through albums and new discoveries. I can never remember what made me choose bass. It’s like one almost fell on my lap somehow and I just started learning’. Drummer Liam fancied himself as a guitar player but he explained that ‘When my music teacher at school suggested the idea of drum lessons for me I took the opportunity and I’ve never looked back’.

“Take risks and pour your heart into your music”

Their original songs are outstanding, with a special shout out to ‘Change the World’, which, in my opinion, could easily be in the UK charts today. With many of the songs stemming from human experience, I wanted to speak to writers, Khyle and David, to gain a glimpse into their techniques and inspirations. Khyle explained ‘For themes, I always try and think happy thoughts. A lot of my own solo work is cathartic and folk-esque so it feels good to be able to write such diverse music’. David added ‘I tend to like writing a sort of “Summer sound” being more upbeat. Khyle tends to be able to write music with more feeling and meaning to them.’ Khyle explained that the music industry is not all plain sailing. Even for talented musicians, there can be a tough uphill battle. Passion, drive and perseverance are the keys he offered to any aspiring musicians. ‘I used to write music and gave up hope a little, then I was asked to play on BBC Radio Tees live and have had compositional work with some notable people, simply by persevering and taking the jump to contact people. So persevere, take risks and pour your heart into your music’. We discussed the future of the band including new material and future gigs. The development of the band’s music seemed their highest priority. Khyle commented ‘Since our first few songs, we have developed musically finding more influences from other bands and obviously bringing Jack and Liam into the frame has effectively doubled our productivity and our personal enjoyment’. There is a strong connection between the band’s relationships and the quality of their playing and writing skills. Jamie added ‘Since playing with the band I feel myself improving all the time, it’s what to expect when you play with guys who really know their stuff like Khyle and David’.

Plagiarhythm: lawful or ludicrous?

Alice Wilson discusses where the line lies between sampling and stealing after allegations against Mark Ronson’s hit ‘Uptown Funk’ have recently been made in the music industry

nother huge number 1 hit, another plagiarism allegation from an 80s Pop one-hit-wonder. Will this relentless onslaught of fortune hunting past-its never cease? Or are they simply retired musicians who object to some shade-wearing upstart claiming their originally crafted work? ‘Uptown Funk’ has become ‘Blurred Lines’ 2.0, with shade-throwing from all corners of the ring about whose song it is, and who is entitled to royalties. This time, it is 80s Minneapolis funk band Collage, claiming their song ‘Young Girls’ and ‘Uptown Funk’ are ‘almost indistinguishable if played over each other’. Arguably, Mars and Ronson courted disaster by admitting in interviews that their song was inspired by ‘80s Minneapolis Funk’, but, despite the obvious parallels that any idiot could draw between the inspiration and the accusation of plagiarism, this hardly constitutes adequate evidence of outright copying. In the same way, Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ recently almost lost its masterpiece status due to the finger-pointing of a less successful American version which uses the same chord progression. The same ones used in thousands of songs since the conception of chords - you only have to watch the ‘Four Chord Song’ by Australian comedians Axis of Awesome to understand the futility of that law case. Looked at mathematically, although the number

“Music is about repeats; in rhythm, structure, melody and chords”

of possible melodies in the universe is finite, technically, we shouldn’t have had any repeats yet. According to Vsauce’s video on YouTube (definitely worth a watch), there are around 79 billion possible melody combinations, and on the Gracenote database of songs, labels and artists, there are just

Artist to Actor: is it Child’s play?

After an announcement that Childish Gambino will play Lando Calrissian in a Star Wars spin oﬀ, Jordan Oloman pleads certain musicians to stay behind the mic at all costs

ou might have heard about it but let me blow your socks off for a second. In the upcoming Han Solo spin off movie, Donald Glover - otherwise known in the music industry as Childish Gambino - will be filling Billy Dee Williams’ shoes as a younger Lando Calrissian. Of course, the world rejoiced, as Donald got his start as an actor way before his rapping days and is most definitely worth his salt. He wrote and had cameo appearances in 30 Rock, played Troy in Community, Rich in The Martian, and he’ll also be in the new Spider-Man movie. He also currently writes and stars in the excellent comedy-drama show Atlanta which is killing it. Donald Glover is an actor first and a rapper second, but you wouldn’t guess from his lyricism. The same can be said for Drake, who also found his start on the American TV show Degrassi, and now has his own record label and could spend 3 minutes talking about cheesecake on a track and it’d probably smash the Billboard hot 100. Usually though this happens the other way around, with musicians who make it on to your radio attempting to jump to the silver screen and assimilate acting chops. Despite the fact that music and film are both creative mediums, it’s not so easy to just take up a new craft and most don’t really succeed. There are a few exceptions to this rule, namely Will Smith, who I think we can all agree makes a good movie every now and then, especially if we can forget about After Earth. I feel like his stint with Jazzy Jeff almost compliments his panache on the big screen… who can forget his multi-platinum record Big Willie Style, right guys?

“Donald Glover is an actor first and a rapper second”

Make sure you follow us on Spotify at - https:// play.spotify.com/user/ thecourierdoesmusic

130 million songs. However, Vsauce makes the valid point that we are accustomed to certain tones and rhythms we enjoy, which have been strewn across the top 40 since its inception and accounts for the amount of repeated song styles. Popular music is called popular for a reason, and there is bound to be repetition (soundsjustlike.com proves this). Let us not forget that this Collage allegation isn’t the first against Uptown Funk. During May last year, Ronson and Mars were forced to surrender 17% of all publishing royalties to The Gap Band after it was ruled that they had infringed copyright on their song “Oops Upside Your Head”, upon which the ‘Uptown funk you up’ motif is based. And to be fair, it’s basically the same. But can you “copyright” a rhythm? What right have you to do so? What qualifies you? Plagiarism, or copyright infringement, are terms thrown around more in the music industry today than a Year 8’s backpack by some Sixth Formers, but often they are completely tenuous, coming from former-stars who’ve spent all their earnings on either cocaine or mansions, and therefore have nothing left to pay their plastic surgeons. Sometimes, similarities are drawn and repetitions identified - but does this mean that artists should lose out simply because the number of original ideas that sound good is limited? The fault is within the law itself - is it possible to “own” a melody or a rhythm? If so, then why isn’t it possible to “own” a shade or colour, or a literary phrase? It is foolish to imagine that we can ignore the inevitability of repetition in music simply because someone has stuck a copyright stamp on it - music is about repeats; in rhythm, structure, melody and chords, which isn’t something anybody, even a high court judge, can deny.

The Pursuit of Happiness had him up for an Oscar to be fair, and, if his performance in that film didn’t compel you to feel something, I think your heart might be made out of cement. Again, he’s an outlier, and seems to just be great at whatever he does, so let’s focus on the

ones that suck. Justin Timberlake, despite being a brilliant singer, does not belong on the big screen whichever way you slice him. Like aye, you can get away with him voicing a character in a crap, forgettable cash grab like Yogi Bear or Shrek the Third, but when he appeared for 10 minutes in The Social Network I can’t help but get flashbacks to his spaghetti hair and bandana’s phase in the early 2000s. Where’s Pharell Williams to hype him up? Why’s he not dancing around Britney Spears’ house in the rain? Fair play to him for trying, but stick to the tunes. Justified was a noughties masterpiece through and through. 50 Cent is a prime bad example.

“Fair play to Justin Timberlake for trying, but stick to the tunes”

He made a movie about himself with Get Rich or Die Tryin and managed to put in a shocker. That’s impressive.

Fifty seems to only be capable of telling us about his troubled life through rhyme. Everyone also seems to forget that Beyonce actually put a few films out there. Remember when she played a cringe worthy pop star in The Pink Panther? You don’t want to. It’ll sully her royal status nowadays, and it seems that she’s sticking to providing soundtracks for movies rather than being in them. Block that memory and keep sipping your Lemonade.

“Fifty seems to only be capable of telling us about his trouble life through rhyme”

I think it’s fair to say that beyond Will Smith, you’re better off acting before you start singing, and there’s no doubt Glover will make an excellent Lando.

The Courier

music .27

Monday 14 November 2016

Back From Th e Edge by James Arthur H

onest, raw and passionate. James Arthur’s comeback album Back From The Edge is a huge, yet welcome, surprise as the X-Factor Winner delivers a 17-track record that follows his struggles with anxiety, alcohol, drugs and friendships. Arthur deservedly won the X-Factor back in 2012 thanks to the strength of his unique, booming voice. However, he was never cut out to be the perfect pop star that Simon Cowell loves to churn out. Nonetheless, the talent show tried to turn him into a singer for teenage girls and mainstream pop melodies. After winning, his debut album James Arthur was released in 2013 but the record was confused, torn between what he wanted to do and what Cowell’s company Syco were dictating.

Not only is it powerful but he conveys the severity of his recent struggles superbly with that husky growl he is famed for. The album has tracks of reflection, desperation and anger. ‘Prisoner’ is a catchy number, with a

“A record that follows his struggles with anxiety, alcohol and drugs” A well publicised fall-out followed with Arthur announcing his departure from Syco in 2014 before signing with Columbia Records in September 2015. Colombia have accepted what the singer wants to write about and how he wants to record it, as the hugely popular single ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ showed us. It is this freedom that makes the album so believable. Is was not written to chart but as a self-help tool during his struggles and this honesty makes the album stand out. Opening with ‘Back From The Edge’ Arthur sings, “I don’t need heat, I’ve been burning in hell. But now I’m back with my own story to tell” which perfectly sums up his journey over recent years. Listeners are also immediately reminded just how strong his voice is.

Courteeners

t’s quite a tall order to get the rose-tinted glasses off Courteeners fans and convince them that the band has moved on from the tongue-in-cheek anthems of their debut St Jude. I must admit, it can be hard to swallow, as in Mapping The Rendezvous the Manc trio have continued their trend of more polished music. Frontman Liam Fray is deeper, more sincere, and sings less of tea, toast and queues at the Post Office. But is ditching wit for maturity the right way to go? Like other Courteeners LPs of late, the album scratches the surface of irritating cookie-cutter pop lyrics and this crudity reaches its peak when you listen to ‘No One Will Ever Replace Us’, a half-arsed dance track which is the sort of song used as throwaway background music inbetween scenes on Gogglebox. However, just when you think they’ve committed this kind of musical suicide - all is not lost. There are still pockets of Fray’s satisfyingly down-to-earth lyrics and an absolute barrage of scratchy guitar riffs. Opening track ‘Lucifer’s Dreams’ launches the album straight into an upbeat spirit and bluesy ‘Kitchen’ slots in nicely after. Rounding this off with the token acoustic song ‘De La Salle’, and my personal favourite slow-burn, ‘The 17th’ to produce a real cocktail of a record that is in many ways just as cheery as St Jude.

“Is ditching wit for maturity the right way to go?”

While I can sympathise with much of the fanbase and agree that this album hasn’t hit the sweet spot with a banger you’d see boozey indie fans yelling in some park in Salford, The Courteeners haven’t completely abandoned their Smiths-inspired, post-Britpop efforts of the past - I can’t see their garage streak ever going away. Adam Stratton

jazz feel in the chorus, yet talks of his serious troubles battling addiction: “I don’t want to remember. I don’t even want to think – I’m a slave to my addiction, a hazard to myself ”. Arthur moves on to his battles with suicide on the stripped-back ‘Train Wreck’ which features little else other than a piano. This song is the most striking on the album, his pain almost difficult to listen to as he opens with “Laying in the silence, waiting for the sirens, signs, any signs I’m alive still”. However, it isn’t only focused on his struggles. Songs such as ‘Finally’ and ‘I Am’ show Arthur understanding his recovery and being proud of what he has achieved. The funky ‘Sober’ is one of the stand-out tracks on the record, focusing on the feeling of being ‘drunk in love’ rather than on alcohol. It has a feel-good factor and the singer’s falsetto stars on the chorus. Similarly, ‘Let Me Love the Lonely’ moves away from conflict as the former X-Factor winner finds relief in sharing his pain: “Let me love the pain you’re going through. I think I save myself by saving you”.

James Arthur can no longer be seen as a product of the X-Factor. His fall into addiction and depression after being catapulted into fame by the show may have destroyed the reputation he gained for himself but he has emerged his own artist, confident in what he sings. The effectively simple and honest tracks combined with Arthur’s passionate vocals makes it incredibly hard to find fault with Back From The Edge.

Can’t Touch Us Now

Two Vines

Empire of the Sun

Madness

he Australian electronic duo’s third album arrives on the back of a slightly stale second attempt – Ice on the Dune – and needs to impress if they are to revitalise their reputation of producing feel good Indie dance.

“For every good track, there is an equally poor one”

Opening with ‘Before’, a slightly tame affair that does not pull you in, Two Vines corrects itself with ‘High and Low’ which is much more like the band many fell in love with in 2008. The fifth and sixth tracks start to kick it into life, the synth and electric piano in ‘There’s No Need’ has a touch of College’s soundtrack to Drive, with a unique twist and an upbeat chorus. ‘Way to Go’ is inventive with a deeper sound and hooky chorus that is untypical of the rest of the album. In this sense it makes the album more of a disappointment, as its remainder reverts back to stereotypical Empire of the Sun - gimmicky sounds with an electric drum beat. Just as you begin to think the duo had managed to tweak make their style more sophisticated you are hit with songs that feel like failed attempts to recapture the formula that impressed in their first album. That is the problem with a band like Empire - it is easy to fall into the trap of every song sounding the same. This is a band known for their OTT emphasis on eccentric costumes, performances and videos, but is it now a case of style over substance? Quirky at first, this attribute seems to have lost its original appeal, and you are left wondering why more effort hasn’t been put into making a more complete album. For every good track, there is an equally poor one which means it does not reach the heights it could have done. Tom Harrow-Smith

Electronic Blanket

Toby Bryant

“It was written as a selfhelp tool”

Mapping The Rendezvous

thecourieronline.co.uk/music c2.music@ncl.ac.uk

adness have come up with yet another album. Their twelfth, to be precise, if you don’t count all their live albums, soundtracks, EPs, compilation CDs and video albums. If nothing else, they are ridiculously prolific. By Madness standards, Can’t Touch Us Now is average. That’s not to say it isn’t good – it’s just not a One Step Beyond-grade album. Admittedly, I was a little apprehensive when the first song ‘Can’t Touch Us Now,’ opened with a synth effect, with a few more instruments joining in later. Thirty seconds in, the familiar piano starts up, and the synth effect isn’t heard again. Instead, it morphs into something Dexys Midnight Runners might have come up with if thirty years ago, complete with violins and vocal harmonies.

“If they sped up this album a bit, it would be thoroughly excellent”

After a slow-ish start, ‘Mr Apples’, the third song, is what my friends down south would describe as “well banging” if any of them actually liked ska. It has a real sing-along quality to it, coupled with great instrumental work and a cheeky dig at hardline religious conservatives to boot; Madness have their new hit. Further down the album, ‘Another Version of Me’ and ‘Mumbo Jumbo’ pick up the pace, which was beginning to flag a little by track 7. Besides that, many of the songs have something original to them but feel drawn out to make the sixteen-track album last a full hour. Madness made the right call by mostly leaving behind the awful string effects used in Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da but also seem to have lost a bit of the energy in the process. If they sped up this album a bit, it would be thoroughly excellent. As it stands, it’s mostly just alright. Jack Coles

Ellie Phillips reviews Bonobo’s chilled comeback single whilst recovering from a heavy night with Jamie Duggan

ast Tuesday, I got to hit up yet another Newcastle venue that has been on my hit list since what we shall simply to refer to forever as the ‘Freshers Flop’ of September. After a standard hour of pre-drinks, we were all however many cans down and set to see Jamie Duggan, also referred to as the ‘King of Bassline’, at Cosmic Ballroom for an Ill Behaviour special. After a tedious wait in the queue due to bouncers insisting on checking every male’s jacket, hat and shoes for potential of ‘suspicious behaviour’, we were in and ready for the floor.

“Bassline classics mixed in a new and teasing way”

After the in-house support act warmed up the crowd, Duggan took to the decks with a swift and stylish takeover. “THIS IS A JAMIE DUGGAN EXCLUSIVE PEOPLE” blared repeatedly through the sound-system as an alert to anyone in the smoking area, toilets, anywhere but the main floor to get the hell in and dance. This guy had so much more talent than your average stock club DJ, delivering bassline classics to please the people, but mixing them in a new and teasing way. Nostalgic gems such as ‘Feed Them to the Lions’ by Solo 45 and T2’s ‘Heartbroken’ were thrown into the mix alongside remixes of Tempz’s ‘Next Hype’ and Valentino Khan’s ‘Deep Down Low’. Safe to say the crowd was absolutely jumping throughout the entirety of the set; energy levels most likely aided by the real heightened sense of euphoria in the air. I felt 100% satisfied with the night that the Ill Behaviour crew threw together, and was bopping and shuffling to the beat in appreciation.

You need to hear: Bonobo

Since the debut album Animal Magic back in 2000, British-born electronica musician Bonobo has been titled one of the pioneers of new downtempo music, bringing us into a state of mellow contemplation with tracks such as ‘Sleepy Seven’ and ‘Terrapin’. In later years, he has graced us with art such as the 2013 soundscape album The North Borders, consisting of jewels like ‘Cirrus’ and ‘First Fires’. Now, after three years out of the game, he is back and better than ever, releasing his new single ‘Kerala’ to Spotify last week which has since received a massive buzz from fans across the Twitter-sphere. The track acts as what I hope is only a small sample of what else is yet to come from Bonobo, but it’s utterly spine-tingling and really consumes you as you listen. Whatever awaits on the recently announced UK tour next March is bound to be a true spectacle and one I really hope I get to witness.

Listen to: Bonobo - ‘Kerala’ Preview: Cirque Presents Big Narstie and Artful Dodger, Tuesday December 6th at Digital Granted, yes, Big Narstie does not specifically constitute as electronic music, but Cirque Du Soul are making a grand return to Newcastle this December in the name of all things merry and bright, shaking it up Santa style for one night only. Along with the spirit of Christmas, they are also bringing the one and only Artful Dodger, old-school UK garage extraordinaire. If you don’t remember the 2000 track ‘Movin too Fast’, you seriously need to sort it out. If you do remember it, you’ll know that this absolute classic was brought to us by Artful Dodger, alongside other bangers like ‘Re-Rewind’ ft. smooth criminal Craig David. So, if you fancy a boogie and a kiss under the mistletoe, there’s probably no better place to be but Digital.

Go follow us on intagram for live gig updates, fun pictures and the latest music gossip- @courier_music

28.tvfeatures

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

TV Editors: Luke Acton, Alison Scurﬁeld and

Thr owb ack

There’s a VICE for everyone

VICE is moving into cable TV. With news, music and a lot of food, Alex Moore discusses

Our weekly column where we look back at cult favourites and other atrocities from the past. This week, The X-Files

he X-Files is the greatest sci-fi drama of our time. I agree, there are many things you could criticise The X-Files for. The stories are always slightly predictable: Mulder will say it’s aliens, Scully will say it’s not, and lo and behold IT’S ALIENS! And the will-theywon’t-they tension between Mulder and Scully is sometimes too much to bear. But it deserves icon status because it’s iconic on so many levels. Gillian Anderson’s (Diana Scully) style alone makes her a worthy contender for the queen of sci-fi. Her look is timeless: the trench coat, the power suits, the subtle pink lippy, and of course the hair. That effortless auburn flick simply cannot exist on the head of a mere mortal (I know, I’ve tried). Gillian Anderson is an absolute goddess, and if you didn’t want to be with her you wanted to be her. But aside from looking flawless 24/7— even when Mulder bothers her with an attempted booty call at 3am—Scully is a badass. She’s a doctor, an FBI agent and has managed to get to the top of her game in a completely male dominated environment. It’s because she takes zero crap from anyone, and is consistently the only sane one when thrust into completely new and alien (sorry) environments. She beats up werewolf things! She shoots bad guys! And she consistently challenges Mulder’s male ego!

“There is a clear on screen chemistry between Anderson and Duchovny, and as he opens her eyes to the alien world some of his joie de vivre rubs off on Scully” Not that Mulder doesn’t deserve it. That takes us nicely to yin to Scully’s yang: David Duchovny’s Fox Mulder. As much as I adore Scully, without Mulder the show would be a little boring. He’s nowhere near as sassy or stylish as Scully, although he had his moments, but Mulder made me want to believe. His naivete, crossed with super intelligence, is infectious. There is a clear on screen chemistry between Anderson and Duchovny, and as he opens her eyes to the alien world some of his joie de vivre rubs off on Scully. This character development, until later series, was done to perfection. It’s so easy for characters to have changed unrecognisably over the course of a couple of series, so it was refreshing to see that Scully never quite lost her cynicism, but nor did Mulder lose his boyish enthusiasm.

“[The X-Files is] always pushing for answers and never quite revealing them” We haven’t even started on the iconic-ness of the aliens. Obviously, The X-Files wasn’t the first series to use special effects, or combine crime fighting and aliens into one awesome package. But The XFiles consistently shows that it’s not the aliens who are the real monsters, but the governments and systems enforced to keep us on our place. I love the tantalising hints at government conspiracy theories, and I loved the way the writers wove real-life big wigs of American politics into the narrative, always pushing for answers and never quite revealing them. I love that this gave rise to a tidal wave of conspiracy theorists, online forums and that’s probably the main reason The X-Files deserves iconic status—its supremely popular, watchable and timeless. Maybe it’s the aliens talking but I absolutely love it, and I am not alone… Brooklyn Shakeshaft-Ward

nce upon a time there was a magazine which dared to boldly show what the mainstream press didn’t want you to know. This magazine’s name was VICE and its pages were packed with stories you wouldn’t see anywhere else. Over the years VICE has blossomed into a multi-billion-dollar organisation spanning all kinds of media. However, the bigger it gets, the more hit and miss the content seems to become. On one hand, you have the award-winning documentaries the network has become known for: on the other, just take a quick look through VICE’s Facebook page and you’d be forgiven for thinking that little exists in the world except fetishes and marijuana. So, things looked promising earlier this year when VICE launched a bold new initiative with, according to CEO Shane Smith, the main goal of ‘trying not to be shitty’.

“‘To me it sums up the issue that some of the programmes on VICELAND seem to be trying too hard”

Enter VICELAND, a television channel bringing a host of shows old and new right to your living room. VICE are no strangers to the world of TV,

having aired the self-titled Emmy winning news show VICE on HBO since 2013 and more on MTV - but this marks the first time that they have had their own channel. In a world that increasingly revolves around the internet, it seems as if VICE are almost taking a step backward, but the move will make their content accessible to millions across the globe. Those already acquainted with VICE will recognise some familiar faces such as Action Bronson and Thomas Morton, each with their own show. The programmes are worth watching, they deliver VICE’s usual vibes. But one episode of Morton’s Balls Deep (be careful how you google that) seemed to highlight one of VICELAND’s flaws. In said episode, Morton spends a week with pupils about to graduate school in Indiana, doing all sorts of youthful activities like playing baseball, basketball and even going to a beach party. The programme delivers an interesting insight into the lives of this community, but the whole thing almost seems to scream ‘Look at us young people, we understand you!’ To me it sums up the issue that some of the programmes on VICELAND seem to be trying too hard to please a younger audience. But hey, I am that audience so why am I complaining? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Disney now own 20% of VICE, and it almost feels as if this shows

in some programmes, like a Disney channel for underground kids.

“Over the years [VICE journalists] have risked their lives to bring us high quality, firsthand accounts of the stories no one else wants to tell” I have a lot of respect for VICE and its journalists, who over the years have risked their lives to bring us high quality, first-hand accounts of the stories no one else wants to tell. In 2014 a VICE News journalist was kidnapped by pro-Russian militia: in 2015 two more journalists were arrested by Turkish police. Past VICE documentaries have been outstanding and thankfully this experience and dedication has not been wasted on VICELAND. Along with the lifestyle documentaries, the channel also shows several quality ones based on current affairs, ranging from an exclusive inside look at North Korea to the inner workings of ISIS. It is this sort of journalism which makes VICELAND worth watching. See VICELAND for yourself on Sky channel 153 or online with NOW TV.

They’re killing your darlings

TV editor Dominic Corrigan discusses why some TV show deaths can play your heartstrings like a guitar, and why others seem to hit a bum note (spoilers: you have been warned)

t the moment, it seems that deaths are to TV shows what coffees are to Starbucks – that is to say filled with them, the central focus of advertising campaigns. Of course, that makes sense, everyone wants to see that their favourite character has survived, tension makes for exciting viewing. However, with nearly every show dropping bodies like a serial killer, viewers tend to find themselves less affected by a visit from the grim reaper. A good TV death needs to resonate emotionally – the audience needs to care. If we don’t, what’s the point? Look at Glenn and Abraham’s deaths in The Walking Dead – though both died at the same time in the same manner, Glenn’s death was the bigger event. The reason for this is that Glenn has been in the show from the start, a central character, and often one who brought levity and humour to the dark world of the show. Comparatively, Abraham came late to the action and also was just another tough guy in a show full of tough guys – the two just don’t compare.

“Why bother getting upset about losing a character if the chances are they’ll reappear next episode? ” If the death has some symbolic meaning, then it hits home harder too. Think of characters that have sacrificed themselves to save others, like the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who. It’s that ultimate selflessness, the fact that they chose to protect the people around them, no matter what the cost. And as is the case with Charlie in Lost, the death takes on a greater meaning if a doomed character still tries

to aide their friends. The words ‘Not Penny’s Boat’ might be meaningless to anyone unfamiliar with Lost, but if you love the show, I’d find it hard to believe that you don’t feel a tugging at your heartstrings. Furthermore, a good death should be final. If a show keeps resurrecting characters, death will lose the significance it holds. Why bother getting upset about losing a character if the chances are they’ll reappear next episode? If the Red Wedding had happened after Jon Snow’s extended nap, it would not have had the same impact. In Gotham (and comic books generally), death is just a temporary state, a convenient plot device, which strips it of all

meaning. Most importantly, all great TV deaths must add more to the story than is taken away by the loss of the character. The other characters must respond, react and grow accordingly and the overall theme of the show should be promoted or challenged in some way. Some deaths are darkly entertaining, theatrically gruesome or just plain shocking. But when they seem irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, they can’t help but seem cheap in a way. The best storytelling should not do that – it should portray as much as possible the value of human life.

The Courier

highlightstv.29

Monday 14 November 2016

Spoilers are coming

Once again the plot for the next season of Game of Thrones has been leaked. Who dies, who wins? With his second article of the week, TV Editor Dominic Corrigan reveals

ame of Thrones – it’s almost certainly the biggest show in the world right now, and it’s not hard to see why. More twists than a bowl of fusilli, cliff-hangers so big that it makes the White Cliffs of Dover look like a piece of chalk, it’s got more tension than the Lady and the Tramp during that famous spaghetti date and more shock deaths than an electric chair. The wait between seasons is agonising (though not as bad as last year’s ‘is he, isn’t he?’ with Jon Snow) but some of that pain can be relieved by spoilers. However, when a few tasty morsels becomes a fullon meal, you know it’s going to ruin your appetite. Currently, on the FreeFolk subreddit, there’s a pretty detailed breakdown of Season 7 and admittedly, the details might not be correct. However, the FreeFolk subreddit was pretty accurate with their predictions in regards to Season 6, and very shortly after the alleged leak, actress Nathalie Emmanuel who plays Missandei tweeted ‘It’s really disappointing there are people who are determined to ruin Season 7 for everyone’. It’s hard not to see the significance of an actor on the show, one who will likely have been at least aware of the true plot complaining about some people spoiling the show for everyone. The fact that she has done this suggests there must be level of accuracy, and the wording of the tweet suggests more – that the spoilers are not just minor things, but big plot details - in fact, it’s seemingly everything that might be of note.

“The spoilers are not just minor things, but big plot details - in fact, it’s seemingly everything that might be of note” If the spoilers were real (and this is a spoiler warning), it would be massive. Firstly, it gives a number of deaths, several Sand Snakes - though that would not be a surprise, given how badly fans have taken to them. Thoros of Myr and Benjen Stark are also said to be doomed, however neither death is really a game-changer, both characters have been absent for many seasons and are much more important to

Reviews

Humans

he new season of Humans is here and after more than a year waiting, the synths and the Hawkins family are back. New characters joined the cast and they couldn’t come from a more appropriate location, the tech city - Silicon Valley. The Hawkins just moved houses for a fresh start after witnessing the ability of synths to have consciousness. Laura (Katherine Parkinson) and Joe (Tom Goodman-Hill) are trying to keep their marriage strong and the synths as far as possible from their life. But Laura will be crucial helping them. Niska (Emily Berrington) is still the revolutionary synth, but now she’s living as a normal person. She has the “consciousness code” and is struggling with the idea of giving all synths humanity. We can’t forget about the main synths’ family

Your faves are problemactic: The Eric Andre

eason 4 of The Eric Andre Show finished in late-mid October and I already miss it. The absurd sketches and the tortured guests in all their ignorance is so so so twistingly funny. The show first aired on Adult Swim, the channel that first got its life as the late programme for the usually (arguably) kid-oriented Cartoon Network. Ever experimental, The Show fits in with the other programmes that got their start with Adult Swim. Rick and Morty, Bob’s Burgers and King of the Hill all got their starts on the network. the books than the TV series. The big shocks are the deaths of Olenna Tyrell, the sassy, fan-favourite known as the ‘Queen of Thorns’ and Littlefinger, the schemer supreme. Another notable casualty is Viserion, one of Daenerys’ dragon-children - though he comes back as a zombie ice-dragon, which is undeniably pretty cool. Though it’s not all doom and gloom for Daenerys as she gets a new beau – the handsome Jon Snow, reigning as the newly crowned King in the North (even if he does know nothing). They become an item despite being related, which might be a good thing in Westeros, because a family that plays together, stays together - or that was the case until now, though the resident incest couple Cersei and Jaime are hitting the rocks, with them finally separating this season. Most importantly however, heir to the throne and everyone’s favourite character, Gendry returns, after what can only be assumed is the longest rowing session ever. All in all, Game of Thrones season 7 sounds amazing, but will spoilers ruin all of the fun? The who should probably be following in Niska’s steps, instead of trying to save the world. Mia (Gemma Chan) is finally living with Leo (Colin Morgan) and Max (Ivanno Jeremiah) in a remote town. Still, they can’t keep themselves out of danger. Mia has also a new boss and we should wait for things to get complicated between them. New challenges for both synths and humans are coming and we’ll see a world where people are increasingly more disposable. Humans is a more realistic and positive show where we don’t see robots as killing machines. It’s the opposite. Synths now have feelings and humans need to learn how to deal with it. The question remains: should synths have consciousness? Niska still has some doubts… “If you had the power to create life, would you?” Marina Costa

Channel 4, Sundays, 9pm

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How to get Away With Murder

Netflix

fter knowing the reason why Annalise (Viola Davis) lost her baby and why she was protecting Wes the entire time, we finally understand professor Keating’s personality. It was actually Frank’s fault. He had even more dirty secrets hidden in that six pack and now it’s time to get Annalise’s forgiveness. But she might prefer to kill him. The first season is great but I quit seeing season 2 after the third episode. I was full of them getting into trouble, crying about it and doing it again. Two months later, I gave it a second chance and saw everything in one day. Season 3 starts with the usual flash-forward and this time Annalise’s house is in flames and she’s ar-

show’s strength comes the value of suspense, it deals in the feeling of not knowing what comes next. Bodies pile up like wooden blocks in a game of Jenga, and the show will be a success as long as it can not only continue to make us ask the question ‘who’s next?’ but also, make us geniunely care about the answer.

“ Can we really ignore the fact that once we know what happens, we lose the excitement, the fear and the anticipation?” Can we really ignore the fact that once we know what happens, we lose the excitement, the fear and the anticipation? Tempting as they are, I think I’m going to avoid spoilers from now on - after all, they are so named for reason.

rested. Besides that, a dead body was found inside the house but anyone knows who died. In the following episodes, we get to know more about that night and some hints will come out. There will be a baby on the way and a secret informant to keep things interesting. Two months before, the Keating 5, Wes, Michaela, Connor, Asher and Laurel (plus Oliver), were back at uni, after the summer holidays, and got even closer. Including Asher who is in a new relationship and, so far, is the surprise of the season. He’s funny, still inconvenient but cleverer than before. It was actually embarrassing to see him on screen before but now, he’s one of the best characters. The classes with professor Keating are back and are even more controversial. It’s a pro bono legal clinic where students fight to be first lawyers. That’s actually the exciting thing about the show - we get the main story going from one episode to another but also some cases which kind of teach the audience “how to get away with murder” and other crimes.

“It is something that is never obnoxious but always engaging in its quiet and loud kind of chaos” The idea is that comedian Eric Andre hosts and comedian Hannibal Buress supports a show that is a fever dream of an open-access late night talk show. The main atmosphere and action is characterised by the complete and total destruction of the set before each show. Eric Andre is an anti-host, his main goal is to piss off, upset and generally make the guests feel uncomfortable. And you would have thought that the PR companies would have put him on some kind of list, but they haven’t. The basically wilful ignorance of those companies that guard the gates to the celebrities (although a lot of them are like, D-list) makes sure that none of them are prepared for their ordeal. Otherwise the show would be dead, the mania is what makes it.

Even the ‘weirder’ people, like Jack Black, get got. Everyone has boundaries and it is Andre’s MO is that he just has a lack of them. He is deliberately sensational but the show takes the piss out of him as much as it does of the guests. Andre is absurd and disgusting and aggressively so, but it is not in the boring way that shows like Family Guy do. Instead it is something that is never obnoxious but always engaging in its quiet and loud kind of chaos. It’s a different take on reality, taking the poor and unpolished transitions and production values of an amateur outfit and repurposing them to create a kind anti-show anti-reality that only takes itself into account and everyone else can fuck off. If you are bored of regular TV then watch this, because compared to things that are polished and conventional programmes The Eric Andre Show is amazing. Where you can see Mac Demarco harassed by samurai on stage, where racoons are on stage and the band eats out of cans between shots. It doesn’t give a fuck, but not for that sake of it, for the sake of being good. It is just a show and it is so good. Luke Acton

30.filmfeatures

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Film Editors: Emma Allsopp, Zoë Godden & Simon

Hollywood, we have a problem

GUILT TRIP 17 Again (2009) This week in our column of shame, Calum Trenaman fondly looks back at Zac Efron’s golden era of his high school heartthrob fame; seven years on, does this trashy teenage typecasting (and dated haircut) still hold up?

aving read this segment in previous weeks, it seems that people seem to have a particular genre where most of their guilty pleasures originate. With this in mind, I suppose I’m very much a guilty, yet proud, lover of romantic comedies. My sister and I love to watch these films; my parents brought us up on a staple diet of Richard Curtis films which we love to watch again and again. Rather than the joy of Notting Hill (1999), I’ll be talking about 17 Again (2009). This film is one of our favourites to quote and rewatch again and again and again. It gives you a sense of the target audience when I suggested watching it to my allmale housemates, the polite ones grunted and the impolite ones scrunched up their faces and loudly exclaimed “Fuck off !”. Essentially the movie is a reverse Big (1988). Thirty-seven-year-old Mike is being divorced, and has two kids who hate him, finds himself in the body of his seventeen-year-old self, back in high school. The plot from this point on is pretty predictable, however it isn’t without twist.

With both Arrival and Life soaring into cinemas, Lauren Sneath questions the recent intergalatic boom of astronaut movies and space spectacles landing on our screens

t is almost every child’s dream to journey to other planets and galaxies. This has been the case ever since space exploration was a feasible possibility, and in recent years this childhood fantasy has been aided by cinema. Films focused around space, from the legendary 2001: A Space Odyssey to the more recent The Martian, have in common their appeal to a disgruntled, earth-bound child whose fish bowl helmet and toy rocket won’t permit space travel, despite all the wishing in the universe. As the ultimate escapist dream, this genre offers infinite possibilities for a filmmaker no longer hampered by the irritating necessities of Earth’s sensible reality. After all, if one function of cinema is to escape from reality, you can’t get much further than “a galaxy far, far away”.

“Space movies should change perceptions of our universe and bring alive the child in us all”

created to celebrate talent; but for me, the notion of creating a film in order to spread an important social message or connect with an audience is being lost. Some directors are even said to exploit awards as a marketing strategy for their films, banking on more popularity (and money) upon winning. This manipulation of such a positive event is sickening. I find it shameful that the drive for financial success has overtaken the desire to create art. Space movies are, by definition, revolutionary. Their aim should be to change perceptions of our universe and bring alive the child within us all, but they are losing their meaning in the greedy pursuit of awards and financial gains in the form of mass ticket sales. I only hope that Arrival is as different and refreshing as it claims to be, in order to sustain the dreams of children who don’t care about Oscars or money, but about journeying over and over again to galaxies far, far away.

This genre of film is revolutionary: a new age of CGI perfected, action-packed blockbusters with incredible soundtracks, attracting millions and creating devoted fanbases, not to mention gathering hordes of awards. In fact, they gather so many awards that one begins to wonder if there is a reason (other than their admitted brilliance) for such success. In the film industry, the biggest and best awards ceremonies take place between November and February; and over the last few years, many major space movies have been released right before the season begins. For example, The Martian was released September 30th, 2015, and won two Golden Globes. Furthermore, Gravity, starring

Honey, I’m leaving for creative diﬀerences

This past month saw a plethora of directors breaking up with their beloved ﬁlms; Errol Kerr investigates why so many ﬁlmmakers are suddenly dropping out of projects

There is a very meta moment where Mike and his lifelong nerd best friend Ned look at all comic books, movies and fiction for how and why he has been brought back to be 17 again. There is also a fantastic subplot involving Ned and the high school principal which will have you cracking up on every viewing. This movie is a fantastic homage to our generation’s childhood. We have Matthew Perry making a rare appearance in a feature film quipping lines of life dissatisfaction and sarcasm much like his much loved days in as Chandler in Friends. Then if this isn’t enough, Zac Efron is back playing basketball à la Troy Bolton in High School Musical (2006). Yes it isn’t without fault, and to give you an impression of the level we’re at here, director Burr Steers’ (yes, that’s his real name) most recent film was box office flop Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016). It obeys the tropes of many high school movies (house parties etc) but has just enough edge to set it apart from the crowd. So, when you’re next hungover and want a fun familiar film to wash away the sorrows of the night before, give this a go!

Sandra Bullock (released November 7th 2013) gained an incredible seven Academy Awards. This year, the trend continues. Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival, starring Amy Adams, will be released on November 10th and promises to be a contemplative, thought provoking take on the classic “aliens have landed” plot line. So why is it that these films are all released around the awards season? Of course, a film released at this time is fresh in the minds of critics, adding considerably to its chances of success. There is also the concept of ‘Oscar bait’: a term coined by critics to describe films created with the sole pur-pose of winning awards. Such a film may be revolutionary in terms of special effects (like the new Marvel release, Doctor Strange) or have a socially relevant theme (perhaps The Danish Girl, which won Alicia Vikander an Oscar). I have a particular issue with films released purely as ‘Oscar bait’. The entire awards season was

n the wake of Tim Miller announcing his departure as director of Deadpool 2, it’s fair to say that we should be worried as to the continuation of the Deadpool franchise. Due to ‘creative differences’ – code for ‘director and external group have a fight’, several directors have abandoned films, with incredibly varied results. Miller’s hope for a ‘stylised’ sequel conflicted with Ryan Reynolds’ desire for more of the same daft humour that made the first Deadpool so popular. Or it was to do with the casting of Cable, the cyborg mutant supposed to co-star alongside Ryan Reynolds? Whatever it is, the continuation of the line Deadpool has taken before now may not be positive, as Deadpool was widely considered a bit of a one-trick pony, and without anything new, may not stand up to criticism. Thing is, directors and filmfranchises have always been difficult territory, and it’s why I worry about how the new Star Wars spinoff films are going to turn out. Considering that Josh Trank, the original director of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, abandoned production relatively early on, it could be indication that the upcoming film isn’t going to live up to the hype that’s been produced around it. It seems to be an epidemic that focuses around the Disney and WB film franchises. You know which ones; Star Wars, Marvel, DC. In October, Rick Famuyiwa quit as director of The Flash, the second director

to do so after Seth Grahame-Smith left in April. Again, it’s been quoted as ‘creative differences’ – I’m starting to love this excuse – and it’s clear that there are serious issues in communication between directors and either the executive bodies above them, which is the likely problem with many of these, or communication issues between directors and actors, which is the problem with Miller and Reynolds in Deadpool 2.

“It’s clear that there are serious issues in communication between directors and the executive bodies above them” To top it off, losing directors often slows or halts production of films that many people are rather excited

to see. The Flash won’t likely make its beginning production date of March 2017, and won’t be released in March 2018 as hoped. Is this another endemic of the forward planning of film franchises? This phenomenon isn’t something that’s happened regularly prior to now, but with publishers having more and more specific hopes for films, is it the case that directors are having their entire role completely silenced? If the executive body above them – or actors around them – won’t allow them to direct a film in their own way, perhaps it makes sense that they’re leaving.

“Miller’s hope for a ‘stylised’ sequel conflicted with Ryan Reynolds’ desire for the humour that made the first Deadpool so popular” Despite this, Edgar Wright quit production of AntMan due to ‘creative differences’ after producing what Joss Whedon said was “the best Marvel script ever”, and that still turned out as a decent film in the Marvel franchise, and didn’t change the scheduled release – and on the upside, that’s one less old white guy directing a superhero film. Perhaps a change of face might revitalise a repetitive genre… or perhaps Ryan Reynolds will just direct Deadpool 2 himself. Who knows…

The Courier

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Monday 14 November 2016

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The Good, the Bad and The Ugly...

Into the Inferno / Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World (12A)

Al Pacino

t’s not every day that you get two new films from the director that’s as close to a deity as they come. This is the man who defied a volcano from erupting because he was filming it. This is the man who walked from Munich to Paris to say goodbye to a dying friend who waited just long enough to see him before passing away. This is the man who pulled a boat up a mountain because his script dictated it. This man is Werner Herzog. And this day was October 28th, where we got two shiny, new documentaries from cinema’s greatest madman. When watched in close proximity to one another, Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World and Into the Inferno play like the last two films Herzog will ever make. It’s a horrible thought (not to mention an impossible one, because, c’mon, he won’t ever die), but Herzog seems to be looking forwards and backwards through time: to the origins of what we founded civilisation upon and to the uncertain, apocalyptic future. Lo and Behold doesn’t go so far back as to explore cavemen discovering fire, but it does take a look at the conception of the Internet and the seeminglyendless possibilities it puts before us. Herzog’s undertaking here is borderline foolish as he tries to pack the vast complexities of the Internet as broadly as he can into 98 jam-packed minutes, divided over 10 chapters. You can’t help thinking Werner

should’ve tackled this subject as a 10-part TV series, and because of the ground covered in the swift running time, I don’t doubt that he has the footage to do so. Nevertheless, Herzog’s musings and assembling of the disparate areas of the web is always entertaining, despite it being one of his most wildly over-ambitious films. The same could be said for Into the Inferno, but I won’t be the person to say it. This is not the first time Herzog has taken on volcanoes (as I mentioned before in short documentary La Soufrière), but it’s the first time he’s taken such a wide scope to the subject. A truly globe-trotting film if there ever was one, he travels from Vanuatu to the plains of Africa and even to North Korea; a rather interesting part of his thesis involves him digging into the propaganda that links the ‘divine leaders’ of the world’s most isolated nation with their sacred volcanoes. Herzog is always fascinating to watch when he discovers humanity’s eccentricities, and

his North Korean adventure is no exception to the rule. In most of his filmography, there’s the sense that the world could end at any moment, and all of humanity’s complexities will be washed away in an instance without consequence. These two documentaries highlight that possibility more eerily than most of his other films, showing us that the beauty of creativity and the capriciousness of destruction are two sides of the same coin. Yet Herzog’s off-kilter and dry sense of humour makes the nihilism palatable, as he peels back the magic and strangeness of the world around us to show that life is possible beyond the imminent destruction we’re facing, and makes us want to live our lives better. And for a filmmaker as inquisitive as Herzog, you can’t ask for much more than that. More like this: Grizzly Man (2005)

Nocturnal Animals (15)

Train to Busan (15)

A Streetcat Named Bob (12A)

Simon Ramshaw

The Good: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

et’s take a look at an oft-forgotten classic, the 1975 crime-comedy Dog Day Afternoon. The film stars Pacino alongside his Godfather co-star, the brilliant John Cazale, as two first time criminals who decide to rob a Brooklyn bank. Things don’t exactly go to plan, they arrived too late and most of the money has already been removed. The film showcases Pacino’s versatility, able to combine his tough-guy persona with the dryly comic situation he finds himself in. The on screen chemistry and back and forth between Pacino and Cazale gives the film the feel of a Broadway play, a mafia crime thriller and a tragic comedy all rolled into one. Pacino’s magnificent in this film, particularly his comedic timing makes his future ‘comic’ choices even more bizarre.

The Bad: Gigli (2003)

usan Morrow (Amy Adams) is a successful, but unfulfilled art dealer. When she is sent a violent manuscript from her ex-husband Edward Sheffield (Jake Gyllenhaal), she begins to reflect on her past and question her decisions, while her vision of the novel’s twisted, revengeful plot plays out on screen. Fashion designer Tom Ford’s second feature Nocturnal Animals is an immaculately crafted and unnervingly tense noir, which proves that the director’s acclaimed debut A Single Man was no fluke. As expected from Ford, the film looks beautiful. Seamus McGarvey’s stunning cinematography captures Los Angeles’ sleek, wealthy and stylish aesthetic, defined by Susan’s sumptuous, yet hollow mansion. Whereas, the vast, sprawling, dusty Texan desert, which acts as the setting for Edward’s novel, is gritty and conjures images of the Coens’ No Country for Old Men. The visual and tonal contrast between locations effectively illustrates the discord between Susan and Edward, yet their shared emptiness offers an unsettling similarity. The film’s scope allows Ford to masterfully entwine his film’s three strands (Susan’s past, present, and her vision of the novel). He leaves suggestive hints throughout, while Joan Sobel’s sharp editing seamlessly connects the narratives and heightens the tension, which is brought to Hitchcockian levels by Abel Korzeniowski’s moody score. A career-best Adams excels as the film’s lead, while Gyllenhaal flourishes in a dual role, as both the titular novel’s author and its protagonist. They are joined by a superb supporting cast, which includes Michael Sheen, Laura Linney and Andrea Riseborough in memorable cameos. However, it is Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson who stand out as the ‘fictional’ world’s jaded detective and eccentric criminal respectively. Intoxicating, twisted and stylishly seductive, Nocturnal Animals displays Ford’s genuine directorial prowess, as he handles this irresistible thriller with Machiavellian artfulness. More like this: Enemy (2013) Dan Haygarth

rain to Busan follows Seok Woo, a workaholic who is going through a divorce but has to look after his daughter. When the daughter decides she wants to visit her mother in Busan, the two have to board a train whilst, unbeknownst to them, a deadly virus is spreading across the country as a result of a nuclear leak. The virus eventually finds its way to the train and the violence commences. The small space of the train allows for some pretty tense scenes in which people are cramming themselves down aisles whilst zombies are literally lead to their victims. It is these scenes where the concept can really be commended; many of them have literally no way out, and this means that the fate of all character is up for grabs. Although Seok Woo is the intended protagonist, another character stole the show for me. Sang Hwa, a butch soon-to-be father hell bent on protecting his pregnant wife from the ferocious zombies saves the day on numerous occasions, taking the moral high ground whilst also being a complete badass. The masculinity battle between these two makes for some rather cheesy exchanges, but the stock characters and over played emotion, typical of Korean cinema, add to the film’s charm. There’s even a corporate sell-out who manages to snake his way out of every situation throughout the entire film, and it was these several layers of tension that made the film so enjoyable. You were rooting for the good guys whilst also scared of the zombies meanwhile dying to watch that one guy get ripped apart. Consequently, Train to Busan is no way subtle. The conclusion offers a corny comment on wider society, asking you to question who the real monsters are. It’s certainly not the most thought-provoking film you’ll ever see, but we’re all fed up of storylines about possession and slashers that do the same thing we’ve seen before. Train to Busan is a breath of fresh air if nothing else, that I would highly recommend.

A couple years ago, a ginger streetcat and his human friend stole the hearts of millions when James Bowen´s memoir, A Streetcat Named Bob, skyrocketed into the bestseller lists, positioning itself in the top of the Sunday Times’ list for a whopping 76 weeks in total. Now, Bob himself, with the help of a couple catdoubles and some human minions, stars in the film of the same name. It tells the story of how busker and recovering drug-addict, James Bowen, was able to transform his entire life with the help of a certain cat who became everybody’s new favourite feline. The story of Bowen trying to make a life for himself with the help of Bob creates another feel-good movie about second chances. Even though itmight feel slightly predictable, it knows how to win your heart with Bob in the very same way that James wins the love of many Londoners because of that same tomcat. Luke Treadaway’s performance as James Bowen is stunning and wonderfully sensitive, with Bob the cat pulls your already stretched heartstrings, as he smoothly sits on the guitar while James is performing. Sadly, the film isn’t as dramatic as it wants to be. The opening scenes of James living on the streets feel slightly sluggish, but when the busker goes cold turkey it feels too rushed, his week of coming off methadone being over before you realise. There is a will-they-won’t-they relationship between James and a neighbour which oddly tips the film into rom-com territory, and when family struggles are finally resolved it feels slightly unsatisfactory. In the end, A Streetcat Named Bob is a lovely heartwarming story, and although it might not be the greatest film of the moment, it is the purrfect one for a cosy night inside during these cold and darkening days before Catmas.

More like this: Snowpiercer (2013)

More like this: Marley & Me (2008) Rachel Baker

Becky van Leeuwen

earch for the term ‘worst movies’ and you will find the next two included. For ‘bad’ we turn to a movie that is considered by many film critics, (and sensory organ owners) as one of the worst ever unleashed, 2003’s Gigli. The films ‘plot’ revolves around Larry Gigli (Ben Affleck), a low level LA mobster and his order to kidnap the mentally disabled brother of a Federal prosecutor along with lesbian hit-women Ricki (Jennifer Lopez) to save his boss Starkman (Pacino) from prison. Yeah, it’s as bad as it sounds and worse. Pacino spends his, thankfully limited, screen time screaming at Affleck and Lopez for their bumbling efforts. Pacino and mob boss roles seem to be made for each other, but here it seems more like a bad SNL impression of Pacino than the man himself. How he went from the stoic, calculating and calm Michael Corleone to this is incredible.

The Ugly: Jack and Jill (2011)

adly there is no shortage of stinkers to place in this category. Ultimately though, this travesty has to fill this space. The film, as you may know, is centred around twin brother and sister pair, Jack and Jill. Again like Gigli, Pacino’s role in this nightmare is small. He appears as himself in an advert for donuts. This sounds quite funny, and I’m sure in competent hands it could have been. Thankfully for Mr. Pacino his performance is one of the least ugly things in this film, as the saying goes if you want to feel better about yourself stand beside someone uglier. Well, does it get much worse than Adam Sandler in drag? Joe Holloran

32.gaming

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Gaming Editors: Jordan Oloman, Errol Kerr and Jared Moore

Top 5: Point-andClicks Jordan Oloman points out his favourite clicks Grim Fandango It’s past Halloween now but everyone loves a spooky skeleton, and In the world of point and click adventure games, the buck really stops with Manny Calavera. Set during the Day of the Dead and taking place over 4 years, this point and click is a film noir masterpiece with a gripping and absurdly funny story. Although the tank controls can be terrifying at times, it’s totally worth it.

Day Of The Tentacle Have you ever wanted to go back to 1776 and tinker with the declaration of independence? How about an alien costume party in a not so distant future? You can play inside all of these remarkable situations and more, but just make sure to stop the purple tentacle . This point and click lets you play as three different interesting characters with whom you must solve time travel related puzzles, combining items from the past and the future to solve problems in the present. Of course you manage this by utilizing the Chron-o-John, which essentially a toilet tardis.

Sam and Max: Hit the Road Sam and Max weren’t always 3D, or in the hands of Telltale. Lucasarts used to be in charge, and were responsible for this absolute gem in the point and click treasure chest. Again, Lucasarts consistently provide excellent set pieces and ridiculous characters. The references are strong here, and this game will have you laughing all the way to GOG. It’s a wholesome Americana road trip, taking you to a carnival, Mount Rushmore, and a momentous ball of twine (seriously) with bunny and dog detective duo Sam and Max.

Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide when It’s Dark Outside

I’ll be honest, I’m a little bit biased about this one. My dad bought the Humongous Entertainment games for me when I was like 3, and I play them on a yearly basis for that nostalgia kick. They’re aimed at kids, but with Ron Gilbert at the helm, it’s fair to say that they’re still tremendously funny. You play as Pajama Sam, a young boy who gets lost in his imagination, usually serving to teach the player an important moral. This time you make friends with darkness himself and collect socks... It still holds up today, and with the whole collection available for cheap on Steam, you’d be mad not to give it a go!

Monkey Island 2 What else could it be! I absolutely adore the first game, but Monkey Island 2 sticks out to me as the absolute pinnacle of point and click adventure games. It’s tremendously well-written, and feels like a genuine, realization of all the games that came before it. It’s self referential, wanderlust inducing, and uses its pirate setting well. Guybrush Threepwood’s plight captures the mystique of lost pirate lands, but glazes it with a layer of humour that lands convincingly in every scene. So avast ye scallywags, and neck a few pints of Grog.

Image Credit: LucasArts

Review:

Errol Kerr is forcibly shoved inside a giant robot for the sake of humanity

itanfall was the first FPS I played after I bought my Xbox One, and the first current-gen FPS I completely fell in love with. The game’s streamlined transition between fast-paced twitch-shooter Pilot gameplay and slower, tactical shields-and-health Titan gameplay made Respawn Entertainment’s sci-fi multiplayer into an immediate classic. Within hours of starting the game, I was hooked – and knew Titanfall was the FPS I was waiting for. However, within these hours I’d also finished the campaign. As the story started to fade away, so too did my interest in Titanfall,, and I shelved the game for a hell of a long time. Titanfall 2 announced a full singleplayer campaign, and immediately the hype-train set off at full steam, and I was ready to get back into the chest cavity of a robotic exoskeleton. Playing through the campaign as Jack Cooper, you’re thrown into the deep end of the experience of a Pilot after the IMC (the antagonist corporation group from the first game) attack your Militia base.

and not only did it make up for what the first game had missed out on, it makes me genuinely feel like a full-blown franchise is possible. The game won Best Online Multiplayer in 2016’s Game Critics awards, and it honestly lives up to standards. Initially whilst playing the online beta, I was relatively concerned as to how the finished product was going to turn out. The beta gameplay was a bit clunky and didn’t really feel like Titanfall whatsoever, but the final gameplay manages to feel fresh whilst still sticking to FPS roots. Customisation of Pilots and Titans still exists, and there’s no real overpowered weaponry – everything manages to balance out. Sadly, that’s meant that the Smart Pistol (which I used a lot in order to lock onto enemies without using crosshairs...)has been relegated to a boost ability rather than a primary weapon, but it does mean I’m not going to get locked-onto and shot from somewhere I had no idea even existed. Weapon balance is well-executed and the weapons don’t feel all too out of this world.

“Not only did it make up for what the first game had missed out on, it makes me genuinely feel like a full-blown franchise is possible”

“I was ready to get back into the chest cavity of a robotic exoskeleton”

Very quickly, you meet your Atlas Titan, and naturally I got attached to the damn robot. The AI within it, BT-7274 (affectionately known as BT, because why not) interact in a similar way to how Cortana and the Master Chief interact throughout the Halo franchise, which allows for a significant degree of humanity within the AI. Not only that, but characters from Titanfall’s campaign, such as the IMC mercenary Kuben “I kill you, I’m better” Blisk, pop up here and there to provide a decent continuity. I was beyond impressed by the campaign’s relative length as well as its delivery,

Image Credit: Respawn Entertainment

Considering I didn’t die every two seconds or within a millisecond of noticing an enemy (Looking at you, Black Ops III), it’s a remarkably enjoyable experience, with the mix of open and flat ground for Titans and close-range vertical engagement spaces for Pilots, something that EA really mastered in this game. Combat manages to always feel fast-paced, but allows for enough time in engagements to tackle every situation that you come up with. And honestly? I don’t think I’ve enjoyed anything more in a FPS than being in a mech suit with a big-ass sword, taking on pretty much anyone who fancies having a go.

Pokémon Pok Poké mon Starter Standoﬀ

The Courier Writers defend the ﬁnal evolutions of Alola’s starter Pokémon Pok

Image Credits: Nintendo

Richard Liddle: Incineroar

ncineroar is a Fire/Dark type wrestling tiger. Given the leaked concept art of the three final stages had a lot of people convinced we’d be lumped with yet another Fire/Fighting starter, it’s something of a relief. It’s also a welcome change for a Dark type Pokémon to take more inspiration from the idea of “fighting dirty” (the name for Dark type in the Japanese version of Pokémon) than literal darkness - Incineroar is designated as the Heel Pokemon and its fighting techniques revolve around a theatrical wrestling style. Its description even states that its fire attacks burn more brightly the more pumped up the onlookers are. Along with Incineroar’s typing, its signature move was also revealed and it’s easily the most useful compared to Decidueye’s and Primarina’s. Darkest Lariat is a dark-type move which ignores an opponent’s stat changes when dealing damage, meaning Incineroar will be very effective at countering Pokémon which rely heavily on buffing their defence to wall out opponents. All in all, Incineroar’s reveal has made Litten a solid choice for your starter in Sun and Moon.

James McCoull: Decidueye

ot that it was ever a hard choice from the start, but the owl continues to be the best in the line-up by a long mile. Incineroar is an impressive heel-turn for the otherwise uninteresting Litten, and Primarina brings a touch of muchneeded elegance to the roster, but I mean let’s be real here: it’s always been the owl. Since that glorious spheroid bastard first gently rotated into our hearts, it’s always been the owl. When he grew into the dashing and dapper Dartrix, it was still the owl. And now he’s fully grown – an awesome woodlands-themed ranger, enigmatically taking on the secondary Ghost typing and using his own wing as a bow – it’s still the owl. Look at that raw poise. That extravagant wingspan. That mysterious, enticing hood. He’s a perfect specimen of Strigiform glory, and he cannot be denied. A pro-wrestler cat is pretty cool - a decent second option, to be sure - but for the love of God take a look at that outstretched wing and understand that the identity of the unequivocal best starter is exceptionally clear. This Christmas, make the right choice; decide on Decidueye.

Georgina Howlett: Primarina

aving a final typing of Water/Fairy, it is without a doubt the prettiest-looking, most mermaid-like Pokémon to ever grace our screens. This new evolution improves upon the awkward adolescence of Brionne and creates a truly aesthetic Pokémon whose graceful image differs from the tough exteriors that the previous three generations’ final evolutions have possessed. It is a welcome departure from generic tropes, and I am more inclined to choose Popplio now, knowing that it evolves into such a majestic beast. My only concern is its signature move, Sparkling Aria, the effect of which is apparently not only to inflict damage but also heals the burns of its target. I’m not sure of any context where this quirk will be beneficial, unless the enemy Pokémon knows Facade, as used in conjunction with Primarina’s Torrent ability it seems like they won’t be sticking around for very long anyway. I’m willing to give Primarina its time to shine, though, and perhaps its position as a Soloist Pokémon will give it all the confidence it needs to take on any Pokémon that gets in its way.

The Courier

gaming.33

Monday 14 November 2016

thecourieronline.co.uk @Courier_Gaming

Autopsy: Nintendo Switchicles Uriel’s Chasm The Courier Writers discuss title ideas for Nintendo’s new console entry Sam Blackburn: Mario 64

Zoe Godden: RDR2

o we’ve all seen that Nintendo Switch is finally a real thing which will be coming out next spring! So obviously the whole gimmick is that it’s both a handheld and a home console where you appear to be able to shape your control to whatever the game desires. I’m sure everyone has had some amazingly creative ideas and concepts on how different games. Me on the other hand, I don’t care for any of that crap. Just give me a proper sequel to Mario 64 and I’ll be happy. Nice big hub world, catchy music, colourful graphics, a green world, ice world, fire world and a water world and I will buy this console.

Who doesn’t want a mini John Marston in their pocket? Nintendo haven’t been too shy these past few years when it comes to more adult content, and having Rockstar on their third party radar would be the bloody icing on the portable cake. With rumours of a remaster coming to the core consoles regardless, why should the Switch miss out on the Red Dead 2 hype train? Let’s be honest, we’d all love to relive Undead Nightmare on the go, and although the 720p resolution may hold it back, the Switch seems like the perfect platform to revisit New Austin once more.

Richard Liddle:

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t: Nintendo

Michael Hicks: Metroid

t’s about time for gaming’s first lady to come out from her near decade-long hibernation, and Nintendo’s newest console could be the perfect way to do it. Fans of Metroid would be overjoyed by either a new 2D or 3D entry, and the power and portability of the Switch could make my long-held dream of portable Metroid Prime a reality. If the second screen can be used similar to the Wii U’s gamepad, then it would be perfect for housing the map, objectives and equipment for easy access at the tap of a touch-screen button. You could even have Prime 2-esque multiplayer sessions, and take your Switch away to your friends for some off-TV co-op shenanigans. All we need is for Nintendo to actually develop a damn game in the series.

apcom

edit: C age Cr

Monster Hunter

he Switch is basically perfect for Monster Hunter. The series has always been best on handhelds thanks to its emphasis on local multiplayer, but the portable versions lack the graphical oomph of their console brethren. Now with Switch we could get the best of both worlds – big screen action when playing at home and easy multiplayer with friends when you’re out and about, like MH3U’s save data transfers between the 3DS and Wii U versions but without the faff. Capcom’s just announced an expanded version of MH Generations for 3DS, so here’s hoping a Switch version gets announced further down the line.

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James McCoull: Dark Souls

ow don’t get me wrong, I know full-well that a marriage of Nintendo’s generally family-friendly aesthetic and FromSoft’s trademark masochistic appeal seems incongruous at best. However, the appeal of an on-the-go Dark Souls simply can’t be denied. With the Switch, you could bring the Gothic gauntlet of Miyazaki’s magnum opus on the train (before you throw yourself in front of it), or for a sneaky stab at Quelaag during your lunch break at work. Revel in the ostracisation of your peers and the general public as you become ‘that guy screaming at the Nintendo thing’ – at long last, FromSoft could make you suffer in real life, too.

Gerry Hart goes back in time to Hell on Earth...

his past week I’ve been playing the latest Doom game as opposed to doing actual coursework. Its jolly good fun, separating all manner of colourful demons from their equally colourful internal organs in delightfully gore-soaked levels that are purpose built for fast paced gameplay. But as great as 2016’s Doom is, everything it does can be traced back to Doom and Doom II. Note that whilst I’ll be focusing on the second Doom game released in 1994, much of what I say here could apply just as well to its predecessor, given they share the same design philosophy and most of the same assets. However in addition to building a second game from its predecessor’s foundations, Doom II introduces a few new gameplay elements to add variety to the original formula. One of these is the super shotgun, which deals much more damage than the regular shotgun but must be reloaded after two shots, thus forcing the player to rethink and revise strategies players learnt in the first game. Similarly the new monsters such as the Chain Gunners and the Pain Elementals subtly add interesting new curveballs into Doom’s gameplay (side note: fuck Pain Elementals).

“It’s jolly good fun, separating all manner of colourful demons from their equally colourful internal organs”

Its also interesting to consider Doom II as a product of its time. Both games beautifully encapsulate the angst of ‘90s counterculture which is hardly surprising considering it was made by a

team of nerds who shared a love of heavy metal, D&D and pizza. Compounding this is Doom’s’s iconic soundtrack full of digitized metal songs which oftentimes blatantly steal riffs from bands like Slayer and Alice in Chains. There’s no real story beyond the basic premise of demons invading Mars but there really doesn’t need to be. The artistry of the game comes from its labyrinthine and almost surrealist level design; creating the ideal environment for brutally difficult combat. It’s a ridiculously glorious power trip with a narrative that reads like Beavis and Butthead retelling Dante’s Inferno, revelling in its lack of sophistication.

Image Credit: id Software

most of my ‘90s memories consist of garish colours and Spice Girls induced trauma). Nonetheless Doom II still comes across as rather quaint with its dated visuals and deliberately edgy gameplay. That’s not a criticism though as this doesn’t detract from the overall experience. If nothing else, it’s telling that many games still draw influence from Doom II to this day.

“This type of gameplay was revolutionary at the time and is just as gripping now as it was then”

At the same time however, Doom and Doom II also marked a huge cultural shift in gaming. That might seem hyperbolic, especially as they didn’t invent the FPS genre but they certainly cemented it as a staple within gaming. They also marked a departure from the child friendly iconography which had dominated the industry since at least the NES era, pushing it into a much more controversial and “mature” epoch (if we use the term mature loosely). As The Guardian’s Keith Stuart put it, Doom was for gaming what the debut Ramones album was for music. Playing Doom II in 2016 is a pretty interesting experience, especially for new players. Like most millennials I’ve bought into ‘90s nostalgia (even if

Image Credit: id Software

Jack Coles delves into the worst playable Steam game

f you go on Steam Store and press the Games tab, you get a list of every single game available on Steam, which (at time of writing) is 10754. These can be sorted (for example) by price, release date, alphabetically... or you can sort by overall user reviews. The worst three are either broken or boring, but Uriel’s Chasm, the fourth worst game on Steam, is just plain bizarre and much more interesting. The reviews of this game are brilliant. “I got this game for free. I still feel ripped off.” “If I could marry this game, I would be single.” “I had an argument with my friend, and I wondered if we’d ever make up. He gifted me this game, and I knew the friendship was over”, and so on. The gamestyle description uses the words “Ghett-ro” and “Euroshmup”. I have no idea what those words mean. Anyway, I was utterly sold, and promptly bought it on Steam, but refunded it not because the experience was bad, but because it couldn’t be persuaded to run on my laptop. As a result, the rest of the autopsy had to be carried out via YouTube walkthrough. The game opens with an introduction by “the Shovelware Queens”, saying they bought this game back in the 90s, and that “it sucked”. A hopeful start, then. The game itself starts with a passage from the Bible written in flashing writing that is harder to read than The Sun translated into hieroglyphs. Then there’s a cutscene - one unchanging picture where someone describes their dream and recites another biblical quote. The picture swaps out, and it turns out that this woman has been travelling to investigate the disappearance of the space monastery, Enoch’s Hope.

“The game-style description uses the words “Ghett-ro” and “Euroshmup”. I have no idea what those words mean”

Once the introduction is over, the game itself begins. You get a ship that moves in the four cardinal directions, a bible quote covering half the screen, and two parameters: “faith” and “garden”. Faith is earned by blowing up asteroids and collecting pieces of paper which plonk a different Bible quote on the screen. As soon as it is greater than or equal to garden, you win! After another cutscene, and the second part of the game starts - an old-school bullet-hell shooter. Winning is followed by the most laughably awful voice acting ever of a man trying to play some kind of cosmic god, but ends up sounding like Patrick Star giving a sermon. Then one of the Shovelware Queens come back, some chap calls it rubbish, and then the third part of this odyssey starts, where you must collect statues of Jesus for... yet more bible quotes. Then the chap returns, in the dark, grovelling to God on video. The final phase of the game is something that demands a thorough description. It’s another bullet-hell level, but you fight a giraffe with bloodshot eyes that fire flashing bullets. The synth music backing that permeated earlier levels has been replaced with screaming, wailing, vomiting, and bible verses. Once you hit the giraffe 1000 times… you win. That’s it. Game over. I don’t know who the target audience was meant to be. People with strict Christian upbringing that have just gotten into drugs? Theology students with a really strange sense of humour? Game critics with too much time on their hands?

Image Credit: Rail Slave Games

34. science&technology

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Science Editors: Matthew Byrne, Natalie Farmer & Ciara Ritson-Courtney

On this day

14th November

Kitty Marie shines a light on one of Albert Einstein’s greatest works

he quantum theory of light was first published by Albert Einstein on November 14th 1908. At the time there were two prevailing schools of thought; that light was a particle and that light was a wave. He initially speculated that light is made-up of photons and matter is made of electrons, neutrons and protons; when the mass of a particle reaches a certain, small-enough size it then begins acting as a wave. This is included in Bohr’s model of the atom; that electrons only occupy particular orbits around a dense nucleus of protons and neutrons and that electrons can transfer from one orbit to another when they absorb certain amounts of energy. In the first instance, Einstein’s theories on light quanta were thought of as radical in the science community, between the years of 1905 and 1923 he was the only one to take the existence of light quanta and photons seriously. In 1909 Einstein released the wave-particle duality idea; the concept that the wave theory of light had to include that light was formed of particles, photons, too.

The death of the condom

Put your face mask and gloves on, as Louis Hudson injects his knowledge of male contraception into The Courier (safely, of course) However, one thing you might notice from the list above is that, aside from condoms, most responsibility for contraception falls onto women. There are a few reasons for this, most of them being practical issues

ffective contraception is arguably one of the greatest developments that has come about in the latter half of the past century. Empowering women to take control of their fertility is not just good for the individual woman; it has all sorts of positive downstream effects such as pulling societies out of poverty and strengthening economies. In fact, because fertility control has so many benefits, it has been the aim of many societies for millennia. All sorts of methods have been tried - from condoms made from animal intestines (yes, really) to acacia berry-and-honey pessaries. Fortunately, we’ve come a long way since then. There are now lots of safe and effective options available for people to use as contraception: condoms, the pill, the coil, the implant, jabs every two or three months, and many more.

“Einstein’s theories on light quanta were thought of as radical “Key factors to consider when picking contraception include in the science community”

Despite initial doubt about his theory, the scientific community went on to award him the Nobel Peace prize in 1921 for his contributions to quantum theory. His contributions included a paper published in 1905 on the Photoelectric Effect. However, Einstein also rejected the Quantum Theory of Light on the grounds that atoms seemed to let out photons randomly when electrons changed orbits. Einstein didn’t agree with the idea of chance in the model leading him to famously say; “Quantum theory is very worthy of regard but an inner voice tells me that it is not yet on the right track. The theory yields much but hardly brings us closer to the Old One’s secrets. I, in any case am convinced that He does not play dice” Einstein portrayed that the quantum theory was merely a basis of fundamental physics and not a central part, rather the central part should have been what he called the ‘unified field’ theory, quantum theory would be within this. This was confusing for the science community and Einstein’s ideas began to be viewed as relatively conservative to what they used to be. From 1927 onwards he continuously objected to quantum theories raised by other famous scientists at the time such as Heisenberg and Bohr. The theory that Einstein once advocated the most, ended up being the idea that he then went on to reject. Regardless of what Albert Einstein thought about The Quantum Theory of Light, the paper he published on the 14th of November 1908 is to this day viewed as a massive contribution to the world of Physics and it has created even more interest into the subject of how light acts and why. Questions which we would not be able to begin to contemplate without Einstein’s contribution.

how convenient it is, the side effects, or simply how effective it is at preventing pregnancy”

Key factors to consider when picking contraception include how convenient it is, the side effects, or simply how effective it is at preventing pregnancy.

of developing contraceptives. For example, it’s easier to interfere with one egg than a couple of hundred million sperm. Also, a woman’s reproductive system is where all the magic happens (i.e. fertilisation and implantation). Put simply, there are more hypothetical options for creating an effective contraceptive for women than men.

“Nearly half of participants experienced acne. Other very common side effects were changes in libido, pain at the injection site, and emotional disorder”

That being said, a recent study tested the safety and efficacy of a new male contraceptive, which took the form of an injection. This injection consisted of a mixture of two hormones and was administered into the muscles every two months to reduce the production of sperm. Throughout the trial, nearly 93% of the men studied had sustained reduced sperm count, with the rate of unintended pregnancies being just over 1%. This is comparable to many female contraceptives with typical

use, but is much less effective compared with the female injection. For example, injections available for women are almost 100% effective. Most men’s sperm count was back up to the normal level one year after the last injection. The trial was stopped prematurely when it was decided by two safety committees that the risks outweighed the benefits to these participants. There were large amounts of mild and moderate side effects and a few severe. For example, nearly half of the participants experienced acne. Other very common side effects were changes in libido, pain at the injection site, and emotional disorder. Although similar side effects to those which women when using certain methods of contraception, the men experienced them at a much higher rate. The reason the trial was stopped, however, was due to mood disturbances, which were less frequent but much more severe. In fact, there was one case of severe depression deemed to be ‘probably related’ to the medication, and a paracetamol overdose deemed to be ‘possibly related’, and a suicide during the trial but this was deemed unlikely to be associated. Despite all this, most men and their partners found this a satisfactory contraceptive and would opt to use it were they given the option. So what does all this mean? A contraceptive has been developed for men that has proven to be more effective than many previous methods. It is acceptable and would even be used by many couples who have tried it. Unfortunately, the problems associated with it were deemed to be irreconcilable in the face of the comparably low efficacy. This does, however, give great hope for future development of an effective and safe hormonal contraception for men to use.

The tip of the iceberg

A new hope for the environment? Christopher Little discusses the new marine reserve that has just been declared in Antarctica - save the penguins

he world’s largest marine reserve is to be created in Antarctica to preserve the pristine waters of the Ross Sea. In a landmark international deal, the EU and 24 other nations have declared that an area the size of Germany, France, Italy and the UK will be protected for the next 35 years. Lying deep in the Southern Ocean, the Ross Sea remains one of the few places left unscathed by human activity. Its remoteness has thus far safeguarded it from heavy fishing, pollution, shipping pressure and seabed mining. But this has recently come under threat from increasing commercial interests. From December 2017 however, some 1.57m sq km (600,000 sq miles) of the Ross Sea will become the first Marine Protected Area (MPA) in international waters. After years of tense negotiations, the agreement was reached by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and announced in their annual meeting in Tasmania. Though the Ross Sea comprises only 2% of the Southern Ocean, its rich biodiveristy means that a disproportionate amount of wildlife live in this remote wilderness. There is an abundance of large predatory fish, whales, seals, penguins and many other animals. The rarity of such an intact marine ecosystem has led some to refer to it as the “Last Ocean”. It is home to the largest body of floating ice on the planet (the Ross Ice Shelf) and also resides in a region thought to produce around three-quarters of

the nutrients that sustain life in the Earth’s oceans. This makes it a living laboratory that can be used to investigate the dynamics of a thriving Antarctic marine ecosystem and how climate change affects it and the wider world.

“The Ross Sea remains one of the few places left unscathed by human activity”

There will be a general protection zone where no marine life or minerals can be removed from 72% of the MPA. In other parts, some krill and tooth-

fish may be caught for research purposes in special designated zones. Lewis Pugh, the UN Patron for the Oceans, has been engaging in some “speedo diplomacy” to help the Ross Sea attain its MPA status. The endurance swimmer braved the sub-zero waters of the Antarctic to complete a series of long-distance swims to draw attention to this unique environment. As well as setting a record for the most southerly swim in history, Pugh has also made several visits to Russia to try and persuade them to sign the agreement. After China came on board last year, Russia was the only remaining nation that was in opposition to the proposal. President Vladimir Putin’s decree that 2017 will be a special Year of Ecology for Russia has now been followed by the country agreeing to the creation of a MPA in the Ross Sea. Though some environmentalists have criticised the short duration of the protection, it is widely seen as a huge victory for conservation. Lewis Pugh hopes it will help set a precedent and serve as a symbolic act that resonates beyond the scientific community, saying, “in 1959 at the height of the Cold War, Antarctica was set aside as place for peace and science. This announcement shows that Antarctica continues to be a place for peace and bridge building, a place where we can find common ground. So let us use what has been achieved here to foster dialogue and cooperation in other parts of the world.”

The Courier

Monday 14 November 2016

science&technology.35

Supermassive supermoon Christopher Little gazes upon the supermoon and its eﬀects it has upon our little world

he biggest supermoon seen in a generation will grace our skies on the 14 November, as our celestial neighbour comes the closest it has been to Earth since 1948.It offers a rare chance for most of us to see the moon like never before. An opportunity to witness it in all it’s shining glory, and of course, get the perfect photo to put on social media. Though a supermoon is now broadly considered to be a full moon that is closer than average, the technical term for these lunar events is the perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system. It may not be as catchy as supermoon, but there is a sound logic behind the name that better describes what is actually happening. As the moon’s orbit is not circular, but elliptical, one side comes around 50,000 km (30,000 miles) closer to Earth than the other. The term perigee is used to describe when the moon is at its nearest and apogee for when it is at its furthest.Occasionally, this elliptical orbit will line up the moon with the Earth and the Sun. This is known as syzygy. So when this process occurs and the moon is at its closest point, and it is on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun, we get what is called perigeesyzygy. The term supermoon may come from astrology rather than astronomy, but you can see why it has recently gained wide-

spread use. It certainly helps bring down the character count when you’re tweeting those epic photos.Though supermoons can occur several times a year, there was one on 16 October and will be another on 14 December, NASA has said that this one will be an “extra-supermoon”.This is because the moon will become full within around 2 hours of perigee, making it look the biggest it has in almost seventy years. And it won’t come this close again until 25 November 2034.

“A supermoon can appear as much as 14% larger and 30% brighter to our eyes than when it is at minimum size and brightness”

A supermoon can appear as much as 14% larger and 30% brighter to our eyes than when it is at minimum size and brightness. Though when our lunar companion is arching high in the sky, with no reference points to compare it to, it can be difficult to tell the difference. NASA however, has some helpful tips on how to get the best view of this special event.”When the moon is near the horizon, it can look unnaturally large when viewed through trees, buildings, or other foreground objects. The effect is an optical illusion, but that fact doesn’t take away from the experience.” Lunar events have long been ingrained in our culture and folklore. In many civilisations these grand vistas are seen as the manifestations of a deity, to be either worshipped or feared.The word ‘lunatic’ is derived from ‘Luna’, the Roman god-

A break-through in dermatology Amanda Jane Yap squeezes out all of the truth regarding new research for painful pimple poppers

e’ve all been through that sad teenage phase where acne sprouts all over your face like an epidemic. The phase where people look closer and realise that no, you’re not blushing, it’s just your acne outbreak. Heck, some of us are still going through that phase, where you left puberty years ago, but the acne outbreak just won’t leave you alone! Well, here’s a spot (pun intended) of good news for those of you who can relate: those with acne tend to look younger for a longer period, which means fewer wrinkles and thicker skin come middle-age. Just to clarify, acne is not like the average pimple - so don’t go wailing to people that you have acne (or they might just punch you)! Acne develops when the sebaceous glands in our skin become overactive, producing truckloads of oil, known as sebum. The sebum then forms a plug with the dead skin cells and blocks the follicle. Harmless bacteria that lives on the skin infects the blocked follicles, which causes the skin to swell and become red, often producing pus, cysts and spots.

“Acne develops when the sebaceous glands in our skin become overactive, producing truckloads of oil, known as sebum”

Research from King’s College London studied a pool of 1,205 female twins, analysing the white blood cells from acne sufferers. It was found that acne sufferers had longer protective caps on the end of their chromosomes (the things that form our genetic make-up, comprised of genes and DNA). These ‘caps’ are called telomeres; to visu-

alise them, they look like the plastic wrapping at the end of the shoelace to prevent the ends from fraying. Those with longer telomeres tend to age slower, hence staying youthful longer because the chromosomes do not deteriorate as rapidly. These were observed in acne-sufferers.

“Those with longer telomeres tend to age slower, hence staying youthful longer” Another finding from this research pointed out that the tumour suppressor gene known as the p53, was less active in acne-sufferers compared to nonsufferers. The p53 pathway is supposed to regulate the death of cells which happens when the telomeres are too short. However, it remains to be seen how much of an impact the gene pathways play in the cell aging process. Such advanced research has opened the door to many more possibilities, including creating new acne drugs and combating the ageing process. So far, this discovery has only been observed in the pool of female participants, so the males should not rejoice (just) yet! In the meantime, don’t poke, prod or touch your face. Remember to cleanse regularly and eat well, so that the acne outbreak will be manageable (fingers crossed)!

dess of the moon, for they believed that if a person stared at a full moon for too long it would drive them crazy. In 18th century England, those on trial for murder could even ask for a lighter sentence if the crime occurred during a full moon. Though many studies have proved otherwise, the supermoons association with madness and deviance still persist today. They are also often seen as harbingers of doom, thought to bring forth cataclysmic events such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

“The moon will become full within around 2 hours of perigee, making it look the biggest it has in almost seventy years”

Gravitational forces during a supermoon can create greater variations in tides and cause a small increase in tectonic activity, but research has produced no significant links to natural disasters. Professor of Geophysical Geodesy Peter Clarke, at Newcastle University, put these effects into perspective and explained that syzygy is the main factor at play.“The Moon’s gravitational forces acting on the oceans are strongest and maximally coherent with the Sun’s, so the ocean tides will be slightly larger. This difference is fairly small though (a few centimetres), because the alignment of the Sun and Moon has a much bigger effect on the net force, and hence the tides, than the Earth-Moon distance does.

“It won’t come this close again until 25 November 2034”

“The same gravitational forces that affect the oceans also deform the solid Earth (imagine how a nearby magnet would stretch a sponge ball permeated with iron filings). Earth’s surface oscillates by up to a few tens of centimetres during every day because of this. Again, the Moon’s force will be slightly stronger during a ‘supermoon’, but the biggest effect is the alignment of Sun and Moon, not the distance.” So the supermoon will not bring forth disaster or insanity, but chances are, it will flood social media.

thecourieronline.co.uk/science

Mythbusters: Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

Jack Coles takes a bite into the well-known idiom to answer the question that’s on all of our lips

n apple a day keeps the doctor away is one of those sayings that you’d hear your parents (if not your grandparents) say every now and then. The apple has long been associated with wisdom, such as the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” from which Adam and Eve ate in the Bible, and the apple orchard of the Hesperides whose fruit was said to grant immortality. The apple itself is an unremarkable fruit, nutritionally speaking. It has very little potassium, sodium, and magnesium, and no calcium or iron to speak of. Vitamin-wise, it has only a small amount of vitamins A and C, and no vitamin B6, B12, or D. Per 100g, it contains 10g of sugar, which is higher than many other fruits, and 2.4g of fibre, which is about average for sweet fruits (i.e. not aubergines, tomatoes, etc.). Apples also have very little protein. Even a potato has more vitamin B6 and C, as well as magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium, than an apple (per 100g).

“Apples have very little potassium, sodium, and magnesium, and no calcium or iron to speak of ”

The apple also has some significant effects on preventing strokes and lowering levels of bad cholesterol. It has also been said to help clean teeth via mechanical shearing, but its acidity likely counteracts any positive effects this might have. Some health websites will advocate the consumption of apple pips (and the pips and stones of some other fruits) as a source of vitamin B17. However, these websites usually have all the scientific value of a Daily Mail article, and their claims of vitamin B17 being an anti-cancer chemical are unsupported by any real science journals. Other things that health websites claim are related to apples and the amount of antioxidants in them (which many scientific journals are conflicted about) as well as their quantity of phytonutrients (which is largely just another term for ‘vitamin’). Vitamin B17 is scientifically known as amygdalin, a cyanide compound. If a plant containing amygdalin is attacked, enzymes break it down into a sugar and cyanide, of which the latter is highly toxic. Continually eating apple seeds to build up tolerance (a practice known as ‘mithridatism’) doesn’t work. You can consume small amounts certain of poisons to build resistance, like snake venoms, but that’s because these poisons have a The old Bard’s eyes are nothing like the sun, large enough molecule that the immune system And yet there are those to whom he is a GodIndeed, can identify. Cyanide ions are just much too small to them the man’s second-to-none for antibodies to target. (just let him decay, the poor old sod) So the apple is rubbish, as fruit goes. Why the ubiquity of the phrase, then? The phrase was first ‘Bardolatry’ is a love of the man recorded in the February 1866 edition of Notes & who gave us Hamlet, Much Queries, a long-running journal that records literaAdo and Macbeth ture and history. The quote itself was from the PemIt means to praise him as the brokeshire region of Wales, and goes “eat an apple best in the land on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from When it comes to comearning his bread”. This has a somewhat catchy edy, romance and death rhyming scheme, which was eventually shortened to “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, which The word comes from is memorable if nothing else. See also “step on a ‘idolatry’, which is crack, break your mother’s back”, a statement that defined seems somewhat erroneous when considering the As loving beyond the of people that inadvertently step on a crack usually point of devotion; show no correlation to maternal relationThe rest stems from ships with spinal injury a nickname you patients. might find In conclusion, apFor the bona-fide ples are not that master of heightened great at keeping emotion the doctor away, unless you start But student of Literature firing them from though I may be, a tennis ball canOld William does nothing special non. Try blueberfor me. ries, oranges, or even potatoes.

Word of the Week: Bardolatry

James McCoull writes his ode to this week’s word

The Courier

puzzles.37

Monday 14 November 2016

Puzzles Across

Down

1 In Blackadder, Baldrick’s plans are often described as this (7) 6 Catchphrase of Alan Partridge on Knowing Me, Knowing You (3) 7 Nonsensical game show in That Mitchell & Webb Look (10) 9 Jay’s less than elegant term for certain reproductive organs in The Inbetweeners (6) 11 Charming American hostess of her own self-titled show (5) 12 A state of calm (5) 13 ____ Nights, cult-classic Peter Kay sitcom (7) 15 Musical instrument using hammers and strings (5) 17 Nocturnal birds of prey (4) 18 Eccentric goth confined behind a permanently-locked red door in The IT Crowd (8)

1 Expensive fixture destroyed by Del-Boy and Rodney in Only Fools and Horses (10) 2 ___, far, wherever you are, I believe you can solve this crossword (4) 3 Jez and Super Hans’ unfortunate pub name compromise in Peep Show (4, 3, 5) 4 Fallen through by Del-Boy whilst he was trying to play it cool (3) 5 ‘Would you like me to ____ for you?’ Alan Partridge (3, 5) 8 Oft-abused Barcelonan waiter in service of Basil Fawlty (6) 10 The titular staff of Dinnerladies generally serve this (5) 13 Monocular eyepiece worn by the Hitcher in The Mighty Boosh (4) 14 Body of land surrounded by water (4) 16 Grey-white residue of burnt matter (3)

Primary Puzzle Producer: James McCoull Also Helpful: Mark Sleightholm 2 4 5 3

13 15

16 17

Completing this crossword will demonstrate your abundant knowledge of classic British comedy, as well as some other miscellanous things that filled the leftover spaces nicely. Bring proof of your achievement to the Courier office where we can all acknowledge that needless to say, you’ve had the last laugh.

38. sport feature

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston

#ThisBUCSGirlCan Week

Hendo’s

Tourte de la Semaine By Alex Hendley former Sports Editor New year, nouveau Hendo. Anybody who thought I couldn’t make a return to the Courier Sport has clearly forgotten how many times Brian Laws returned to Scunthorpe United, and that’s a man who threw chicken wings at people. Aside from poultry matters, last year’s ‘Pie of the Week’ has returned and gone all continental – a bit like Thornton’s Christmas Selection. Last year, I managed to piss off the Niall Quinn fan-club after slating him in this very column and now it’s about time I did the same to the whole of Europe, as I pick apart the failings of football from this side of the channel. Not too long ago I visited the nearby Allianz Riviera, the stadium of ‘Les Aiglons’, OGC Nice. The match day experience was, without doubt, pretty good. Official club pint glasses emblazoned with Nice’s crest were served up full to the brim with ice-cold bière while the noisy ultras, who can only be described as lunatics, jumped up and down with more energy than Jamie Vardy after a glass of Skittles vodka. Just to make you feel even more unsafe, an incredibly angry man rocked up with a microphone and a set of speakers bigger than the Vitality Stadium to conduct the crowds chanting, insults of the opposition (despite the fact Lorient had a grand total of zero away fans) and general bouncing around. However, I firmly believe that had Mario Balotelli not scored and got sent off three minutes later it would have been one of the worst games of football I have ever witnessed, just ahead of every single game at Euro 2016. Despite at the time being leaders of Ligue 1 by about four points, the football was lethargic at best, with no intensity and less quality than the Evo-Stik Northern Premier. I suppose the moral of the story is you can always rely on a man who set fire to his own bathroom. The story is even worse in Spain, where the football culture is about as Mickey Mouse as it comes. Visiting the city of Málaga, it was plain to see there wasn’t an inch of loyalty. People regularly wore Málaga shirts under Real Madrid tracksuits or Almería shorts with Barcelona scarves. Forgive me, but I’d drop kick the first treacherous nutter I saw wearing a Burnley beanie and a Chelsea snood (remember snoods?) simultaneously. In Spain, my good friend and Spanish resident Liam Hanna reliably informs me, supporting Hull City just isn’t good enough for the locals. “Yeah, but which big team do you support?” Scandalous. Behind the “Big Three” of the two Madrids and Barcelona, the standard of football is pretty dreadful here too. If Sunderland were in La Liga, they’d probably finish fourth. A wise man once told me, “Barcelona can play tiki-taka against Real Tinpot, but not Manchester City”, and how right he was. With an influx of top class managers into the Premier League, perhaps it is time that British clubs began their European resurgence to regain continental domination. In terms of European fixtures, any club that gets fined if they haven’t filled their stadium sufficiently for the TV cameras doesn’t even deserve to qualify. European football, consider yourself pied.

Last week was ‘This Girl Can’ week- ‘a sassy celebration of active women everywhere.’ The national campaign aimed to get women from universities across the country to feel encouraged and empowered to keep active. Here is our roundup of what the women of Team Newcastle have been up to during this week:

Ultimate opportunity to play some frisbee By Will Mulvaney Ultimate President The Newcastle University women’s ultimate frisbee team had success after success last year. After winning the indoor regional qualifiers, they went on to place 7th at the national indoor BUCS championship and even more impressively, the team took home the bronze medal at the BUCS outdoor championship held in Nottingham. This year we’ve entered three women’s teams into indoor regionals with the aim of maximising participation at the highest level of ultimate available for our members. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many of the other universities in the north east with Northumbria unable to field enough players for even a single team at indoor regionals and many universities with no female participants whatsoever. The lack of women’s teams in the north east has hampered the development of

an outdoor ultimate BUCS Wednesday league equivalent to that which the men’s team play in. Rumour has it however, that such a league is in the pipeline and we would love to see more teams in the region able to participate in this.

introduction of a BUCS Wednesday women’s league would be a step in the right direction but ultimately participation need to improve for this to be successful.

“It’s of paramount importance that women in ultimate have equal opportunities”

This Girl Can: there’s growing opportunties for women in ultimate Image: Will Mulvaney

If you missed the taster session but would love to try ultimate frisbee out, don’t hesitate to contact the club and they’ll welcome you with open arms to try out at their training sessions.

As such, we’re running a female-only frisbee taster session in collaboration with the Northumbria University women and in association with the ‘This Girl Can’ national campaign. We’re hoping this will help boost participation in the region and that it will be an opportunity for many to try a sport they’ve never played before. It’s of paramount importance that women in ultimate have equal opportunities to the men playing ultimate;

Toon beaten but not broken by Birmingham Women’s Hockey Newcastle 1sts

Birmingham 2nds

By Rebecca Lear and Alex Addison at Bournbrook Campus Pitches The first XI ventured way down south to play league leaders Birmingham. After an inspiring team talk by Skipper Becky Lear the girls were ready to give their opposition a tough game. Putting the team into such a great mindset resulted in a solid first half with continued pressure from the forwards Leolie Telford-Cooke and Harriet Freeman. However the great pressure was met by forceful play and over enthusiastic tackling, which led to defender Bethan Lowe being injured. Nevertheless, Lou-

Badminton M1 v Keele 2nds W1 v York 1sts W2 v Edge Hill 1sts

8-0 6-2 5-3

Basketball M1 v Loughborough 1sts W1 v Edinburgh 1sts W2 v Edinburgh 2nds

74-77 74-75 W-W*

Fencing M3 v Durham 2nds W1 v Nottingham 1sts W2 v Sheffield 1sts W3 v Keele 1sts

47-135 91-135 34-135 101-135

ise Beechner stepped up to the challenge and slotted perfectly into the new position. Unfortunately after a slight lapse in concentration with 5 minutes left of the half, Birmingham managed to slot a very lucky goal past goalie Georgie Baker-Hadfield.

Picturesque: Toon tackle the Brummies Image: Alex Addison

“It was a great performance from the entire team”

The girls refused to let this set them back, starting he second half with great amounts of energy. They were led by fresher Rosie Dale who repeatedly embarrassed the home side in front of the watching crowd with her silky skills. Some more fiesty play from Birmingham lead to fresher T-C MacKean being forced to come off with a head injury. Yet in true Newcastle spirit she later returned to the field, providing a

great solid structure in the middle to a resilient newcastle team. However while Newcastle were dominant, they just couldn’t convert a number of fantastic attacks into goals. The game ended with a 2-0 defeat for the Newcastle girl but this failed to dampen their spirits. It was a great performance from the entire team, with

Football M1 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts M2 v Liverpool JM 2nds W1 v MMU 1sts

C-C 2-0 3-1

Hockey M1 v Loughborough 2nds M2 v UCLAN 1sts M4 v Leeds 4ths W1 v Birmingham 2nds W3 v Liverpool 3rds W4 v Cumbria 2nds

Netball 1 v Leeds 1sts 2 v York 2nds 3 v Lancaster 1sts 4 v York St John 1sts

44-33 77-15 54-56 42-51

1-1 17-0 C-C 0-2 8-2 W*-W

Lacrosse M1 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts W1 v Loughborough 1sts W2 v Liverpool JM 1sts W3 v Chester 1sts

Rugby M1 v Leeds 1sts M2 v Lancaster 1sts M3 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts M4 v Leeds Beckett 4ths W1 v Loughborough 1sts W2 v Manchester 2nds

C-C 32-15 5-15 25-29 15-22 19-12

C-C 8-12 C-C 8-16

Rugby League 1 v Leeds Beckett 1sts 2 v Leeds 2nds

12-34 W-W*

Golf 1 v Leeds Beckett 2nds

4-2

Squash M2 v Leeds 2nds M4 v Bangor 1sts W1 v York 1sts

1-4 W-W* 4-0

a special mention going to man of the match, Mollie Roberts who tore apart the Birmingham defence time and time again.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH:

Mollie Roberts

Table Tennis M1 v Liverpool 1sts M2 v Durham 1sts

17-0 1-16

Tennis M1 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts M2 v Liverpool JM 1sts

6*-6 2-10

Ultimate M1 v M2

15-0

Volleyball M v Bradford 1sts W v Northumbria 1sts

3-0 0-3

Waterpolo M1 v Leeds Beckett 1sts

22-5

Wednesday 9th November Results

The Courier

sport feature .39

Monday 14 November 2016

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Top performances from rugby warriors Women’s Rugby Newcastle 2nds

Manchester 2nds

By Amy Jones at Wythenshawe Sports Ground With a 15-15 draw last week, the seconds girls of NUWRFC were determined to bring home a win against Manchester. A bright and early start and a long coach journey did nothing to dampen the girl’s spirits and they entered the field hungry for their first win of the season. The game started with some hard hits, and Newcastle made some promising steals in both the line-outs and the scrums. Some hard tackles from both teams led to a few injuries and was a telling sign that the day’s game was going to be a tough one. The first twenty minutes was testing for both teams. However, towards the end of the first half, Manchester made a break in the line to run in a try, with the conversion giving them a 7-0 lead. Newcastle came back fighting in the second half, and Manchester found it hard to break their defence. Newcastle’s Athena Allen powered through the Mancunian tackles and Teresa McGillivray made a tactical pick and scored a try to put the scoreboard at 7-5. Newcastle rallied back after their first try and pushed Manchester’s defences once more to wrestle with their try line. After some short phases, Newcastle’s Katherine Hanna took the ball over and fresher Gabi McGregor scored an excellent conversion to place Newcastle at 7-12. Newcastle got the ball back after their try but it was quickly regained by Manchester. Once again, a solid run by their centres saw them score a try in the outside tunnel to place the scoreboard tensely at 12-12. With both teams equal and fighting for the win, both defences rallied in strength and the game became incred-

ibly physical. Newcastle had the ball and, through the strength of the forwards, brought the ball eagerly into the Manchester 22m. With the final push to break the strong Manchester defence, Newcastle burned through the phases in hopes of scoring a try in the closing minutes of the game.

“Newcastle came back fighting in the second half, and Manchester found it hard to break down their defence”

With the eagle eye of scrum half Michelle Healy spotting space on the outside, McGillivray ran the ball in to score her second try of the day. After another successful McGregor conversion, the scoreboard showed 1219 just in time for the closing whistle. Thus, Newcastle University seconds brought home their first win of the season and a convincing cup match win.

BACK OF THE MATCH:

Teresa McGillivray

FORWARD OF THE MATCH:

Athena Allen

Women’s Rugby Newcastle 1sts

Loughborough 1sts

By Hannah Lymn at Redhall Drive After coming back with an away win against Leeds Beckett, the ladies of NUWRFC were looking forward to their Loughborough home match with great anticipation. Historically, Loughborough games have always been tough and very physical but Captain Elle Bloor knew her team were good enough to beat them. Loughborough won the toss and had the kick off, Newcastle claimed possession but an early penalty against Newcastle saw Loughborough get their first scrum, they keep possession, though was clear that both packs were evenly matched. Big hits from Newcastle put pressure on Loughborough and forced a knock on. This was a common theme for both teams throughout the match, as each team seemed to put more and more pressure on the other as the time ticked on and the score was still 0-0. After the ball was turned over after spending quite a while mid field, rising

star of the first team No.8 Daphne De Craecker making some incredible carries, gaining Newcastle vital ground. Loughborough turned Newcastle over with their aggressive rucking but the home side quickly stole it back, as No.6 Sam West scored her first try of the season from a quick tap penalty seven metres from the try line. Though there was no conversion, Newcastle took that momentum into the next phase of the game. Loughborough were very physical around the rucks, having been prepared for this, Newcastle counter-rucked with just as much ferocity, and this resulted in a lot of turnovers on each side. Loughborough increased their pressure, clearly riled by Newcastle scoring the first try. Newcastle defended for some time, but Loughborough persisted and eventually scored a break away try. Half time arrived with both teams still on 5 points after Loughborough also missed their conversion. Both sides can felt close the game was, with neither team slowing or showing any sign of fatigue, clear evidence that Newcastle’s extra fitness sessions are paying off. Loughborough fended off several Newcastle advances, and within minutes of kicking off again Loughborough conceded a penalty. Newcastle fullback Philippa Serebriakoff stormed over the try line for

Cup heroes: the Mancuians couldn’t match Toon’s desire Image: Amy Jones

our second try of the match from the restart. Newcastle led 10-5, but again Loughborough answered quickly with a try from another penalty, again using their pace around the outside. 10-10. Again losing the lead fuelled Newcastle’s fire to keep defending. Penalties on both sides resulted in Newcastle booting the ball down field, but sadly white lie fever took hold and Loughborough earned themselves a scrum on their 5m. Quick hands enabled the Loughborough No.15 to sprint down field to give her team a 15-10 lead. Newcastle answered the try with one of their own, a great team move saw the ball shipped out to No.10 Jess Hepburn who crashed through, allowing No.6 Em Howard takes it over the line. Newcastle spent the last remaining minutes defending as Loughborough’s attack got stronger, with big hits on both sides. However a lull in Newcastle defence saw the Loughborough No.15 score her second try of the match in the corner. The final conversion of the match ended the game with the final score 15-22 to Loughborough.

BACK OF THE MATCH:

Lily Hives

FORWARD OF THE MATCH:

Sam West

Heartbreak: Loughborough snatched the win late on Image: Cassie Jordan

Scots cause heartbreak for spirited Toon Women’s Basketball Newcastle 1sts

Edinburgh 1sts

By Courtney Strait at Sport & Exercise Pleasance Newcastle women’s basketball team dropped a tough game to Edinburgh Wednesday by a final score of 74-75. The game featured lead changes, late game drama, and unfortunate heartbreak for the Knights. The Edinburgh team, who came into the game with a handful of injuries to key players, did just enough to outlast the Knights in the final five minutes of overtime. They mixed different defenses to keep Newcastle on their toes and prevented them from getting settled into the game’s flow until the third quarter. Edinburgh switched between a zone defense and man-to-man all game, and thus the Knights struggled to keep possession throughout the match. Newcastle turned the ball over more than 20 times Wednesday. The first quarter started slow, with both teams struggling to get into any rhythm offensively. Courtney Strait hit

the first bucket of the game and finished with 11 points in the first quarter. Newcastle found the majority of their success in their half court offense and finding gaps in the Edinburgh zone defense. The first half also featured a threepoint shootout from Edinburgh. Newcastle started the game playing manto-man defense, and then switched to matchup zone at different times throughout the game.

“Along with sharpshooting from the Scots, they dominated the offensive glass” Edinburgh took advantage of the match-up defense and seemed to hit everything they shot in the first half. They built a 16-point deficit at one time during the second quarter. Along with sharp-shooting from the Scots, they dominated the offensive glass, bringing down more than 15 offensive rebounds against the smaller Knights squad. Newcastle managed to work the score back to a ten-point difference before the buzzer sounded for halftime. The second half was a different story for the Knights. Facing a ten-point

hole at the half, Newcastle came back fighting and closed the gap in the third quarter. The Knights adjusted their offense and found open looks possession after possession in the third and were slowly building momentum. Contributions from Beth Wilson, Eleanor Goodwin, and Noelia Quintas helped the team pull closer to Edinburgh. Eventually in the fourth quarter, Newcastle took the lead and looked to have hold of a victory in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. That is when the momentum shifted. With around 1:15 left to play and the Knights with possession, an intentional foul gave Edinburgh two free-throws and the ball. The Edinburgh forward hit one of two free shots and then followed with a bucket on the next possession. After a questionable no-call on the other end of the floor, Edinburgh charged back with another three points to tie the game and force overtime. In the overtime period, the score bounced back and forth between the two opponents. The final five minutes was a physical, intense bout as both teams faced foul trouble and were desperate to claim a victory. The final ten seconds of the game were as dramatic as they come. Edinburgh had the ball as the clock wound down, and as the Edinburgh point guard drove

in for the last shot, an unfortunate foul was called in Newcastle that led to free throws. Edinburgh hit one of two, which ended up being all they needed to close out the game on top. The Knights gave a valiant effort,

coming in as the underdog in the game, and left disappointed with a win that slipped through their grasp. Newcastle looks to bounce back against the University of St Andrews next Wednesday, 16 November.

Newcastle were unlucky to lose out in a tight game against Edinburgh Image: Courtney Strait

40. sport

Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston

Cup run continues for classy Toon Women’s Football Newcastle 1sts

MMU 1sts

By Rose McLean at Cochrane Park Wednesday night saw Newcastle Women claim a convincing victory over Manchester Met in the first round of the BUCS Northern Conference Cup.

“It became clear that midfield was going to be influential to the outcome” Newcastle were keen to extend their positive start to the season after their last gasp winner at rivals Northumbria in the opening league match, followed by good performances against Sheffield and Durham. Manchester Met were also hoping to carry on their momentum gained by defeating Edge Hill 4-2 in the league last week. The hosts got us underway at a bitterly cold Cochrane park, and promptly stated their intent as they threw bodies forward, resulting in a near miss for No.10 Eleanor Michaels who was left all alone in the box. Manchester soon hit back with their own attack, with their No.16 stealing the ball off Newcastle centre back Immy Ewbank deep into Newcastle’s half, only to see her fizzing shot ricochet off the post. As the first half progressed, it became clear that midfield was going to be influential to the outcome, as Newcastle’s captain Rosa Evans locked horns with Manchester’s No.10, Mandy McGuire. Both of whom enjoyed great displays in the centre of the pitch.

Approaching the half an hour mark, Newcastle’s Eleanor Michaels played No.7 Anna De Veciana through on the right, who then whipped a great ball onto the head of striker Danielle Claydon, but she couldn’t find the finishing touch with her header skimming wide. With 5 minutes left of the half, Newcastle were desperate to capitalise on their good possession. Eleanor Michaels who again found herself in acres on the edge of Manchester’s box, played an accurate pass into No.11 Justine Lee who pulled it back, only for it to be misfortunately turned into her own net by Manchester’s Emily Hollinshead. A deserved lead for the hosts. Newcastle didn’t rest on their laurels, and within seconds of the restart found themselves 2-0 up. Good skill on the left of the box from Eleanor Michaels resulted in her being fouled and Newcastle were awarded a penalty. The spot kick was calmly slotted home by No.2 Zoe Rutter, and Newcastle held a comfortable lead at halftime. At the restart, Manchester seemed desperate to right their wrongs, with number 16 in particular displaying great skill and powerful running. However, this good spell for the visitors was short lived as Newcastle forward Danielle Claydon held the ball up well on the edge of the area, before playing a great through ball to Anna De Veciana, who finished with aplomb into the bot-

met by the head of Manchester’s Jess Newton who glanced the ball into the corner of the host’s net. 3-1. Newcastle began to look shaky, giving away the ball cheaply giving Manchester the impetus to mount several attacks. However, Newcastle’s back line stood solid, in particular centre backs Ewbank and Mary Arnold who both had good games. With 20 minutes remaining, Newcastle wrestled back control, as Justine Lee

saw her sweeping 25-yard effort clatter against the upright. The ball was cleared but the hosts were relentless and Lee was denied again, this time by a great save low down to her left from Manchester’s keeper Amber Kerr. Newcastle managed to frustrate the visitors, as they struggled to create clear cut chances and the game began to slip away from them. This was epitomised as Manchester’s No.16 cut the ball into the box, only for Courtney Herbert to

get her feet into a mess and completely miss-kick; perhaps summing up Manchester’s afternoon. The hosts saw the game out well, and claimed a highly deserved win over a good Manchester side. A great start to their 2016/17 cup campaign.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH:

Anna De Veciana

“At the restart, Manchester seemed desperate to right their wrongs” tom corner. 3-0 to Newcastle. Around 55 minutes in, Manchester’s No.16 cleverly turned centre back Immy Ewbank, who then lashed out and took her down on the right of Newcastle’s box. The resulting free kick was whipped in by Mandy McGuire, and

Set-piece specialist: Zoe Rutter bagged a penalty and was on free-kick duty Image: James Sproston

High-ﬂying Leeds stunned by netballers Women’s Netball Newcastle 1sts

Leeds 1sts

By Florence Bauer at the Sports Centre After a full day of home matches for NUNC, there was a huge turnout of support to watch our 1s play Leeds. Leeds have had a great record going into this game and so we knew this would be a tough match. An early turnover by Newcastle’s solid defence set the precedent for some extraordinary match play from both sides.

“This determination saw a fantastic turnover by Hill in the first centre pass” The first quarter was very closely fought, with some excellent shooting by both Wormleighton and Joyce. Some missed balls were counteracted by fantastic feeds from Robinson, with Hollingworth providing a great back up option on the third line. Leeds were working the ball down the

court well, despite the best efforts of Hasan who worked brilliantly around the defensive circle edge and both teams were neck and neck throughout the quarter. Grant played a pivotal role in both attack and defence, tipping the ball off court and working around Leeds’ strong defence. With every goal counting, McHattie and Hollingworth both took clean interceptions to turn the ball over, providing Newcastle a lead of 1110 going into the 2nd quarter.

“However both Leeds and Newcastle struggled to convert every chance” The 2nd quarter started with some excellent play by Leeds who turned the ball over quickly to move ahead of our score. Both teams were capitalising on any missed shots by getting up for the rebounds, with some excellent play from Robinson and Grant moving up court, however both Leeds and Newcastle struggled to convert every chance, leading to the ball being played from end to end. There was fantastic defensive play from Hollingworth, McHattie and Hasan in and around the circle to keep the score relatively level going into half time, with Leeds winning 19-18. The 3rd quarter started well, with some great second phase work off cen-

tre passes and great feeds by Hill into Hollingworth who had moved to GS. Another new face on court, Bolle-Jones at GK also made some fantastic tips, showing her presence on court in just the first few minutes. Unfortunately, a bad knee injury to Hollingworth suspended play and forced her to come off, and Joyce had to come back on court as GA. After this injury there seemed to be a very dampened atmosphere where both teams were making silly mistakes and having their own centres turned over. This seemed to improve though, with Newcastle picking up momentum with a flurry of excellent goals, going ahead by 6 goals going into the final quarter with a score of 32-26 to Newcastle. We knew everything was still to play for and this determination saw a fantastic turnover by Hill in the first centre pass. Wormleighton and Joyce continued to work well in the shooting circle, and some consistent play from the whole team really put the pressure on Leeds to perform.

“McHattie and BolleJones in the defensive circle were both a force to be reckoned with” McHattie and Bolle-Jones in the de-

fensive circle were both a force to be reckoned with, especially with the rebounds, whilst Robinson provided a brilliant back up option going into the attacking end. Leeds would not give up however, and capitalised on Newcastle’s fatigue by transitioning down the court well on a turnover, though didn’t seem to be able to convert. After being given a strong reminder

by coach Debs, Newcastle picked up the pace and with some fantastic feeds from both Hill and Grant, we managed to come away with a hard-fought 44-32 win.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH:

Annie Bolle-Jones

Eye for goal: Hollie Joyce had the Leeds circle defence in her back pocket Image: Florence Bauer

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Durham dominate across the pond Women’s Water Polo Newcastle 1sts

Durham 1sts

By Fleur O’Dwyer at Northumbria Sports Centre Newcastle’s women 1sts’ encounter with local rivals, Durham, was a tough, drama filled match, that despite the score line reading 20-8, you would not have wanted to miss. Durham were formidable from the whistle, scoring three goals in just two minutes: all smashed into the back of the net with incredible force. In the blink of an eye, Newcastle found themselves trailing 3-0 and now a man down from foul against Durham’s Candyce Shroeder, which saw Gemma Deacon excluded. This opened the door for Durham’s Nila Ward to unleash another awe-inspiring right forehand shot, straight through the arms of Newcastle keeper, Jess Newman.

“It wasn’t long before the favour was returned, and Little was given a chance at redemption” After a far from ideal start, Newcastle were about to be dealt a double blow. The first, in the form of an off-target shot sailing over the top of the right hand corner, and the second, which saw Emma Little excluded gifting Durham a 5-0 lead. Newcastle’s luck began to change, when they now found themselves a man up and in a strong position. This gave Little room to produce a long pass across field to Holly Short, on her Newcastle debut, who finished with a clinical shot to the left hand corner Following another powerful bounce from Durham’s Shroeder Newcastle was once again a man down. Though Short and Deacon demonstrated some great blocks, and stopped numerous powerful shots reaching the back of the net, it wasn’t enough for the Toon, leav-

ing the score at 7- 1. Newcastle were looking to close the score, after winning the swim off, with a quick run of passes between Charlotte Blyth, Sarah Poyntz and Deacon. Unfortunately, Durham’s Amy Olsen showed her calibre, with an amazing inception before a shot at goal was attempted. Keeping the Newcastle spirit alive and with the crowd behind her, Sophie Sowerby stole the ball and produced a strong; long pass down field to an awaiting Deacon, who was fouled by Durham’s keeper for the second time awarding Newcastle a penalty. Little took centre stage for the penalty, but sadly the outcome resembled that of an England footballer, as she missed, and hit the right hand post as the home crowd voiced their disappointment In a matter of seconds this disappointment turned to jubilation as Deacon executed the perfect lob shot, bring the score to 7-2. The scrappy play continued as the match progressed, resulting in Newman having to face the force of penalty taker, and American behemoth Shroeder alone as she effortlessly, and faultlessly converted their penalty into an 8-2 lead. It wasn’t long before the favour was returned, and Little was given a chance at redemption. This penalty was not without its drama, however, as previous outfield player, Molly Quinn, who had swapped to keeper, was awarded her third major of the match for swearing at the referee. This resulted in her permanent exclusion from the remainder of the match. The subsequent squad rearrangement didn’t affect Little as she brought the score up to 8-3. Despite losing their goalkeeper, Durham still looked commanding, made easier by another Newcastle exclusion, with Shroeder and Olsen both adding more goals to their ever growing tally inside just 52 seconds of play. Though in true Newcastle form, the team were down, but they certainly were not out! With 1 second left of the quarter Sowerby found the left hand side of the net, bringing the score to 11-4. The third quarter started with a great

Sharpshooter: Sophie Sowerby couldn’t prevent Newcastle’s defeat Image: Tara Twine scrap between Sowerby and Ward though, again, luck and possession was in Durham’s favour, whose lead was extended by another powerful goal by Shroeder.

“Newcastle didn’t give up the fight though, and in the dying seconds were rewarded with a goal from Megan Lord”

Sowerby soon got possession back, and despite her initial shot being blocked a fumble from the Durham keeper, she stayed calm and applied pressure. This forced keeper to make a mistake, which gave Newcastle a corner that Sowerby soon converted into a goal. Following another powerful Durham

goal, Newman produced the save of the match, with a ball to the face. In true Newman style she recovered quickly, with a long ball back up the field to Poytnz whose attempt found the post. Great reactive play from Ellie Churchill brought the score to 6-13. A surge in performance from Durham saw three goals within 90 seconds. Newcastle needed to find something and Little produced, with a lightening quick lob shot from half way finding the back of the net which caught the whole of the Durham team off guard. Durham was not going to let that mistake happen again and with a quick flick pass to Victoria Lewis, a powerful shot landed in the bottom right hand corner, leaving the score 7-17. The consistent scrappy play continued into the final quarter as Newcastle’s Poyntz and Durham’s Shroeder were excluded in quick succession. This didn’t

stop Durham’s Olsen from finding the back of the net for the sixth time, with Ward following up with a powerful shot straight into the left hand corner. Newcastle didn’t give up the fight, though, and in the dying seconds were rewarded with a goal from Megan Lord who, along with getting the loudest crowd reaction of the game, produced the biggest smile of the night. To quote Mary Berry, the game was ‘not messy, but informal’, with both sides battling hard in a physically tough and demanding match. Despite the 20-8 score line Newcastle can take confidence that their toughest rivals, Durham, had to fight hard for every goal, and they did themselves proud.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH:

Sarah Poyntz

Fencers cut down by Nottingham Women’s Fencing Newcastle 1sts

Nottingham 1srs

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By Ellie Irwin and Wise Lim at David Ross Sports Village The Fencing Women’s Firsts travelled away this Wednesday to Nottingham for one of our biggest matches of the year. Unfortunately, with only half of our team available and a rearrangement off the cards we were aware that it was going to be a tough game. Andrea from the Women’s seconds stepped up, preventing us from being automatically relegated, a clause in the BUCS rules if you are unable to field a team. Having already fenced Nottingham and won with a full team we were at an advantage, only having to match their score to secure an overall victory. Unfortunately, the match didn’t start as well as hoped, despite a valiant effort

from all 3 fencers we lost Saber by a substantial margin. Keen not to get our heads down we went into the foil. This weapon was far closer, with the final match determining who would win. Despite a great effort from Katy Griffin we lost by the smallest margin. As a result, we went into the epee knowing we would have to get 40 hits. Believing this to be our strongest weapon we went into the match confident. Unfortunately, we hadn’t accounted for

“Despite a great effort from Katy Griffin, we lost by the smallest margin.” Nottingham’s very strong epee team and the fact that we were pretty exhausted having fenced 2 weapons already. Whilst close the final score meant we lost overall by 10 hits, a disappointing result and no way indicative of the effort by the team. Putting this result behind us the team can’t wait to continue

with our campaign in the challenging premier league. Fencing is a very challenging sport not because it requires a set amount of physical fitness, but because you always have to make quick decisions pertaining to landing successful and lightning quick hits on your opponent. Not to mention stabbing someone with a sword is always a lot of good fun and stress-relieving. Really strong hamstrings are required to fence properly because they are needed from the en garde position (think of the standby position just before Usain Bolt sprints off as the gun fires) to moving around on the piste, the fencing battleground. Fencing is relatively unheard of, especially at university, but it is an awesome sport that requires mental agility on top of physical fitness. Essentially, there are three weapons: the epee, the sabre and the foil. Each weapon has its own sets of rules and breeds its own kind of fencers. Newcastle University’s Fencing Women’s First Team won the best team of the year last night and they’re amongst the most hardworking fencers in the club.

Swashbucklers: Newcastle couldn’t repeat their earlier success against Notts Image: James Sproston

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Monday 14 November 2016

The Courier

Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston

¡Viva la Revolución! We take a closer look at the current debate surrounding the poppy, as well as a handful of sporting political symbols

Should England and Scotland be allowed to wear the poppy? YES Banning the poppy - the latest controversial move by the increasingly comical governing body FIFA. Not content with just causing an uproar in legal, financial and commercial sectors of the game, the decision was made by Gianni Infantino and co. to prohibit the display of poppies in the upcoming England-Scotland match. Many are justifiably criticising the decision, and asking if FIFA is fixing something that isn’t broken? At first glance, it does indeed seem completely bizarre. Upon reflection, it’s plausible to see why the decision was considered in the first place. As seen with James McClean’s refusal to wear a poppy, and the subsequent public upset several years ago, matters like this can inevitably carry controversy with them. Maybe FIFA want to level the playing field for all the players, help avoid the singling out of those who may wish to not wear the poppy, and avoid a subsequent public backlash? There was a thought process there, it seems. Conversely however, there was no issue to be dodged. The general public are much more tolerant now to situations like McClean’s – especially when you consider his reasons behind not wanting to honour men who killed people

from his hometown years ago. There has been no general angst about the poppy leading up to the game, nor is any currently expected (excluding the frustration caused by FIFA’s current antics). Stepping aside from the possible controversy, consider the footballers playing on Friday as men going to work. Are employees in the general population banned from wearing poppies to their jobs? Have they ever been? I don’t believe so – and why would they be? At the end of the day, footballers from both sides should have the opportunity to pay their respect as anyone else should have, and do. These aren’t just footballers, they’re people too and as such some will likely have been directly or indirectly affected by the soldiers and veterans supported by British Legion. Whether they wear a poppy or not, all should be afforded the choice. FIFA, at least, are trying to do something they think is for the better for the game. More than ever though, this is not just a game. Its clash with Remembrance Day ensures it will mean a lot more to a lot of people, and FIFA – indivertibly or not – are getting involved with something that shouldn’t concern them this much. To quote Scotland captain Darren Fletcher, “hopefully common sense prevails”. Kourosh Parvizi

NO On the 2nd of November, the English and Scottish FAs announced that they would defy FIFA and wear the poppy during their match on Remembrance Day. It was the conclusion of a long debate as to whether the two national sides would abide by FIFA’s ruling, and it divided much of the football community. Back in November 2011, the same debate emerged. On that occasion, after David Cameron wrote a letter personally addressed to Sepp Blatter, FIFA relented. However, under this newlook FIFA led by Gianni Infantino, that wasn’t going to be the case. In my opinion, quite rightly so. I should make it clear that I am totally supportive of the Royal British Legion, and I will be wearing a poppy on Remembrance Sunday. However, I don’t believe that it is necessary to wear a poppy to remember those that have died for their country, not least whilst playing football. Unlike many others, I would argue that the poppy is a political symbol. Though it may have been introduced for charitable purposes, it seems to have adopted a connotation with military power. It’s for this reason that the Peace

Las Malvinas banner Controversy surrounding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands resurfaced after members of the Argentinian football team held a banner reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ (“The Falklands are Argentinian”) in front of a crowd of 52,000 fans before kick off at a World Cup warm up match against Slovenia in La Plata. The islands situated in the South Atlantic have been ruled by Great Britain since 1833 but hundreds of lives were lost following a 74-day war in 1982, after the Argentina (led by dictator General Galtieri) attempted to seize con-

trol. Tensions haven’t died down as the government of the Falkland Islands are conducting searches for oil in the surrounding areas, angering the Argentinian government.

“Isn’t it surprising that so many people think that this provocative stunt was inappropriate?” FIFA have denounced the team’s ac-

Colin Kaepernick Colin Kaepernick unleashed a media storm on August 26 when he refused to stand for the national anthem before a 49ers preseason game. He risked multiple endorsements and public support pulling a stunt many branded ‘antiAmerican’. But it worked. Kaepernick started a dialogue about a very real cultural crisis of police brutality, racism and economic inequality still taking hold of America. And his protest gained traction quickly, spreading through the NFL into college football and soccer. What Kaepernick started is more than a fad, it’s a movement that fans, reporters and club owners have to pay attention to. The 49ers franchise recently announced they would donate $1 million to the ‘cause of improving racial and economic inequality’ with Kaepernick adding $1 million of his own money, not quite the empty gesture people were making out. After the game in August in a widely cited interview Kaepernick explained,

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” By taking a stand for civil rights Colin Kaepernick joins Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony who have all used their platform to raise awareness of the issues affecting minorities. The kind of patriotism Kaepernick displayed is not the traditional kind many Americans expect or want, but it is a breed that wants a better America which is surely a form of patriotism. Whether Kaepernick’s risk of personal gain will have any effect on a long entrenched American vice is yet to be seen. But, the traction his protest has gained must count for something. Sophie Chapman

tions and are conducting disciplinary proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association. In a statement, FIFA confirmed that they are conducting these disciplinary proceedings based on a breach of Article 60 of the FIFA Stadium and Security Regulations - ‘prevention of provocative and aggressive actions’ and Article 52 - ‘team misconduct’. And its not just FIFA who are unimpressed, many people think that using the football pitch as a platform for such a controversial political display was wrong; in an online poll of 12,675

Pledge Union started to sell White Poppies, as a commitment to condemning war rather than justifying it. More recently, it seems that the poppy, and the sense of patriotism that it represents, have been used to advocate wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Whilst the British public see the poppy as a symbol of remembrance, it is considered to be a symbol of British military power across the globe. Therefore, it doesn’t seem far-fetched for FIFA to regard the poppy as a political symbol. Maintaining football as a platform for neutrality, where people of all opinions and cultures can compete in a game void of political messages. Fundamentally, for many the poppy represents remembrance and hope, but for some it doesn’t. It’s FIFA’s duty to protect football from that threat to the sport’s neutrality. More than that, it’s the duty of the new FIFA administration to prove that they are strong-willed and able to uphold their values. There will still be a minute’s silence, and armbands can be worn, but I can understand FIFA’s decision to not let footballers wear the poppy. Ultimately footballers don’t need to wear the poppy to remember heroes that have died in the service of their country, and football is probably better off without it. James Sproston

voters on the Telegraph website, 9,543 (75.29%) of the voters responded ‘yes’ to the question ‘was the Argentina football protest over the Falkland Islands inappropriate?’ It isn’t surprising that so many people think that this provocative stunt was inappropriate? Especially so when considering the recent context of English and Scottish football players being prevented from wearing poppies on Armistice Day due to it being a ‘political’ symbol. Emma Bancroft

Politcal poppy: England were allowed to wear the poppy in 2011 Image: Philosophy Football on Flikr

The Russian kiss Back in 2013, the 14th Athletics World Championship was held in Moscow for the first time. It was an important international event for the Russians, aiming to prove their ability to host a successful sporting competition ahead of the coming 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Both of these tournaments were, arguably, a success, but did not escape controversy. A couple of months before the Championships, in June 2013, the Russian government enacted legislation criminalising the distribution of propaganda

promoting ‘non-traditional sexual relationships’ to minors. This declaration was made as an amendment to the law ‘On Protection of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development’, which also encompasses protection laws from self-harm, illegal drugs and child pornography. Western human rights campaigners have criticised the legislation as means of criminalising LGBT culture and inciting increasing incidence of LGBT hate crime and homophobic propaganda in Russia. The law now bans public demonstration of support for homosexuality – not that this support is rife in Russia, as a 2013 survey found 74% of Russians hold the opinion that homosexuality should not be accepted by society. Many Western athletes threatened to boycott the Championships, which saw the host nation top the medal tables and Usain Bolt named as the most successful athlete in the history of World

Championships. Two Swedish athletes, Emma Green-Tregaro and Moa Hjelmer, painted their nails in the colours of the Rainbow Flag in silent support for gay rights and American runner, Nick Symmonds, said he would also dedicate his Silver Medal to his ‘gay and lesbian friends back home’. However, the most memorable media story of the Championships was based on a photo capturing members of the Russian female 4x400m relay team kissing on the podium. Kseniya Ryzhova and Yuliya Gushchina were thought to be protesting against the recent antigay laws. But, not long after the social media storm, the two athletes denied any intention of a gay rights protest. They released a statement maintaining that the kiss was an act of utter elation at winning Gold, adding that they both have husbands. Kristian Rutenberg-Houchen

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Polo prepare for the mane event

Sports Editor Lucy Brogden spoke to the Polo club’s President, Jess Rea, to hear about their plans for the current season Newcastle University’s polo club is one of the more recently founded AU sports teams, having been set up back in 2008. Today, the club has grown to have around 40 members, and is still growing. Welcoming experienced riders to total beginners, there is a place for everyone as the polo club caters to all. This ‘Sport of Kings’ is said to have first begun way back in the 1st century AD, and is one of the few mixed sports on offer at Newcastle. Teams at beginner and novice level are made up of three riders, and compete on the largest pitch in sport- a ten acre field, which equates to more than nine football pitches. Players aim to hit the ball, using

each other off ’ (hooking their leg over another player’s, and making their horse career off course), or perform a hook, by intercepting the attacking player’s swing by hitting their mallet with your own. Although Polo is not recognized as a BUCS sport, a national league is in the process of being established, and the club currently competes at national tournaments throughout the year. Since Newcastle does not have any polo facilities, the team travels all the way to the White Rose Polo Club in York to train. Regional competitors in the club’s calendar include, most notably, the Northern Championship, where Newcastle, Durham, Leeds and York battle it out to for the James Steen cup. The

wooden mallets, into the goal, made out of two sticks placed as widely apart as a football goal. At University level, games are made up of 7 minute chukkas, with the teams switching ends after every goal. Players ride as a pack to protect the ball, and the rider with the ball on their right-hand side has the right of way. To cut him up or cross him to get to the ball is a foul. Therefore, to defend, riders must either ‘ride

competition is hosted by Newcastle, and the cup commemorates ex-President of the club, and founding member, James Steen, who passed away aged just 23. In his honour, Newcastle remain unbeaten in the Northern Championship, taking the cup back to the Toon every year. Other key events in the Polo calendar include playing beach polo, and playing at the prestigious Errol Park, both of which are in St Andrews. The

“Teams at beginner and novice level are made up of three riders, and compete on the largest pitch in sport”

highlight of the Polo calendar is Summer Nationals, where all university polo teams play and camp together. Despite teams mainly coming from universities, teams from Sandhurst and Norland College (who provide nannies for the rich and famous) also attend. The four-day event is held at the Dallas Burston Polo Club, which is where TV smash hit ‘Made in Chelsea’ was filmed.

President, Jess Rea said: ‘I am so impressed with how our new members are progressing this year. We want to break down the stereotype surrounding our sport. University is the perfect time to give it a go and as soon as you give it a go you will be hooked.’ We look forward to keeping up with the Polo club, and seeing how their year progresses.

Newcastle battle it out at Nationals Image: Vicky Fenner

Sport

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Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Twitter: @Courier_Sport | Instagram: thecouriersport Unbeaten: the Raiders continued their incredible winning streak against Northumbria at Druid Park Image: Michael Oakes

WATER POLO, P.41

NETBALL, P.40

Raiders remain undefeated Men’s American Football Newcastle 1sts

Northumbria 1sts

By Tom Waring at Druid Park “Nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes and the Raiders beating the poly.” - Benjamin Franklin. Maybe those weren’t his exact words, but they certainly ring true. Since the Northumbria Mustangs first formed, they have never beaten the Newcastle Raiders, so a decade of dominance commenced. When the schedule is released every year, both alumni and current players immediately search for the Northumbria fixtures, knowing that they are the biggest games of the season. This year it just happened to be the season’s curtain raiser. Bringing in new coaches on offense, including a new offensive co-ordinator, meant much of the pre-season was focused on fitness and preparing the offense for the physical challenges the new playbook would bring.

“Preseason was mainly spent on recruiting a high amount of rookies”

The defence however took a blow before the season started with 7 of the starting 11 unable to play for the Raiders this season. However, the pre-season saw new Club President and Team Captain Jerome Klein as well as rookies from last year, such as: new Defensive Captain Joe Riley and the game winner

from the previous Stan Calvert game, Tom Rickards, step up and lead by example.

“The opening kick-off hero suddenly turned villain”

The Raiders arrived to Druid Park, full of confidence from 5 weeks of training, memories of well-earned past victories and cheers from alumni in the stands. Northumbria got the game underway with a cheeky short kick to try and catch the Raiders off guard; however, veteran 4th year Offensive Lineman and Offensive Captain Tom Waring remembered that the Mustangs attempted the exact same play last year and was able to recover the ball. The opening kick-off hero suddenly turned villain in the Raiders opening drive by twice snapping the ball over starting rookie Quarterback Zaz AlHumaidhi to force the Raiders to punt the ball away. The Northumbria Mustangs have gotten a lot stronger over the last couple of years and this showed as they marched down the field to score on their opening drive. This was a sudden wake-up call to the Raiders who now trailed for the first time ever against the Mustangs. A change-up on the offensive line saw third year Jack ‘Big-John’ Hunter come in at centre to provide a calming effect to the over-eagerness shown by the Raiders in their opening drive. This proved vital, as it allowed Al-Humaidhi more time to find his receivers, which resulted in a 26 yard pass to Alex ‘TV’ Cooper, brilliantly staying in bounds and on his feet to score his 1st ever touchdown, getting the Raiders back on level terms. The first half was filled with excite-

ment from both teams on both sides of the ball. The Raiders offense was beginning to find its rhythm as the Raiders Offensive line provided Al-Humaidhi with enough time to find wide receivers Diira Ejibe and Matthew Gough for big plays throughout the half. Al-Humaidhi also showed his athleticism as he ran in a long rushing touchdown himself to give the Raiders the lead. The Raider’s defence was being led by some heavy hitting from Captain Jerome Klein and Defensive MVP Liam ‘Glitch’ McGlinchey who managed to sack the Mustangs QB 3 times. Unable to keep the Mustangs out on their last drive of the half, the score was tied 1414 at the half.

“The first half was filled with excitement from both teams on both sides of the ball”

The second half proved to be very one-sided as the Raiders came out the stronger of the two. Having picked up where they left off on offense, QB AlHumaidhi was able to throw numerous passes to open receivers to keep the Raiders in control. He found Ejibe wide open, putting on the burners and race away to put the Raiders in the lead. However, Northumbria refused to be beaten. Hope came for the Mustangs as a deep throw found its way over the top of cornerback Jono ‘Poster-Boy’ Coombes head and into the hands of a grateful wide receiver. The defence rallied though and on the very next play Coombes was able to intercept a pass from the Mustang’s QB and get the ball back for the Raiders offense. The offense repaid the defence’s great work and scored another

two touchdowns to further emphasise their dominance.

RUGBY, P.39

“The second half proved to be very one-sided as the Raiders came out the stronger of the two”

Northumbria tried to claw their way back into the game by scoring a late touchdown, but the Raiders quickly put the game out of reach as rookie QB Chris Harrington took his chance in the 4th Quarter by throwing a beautiful 40-yard spiral pass to receiver Greg Salt who out jumped his defender and ran away to score his 1st Raiders touchdown and the last of the game. The final score was 38-20 to the Raiders which puts them 1-0 on the season with seven games left to play. With many of the Raiders starting team from last year graduating or returning to America; the pre-season was mainly spent on recruiting a high amount of rookies to help bolster both the talent and depth of the squad, and after the victory last Sunday, it is safe to say we may have found some key players for the next couple of years. The future of the Newcastle Raiders looks strong.

DEFENSIVE MVP: Liam McGlinchy OFFENSIVE MVP: Zaz Al-Humaidhi ROOKIE MVP: Jono Coombes GAME MVP: Diira Ejibe

HOCKEY, P.38

POLO, P.43

POLITICAL SPORTING SYMBOLS P.42