thecourier thecourieronline.co.uk 70th Anniversary Whale of the Week returns for a Courier anniversary special Page 19
Arts Why is the popularity of poetry on the rise in today’s society? Page 30
Monday 18 March 2019 Issue 1387 Free
Science Find out what the future might hold for elephants in Botswana Page 35
Femsoc stall censored at Robbo The independent voice of Newcastle
Jodie Duddy News Editor The Newcastle University Feminist Society (FemSoc) was involved in controversy last Wednesday when some of the posters they were selling to raise funds for the West End Refugee Service were censored by library staff at the Phillip Robinson Library.
“This censorship was a sad reminder of why artwork like Louise’s and societies like ours are still so necessary”
Becky Tuck, President of Newcastle University Feminist Society
The artworks in question were created by Newcastle student Louise Brown and depict cartooned images of female nudity, which library staff told the society to cover up as it might ‘shock and surprise students’ coming to study. In response to this censorship FemSoc responded by covering the posters with signs that said ‘censored by Newcastle University’, which further aggravated staff who told the students to put the posters away and ask for ‘student’s consent’ to look at them. The stall was located in the foyer of the Phillip Robinson Library and sold posters, postcards, stickers and t-shirts with feminist slogans and illustrations on them similar to the posters that were specifically targeted. All the artwork sold was created by Newcastle students; Becky Tuck, Tamsin Daisy Rees and Louise Brown. All proceeds of the event were donated to the West End Refugee service and the girls asked for donations of menstrual products they could donate also. Louise Brown whose work was deemed controversial commented on the counter productivity of censorship of this nature; “My art is directly made to counter sexist attitudes towards women and their bodies. Female bodies are not inherently sexual. The female form is not offensive. While attempting to minimise offence, the censorship of my art and the female form only works to perpetuate the patriarchy. This response to my art highlights its importance in challenging dominant sexist discourse.” Further justifications by staff present were that ‘the other library staff might not know
how to react’ to the nudity and that a trip of school children would be walking through the library during FemSoc’s presence there. A Newcastle University spokesperson said: “We encourage a range of artwork on campus and are committed to creating spaces for art and performance that celebrates diversity.” “Unfortunately, on this occasion we were approached by FemSoc at the last minute asking for help in providing a space in the Robinson Library for their stall as the strong winds meant they could not display in the open air outside the Students’ Union. It was only after they set up we decided it was not appropriate as a group of 8 and 9 year old school children were visiting the library. With more time and discussion in advance we could have happily accommodated them.” They did not comment however on concerns voiced to FemSoc by individual library staff. The Feminist Society expressed their dismay over social media and were in contact with Activities Officer Sophie McDermott, who commented, “The University should not be avoiding important conversations such as the issues surrounding the female form in artwork. I was very disappointed with their reaction and hope to work with them in the future to avoid this happening again” Overall the students found it difficult to speak with library staff about the issue, out of fear that they would be asked to move altogether from the library, social secretary Sian Dickie of the society noted that there was an atmosphere of lack of support from staff, which surprised members who thought the university setting would encourage intellectual and creative freedoms. Becky Tuck president of the Newcastle University Feminist Society said finally, “This censorship was a sad reminder of why artwork like Louise’s and societies like ours are still so necessary. This isn’t about one piece of amazing artwork, or one act of censorship – this is much bigger. This is about resisting a culture that imposes a sexuality onto women’s bodies that is not their own, a culture that creates dress codes for school girls implying inappropriate and “distracting” sexuality in their teenage bodies, a culture that blames women who are assaulted for their choices of outfit, a culture that sees women as sex objects and nothing more. And we shall continue breaking down the patriarchy one non-sexualised naked cartoon Lady at a time!” “Despite the censorship the event was a huge success. Louise’s work was being sold alongside two others’, to raise money for menstrual products for local refugee women through the West End Refugee service – for which we raised over £300.”
The Library told the Craft Stall to take down the drawings depicting cartoon naked women Image: Sian Dickie
Candidate fights false allegations
Louise Hall Editor
Following a relatively chaotic start to campaigns this year, the run up to elections has taken another twist after Grace Algar (the current Students with Faith or Belief officer at Newcastle University Students’ Union) has retracted comments they made in the Courier last week. Grace Algar insisted that nominations be re-opened, claiming that the only candidate Chris Winter was not acceptable for the role due to offensive behaviour. Algar has now retracted comments made in regards to Chris Winter after admitting they were inaccurate. On their campaign Facebook page Grace wrote: ‘I now know that the comment which had been understood as mocking transgender people was in fact misunderstood, I deeply apologize for this misunderstanding as I did
in person to Chris.’ After our conversation I contacted the editor ASAP and asked for a retraction, unfortunately the quote had already gone to print, but I was able to submit a retraction for the online version.’ Chris Winter gave a statement to the Courier regarding the allegations: ‘I am deeply saddened by the events of last week in regard to untrue comments being made about myself in the previous edition of the Courier. I wish to stress that these allegations made by the current PTO are entirely untrue and are based on hearsay and rumour. My campaign is based on promoting faith on campus, helping others with their faith, representing marginalised and majority faiths, and working hard for the student body as a whole. Personally, I have nothing against a RON campaign being ran against me, it is important for a functioning democracy to allow
space for genuine critique. However, totally untrue and defamatory allegations like those made by Grace Algar are totally unacceptable and, quite frankly appalling.’ The election hopeful also criticised the Courier for printing the allegations but stated that he hoped ‘this has also been a learning experience’ for the journalists and that ‘this may never happen again in the future.’ It is our understanding that Grace’s RON campaign is ongoing, but ‘In an attempt to promote civility’ they are ‘choosing to voluntarily remove all posts on this page which contain meme format comments which feature Chris’ name or face.’ The Courier apologises for the inclusion of Grace’s original statement in the last week’s print edition and any distress it may have caused. Voting opens at 1pm on Monday 18 March and any Newcastle University Student is eligible to vote at NUSU.co.uk/vote.
Inside today >>>
Elections Debates
If you missed the debates live, our News Editors have the hot topics covered for you News, page 4-5
Cambridge
Cambride University participate in adjustment as part of their efforts to increase diversity Comment, page 10
Campus mental health Find out about the mental health services currently offered to students Feature, page 22-23
Sonic the Hedgehog
Get the latest on the leaked images of upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog live-action film Gaming, page 32
New rules in Formula 1
Read the pros and cons for the proposal to rewrite the rules in the upcoming Formula 1 season Sport, page 40
2
the courier
thecourier The Courier is a weekly newspaper produced by students, for students. It’s never too late to get involved in the paper, whether you’re a writer, illustrator or photographer. Just visit thecourieronline.co.uk/about for more information.
Monday 18 March 2019
NSR show of the week Circular Tracks Wednesdays 7pm-8pm Matt Creg
Editor Louise Hall Deputy Editor Isabel Sykes
Circular Tracks are three crate digging students on a mission to find the rarest
News Editors Grace Dean, Molly Greeves, Sidney Pinsett and Steven Ross Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Caitlin Disken and Alexandra Sadler
This year we have travelled through South America
Life & Style Editor Sophie Henderson Lifestyle Editors Phoebe Fielder, Holly Margerrison, and Ella Williams Fashion Editors Poppy Couling Joe Hood and Miranda Stoner Beauty Editors Laura Buckle, Susanne Norris and Nimra Rafique Travel Editors Jenny Franken, Bianca Ionci and Amy Harris Culture Editors Alex Moore and Carys Rose Thomas Feature Editor Ally Wilson Arts Editors Rosie Mccrum, Julia McGhee Russell and Scarlett Rowland Music Editors Charlotte Boulton, Rory Ellis and Max Hobbs TV Editors Jacob Clarke, Tom Cooney and Chloe Mullins Film Editors JImmy Athey, Joe Holloran and Jack Gill Gaming Editors George Boatfield, Kelly South, James Troughton, Shawn Khoo Science Editors Eleanor Gratton and Cecilia Adamou Sports Editors Sydney Isaacs, Rebecca Johnson, Harry Parsons, Jack Smilie, Rory Ewart Puzzles Editor Helena Buchanan Online Editors Rory Cameron, Jodie Duddy, Amanda Goh, Thomas Hardwick, Orestis Katsoulis, Sophia Kypriotis, Dominic Lee, Lucy Lillystone, Alex Darbyshire The Courier NUSU King’s Walk Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QB Tel: 0191 239 3940 The Courier is printed by: Trinity Mirror Printing, Barton Road, Riverside Park Industrial Estate, Middlesbrough, TS2 1UT 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.
global cuts in disco, funk and beyond! Travelling to a different country each
week by the power of our trusty dart and globe. This year we have travelled through Central and South America, charting the musical history of Nicaragua and Paraguay. Followed by a boat across the Atlantic, landing in Mali, and moving towards the disco Mecca of Nigeria! Tune in every Wednesday to find out where we are stationed next, if you would like to catch up on our previous destinations give our Facebook page a like.
STU BREW Brewery Bash Friday 22 March 5pm-11pm Isabel Sykes Deputy Editor On Friday 22 March at Merz Court, Stu Brew are hosting a ‘Brewery Bash’, and anybody is welcome. Stu Brew’s parties always go down a treat and are historically very popular. Expect music, food, a good old laugh, and of course Stu Brew’s award-winning beer. At these events the society like to invite exciting local vendors to provide the food, and this time ‘Goodtimes Tacos’ will be doing the honours, promising to add to the good times
Student Spotlight Media and Culture Society: BBC tour Isabel Sykes Deputy Editor On Wednesday 20 March Newcastle’s Media and Culture Society are inviting people to take part in a tour of the BBC Newcastle studio. The society are taking people behind the scenes to give students interested in media, film and journalism an exciting opportunity
Students can get behind the camera, play around with the green screens, and even have a go at reading the weather
to see what’s involved in media production at BBC Newcastle. For the very reasonable price of £5 (a reduction from the usual £8), students can get behind the camera, play around with the green screens, and even have a go at reading the weather. The Media and Culture Society are meeting at St James’s Park prior to the tour at 12:45. To attend the event, students should purchase tickets (and membership of the society) on the NUSU website before meeting the group with proof of purchase. This would be a great opportunity for anybody interested in a career in media or journalism, or just an opportunity to learn something new and have fun. To find out more information about other events run by the Media and Culture Society, students should visit their Facebook page or the NUSU website.
by serving up some “tacos with a twist”. If the library is getting you down and your Friday night is looking a bit lonely, come down t o Merz Court on campus to meet some new people, listen to some great music, and get yourself some jazzy tacos. Don’t forget to also sample some excellent beer made with love by Europe’s first student-run microbrewery. So put Friday in your calendar and give yourself the night off to have a boogy while offering your support to a great society.
Whats on near you:
Monday
Sport: 12pm-1pm: GIAG Table Tennis. Location: Venue, NUSU. Sport: 4:55pm-6pm: GIAG Female only basketball. Location: Meet at Sports Centre entrance. Arts: 7pm: Drink & Draw. Location: Ernest, Ouseburn.
Wednesday
Media: 12:45pm: Newcastle Media and Cultural Society, tour of BBC Newcastle. Location: Meet at St James’s Park. Lifestyle: 1pm-2pm: Volunteer tree-planting at Gosforth Park Nature Reserve. Location: Meet outside NUSU. Music: 4pm-6pm: West African Drumming Workshop. Location: Venue, NUSU. Sport: 6pm-7pm: Run DMC with Watch Your Head. Location: Start at West Jesmond Metro. Arts: 6pm-9pm: Life Drawing. Location: Cobalt Studios Ltd.
Friday
Sport: 12:30pm-1:15pm: GIAG LesMills BodyCombat Fitness Class. Location: Multipurpose room B, Sports Centre. Sport: 2pm-4:30pm: GIAG Hot Pod Yoga. Location: Meet outside NUSU. Societies: 5pm-11pm: StuBrew Brewery Bash. Location: Merz Court. Music: 7pm: Music Society Easter concert. Location: King’s Hall, Armstrong Building. Music: 7:30pm: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac Anniversary Tour. Location: The Sage Gateshead.
Tuesday
Employability: 12pm-1:30pm: Marketing your Rep experience. Location: MLK room, NUSU. Employability: 12pm-3pm: Careers Service Spring Recruitment Fair. Location: Students’ Union. Societies: 6pm-7pm: Yoga Society taster session. Location: Alnwick Room, NUSU. Lifestyle: 1pm-2pm: Garden Volunteering. Location: Bernicia Halls.
Thursday
Lifestyle: 1pm-2pm: Garden Volunteering. Location: Bernicia Halls. Societies: 5pm-6pm: Watch Your Head, Peer Support. Location: Kate Aide Room, NUSU. Lifestyle: 5:15pm-6:30pm: GIAG Bath bomb making at Lush. Location: Meet outside NUSU. Lifestyle: 5:30pm-7pm: GIAG Catpawcino
Saturday
Sport: 10am-2pm: Newcastle University Athletics & Cross Country Cow Bell 5K Race. Location: Newcastle Town Moor. Arts: 1:30pm-4pm: GIAG Silver ring-making jewellery workshop. Location: Meet outside NUSU.
Sunday
Arts: 9:30am-10:30am: Mandrake making. Location: The Stack. Sport: 11am-2:30pm: GIAG Surfing Lesson. Location: Meet outside NUSU.
news
3
the courier
Monday 18 March 2019
@TheCourier_News courier.news@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/news News Editors Grace Dean, Molly Greeves, Sidney Pinsent, Steven Ross Online Editor Jodie Duddy
Students with low A-levels could be denied student loan Em Richardson A review of university education, chaired by ex-investment banker Philip Augar, is set to suggest that university applicants who receive low A-level results should be denied student loans from the government.
The popularity of unconditional offers has led to concern that students are taking degrees which do not increase job prospects
If the proposals are implemented, students who receive 3 ‘D’ grades, or lower, in their Alevels will not receive funding for their degree, even if they do manage to receive a place at university. Instead of attending university, the ‘lowachieving’ students will be encouraged to pursue a more vocational course of study. The proposal comes amidst fears that many students under-achieve at A-level, but still able to obtain a place at university, due to the increased numbers of ‘unconditional offers’ made by universities. Such offers mean that students automatically receive a place at a university, irrespective of the A-level grades they eventually achieve. The popularity of unconditional offers has led to concern that some students are taking ‘Mickey Mouse’ de-
grees at university, which do not increase their chances of obtaining a job after graduation, simply because they are guaranteed a place on the course. In 2018, UCAS claimed that over third of university applicants now receive at least one unconditional offer. It is estimated that 20,000 of the students who enroll on courses at UK universities each year obtain grades of 3 D’s or lower. Augar’s report, which is due to be published imminently, is rumoured to propose that these students should take cheaper, vocational courses at colleges of higher education, rather than attempting to obtain a university degree. The alleged proposal has been criticised by some, amid suggestions that it will make university seem unachievable for pupils who, under the current system, would be perfectly eligible to attend. In 2018, more than 80% of university applicants who achieved DDD at A-level actually gained acceptance onto a university course. Others have argued that the alleged proposals will encourage academic excellence, and ensure all sixth-form leavers are enrolled onto courses that are suited to their levels of academic achievement.
The alleged proposal has been criticised for making university seem unachievable
Other rumours suggest that the report is likely to suggest a reduction in the tuition fees charged by UK universities, with some claiming Augar will propose they be lowered to as little as £6250 per year.
An estimated 20,000 students who enrol at UK universities obtain 3 D’s or lower Image: Flickr
Packed schedule for Free Thinking Festival Tom Kennedy
All events at Free Thinking Festival are free to attend Image: Graham Robson
From 29 to 31 March, the Sage, Gateshead, is set to host the 2019 edition of the annual BBC Radio Three: Free Thinking Festival. Established and organised by Radio Three, the festival will comprise of over 50 events – all free to attend - including lectures, discussions and live radio broadcasts with a specific emphasis on the power of music to tackle this year’s theme; emotion. Whilst last year the festival explored the relationship between the individual and the crowd, the 2019 iteration will investigate topics including the polarised British political atmosphere, our emotional responses to popular culture –both anger and sorrow – and anxiety in teenagers. Amongst those hosting events will be academics from Newcastle University such as music lecturer Kathryn Tickell. Tickell’s band The Darkening will be launching their debut album on Friday 29 March, and Kathryn will be participating in two festival events throughout the day. The first on the emotional influence of location in music, and in the evening, she will host the BBC Radio show Music Planet, discussing the power of music to facilitate emotion across the globe. Another Newcastle representative, poetry lecturer Dr. Tara Bergin - whose 2017 work The Tragic Death of Eleanor Marx was shortlisted for the TS Elliot Prize- will be discussing
her experiences as a writer in a special edition of the radio show The Verb. Does the growth of “grief memoirs, gushing obituaries and feel-good fiction” suggest that contemporary culture has ‘gone soft’? Newcastle’s Dr. Rachel Hewitt, lecturer in Creative Writing, and other Royal Society of Literature fellows will be considering this question on Saturday 30 March. On Sunday 31, Human Geography lecturer Dr. Michael Richardson - one more of the Newcastle contingent - will be investigating why we may feel uneasy vocalising our innermost feelings in The Unsaid. While on the same day, Professor Louise Robinson will participate in “Should Doctors and Nurses Cry?”, a discussion questioning the clinical, and sometimes unemotional, temperament
Established and organised by Radio Three, the festival will comprise of over 50 events – all free to attend
that medical staff are often trained to adopt. BBC Radio Three recommend booking tickets in advance - they are available online on the Sage Gatehead website. For those who are unable to book tickets in advance some tickets willl be released on the day.
the courier
news
4
Monday 18 March 2019
Elections debates Our News Editors give an overview of last week's live debates between candidates running for this year's 7 sabbatical roles
Editor of The Courier
Jodie Duddy News Editor
The Editor for the Courier debate was moderated by student Holly Mawdsley and current Editor Louise Hall who directed specific questions on manifesto points and omissions to the candidates: Ally Wilson, Grace Dean, Xin Li, Harry Parsons, Scarlett Rowland and Sidney Pinsent. Scarlett and Ally were called on to clarify their points on social media: Ally would like one social media manager for the whole paper, whereas Scarlett’s intention is for a manager per section because of the quantity of work social media involves. Grace’s point to increase the ‘poetry/photography box’ section of the paper, where students display their
creative work, was challenged by Scarlett who noted a lack of enthusiasm from students for this at present. Grace noted that it was her intention to involve creative societies such as Cresoc and the photography society to make the paper a better medium to display student creativity. Xin spoke about her hopes to involve more international students in the paper, and for more content about both Newcastle culture and international student culture, she also expressed an intention to improve the website as was common among the candidates. Sidney challenged his peers in his promise to improve readership rather than distribution which Ally, Grace, Harry and Scarlett all included specifically to work on within their manifestos. Ally spoke about extending the Monday distribution round to include halls
of residence, and Grace emphasised that she would target eating outlets and social spaces to place the Courier, noting that students rarely pick up the paper on their way to lectures. Scarlett was questioned on her manifesto point to reintroduce the paid distribution role and Harry came up with an idea to research where the popular places for Courier placement were, and to use this for distribute in the most effective way. There was a lot of content to get through in the short hour session considering there were six candidates all with varied manifestos. It was a popular debate with a high turn out from students involved especially in student media all curious to see what the 2019/ 2020 Courier Editor, and student media coordinator will bring to Newcastle Student’s Union.
Union’s involvement with fundraising, for example through charity tournaments, improving spectator attendance at home matches, and introducing a dedicated post-match venue for team members to celebrate together. One issue that was heavily discussed was the affordability of university sport. Lara proposed countering the current problems by increasing the awareness of the benefits of each level of Sports Centre membership whilst also increasing promotion of the Sports centre app so that students can utilise their Sports Centre membership to, for example, book rooms. Joe suggested a monthly payment system for the Sports Centre to balance students’ expenditure throughout the year while also ensuring that the Sports Centre still receives the same level of income. Stylianos argued that finding most cost-efficient ways to carry out current practices, such as supplying transport and kits, would decrease membership costs without having an impact on the clubs’ abilities to carry out their core activities. Difficulties in attending sports matches on Wednesdays because of timetable clashes
was also an intensely debated point, which Joe describing how this leads to a high sport drop-out rate. All three candidates proposed liaising more closely with academic faculties to achieve a better balance between sport and academia; Joe argued that from his experience, academic faculties can be very accommodating in this regard. Lara advocated the need for greater promotion of sports across campus and to new freshers, including a bigger sports fair in September, more communication with incoming students about sports opportunities before they arrive in Newcastle, and provision of transport to Longbenton for trials and taster sessions. Stylianos criticised the Longbenton facilities as being inaccessible for disabled students and poorly lit at night, however struggled to find solutions to these problems. Joe emphasised the need for further training for club Welfare Officers, which he argued could be achieved through closer liaison between the Athletics Union Officer, the Welfare and Equality Officer and external speakers.
perience as Chair of Council and International Students’ Officer respectively to aid their arguments. Different assessment formats were discussed with all candidates recognising that some students with mental health problems and physical disabilities may not be suited to traditional types of assessment. Printing credits were additionally mentioned on the manifestos of all three candidates, reflecting a wider problem experienced by many current Newcastle University students. Melanie suggested implementing a system whereby printing credits would be allocated to students dependent on their programme of study and factors such as whether they have to print a dissertation. Adam and Pablo on the other hand argued in favour of a system
of transferrable printing credits. The representation of international students was a further issue discussed, with Pablo explaining how he would ensure liaison with the University to keep students constantly updated on how Brexit would affect their studies. Melanie said that, while the role would only last one year, she would ensure that the long-term implications of Brexit were considered too. Towards the end of the debate, the moderators were criticised for not allowing time for audience questions. The audience member argued that the format of the debate was not "democratic". The moderators subsequently allowed time for the audience to ask the candidates questions.
Athletic Union Officer Grace Dean News Editor
The second night of debates commenced with the Athletic Union Officer debate, which was contested by three candidates. These were Lara Brooks, Joe Gubbins and Stylianos Hadjiforados, committee members of the Women’s Lacrosse, Ice Hockey and Archery clubs respectively, and all members of the Athletic Union Executive Committee. In their opening statements, the candidates clearly laid out the main points of their manifestos. Joe explained how we wanted to introduce more inclusivity to the Athletic Union, such as through increasing accessibility for people with disabilities and reducing costs, alongside introducing coaching qualifications. Stylianos explained how the concepts of diversity and welfare form the cornerstone of his manifesto, stating that “everyone has the right to sport”. Lara identified her three main manifesto points as increasing the Athletic
Education Officer Grace Dean News Editor
The second debate of Monday night was for the role of Education Officer, which is currently filled by Jonny Hall. The Education Officer represents the academic issues of undergraduate and postgraduate students and also oversees Student Council alongside the Chair of Council. The role is being contested by Adam Warner, Melanie Ann and Pablo Charro de la Fuente, all of whom were present for the debate, which was moderated by Jonny Hall and Julia McGee-Russell (NSR). The debate covered a breadth of topics and Adam and Pablo were able to utilise their ex-
5
news
the courier
Monday 18 March 2019
President of the Students' Union Steven Ross News Editor
The debate for the position of President of the Students Union was moderated by Tom Stone with current President Raff Marioni assisting. The seven candidates were: Asif Khan, Jason Carr, Jack Clohessy, Katie Smyth, John Dilworth, Chris Wilkinson and Jamie Cameron. The debate began with opening statements; Asif wanted to create an interactive student
experience, Jason supported reform of the Student Council whilst Jack stressed the need for safer drugs policy and John emphasised his success in tiddlywinks whilst stating that he was running in order to bring more student interest into the elections. Katie wanted to ensure student safety on campus and Chris wanted to do more to tackle mental health. Jamie advocated a need for radical change to ensure that necessary resources were provided by the University. When asked about how they would react to
further strike action, Jason stated that he had been opposed to previous strikes and Katie stated that as President she would support the needs of the students, not lecturers. John said that he didn’t like strikes but joked that, like the rain, sometimes they are necessary. Jamie stated that the needs of lecturers and students were interconnected, and staff should be supported. Chris argued that political beliefs should not influence how the president acts and that the students should be prioritised. Asif suggested that the student body should be listened to when strike action was considered. On the discussion of mental health, Jack
stated that he would integrate NHS and university care, Jason supported this approach but also emphasised the need to deal with the root causes. Katie and Chris stated that they would reach out to local organisations such as Mind. Jamie argued that student funding, democracy and scrutiny needed to be reformed to tackle this issue. Asif proposed providing schemes such as free yoga sessions and the restructuring of timetables. A question on how initiations should be handled divided opinion. Katie supported the ban, while Jack stated that the Activities Officer should oversee initiations to ensure
safety. John and Jason suggested that students should be left to decide how much they drink themselves. Jamie discussed a need to tackle drinking culture whereas Asif stated students should be consulted and Chris said that whistleblowers should be supported. Questions from the audience challenged John over running a joke campaign, and he stated that he did this because many candidates run on unrealistic platforms. Jack was quizzed on how initiations would be monitored, and Chris was asked about the practicality of achieving the discounts he wanted.
Molly Greeves News Editor
point, arguing that other attempts to allow societies to collaborate over Facebook have not worked, and that a “societal mixer” is a more fun way of allowing people to get to know each other. A debate surrounding Fresher’s Fair and Refresher’s Fair also emerged after Jordan argued that the current Refresher’s Week “just doesn’t work” because people are too busy to go midway through the year. He proposes instead that students should have a week off to avoid exhaustion going into the second semester. Alaistair claimed that the reason Refresher’s Fair struggles is because students get “stuck in their ways” and argues that societies need help promoting their events. He also wants to put focus on the events that aid people with disabilities. Haaris disagreed with the suggestion that Refresher’s Fair is unsuccessful, claiming that it is just a case of societies marketing themselves well. The conversation naturally progressed from Fresher’s Fair to a discussion surround-
ing GDPR. As The Courier covered back in October, the new regulations that permitted societies from taking emails were a source of frustration, and some society members who argued that it was more difficult to get Fresher’s to sign up than in previous years. Haaris argued that this issue was an “isolated incident” caused by technological issues. The conversation became quite heated when Jordan argued that “the whole process of getting people’s emails” was an issue, whereas Haaris insisted that this classed as a technological issue. Jordan also disagreed with the claim that Refresher’s fair was successful, as the turnout for this year was lower than that of Fresher’s Fair. Haaris then went on to make the controversial comment that Fresher’s Fair was always going to be attended by “wide-eyed naïve Fresher’s who have nothing else going on in their lives”. When the moderator pointed out that Haaris would be representing this group, he responded that he meant this affectionately.
Mikesh Lukka. Because this is a brand-new role, much of the debate was filled will discussion of what the Officer’s main aims would be, prompted by moderators Jonny Hall and Dermot O’Hare (NSR). Alongside their manifestos being scrutinised, much of the discussion focused on the integration of postgraduate students within the student body, as it was argued that these students are less likely to engage with the Students’ Union. Christopher suggested a buddy system whereby incoming postgraduate students are matched with other students with fellow interests, so that they can attend society events together. Mikesh argued in favour of large monthly social events that would be open to all postgraduate students. Student representation was also mentioned, with Karina proposing a reformulation of the current course rep system that would not
involve having an academic representative present so that postgraduate students could discuss any problems with their course whilst ensuring their anonymity. She argued that currently many students choose not to attend their school’s Student Staff Committee meetings because of the lack of anonymity. The discussion additionally explored the issue of study space, with all of the candidates recognising the lack of available computers and workspaces as a major problem in the postgraduate community. Karina suggested utilising empty seminar rooms and lecture theatres for group and independent study to take place in, while Mikesh argued that more computers and workspaces in the Robinson Library need to be reserved exclusively for postgraduate students, which Jonny Hall suggested may lead to conflict with undergraduate students.
Activities Officer The debate for the position of Activities Officer was held on Tuesday the 12th of March and was moderated by James Johnson. The candidates for the role are Alaistair Geear, Eleanor Killner, Haaris Qureshi, Jordan Carroll and Meg Keates. One of candidates, Alaistair Geear, left in the middle of the debate to attend R.A.G. Fashion Show. The first thing that was discussed was how society collaboration can be organised by the student union. Each of the candidates had different ideas about how they would tackle this issue, with Meg arguing that collaboration would be improved by introducing midyear training to help improve organisation and communication. Eleanor disagreed with this, however, arguing that online resources would be more beneficial in guiding committee members. Jordan contested her on this
Postgraduate Officer Grace Dean News Editor
The first debate of the week was on the Monday the 11th of March for the role of Postgraduate Officer. This new full-time sabbatical position was created following Education Officer Jonny Hall’s suggestion that postgraduate students have very different needs to undergraduate students, and therefore deserve more representation in the union. The Postgraduate Officer role has to be filled by someone who has completed, or is in the process of completing, a postgraduate degree. Despite originally ten candidates nominating themselves for the position, the number of candidates has since dropped down to three, all of whom were present for the debate - Christopher Murray, Karina Sorrels and
Welfare and Equality Officer Jodie Duddy News Editor
The Debates were held by NSR and NUTV in colaboration with the Courier Images: Louise Hall
The much anticipated debate for Welfare and Equality officer was moderated by head of News at NSR, Dermot O’ Hare and Jack Green who is the currently the Welfare and Equality officer in the Union. Sara Elkhawad, Alana Barnett and Charlotte Boulton are the three contenders for the role, and have taken their campaign promises in different directions. The debate largely was an explanation of
the candidates manifesto points individually rather than a discussion between them. Sara’s manifesto aims for a more racially diverse NUSU, to implement sexual consent sessions in Fresher’s Week and art sessions to help student’s mental health. Alana makes mental health her priority in her plan to implement mindfulness sessions, and in making herself available for students to contact if they need to talk about their mental health issues. Additionally she aims to set up a memorial service for students who have lost their lives whilst studying at Newcastle. Charlotte wants to see better mental health
and welfare training for all personal tutors, endorsement of an app to warn others of areas where harassment is more frequent / has occurred, and reforming the PEC system so it is fairer and more sympathetic to the students who need them. All the candidates demonstrated their passion for welfare issues within NUSU, their policies being creative and thoughtful for the improvement of the welfare of the student body, the decision depends on which issue students find most pressing for a fairer life on campus.
the courier
6
news
Monday 18 March 2019
NU Academics discover Can fish oil help to plastic waste in the sea prevent dementia? Sophie Henderson
Academics at Newcastle University say it is likely that all marine ecosystems have been affected by pollution. Several brand-new species are being discovered that have never been seen in an uncontaminated state. The research team, led by Dr Alan Jamieson, Dr Will Reid and Dr Thom Linley, have found microplastic ingestion by organisms at a staggering depth of 10,890 metres. Often, these areas are deeper below the surface than Mount Everest is high above it. Plastic has been found for the first time in the Mariana trench and five other areas with a depth of more than 6,000 metres. This prompted the Marine Ecologists to conclude that our deepest waters are becoming the ‘ultimate sink’ for human waste.
Non-biodegradable substances in our clothes, containers and packaging are making their way from our household bins via dump sites and rivers. They eventually break up and sink far down to the ocean floor. According to the non-profit Surfers Against Sewage, there are approximately 51 trillion microscopic pieces of plastic in our oceans, weighing 269,000 tons. That is around the same as 1345 adult blue whales. Aware of this critical issue, the academics at Newcastle used state-of-the-art facilities to examine 90 individual animals. Proving that human plastics have reached our deepest abyss, plastic ingestion ranged from 50% in the New Hebrides Trench to 100% at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Dr Jamieson was part of the research team involved in the BBC’s Blue Planet II. He said, “If you contaminate a river, it can be flushed clean. If you contaminate a coastline, it can be
diluted by the tides. But, in the deepest point of the oceans, it just sits there. It can’t flush and there are no animals going in and out of those trenches.” Deep-sea ‘landers’ free-fall to the ocean floor and carry out a variety of monitoring and sampling tasks. It goes without saying, opportunities for dispersal at such depths become ever more limited. Dr Jamieson went on to say that “The results were both immediate and startling. This type of work requires a great deal of contamination control but there were instances where the fibres could actually be seen in the stomach contents as they were being removed. “We felt we had to do this study given the unique access we have to some of the most remote places on earth, and we are using these samples to make a poignant statement about mankind’s legacy.”
There are approximately 51 trillion microscopic pieces of plastic in our oceans according to Surfers Against Sewage Image: Flickr
Aimee Seddon
On Tuesday 12th March, as part of the series called Insight Public Lectures, a talk titled ‘Fish oils and brain health: what dose does what in whom?’ was held at Newcastle University. This was also the 24th year of the annual Albert Latner Memorial Lecture in Clinical Biochemistry. The talk was given by Professor Anne-Marie Minihane, who is currently Professor of Nutrigenetics and Director of Research and Innovation at Norwich Medical School. The lecture’s focus was the issue of Dementia, and how fish oils could help combat the disease. The Global Burden of Disease looks at which disease is the biggest killer in 195 countries, and Dementia is now the fifth most common. Between 2005-2015, the percentage of Alzheimer cases increased by 38%. This is due to population growth, and because the population is aging, with higher life expectancies. However, the lecture highlighted that whilst life expectancy is increasing, we must also strive to decrease the period of ill health that we see in old age. Minihane explains how nutritional practices can help lead to a long, and healthy, life. Dementia is the umbrella term to describe a range of symptoms with cognitive impairment. The most common type is Alzheimer’s, but there is also Vascular, Lewy Body and Frontotemperal dementia. The aspect which ties them all together is cognitive decline. The nutritional approaches to improving cognitive heath can divide into 3 separate sections. The first being dietary patterns; this includes hydration, physical activity, conviviality, cognitive training and sleep. However, the lecture focused on the two other categories: foods and food components (vitamins). The lecture focused on Omega 3 fatty acids, this includes ALA, EDA and DHA. Minihane explained how EDA and DHA were most beneficial for cognitive development, and they were mostly found in fish. The current national recommendations are between 0-0.5 g of DHA each day for a healthy person. This equates to two portions
of fish a week, with one of these being oily. These recommendations are based on cardiovascular health. However, there is evidence that DHA protects against Dementia. DHA is a main component in the makeup of brain tissue, suggesting it is highly important for brain function. According to a study that took place in 2018, the benefits appeared greater in females; this is particularly promising as females are generally more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than males. There have been numerous studies on animals and human cells which have also shown DHA has many positive effects on brain function. It is associated with the development of new neurons, the survival of neurons and the clearance of downregulating the proteins. DHA is also associated with cardiovascular benefits, and cardiovascular health has a major influence on cognitive health. Mahininer then hypothesised how the opening up of blood vessels might be associated with greater blood flow to the brain, which then may be associated with cognitive developments. For those who don’t eat fish, DHA can be found in algae alternatives. There is also evidence that humans can make their own DHA and EPA from APA, although this is nonefficient. A recent focus of Minihane’s is the Mediterranean diet. This is a plant-based diet, which involves eating seafood two or three times a week, whilst meats and sweets are consumed rarely. Minihane related this to DHA consumption and hence cognitive health. Although she does acknowledge that there is little evidence yet of this working in the UK. The lecture ended on the idea of the foodhealth-environment trilemma. 25% of Greenhouse emission comes from food production, with the majority of this being from meat. She explained how if the whole of the world ate only a Mediterranean, Pescatarian or Vegetarian diet, greenhouse gas emission would be reduced by either 30, 45, or 55% respectively. Whilst the main topic of the talk was how to keep a healthy mind, Minihane’s conclusion emphasised the importance of a healthy planet.
Insights lecture offers solutions to childhood obesity Emma McLaren The pervasive message of Professor Ashley Adamson’s public lecture entitled “Childhood Obesity; they should do something about that” was to disregard an imagined ‘them’, and instead remember that it is all of us who are responsible in the battle against childhood obesity. As part of the University’s acclaimed Insights lecture series, Adamson discussed the economic impact of obesity and reminded the shocked audience exactly why childhood obesity matters, and why we all need to fight it. Professor Ashley Adamson is a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Newcastle University, and leads a research team at the Human Nutrition Research Centre. With the aid of various studies conducted by the centre, she presented a compelling case on the prevalence of childhood obesity in the UK and the ways in which it can be prevented. The lecture began by hitting the audience with the facts. In the UK, one in five children in reception class are of an unhealthy weight. By the time children leave school aged eleven, this figure has risen to one in three. If concern for social ramifications of obesity was not enough to illustrate the necessity of change, then the damning economic costs presented certainly were. Obesity-related healthcare, including that of type two diabetes, constitutes 6% of the NHS’ entire budget.
It costs us £27 billion per annum, more than is spent on the police, fire and judicial services combined. Such large spending emphasised the necessity of preventing obesity so that treatment for related illnesses is not necessary. The lecture showed that childhood obesity
Obesity-related healthcare costs the NHS £27bn annually more than the police, fire and judicial services combined
is often overlooked as temporary ‘puppy fat.’ The Gateshead Millennium Study, a longterm research project following child health in the North East, found that 95% of parents of overweight children, and 44% of parents of obese children, considered their children a healthy weight. It is argued that overweight is now increasingly seen as normal, which blinds us to the prevalence of obesity amongst children. There is a misconception that children will lose this weight as they grow, when in fact many people who are overweight as children continue to have such problems in adolescence and adulthood. Professor Adamson presented three options. As a nation we can wait for diseases associated with obesity to occur and spend NHS resources treating them. Secondly, we
can support adults and families for change through campaigns such as ‘Change 4 Life’. The final option is to actively prevent obesity and its associated risks, so that treatment is not necessary. The most effective option was clear, particularly after Professor Adamson’s jarring reminder of the economic costs of obesity. The lecture went on to discuss the necessity of transforming the foodscape as a key step in prevention. Adults in the UK consume 29% of their meals in food outlets; the availability of smaller portions in such establishments will therefore aid healthier, lower-calorie food choice. The Human Nutrition Research Cen-
tre has worked with local fish and chip shops in the North East to create smaller portion sizes, available at all times of day, to all customers. Such intervention was seemingly effective; the number of calories per portion was halved and the smaller portions actually made a larger profit per portion and were thereby beneficial for the companies. The pressures of the food environment were acknowledged, including the placement of sweet treats near the checkouts and the abundance of promotional sales. Promotions in Britain, such as BOGOF deals (Buy One Get One Free), are at the highest in Europe and constitute 40% of all the food and drink
Childhood obesity is often overlooked as temporary "puppy fat" Image: Wikimedia Commons
we purchase. Adamson emphasised the importance of working with supermarkets to rearrange products to limit such impulse purchases. Disincentives were presented as a final option to force the commercial sector to make changes and help people to limit their sugar and fat intake. The sugar tax, for example, was introduced in 2017 and caused many soft drink companies to cut levels of sugar in ways they had previously insisted were impossible. Professor Adamson concluded with a poignant metaphor; the NHS can either pull people out of the water as they drown, or we can build a bridge to prevent such drowning in the first place.
the courier
7
news
Monday 18 March 2019
Newcastle residents party like its 1920 Ingrid Standal Sørheim The roaring twenties is known as the jazz age and was a decade characterised by glitz, glamour and urban flapper fashion. On Tuesday 26th March, Newcastle residents have the unique opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the 1920s in the Jazz Cafe at Newcastle Arts Centre in a night featuring live jazz music, cocktails and authentic Charleston swing dancing. The initiative to set up the event And All That Jazz comes from a group of International Centre for Mu-
sic Studies students at Newcastle University. “We want to offer And All That Jazz as an exclusive alternative to a regular 21st century night out.” says team leader William Motion, “Young people’s knowledge of the old days naturally comes from movies and history books, but we wish to give students a unique chance to step back in time and experience the exciting 1920s themselves, at a studentfriendly price. We are delighted to announce that we are collaborating with Newcastle University Big Band and Newcastle University Swing Dance Society to create an authentic and memorable 1920s experience.” The student-led Newcastle University Big
Band is a popular band with many bookings for the summer already. Currently they are looking forward to provide the music for the Golden Jazz Age at And All That Jazz. Band leader Rosie Sturt tells that they have a diverse 1920s repertoire. “The Big Band plays a lot of jazz music from the golden jazz era, and many contemporary composed tunes are inspired by the 1920s style. This will be our first performance at Newcastle Arts Centre and it will be exciting to perform in a smaller, aesthetically appropriate venue. We love being a part of such an event and we can’t wait to fill the Jazz Cafe with authentic, captivating music!”
Dancers from Newcastle University Swing Dance Society are also looking forward to the event. They will do a professional performance which will showcase the energetic Charleston swing style of the 1920s. The floor will also be open for everyone to dance to the Big Band’s catchy jazz rhythms throughout the night. However, the President of the Swing Society, Holly Brewster, states that it is not necessary to know how to dance to come along. “Swing is a social and fun dance that anyone can do. It is easy to pick up and even if you don’t dance, you can have a cocktail, watch the energetic dancers and enjoy the
lovely jazz music.” Dancer Tom Young agrees. “If you have never experienced anything like this before, this will be a first class experience. You may also learn some new skills from the guys who are experienced on the floor. We are very excited for And All That Jazz!” And All That Jazz will take place on Tuesday 26th March from 7:30pm onwards in the Jazz Café at the Newcastle Arts Centre. Tickets are available both online and at the door for £7 a head and attendees are encouraging to don their best 1920s attire. For further information, visit the Facebook event ‘And All That Jazz.’
Newcastle University Swing Dance Society will be performing Image: Jazzy Lemon
out Erotic graffiti found at Hadrian's Wall Dropping can cost £20k Steven Ross News Editor
Archaeologists at Newcastle University have been working to record various pieces of graffiti made at Gelt Woods quarry, Cumbria, over 1800 years ago. The quarry is a site close to Hadrian’s Wall but the graffiti was not made until nearly 80 years after the wall had been completed. Roman soldiers were making repairs to the frontier and must have spent their downtime etching into the quarry the same sort of thing that one would see on a toilet door in Sinners today. One example of such graffiti is the engraving of a generously proportioned phallus. However, there may have been a deeper
meaning to these markings than first expected. For the Romans, images of the penis were a good luck symbol, used to ward off misfortune and protect those in the vicinity. This could be where the term, ‘get lucky’, comes
All of these inscriptions will be recorded and digitised by the archaeology team
from, though granted it’s unlikely. Because of these ancient connotations, such graffiti is
not even unusual around Roman landmarks. Newcastle University Archaeology lecturer, Rob Collins said that he has so far catalogued 57 other examples of saucy symbols just along Hadrian’s Wall. It wasn’t just this graffiti that the Newcastle team recorded at the site; there is also a caricature of the Roman commanding officer as well as the names, ranks and units of some of the soldiers. This information has helped to give historians insight into the organisational structure of the Roman army when engaged in large repair operations. It also makes historical study that bit more personal as, through these physical marks left centuries ago, those in the present can connect with the past. Unfortunately, public access to the site was lost in 1980 when the main footpath col-
lapsed, making a safe trip down the quarry all but impossible. All of these inscriptions will be recorded and digitised by the archaeology team because the rock surface where they are found will be destroyed by weathering over the next few years, making them unrecognisable. The inscriptions were discovered in the 18th century but have become more and more damaged as time has passed. It was decided that the time as now right to make a permanent 3D digital replication of them before they are lost forever. The researchers had to abseil down the quarry in order to view the inscriptions. Whilst it's easy to make a joke about this, it is also important preservation work, as many significant historical finds are lost to the elements every year.
This new find constitutes important preservation work Image: Geograph
Toby Bryant
Looking to drop out of University? Studies by Which? University show that doing just that can cost students up to £20,000. In a worst case situation, a student dropping out of University during their first year could have to pay the full £9,250 tuition fee with a maximum £8,944 maintenance loan repayment on top of that too. That adds up to £18,194 and, if you were to be studying in London, that would rise to £20,992. The total cost can depend on where the student is studying, their living situation, bursaries and/ or grants. Of course, students don’t have to pay this back at one time, the same pay-back rules as students who stay at University apply to them. However, with 6.4% of undergraduate students in the UK not finishing their studies, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, it’s a lot of money being wasted. Which? have urged students again to spend extra time considering their University course selection. Managing director, Alex Hayman, commented: “While not every situation that leads to dropping out from university can be avoided, there are steps that you can take to reduce the likelihood of regretting your university choices.” “Research your options thoroughly, take your time making your decision, and don’t be swayed by external pressures or influences – so you choose the path that’s right for you.” It seems to be more than an issue of cost when dropping out too. Which? University conducted another survey which pointed to one in four graduates saying they would not select their same course if able to go back in time. Worrying trends for student satisfaction.
U o
70th Anniversary Edition
comment
10
the courier
Monday 18 March 2019 @CourierComment courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/comment Comment Editors Caitlin Disken, Alexandra Sadler & Jamie Cameron Online Editor Rory Cameron
Cambridge’s outreach aspirations
Our writers respond to the news that Cambridge will be offering adjustment places to students from underrepresented areas Grace Dean
T
he University of Cambridge has recently announced plans to offer students from underrepresented backgrounds a second chance to apply to study at the university. Beginning this summer, applicants who were narrowly rejected following an interview for an undergraduate course will be able to apply for a second time after receiving their final A-level results. This is a practice known as adjustment, operated by UCAS and carried out by many other UK universities, and it enables students who achieve higher A-level grades than expected to apply for consideration by another university with higher entry requirements than their original first-place choice. The system operated by the University of Cambridge, however, will offer these places only to students from underrepresented backgrounds. The new scheme will offer up to 100 of the more than 14,000 unsuccessful Cambridge applicants the opportunity to study at the university each year. Cambridge has announced this as part of its efforts to increase diversity and widen participation from underrepresented backgrounds. Research is repeatedly showing us how universities, and particularly those belonging to the prestigious Russell Group, of which Newcastle is a member, fail to represent the demographics of the British population. Are these measures really enough?
Cambridge needs to take more radical measures to increase diversity
It was recently reported by the National Education Opportunities Network that white working-class students comprise of less than 5% of the student population at over half of England’s universities. Similar inequalities are seen when looking at the ethnic groups of students; in the UK, black students consistently graduate with lower degree classifications than their white peers regardless of their prior educational attainment. Evidently, when students from underrepresented groups do study at a university here, they face different barriers to success in their degree programmes than students from privileged groups. Whilst the recent announcement of adjustment measures is a positive step, Cambridge clearly needs to take more radical structural measures to increase the diversity of its students and allow them to flourish once at Cambridge. By ridding itself of the stereotype that it is dominated by upper-class white kids with a trust fund and a second house in Monaco, Cambridge can begin
to reap the benefits that a diverse student population brings. This includes ensuring that Cambridge colleges provide affordable accommodation, financial and structural support for student carers and parents, and ultimately a new and more embracing attitude towards students from minority groups. Celebrating diversity would reduce the instances of regressive behaviour such as the infamous Cambridge student Ronald Coyne, who attracted global media attention in February 2017 when his friends filmed him setting a £20 note alight in front of a homeless man.
To encourage diversity, structural changes are needed
The aforementioned inequality however covers more than just university students; research shows that academia also fails to accurately represent the demographic mix of the British population. A recent BBC Freedom of Information Request to 22 Russell Group universities showed that 86% of their academic staff are white, and furthermore revealed a significant pay gap between academics from different ethnic groups, with the average salary being £52,000 for white academics compared to just £38,000 for black academics. The combination of racial and gender inequalities means that black females are incredibly underrepresented in academia, with shocking statistics collected by Advance HE showing that only 25 of 19,000 professors working at various universities in the academic year 2016/17 were black women. These include Olivette Otele, announced as the UK’s first black female history professor, who hopes she’s not “the only one” for long. Whilst I applaud Cambridge for finally recognising the need to encourage diversity and the new perspectives that it brings, I am not sure whether giving second chances to students from underrepresented backgrounds is the best way to do this. This suggests that something about these students is inferior, and sets this group of students aside. This is not promoting their integration with the rest of the student population, but is rather
segregating and separating them. To encourage diversity, not just at the University of Cambridge but across UK higher education institutions as a whole, structural changes are needed. Universities need to think long and hard about what prevents students from underrepresented groups from applying to them in the first place. To enable students to succeed academically regardless of background, change needs to take place before students go to university. Change needs to be implemented in schools too, otherwise students simply won’t have the opportunity to apply for university education in the first place. Diversity can teach us a lot. Without it, our education is compromised and our opportunities are limited.
Isabel Sykes
T
he University of Cambridge have recently announced that they will give candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds who narrowly missed out on a place a second chance to apply after they get their A-level results. Up to 100 places are to be made available under the new scheme, which forms part of the University’s attempts to increase the diversity of their student population. In addition to exam results, admissions tutors will be taking into account the percentage of students who attend university in the applicant’s local area, as well as family circumstances. Whilst widening access to students from diverse backgrounds is a commendable and certainly necessary aim, this measure comes across as tokenistic and as an excuse for Cambridge to side-step more significant social, cultural, and economic barriers preventing students from poorer backgrounds being accepted to the University. The problematic nature of this move lies in the suggestion that students from poor areas are not being accepted to Cambridge because their grades are not good enough. Dr Sam Lucy, director of admissions at Cambridge, e x p l a i n e d the
reasoning behind the decision was that students may not be “demonstrating their full academic potential” by the interview stage of the application process, which begins only a month into the academic year for most A-level students. As all schools must submit applications for the same deadline, this is a problem that affects all students, so why not include all students in the measure? Many UK universities already participate in the UCAS system of adjustment whereby any student who exceeds their predicted grades on results day can refer themselves to be reconsidered, so it seems unnecessary (and quite problematic) for Cambridge to single out economicallydisadvantaged students as the only ones who may not be reaching their full potential before the end of the academic year. Focusing on the potential inaccuracy of predicted grades is a distinctly underwhelming attempt to tackle the lack of diversity at Cambridge that avoids confronting the huge social, cultural, and economic factors at play which prevent disadvantaged students from applying and being successful. Many university applicants from poorer backgrounds are academically-talented and have excellent predicted grades that meet Cambridge’s requirements, so what is preventing them from applying and/or being accepted?
Cambridge must do far more to make itself more accessible
A potential factor could be that academically-talented students from poorer backgrounds may not have access to the coaching that some more privileged students receive to specifically prepare them for interviews and admission tests at Oxbridge. Furthermore, Cambridge’s reputation for being dominated by the white and wealthy may put some students off applying in the first place, due to feelings of social or cultural unbelonging. Despite the various financial aids for disadvantaged students offered by the University’s widening participation scheme, some students may also feel that studying and living in Cambridge is not financially viable for them. Despite statistics released in 2017 showing a stateschool intake of 64.1% at Cambridge, there are still huge disparities in the ratios of state, independent, and private school-educated students across the colleges. Furthermore, this figure does not come close to the UK-wide percentage, 90%, of university students hailing from state schools. Cambridge must do far more than offering 100 adjustment places to make their institution more accessible to disadvantaged stuImage: GoodFreePhotos dents.
Is it constructive cash or a Brexit bribe?
Stanley Gilyead discusses Theresa May’s latest plan to invest money in some of the most deprived authorities in the country
R
arely has a government been criticised for promising billions in funding to some of the most deprived local authorities in the country. Theresa May has once again demonstrated her reverse Midas touch by managing to do just that, cementing her position alongside the burglars from Home Alone as one of the most incompetent villains of our time. The £1.6 billion of extra funding for local authorities was described in a press release as “part of the government’s commitment to building a more prosperous economy that works for everyone” and focuses on the North and the Midlands, areas that the government say “have not
shared in the proceeds of growth”. This is quite the understatement given almost a quarter of children in the North and the Midlands live in poverty. One thing conspicuously absent from the fanfare around the announcement was the government’s role in allowing these communities to slip into poverty. The leader of St Helen’s council summed up the feelings of many when he described the funding as “a drop in the bucket” compared to the £11bn of real terms cuts from local authority budgets over the last decade. If, as the name suggests, the ‘Stronger Towns Fund’ is designed to strengthen impoverished communities, it is the equivalent of a boxer
handing their opponent a Lucozade after beating them from pillar to post for 12 rounds.
This isn’t the first time May has resorted to such skulduggery
Some, however, claim Mrs May’s intentions are even less pure than that. The areas given the lion’s share of funding were also those that voted most strongly to leave the
EU. Quite apart from half-heartedly attempting to clean up the mess her own government created, some view the promise of funding as a bribe that May hopes will lead MPs representing Leave voting areas to reluctantly back her Brexit deal in exchange for lessening the suffering of their constituents. This isn’t the first time May has resorted to such skulduggery. Northern Ireland was promised an extra £1bn of funding as part of the confidence and supply deal struck with the DUP after the last general election. Whether this tactic will allow May to cling to power long enough to force her deal through Parliament is yet to be seen.
the courier
11
comment
Monday 18 March 2019
Police protection for politicians
Our writers reflect on the rising number of incidents of harassment directed at our politicians Elisabetta Pulcini
R
esentments against seemingly incapable politicians are understandable in this climate of chaos. Unsurprisingly however, this frustration seems to come from the same people who demanded the change in the first place - people who voted motivated by futile promises aimed at reinforcing nationalist sentiments. As he egged Jeremy Corbyn, the man screamed “When you vote, you get what you vote for”. The fact that Corbyn had just visited a mosque will stand out to anyone who has been trying to understand the motivations of many Brexiteers. Not to suggest that all Leave voters were motivated by anything other than noble pursuits, of course. More protection for politicians is necessary to ensure that a democracy is functional. In this objective, prevention is more valuable than protection. Leaving politics aside, there are two ways in which we should prevent this kind of treatment of politicians. Firstly, treating the population with respect, and not insulting them with void promises will lead to a more open relationship between politicians and the population they seek to represent. Secondly, and most importantly, politicians should seek to soothe the climate of toxicity by setting an example. As evidenced by the rise of populism, this is a global issue. In Britain in particular, the referendum unfortunately divided the population with the most politically charged question possible. However, dialogue between the two sides is necessary. Politicians can improve the situation by demonstrating peaceful dialogue, even between opposing sides.
It is imperative to remain united, at the very least by mutual respect
Edward Ingram
S
upport, trust, and respect of politicians has never really been held to a high standard in this country, or indeed in most of the western world. However the last decade has seen public trust in our political class fall to historic lows. Scandals, the poor handling of the financial crisis, and the general failure to meet campaign commitments has contributed to this dire perception of our leaders. Despite this, politicians have generally been able to go about their business and live their lives as freely and securely as anyone else would.
MPs have had messages sent to them which contain death threats
The last few years however have shown us that this is no longer the case. Over the last few years politicians have been bombarded with a flood of harassment from the electorate, much of it too nasty to print. However these instances of harassment are not just senseless letters and emails full of expletive language. Much of it is sinister. MPs have had messages sent to them containing death threats against themselves and their families. Others have received threats which include their own home address, implying that MPs homes are no longer safe. Many of the victims tend to be either critics of Brexit, or Jeremy Corbyn, but others are disproportionately targeted seemingly for no other reason than the fact that they’re not male and/or white. Whilst no one deserves to live with a tide of harassment and death threats over their heads, one could argue that as a politi-
But why is it so important to protect politicians? It comes down to the whole system of democracy. Violent outbursts are not simply dangerous, but they fundamentally disrespect and delegitimise the people who were elected in a fair manner. These sentiments cannot simply be ignored. Shunning the people who commit these acts can not only further the toxic rhetoric currently governing the country, but can also facilitate the pursuit of politicians looking to feed off these sentiments. As the country faces one of its biggest challenges yet, it is imperative to remain united, if not by political ideals, then at the very least by mutual respect. Violence is not caused by disagreement, but rather by fundamental irreverent behaviour exhibited by the people who should represent the very realisation of democracy and civility. Whilst the use of violence is reprehensible, politicians must address the source of it by ceasing to dehumanise ‘the other side’ and encouraging this kind of behaviour by exploiting the polarisaImage: Flickr, Max Pixel, Pixabay, Public Domain Pictures, Wikimedia Commons tion of citizens to gain voters.
cian this is something that they must learn to live with, and that they must grow thicker skins. After all harassment isn’t a new thing, and politicians will always attract criticism. This is wrong for three reasons. Firstly, the barriers which allow people to harass politicians have been significantly lowered thanks to new technologies like the internet and social media. As a result, disgruntled citizens can easily contact, and threaten, MPs. Whilst in years gone by voters would have expressed their dissatisfaction at the ballot box, they can now unleash their fury on twitter or via email. Secondly, the internet has changed the dynamics of how disgruntled voters communicate with each other. Previously if an individual disliked a politician, be it a matter of policy, or because of their race and gender, voters were most likely isolated with their views and unable to express them to a receptive audience. Now with the advent of Facebook, Reddit and other online discussion forums, people can easily find like-minded individuals and discuss their frustration and anger with each other. Thereby offering them validation that their toxic opinions are appropriate and justified. This therefore emboldens them to direct their hate and anger at politicians rather than keep it to themselves. This then leads into my final point. Threats and harassment are no longer limited purely to empty words. Now that people feel emboldened some lone wolves will undoubtedly feel that they need to take matters into their own hands. We saw this in 2016 when Jo Cox was horrifically murdered by a far-right extremist, and MPs have had to utilise police protection after authorities deemed that their lives were indeed in danger.
Democracies cannot function if representatives cannot live freely
Democracies cannot function if their elected representatives cannot live freely and be confident of their security. How can they work effectively and in the national interests when they are overwhelmed with real and potentially credible death threats on a regular basis? It undermines the effectiveness of our democracy and it cannot go on any longer. Therefore, there must be very real and serious consequences to threatening our elected representatives and this should be reflected as such in the law with more serious punishments and longer jail terms for people who harass and threaten the lives of politicians. I am not trying to say that MPs are above everyone else. Only that an attack on an MP is an attack on our democracy, which by extension is an attack on all of our democratic and civil rights.
Weeding out drugs on social media Meg Hughes contemplates reports of young people using social media applications to buy drugs
R
ecent research by Royal Holloway concluded with staggering results about the increasing use of social media apps to buy drugs. Across 350 participants they found that 76% frequently used Snapchat for buying drugs, while 21% also used Instagram. With over three quarters of the participants using a social media app to buy their drugs for use, there is clearly substantial increase to the economic infrastructure of buying and selling drugs, expanding its reach in the virtual world. If we take the dark web into consideration, as an established platform for buying and selling drugs, it has been in use for over twenty years. So, is social media just the glorified 21st century version of this, in terms of the drug market? The dark web does require a certain amount of specialist knowledge on advanced technologies, so drugs can be hard to acquire. However, apps like Snapchat are being used by children as young as 11 years old. A study by Ofcom revealed that half of children as young as 11 and 12 possess some kind of social media account,
even though the legal required minimum age of Snapchat and Instagram is 13. This is also the case for most other social media platforms. Technically they are then able to access drugs, and ‘concerning’ is a vast understatement of the issue. You are not just able to buy drugs on Instagram and Snapchat, but Facebook and WhatsApp are also utilised as virtual marketplaces for the quick and easy buying and selling of drugs on a commercial scale. There are adverts and accounts where a simple message to the seller will allow you to buy drugs.
It becomes necessary for the university to intervene
We have to then question why people, specifically students, are doing this. There is a simple answer…it is convenient, quick and easy. People also class it as a ‘secure’ way to buy drugs, as they already have these apps on their
phone, especially given that apps such as WhatsApp are encrypted. According to the National Union of Students, 40% of students are drug users. So, out of every 100 students at Newcastle University, that is 40 of them who may be drug users. That is without counting those who have only tried it out before. Surely, this is quite alarming for students? However, there is a common perception that students have an ignorant attitude to life, as we are ‘young’ and ‘naïve’. So, is it simply the case that students view themselves as indestructible, and are therefore unaware of the possible repercussions of drug use? If this is the perception of students, I think it therefore becomes necessary for the university to intervene in some way. Instead of being blind to the issue, Newcastle, and other universities, must initiate a conversation around the topic of buying and selling drugs, in a way that engages and relates to students. By ensuring that students are at the epicentre of a process to combat the selling and consuming of drugs, it can lead to a necessary path for action to reduce drug use within the student body.
SOAPBOX
ARTICULATING FREEDOM
L
Molly Greeves
ately, anyone who gets called out for saying something offensive will immediately reply that they are allowed to say what they want, because of free speech. Which, to be fair, is true. If you want to spew utter bullshit, you are well within your rights. But the funny thing about free speech is that you’re not the only one who has it. For example, having free speech allows you to send in an offensive and inaccurate article to The Courier. That doesn’t mean, however, that you are entitled to have it published. As a sub-editor, it is my job to make sure that the paper is high-quality and inclusive to a wide range of readers, meaning that if I don’t want our names associated with a piece that is in poor-taste, I have every right to refuse to publish it. That doesn’t infringe upon your free speech. Whilst you are entitled to speak your mind, you’re not entitled to have people agree with you, or to give you a platform to say it. This soapbox has been brought to you by my free speech, a beautiful thing which allows me to tell you if you’re being a twat.
ROAST OF THE WEEK
RUDDY RACISM
A
Em Richardson
mber Rudd, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has caused controversy by referring to MP Dianne Abbott as ‘coloured’. Some have argued that Rudd made a harmless slip of the tongue, and pointed out that she was actually speaking out against the racist abuse Abbott has received at the time. Others have argued that using such language shouldn’t be excused, regardless of context. Personally, I’m inclined to agree with the latter opinion. Rudd might have been speaking ‘in favour’ of Abbott, but I can’t help but think that her ‘mistake’ in her choice of words reveals a lot about her true thoughts and feelings. In my opinion, Rudd’s gaffe reveals that racial equality is not as close to the forefront of her mind as she claims, as it’s clearly been several years since she bothered to educate herself on which terms are socially acceptable to use when referring to people of colour.
TOAST OF THE WEEK
FEELING FABULOUS
I
Alexandra Grindle
n the current world of social media, it is easy to feel frustrated with the glamourous depictions of what the ‘right’ body should look like. My Instagram feed was looking incredibly tedious until the day I accidently stumbled across the antidote: Chessie King. Ever since this 6ft 2 presenter and body confidence queen appeared on my feed clutching her jiggly bits and dancing around in her bikini, I knew she was the silver lining I was looking for. Frankly, she simply does not care about what people think about her appearance and it is this confidence that she wishes to encourage in society. As a victim of online bullying herself, she creates entertaining videos which satirise body-shaming comments strangers have made about her in an attempt to live a positive, healthy life in which self-love is indivisible from a happy life. If you want to smile and feel good about yourself every day, follow Chessie King now.
the courier
Monday 11 March 2019
life&style
13
@CourierLifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle Life & Style Editor Sophie Henderson Lifestyle Editors Phoebe Fielder, Holly Margerrison, Ella Williams Online Editor Amanda Goh
Blind Date
Dan Froughi meets Amelia Webb
How was it and where did you go? Did you make the most of the nice weather
What made you sign up to blind date ?
So it was totally amicable and pleasant. She was on a time constraint because of some SU awards, so couldn’t go far, so went to Five Swans but couldn’t get a seat outside which was a bit peak. Had a couple of bevs and lots of chats. Did you have much in common/what did you guys talk about? Yeah all kinds of stuff. We both do English so we talked a lot about uni. We also chatted about home, music, relationships and what we want to do next year. Did you have much in common/what did you guys talk about? Not a great deal in common. She’s on a placement year and I did one last year so talked about that quite a bit. Plus all her involvement in RAG and being president next year. Plus like plans after uni etc.. Sorry just got a couple more then will leave you alone haha! Can you see this going anywhere? Or was it end of term fun? Nah won’t be going anywhere. Was very pleasant but can’t see it becoming anything more/romantic. Was there a particularly memorable part of the night? One of her mates managed to bump into us and sat down for like 2 minutes before working out what he’s barged in on Did your first impressions meet your end impressions? Yeah, I thought the same at the beginning as I did by the end, if that’s what you mean. Last one - if she was a spoons pitcher which would she be? Blue Lagoon pitcher, because she’s pretty mad keen on Soho so no doubt loves blue trebs.
I’ve never been on a blind date before and thought it would be fun and a good chance to do something different!
“no doubt she loves blue trebs”
Nice! What was your first impression of your date? He seemed super lovely! I was also very impressed that he had a drink ready for me. That is quite impressive ! Did you get on well?
Yeah we did. We both do English so had a good start point with that and the conversation just flowed from there. He was really friendly and made me relax from which was good as well That’s great! Did he surprise you in any way? He was more chatty than I first expected which was fab, and then he quite literally surprised me with a magic trick. He even let me keep the card, haha! Wow! Would you ask him out again? Probably not romantically, I got more of a friendly vibe, but I’d be game to see him again if he was down! If you could describe him as any animal what would he be? My gut instinct is to say a koala. He was a nice friendly guy!
Are you unlucky in love? Email us at c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk
the courier
14
life & style lifestyle
Monday 18 March 2018
Horoscope-ticism Review: Little Green Neve Holmes-Shaw opens her mind to all things astrological
I
n recent years horoscopes have become somewhat of a fad. It is impossible to walk down your local high street without seeing zodiac merchandise like charm bracelets and t-shirts. On twitter every second tweet on your feed claims to reveal something of your personality. So many big chain companies capitalise on birthstones and zodiac animals, it is hard to escape the mysticism of horoscopes that is surrounding us. But how accurate or useful are they really? To explain horoscopes (very very) basically to those who may not know, they rely on the premise that the alignment of the stars in the moment that a person is born can in some way predict or offer insight into said person’s future. So, I was born on the 21st of March which makes me an Aries, interestingly born on the first day of the astrological calendar which starts in March and not in January. At specific times of the year you are assigned a specific ‘Zodiac’ sign that changes about every four weeks, so twelve for the astrological year. Now, this is a very watered down explanation of something that I’m sure originates from a time where astrologers literally believed that human fate was written in the stars. Although, saying that you can gain insight about yourself from 2,000-year-old constellations in the 21st century just sounds a bit ridiculous. As a child I loved the idea that there was some great cosmic force at work that could tell me my destiny. It felt mystical and magical that somehow the stars at the moment of my birth predicted some great plan or could tell me things about myself that perhaps I didn’t even know. By the age of twelve I had memorised all twelve signs of the zodiac and their order in the astrological calendar, with every new crush I would spend hours determining our compatibility and contemplating the success of our inevitable marriage and family life. If I’m an Aries could I really see myself marrying a Cancer?
Image: Wikipedia commons
I was always told that as an Aries I was impulsive, quick tempered and fiery. I have to admit that this is almost completely accurate. I certainly have a temper to be reckoned with and can be a fiery opponent in a debate, and yet nearly every Aries is apparently super active, too, which
In its modern form, it is important to take horoscopes with a pinch of salt is definitely not me. I also find that many of the typical zodiac descriptions are weirdly vague and applicable to any person. Everyone can be quick tempered in a bad mood or considered ‘impulsive’ but just because I splurge on Boohoo.com does that really reveal my cosmic future? I have friends who are absolutely nothing like the characteristics that apparently define their astrological sign. Obviously for some people horoscopes can be something very spiritual and that’s fine. However, I think in its modern form it is important to take horoscopes with a pinch of salt. They can be an entertaining way to gain some clarity about your current situation. If you’re feeling uncertain in your life, then reading that something positive is coming your way is a great remedy; if you’re unsure about taking a leap in your caree, an urging horoscope might give you the confidence that you need. What’s more important is not basing your entire life off the credentials of your zodiac sign. Every single person is different and no one will fit rigidly into the blueprint of what a ‘Taurus’ should be or represent the perfect ‘Scorpio’. Although reading a horoscope for fun, reassurance or even to try to decipher your compatibility with that person you fancy at work, well, there’s no harm in that...
Jamie Cameron gives his verdict on Sandyford’s vegan cafe
I
thought the best way to be a good son on International Women’s Day would be to go for lunch and let my mum pay for it. So we went to the vegan restaurant and social club Little Green. “The people are very nice here”, my mum says. She’s right. Very friendly, they make you completely comfortable in this family restaurant. And they have reason to be - the owners are very socially conscious and pay their employees the real living wage. The music is pitch perfect - jazz melodies drift through the air and pleasantly into your ear. Customers smile and laugh. Feminist artwork has occupied the walls, lounging in the warm light. My mum gets a goodie bag because it’s Women’s Day - palmaviolets and cake galore. I order a vegan pizza called the Med Head. I’ve had it before - I’m nothing if not original - because it is one tasty number. It comes with vegan feta cheese, butternut squash, and caramelized onion. As we wait for food, it’s clear this place is so much more than good food. It’s more of a social hub in Sandyford, easily accessible from Heaton and Jesmond. You can go there to buy vegan products, from food to CBD oil. My mum liked that you could buy fabric conditioner in reusable containers. I’m pretty sure there’s a massage parlour. The food was lovely. Fresh, tasty, and rich with flavour. It leaves you pleasantly full without the gross feeling that can come with too much meat and dairy. It’s a bit more expensive than other restaurants, but it’s also better, so there you go. In summary, I refer to my mother: “I felt very well looked after - which I don’t take for granted in this life”.
Image: @littlegreennewcastle on Instagram
Bleak-chic and brutalism: Newcastle’s architecture
Gayatri Gopalakrishan on the Quayside’s beaut buildings
I
n the early days after moving down to Newcastle, walking around and exploring the city, what caught my attention were tiny, perhaps discreet little quirky things. Take the case of a plaque in front of a window, somewhere near Grainger Street, which marks the spot where “Mrs Mary Howard adjusted her hat, in front of the window.” Whilst that was a small bit of amusing art, the varying architecture and the history attached to a lot of buildings in the toon had me fascinated. Starting off at what is my most favourite part of Newcastle, the Quayside, whilst the bridges are indeed lovely, there is a lot more interesting building around the place. Bessie Surtees House: The Tyne bank was the hub of commercial Newcastle in the 16th and 17th century, with merchants living and working in the houses near Sandhill. Being fine examples of Jacobean architecture, not only are two of these buildings still standing, but are also a Class I listed building. This house has its place in urban folklore as the house of Bessie Surtees. Creating a scandal in the 16th century, Bessie Surtees, the daughter of a merchant eloped with a pauper, John Scott, by climbing down a firstfloor window and escaping to Scotland. However, the story of the Romeo and Juliet from Newcastle did not end tragically. The “pauper” that
Bessie Surtees become
fell in love with, later went on to Lord Eldon, Lord Chancellor of England.
Image: @aaleksjames on Instagram
Finlay Harbour on the brutalist aesthetic of Eldon Square
W
hen Brutalism peaked in Britain in the 1970s, it was serially divisive. In some corners today, and I happen be in one o f
Image: adrian welch @e_architect
these corners, much of these structures are retrospectively revered, notably taking on a sort of bleak-chic aesthetic amongst a disenfranchised youth. However, the controversy of Eldon Square shopping centre, opened in 1977, has surely stood the test of time. It has symbolised the commercial chains shackling the spontaneity and vibrancy of urbanism within the Newcastle town walls ever since. Famously, Eldon Square shopping centre was labelled “the greatest single example of architectural vandalism in Britain since the war.” From a human perspective, such a scathing assessment does make a great deal of sense. The development demolished the north and west terraces of old Eldon Square, the home of independent market produce in the city centre; an historic landmark in old Georgian Newcastle. The centre now covers a space that had previously hosted the old green market, Eldon food courts in the 1980s-1990s and the 18th century market vegetable gardens. To me, the project signifies the total usurpation of a bottomup, interactive urbanist ideal. Looks wise, it also leaves a lot to be desired. Compared to the thoughtful fine-cut ashlar material of the Old Eldon Square, the new development’s glass panelling has become mere facilitator for endless garish advertisements. The appeal of brutalism is in its monumental, awe-inspiring manipulation of concrete, such wonderment feels lost on Eldon Square. As a separate structure, the accompanying spiralling carpark does salvage some of this brutalist romanticismstriking, intriguing and an easy access to rooftop views over the city. There are two sides to brutalist architecture, the domineering and the playful. At least we are given a glimpse of the latter; a silver lining, or should I say, a concrete one.
the courier
15
lifestyle life & style
Monday 18 March 2018
The Earl Greats of tea culture Grace Dean spills the tea on the benefits of a brew and its regenerated culture here in Britain
I
am a self-proclaimed tea lover. Tea motivates me out of bed in the morning, pulls me through my 9am lecture, and enables me to function as a living, breathing human being knowing that it is only hours until I can have my next cup of tea.
We Brits appear to know very little about the history of our beloved tea Surprisingly, however, we Brits appear to know very little about the history of our beloved tea. What continues to astonish me is how few people know about Newcastle’s legacy in the world of tea. Earl Grey tea is named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who was British Prime Minister in the 1830s and to whom Grey’s Monument is dedicated. There are many rumours about how the role he played in the creation of the first cup of Earl Grey. The story I personally heard was that, following the completion of his studies, Grey began a “grand tour” around the world, seen somewhat as the norm for aristocratic families, in which the young graduate would travel to visit family friends and experience new cultures around the globe. Upon arriving in China, however, he was dismayed to discovered that his beloved English tea didn’t taste quite as nice when used with Chinese water; and thus he commissioned a manufacturer in China to produce a new type of tea which was suited to the water there, and so Earl Grey tea was born. This, however, appears to have been disproved, as it is argued that Grey never actually set foot in China. A variation of this story, verified by the Grey family, is that the tea was specially blended by a Chinese Mandarin-speaker for Grey, to suit the water at Howick Hall, Northumberland, because bergamot counters the natural taste of the lime found in the local water there. Following this, the tea was used by Lady Grey when she entertained friends in London as a political hostess, and its popularity there led to the global success Earl Grey has today. As a proud Yorkshire girl, however, I am additionally aware of the cultural role that the delicious beverage plays in God’s Own County. This is evidenced most of all through the tearoom chain Bettys. Following the opening of its first tearoom in Harrogate in July 1919 by Swiss confectioner Frederick Belmont, Bettys expanded to own a total of six premises; two in York, two in Harrogate, one in Ilkley and one in Northallerton. Bettys offers an array of delecta-
ble and quintessentially-British treats, however it is perhaps most acclaimed for its delicious fat rascals, a type of scone containing cherries and almonds. No matter what you choose to order at Bettys, however, you simply have to order it with tea. Tearooms are becoming increasingly popular in Britain among the younger generations. This comes as surveys suggest that decreasing numbers of British students are choosing to drink alcohol. Tearooms offer a guilt-free way of socialising: no hangovers, no excessive calories, and certainly no questionable Snapchat stories the next day after a mad night on English breakfast or camomile tea. This is especially the case following the rise in late-night tearooms and cafes such as Quilliams Brothers which is open til midnight; this offers the perfect late-night socialising opportunity when your house is a tip and a pint sounds like you might miss your 9am. Independent tearooms in particularly have becoming incredibly popular, with coffee chains such as Starbucks being criticised by younger generations for their excessive use of plastic, rather high prices, and penchant for avoiding taxes. Furthermore, in an age where social media increasingly dominates people’s perceptions of themselves and each other, tearooms offer the opportunity to get some fab Instagram posts, with Quilliams Brothers, Olive & Bean and Cake Stories being renowned for their beautiful décor and presentation of tea and cakes. Tea is incredibly popular around the world, albeit in different forms. My Turkish friend once told me that her Grandmother drinks upwards of 30 cups a day; this might sound terrifying to even the most addicted tea lover, but the tea served there is very different to what we drink here. Turkish tea is drunk in very small
quantities in dainty tulip-shaped glasses, a far cry from the legendary Sports Direct mugs we use over here. Rather than resorting to a bag of trusty old Yorkshire Tea, tea in Turkey is often still served in the traditional way even when at home, using a high concentration of loose tealeaves and, contrary to English tea customs, it shouldn’t be drunk with milk. Tea is served in a similar manner in Syria, as shown to me by a Syrian friend of mine. Drinking tea in such small quantities means that you don’t have to worry about it going cold. One tea drinking culture I do have slight qualms with, however, is the American. Rumour has it that Americans choose to prepare their tea by boiling water in a microwave,
Cooking with Hope Coke
Ratatouille Gratin
The French get a bit of a bad rap when it comes to vegetarian food (steak tartare, anyone?), but ratatouille is one dish they really got right. A staple of humble home cooking, the mellow flavours of the aubergine, courgette and peppers come together to make something that’s much more than the sum of its parts. While I make no claims to French authenticity in this version, I’ve put my own spin on the classic with the addition of a golden, crunchy oat and almond topping, which contrasts beautifully with the soft roasted vegetable filling. It’s a simple recipe but yields an impressive result, with the addition of smoked paprika, nutmeg and wholegrain mustard bringing warmth and depth while the basil adds freshness. It’s great as a side dish but can also hold it’s own as a main, alongside a green salad and some crusty bread. I love it with a crumble of feta cheese on top, but I’ve left that out of the recipe to keep it vegan.
Ingredients:
For the filling: 1 large aubergine 1 large courgette 1 red pepper 1 yellow pepper 2 tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 1 red onion 200g cherry tomatoes 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar a handful fresh basil salt and pepper, to taste
For the topping: 50g oats 50g flaked almonds 3 tbsp flour (I use gram or spelt flour but plain should work fine too) 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 1 heaped tbsp wholegrain mustard 3 tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
Directions: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C and start by preparing the vegetables for roasting. Halve the courgette and aubergine lengthways and cut into chunks roughly 2-3cm big, then halve, core and deseed the peppers and cut to a similar size. Toss the aubergine, courgette and peppers together with a tablespoon of olive oil, then tip into a roasting tray and transfer to the oven. Cook for 20 minutes, or until all the veg is tender and just starting to brown and crisp in places. Meanwhile, prepare the topping. Combine the oats, flaked almonds, flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper in a large bowl and set aside. In a smaller bowl, stir together the olive oil and mustard seeds into a paste, then stir into the dry ingredients until the mixture is clumpy and moist, a bit like
Image: Wikipedia Commons
then adding a teabag. While I am sure that not all choose to engage in such a shocking and quite frankly disturbing practice, I simply feel shocked that this is the tea drinking norm over the pond. Can tea really brew to its proper flavour when the water is microwaved and not boiled? I don’t know the answer to this, and I don’t really want to find out.
Image: @amy.li on Instagram
Image: Hope Coke
damp sand. Heat a large saucepan over a medium heat and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Halve, peel and finely slice the red onion and transfer to the pan with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5-8 minutes, or until the onion is soft and just starting to brown in places. Once the roasted veg is done, remove from the oven and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roughly chop the basil, setting a little aside to sprinkle over at the end, and cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Remove the pan from the heat, and add in the roasted vegetables, cherry tomatoes, basil, smoked paprika and balsamic vinegar, and stir until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Tip the vegetables into a medium baking dish (mine is about 15x20cm) then sprinkle over the crumble mixture, spreading it in an even layer. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the topping is golden and crisp. Once it’s ready, remove from the oven and let stand for a couple of minutes, then sprinkle over the remaining basil and the chilli flakes. And you’re ready to serve! Spoon into bowls or plates and eat while it’s hot.
16
life & style beauty
courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Beauty Editors Susanne Norris, Nimra Rafique Laura Buckle Online Editor Molly Taylor
Battle of the best eyeliner
Are you a liquid or pencil kind of person? Jennifer Cooke shares her love and devotion to liquid liner
A
s a pen, a pot, a wheel or a stamp, liquid eyeliner is clearly the superior makeup tool. Unless you are going for an 80s grunge smoky eye (which you could, honestly, achieve with a thin eyeshadow brush and get a softer, smoked-out look), there’s nothing a pencil eyeliner can do that the liquid can’t do, but better. If you think of your favourite beauty influencers, how many of them still use pencil over liquid eyeliners? In this respect, definitely trust the professionals, and me. For one, the line is darker in the traditional black. It is also smoother and allows for more control when doing a winged or cat eye. A pencil would have to be built up or fixed since pencils drag the skin more than its liquid counterpart does. Winged eyeliner is the biggest use of eyeliner in recent years, and I think everyone can agree that the liquid eyeliner creates bolder, more dramatic looks. With liquid eyeliners, you can make more intricate designs with the precise point that is on the liquid pens or brushes. Think the crease cut eyeliner look, the wavy look, underliner, stacked, and negative space. How many of those trends, whether you love or hate them, would even be possible with a pencil?
Ellie Simmonite discusses the implications of Virgin Atlantic rules for female cabin crew
R
for hours on end is the absolute worst - I’m reaching for the micellar water and cotton pads just thinking about it. But imagine having that feeling at work, on a thirteenhour flight from London to Singapore and being able to do nothing about it, because that is exactly what all female Virgin Atlantic cabin crew members have been experiencing for years.
This progressive decision on the part of Virgin shows a positive move towards greater equality between men and women of the skies Thankfully though, in early March, Britain’s Virgin Atlantic lifted this requirement meaning that, much like their male co-workers, the ladies of the air will now be allowed to travel in all their bare-faced glory if they so please and I for one am thrilled. Up until this point many airline policies, from the 1990’s onwards, required all female employees to partake in a mandatory makeup class to meet a set level of presentability in the working environment ... while male employees were given the day off. However, this progressive decision on the part of Virgin shows a positive move towards greater equality between the men and women of the skies. Objectification of the female-flight attendant has indisputably been a problem for years, with some air carriers such as Malaysiabased AirAsia being brought under criticism over the years for putting young female employees in tight fitting
Image: @virginatlantic
Monday 18 March 2019
Additionally, liquid eyeliner is versatile and so easy to use! The different subtypes of liquid eyeliner make it so user friendly so that everyone can have their preferred application type, can you say the same for pencil? If the bottle with the brush attached is too daunting you can use the pen, and if both of those are too tricky, the liquid eyeliners have stamps and wheels for ease of use. A winged eyeliner in just the press of a stamp is a godsend for the more makeup-wary of us. If you like colour in your eyeliner, guess what? Liquid wins there too. If you’re going to be using a colour eyeliner, I’d assume you would want it to be a bold look, and the colour to be vibrant. A coloured pencil eyeliner tends to diffuse out in the same way that eyeshadow does upon application. Liquid eyeliner stays the same colour whichever skin tone it’s applied onto. If you’re going for a bold look, surely you would want it to be the colour you expect, and to be able to apply it precisely. Finally, liquid eyeliner stays on more easily. In my personal experience, pencil eyeliner wears off around the eyes throughout the day/night. Meanwhile, I’ve literally cried wearing liquid eyeliner and it’s stayed intact. I know that pencil eyeliner can be used to create softer looks, but like I said at the start, anything you want to use a pencil eyeliner for can be created, usually more successfully, with eyeshadow. If you’re still using pencil eyeliner, I don’t know what to say to you. Other than head down to Soap & Glory and go buy my Holy Grail: Supercat eyeliner pen.
Makeup regulations and cabin crews
egardless of whether you’re arriving home from a day of making foamy cappuccinos in Starbucks or have just limped into your flat sporting only one high heel after booging into the early hours of the morning at Digi, every makeup-wearer knows the ‘full-face for far too long’ feeling. The oily, tingling, cakey feeling you get after wearing makeup
the courier
Image: @virginatlantic
uniforms and as a result presenting them as sex-objects in varying degrees. However, alongside Virgin allowing female flight attendants to decide for themselves whether they want to wear makeup they have also made it easier for them to select a pant-suit opposition as opposed to the familiar Virgin red skirt uniform. This is all very promising and was brought about following Virgin taking into account employee complaints and recommendations, both demonstrating the care Virgin shows to their employees and entirely confirming the true horror that is a greasy T-zone after a long day of full cover foundation. Besides the comfort aspect of a makeup-less flight though, it is important to recognise that some women don’t like to cover up blemishes or sport a cherry-red lip every day (as was asked by the company) because it isn’t their preference and that is A-Okay. The same goes for the fact that some women just don’t want to wear makeup at work, instead choosing to only put on their fancy-pants cat eye liner and highlighter on a night out and that’s perfectly justified too! There is the slightly disheartening factor that despite this progress for Virgin Atlantic’s makeup regulations their employees are still limited to makeup which is deemed conservative, professional and complementary to their complexion and uniform though. That means no fuchsia pink brows or sparkly star-stickers on cheek bones which is such a shame. Regardless of whether or not this is deemed professional is a whole other matter, however, I for one would love to see companies like Virgin Atlantic making this their next step when regarding makeup regulations. I mean who wouldn’t want to be served a wine-cooler by an airhostess rocking a sunset gradient cut crease with a burgundy liquid lip?
Image: @soapandglory
the courier
17
beauty life & style
Monday 18 March 2019
Beauty icons: who's the queen? More of a Marilyn or a Jackie? Winifred Hewitt-Wright takes a look at the most iconic stars
F
rom Audrey Hepburn to Marilyn Monroe, from Jackie Kennedy to Princess Diana and Grace Kelly, history has provided us with beauty inside and out.
Audrey's belief surrounding beauty is quite frankly disrespected by the way we remember her, as simply a beauty icon
The one thing that has not failed to escape my notice all my life is the media attention these women get and have got for their beauty alone, and I can’t help but think how much more there is to them, and beauty for that matter. I could spend all day talking about Diana’s wedding dress, Audrey’s demure pearl necklaces or Marilyn’s striking red
lips, but haven’t we heard enough of those things? After reading an article called ‘The Wardrobe of Rebellion: Five Items that Women have Worn for Change’, released by BBC News on International Women’s Day 2019 , my view on this subject was only reinforced. Long beauty and fashion has been a way the media explores a woman’s political leaning, resistance to patriarchal structures and expression of personality and taste, but how about we actually hear from the women themselves? Perhaps when voice is absent and impossible, or when a high profile woman must keep political neutrality, an exploration of their beauty and choice of fashion is the only way to communicate their voice, for example, the Queen’s not-so-subtle choice of hat sporting the EU flag. When voices fail, beauty is a political statement, but when voices are ready and open to being heard, why do the media still perpetuate the silence of such voices? In Audrey Hepburn’s The Enchanted Tales, an audio book for children, she spoke these words, “The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway
to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years” . Audrey’s belief surrounding beauty is quite frankly disrespected by the way we remember her, as simply a beauty icon with a demure sophistication, when it is her philanthropy when she grew older that should really be her legacy. How many photographs have you seen of Audrey in black and white, at no more than 30 years old? And, how many photographs have you seen of Audrey as an older woman helping children for UNICEF? The prosthetic memories we have of these beauty icons of the past are fabricated with the sexist standards which repressed women back then and still do today. So much so, that it would be a surprise to her their words come out of their mouths, because a false history has frozen them into a still photograph. What makes these women beautiful is what is underneath, as Marilyn Monroe puts best, “beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world”.
Self-made or self-seeking? Lori Harper investigates the Forbes statement that Kylie Jenner is a self-made billionaire
I
f you haven’t heard of Kylie Jenner by now, then you really are living under a rock. The 21-year old Kardashian star, mother of Stormi Wesbter, girlfriend to Travis Scott and, oh- the owner of billiondollar brand Kylie Cosmetics, was announced the world’s youngest self-made billionaire by Forbes last week. With an estimated worth of $900 million, Kylie’s makeup empire supersedes Mark Zuckerberg, who was 23 when he reached the billion-dollar mark. Her success is undeniable, but there is one thing that has left many with an underlying bitter taste, and that is what it means to be “self-made”. There’s no disputing that Kylie’s “self-made” success is largely due to her enormous internet following, which was prominent long before she launched her cosmetics brand. When Keeping up with the Kardashian’s first aired all the way back in 2007, Kylie was the youngest of the sisters, at just 10 years old, to be part of the show. From such a young age, Kylie’s future was already destined towards fame and success with the hit TV show. After the success of her family, a mould had already been made for kylie, all she had to do was to grow into it. Kylie comes closely after sister Kim, as one of the most followed celebrities on Instagram, with such a huge social media following, Kylie’s cosmetics company has not needed to rely on traditional methods of marketing; the products sell because of Kylie herself. Flashback to 2015: young girls everywhere are going crazy for the #KylieJennerChallenge which involves putting a shot glass to the lips, creating a vacuum that leaves a large, pouty lip when the glass is removed. Despite being completely dangerous- and might I add, stupidthe trend sprawled across social media, with people everywhere trying to create the same signature kylie pout. Kylie’s lips had long been speculated by many of her fans, yet the star insisted she was simply using a makeup
Image: @kyliejenner
trick to accentuate her noticeably plumper lips. It was no coincidence then, that Kylie and “momager” Kris, made a business out of Kylie’s notorious pout: meet Kylie Cosmetic Lip Kits. The success of the launch was incredible, her lip kits sold out within minutes, causing the site to crash and many to be resold for triple the original price. Kylie has capitalised on the attention stirred by her lips, with many young women buying her products in the hope to buy exclusive access into the glamourous Kardashian lifestyle. Kylie is selling her fans a lot more than just her lip-gloss, she is selling them herself. Women hope that through buying her products they are one step closer to becoming kylie Jenner. The success of the billion-dollar brand is not without mention of its unique “momaging”, that is the management of her mother, Kris. The notion of “momager” itself has become its own trademark success, with fans everywhere wishing their mother was as cool, headstrong and successful as Kris. Kris also has her own strand in the collection, hinging on her business woman/ mum-manager image, she offers a range of highlighters, eyeshadows and lipsticks. But is this really the case? On the surface we see a cute mother-daughter owned business, yet in reality, is this not just a case of control freak mother micromanaging her daughter’s success? Certainly, Kylie’s career was already planned out for her since before she was born. Kris is also said to own 10% of Kylie’s company and manages all its PR and finance. With a mother that has primed her kids for success from the moment they could speak, to a deeply rooted fanbase carved out by the Kardashian name, is it truly fair to term Kylie “self-made”? It seems that what self-made really means today is to manufacture and sell yourself as the real brand.
Image: @kyliejenner
Big-up beauty brand lovin'
W
hen I first started as a beauty sub-editor for The Courier around two years ago, we had writers talking about NYX Cosmetics every week. Review after review would flood in on their Lingerie ranges, never-ending glitters and brow dupes. However, in the last few months this has changed. We’ve had less writers talking about NYX releases, the charm seems to have died a little. And I too am guilty of this. I’ve forgotten about the cheap and cheerful brand that have provided me with endless bold and creative looks. So, without further ado, here’s some appreciation for NYX, beginning with their Lip Lingerie Collection. The formula has withstood the test of time, offering a matte but non-drying formula that takes on the likes of Kylie Cosmetics (and, in my humble opinion, comes out better off). You’ll be spoiled for choice with the never-ending collection of nudes. I’d personal recommend ‘Corset’ for light skin tones, ‘Ruffle Trim’ for more olive tones and ‘Teddy’ for dark tones. Following the success of the Lip Lingerie collection, there were also spin-offs which I would highly recommend. Lip Lingerie Gloss is an absolute winner in my book. As someone who nowadays opts for satin or gloss formulas over matte, this was the creation I needed. And, it’s a perfect gloss. I opt for shade ‘Eurotrash’ as this is a popping yet natural look which can even be used as a dupe for MAC’s ‘Velvet Teddy’. The other spin-off I’d recommend is the aptly named Lid Lingerie. These are liquid formula eyeshadows which can be blended into shadows or used on their own for a stand out look. For a neutral look, try ‘Sweet Cloud’ for a gold but subtle finish. Equally, for a great dupe product to recreate Charlotte Tilbury’s beautiful ‘Pillow Talk’ look, blend a tad of ‘Rose Pearl’ onto your lids. On the topic of eyes, let’s talk brows. I’ve always been a fan of Anastasia Beverly Hills. My journey went from ‘Brow Whizz’, to ‘Dipbrow’ and then back to ‘Brow Whizz’. A wild ride from start to finish. However, my every day use of ‘Brow Whizz’ was only teaching me one thing, it runs out quickly and it doesn’t come cheap. I was also using Glossier’s ‘Boy Brow’ to add further definition, resulting in gorgeous but expensive brows. As per usual, the time came when my student loan had run out, I was totally broke and running low on brow supplies. And I must admit, I was sceptical about changing up my routine. But I’m so glad I did. These days, I opt for solely NYX products when doing my brows. I opt for their ‘Micro Brow Pencil’ to shape my brows and ‘Tinted Brow Mascara’ to add definition and the fluffy finish I like. The products hold all day and are a fraction of the price of the ABH and Glossier alternatives. I could probably write a feature on my love for NYX. Whilst I’m a luxury beauty lover, I can’t help but appreciate a brand that offer good quality dupes at half the price of the alternatives. NYX are a staple in the makeup bags of all students, and rightly so. What’s more, their cruelty-free status means guilt free shopping. You’re getting ethical products for a great price, not to mention the 10% student discount you can get at Boots. What’s not to love? Susanne Norris
Image: @nyxcosmetics_uk
18
life & style fashion
c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Fashion Editors Miranda Stoner & Joe Hood Online Editor Molly Taylor
the courier
Monday 18 March 2019
Café One-stop Depop shop Prada T Chloe House gives us an insight into the wonderful world of fashion and food
Amelia Salmon gives us the low-down on the latest date to add to your pop-up shop diary
he DePopUpShop is coming to Newcastle Student Union on the 27th of March, bringing you vintage preloved clothing, quirky handmade jewellery, and unique art all in the same venue. We have targeted creative students and local independent companies to come sell, in effort to support
our local community and to bring you the best of the North East. This article will give you inside knowledge of who and what to expect to see on the 27th of March! Newcastle University student start-ups BelleBands and State and Soigné will be making a debut at the pop-up shop. You may have already seen BelleBands brightening up campus this term, they will be selling their handmade headbands, expect to see bright colours and lots of different patterns. State and Soigné an up-cycled clothing brand, have already been a massive hit on Depop this year. They promote sustainable fashion, with every item being unique. Get a sneak peek at what these two are selling at this week’s RAG fashion show. Newcastle’s very own Gingernut Vintage will be taking a stand selling preloved clothing. Already selling all over the North East at various markets and at Newcastle’s Stack, come and see what they have to offer. NCL Vintage Clothing popped up on Instagram this term and will also be offering some preloved clothing which you now will be able to see first-hand. Some local artists will be showing off their creative flair with their unique art. With lino print and embroidery work from the Curious Smark and WishCraft Prints will be selling lovely Instagram: @gingernutvintage A4 and A3 wall art, perfect to brighten up your student home or as a Mother’s
W
ith Prada announcing that they will open the renowned 1824 Marchesi Bakery in London this spring, the worlds of fashion and food seem to be able to finally come together this year in 2019. Pasticceria Marchesi 1824 was first established in Milan above the Prada flagship store in the country’s fashion capital and now is set to replicate in London. With no salad in sight, the cafe will serve pastries and Italian classics such as panettone, sugared almonds, Italian Hot Chocolate, gianduja chocolates and dragées which are classically Italian button shaped chocolates. The Prada Milan 1824 Marchesi Bakery is already a hotspot for Fashion Week goers, and the London café is proposed to serve an unusually indulgent menu set to alter the relationship between food and fashion altogether. Although details of interior designs have been kept strictly confidential, reports have claimed that themes will be ‘Wes Anderson’ based, ie, an irresistible hotspot for candid Instagrammers. However, Prada is far from the first fashion designer to collaborate with the world of cuisine. In 2017, Ralph Lauren opened Ralph’s Coffee and Bar after initially opening in America, and their menu defies a stereotypical Fashion Week diet, serving Ice Cream Sundaes, Brownies and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Squares amongst many other treats. Other designers have also created their connections between food and fashion, with Burberry opening Thomas’s Café, Comme des Garçons opening Rose Bakery in Dover Street London and Armani opening Armani Ristorante in New York. With the opening of designer restaurants, the association of food and fashion is slowly becoming more acceptable, even
An unusually indulgent menu set to alter the relationship between food and fashion
with models associated with designer brands showcasing their attendance at normal restaurants that we can all access. Whilst being interviewed on Jimmy Fallon, supermodel Gigi Hadid sat eating hamburgers with the show host, and her sister Bella Hadid exclaimed in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar that she had only been eating pizza, burgers French fries and grilled cheeses prior to her interview with the magazine. Although only a small step into breaking an attached stigma to fashion, the influencers of the fashion world (most importantly the supermodels and designers) are becoming important in changing the way fashion is interpreted and eradicating the unhealthy stereotypes associated. The opening of these designer restaurants and the celebrity supermodel endorsement of food can help to try and rid the stigma attached to an incredibly competitive and judgemental fashion industry, and can help to confirm that if the designers are eating like Kings, why can’t we?
Instagram: @marchesi1824
Day gift! Ella Bella Gifts, a student from Durham, will also be selling bright handmade gifts such as beaded hoop earrings, bow ties and fabric scrunchies.
You may have already seen BelleBands brightening up campus this term, they will be selling their handmade headbands, expect to see bright colours
These are just a few selected stalls that have booked a space at the DePopUpShop, follow our Facebook event as more companies will be revealed in the run up. Here you can also to find out how you could get involved selling at the DePopUpShop. All of this and more will be seen at the Venue in Newcastle Students Union at 12pm - 4pm on the 27th of March, make sure you don’t miss out on some great products! To enter there will be a small fee on the door of £2, which is going to a great charity, the FutureSense Foundation. They aim to help deprived communities all over the world, supporting education, health and wellbeing. Visit FutureSenseFoundation.org to find out more about the amazing work they are doing all over the world.
Should logos be fashion no-gos?
Nusrat Angela is here to answer one of our biggest debates: logo reliance in fashion branding
L
ogos are visual representations of brands. They are especially relevant for the clothing industry. For a while now, clothing with big logos have become trendy. Most of the high-end brands have opted to include their logo as a part of the design for their outfits. Apart from building brand awareness and marketing themselves, this breathes life into the questions regarding the reason behind using logoshow important is it to look at logos when buying outfits? Have we arrived at a time where slapping a big logo on clothing is fashionable?
In recent years, the ultra-luxury brands have used their logos to showcase wealth, status and a sense of belonging among the millennials
Traditionally, it is quite important to look at a brand when we are buying clothes. This is mainly because of two reasons- to be able to buy something of good quality which the brand in question promises and to be associated with a cause that the brand supports. When you are purchasing something, logos inform you what company or brand you are buying your clothes from. You are almost at once informed of the quality, style, niche target, and price of the product. This helps you to take a decision- are you looking for the type of clothes they sell and how appropriate is the brand for you? On the other hand, a logo helps you to showcase your support for a brand or any of their initiatives. When you are wearing a sneaker with the stylish ‘V’ engraved on the sides from Veja, it automatically translates that you are a supporter of sustainable environment, applauding their use of organic cotton and rubber. At times like this, it seems reasonable to display a brand. If not, then how are we, as individuals supposed to display the causes we stand for? However, it still doesn’t seem to justify the use of huge logos on clothes. In recent years, the ultra-luxury brands have used this technique to showcase wealth, status and a sense of belonging among the millennials. It has almost become a trend to have a huge logo on your clothing just to inform others how expensive an outfit is. In a way, it tells
your society that you can buy clothes that are very expensive and that somehow makes you superior. It is almost sad that research shows luxury items are likely to be sold twice as much if they carry a large logo of the brand. This brings one very different but rooted question under the spotlight- why are we so obsessed with the display of logos and in fact, wealth? It is almost as if we have moved away from the main cause of wearing logos and now, they have become a means for pretence. To some extent, it has become a style statement, but one can’t help but wonder, why is that? When wearing clothes, people should not have the burden of needing a large logo on their clothes. Rather than focusing on the brand we wear, we should be concerned more about comfort and style. In the end, the purpose of all these brands is to make sure you are comfortable and feel good about what you wear. Don’t wear something for the sake of it. Social acceptance is not what we want from life. Trust me, there are much more important things worth your time.
Unsplash: @justinchrn
the courier
19
fashion life & style
Monday 18 March 2019
Selfridge and sustainability: whats new Miranda Stoner takes a look at the latest plant-based brands who are an integral part of Selfridge's sustainability scheme
A
s part of their Bright New Things scheme, Selfridges & Co have selected several new brands to promote this Spring/Summer 2019. The aim is to ensure that sustainability doesn’t compromise style. The top-down approach hopes to encourage conscious consumption by making changes from within the fashion design industry itself. From upcycled denim to recycled rubber souls, each company has different methods for helping the planet. Many brands focus on the reduction of water waste, by reusing fabric and removing steps from the production process, as well as using more planet friendly organic and fairtrade farming methods for material fibres. Although they are not necessarily in the student price range it’s great that sustainable clothing is becoming more available to an ever wider range of consumers. Stay Wild Swim is a swimwear brand launching in Selfridges stores this spring. Each piece is made from regenerated ocean plastic, which helps the planet on two levels- firstly by reducing pollution in oceans and secondly by reducing the demand for new products to be manufactured. In addition to this the brand’s launch campaign is very inclusive, reflecting the aim of the brand to help people as well as the planet and to flatter all women. The whole process of the manufacture has sustainability at its heart, from production to packaging the co-founders Natalie Glaze and Zanna van Dijk have thought through it all. They even have a solution to potential problems in the washing process. They sell a GUPPYFRIEND Washing Bag which goes in the washing machine and catches the micro-plastics, which you can then empty into the bin to stop them from becoming integrated into the water system. E.L.V. Denim design and produce their pieces in the UK in East London. They are a zero waste denim brand, which considering it takes on average 4,000 litres of water to produce a pair of jeans (that’s about 62 showers), this is no mean feat. The upcycled pieces are spliced together to create new stunning designs. The nature of the fabric also means that each piece is individual and quirky. The company’s founder Anna Foster hopes to “debunk the myth that good-fitting jeans are hard to find” by transforming her upcycled denim into beautifully tailored shapes. The company offers Mafe to Measure
pieces by appointment , putting a really luxury spin on environmental protection. This means the jeans fit your body just as well as your ethical compass. In addition to jeans. E.L.V Denim offers denim jackets and shorts so there's spmething for every wardrobe. Good News is a sustainable shoe brand who include recycled rubber soles and organic cotton in their designs. Instead of using petroleom in their inner footbed, they have opted for biodegradable caster beans. They also support charities and have donated over 3,000 pairs of pre-worn shoes and trainers to refugees and migrants. This fits perfectly with their company goal "to make people smile".
Instagram: @taywildswim
Instagram: @elvdenim
Instagram: @eoodnewslondon
Inclusive & empowering branding
Helena Buchanan gives us an insight into Chromat: a bodywear brand that is future-forward, designed with women in mind
I
am not someone who is massively interested in fashion or trends, to be honest I find the idea of a trend a bit sickening. That said, Chromat is a label which seems to be taking ‘trend’ the right way and I love them for it.
Their website states ‘The future is inclusive, empowering and sustainable’ and I fucking love that
Their website states ‘The future is inclusive, empowering and sustainable’ and I fucking love that. It is all the things which the fashion industry of the past twenty years (at least) hasn’t been. Even though I hate the fact that recently sustainability has become a buzz-word and seems to be solely the remit of vegan-hemp-wearing-eco-wankers any attempt at sustainability, even if it is a fad, is a good thing. Either way, this brand seems to be the opposite of the hippy-linen stereotype. I came across the brand on Instagram during fashion week and what immediately struck me was the variety of body shapes and skin tones on the models walking for the brand. This did not seem to be tokenism, it was not one ‘plus-sized’ and one pale brown woman in a sea of skinny whites. There seemed to be a genuine attempt at inclusivity, including transgender and disabled models. It is a long time since I have been genuinely
surprised by fashion, and it is hard to come across brands which do not seem to ride the wave of whatever fad is around at the time. Not only are the garments produced in fair-wage, ethical factories, but they strive to use materials which don’t harm the planet. Their swimming costumes are made from plastic bottles and fishnets which have been salvaged from the ocean. They have recovered 160 tons of fishing nets from the sea. Seriously, how fucking cool. It seems amazing that other designers aren’t following suit, with the amazing wealth which most popular brands are sitting on it is shocking that they don’t pay fair wages or produce garments made from materials which don’t literally shit on the planet. Instagram: @chromat
Instagram: @chromat
20
life & style travel
courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Travel Editors Jenny Franken, Bianca Ionici, Amy Harris Online Editor Amanda Goh
the courier
Monday 18 March 2019
Visit North-West Germany
Do you get bored of hearing about Berlin? News editor Grace Dean takes you on a tour through the smaller cities in Germany
D
uring my semester abroad studying at Oldenburg University, I had the delight of owning a Semesterticket. This little beauty enabled me to travel within the area surrounding the German federal state Lower Saxony, within which Oldenburg is located, for free (provided I took the slow trains, of course). Because of this, I was fortunate enough to experience an abundance of delightful North-West German cities during my semester abroad.
Over one megawatt of electricity can be generated if you're fortunate enough to be blessed with good weather
During my first weekend in possession of my Semesterticket, a large group of friends and I decided to travel to the neighbouring city of Bremen. A lot of local students in Oldenburg dismissed Bremen as a violent and dangerous city; indeed, upon leaving the main train station there, one of the first things you are confronted with is a large shop selling an array of swords, knives and guns. The area surrounding the train station aside, however, Bremen is an incredibly pleasant city. For all first-time visitors a trip to Bremen’s old town is a necessity. Known as the Schnoorgebiet (literally “string area”), visitor signs in the old town suggest that it is named after the narrow cobbled streets which are curved round like a piece of string. Wikipedia, however, evidently thinks otherwise; it tells me that the Schnoorgebiet is named so after the area’s historical production of string for the shipping industry. Regardless of where it got its name from, the Schnoorgebiet boasts an abundance of quaint gift shops and tearooms, and the wonderful Schokostube ice-cream parlour even offers its own Schnoorkuller speciality named after the old town, a delicious homemade ice-cream consisting of chocolate and nuts. Culinary delights aside, Bremen is situated on the Weser river, and a short scenic walk along the waterfront will lead you to the famed Werder Bremen football stadium, which interestingly enough is covered in photovoltaic cells to generate solar power; over one megawatt of electricity can be generated if you’re fortunate enough to be blessed with good weather during your visit. Bremen is additionally home to Becks, and crossing the river will lead you to the Becks factory which offers guided tours (including free samples) for the eager beer drinkers among us. During my semester abroad, I also visited Hamburg on numerous occasions. The city has a reputation for being lively, bustling, and a little bit mad – and boy does it deserve that reputation. During the day take a trip to the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, which is the city’s tallest building. Despite the concert tickets costing a significant chunk of your student finance, without paying you can enter the building and travel on the world's first arched escalators, which at 80 meters
in length are the longest in Europe. While the building is potentially an eyesore from the outside (depending on your take on futuristic architecture), from the inside the building offers a panoramic view across Hamburg, including the historic Speicherstadt. The Speicherstadt is the biggest warehouse district in the world and is home to a mass of redbrick buildings interspersed with rivers and canals. Located close to Hamburg’s famous fish market, the Speicherstadt is one of the most popular places for Instagram pictures in Northern Germany, and it offers a haven of serenity in an otherwise bustling city. Hamburg does appear to be home to an impressive collection of world records; within the Speicherstadt you can find the acclaimed Miniatur Wunderland, the largest model railway attraction of its kind in the world, featuring 1,300 trains with over 10,000 carriages, over 100,000 moving vehicles, 500,000 lights, 130,000 trees, and 400,000 human figurines. While a model railway museum may not necessarily sound like your cup of tea, the Miniatur Wunderland is immensely popular, with queues often being more than an hour long, because of its fun-sized replicas of regions and countries including Italy, the Alps and Hamburg itself. Nearby you can find the river Elbe, which offers incredibly cheap ferry trips so that you can see Hamburg from a new perspective. A description of Hamburg, however, cannot be complete without mentioning its legendary nightlife. This is above all situated along the Reeperbahn, which is Hamburg’s main red light district and consists of cheap restaurants (€2 pizza anyone?), nightclubs, bars, sex shops and brothels. Along the Reeperbahn you can find the BeatlesPlatz, which a circular plaza shaped and paved like a vinyl record, surrounded by metal silhouetted statues of The Beatles to commemorate their time in Hamburg at the start of their career. With tram services running throughout the night, Hamburg is an affordable and exciting city for a night out, but be weary of the undercover police. My favourite northern German city, however, was without a doubt Hannover. Despite being the capital city of Lower Saxony, I knew very little of Hannover before my arrival in Oldenburg, but I soon learnt that it was well worth the two hour train journey there. Hannover is a fantastic city with an abundance of both natural beauty and stunning architecture. From the train station you can quickly make your way to the Rathaus (town hall), which is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever set eyes on in my life. A majestic blue- and orange-roofed building, the Rathaus has a restaurant with outdoor seating from which you can admire its tranquil grounds; grounds so beautiful, in fact, that on a sunny day you can see many newly-weds out here in bridal gear for their wedding photoshoots. Continuing in the same direction will take you to the Maschsee, where, from just €2 per person, you can hire row boats and escape the buzz of the city. Following this, a visit to the old town is a must. Despite Hannover being heavily bombed during the second world war, much of its beautiful architecture fortunately remains. The Aegidienkirche, however, was a vict i m of the bombing, and following the
Image Grace Dean
war it was not rebuilt, with the ruins being left as a war memorial. Should you be lucky enough to spend more than a day in Hannover, a trip to the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen is essential; clearly Barack Obama agreed with this sentiment when he visited the Garden in 2016. The Gardens are located a scenic 45 minute w a l k from the city centre, and the Great Garden is regarded as one of the most distinguished baroque formal gardens of E u rope while the Berggarten is a large b o tanical garden offering a variety of rare plant breeds. Quite simply, Hannover is a delight. My experiences of North-West Germany far exceeded my expectations. While Cologne, Berlin and Munich are incredibly popul a r
with tourists (and rightly so!), the beautiful cities in North-West Germany are often overlooked. With Bremen, Hamburg and Hannover each boasting their own airport, the region is accessible from most major
A description of Hamburg cannot be complete without mentioning its legendary nightlife. Cheap restaurants nightclubs, bars, sex shops and brothels
British airports, including with budget airlines. If you want to experience a glorious merging of the old and the new, from the futuristic Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg to the quaint Schnoorgebiet in Bremen, from the bustling nightlife of the Reeperbahn to the gently lapping water of the Maschsee, North-East Germany is waiting for you to visit.
Image Grace Dean
the courier
21
travel life & style
Monday 18 March 2019
Paris in a less-romantic light Easter Travel editor Amy Harris recalls how she has become a victim of a metro scam in Paris
W
henever you search and read up on tips for travelling to Paris the one piece of advice that constantly pops up is about scammers and pickpockets loitering around popular attractions, but one thing I never read was “expect to be fined €100 if you have the wrong metro ticket".
He looked at our tickets, shook his head and told us that we had the wrong tickets
When it came to leaving Paris to fly back to England, we had to get the metro and RER to Charles du Gaulle airport. We went to Gare de Cité Universitaire as we knew we could buy our tickets there and could also catch the RER B train to the airport. Throughout the trip we had used the ticket machines at the metro stations to purchase our tickets, so we knew that the machines were reliable and took card, as we had money but preferred to use our bank cards instead. Due to the fact we had purchased tickets when we arrived in Paris 5 days before we knew what tickets we needed to cover our journey through Paris and to the outskirts and thankfully the machine translated to English as well so it explained everything perfectly. Accordingly, we went to one of the machines to buy our tickets, but then for some reason the machine (which was a card only machine) wouldn’t accept the bank card which we had been using all week and hadn’t had problems with. So, instead of trying again we joined the queue to get a ticket from the ticket office so I could speak to an actual member of staff. When we joined the queue, this man approached me and asked if I needed any help. He had a lanyard on and a card with some credentials, he looked friendly but I was more comfortable getting a ticket from the kiosk so I could explain to them exactly where we were going. While I was waiting the man kept asking if I was okay and told me he could help me with my issue so, he took me back over to the machine and I went on to explain how it wasn’t taking our bank card and we needed tickets to get to the airport. At first, he watched as we showed him that our card wasn’t being accepted and he then went on to offer buying
the tickets for us using the card he had with him and we could just give him the money for the tickets. I responded that it was fine that I would buy my ticket from the kiosk, but he continued to ask where I needed to go and before I could say anything else, he had chosen the ticket, put his bank card in the machine and paid €35 for our RER train tickets. We had paid €35 for our train tickets when we came into Paris on the Saturday, so I didn’t see an issue giving him the money as when I looked to check the ticket it looked like the ticket we had used before. We thanked him and moved towards the metro gates. Obviously, the ticket let me through the gate as it was a legitimate ticket however I noticed as I looked back to the area he had been stood and the guy had left and was nowhere to be seen. However, I just carried on as we needed to get to the airport. We got on the RER B train towards the airport which was going to be an hour-long journey and settled down. For the whole journey no ticket inspector came around and checked our tickets but just as we were about to come into the airport station at Charles du
Gaulle the ticket inspector came around. This is when the problem occurred. He looked at our tickets, shook his head and told us that we had the wrong tickets. We tried explaining to him that we had asked for the ticket to take us to the airport and this is what the gentleman had given us, but he just replied that there was nothing he could do, that he would have to fine us as that was the procedure. So, the three of us were fined a €100 for having the wrong ticket and thankfully we had €100 on the bank card if not we would have had an even bigger issue to face. Therefore, whether the guy that gave us the ticket wasn’t even a member of staff or he just picked the wrong ticket I’m not sure, but I left Paris €100 out of pocket. From this experience one suggestion I would recommend to those travelling to Paris is be aware of who is around you, but also buy your tickets from a ticket office where you can speak to an actual member of staff and be given a ticket that won’t get you a €100 fine.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
A taste of France in North America Em Richardson gives her review of the the quirky and quaint Canadian city of Québec
W
hen thinking of Canadian cities, I’m guessing the one that springs to mind is Toronto, or maybe Montréal if you’re feeling quirky. It seems like many people forget about Québec, Montréal's older, smaller and generally less cosmopolitan sister. If I’m honest, I was one of those people, until I found myself on a tour of the US and Canada last September. When I first noticed Québec on the tour’s itinerary, I actually bemoaned the fact that the day we spent there would delay our arrival in Toronto, and mean we spent less time in Montréal. I certainly didn’t expect that Québec would become my new favourite city but, as soon as we arrived, I fell in love with its relaxed atmosphere and
quaint charm. Despite having a population of half a million people, Québec feels like a small, provincial town. I was particularly fond of Old Town- with its picturesque squares and European-style architecture, one could be forgiven for mistaking it for a traditional French village. However, the beauty of the city itself pales compared to its surroundings. If you travel to the Plains of Abraham, a famous park located above the city, the views of the St. Lawrence river and the Appalachian Mountains are, quite simply, breath-taking. Québec is also known for being the home of Chateau Frontenac, an iconic, and very beautiful, hotel that was built in the 1800s, in the style of a traditional French chateau. The building itself is magnificent, and the views from the promenade in front of it
Unsplash @denisseleon
are even more spectacular, offering a different view of the mountains. If you feel like parting with an arm or leg, you could even venture inside the Chateau for a cocktail or two, and spend longer admiring the view. Of course, the local people are another reason Québec is so special. Everyone seems to know each other, and the streets are full of people laughing and playing music, creating a lovely, relaxed atmosphere. As you’re probably aware, Québec City itself, Montréal, and the entire province of Québec are French-speaking. However, if you’ve previously visited Montréal, you’ll be surprised by just how few people are actually able to speak English in Québec. You’re never far from an English speaker in Montreal but, in Québec, you can walk up entire streets without hearing a word of English spoken. Before visiting the city, I’d heard that locals, and indeed French Canadians in general, could be quite standoffish towards English speakers. Having visited Québec, I disagree entirely! We found the locals to be extremely friendly, and often eager to practice their English skills on us. Québec preference for French isn’t an inconvenience at all- it simply adds to its quirky atmosphere. The French accents mean you’d be hard-pressed to tell Québec from a quaint little town on the French Riviera, especially if you choose to embrace Québec's prominent ‘foody’ scene, and pass an hour or two enjoying nibbles and cocktails by the stunning St. Lawrence river. As a Linguistics student, I also enjoyed hearing French spoken in Québec because of the historical and cultural significance. French has been spoken in Québec since the city was founded in 1608 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, and great efforts have been taken to prevent the language from becoming Anglicised. The determination to speak French has prevailed throughout Québec's dramatic history, including the Battle of Québec during the American Revolution, which is a fascinating tale if you’re interested in history.
traditions Emma Dawson explores the various activities countries around the globe get round to at Easter time
W
e tend to think of Easter as the time to eat a ridiculous amount of chocolate eggs and have a nice long break from uni when you can finally catch up on all the reading you said you’d do weeks ago. Although that is certainly true for many of us, it is also a time steeped in tradition and celebration for many cultures throughout the world. Despite Easter being typically observed in countries with a predominantly Christian population, vivid and dynamic festivities occur in a variety of non-Christian countries too and is very much an international affair. You might not think the UK has many Easter traditions and you’d be forgiven for not being familiar with egg jarping. A game played between two people, the aim is to break your opponent’s egg without breaking your own. Despite its simple nature, the game is actually fairly competitive, with annual championships being held in Peterlee in County Durham since 1983. Like most competitive sport, egg jarping has also had its share of cheating, with reports of people using eggs with metal and marble cores to gain an advantage.
Unsplash @annie-spratt
An Easter tradition that bewilders and amuses many is seen in Norway, where their well-known love of crime fiction is celebrated by reading novels and solving mysteries. Despite the growing appeal of Nordic noir, Påskekrim, or Easter crime, isn’t part of the festivities in either Sweden or Denmark. The tradition dates back to 1923, when two young writers decide to write a crime novel in the hopes of it becoming popular in order to make some cash. The Sunday before Easter, a widespread marketing campaign is featured on the front page of Norway’s largest newspaper. The book’s title translates as ‘Bergen train looted in the night’ which caught the attention of the readers. The advert was said to have looked so authentic that people thought it was a real news story. The publicity stunt was a roaring success and the novel became a hit. Since then the tradition has stuck and with Norwegian holidays being one of the longest in the world, its deemed as the perfect time to spend reading. Despite these perhaps unusual and unfamiliar traditions, the Easter bunny may seem like a staple of the period in many countries across the world. An iconic and historic symbol, the Easter bunny or Hare as it was originally depicted, originates in Germany in the late 17th Century. Almost Santa like in its nature, the Easter hare would decide if children had been well behaved or naughty and would bring gifts to them the night before. Despite the Easter bunny’s enduring popularity, one country has come up with a surprising alternative. In Australia you’ll instead come across the Easter Bilby, an adorable marsupial which is sadly now an endangered species. In fact, by becoming the official mascot of Easter, it has raised awareness of the conservation efforts to save the desert-dwelling critter from extinction. The Easter Bilby makes its debut in 1968 in a book written by 9-year-old Rose-Marie Dusting titled Billy The Aussie Easter Bilby which peaked the public interest in saving the Bilby. Several chocolate manufacturers now donate money from sales of Easter confectionery, including chocolate Bilbies and other well-known bush animals. In the past decade, hundreds of thousands of dollars have subsequently been raised for conservation programmes and causes. Wherever in the world you find yourself this Easter, whether you’re at home or abroad, make sure to take a well-deserved break from your studies and enjoy the variety of festivities going on before the beginning of the new term.
the courier
22
feature
Monday 18 March 2019
Feature Editor Ally Wilson
Mental Health services on campus
Welfare & Equality Officer, Jack Green explains the facilities on offer at the university and discusses what he can see being done
I
n this article I hope to use information and experiences that I have gathered from working closely with the services at Newcastle University Student Health & Wellbeing Service to lay out the work that is being done, and my opinion on the progress towards better mental health provisions. There are many staff at the University working extremely hard on mental health initiatives, and I’m lucky that in my role I am privy to that information. Mental health is a complex issue, and I urge any student who is struggling with their mental health to reach out and seek support. One in four students experience mental health problems according to a YouGov survey. 71% of students who answered the survey said that work from university was one of their main sources of stress; with 39% of respondents, also stating that employment prospects after university was another main source of stress. In recent years, I believe that we have seen a significant shift in our understanding around mental health and perceptions on it. In spite of this, I still believe that there is significant work to do to improve provisions and perceptions surrounding mental health. Suicide is still the most common cause of death for men aged 20-49 years in England and Wales; a statistic that I’m sure we can all agree is unacceptable. In 2017, Universities UK - or UUK - a representational body of 136 Universities across the UK recommended that Universities should adopt mental health as a strategic priority. Newcastle University Executive Board approved a task and finish group for the framework called ‘Step Change’. This group will have 6 subgroups tackling different areas of student mental health. The Executive Board however, has not explicitly adopted mental health as a strategic priority. I think that this is disappointing and a missed opportunity, as I believe it would have shown staff and students that mental health was being taken as a priority from the executives of the University. However, there have been many changes happening in the University that you might not have noticed. The Student Wellbeing Service underwent a restructure last year; with Sport now sitting under the new title of Student Health & Wellbeing Service. Merging Sport into the service and sitting at an equal footing to other departments, I believe demonstrates that mental health should be treated as on an equal footing to physical health. It also allows sport to be used as a supplement to existing support such as counselling; with students already being offered group sport sessions as an alternative to counselling. The University’s Student Health & Wellbeing service has launched various initiatives over the years, alongside offering things like counselling to best meet student needs. And yes, this may be referring you onto the NHS or another service if your needs are beyond the scope of the service. For some students, medication might form part of the solution, which is something that the University will never be able to provide.
Opening Times Opening Times The mental health and counselling team now has appointments available 9am – 9pm between Monday to Thursday, and 9am – 5pm on a Friday. From Student feedback, the Students’ Union has also started hosting University therapists for initial appointments a few mornings a week in the Student Advice Centre. There has been a mostly positive response to this, as some students feel more comfortable in the Students’ Union than attending at Student Services in King’s Gate.
Waiting Times 4 Week Waiting Times You may hear that the waiting times for an appointment for counselling take 4 weeks per student. This is partly true in that from your initial appointment students will generally wait around 3.6 weeks until their first counselling appointment. Somebody from the mental health and counselling team will actually see students on average within 7 days for an initial appointment. There are a number of different factors which contribute towards when you will be seen, such as: the current demand on the service, which can increase at different points of the year; how flexible you can be with your time and how immediate your issues are.
Appointments Number of appointments The University offered 7,472 appointments in the 16/17 academic year, with a total of 1,185 appointments missed due to students’ not attending, or late cancellations where another student was unable to fill the space. That equates to 15.9% of appointments that could have been given to another student. In the 17/18 academic year the number of appointments increased to 8,346 with 1,439 appointments wasted which equates to 17.2% wasted appointments. This percentage is lower than the industry standard, however I feel that there could be more work done to tackle this issue. For example I think that a text message system would help, that would remind students of their appointment, and include a link to cancel the appointment if they could no longer make it. A University representative said that it was something that they would like to include but it is currently something that the system does not support. The new system however, will send out email reminders that will have a similar functionality and allow students to manage their appointments online. This new system is likely to be in place by the next academic year.
External Services External Services In recent years the University has started a commission services to run for students on the campus. Tyneside Rape Crisis is a charity that supports women who are survivors of sexual assault. The University has commissioned them to come onto campus in order to give students appointments so that Students can be seen quicker. NIWE, a service looking at people whose lives have been affected by eating distress or disorders have also been commissioned to come onto campus. These services come in 2 nights a week each. The University also works closely with the NHS to provide appointments on campus. I think that it is fantastic that the University are doing this; gives students access to external services that they will be able to make use of after they have left University.
Six Sessions Six Sessions You may think that the maximum of 6 counselling sessions is inadequate and that the University should be providing more sessions to students. It definitely isn’t ideal, but there are some reasons why this is done. The University does this to allow more students to be seen by the service. Another reason is that as soon as students leave the University they no longer have access to the services, and so it is done in order to set up long-term support networks. 6 sessions also may seem like a bit of a random number. Why not 5? Well, 6 sessions is a common number used across other short-term counselling services due to research and evidence to support that that number of sessions are appropriate for this kind of service. It also sets expectations of the service, so that students know how many counselling appointments that they will be able to access, and perhaps play a decision in whether actually counselling at University is the most appropriate service for them.
Budget Budget We constantly hear that mental health services are underfunded, and you may be wondering if that is the case at Newcastle University. The salary costs for the Counselling and Mental Health advisory team have increased by 61.5% in the past 4 years; from £548,858 in the academic year 2015/16, to £886,192 in 2018/19. This is solely the salary costs, and does not include the cost of services like ‘Silver Cloud’ and other costs.
Prevention Prevention A large part of tacking mental health issues is providing students with the tools to look after their own mental health. The University will most likely develop better strategies as part of the ‘Step Change’ project, and I would like to see this eventually embedded into the curriculum across every degree. They have already launched a number of initiatives such as wellbeing workshops, which you can find on their website. They have recently purchased an online platform called ‘Silver Cloud’ where students can access self-help tools for their mental health, which I hope will launch before the end of the academic year.
If you are worried about yourself or a friend and do not require emergency support, here are some services available for you to contact: University Wellbeing Consultancy Service is open 8am-10pm Monday-Thursday and 8am-5pm Friday Telephone: 0191 208 3333 Text: 18001 0191 208 3333 Nightline available 8pm-8pm every night during term Telephone: 0191 261 2095 Instant Message: nusu.co.uk/nightline Student Advice Centre is open Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9am-5pm, Wednesdays 12pm=-5pm and Fridays 9am-4pm Telephone: 0191 208 3333 Welfare & Equality Officer: welfare.union@ncl.ac.uk Chaplaincy Telephone: 0191 208 6341 Samaritans, free 24/7 Telephone: 116 123 Emergency If you or someone else is in immediate danger, you should always phone 999
the courier
23
feature
Monday 18 March 2019
Watch Your Head Hannah Stevenson talks us through the weekly events run by this established on-campus mental health organisation
W
atch Your Head was designed to build a network between university students in order to help relieve any stress and anxiety related to university life. We understand the importance of mental wellbeing and therefore, strive to help students in any way that we can. All 5 workshops held by Watch Your Head are free of charge and most don’t require signing up, simply show up on the day and get involved. Yoga however, (due to its high demand) has a weekly sign up link on their facebook page. Follow all of our facebook pages for exciting updates and important information! Running has a positive and profound effect it can have on your mental wellbeing. Therefore, we have a Running Workshop (RUN DMC) that happens twice a week, catering for all abilities. Each session is run by two volunteers to share tips on how to get into running, or even provide a training plan if you wish to reach a milestone. Each run can be as long or as short as you want, and the pace is always catered to make everyone as comfortable as possible. Due to high demand and success rates we hold 2 Yoga workshops a week (CHIT HAPPENS). They are a gateway for people of all abilities to attend free sessions with a qualified instructor. The sessions are run with a manager and volunteers in order to create a safe, welcoming environment for people to explore the different styles of Yoga, and the positive impact it can have on their physical and mental wellbeing. PEACE OF MIND is an informative wellbeing workshop. The aim of the session is for students to gain a greater insight into what causes their stress and learn how to manage it more effectively (as well as providing freebies and even free pizza!). Each ses-
sion has a different theme related to wellbeing, upcoming themes involve where to go when you need help, the benefits of exercise, diet, stress relief activities, how to help a friend with mental health problems and procrastination, academic stress and study skills. Our art workshops (HOW ART THOU) intend to offer you a chance to manage stress in a more creative way. We know art can have therapeutic value for when you’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed. We appreciate everyone works differently, so feel free to work in solitude or with friends. We have a range of materials from clay, pens to origami. It’s a great opportunity to take some time out, to de-stress and maybe even further a new (or old!) skill. Finally, in addition to all these workshops we have to offer, we also run a Boxing workshop. University can bring with it a lot of stress from workload, finances and general life. What better way to relieve stress than by punching a punch bag for 1 hour. Remember no previous experience is needed for any of our workshops!
Mind The Gap’s 5th anniversary Michael Halliday talks through the society’s weekly schedule
M
ind the Gap initially started out as a mental health conference, which after this year will be in its 5th year growing to encompass many other services that students can use and take part in. This can be in the form of contributing to the awareness of mental health through the conference and campaigns, or having a friendly chat at one of our peer support sessions. Since its inception, Mind the Gap has added a number of student-led services to its inventory that can be attended by all members including, but not limited to: Conference: The centrepiece of Mind the Gap this year will be taking place on Saturday 4th May and will be led by Haaris, our Conference Lead. This is one of the biggest student-led conferences in the North East encompassing many workshops and talks about mental health and different aspects of it such as coping with mental health, anxiety and much more. This will be fascinating and extremely beneficial to students who may be going through a tough time, especially as it will be nearing exam season. Peer support groups: Weekly hour-long sessions held by our Welfare Officer Ahmar where you can chat about anything that’s bothering you and this hap-
pens every Wednesday afternoon from 2-3pm. You can sign up for these sessions via the Mind the Gap Facebook page, after which you will find out the location where the session is being held. Discussions: These are held every two weeks by our Discussions Lead Charlotte. Previous topics discussed include Eating disorders, SAD and alcohol and mental health. These sessions are designed to illicit debate and conversation. Positivitea: A coffee evening that is held at the quaint and secluded café ‘Coffee Trader’ every Friday at 5:30pm. An informal gathering spot where members and non-members of the soci- e t y can get together and catch up on the day that they have had over some heavenly coffees, delectable cakes and exquisite sandwiches. Into schools: Run by our Into Schools Lead Sophie, we go into secondary schools and sixth forms to run workshops and give talks on mental health so that students can begin to become aware of mental health.
Nightline services
Katie Lanyi gives an insight into the SAS’s overnight call centre
N
ightline is a completely confidential and anonymous listening service which is available to any student who wants to talk about any issues they may be facing; no problem is too big or small. Our volunteers - who are all students themselves – understand that university can be challenging for many different reasons. We receive a variety of calls ranging from anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and academic stress to someone walking home from a night out and wanting to chat. We understand the importance of having a safe space to talk to someone without the fear of being judged. Nightline doesn’t give advice or lecture, but instead offers a listening ear for students to talk through their problems and also offers support throughout the night, which can often be a time when there may not be anyone else to turn to. As a service which is run by students for students, callers can feel more comfortable talking to people of a similar age and who may relate more to their situation. A survey found that one of the biggest reasons students struggling with mental health issues don’t seek the support they need is that they fear being judged or labelled as weak. As Nightline is completely anonymous callers can speak openly about their problems without the worry of being identified. Our lines are
open 8pm to 8am to everyone who feels like they need support and helps break down the barriers stopping students talking about their mental health. More and more students are dealing with stresses such as anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, and increasing numbers are at high risk of self-harm and even suicide in extreme cases. This is reflected by some harrowing statistics. The rate of suicides by university students has risen by 52% since 2001 and more than half report not having received any therapeutic or academic support from their university. This shows the increasing demand for mental health services and although Nightline cannot be seen as a replacement, it can provide crucial support when students are waiting for help, are in emergency situations, have been let down by services or feel unable to seek other kinds of help. Having someone there who will listen and try to understand your situation may not fix the problem but it is important people know that they’re not alone and there’s always someone at the other end of the phone.
Combined Honours Society: Welfare Station
Tiffany Möller talks us through the weekly events run by this established, student-led, on-campus wellbeing organisation
W
e are a group of second year students who came up with the idea to create a Welfare Station as our project for the Graduate Development module within Combined Honours degree programme. This station aims to support students by providing resources that can help tackle important issues surrounding student life, including mental and sexual health, financial and housing concerns and deadlines and exams. Our aim is to collate resources addressing the aforementioned issues into a folder, these resources focus on signposting students to services within and outside of the university. The output of this will be a box located in the Combined Honours common room containing the folder of
materials and other helpful resources such as stress balls, condoms, spike stoppers, sanitary products, colouring pages and pencils for stress relief.
Many student highlighted the need for further signposting and more
Based on our experiences of university life and practice implemented by other universities on tackling such issues, we decided to create a station making our uni-
versity’s resources more accessible to students from the Combined Honours degree with hopes to implement this university-wide in the future. Our main reasons for doing this is the harmful effect poor mental health has on students and the importance of student welfare at Newcastle University. Our research has concluded that although the university provides extensive range of services to address the previous issues, many students highlighted the need for further signposting and more localised resources within their degree programme. By having a more localised station of products for students to use, it will further the awareness of conversations around mental health and other stigmatised issues. Our station enables students to seek self-help, it
also facilitates the process of students obtaining further help when needed. The station will be linked up with an existing student led scheme within Combined Honours (PAW - Peer Ambassadors for Welfare) and has been influenced by the work they do within the scheme. Regardless of age, gender, sexuality and race, everyone can be subject to issues regarding their mental health and recent research shows that university students are becoming more and more affected by such issues. We have first hand experience of the trails and tribulations that student life holds and through the creation of the Welfare Station, we aim to provide assistance to fellow students dealing with issues that prevail in our society.
24
culture music Gary Clark Jr. This Land
G
ary Clark Jr., in the space of a short career, has risen to define modern blues rock. His debut EP, 2011’s Bright Lights, was instantly popular, demonstrating a blend of traditional and modern blues. Three albums and a Grammy win later, Clark continues down this path, and with pleasing results. This Land opens with the title track, a combination of synthesised chords and wailing guitar. Clark’s ability to take the blues by the collar and pull it into the 21st century is here instantly realised with this surprisingly effective combination, and a political message to boot. The album, whilst certainly blues, is remarkably uplifting in places, with tracks like ‘Gotta Get Into Something’ and ‘Feelin’ Like a Million’ exuding Clark’s confidence and charisma. Tracks lie these also make it feel reductive to call This Land a blues album, with songs swaying into soul, hard rock and even reggae.
c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Music Editors Charlotte Boulton, Rory Ellis, Max Hobbs Online Editor Dominic Lee
Sigrid Sucker Punch
L
ast year The Courier were sent a bunch of free Sigrid ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe’ t-shirts. I proceeded .to wear these t-shirts pretty much every day for the whole year. Needless to say, I have been anticipating this album’s release for a very, very long time. The album features a few tracks which have already been released on her EPs, but it was great hearing them within a bigger, fuller body of work. The album’s track list gives the listener a nice mix of ups and downs, pairing her ‘dance around in your underwear’ bops like Basic with slower stripped-back tracks like In Vain. The track’s order felt very intentionally chosen. It was one of those albums that you listened to start to finish without ever really realsiing the first track had finished; everything flowed together seamlessly. Sigrid’s album is brilliantly honest. I appreciate the relatively straightforward lyrics to her songs. She says what she means and is unapologetically open about not giving a flying fuck about other people’s judgements of her. So props to her for that. A lot of the songs celebrate her being herself and she definitely gets across loud and clear that she does not give a flying fuck what other people think of her. I will definitely be adding a few of these tracks to my ‘strut it into uni’ playlist. The timing of the article is perfect. Although Storm Gareth has messed us all a bit following the worryingly warm February weather, this album is perfect for spring. They are the sort of tracks you wouldn’t mid hearing drifting over the walls of back yards is Jesmond on the first proper warm day of the year. So when it gets to that glorious day, I’d reccomend you that you whack this album on. Carys Rose Thomas
Monday 18 March 2019
Ariana at Manchester Pride The event is facing backlash over their choice of non-LGBT+ headliner and ticket price hike
T
he announcement that Ariana Grande will be the headline act at Manchester Pride 2019 has been met with widespread criticism, stemming from the fact she’s straight, and that her appearance is being blamed for the event’s extortionate ticket prices. Last year, a weekend ticket cost just £30, but this has now sky-rocketed to £71. This has led to allegations
that Manchester Pride has become overly commercialised, and that members of the LGBTQ+ community who want to attend are being financially exploited. Whilst the fact that a Pride celebration is so expensive is a huge concern, it seems that Grande is being held solely accountable for the increased ticket prices. In reality, as she herself has made clear, it is Manchester Pride’s organisers
Some tracks feel slightly out of place
This sometimes comes at the expense of consistency however, with some tracks feeling slightly out of place. There’s also the fact that the entire album is 17 tracks long, and that can sometimes be felt. Some tracks, like the meandering ‘Don’t Wait Til Tomorrow’, can feel as though they hurt the album’s pacing. These are small gripes however; This Land is far more characterised on the whole by its skillful and catchy songwriting. Tracks like ‘Pearl Cadillac’ and ‘What About Us’ are full of energy and soul in equal measure. It would also be criminal not to mention the powerful guitar playing that Clark employs throughout, with solos that could quite possibly knock off your actual socks. On the whole, This Land is a remarkable achievement in the tricky and often unsuccessful art of genre-blending, with tunes that will stay with you long after you’ve heard them. Max Hobbs
the courier
Photo:Wikipedia Commons
who have the most say on ticket prices. They might be using Grande’s performance as an excuse to make tickets even pricier, but ticket prices have actually been gradually rising for the past few years. The cynic in me feels that Grande is probably perfectly happy to accept the large pay check she will receive for appearing at such a lucrative event, but let’s not forget that her appearance is simply justification for speeding up a price raise that was going to happen eventually anyway. If we’re calling people out for the fact Pride is now unaffordable for many workingclass people, the first people who deserve criticism are Manchester Pride’s organisers. Plus, tickets for Grande’s upcoming tour are selling for over £100, so it could be argued that buying a Pride ticket is actually a relatively economical way to see her perform, especially if fans purchase a one-day ticket, costing less than £40. The other issue raised by Grande’s appearance is her sexuality, with some suggesting the headline spot at a Pride event should be reserved for LGBTQ+ acts, in order to ensure the community is well-represented. Yet, I’ve always thought that allies ought to be welcome at Pride events, provided they have actively shown support for the community. Several of Grande’s songs have been described as having ‘pro-LGBT’ lyrics, and Grande left the Catholic faith after growing uncomfortable with the church’s thoughts on LGBTQ+ people. She is extremely supportive of her gay brother, and criticised US supreme court judges who voted against legalising gay marriage, whilst performing at a Pride event in New York City. Grande also shares a personal connection with the city of Manchester, as her concert at Manchester Arena was attacked by a suicide bomber in 2017. Since the attack, she has expressed her love for Manchester on several occasions, most notably when she hosted ‘One Love Manchester’, a benefit concert intended to support victims of the bombing. If the organisers of Manchester Pride had to choose a straight headline act, I think few acts would be more appropriate than Grande, with her links to the city and passionate support for the LGBTQ+ community. It’s just a shame that they’ve used the appearance of a high-profile celebrity to ‘justify’ such extortionate ticket prices. Em Richardson
Jackson’s legacy After Leaving Neverland Following the Leaving Neverland documentary, Joe Holloran discusses the industry’s reaction O ver two days at the start of March this year, the reputation of one of the world biggest ever musicians can crashing down since HBO/ Channel 4 aired the two part documentary Leaving Neverland. Over the course of four hours, two men Wade Robson and James Safechuck - bravely revealed, in graphic detail, the abuse they suffered at the hands of Michael Jackson in the late ‘80 and early ‘90s. Since then the music world has been reeling as artists and media companies come forward to disavow the former ‘King of Pop’. Current musicians such as Drake have dropped any reference to Jackson from their work and numerous radio stations, including BBC Radio 2 and the entirety of Canadian and New Zealand radio networked have removed his music from their playlists, while Jackson supporters attempt to save his legacy. A war for control over the legacy of Michael Jackson has begun.
Since the documentary aired at the Sundance Film Festival late last year a group of Jackson fanatics have begun a campaign of censorship in an attempt to have the documentary blocked. The behaviour of these particular fans is that of a personality cult, the glorifying of a man to God-like status. The cults protests and denial of facts is testimony to the dark underbelly of pop-music and celebrity in general, when devotion to star supersedes all morality and common sense. To this group I say imagine you were on a jury for child abuse and these facts were placed before you, with the accused identity hidden. Can you honestly say you would not convict? Jackson escaped justice during his lifetime but there are steps that can be taken now to ensure he is remembered for what he did to these children and
not celebrated as the Peter Pan pop-king he painted himself as. Since his death a decade ago the Jackson estate has made around $930 million. That is more than any dead celebrity in history. Boycotting his music, merchandise and everything else won’t give these men justice, but it will affect the financial future of the Jackson family, whom continue to proclaim his innocence and make money from the abuser. Ultimately though what matters the most in the music industry is image and reputation. Leaving Neverland will be seen by millions over the years and with each viewing a little bit of Jacksons legacy dies. For the first time one documentary has destroyed the reputation of a global superstar and more importantly, empowered abuse victims to come forward and tell their story. No matter who the perpetrator was, society is there to support you. Perhaps that will be the true legacy of this documentary, it saw the end of star immunity and the beginning of victim centred story telling.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
the courier
25
music culture Post Malone’s partner trolled on Instagram Monday 18 March 2019
@CourierMusic thecourieronline.co.uk/music
Jamie Mounsey comments on the motives behind fans commenting on celebrity relationships
Sia
‘Alive’ is one of Sia’s most successful hits and featured on her 2016 album This is Acting. ‘Alive’ is a song about coming back from a broken place. It pairs strong lyricism with an impressive vocal performance featuring possibly the only voice crack which people actually want to hear. I’m not necessarily Sia’s biggest fan but came away from this song pleasantly surprised by its hopeful message and catchy chorus. ‘Alive’ no doubt helped cement Sia’s place among pop’s most captivating performers.
Black Eyed Peas
F
ans can go over the top a lot of the time. In certain respects, a lot of them don’t realise how much they actually affect the partners of celebrities. Post Malone, ever since he put the tweet out in 2015 saying “Happy Texas time to the most wonderful thing to ever happen to me Ashlen Nicole Diaz” he has been determined to keep his private life, private - unlike many A-list celebrities. It was 2016 when Post Malone said on the The Breakfast Club radio show that he and his girlfriend had taken a break because of how tough it is to have a balance between dedicating his life to music and always being in the studio to also then have time for his girlfriend. It is evident that his girlfriend is shy and strays from much personal social media usage, shown from an Instagram post saying to her followers how much she doesn’t
Image: Wikimedia Commons
like taking pictures of herself and putting herself out to the world because of her anxiety - which is understandable with Malone being one of the biggest stars in the world, it must be hard to keep a normal relationship.
Being a star it must be hard to keep a normal relationship
With the pair having dated for over three years - nothing has ever been made of Post’s girlfriend’s social media, but with fans having found her instagram account - they
Foals: Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part I t’s been little over a year since Foals lost their longtime bassist, Walter Gervers, who departed after twelve years alongside the band. The news was announced through a handwritten note posted on the band’s social media pages. It is fitting, therefore, that a similar method was taken when announcing this album release on Friday. This time, however, the message was split across a few posts of smaller messages scribed on paper. Here, the band declared that they want
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
their album “to be a window & a mirror”, and for their songs to find their way onto “the dance floor” and “the train”. Certainly, if fans are to take anything from these poetic expressions, it’s that Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost is both a diverse and polemically charged record. In this release, Foals don’t always post their messages with the same aggression as their previous outing, What Went Down, an album that was overly laden with distorted guitars and riff-heavy chorus’. Sure, while songs like ‘White Onions’ and ‘Syrups’ show that Yannis and, fellow guitarist, Jimmy Smith haven’t lost their energy, it’s refreshing to see such guitar tracks accompanied with analogue synthesisers and electronic grooves. If these tracks still leave you questioning the band’s experimental side, then look no further than the lead single, ‘Exits’, an epic track sprawling over six minutes in length which constantly alters its sound. Better still, the track upholds the degree of catchiness that one would expect from any hit single. The balance between experimentation and innovation is one to which Foals have always found themselves so willingly engaged with. Much like the band’s earlier, math rock releases, which banged with percussion and jittering guitar leads, this album finds itself absolved in its own intelligence. Altogether, this isn’t as much a flaw as it is an open door that draws the listener to a state of intrigue as we come restless to the loose ends that expose themselves. Most prominently, the last track ‘I’m Done
proceeded to reflect their views on the pair’s somewhat rocky relationship, which was no doubt in response to the reports which had surfaced from November 2018 about whether they are still in a relationship. Post tweeted out his disappointment for what some of the fans had been doing in response to the troll comments made on her social media and to let them live their lives. It is a crazy world on social media and fans seem to think they have a right to troll star’s partners, it has happened numerous times before and in this case it is evident Post’s partner evidently wants a normal life without being trolled on the internet, whether it be malicious or not. People should be free to post whatever without the need for trolls and unrelated comments just because you’re a famous star’s girlfriend. Where do we actually draw the line at what is acceptable?
With the World (& It’s Done With Me)’ is a poignant reflection on our existence on this turbulent planet, “All I wanna do is get up and leave Sun falls into the garden I’m on my knees”, speaks Yannis wearily in the chorus. Moody and brooding, this is a fitting ending to what has been a thrilling ride. With that in mind, one can’t help but pick out this dystopian image as a subtle exposition to the album’s follow-up, the part 2 that will no doubt flesh out some of the dystopian rhetoric that is laid out here. Nonetheless, it’s a start and a good one at that. Jack Gill
‘Alive’ is a forgotten classic from the Black Eyed Peas’ 2009 album The E.N.D. However, upon first listen you discover that it would probably be perfect for the atmosphere of a club night in the Toon. The song has an incredibly danceable groove to it, which is complemented by the use of autotune and synths throughout. The drum and hip-hop breakdown towards the end of the track is a fitting conclusion and undoubtedly makes ‘Alive’ one of the Black Eyed Peas most underrated songs. This one might be worth a revisit in 2019.
Empire of the Sun I must have been under a rock somewhere when Aussie electronic duo Empire of the Sun released ‘Alive’ back in 2013. However, having emerged from underneath that rock I discover a funky track which has a very upbeat sound and message. Having never heard of the duo before I didn’t know what to expect but I found ‘Alive’ to be an enjoyable song which would be perfect for a summers day.
Pearl Jam Pearl Jam are one of my all time favourite bands and helped define the Seattle Grunge scene in the 90’s Eddie Vedder delivers one of his best vocal performances on this track, one so breathtaking you often forget about the dark lyrical content. Nonetheless, ‘Alive’ is an all-time great song which I was fortunate enough to see live last summer when Pearl Jam rocked the O2 Arena in London. ‘Alive’ captures the true spirit of Grunge, which is often unfortunately forgotten about in the landscape of today’s music and epitomises one of the most captivating musical movements in history. Dominic Lee
/The CourierMusic @Courier_Music
26
culture TV
the courier
c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk TV Editors: Jacob Clarke, Tom Cooney, Chloe Mullins Online Editor: Dominic Lee
Monday 18th March 2019
Let the battle for the Iron Throne commence Who will seize power? Some of our writers give their opinions on who they think should reign over Westeros as the show ends Cersei Lannister Jon Snow Sansa Stark The Night King
W
hen it comes to who is going to be sitting on the Iron Throne and be the King or Queen of the Seven Kingdoms at the end of Game of Thrones, everyone has their own opinions. At the end of season seven, it was confirmed that Jon Snow is in fact, not a Snow. Being the child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, Jon is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. If the show is to take the traditional line of succession, obviously it should be Jon on the throne, with tradition ultimately skipping women as they were unfit for ruling (sorry Dany). That’s not the only reason he should be given this title. When it comes to ruling the Seven Kingdoms, it’s hard work. Previous rulers have shown us this and what is needed is a willingness to compromise but unite and bring people together in times of an enemy as evil as the Night King. Jon Snow has already proven his worth. For example, he was able to gain a truce with the Wildlings, something that has never even been attempted for years. He has shown an ability to win over those who are dead set on being your enemy and he has shown loyalty and a willingness to fight for the good of his people. And let’s not forget his popularity – he became Lord Commander after all. Jon Snow is: selfless, willing to fight to save others; strong and ruthless when needed to be, willing to kill people if it comes down to it; and when it comes down to it all, he is probably the only kind person in the show, something Westeros needs after Cersei. Oh, and he’s part of the Starks, my favourite family, so of course I’d want him to rule. Lucy Lillystone
S
uspiciously, the Stark sisters stand in the centre of Entertainment Weekly’s group photo of all the major characters in Thrones’ upcoming season. Not only that, but the show’s most recent trailer similarly features the two characters a lot. Of course, this could mean that they will be the ones to die, but I have a feeling that this is not the case.
Under Cersei and Littlefinger's wings, she grew to be a responsible, strategic and smart leader Sansa’s character development in particular was too important within the series to waste. Under Cersei and Littlefinger’s wings, she grew to be a responsible, strategic and smart leader. One of the theories about the endgame that I find plausible is about Sansa and her Queen’s guard. It is said that the opening to the final season will mirror the one of the first. Because of that, Sansa might still want to become a queen, just like she dreamed back then. This might have been a set up for her fate, not necessarily on the Iron Throne as it might be destroyed, but as the Queen in the North. Throughout the series many fighters protected Sansa: The Hound, Brienne, and finally Arya. All of them could form a very effective guard for her if they survive the Great War. Jagoda Waszkowiak
C
ersei Lannister - the baddest bitch in the Seven Kingdoms. Hated by many, feared by more… You probably don’t want to see the reigning Queen retain her spot on the Iron Throne, but you can’t deny that it would be an incredibly dramatic and entertaining turn of events. Her journey to the throne so far has been one fraught with manipulation, power-play, and outright murder, so it is unquestionable that Cersei will fight until the end to hold her position. I mean, the woman managed to flip her status from shamed prisoner to the ruler of Westeros in one episode. If that doesn’t exemplify extreme political intellect and determination I don’t know what does. She may have had to outlive all of her children to hold the position that she does, but we all know that as soon as Tommen Baratheon reached his tragic end, there were no more emotional ties preventing Cersei from getting what she wants. Out of all the potential contenders for the throne, she is also the character with the most valid ruling experience. How about the King in the North, you ask? Or Daenerys Stormborn? I would argue that Cersei’s proximity to a number of the show’s most powerful Westerosi figures, in addition to her own ruling from King’s Landing itself, sets her apart from a King of one specific region of the realm and a Queen of a different country altogether. While the state of Westeros may admittedly be more stable under the reign of one of the other frontrunners for the position, there’s not one part of me that wouldn’t feel a sense of satisfaction seeing that sinister smirk smiling straight down the camera in the show’s final moments. Tom Cooney
I
know this might be an unpopular opinion, but the Night King should be sitting on the Iron Throne at the end of Game of Thrones.
5
Total episodes to date with no on-screen deaths, only two of the five contain no deaths at all (on or off-screen).
Throughout its run, the series has established itself as not being afraid to let the bad guy win – at least in certain battles – so wouldn’t this be a great way to shock the audience? The Night King has been a building presence throughout the series, the looming threat. I’d almost be disappointed to see him defeated at this point. With all the different factions sprawling over Westeros, it’s hard to see any single character sitting on the Iron Throne over a united kingdom by the end of the upcoming season. The Night King, meanwhile, makes sense as, if he’s ruling, that means all our favourite characters will still be there, albeit as White Walkers. As White Walkers, they would all answer to him and the kingdom would be operating under a (vaguely) peaceful rule. Finally, think of the visuals. Just imagine the visuals that the series could end on: The Night King sat on the Iron Throne; Viserion flying overhead; and then a close-up on ice creeping out from his hands onto the throne and covering it in a layer of frost before it cuts to black. I’d personally like to see the bad guy win this time. Jennifer Cooke
Is this the time for Alan Partridge? Arts Editor Scarlett Rowland comments on the return of comedy legend Steve Coogan
F
rom his TV shows, radio shows, books, and films – there’s something about Alan Partridge that I just can’t seem to get enough of. Created by comedy geniuses Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci, who also wrote UK classic The Thick of It, Alan Partridge is a cult classic character, and although I was surprised to hear of his return to screens, I have not been disappointed. Coogan returns in his portrayed of Partridge in new show This Time with Alan Partridge, a spoof current affairs programme, with Partridge taking after from a host who is unwell. Rather than cutting to the clips they normally play, This Time shows what happens when the cameras aren’t broadcasting the presenters. Even though there is a huge back catalogue of other Alan Partridge content, This Time has been put together in such a way that if you'd never encountered the bizzarre character before, you wouldn't feel like you were missing out on anything. Frequent hints to previous jokes read like new content to unknowing minds, and add an extra layer of humour to those of us who are in the know. My highlight of the episodes are the musical intros and
outros of Alan Partridge’s reports, with Partridge for some unknown reason deciding to record his own background music with him singing. The result is equally terrible and hilarious.
Frequent hints to previous jokes read like new content to unknowing minds, and add an extra layer of humour to those of us who are in the know Some critiques I’ve read are that that format of the show allows it to become repetitive and boring as the weeks go on. However, now being half way through the series it seems clear to me that each episode is focusing on differ-
ent characters and topics – perfectly mimicking shows like This Morning or The One Show, so that it could be your daily evening news show. Although there are many differences in the episodes, there is one portion of the show which has become repetitive – the joke that the screens don’t work. I understand that a key part of the humour the show is the awkwardness and delayed reactions; however, this joke ran dry in the first episode. Despite this, the show is certainly a success, and I am looking forward to the next half of the season. I can only hope that the rumours of a second season already being in the works are true. Episodes air on BBC One, Mondays at 21:30. I can’t recommend a better way to start your week.
Image: YouTube
the courier
27
Monday 18th March 2019
@CourierTV thecourieronline.co.uk/TV
Avoid falling through the TV plot holes
TV culture
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Amy Brown discusses some of the most noticable plot holes in several popular televison shows Joe Holloran investigates the show's continuous popularity lot holes and unanswered questions have been inconsistencies. ited in a later season.
P
in our favourite TV shows forever. Sometimes they’re just accidents or they’re unavoidable but nevertheless, they are irritating. Even the smallest of oversights have the power to take away from the overall experience. A good place to start is Friends. We all know and love it, but it is full of forgotten storylines. The most annoying of all though - where did Ben go? We followed Ross becoming a father and his questionable parenting techniques. Ben was a big part of his life. So why does Ben stop appearing? Then Rachel has Emma but there is no talk of her meeting her half-brother. Some theories have suggested that Ross lost custody of Ben. Others just believe that it all happens off-screen. But nevertheless, it’s still aggravating that we never really know for sure.
May be a plot-hole but also could just be the writers living in blissful ignorance for the sake of the story
One mystery that people still discuss is from the first season of American Horror Story: Murder House. It’s one of the most popular seasons, but one thing that is still on the minds of fans is the question of who the fourth Langdon child is. Jessica Lange’s character Constance mentions that she has four children. We know Tate, Adelaide and Beau. The fourth child remains nameless and unmentioned. This has since been addressed by the writers of the show that say the fourth Langdon child was scrapped, but it still leaves people questioning who this character was meant to be and whether this will be revis-
One of my personal favourite shows is crime drama Dexter. For the most part, the show is impressive but even the biggest of fans can admit that some things were overlooked. First of all, Dexter does a lot of his searching for victims at work in a police department. Surely these computers are monitored and once his victims appear on the missing persons list, it could be tied right back to him. This other inconsistency may be a plot-hole but also could just be the writers living in blissful ignorance for the sake of the story. Why does no-one notice that most of the other killers that appear on the show are in some way related to Dexter Morgan and his sister Deb? Whether it’s family, relationships or even just being seen in the same place at the same time. Why doesn’t this raise suspicions? But this plot-driven show always Image: YouTube keeps your mind busy so it’s hard to notice these
One more that deserves a quick mention is from another favourite, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As great as this show is, it is full of plot-holes. We could probably mention multiple but one that comes up time and time again is Jesse, Xander’s supposed best friend. We meet him in the first episode and then he’s killed right away, never to be mentioned again or mourned. Did they just forget about him? It’s only their close friend getting murdered by a vampire, no big deal right? Overall, plot holes undeniably get on our nerves but we can’t help but always love these shows regardless.
Image: YouTube
TV Editor Tom Cooney discusses whether streaming giant Netflix remains the UK's first choice
C
mon? They were all shows made for live TV, released on a weekly basis, just as almost all programming was back then. No one could have imagined anything different. That was until 2013, when the first Netflix original series hit the internet. Of course, Netflix existed before that first season of House of Cards, but it really was the advent of its original content that truly changed the game for the entire entertainment industry. Flash-forward to today, and Netflix has countless original television series and movies on their internet platform – and that’s not even taking into consideration its huge amount of other material. It’s no surprise then that Netflix is the country’s most popular streaming service, being such trailblazers of the format. But now that there are other places for us to get our online viewing fix, do the originators still deserve to be number one? Arguably their biggest competitor right now is Amazon’s Prime Video service, similarly developing their own original
Every character on the show is important and contributes to [...] the best comedy ensemble The show focuses on the relationship and mishaps of four detectives: childish but effective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg); the OCD teacher's pet Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero); the exotic food and Jake-loving Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio); and the angry steampunk-dressing Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz). Together they try to get through each day under the watchful eye of their robotic commander Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher). The performances of the latter are undoubtedly one of the key reasons for the show’s success. Raymond Holt's straight-laced, emotionless and methodical style are in stark contrast to the "just wing-it" attitude of Peralta, and their dynamic has only grown stronger as the show has progressed. Braugher has won two Emmys for his performance as Holt and should have won more. His character has uttered some of the best dead-pan comedy lines in the history of sitcoms, and he is clearly the show’s most valuable comedic asset.
78th
Is Netflix the Queen of streaming services? ast your mind back ten years ago, specifically to the state of television. Walter White was beginning his blue crystal empire, the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 were preparing for their final battle with the Smoke Monster, and Ned Stark’s head was still very much on its shoulders. Good times. But what is it that Breaking Bad, Lost and Game of Thrones all have in com-
W
ith season six coming to Netflix soon it's time to look back over five years of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, one of the most beloved American sitcoms since Friends. Originating in the minds of Michael Schur (Parks & Recreation, The Good Place) and former Conan writer Dan Goor, the show focuses on the day-to-day lives of detectives of 99th Police District in Brooklyn, New York. So, what is this show about and why is it so popular?
film and TV. With the platform having the benefit of being a part of one of the world’s most lucrative companies you would think that Netflix would be quaking in their black and red boots. However, Prime Video has not developed into the rival that I’m sure Jeff Bezos and co. wanted it to become. Sure, there are highlights to their repertoire (hello, Mrs. Maisel), and including it in the overall package of Prime Delivery and Amazon Music certainly helps boost their numbers, but they’ve yet to have their Stranger Things moment and completely take over the world.
You would think that Netflix would be quaking in their black and red boots Another potential David to Netflix’s Goliath is Now TV. This service works in a slightly different way to the others mentioned here, being that it operates on an individual ‘pass’ system and doesn’t produce any exclusive content. The benefit of this is that with their programming comes a lot of hot-off-the-press material not available anywhere else online. The problem is that it’s expensive. Very expensive. Their Entertainment Pass alone costs £7.99 a month, and if you want to whack on a film, that’s another £9.99. When Netflix has such a range of material for WAY less of your (or your mate’s mum’s) hard earned cash, it’s fair to say that this service doesn’t pose too much of a threat. Prime Video and Now TV aren’t the only candidates running to topple Netlfix’s run as the UK’s most popular streaming service. iPlayer now actively produce their own online content under the BBC Three banner and there’s also Disney’s upcoming ‘Plus’ service hoping to pull fans over to the magical side. But as it stands, the crown belongs to Netflix – and I’m not just talking about their multiple Golden Globe winning drama.
The real Brooklyn precinct that used for filming the show.
One of the shows greatest strengths is the prominence and importance of its side characters, namely Sgt. Jeffords (Terry Crews) and Gina Linetti (Chelsea Perreti). So often in sitcoms these types of characters serve a plot purpose and then disappear, but in Brooklyn they each have a much bigger role to play and are given the space for their personalities to shine through. Every character on the show feels important and contributes to what has to be the best comedy ensemble currently on television. This is testimony to the skill of the writers. Beyond the laughs the show has also been noted and praised for its portrayal of LGBT and Latino characters. From the off we are told that Holt has been refused a precinct command due to his race and sexuality - however, these facts are largely ignored as the shows progresses. The same can be said of the two leading Latino characters Amy and Rosa, whose ethnicity is barely referenced. It is nice to see a sitcom that doesn't fall back on lazy stereotyping for cheap laughs or have someone's sexual identity become the totality of their character. So, great performances, character dynamics and subtle but brilliant writing have been the keys to Brooklyn NineNine’s five seasons of continual high quality comedy. With season six coming soon to Netflix, now is the chance to reward yourself by binging all 121 episodes of this laughtrack free piece of comedy gold.
/thecouriertv Image: YouTube
@Courier_TV
Image: YouTube
the courier
28
culture film
c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Film Editors: Jimmy Athey, Joe Holloran and Jack Gill Online Editor: Lucy Lillystone
Monday 18 March 2019
Body-mods: Are they worth it?
Elisabetta Pulcini gives us her views on the body transformations actors put themselves through
E
xtreme body transformations have long been a draw to any film. From bulking up for a superhero role, to become sickly looking for a harrowing drama, there is something inherently interesting in watching a movie knowing the changes the actor has gone through. Although CGI seems to be increasingly relevant in an actor’s performance, body transformations will always retain their impressiveness when made in real life.
Image: YouTube
F
ans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be eager to see what Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) brings to the table in The Avengers’ plight against Thanos. Avengers: Infinity War left audiences in complete turmoil after Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) paged Carol Denvers, more recognisably known as Captain Marvel, shortly before turning to dust, along with half of the universe’s population. Unfortunately for M.C.U fans, Captain Marvel fell significantly short of offering any closure as to how Larson’s character might solve the problems The Avengers are faced with. A film that boasts strong performances from Larson, Jackson and Jude Law is ultimately hampered by a slow narrative lacking the exhilarating combat the genre and fans have come to demand. The problems with this film begin when audiences are forced to question who it truly centres upon, with Nick Fury boasting an equal share of screen time – this is as much an origins story for the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent as it is for our heroine. Events such as how Fury lost his eye, and came to establish The Avengers, are some of the most interesting pieces of information the film offers the M.C.U., which seems odd given that his role in the film should absolutely be secondary. Captain Marvel’s backdrop was also problematic; it seemed unexciting and arduous, with the recurring fragmented memories taking the place of what might have been more meaningful storytelling. Whilst the memories experienced by Larson’s character help build suspense, it felt as though their explanation was left too late within the film’s narrative. This meant little time was left for a climax fuelled by the heroine’s newfound identity. Any successful superhero film should depict how its hero aligns with their identity, but the balance struck between suspense and a progressive story certainly seems off. This isn’t helped by the absence of a distinct villain figure – Captain Marvel’s decision to switch sides two thirds of the way through means the film really struggles to maintain any kind of momentum. Jude Law’s performance is as good as any, but his soft British accent, charming good looks, and tendency to be cast into ‘good guy’ parts, mean his character never feels suited to the villain role. His scolding of Captain Marvel for being ‘too emotional’ however, amplifies the feminist message sent by the film, as Larson’s character defeats him within the closing stages. There are positives, however – the de-aging of Nick Fury is flawless; unnoticeable from the first scene to the last, important given that this C.G.I process might have left him looking completely fabricated. A young Nick Fury was well-rounded, witty, and thankfully, not completely naïve; meaning he made valuable contributions. The film was consistently amusing, with anything involving ‘Goose’ the cat proving highly comical. Despite being showcased too late within the film, Captain Marvel’s powers are unquestionable. Her capability to breeze through a full team of Kree fighters with ease, fly into orbit and eviscerate an enemy mothership shortly before scaring off a young Ronan the accuser (Lee Pace), sets her up to be a formidable edition to The Avengers outfit. Her quips whilst fighting make her character likeable, and a strong finish allows the film to mask its earlier faults. The full extent of Carol Denvers’ powers are cinematically mesmerising; it’s just a shame they were withheld until the rushed final sequences. Spencer West
Image: YouTube
Extreme interventions, like the use of a fat suit, can feel forced
In both the case of actors ‘bulking up’ or ruining their bodies, there is an element of authenticity that is added to the film. In the case of superhero adaptations, with the latest example being David Harbour in Hell Boy, one has to consider the popularity these figures are gaining, not only as characters in a movie, but as somewhat of a symbol of strength. Actors who play superheroes, whether that might be fair or not, are held to higher standards than regular action stars. This is partly because they are seeking to embody larger than life ideals to which comic book fans have been devoted for years. People who have been engaged by these stories since childhood are going to be protective of these characters: seeing an actor making an actual change in their life to get closer to that portrayal is certainly going to be appreciated. In simpler terms, it might take away from the movie to know that Hell Boy is quite flabby in real life.
Everybody Knows (15)
Another reason for preferring actual transformations over CGI is the weight it adds to the performance. Learning to feel powerful while training like a superhero, or degrading your body while preparing to play a troubled human being can help enhance the performance. A great example of a truly transformative role was Charlize Theron playing Aileen Wuornos in ‘Monster’. While makeup and fat suits, with the aid of CGI, could have achieved virtually the same look, two benefits were sparked by her transformation. Firstly, the audience, whether consciously or not, could appreciate the dedication the actress put in the film. Secondly, the actress was able to deliver a much more grounded performance, while respecting the role. The same could be said about Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale in their dramatic weight losses respectively for ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ and ‘The Machinist’. If at its highest form acting is an exploration and representation of the human psyche, costumes might feel distracting to that purpose.
The lack of authenticity is felt in cases in which CGI or heavy costumes are used instead. In ‘The Dark Hour’, in which Gary Oldman played Winston Churchill, could had been more interesting had the main actor been the right built for the role. These extreme interventions, like the use of a fat suit, can feel forced and like the actor is just doing an impression, especially when of the person being played belongs to a grounded context. However, in movies like ‘300’, where the cast famously was ‘aided’ by CGI in their appearance, the performances are not hurt by the decision: that ultimately comes down the tone being intentionally close to that of a videogame. Therefore, when the aim is to portray a character as authentically as possible, it is definitely worth an actual body transformation from the actor involved.
Isn't It Romantic (15)
Image: boxofficeturkey
Image: YouTube
A
y dios mio, what an awful film. Spanish film ‘Everybody Knows’ is two hours and thirteen minutes of drab acting that seemingly even gives up on its self at times, with sincere pauses and sighing being the foundational ‘bread and butter’ that this film is built upon. The movie plods along like an overburdened donkey ready to collapse at any given moment, though excruciatingly and miraculously somehow keeps the same laboured tempo, wearily tramping on. The story opens with a family heading to a wedding, anticipating the joyful reunion of family and friends at this happy occasion. On arrival, a convincing picture is painted of the laid-back life and freedom enjoyed by those living in this picturesque, medieval Spanish village. After the formal ceremony, a raucous party is held. Amid the celebrations the teenage daughter of the family is kidnapped, having retired to her bed after having a few too many. When it is realised she is missing, a rather panicked search ensues. Up until this point I was loosely gripped, anticipating the potential for a movie described as a drama/thriller. The sound scape of the movie beautifully captured the atmospheric, elemental and rugged landscapes of Spain with pouring torrential rain and dusty, sun dappled courtyards where friends meet to drink and chat. As the film progressed, it became apparent that this was the height of the enjoyment and I was going to get from this piece. The sheer length of the movie really didn’t play to its favour, the novelty of the cinematic effects, fancy camera angles and the sound scape created quickly died off, amounting to the feeling of watching your Grandma’s favourite, slightly glammed up, yet very long and boring episode of EastEnders. With every soap-opera cliché ungamely shoved in, from ‘whos the farther?’ to ‘whosdunit?’. The point of the film is perhaps to hark back to typical traditional narratives, but the effect is diluted in the sheer length of the piece. By the end of the screening I was begging, pleading for it to be over. Theo Turvill
Image: YouTube
I
n all honesty, I didn’t have very high hopes for this film. Rebel Wilson isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, and so I was expecting something a little bit naff that would definitely try way too hard to be funny. Isn’t It Romantic, however, makes for rather enjoyable viewing. The satirical romantic comedy begins to the music of Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman, and correspondingly shows a young Natalie (Rebel Wilson) watching the classic Julia Roberts chic-flick as she dreams that one day she too can meet her Prince Charming, despite her mother’s scepticism.
Mocks many common notions of the genre but follows them too
Fast forward a couple of decades, and Natalie is working in New York as an architect but is constantly being belittled by her peers. Her colleagues dismiss her as a pushover, and her best friend wants to sweep Natalie up into a chick flick.
That is, until one day Natalie suffers a nasty bang to the head. Natalie wakes from a coma in hospital to discover that, in some kind of parallel universe, she has stepped into one of her much-hated romcoms, where men dote on her, women want to be her best friend, and every attempt at swearing is blocked by a well-timed police siren or alarm clock. However, this new world isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Despite the undying attention she is given from work client Blake (Liam Hemsworth), Natalie finds herself pining for the love of her best friend Josh (Adam DeVine), who is head over heels in love with a bikini model (Priyanka Chopra). Isn't It Romantic is a surprisingly pleasant film, in that it mocks many common notions of the genre but ultimately follows them too, such as its deeper message that you can’t expect someone to love you until you love yourself. While some attempts at humour fell flat, the film on the whole succeeded at making me laugh, and Rebel was perfectly suited to the role. If you wanted some light-hearted, feelgood fun then this is the perfect film to watch snuggled up in your pyjamas with a bag of popcorn. Grace Dean
the courier
29
Monday 18 March 2019
@Courier_Film thecourieronline.co.uk/film
Speilberg Controversy Em Richardson and Elisabetta Pulcini debate if Netflix-produced films should be at the Oscars
L
et’s start this debate by stating the obvious- as Spielberg himself has stated, Netflix is a television production company, which surely means their films should be classed as ‘made for TV’ movies, rather than feature films. In addition, most Netflix movies are never shown in cinemas, leading me to believe that, when it comes to awards season, they should be treated as television specials, rather than films in their own right. Surely the existence of such films is part of the reason the Emmys has its ‘Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie’, meaning this award is more appropriate for Netflix-produced movies than an Oscar. There is also the issue that allowing Netflix-made movies to be eligible for both Emmy awards and Oscars will allow the streaming service to dominate awards season. Some commentators who believe Netflix films should be eligible for Oscars have argued that Netflix should be praised for its tendency to provide funding to less wellknown filmmakers. Whilst this is undeniably true, it must also be considered that Netflix itself can be accused of monopolising awards season, and potentially denying other filmmakers of awards opportunities, if its films are to be nominated for both Oscars and Emmys. Surely the easiest solution to this issue i s to decree that Netflixmade films should only be eligible for one award or the other, and the Emmys seem much more appropriate. Part of the joy of Oscars season has always been spending the weeks in the run-up to the big night watching all the nominated movies at the cinema, and this is another opportunity that is denied by nominating Netflix-made movies. Personally, I feel Netflix-produced movies should always be nominated for Emmys, rather than Oscars, unless they are released in cinemas.
T
his regrettable comment comes from a place of multilayered privilege. As an established filmmaker living in a big city, Spielberg ignores the reality of many who do not enjoy the same circumstances. Firstly, Netflix is allowing filmmakers to explore the boundaries by providing a platform to display their creations. Spielberg certainly hasn’t had to worry about that for a while now. Although the concern about the endangered theater experience is understandable, it is important to consider that Netflix is not the cause of it. In fact, while Spielberg was critical of the way Netflix movies are only released for a short period in few theaters, in most places around the world movies like Roma and Okja wouldn’t have been screened anyways. Living in cities like Los Angeles, where independent film is a thriving market, is not the norm. While watching these movies from a computer might not deliver the same experience it would have in the theater, the truth is that this way they
are accessible to a wider and more diverse audience. Secondly, barring Netflix movies from the Academy Awards will have the effect of delegitimizing the awards themselves: Best Film will no longer recognize the best movie, but the best one to meet arbitrary standards of release. If the decreasing popularity of the Oscars seems inevitable, shunning the movies audiences will have had
They should be treated as television specials rather than films
the opportunity to see is not only pointless, but irresponsible. Comments like this are why people feel distanced from Hollywood: while p re servi n g the art form is certainly a nob l e quest, there will be no art form to preserve if people lose interest. Not only is Netflix providing access to movies on its platform, but it’s also reviving the passion in film itself: the more movies people watch, the more they will feel involved in the conversation.
Elisabetta Pulcini
Em Richardson
Scooby Dooby Doo - there you are!
Kaitlyn Maracle celebrates the return of the big brown goofy dog & co. that we all know and love
F
ans of 90s kids rejoice, there is a new Scooby Doo film in the works! The upcoming animated feature will be produced by Warner Bros and is scheduled for release in 2020 after a series of delays. The film is was originally scheduled for release September 2018, but was pushed back to May 2020. The film is simply to be titled ‘Scooby’ according to IMDb, and will be directed by Tony Cervone (an expert in animating Looney Tunes and Hanna Barbera properties - including Scooby Doo). Only three new voice actors have been announced, with Frank Welker reprising the role of Scoob himself. Saturday Night Live stars Will Forte and Tracy Morgan will be voicing Shaggy and Captain Caveman, respectively (Caveman has appeared in The Flintstones!). In addition, Gina Rodriquez, famed for the CW TV show Jane The Virgin, will be voicing Velma. Hopefully, the cast’s star power will be enough to draw audiences into the cinema. Matthew Lillard, the man who arguably portrayed the most recognisable rendition of Shaggy in the live action films, apparently found out that he was being recast in the role through Twitter. Twitter! On March 2nd he quote tweeted an article discussing the new cast with the caption “Well this sucks. What a crappy way to find out.... thanks Hollywood. You never sense [cease] to amaze me.”. After a short break from social media, Lillard came back to the Twitterverse to find an outpour of support. He called his
tweet a “humiliating moment” and even referenced the ‘powerful Shaggy’ meme. Unfortunately, there isn’t very much more news about the film! There is a rumour going around that the main
villain of the film will be Dick Dastardly from the iconic Wacky Races however this has not been confirmed by anyone.
film culture Documentary Corner
Image: FreePhotobank
Image: YouTube
I
n Free Solo, audiences are witness to one of the finest human achievements ever, as a professional climber, Alex Honnold, becomes the first person in history to scale Yosemite’s 3,000 feet high wall - El Capitan…without ropes. Indeed, the act of ‘free soloing’ is just as it is portrayed in the film; a climber performs alone without the aid of any safety gear. Take this courageous, arguably crazy, act and amplify it to 1000 and you’re some way to imagining the scale of Honnold’s task. Honnold’s story is told through the eyes of his friends and film crew, who pay witness to his determined mindset. Sanni McCandless, Alex’s girlfriend, is the emotional rock to the climber’s other rocky engagement; the granite of the wall itself. Though we are aligned with Alex’s commitment to his goal, the study of his romantic relationship is often difficult and puts our sympathies with Sanni herself. Met with the possibility that her partner could meet the same fate as many other climbers and perish in his attempt to succeed, Sanni’s anxieties are more than understandable.
Told through the eyes of his friends and film crew
As such, while the film attempts to show why someone would want to complete such a feat, there is an underlining sense of both bewilderment as we come to realise that Honnold is actually going to fulfil his mission. As the climber reaches his psychological peak, the mountain looms ever-closer to our expectations. Buckle yourselves up for the last twenty minutes, as you’re in for an authentic thrill ride. What makes these events so tasteful is the painstaking efforts of the crew to film Honnold in his natural space, undisturbed by bulky cameras. Upon its release in December last year, the documentary was met with widespread acclaim, as critics celebrated the project’s stunning cinematography and honest storytelling. Stood on a rockface alongside commendable competitors during this year’s awards ceremonies, Free Solo strived to new heights to take home a BAFTA and Oscar award for the best documentary feature.
Image: YouTube
/NewcastleCourierFilm Image: YouTube
@Courier_Film
30
culture arts
c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Arts Editors Scarlett Rowland, Julia McGee-Russell, Rosie McCrum Online Editor Sophia Kypriotis
the courier
Monday 18 March 2019
Why is poetry popular? Comment editor Caitlin Disken discusses the rise of poetry’s popularity in contemporary culture, caused partially Instagram
C
ast your minds back to GCSE English Literature. Chances are that the poetry you studied was from a tatty anthology with a cringy name like Moon on the Tides. Split into thematic sections, even somebody who loves reading as much as I do wasn’t exactly inspired by it. It wasn’t the epitome of cool. Even the well-written, enjoyable poems had the joy squeezed out of them by studying them in a stuffy classroom whilst having essay-writing acronyms like ‘PEE’ (point, evidence, explanation) being shoved down your throat.
The ability for anybody to share their work means that poetry is no longer seen as the elite past time of old, white men, but a form of writing that anybody can try. Recently, however, there has been a poetry renaissance even amongst my own Moon on the Tides generation. The rise of social media sites, especially Instagram, has meant that poetry has never been more accessible. Love her or hate her, it’s undeniable that poets such as Rupi Kaur have contributed to the increasing popularity of poetry. Kaur used Tumblr and then Instagram as platforms to showcase her bitesize poems, before her debut collection milk & honey was published in 2014. Despite some critics denouncing Kaur’s poetry as amateurish, Kaur has since outsold Homer, a feat that has contributed to an increasing appreciation of poetry. Her work has drawn people into the poetry sections of bookshops worldwide, increasing the chances of the work of lesser known poets being read and appreciated. The role of Instagram in this renewed appreciation of poetry cannot be understated. A search for ‘#poetry’ on the app yields 29.3 million results, far outstripping the number of posts for many other popular pastimes, including basketball, skiing, and baking. It’s also never been more popular to write poetry, either, with the hashtag ‘#poetsofinstagram’ enabling a multitude of budding
poets to share their work to a global audience. Poetry has long been the domain of men, yet the ability for anybody to share their work means that poetry is no longer seen as the elite pastime of old, white men, but a form of writing that anybody can try. Poetry’s presence on social media sites has also led to the work of more traditional poets being praised. Over the last few years, I’ve seen increased visibility being given to the work of Sylvia Plath in particular. A quick Google search and all of Plath’s poetry is available in its entirety, meaning it’s no longer necessary to buy a book of poetry in order to appreciate some of our most talented poets. This has enabled new conversations to open up regarding the differing contemporary critical attitudes towards Plath’s, and ex-husband Ted Hughes’, poetry. Conversations about poetry are now something anybody can engage in, not just those who choose to study English Literature at university. I’d even go as far to argue that poetry is now one of the most accessible art forms. In today’s fast-paced world, we don’t always have time to read a novel. But there’s time to read a quick poem on our commute, or when we have a spare hour. Poems are beautiful, lyrical, and emotional, and often say in four hundred words what a novel says in forty thousand. Let’s hope this appreciation for poetry doesn’t die out.
Image: @sylviaplathpoet
Image: @sylviaplathpoet
Image: thought catalog at unsplash.com
From student to student for World Poetry Day
Your Arts Editors showcase a collection of poetry submissions by students. So from us to you, Happy World Poetry Day, reader
INNERMOST
Glacé Fella Maisie Folan
Leanne Francis
A framework of limb and bone; skin stretched over valleys of organs, hugging my innermost parts. I, tall like a tree rooted in the richest soil, beechwood: my hair grows up and out, and you pull its coils in awe, but I am more to be admired than adored. Between thighs, thighs which have no gap except when they are wide open, you find refuge – a room you rent for the night, leave in the morning. Yet here I am, endlessly growing, vast curves and crevices in spaces nature made just for me.
Image: pixino
I’ve got a sweet tooth you see, She said, Showing me the gap in her gums. I’m a stickler for the sickly ones, She said, Spooning the sugar out of her tea. I’ve got a knack for pretty tongues, She said, Swimming through his toffee. I’m fiendish for candied souls She said, Seeping in saccharine mould. Dessert is my favourite She smiled Spewing over her lover. (not Max Hobbs)
HMS Erebus - 1826 Lauren Duckworth
Lost and drowned, another copper penny, un-located off the Canadian coast, Franklin’s ghost ship, carried by the ice herself, shifted, her frozen flesh, shoulder plates slide and curve against the welcome of the foamed water, doll dives, traced by the tongues of Inuit tradition, phantom ship found, its condition, untold tales of the cryogenic, preserved by the careful fingers of the sea, the proudest antique in her collection.
Bloom Rosie McCrum
It’s important to ensure the roots are buried deep, secure in the dirt; damp and cold with muffled quiet, Or you’ll be holding hands with a ghost: Soiled fingers grasping in the darkness. If you cry into the earth and keep her warm her shoots will reach up, yawning limbs outstretched, leaving shadows where you thought there was no sun; slow green speckled gold. But not enough light, or too many tears, and the fingers of each limb will start to sag in a brown sleep and little black dots will form, a rash of angry ellipses reminding you to care. So hold her to you, but not too close, Or you’ll crush her leaves and choke her prayers.
the courier
31
Monday 18 March 2019
Knowing Nudity in Art
arts culture Book Review
Rosie McCrum ruminates on the portrayal of the naked body through both time and mediums
F
Image: @laingartgallery instagram
or centuries, the naked body has been depicted in visual art, carrying on its shoulders the weight of various meanings. Fundamentally, the body is a blank canvas of intimate corners, angular shadows and soft curves which has had plastered to its neutral surface, sex; expectation; standards of beauty; politics; psychology; the male gaze and so on. At a time when contemporary culture is obsessed with the reclaiming of bodily agency, especially from a feminist perspective, it is interesting to consider the way in which artists have navigated the human form, and how it has evolved as a symbol of vulnerability, intimacy and honesty, as well as the way in which it is used as a weapon. The danger of this confusion is that we see bodies being used as sexual commodities in order for brands to sell products, alongside Instagram models ‘#freeingthenipple’ in the name of feminism. This sends out the message that in order to reclaim your body, you must market it in the same way that advertisers do. The line between agency and internalisation is a fine one and it isn’t always clear which has prevailed. It seems that our most natural state has been capitalised on and commercialised. The most recent exhibition at the Laing Gallery, Exposed: The Naked Portrait, which has sadly just finished, offers an exploration of nudity across different mediums and time periods to collate an idea of the way in which our attitudes to our most private selves have changed. Intrinsic to our contemporary view of the naked body as deeply personal, is a sense of freedom when we expose ourselves. Walking around the exhibition I noticed that, after a while, or rather, after exposure to exposure, the idea of nudity loses its connotations of discomfort and overt sexuality, and instead is replaced
with a feeling of empowerment and a sense of ‘coming home’ to our natural selves. These different emotions are apparent in the various portraits in the exhibition which range from large scale paintings of slightly awkward figures, to photos of models such as Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss unashamedly baring all.
The line between agency and internalisation is a fine one. Our most natural state has been capitalised on. The exhibition divides its contents into two sections: Bodies of Desire and Reclaiming the Body, charting the shift in society’s perception of bodies, especially female ones, as commodities or an aesthetic object to be sexualised and used as a weapon, to a way of gaining agency over sexuality and gender. What is striking about these images is that nothing has really changed in terms of their contents, it is simply a switch in attitude that has resulted in this alteration in perception. Whether art catalyses this change by exposing people to the taboo, or simply reflects the shift is unclear.
Get into a State of Mind Image: @laingartgallery instagram
SANTIAGO by Cheryl Follon Helena Buchanan
I
should start this by stating that I don’t pick up anthologies by white men. I’m sure their poetry is fine and that they have plenty to say, but poetry is one area of art and life where the distinction is obvious and it’s easy to make a choice about it. It’s even an area of poetry where you have more power over this (the last reading I went to looked like the line-up of a maths SATs paper in an attempt at diversity, the white man was probably going to be wrong about how to split the pie, but he was undoubtedly in charge). There is an area of the library which I visit frequently (read: when procrastinating) which contains the Bloodaxe poetry anthologies, and I would highly recommend a perusal. The best I have found so far (possibly the best there, I don’t know, I’m yet to make it through them all) is Santiago by Cheryl Follon.
The poems capture moments, picked and examined and rendered beautiful This is a collection made up of vignette-style poems of continuous verse, on a variety of subjects which do not feel like subjects but rather moments, picked and examined and rendered beautiful. One of the best examples of this is the opening poem, Insomnia, where the speaker and her insomnia get waffles, so insomnia can tell her of its plans. Another is Ear Canal, where the speaker describes a spice root moving through an ear-canal. What makes these poems beautiful is the mix of images which range from classical to contemporary and are placed not so much to juxtapose as to surprise. In a poem about a girlfriend, the speaker states that the woman uses “the words grave and clit in the same sentence”, as though that is more notable than her own imagery; in a later poem the speaker states “It is as though the Pineapple fell in love with pure instinct itself”, which I think is far more lovely
Sophia Kypriotis reviews the Hatton Gallery’s new exhibition on introspection and wellbeing
S
tate of Mind is a small, but perfectly curated exhibition at the Hatton gallery, exploring notions of self-reflection, introspection and well-being. I felt within all nine pieces there was a sense unity in human suffering, which each work explored through a different medium. The exhibition outlines that these works “visualise thoughts that are otherwise not easily communicated” and this claim held true for me.
This seemingly peaceful painting appeared to conceal something more turbulent and uncomfortable
I was particularly absorbed by Laura Knight’s The Dark Pool. I found the paint strokes a striking aspect, alongside the meeting of rock and water. This seemingly peaceful painting appeared to conceal something more turbulent and uncomfortable. The placement of the works in this exhibition demonstrated how understanding of a piece changes and alters depending on what it is presented alongside. Harold Knight’s The Bathing Pool is hung directly opposite his wife’s work, and similarly places tranquillity alongside sadness. While both pieces convey the allure of water and its association with the self-reflective, The Dark Pool evoked a greater tone of anger and pride than The Bathing Pool’s
sense of hopelessness. The Knight’s work felt more self-introspective than Dumas, Manet and Mola’s pieces, which I understood to explore their subject’s contemplation over their own. Dumas’s casual and fluid style of portraiture reflected Amy Winehouse’s internal struggle; placing exhaustion alongside youth and Mola’s A Blind Beggar portrayed a struggle with understanding suffering. Despite the artwork in the exhibition coming from a broad range of movements and different Hatton and Laing collections, the design by MA Art Museum and Gallery Studies students
conveyed a unity within fragmentation. While all the works explored their subject matter in a variety of ways, there was a collective sense of reflection intertwined with
There was a collective sense of reflection intertwined with distress distress.
State of Mind is open until 1st May and I suggest you visit, absorb and give yourself a little time for self-reflection.
Image: @Wikipedia
and cool. I find Follon fascinating because of her commitment to form, or perhaps more accurately the lack of it. People (myself included) become easily wrapped up in the question of what poetry is, and frequently fall back on form as the indicator of something being a poem. In this case, however, these are clearly poems despite their free form. There are no stanzas, no line breaks, apparently no formal choices made, except the choice not to make them (apologies for getting paradox-y, the poetry brings it out…) Overall, she bangs, 10/10 would recommend.
@TheCourierArts @thecourierarts
32
culture gaming
the courier
courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Gaming Editors George Boatfield, Shawn Khoo, Kelly South & James Troughton Online Editor Alex Darbyshire
Monday 18th March 2019
Review: Anthem Kaityln Maracle on BioWare’s highly controversial new RPG
A
Image: IGDB
fter a seemingly disastrous early access, with infinite loading screens and lag galore, Anthem is a game that overcame almost everybody’s early expectations. The game is set in Bastion, a land inhabited by the omnipresent ‘Anthem of Creation’, and you are a Freelancer, a member of a highly regarded mercenary group that battle Cataclysms (which bring forth masses of enemies). There are four “javelins” to choose from which are essentially highly personalisable mech suits that serve as the games’ classes. These are: the tanky “Colossus”; the assassin “Interceptor”; the soldier “Ranger”; and the devastating “Storm.” Each javelin is incredibly different in combat and design with different abilities and ultimates as well as completely different playstyles. In missions, you are plunged into teams of four and you must coordinate and cooperate to complete objectives. As for visuals, the game is pretty much perfect. Both the landscape and the javelins themselves are stunning, with underground caves, waterfalls and even the ability to fly under water. The main story can be seen as lacking, but I d i d n’ t feel this, as I tried to complete as many side quests as possible. Through the
impeccable voice acting and compelling storylines, the majority of side quests did not feel like a waste of time and I even felt extremely connected to a particular story involving bread. The combat system is unbelievably fluid and the ability to reach high combos is very useful.
Through impeccable voice acting and compelling storylines, the majority of side quests did not feel like a
Additionally, the characters of Anthem are incredibly diverse a word which I feel is becoming synonymous with the EA and BioWare brand. There are microtransactions for in-game currency called ‘shards’ which are used to buy purely cosmetic items but you can accumulate a lot of shards through completing daily and weekly challenges. On the other hand, Anthem’s end game content is
6m
The amount of copies EA are expecting Anthem to sell within the first fiscal year
a bit of a grind. After completing the story, you can carry out Strongholds at higher difficulties to acquire masterwork components which buff either your javelin, your weapons, or your abilities. This grind of Strongholds can potentially ruin the experience of the game as the strongholds themselves become repetitive, and fighting the same enemies/bosses over and over again can end up being boring. There are of course still bugs, but there are a few upcoming patches to hopefully fix these. One note I will make is that the UI looks incredibly similar to Destiny 2 which is something that irritated me a lot. However, overall I would say that Anthem is a fantastic game. It may not have lived up to every single one of my expectations - and the awful early release did not help with my anxieties at shelling out £60 - but all in all, I think it is worth the price. The cooperative PvE nature of the game is different and the absence of any form of battle royale is refreshing. The fact that there is no sense of ‘pay
Sonic the Hedgehog live-action look leaked Georgina Howlett gives her insight about the recently leaked pictures of the upcoming movie
I
f you are even mildly present in the online videogaming sphere, you’ll have no doubt caught sight of those alleged leaked Sonic the Hedgehog CGI movie assets, which recently surfaced online following a now-removed post by Hamagami / Carroll, Inc.. Showing a disturbingly anthropomorphised (even more so than the traditional designs) Blue Blur, this new version of Sonic is notably missing his white gloves, united eyeballs and oversized red shoes, instead overcompensating in hair-like quills, creepy smiles and power stances. Although it is not yet confirmed whether these promotional images are genuine, if they are, they likely
Image: IGDB
show a reasonable if not exact likeness to Sonic’s final design. One image shows Sonic dashing through a large ring, another has him pointing at the viewer, and a final large image shows him holding a ring. Other, smaller images show the potential direction for retail products and tie-in toys for the film, with the semi-obscured contents page outlining the marketing and branding strategies for the film prior to release. The outlined brand personality for the character, according to one of the leaked presentation slides, is that he should be “Irreverent and sarcastic, heroic and adventurous, confident and competitive, chill and likable [and] mischievous but not
malicious” – an ambitious feat, to say the least. Many hardcore fans of the Sonic brand have already taken to social media to express their distaste, whilst others have praised it as an innovative, forward-thinking move to attract a new generation. Comparisons have also been drawn between this apparent attempt at hyper-realism and that of the upcoming Detective Pikachu movie, whereby several Pokémon have been given a new lease of life courtesy of “realistic Pokémon” artist RJ Palmer. Only time will reveal if these images are faithful to the finished character design and overall film, so look out for Sonic the Hedgehog, releasing in cinemas on 8 November 2019.
Image: Gage Skidmore [flickr]
Gaming’s
James Troughton delves into the mo
P
laying through games on a surface level is incredibly fun, but something that truly adds more length and more value to a game, in my opinion, is their achievements. They give the player a purpose and an incentive to replay the game, to hunt for collectibles and to delve into the side-content on offer. This has spawned a whole sub-sect of gaming
5. First Riddler Trophy
culture known as ‘Achievement Hunting’ which is something that I wish I could stop getting into the habit of because occasionally developers stumble on the design of these icons of braggery. Whilst Batman: Arkham Origins lays claim to a phenomenal story and enjoyable gameplay, the side content is fairly lacking. Whether it’s taking down Anarky or the Mad Hatter, they aren’t as engaging as facing off against Troy Baker’s fantastic impersonation of Mark Hamill’s iconic Joker. One of these sidecharacters you’re tasked with hunting is the Riddler and, to take the overly dramatic egotistical villain down, you must find all of his datapacks. This earns you an achievement to show the world how much of a time-waster you truly are and, whilst it is fairly easy as all of the packs are shown on the map, it is incredibly disappointing as you get very little pay off. The reward for your endeavour is a little Riddler trophy and some dialogue. All of that extra
4. Bolt Collector time leads to practically nothing and leaves you feeling empty, which is the polar opposite of the emotions an achievement should elicit. It’s in the name. Ratchet and Clank is perhaps my favourite game series of alltime but, in the shoddy port to the PlayStation 3, some nightmarishly tedious trophies lay waste to the iconic titles of the platform genre. Most were simply set around the preexisting
the courier
Monady 18th March 2019
33
@Courier_Gaming thecourieronline.co.uk/gaming
gaming culture
added to Plague Inc. Star Wars’ Oscar Isaac would Anti-Vaxxers Alex Moore covers a brand new feature to the hit mobile game like to star as Solid Snake Alex Darbyshire discusses the latest news surrounding the live-action adaptation of the Metal Gear series
F
ilm and television director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the man currently behind the Metal Gear Solid film adaptation, recently released a tweet expressing his thoughts on a certain photoshopped image that had been circulating around the internet for a while now. The results have been rather explosive. The image in question was a mockup of Oscar Isaac, an actor famous for roles such as Star Wars’ Poe Dameron, as well as the titular characters of both X-Men: Apocalypse and Coen bros drama Inside Llewyn Davis. This mockup transforms Isaac into the legendary FOXHOUND commando, Solid Snake, and to say the least it looks ‘pretty good’. This followed an interview
Isaac had with IGN, in which he claimed to be “throwing [his] hat in for that one” regarding portraying Snake in a film. In a Twitter conversation with the creator of the images in question, a user by the name of ‘Bosslogic’, Roberts said that Isaac was “one of [his] favourite actors to watch”, asking Bosslogic to create the mockup of Isaac as Snake. He tweeted screenshots of this conversation, which was bound to cause some excitement, given the mutual interest between Isaac and Roberts. He added the stipulation in this tweet that the “full process to cast” Snake “hasn’t even started”, indicating that there’s a long way to go on the Metal Gear Solid film as a whole, but that the “ball’s in Oscar’s court.” As a long-time fan of both the series and the actor in question, this has internal sparks flying. Isaac has proved himself to be an actor both enthusiastic about many different roles, as well as a very malleable actor, having played a vast spectrum of characters. I personally would love to see Isaac on-screen as Snake, though sadly we all know how most video game films end up. We shall all just have to wait and see how this one in particular develops very closely.
greatest mistakes
ost frusrating and disappointing achievements ever offered to players bonus content in the game that unlocked rewards in the ‘Goodies’ menu of NG+ but some were added simply to add fluff to the trophy gallery. One, in particular, was truly horrific; you had to earn one-million bolts in-game (luckily, not all had to be in your bank account at once) which takes over five playthroughs to do. Not only is the icon misleading, displaying a bolt counter with ‘100k’ deceivingly and lazily slapped next to it, but the actual trophy is incredibly glitchy, sometimes not clocking even if you hit the bar required. They even attempted to patch the glitch that gave you infinite bolts which still requires you to leave your PlayStation 3 dormant for a good number of hours. Luckily, this is still something you can do and makes the trophy far less of a headache. I love you Ratchet and Clank, but I can’t consecutively play through you that many times.
3. Rare Specimen The Crowbar Collective have been working on Black Mesa for a staggering ten years and it is a truly wonderful remaster of one of the most iconic and impactful FPS games of all time. Despite the unmitigated love this game has garnished, it has a stain left behind from the sadistic mind that decided to implement an achievement far harsher than that of the gnome from Half-Life 2: Episode 2. It was difficult enough carrying the gnome throughout the entirety of Episode 2 which is in a relatively short game when compared to the goliath that is Black Mesa but doing the same exact thing with a random, meaningless purple hat as you explore the bleak facilities under siege by various forces is a much more difficult task. After completing it, there is no sense of reward or pride, just the overwhelming feeling of regret.
Elder Scrolls Online, my favourite MMO (put down the pitchforks), is obviously home to a variety of multiplayer achievements with it being a massively multiplayer game. These are the bane for any achievement hunter, especially those who are not good at adapting to the player vs. player climate which requires a significantly larger amount of skill than player vs. environment. Aptly put by redditors ‘Jefe051’, ‘MaxAddams’ and ‘CiceroTheBackstabber’: “Do you need sleep? If so, pretty much out of luck. Have a job? Pretty much out of luck. Have school? Pretty much out of luck.” You need to grind nonstop to get the number one placement in the alliance war, beating the other players who are also wasting an immeasurable amount of time, and remain at that number one spot until the inner keeps are taken. This is nearly impossible for anybody who can’t dedicate all of their time to the game as there are many players who are doing exactly that to get the achievement, competing with you every step of the way. Yo u ’ r e best bet i s to find a campaign o f people willing to let you retain the number one spot and, in a competitive online climate, that would be a true miracle.
2. Stanley Parable To simply pick one achievement from this title would be far too difficult. The developers transformed their work on Garry’s Mod into a fully fledged game and it was an absolute treat to play through. However, the developers clearly have a vendetta against us achievement hunters and so the second layer of gameplay that is gathering these useless achievements was a far less fun experience. Although, out of spite, many players, including myself, have unlocked them all. They vary from ‘Don’t play The Stanley Parable for five years’ to ‘Play The Stanley Parable for the entire duration of a Tuesday’ all the way to ‘It is impossible to get this achievement’ but determined fans of the game found their workarounds and bypassed these hilarious yet insulting challenges.
1. Emperor!
I
t was recently announced that anti-vaxxers will be added as a new feature to developer Ndemic Creation’s game Plague Inc. Available on all major operating systems, the mobile game sees the player assume the role of a selected pathogen as it evolves and mutates in its bid to infect every human on the Earth. “Anti-vaxxer” is a term designated for those who refuse to receive potentially life-saving vaccinations against harmful diseases. Even more dangerous is the fact that these individuals often refuse to allow these vaccines to be administered to their children, who’s inferiorly developed immune systems can put them at an even higher risk.
Image: BagoGames [flickr]
Valve ‘rape game’ controversy Alexandra Sadler explains the new drama concerning Steam
L
ast year, Valve released a statement declaring that ‘the right approach’ means that the games they ‘allow onto the Store will not be a reflection of Valve’s values’. This implies a certain abdication of responsibility taken by the company. Who thought that a game called ‘Rape Day’, with all that is implied in the title and as part of the game itself, would ever be okay?
Violence against women is a serious issue which should never be treated as a game
There is, of course, the argument to be made about freedom of speech and expression. One company cannot police everyone’s opinions and, by extension, what games they choose to play. Supporters of Valve’s more laissez-faire approach would perhaps argue that it allows developers and gamers space to explore their interests without fear of retribution. However, this is a very different matter to almost allowing such repellent products to have such a visible platform, or to have a platform at all. By taking this approach, Valve is seemingly aligning itself with the product, even if that is not the company’s intention. In their announcement halting the launch of the game on Steam, rather than condemning the game or banning it for the sexual violence contained within the game, Valve merely noted that the game ‘poses unknown costs and risks’. As MP Hannah Bardell argues, the content of the game is ‘absolutely sickening and appalling’, and violence against women is a serious issue which should never be treated as a game. The company has a social responsibility to prevent the normalisation or legitimisation of games that promote or glorify such harmful and abhorrent actions. There is no point that can be made to argue that the game contributes anything positive whatsoever to gaming, or society in general.
3,000 Image: IGDB & BlackMesaSourceMedia
Often founded around religious or entirely false pseudoscientific claims – such as the unfounded idea that vaccinations cause autism – these beliefs are almost solely responsible for the recent outbreaks of measles (a disease which was previously eradicated in the U.S.A. in 2000) in North America. The introduction of these deniers of basic science to Plague Inc. comes after a petition on Change.org was launched with this sole demand. After coming to their attention, the studio tweeted they would add the feature if the petition received over 10,000 votes. At the time of writing, the petition, the description of which simply states ‘Anti-vaxxers are stupid’, has received 23,196 signatures. Whilst the implementation of these anti-vaxxers may take some time, there has been much speculation around how they will function in the game. It is thought that they will feature in an easy difficulty mode, as the global elimination of any vaccinated populations would certainly speed things up for an eager pathogen with a taste for human cells.
The number of signatures the petition to remove the game received.
Whether we like it or not, the media we consume has an impact upon the way people think and act. ‘Free speech’ is one thing, but game developers and gaming platforms need to take responsibility for what they allow and promote on their stores. As companies grapple with issues centred around gender equality and the treatment of women in the gaming community, the industry needs to seriously consider its moral and ethical responsibility to both its customers, and to society.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
the courier
35
Monday 18th March 2019 Science Editors Eleanor Gratton, Cecilia Adamou Online Editor Orestis Katsoulis
@Courier_Science thecourieronline.co.uk/science
science culture
The Periodic Table: Where it all began No excuse for weekend lay-ins Eleanor Norton runs through the history of the famous table
E
very field of science has its favourite anniversary. For Chemistry, this March marks the 150th anniversary since the periodic table was created by Russian chemist Dmitrii Ivanovich Mendeleev. Mendeleev’s periodic table of elements has become familiar to most of us, remaining a centrepiece in every science classroom and is often used heavily in popular culture. You can find it stamped on t-shirts, mugs, beach towels and even duvet covers. It is recognisable across the world and is arguably the most important concept in Chemistry. So, what exactly does the periodic table show? It can be quite intimidating to look at for the first time, but in brief, it is a table to organise the compilation of the elements – all the known pure compounds made from a single type of atom. There are two ways to look at how the periodic table is constructed, based on either the observed properties of the elements contained within it, or on the subatomic construction of the atoms that form each element. Before Mendeleev created the periodic table we recognise so well today, other scientists had attempted to coordinate the elements in their own way. In 1862, French
Image: Wikimedia Commons
geologist Alexandre-Emile Béguyer de Chancourtois plotted the atomic weights of elements on tape and wound them in a spiral around a cylinder and called this model the telluric helix. In 1868 Lothar Meyer arranged a periodic table of 56 elements based on a regular repeating pattern of physical properties such as molar volume. Before the periodic table was put together, when scientists began gathering elements in the 1700s and 1800s, they observed similarities in their physical properties related to their atomic mass. At this time, the structure of the atoms was unknown, and so scientists began to look at ways to arrange them into vertical columns so related properties could be grouped together into periods. The first periodic table was born in 1869 and was updated over the following years as more elements were identified. More importantly, instead of assuming he was incorrect, Mendeleev left gaps in the table where he thought undiscovered elements should be placed. Over time, these gaps were filled in, and the final version of the period table as we know it today emerged. The patterns of the known elements enabled Mendeleev to predict the existence of elements that had not yet been discovered. In 1913, Henry Moseley adapted the period table, when he had determined the atomic number of every known element. He realised that, if the elements were arranged in order of increasing atomic number rather than atomic weight, they gave a better fit within the periodic table. The periodic table has seen many colourful and creative versions created over the years. The table has also become the focal point for Tom Lehrer’s song ‘The Elements’. The song has yet to be updated to include all the elements known today, but it has been covered by other people over the years. Actor Daniel Radcliffe performed a version during a guest appearance on the BBC’s Graham Norton Show. In summary, the periodic table is one of the most important scientific maps created and will remain so for a long time. The table is useful for students and scientists because it helps predict the types of chemical reactions that are likely for an element. Although many scientists can be attributed to the creation of the table, Mendeleev is the most recognised and will be famously remembered for centuries for his revolutionary contribution to Chemistry.
Eleanor Norton: why it's impossible to catch up on lost sleep
W
e all know that not getting enough sleep is bad for us. It has been linked to numerous health problems including obesity, heart diseaseand diabetes. It also affects our mood, with many people feeling grumpy and irritable in the early mornings. Many people try and catch up on sleep over the weekend, but this is inadequate and does not balance out sleep debt. In fact, it can cause more harm for you than good. Researchers reported, in February’s issue of Current Biology, that using the weekend to catch up on lost sleep during the week can lead to a whole host of problems. Chronic sleep deprivation alters your metabolism, so your muscles are less sensitive to insulin. This causes your blood sugar to increase and appetite hormones to shift. In addition, as your weight increases the risk of heart disease, strokes and diabetes increases alongside it. The Sleep Research Society recommend adults between aged between 18 and 60 regularly get seven hours of sleep per night to promote optimal health. However, estimates show that 40% of adults in America report sleeping less than this recommended amount. Sleep psychologists have tested the results of sleep deprivation and sleeping in at the weekend by putting three groups of young adults through a sleep experiment. One group slept the recommended eight hours a night, another group slept for five hours a night, whereas the final group slept for five hours of weeknights and slept for however long they desired over the weekend. The weekend recovery sleepers surprisingly only got one hour extra of sleep in total, because they stayed up late on Sunday. Lack of sleep also disrupts appetite controlling hormones leading to increased hunger and snacking. The groups that were sleep deprived consumed roughly 500 calories in late night snacks and gained four pounds over ten days. They also experienced a decline in insulin sensitivity of 13%. This also contributes to weight gain and
if the government decides against lifting the ban it could lead to even worse consequences for the creatures, such as illegal culling or poaching. "By excluding people," cautions Verreyne, "and allowing elephant numbers to get out of hand in Botswana, we are running the risk of losing more elephants and other wildlife through the conflict, poaching and starvation than are sacrificed through hunting”.
Botswanan farmers face a big challenge from elephants
Although the ban was originally implemented when populations of the animals were dwindling, the huge numbers of elephants in Botswana are now affecting locals and farmers and are a nuisance to communities. Farmer Enoch Kegodile, who supports the initiative to cull the animals, claims, “Elephants are used to breaking their way through everything. We face a big challenge from the many elephants that live around here”. Although there is controversy surrounding the decision, the Botswanan government must make an ethically and environmentally considered decision to ensure the best outcome for both the economy of the country and the much be- loved creature.
Image: Pixabay
New hope for early cancer diagnosis
Sesha Subramanian reports on the scienfitc discovery in the U.S.A.
Ethical elephant killing? R Julie Boggio on Botswana's decision to lift the ban on hunting A recent dilemma has arisen in Botswana as there are discussions to lift a four-year ban on elephant hunting. Botswana is one of the biggest protected reserves of elephants in the world and is home to approximately 130,000 of the majestic giants. Reintroducing elephant culling has caused debate between people who think that the decision will have negative impact on tourism and could destroy the ‘animalfriendly’ image that Botswana has built these past few years, and others who believe that the large number of elephants is negatively affecting the ecosystem. Elephants still have a massive impact on the economy in Botswana as tourism is the second largest source of income for country. Lifting the hunting ban would drastically impact this income as the elephants are a main attraction for tourists. It also brings into question the ethics of killing protected animals. However, Dr F.J. Verreyne, who worked as a wildlife and livestock veterinarian in Botswana since 2002, affirms that even if the government were to reintroduce elephant culling, it wouldn’t significantly reduce the amount of elephants. He confirmed that with an annual increase in the population of the species at 5% and elephant hunting in Botswana limited 400 animals per year, it would not have a major impact on the number of elephants. He also warns that
metabolic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. There is no harm in having an occasional lie in. However, our bodies are rhythmic and need the routine of going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time each day. When it comes to sleep – it is all about quality instead of quantity. We should aim to achieve a good quality sleep each night, and not just at the weekends. This will keep our body in sync and our brains feeling well rested. Getting the right amount of sleep has numerous health benefits, including having steadier blood glucose levels. This decreases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, boosting the immune system and increasing heart health because blood pressure decreases during sleep, which allows the heart and blood vessels to rest. A good quality sleep also boosts your mood as your emotions are processed during sleep and increases both learning and memory.
esearchers from Johns Hopkins University in the United States have now identified a new test that can be used to detect previously undetectable forms of ovarian cancer. The method is able to detect substances released from tumours that are different to those released from healthy human tissues. However, the difference now is that the team from Johns Hopkins has been able to identify tumours from minute quantities of these substances.
We aim to detect diseases more accurately and gain new insights into their mechanisms.”
The technique can precisely point out otherwise hidden molecules in the blood which could potentially be used for devising a new, ultra-sensitive method of cancer detection. The scientists used the tumour marker p53 to detect ovarian cancer, something that was previously impossible to do because of its incredibly low concentration in the blood. Another potential target was PD-L1, a marker that has been proven as a viable therapeutic target that could aid in the treatment of the disease. The technique, known as single-molecule augmented capture (SMAC), can be used to identify tumour markers even at low levels so that cancer can be detected early and treatment processes sped up. “With SMAC, we have brought single-molecule imaging into the clinical arena,” says Chih-Ping Mao, one of the two graduate students who developed the test. “By visualising and examining individual molecules released from diseased cells into the blood, we aim to detect diseases more accurately and gain new insights into their mechanisms.” Cary Wakefield, the chief executive at Ovarian Cancer Action, said that the early findings of this research look promising. The data from the project was presented at the Biophysical Society
Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. Every year in the UK, more than 7000 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed. Wakefield stated: “If we are to make a major difference to ovarian cancer survival rates, we must develop a screening tool that would catch the disease in its very earliest stages, or better still, before it even develops." She continues to enforce the idea that "it is vital we diagnose and treat the disease in its earliest stages to give every woman the best chance of survival.”
7,300
The number of new ovarian cancer cases in the UK every year,
The next step would be to make it affordable and commercially available to the general population and to trial it as a high efficiency screening tool for cancer. Furthermore, one of the possible future applications of SMAC could be looking at its role in detecting cancers other than ovarian cancer.
Image: George Hodan [PublicDomainPcitures.net]
36
The Courier celebrates its 70th birthday In honour of the 70th anniversary of The Courier, we asked our writers what being involved in student media means to them
A lot of the time I hate The Courier. I spend my Friday nights sat in a clinically lit office staring at screens of inDesign files that have, it appears, mastered the art of crashing just when you need them the most. But sometimes you look around this room of delirious editors who care way too much about a paper that nobody is even sure anyone actually reads, and think that there is nothing you would rather have spent your years at university doing. I wholeheartedly love this bunch of cynical bastards. I love being surrounded by a group of people so full of wit and love. People who care as much about trivial matters like bleed lines and font sizes as I do, and people from such a broad range of backgrounds and interests. Coming from an arts background, I don’t have many friends in other areas of my
life who will sit down and let me tell them why Swansea are so much better than Man City. In a lot of ways most of us have absolutely nothing in common other than the Stockholm syndrome this office and this newspaper has drilled into us over the years we have been here. I like to think there were groups of people who felt like this before us, and I love to think about the groups of people who will feel like this when we’ve all gone out into the real world (and are working as big shot BBC bosses). This place has without a doubt been the most memorable part of my university experience and I wouldn’t change a single second, not even the Friday nights (actually, maybe the Friday nights), if I could.
Carys Rose Thomas
Having written since my first year at Newcastle, I can vouch that the Courier is something special. I knew I wanted to get some firsthand experience in journalism, but I had no idea just how much the newspaper would impact (and improve) my time at University. As time moved forward I became more and more involved. I now work with an extremely talented group of Senior Editors, Life & Style Editors and writers. One thing that perhaps surprised me the most: the Courier has led me to some of the loveliest people I know. Everyone involved in its production makes it such a great environment to work in. From long shifts in the office to priceless socials, I’ll be so sad when this crazy journey
The Courier has allowed me to be able to contribute to the University in the best way possible. As an international student who was very confused for most of her first year in Newcastle, I felt the need to contribute to the university but I didn’t know how - seeing as I don’t like public speaking. However, the Courier has allowed me to do just that. The Courier allowed me to have a voice, without actually speaking. Being a sub-editor of the Courier has given me so many opportunities from learning to lay up a page to making many new friends. I think that the Courier has been an amazing way for students to be able to have a voice. It allows stu-
dents to write about what they are passionate about. As a paper written by students for students, the Courier is able to write about what students want to read. Whether you are in your first or last year, the Courier allows everyone to contribute, whether big or small. Having studied in a small school previously, with their newspaper barely being 10 years old this year, it is amazing for me to see how far the Courier has grown for 70 years. I am grateful to be able to be a part of the Courier throughout my two years in Newcastle, whether it be as a writer, a sub-editor or even as a reader. Amanda Goh
A year and a half ago I arrived in Newcastle full of anticipation to kick-start the Journalism, Media and Culture degree I had been anticipating throughout sixth form life at school. Media, naturally, was something that I had always been keen to get involved, however, I never imagined being as intertwined in student media as I am now, a year and a half later. My earliest recollection was meeting Meg Long (NSR Station Manager 2018-19) at Fresher’s Fair, at the time I was happy to place my name onto the email register, though a the same time, I thought realistically that it wouldn’t likely come to much in the future. A year and a half later, I am now involved on a weekly basis at the radio. Having been elected as joint deputy-Station Manager with the half decent Luke Oddie, we have been able to work along with a fantastic exec team to produce a full weekly schedule of diverse
From writer to News Editor to Deputy Editor, I’ve had the most amazing three years at The Courier. I joined The Courier in first year with my head full of glamorous visions of student journalism I’d seen on 90210 and Gilmore Girls, where budding journalists fight over the next big story and have dramatic meltdowns as they scramble to meet their deadline at 2am. Now a seasoned third year, I have discovered that this isn’t actually a far cry from the truth. To me, The Courier does mean drama, tension, and occasionally tears, but it also means excitement, passion, laughter, and sometimes just sheer, unapologetic madness. It also means giving students a voice. It makes me extremely proud to know that every week I contribute to creating 44 pages
worth of space for students of all backgrounds and walks of life to express themselves freely, create, discuss their opinions, and be heard. It makes me prouder still to count myself a part of the truly incredible team that brings this together every single week. By far the best thing about being involved in The Courier is the unique bond it creates between people who might otherwise not have known each other. Cracking out this wonderful publication every week can sometimes feel like an everest for all of us, but I couldn’t think of a better bunch to tackle it with. I am extremely grateful to The Courier for the incredible impact it has had on my experience at Newcastle, and I am convinced that the next 70 years only has better in store for our beloved newspaper. Isabel Sykes
If there is one thing that I know I will look fondly back at about my time over the last three years of my degree, it has been my involvement in the Courier and wider student media. In my first year, I was roped into going to a culture writers’ meeting by some people I lived with. I sat and I listened, and none of the articles that were being offered spoke to me. But something drew me back and kept going to the meetings. I finally started picking up articles, with my first being a local drag show. Experiences like that, made me fall even more in love with the city I had moved to and made me think very seriously about what I wanted to do when I graduated. I’m so happy that those friends decided to take me that first time, as from just being a
ends (which also happens to be a real foundation on my CV: blessed). And so, I’d like to thank every gem involved for the past few years. I know you all have a very bright future ahead, and I wouldn’t have wished for my experience to go any other way. Happy 70th you beautiful paper; it’s the people that make you.
Sophie Henderson
and creative radio shows. Harry Parsons, Station Manager and nice bloke, has been a constant guide throughout this time, introducing me to the Courier towards the end of first year. Today, along with a fantastic sports team, I now edit for the sports section of the paper on a weekly basis. This is something which I’m still new to and am very much still in the learning process of this. Student media has not only opened my eyes to the processes to which media in the real world runs, but has additionally granted myself opportunities that I could never imagine would have been possible whilst at university. From interviewing members of the Harlem Globetrotters to commentating at St James’s Park, student media has granted myself that I will forever be grateful for. Rory Ewart
writer in my first year, I then went on to edit the Arts section for the next two years. Not only has been involved with the paper given me skills, such as being about to use InDesign, Photoshop, and far improved my people skills - I also want to thank student media for bringing me some of the greatest friends I ever could have asked for. I want to thank the people who, 70 years ago, decided to set up this paper, for the incredible impact that they have on so many students’ lives today. Scarlett Rowland
What’s that Logo? I mean, I feel like it’s sort of self explanatry but name the brand which each of these cropped Logos correspond to. Images: Wikipedia
Images: Flickr
Images: Wikipedia
the courier
Images: Wikimedia Images: Pixabay
Images: Flickr
Solutions Across 2. Sand 6. Contract 7. Republic 9. Irrational 12.Agoraphobic 14. Vocation 15. Saggitarius 17. Concrete 18. Tortoiseshell 19. Propoganda 20. Rousseau
Down 1. Sheen 3. Defect 4. Platypus 5. Maple Leaf 6. Cultivate 8. Dodo 10. Inclination 13. Timber 16. Implication 21. Stone
Kettle of Fish A Leopard can’t change its spots Feather in your cap On the ball Bite the bullet
Monday 18 March 2019
Puzzles Supreme Overlady It could be you Puzzle Matriarch Rihanna Puzzles Editor Uncelebrated and unsigned Thoughts and Feelings the.courier.puzzluzz@gmail.com
Sudoku: Paprika
puzzles
37
Crossword
Blue Suede Clues Images: Flickr
Across 2. Clement, prime-minister of the UK in 1949 (6) 3. A test for women (5) 4. Sort of the middle of the week (9) 8. Lebowski, the Dude (4, 7) 11. Brightly coloured bricks first invented in 1949 (4) 15. This Island Nation became independant in 1949 (9) 16. Haruki, Japanese writer (8) 17. A machine which repeats documents, invented in 1949 (11) 18. Harry, President of the USA in 1949 (6) 19. A back-up, often in sport (11) 20. Not a peach (9) 21. Meryl Mama Mia (6)
Down 1. Bigger than the weather 5. Bruce, singer known for Dancing in the Dark 6. Strange multi-cultural food invented in Berlin in 1949 7. Seventy year anniversary thingy (8) 9. Annie, photographer (9) 10. The first camera of this kind is sold in 1949 (8) 12. The fourth of this convention, signed in 1949 (6) 13. Singer known for albums including Closing Time and Blue Valentine (3, 5) 14. Colour-covered chocolate tablets (8)
the courier
40
sport
Monday 18 March 2019
Is the winning Formula broken? Dominic Lee and Sesha Subramanian discuss the proposals for a series of new rules for the upcoming Formula 1 season
The Driver’s World Championship is entering its sixty-ninth season Image: Wikimedia Commons
Sesha Subramanian Cost caps, equal revenue distribution, changes to the engine and more were all on agenda as Formula 1 presented its vision of what the season would potentially look like starting from 2021 both on and off the circuit. In attendance, of course was the FIA (The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile -
The proposal of a cost cap is to put a limit on spending and bring teams more on par with each other from a competitive standpoint
The International Automobile Federation) and the teams taking part in the F1 season. The ideas were, of course, very preliminary (and far from a definitive series of changes)
and a lot more will follow over the coming weeks and months with regard to this but some of the proposed changes do make you question whether F1 really is heading the right way. One of the biggest changes in fact, is the implementation of a cost cap. The proposal is to put a limit on spending and bring teams more on par with each other from a competitive standpoint. Personally I think the idea is great – there tends to be greater parity in such cases. But the caveat in this that makes me think this might not be good is that the F1 does not want to include driver salaries in the cap. This undoes the idea of a cap because if they can pay the driver however much they want, the best drivers are still going to go to the best constructors like Ferrari. Making teams choose between having an average driver drive a brilliant car or a brilliant driver drive an average car would be better for the competition – especially with regard to the constructors’ championship. In those cases, finding the right second driver behind the stars such as Vettel and Hamilton will become important if the salary caps had driver salaries included in it. Moreover, the salary cap negatively impacts the bigger teams like Ferrari and
McLaren. Despite having the potential to spend more money and build better cars, they will be forced to settle for less – which might be good for competition but bad for the brand itself. The other proposal that catches the eye is to make the engine simpler, cheaper and noisier and enable drivers to race flat out against each other at full speed for longer periods of time. Removing some of the fuel limits (which is part of the proposal) might allow for that to happen but it also makes racing that much more unsafe for drivers and is less a test for drivers as it is for constructors. Under the current system, drivers have to do mental work and prepare to judge when they can go all out and when they need to ration their fuel and not go at full speed. Part of being a good driver is being able to make decisions like this in a split second and judging risks against rewards. Take that away, even for a little bit and it makes racing that much less cerebral – to me at least. Any sport needs to evaluate itself from time to time and keep changing its rules and laws to make it better for the fans and to attract new ones. But some of these changes are not necessary to make Formula 1 better at this point in time. Hopefully, in the months yet
to come, teams realise that there other issues that need ironing out rather than these.
Dominic Lee A new Formula 1 season means brand new rules and regulations which aim to make the sport more competitive. Wholescale changes have been announced for 2021 including new cars and engines. However, the plan is not to make the cars bigger and faster but lighter and less powerfulshocking when you consider F1 is supposed to be a high-speed, high-action sport. In fact, the head honchos of the sport have even suggested that the future engine should be a hybrid! Yes that’s correct, Lewis Hamilton and co would essentially be driving pimped-up Priuses around the track. While these changes are making F1 somewhat fairer and more eco-friendly, which is essential for the sport to stay relevant in today’s climate, they do show the sport has a real issue. It’s just too boring! All these rules do is slightly alter the dynamic of the sport. However, for F1 to actually become exciting again it probably needs to take a leaf out of NASCAR’s book.
NASCAR is everything that F1 should be. It has pre-race parades and fly-over’s from jetfighters; it has drivers engaging in punch-ups before races and wearing cowboy hats in the winners circle afterwards. What NASCAR
The plan is not to make the cars bigger and faster but lighter and less powerful
has and F1 doesn’t have is highlights! Sure, in F1 you might see a couple of nice overtaking manoeuvres, a car may even go into the gravel but its nothing compared to the excitement of the close-quarters action you get across the Atlantic. F1 needs to be more about entertainment, which is seriously lacking in the sport at the minute. I’m not saying putting drivers in cowboy hats is the way forward, but at least making the TV coverage more entertainment based and making the sport a more palatable with the odd pre-race show would go a long way to get ratings up.
the courier
41
sport
Monday 18 March 2019
Hooliganism horror in Sunday derby Adam Williams discusses the assault on Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish and further problems of football hooligan violence
Adam Williams
A rambunctious Second City derby was the backdrop for a shocking incident on Saturday in which Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish was punched from behind by a Birmingham City pitch invader. The man who carried out the attack, 27-year-old Paul Mitchell, was bundled off the pitch amidst protestations from justifiably
incensed players on both sides. He was subsequently arrested and charged with both illegal encroachment onto the pitch and assault. Clearly, the gods of football were watching - it turns out they don’t take kindly to such cowardly and unprovoked acts of violence. Grealish went on to score the winner with a low drive, 20-minutes from time. He later, in conversation with Aston Villa’s media team, described it as “one of the best days my life.” Happily, unless you’re a Blues fan, a
healthy dose of poetic justice was served up at St. Andrew’s on Saturday. But the issue of fan-on-player violence is one which runs much deeper than this incident in isolation. Indeed, in the very same weekend, Chris Smalling was shoved by an Arsenal fan during United’s defeat at The Emirates and Rangers captain James Tavernier was aggressively confronted by a spectator as his side drew with Hibernian. There has been near-universal condemna-
tion from players, pundits and fans alike in the wake of these events. Phil Neville, amongst others, has called for point deductions for clubs whose ‘supporters’ are involved in such troubling instances. Others have called for the matches of offending fan’s teams to be played behind closed doors or hefty fines to be dished out to them by the F.A. However, while it is important for justice, not only be done, but also to be seen to be done, footballing punishments will not be
Jack Grealish has been a key player for Aston Villa Image: Youtube
enough to dissuade knuckle-dragging Neanderthals like Paul Mitchell from such senseless acts of violence. For this shameful minority, the football is entirely secondary; an excuse for a scrap and a stage for them to express their painfully fragile masculinity with relative disregard for the score at the full-time whistle. The root causes of violence in society are myriad and complex, far too big a problem to be tackled solely by the F.A. But what the governing body and club administrations do have a duty to do is recognise and address the empirical signposts of individuals who pose a risk to the safety of their players. Social media, as with so many other problems in society, is the obvious starting point. Sites like Twitter and Facebook have the potential to mend the much-eroded fanplayer relationship but often have a polarising effect, instead being used as a platform to spread reactionary and hate-fuelled vitriol. Most players will tell you they don’t mind the abuse they get from fans, so long as it stops at the stadium gates. Sadly however, while abusing players in their day-to-day lives is not a new phenomenon, social media has given certain groups a platform to do so and, crucially, on a much larger scale. There should be a zero-tolerance approach from clubs towards fans who explicitly threaten players via this or any other medium. Just as the game moved past the dark days of recurrent violence and racism in the 80s with modern policing techniques and improved technologies (CCTV, electronic ticketing etc), so the sport needs to adapt to these modern and increasingly pervasive threats to its honour. For many, going to the football is a release; a place where it’s socially acceptable for even the most mild-mannered of individuals to go red in the face with rage and express their repressed tribalism. Unfortunately, there is some who seem incapable of recognising the not-so-fine line between passionate exuberance and outright anti-social, criminal behaviour. Hopefully, in light of recent events, more will be done in the coming weeks and months to curb this embarrassing renaissance in archaic football violence.
Should it be water under the bridge? Sports Editor Rebecca Johnson takes a look at bridge as it was revealed the world number one has been banned for doping
Earlier this month saw yet another doping scandal hit this world of sport. Except this doping scandal is slightly different, as it has rocked the world of bridge. What is bridge? I hear you ask. Bridge is a card game, consisting of four players in two partnerships. In its simplest form, bridge is about dealing cards and bidding for plays
firstly, how would doping realistically affect one’s performance in bridge and secondly, should bridge actually be considered seriously as a sport?
How would these substances realistically affect performance in bridge?
Geir Helgemo was handed a one year ban by the World Bridge Federation after testing positive for two banned substances
Geir Helgemo was handed a one year ban by the World Bridge Federation (WBF) after testing positive for two banned substances: clomifene and synthetic testosterone. All his titles and points from 2018 have been stripped from him as a result. However, this episode raises two important questions;
Bridge is a card game consisting of four players in two partnerships. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Considering bridge is ultimately a brain game, how would these substances affect performance? The substances that Helgemo tested positive for affect performance physically, not mentally. In fact the Monaco Bridge Federation told BBC Sport that that anti-doping regulations should not be applied to “the brain sport of mind games”. However, the WBF is recognised by the International Olympic Committee and has to abide by the World Anti-Doping Agency rules. So if these drugs affect physical performance but not mental performance, then surely bridge shouldn’t be recognised as a sport?
In 2017 Sport England refused to recognise this and the English Bridge Union took legal action against them. The case then got taken to the European Court of Justice who ruled that bridge shouldn’t be considered as a sport. Sport England state that a sport is defined as involving “physical activity” and bridge didn’t fall under this bracket. Should bridge really be considered a sport? Personally I think not, I agree with Sport England’s definition of a sport, that it should include “physical activity”. However, it is
In 2017 Sport England refused to recognise this and the English Bridge Union took legal action against them
unfortunate that a talented player like Helgemo has been penalised, when these substances won’t realistically make a difference to his overall performance.
the courier
42
sport
Monday 18 March 2019
Will England’s ODI team be bowled a googly? Stanley Gilyead assesses England’s chances in the upcoming Cricket World Cup after their recent games against the West Indies
England are hosting next year’s World Cup Image: Flickr: Bobbex England’s recent ODI performances in the West Indies showcased the best and worst of the side. A 418-6 total in the 4th ODI saw England demonstrate the destructive batting that’s got them to top of the world rankings, whilst a collapse to a measly 113 all out in the next match exposed the sides frailties, with West Indies polishing off the total in only 12 overs. England have seen a remarkable transformation in their ODI fortunes since Eoin Morgan took over the captaincy 4 years ago. Morgan has turned England’s batting lineup from a slow and steady bunch to the most explosive in the world, posting the 2 highest
ever ODI totals. England’s new-found aggression has seen them become favourites for this summer’s world cup in a form of the game in
England have shown an inability to grind out a win when they’re having an off day
which they were lagging behind the rest of the world only a few years ago. However amongst the big hitting and re-
cord victories England have shown an inability to grind out a win when they’re having an off day. The loss against the West Indies is a perfect example of this, once the top order fell England couldn’t arrest the slide, losing their last 5 wickets for just 2 runs. This England side rarely have poor games but all too regularly have disastrous ones. This can be dealt with in a 5-match series, where a single loss can be forgotten with a few wins, but once the World Cup reaches the knockout stages an off day would be disastrous, a single loss will see England eliminated. These collapses have most often come
away from home with England struggling to come to terms with unfamiliar conditions.
This lack of control over pitch preparation will at least partly negate their home advantage
Most of England’s wickets in the 5th ODI
were due to a lack of judgement of uneven bounce, common in West Indies and rare in England. Next year’s World Cup is being held in England, so in theory England should be more able to cope with more familiar swinging conditions. However, unlike in most series where pitches are prepared by the home team, the ICC will dictate conditions for the World Cup. Whilst familiarity with the weather and the general state of the ground will surely help England, this lack of control over pitch preparation will at least partly negate their home advantage.
Premier League teams dominate in Europe Sport Editor Jack Smillie praises the state of our highest division as our top six battle it out amongst Europe’s finest elite players
We know the Premier League is the best footballing division in the world. But now the extent to which the top six English teams are dominant is now on display for the rest of the world to see. For the first time in a decade, there are four English sides in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Remarkably, one in two remaining teams ply their trade in England. In the end, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham all comfortably breezed past their round of sixteen opponents. In particular, Manchester City’s
pure brilliance had Schalke’s social media
For the first time in a decade, there are four English sides in the quarter-finals of the Champions League
team begging disbelief, defeatedly tweeting:
“Please tell me this is all a bad dream.” Liverpool’s stellar second half performance put clear daylight between themselves and the German champions, Bayern Munich. That was certainly a night to remember: sitting in a packed Shark Club bar with a multitude of loud Liverpudlians singing and chanting. A special mention must go to that punter who staked £25 on Mane and Van Dijk to both score headers at 600/1. The limelight must not be stolen from Arsenal and Chelsea. The London duo are proudly representing our nation’s league in
the Europa League quarter-finals, which is
The limelight must not be stolen from Arsenal and Chelsea. They are proudly representing our nation’s league
a huge feat in itself. It’s almost inconceivable
to imagine six French, German, Spanish or Italian teams comepting in European trophy semi-finals. The Premier League has the best strength, depth and breadth - not that this should be news to you. The state of the English game is on the rise and, in my opinion, this dominance won’t wane any time soon. An all-English final is more than possible and would go a long way in helping English clubs recruit the world’s best future talent and the most lucrative media partnerships, to cerment our position as the world’s best.
the courier
43
sport
Monday 18 March 2019
Time to close the BUCS for the summer Sport Editor Sydney Isaacs rounds up four of Team Newcastle’s biggest BUCS successes from the culminating 2018/19 season Women’s Hockey 3s
Last week, with many of the sporting seasons draw to a close, four teams from Newcastle Universities competed in league defining games. Hockey women’s 3rd team claimed secured the top spot in the northern 3B League in their 1-0 defeat of York 1sts, League runners up.
7
Defeating York came as Newcastle women’s hockey 3rd team’s 7th cosecutive win.
This victory will result in a promotion for the Newcastle 3rds, which could see them playing next year in the league currently occupied by Newcastle Women’s 2nds. The 2nds, however, may not be competing in the same league next year as they too are sitting on the top spot in their own league with a their deciding match against current 3rd placers, Durham 4ths, to be played on Wednesday. Women’s Hockey Northern 3B
Hockey finished top of the Northern 3B League Image: Instagram
Men’s Rugby League 1s
Men’s Squash 2s
Men’s Rugby 5s
Newcastle Rugby League men’s 1sts were defeated in their national championship quarter final match against Northumbria last week.
Newcastle men’s squash second team have made it to the BUCS trophy finals. The trophy is a knockout competition which runs separately to the BUCS leagues, it is made up of all teams in 1A leagues across the country. Newcastle overcame both Leicester and Exeter 1st teams in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively each time claiming a 5-0 win. The Newcastle 2nds will be taking on Nottingham 2nds on Big BUCS Wednes-
An annihilating 69-7 home victory against Leeds Trinity 1sts marked the culmination of a magnificent season throughout which
The side can hold their heads high knowing that they are amongst the top four in the country
The team missed out on a place in final and there won’t be a play-off for 3rd and 4th, but the team can hold their heads high, knowing that they are amongst the top four in the country, having beaten the likes of Loughborough, Leeds and Nottingham 1st teams consistently throughout the season to claim 3rd in the Premier Northern league. Northumbria will battle Leeds Beckett in the final.
Newcastle overcame both Leicester and Exeter 1st teams in the quarter-finals and semi-finals
day on 27th of March in the final battle for the
FENCING
M3 v Hull 1sts M4 v Bradford 1sts
BUCS RESULTS
BADMINTON
M1 v Durham 2nds M2 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds W2 v Durham 3rds
BASKETBALL
M2 v Hull 1sts M3 v Sheffield 2nds
FOOTBALL
M3 v York St John 8ths W2 v Leeds Beckett 3rds
HOCKEY
7-1 8-0 8-0
M2 v Leeds 4ths M3 v Teeside 1sts M4 v Hull 2nds W2 v Leeds 3rds W3 v York 1sts W4 v Hull 2nds
LACROSSE
74-64 82-61
M2 v York 2nds W1 v Leeds Beckett 1sts W3 v Hull 1sts
84-135 86-109 0-3 1-4 9-0 5-0 5-2 1-1 1-0 5-2 3-7 14-2 21-4
11
W
D
L
GD
Pts
1 Newcastle 3rds
8
1
1
22
25
2 York 1st
7
0
3
11
21
3 Sheffield Hallam 2nd
4
3
3
2
15
4 Sheffield 3rd
4
1
5
-8
13
5 Hull 1st
4
1
5
15
10
6 Teeside 1sts
0
0
10
-42
0
tries that Newcastle scored against Leeds Trinity to remain unbeaten this season
Newcastle rugby men’s 5th team have remained unbeaten. In the final match at Novocastrians RFC, longbenton, the Newcastle 5ths who are coached by Gareth Bowden managed 11 tries and 7 conversions against Trinity’s one of each. With 6 wins and single draw against Leeds 4ths back in February, the 5ths will slide straight up and out of the Northern 5B league of eight teams.
NETBALL
W2 v York St John 1sts W3 v Durham 3rds W4 v Leeds Beckett 4ths
RUGBY LEAGUE
M1 v Northumbira 1sts
RUGBY UNION
M5 v Leeds Trinity 1sts W2 v Bradford 1sts
SQUASH
M2 v Exeter 1sts M3 v Sheffield 3rds W2 V Sheffield Hallam 1sts W3 v Sheffield 2nds
73-26 41-45 46-36
Men’s Rugby 5s remained unbeaten this season Image: Facebook
TENNIS
M1 v Leeds 1sts M2 v Sheffield 2nds W2 v Durham 4ths
8-4 8-4
0-92
OVERALL BUCS POSITION
69-7 71-0
Pos
University
8
Birmingham
2467.5
9
Newcastle ■
2116.2
10
N’ham Trent
1885.5
11
Northumbria
1872.3
5-0 3-0 2-2 0-4
Pts
WATERPOLO
M2 v Lancaster 1sts W2 v MMU 1sts
9-19 2-23
SURF FORECAST Tynemouth Longsands
As a key courier contributor I am honoured to bring the surf forecast to you this week. To be honest, surfing is my second biggest passion after emailing the courier. Anyway; the surf looks great on Monday so as soon as you’ve finished reading the courier, come join me down Tynemouth. The rest of the days don’t look so good so you’ll have to think of something else to do. I’ll keep in touch! Matt Smith x
sport the courier
Monday 18 March 2019 Issue 1387 Free
@Courier_Sport courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/sport Sport Editors Rebecca Johnson, Harry Parsons, Sydney Isaacs, Jack Smillie, Rory Ewart Online Editor Tom Hardwick
Net result of fifth place in BUCS league WOMEN’S Netball
Newcastle 3rds 41 Durham 3rds 45
Louise Mills at Sport Central Wednesday evening saw the final matches of the season for Newcastle University Netball Club’s 2s, 3s and 4s, and I was lucky enough to watch the last match of the day: Newcastle 3s vs Durham 3s. I am no stranger to Netball, having played it throughout school and now for an intramural team, but I have never played to the level of those on the University teams and I was excited to watch a match. The high level of play I had anticipated was certainly evident on Wednesday evening.
5
The goal lead which Newcastle had after the first quarter against Durham
Unfortunately missing the first quarter, I joined the game at the end of the first quarter and the score was already 14-9, a positive start. The second quarter began with an impressive three goals in a row by Newcastle’s GS, Ellis Swift. Play was moving fast, and soon the score was 19-11. Passes were confident but smooth throughout, and it was evident that this was a tight-knit team. Newcastle’s GD, Jane Phiri, was doing an excellent job at finding space, and made a number of spectacular defensive saves. Unfortunately a clash between Newcastle’s WA Amy Bower and Durham’s WD required a substitute, bringing on Rachel Taylor, momentarily stopping the clock (and it failing to re-start), though the game was soon back in full swing.
At half time it was still anyone’s game and the start of the third quarter was met from loud cheers from a majority Newcastle crowd
By half-time the score was 23-23. It was still anyone’s game, and the start of the third quarter was met with loud cheers from the crowd (unsurprisingly slightly Newcastle dominated). This quarter again began with three goals bouncing off the previous, for Durham, then Newcastle, and back to Durham. Newcastle was doing an excellent job at finding space and the ball was travelling from one end of the court to the other at an impressive speed. Newcastle’s Swift and GA, Lauren Wainwright both proved reliable shooters, and the team worked hard to get the ball to
them to ensure the goals. However, while the Newcastle team had skillful shooters, unfortunately so did the Durham team, and the third quarter finished at another nail-biting draw of 32-32. The fourth and final quarter began with everything still to play for. A couple of heated clashes for the ball demonstrated again the competitiveness of both teams, which I imagine was certainly intensified by the local derby element of the match. It was not long before the goals started, with Durham taking the lead. Newcastle slipped behind to trail 34-37, though accuracy from both Swift and Wainwright brought the team back to a 39-
39 draw, greeted by massive cheers from the crowd.
While this may have perhaps been their last match of the season, I wish the Newcastle 3s all the very best
All of the Newcastle team were giving ab-
solutely everything; there was calling for the ball, finding space where there was none and all the while encouragement for their teammates. The team spirit was definitely evident when Newcastle’s Phiri (GD) was substituted, and a received a massive cheer from both her team-mates and the crowd. Enthusiasm and energy remained high throughout the final quarter, and the level of play never went below outstanding, however unfortunately the game ended with a final score of 41-45. Newcastle was rewarded with cheers from the crowd, and despite some heated moments during the game, all players from both
teams shook hands and congratulated the other. This was a fast-paced, dynamic and exciting game to watch; I was certainly very impressed at the standard of Netball I saw, and the team should all be very proud of themselves. While this may have perhaps been their last match of the season, I wish the Newcastle 3s and the other teams all the very best for the future, and I would encourage anyone with an interest in Netball to go and watch a game if you have the chance. You won’t be disappointed.
Inside Sport today >>>
FORMULA HYBRID?
New proposals announced for F1 next season Page 40
FAN TROUBLES Footballer Jack Grealish attacked by rival supporter Page 41
BRIDGE DRAMA Bridge player receives one-year ban for doping Page 41