Courier 1396

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Arts In conversation with BGT’s winning comedian The Lost Voice Guy Page 28

Beauty We say “shantay, you stay” to Drag Race UK Page 17

Monday 4 November 2019 Issue 1396 Free

Film Are sequels always worse than the original?

Page 27 Est 1948

The independent voice of Newcastle students

Students asked for family death certificate as PEC form evidence Molly Greeves Deputy Editor

It has been revealed that students have been asked to supply death certificates as evidencefor PEC (Personal Extenuating Circumstances) forms.

The PEC system allows students to receive deadline extensions or authorise absences from lectures and seminars. The University’s PEC guidance states: “Variations to the normal progression and assessment pattern are therefore only approved for good reasons.

Good reasons are normally those associated with exceptional, unexpected and serious medical problems, personal problems or disabilities/long term illnesses etc. Rules are not entirely prescriptive, and each case is taken on its merits.”

The guide specifies the University’s bereavement policy, stating that “your statement of impact on yourself will suffice as evidence of bereavement.” However, while the guide states that students only need to provide a copy of a death certificate “if [they]

wish”, many students are claiming that they were specifically asked for them.

One anonymous Newcastle University student told the Courier: “My assignment preparation at the end of last year was disrupted by the sudden illness and death of a close family member. I met my personal tutor to explain why I wasn’t attending all my lectures (due to frequent hospital visits as her health rapidly declined). Despite being visibly upset, I was offered no support or reassurance and instead was bluntly told to fill out a PEC form detailing her illness.

“My PEC form was initially declined until I provided a death certificate”

An anonymous Newcastle University student

“When she died two weeks later, I was told I had to fill out another form updating the

University on the situation in order to get an assignment extension. This PEC form was initially declined and was not approved until I provided both a death certificate and funeral order of service. I had to ring my mum, who had just lost her mum, to ask her to go through the process of getting the documents. I felt extremely uncomfortable with the University seeing the exact details, including hymns and speeches from relatives, of a personal family service. I was shocked by the lack of sympathy I was shown and felt completely alone in my struggling during the times I was at University.”

It appears that this was not an isolated incident; another student shared that: “When my close family member died, I was asked to supply either a death certificate, the order of service from the funeral or an obituary notice in order to get an essay extension.

At this point, I was so stressed from the entire PEC process and lack of help from the University in general that I supplied a death certificate, but I felt awful about it.

“I feel like, as adults, the University should

trust us enough to not lie about these things.

Grieving is hard enough without having to go through this uncomfortable process.”

Another anonymous student had shared that “the University required a death certificate” for them to be able to “travel to lay [their] grandfather’s ashes”.

“It put a huge amount of stress on both my family and myself at an already stressful and emotional time. I was also told there would be no academic consideration for my results in the conditions of my PEC.” Last month, the Guardian found that out of 21 universities that responded to a freedom of information request, only an estimated 20% had consistent intervention policies in place to help students in need. This provoked conversation around whether universities are doing enough to help students who are struggling.

The Courier sent a Freedom of Information request to the University on 29 September asking how many students had been asked to supply death certificates as PEC form evidence over the last three years, however the

University is yet to respond.

A Newcastle University spokesperson said: “We understand that this can be a distressing time for a student and difficult for them to articulate the impact on their studies, so in the event of the loss of an immediate family member, they should inform their school as soon as possible by providing information such as their relationship to the deceased, the timing of the death and how much study time was lost. Death certificates are not required for PEC submission forms, however a student may wish to include a copy of a death certificate or other notice of bereavement, if available.

“We would encourage any student needing support during a time of bereavement to see the Student Health and Wellbeing Service.”

Charlotte Boulton, a postgraduate student who ran to be the Students’ Union Welfare and Equality Officer last year, had “sensitivity towards bereaved students” as one of her manifesto points. You can read her comment piece on page seven.

Grace Dean Editor

UCU ballot results revealed

University and College Union (UCU) members have shown support for strike action in ballots over pensions and pay and working conditions.

Of those who voted, 79% backed strike action in the ballot over changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS); this change in pension policy could bring industrial actions to 43 university and college campuses. This includes Newcastle, where 56.75% of UCU members voted, of which 77.78% voted in favour of industrial action including a strike. This was considerably higher than the national turnout for the ballot, which was 49%. At Newcastle, 86.38% voted in favour of industrial action short of strike action, including a marking and assessment boycott.

Meanwhile, 74% backed strike actions in the ballot on pay, casualisation, equality and workloads, which could cause strikes at 56 UK institutions, also including Newcastle.

This saw a 57.09% voter turnout at Newcastle, of which 84.54% voted “yes” to the question: “are you prepared to take industrial action consisting of strike action?”

The UCU said that this support for strikes is symptomatic of serious issues in the higher education sector, and that, if universities do not adequately respond to these problems then strike action would be unavoidable.

In spring 2018, campuses across the country, including Newcastle University, faced never seen before levels of strike action.

Image: Nick Efford (2016)

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thecourier Editor Grace Dean Deputy Editor Molly Greeves Online Editor Tom Hardwick

Current Affairs

News 3 courier.news@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Aimee Seddon, Carl Smith Valdez, Em Richardson, Emma McLaren & Sophie Wilson Comment 8 courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Aastha Malik, Joe Molander & Kelly Corcoran

Life & Style

Life & Style Editor: Nimra Rafique Lifestyle 11 c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Catherine Entwistle, Cecilia Adamou, Holly Margerrison & Jess Herbert Fashion 14 c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Kajal Patel, Phoebe Eyles & Shamara Mohsin Beauty 17 courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Ellie James & Rashida Campbell-Allen Travel 18 courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amy Harris, Beth Robson & Meggie Williams Food 21 editor.union@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amanda Goh & Cayla Viner

Culture

Culture Editors: Charlotte Boulton & Ella Williams Music 22 c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Dom Lee, Jagoda Waszkowiak & Joe Smith Television 24 c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amy Brown, Sophie Hicks & William Junior Film 26 c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Elisabetta Pulcini, Joe Holloran, Lucy Lillystone & Steven Ross Arts 28 c2.arts@­ncl.ac.uk Editors: Caitlin Rawlings, Charlotte Slinger & Lauren Sneath Gaming 30 courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Alex Darbyshire, George Boatfield, James Troughton & Shawn Khoo Science 32 c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Eleanor Gratton, Patrick Harland & Seshadhri Subramanian

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editor.union@ncl.ac.uk Editor: Emma Dawson

Head of Sport: Rebecca Johnson courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Rory Ewart, Stan Gilyead, Toby Bryant & Tom Moorcroft The Courier, NUSU, King’s Walk, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QB Tel: 0191 239 3940 Email: editor.union@ncl.ac.uk

The Courier is printed by: Trinity Mirror Printing, Barton Road, Riverside Park Industrial Estate, Middlesbrough, TS2 1UT 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.

A response to ‘University staff costs uncovered’

Dear Editor, We read your article in last week’s Courier (‘University staff costs uncovered’ 21 October) with interest. However, there are a few aspects which we feel ought to be highlighted, since your article risks misleading your readers over some of the issues around staff pay at Newcastle University. We would like to emphasise that students should not feel aggrieved towards staff as a result of the article, although we share your concerns about excessive pay at the top of the scale (see below).

The first aspect which caught our attention is that your article is based upon a report by the Taxpayers’ Alliance. It would have been helpful if you had indicated the political leanings of this particular organisation. They believe in free markets and in deregulation.

They are strongly opposed to public spending of almost any kind. They oppose even modest government regulation. Prior to the Thatcher era, their economic views would have been considered as on the extreme right.

We would argue that they still are.

Although nominally a ‘think-tank’ with frequent exposure on the BBC’s news coverage, the Taxpayers’ Alliance is not a research institution. It is more accurately a lobby group.

Their sources of funding are not fully disclosed, although we do know that among its funders are a number of wealthy individuals.

It is doubtful that those individuals have the best interests of students at heart.

With regard to the main claims in the article, your emphasis is largely upon the most highly paid staff at this university. We at UCU

Get involved in student media

Established in 1948, the Courier is the fully independent weekly student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University produced by students, for students.

Any Newcastle University student can write for the Courier and it’s never too late to get involved as a writer, illustrator or photographer. Whether you want to review a film, comment on worldwide issues or hold your university to account with some investigative journalism, there’s space in the Courier for everyone’s voice to be heard.

We hold our drop-in writers’ meetings on Wednesdays during termtime in the Planning Room of the Students’ Union from 1:30pm to 2:30pm, so come along to find out a bit more about us. Our next meetings are on 16 October and 23 October. Unable to attend the writers’ meetings? All our leftover articles get posted in our Facebook groups, so make sure you join them all; simply search ‘the Courier 2019/20’ and the name of the section you’re interested in.

For more information, visit thecourieronline.co.uk, or email editor.union@ncl. ac.uk or the relevant section email on the left-hand column of this page.

Newcastle Student Radio (NSR) is our award-winning radio station run by students, for students. On air since 1997, NSR runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week with shows ranging from music to comedy, politics, sport and news. We have a wide range of opportunities to learn the tricks of the radio trade, from hosting your own show to event organisation and live punditry, and you don’t need any experience to get involved. For more information visit the NSR Facebook page and listen live at nsrlive.co.uk.

NUTV is our high-action, fast-paced television branch. Founded in 2010, NUTV produces both on-demand and live broadcasts, covering current affairs, entertainment, music and sports, allowing students to experience the world of TV production. Have an idea for a brand new show? Make that show a reality. NUTV also helps bridge connections into the industry for anyone looking to pursue a media career. Whether you want to present on camera, direct and produce from behind the scenes, flex your editing muscles, or write and develop ideas, check out NUTV. For more information, email nutv. union@newcastle.ac.uk.

share this concern about excessive remuneration levels, especially in the echelons of senior management. You note that 159 members of staff earn more than £100,000 per year.

However, as you also note, Newcastle University employs 6,276 staff, which puts the raw figure of total staff costs in perspective (£281 million). Further, the majority of our staff do not – and never will – earn anything like £100,000 a year. This sum is beyond the earnings of many of our Professors, who are internationally-renowned experts. Our Readers, Senior Lecturers and Lecturers, as equally highly-skilled, hard-working and dedicated staff, are also nowhere near this salary level.

Beyond the academic staff, the University depends upon the work of support staff, professional services, administrators, catering staff and cleaners who keep the university running, many of whom are on fixed-term or casualised contracts without the benefits and security of permanent staff.

This issue of casualisation is a problem across the university sector in the UK. 46% of universities use zero-hours contracts for teaching. Universities rely on the hard work, expertise and dedication of Teaching Fellows and junior researchers, many of whom are employed on casualised contracts. You may not even be aware how many of your tutors are employed on such contracts. Further, 68% of research staff at UK universities are on fixed-term contracts. This is an issue which UCU continues to campaign on, and indeed it is the basis of our current ballot on pay, pensions, workload, casualization and equality.

Although the figure of £281 million is attention grabbing, university staff have seen their pay stagnate in real terms over the last decade. The economist Michael Otsuka has calculated that pay has declined by around 15.8% in real terms over this period. This is in conjunction with increased workload. One cause is the understandable increase in student expectations as a result of David Cameron’s Coalition trebling tuition fees in 2012.

Pay is also linked to pensions, which are deferred pay. Our employers have threatened to destroy our Defined Benefit scheme on the basis of a ‘deficit’ which is based upon deeply flawed modelling. This led to strike action last year. The dispute is ongoing as a result of our employers’ refusal to heed the advice of the Joint Expert Panel, who demonstrated that there was no need for any significant change to our pension scheme, despite continued claims by employers that it is unsustainable.

In short, we would like to state that the large salaries indicated in your article are not representative of staff across the university. Finally, we would like to stress the importance of solidarity between students and staff. Our efforts at improving working conditions are for the benefit of all of you, whether you go on to enter the workplace at a university, or in other sectors elsewhere.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Stephen Moonie Lecturer in Art History, and Newcastle UCU Branch Committee member On behalf of the Newcastle UCU Branch Committee

NSR Show of the Week

MIXTAPES WITH EMMA LINTON Wed 6-7pm

Mixtapes with Emma Linton puts together upbeat songs from different genres and backgrounds that will definitely help you get through the week. With a mix of new music, throwbacks and chat, Emma makes radio look like an easy job to do. During the show, she plays a “little game” called ‘Way Back When’, where after playing a song, she challenges listeners to guess what year it was released, accompanied by interesting information that links perfectly between songs.

This little game of trivia makes for a great way of engaging with the audience. From the Spice Girls to YUNGBLUD, Emma Linton sums up the highlights of music in just an hour. You’ll be able to listen to Mixtapes with Emma every Wednesday 6-7pm on NSR’s new website thisisnsr.co.uk.

Alex Gervás, NSR Head of News

From the archives Grace Dean looks through the archives to trace Newcastle’s campus history

TEN YEARS AGO

22 YEARS AGO

15 years after it closed its doors for good, the remains of the former Jesmond Picture House by West Jesmond Metro was finally demolished. The cinema first opened on 2 May 1921 with a screening of At the Mercy of Tiberius, and soon developed a legacy for screening “highbrow” cinema, with the main cinema-goers being the predominantly middle-class residents of West Jesmond. Despite the charm of the authentic old-fashioned exterior and interior, the Picture House sadly struggled to keep up with the emergence of chain cinema complexes, and unfortunately had to shut its doors. After 15 years as a derelict site, the building was ultimately demolished in 2009 surrounded by dozens of onlookers. The building was hoped to be replaced with a four-storey office block featuring shops and a restaurant underneath, which has since become mixed-use development The Jesmond and the beloved West Jesmond Sainsbury’s.

The introduction of a smartcard was first proposed by the University. Whereas students previously had to carry separate cards for the Union, the Library and the Sports Centre, the new card promised to combine all these into one, echoing developments at Exeter and York Universities.

The card’s proposed features included a picture of the user alongside “magnetic strips” to carry user information related to the Library, Sports Centre and computer service.

Then Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Archibald strongly supported the proposal, claiming that the cards would improve campus security by regulating the access to buildings, alongside providing ID for out-of-hours. Stan Henderson, Director of Estates, emphasised that there were at the time no plans to make the cards compulsory ID around campus, or use them to measure lecture attendance.

Then Students’ Union President Ben Sadler said that “it makes sense to have just one card instead of four or five”, but that the University and the Union would be “watching the developments closely and working with the University to ensure that the system isn’t developed to the extent that the University is ‘watching’ students”.

Mr Henderson concluded that a considerable monetary and time investment could be needed before all University building doors would be swipe-card protected.

Smartcard

That’s all, folks

14 YEARS AGO

£50 ain’t fine!

In what the Courier described as “an astonishing display of some of the most draconian measures lying in what for unsuspecting students”, a student was fined £30 for having an empty plastic water bottle in the Robinson Library computer cluster. The student was forcibly logged off the computer and told he was unable to use it until the fine was paid. He was then asked to hand over his smartcard, which he refused to do, and was consequently fined an additional £20 for this.

That week the Courier also revealed that the construction of Northern Stage was running well behind schedule. The £9m project, funded by the Arts Council, the City Council and the EU, was developed to upgrade the former 1970s building complete with its new name. Alongside the delay, further controversy arose as “students [were] yet to be guaranteed a place on the bill” despite the University contributing £210,000 towards the redevelopments. The previous theatre, known as the Playhouse, had weeks put aside for NUTS each year in its lease, which would not be the case for Northern Stage, leaving it down to student societies to themselves negotiate with the venue.

Jesmond Picture House Image: C. Argyropulopalmer, the Courier archives

17 YEARS AGO

Courier, crime, Coldplay and condoms

The Courier’s cover and back page this week were both dominated by the news that “COURIER GOES FREE”. Previously the paper had cost 25p and was available to purchase from the Students’ Union shop.

The Courier reported on a wave of crimes targeting Henderson Hall. Over a two week period, burglars struck ground-floor flats four times. Police investigations, however, revealed that there were no signs of forced entry, with the thieves coming in through open windows despite students being warned many times to close their bedroom windows.

That week the Courier also promoted an unusual vacancy for “randy” students. The article announced that “leading brand” Condomi was looking for condom testers who would be paid £100 a term to carry out “rigorous pleasure tests” on Condomi’s extensive product range and fill in a “pleasure control form”. The Condomi team said: “I don’t think we’ll have to look far for our new employees!”

That week also brought great offerings to the entertainment industry, with Donnie Darko heavily praised by the reviewer, while The Scientist by Coldplay was complimented for its “individual, relaxed and dreamlike” sound. The writer said: “the title of the single has no relevance to science as we know it, but as Martin says “it is about when you start analysing things too much and it doesn’t do you any good”. The lyrics are catchy and metaphorical, the line ‘Nobody said it was easy’ is repeated often and it really does get you thinking. Personally I’m glad that Coldplay haven’t changed in the slightest.”

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Monday 4 November 2019

@TheCourier_News courier.news@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/news News Editors Aimee Seddon, Carl Smith Valdez, Em Richardson, Emma McLaren & Sophie Wilson

University joins vision for ‘Healthy Ageing’ Joe Andrews

Newcastle University has joined with over 60 organisations in a shared vision for Healthy Ageing, an initiative created by the ‘Centre for Ageing Better’ and ‘Public Health England’ (PHE). By signing, the university is committed to achieving 5 key collaborative goals to make sure the people of Newcastle have the upmost life-satisfaction as they grow older.

A goal of the initiative is to challenge ageist language, culture and practices

Last week Newcastle University solidified its commitment to put ageing under the spotlight in order to make life satisfaction for everyone the best it can possibly be. The University shares the vision of ‘Healthy Ageing’ with other institutions such as the Department of Health & Social Care and NHS

England alongside other major health and housing bodies. There are 5 key principles to the vision: Prioritising prevention and public health, creating opportunities for people to contribute to society as they age, fostering accessible and inclusive homes and neighbourhoods so everyone can live where they want, narrowing inequalities in healthy ageing, and challenging ageist language, culture and practices.

These goals take fundamental steps toward tackling the fears surrounding ageing, which have been been expressed in YouGov’s recent survey commissioned by Ageing Better and Independent Age. The Survey found that two thirds of people between 40 and 60 believe that poor mental health is a consequence of ageist discrimination, and over 80% of the same group rated good mental health as very important in older age.

It is clear then, that these goals are necessary in order to increase citizen’s confidence that their institutions, including the University, will provide them with appropriate support and care as they mature into old age. It is believed that by tackling ageist issues such as appropriate language, we can remove discrimination in our place of learning. This will

increase the inclusivity of our communities and, it is suggested, increase the mental health of our elderly, something Newcastle University has committed to by signing this initiative.

Two thirds of people between 40 and 60 believe that poor mental health is a consequence of ageist discrimination

Our University is home to the Confucius institute, a building that pays tribute to the ancient East-Asian philosopher who famously emphasised mutual respect and love towards ones parents and the older generation. It is in this same fashion that the students, along with all members of the University’s large community, are encouraged to recognise these issues and unite in spreading the values upheld in this vision for Health Ageing, to create an environment of inclusivity and mutual respect for all, regardless of age.

The initiative aims to prevent ageism Image: Wikimedia Commons

Value of degrees halved over past 20 years Grace Dean Editor

The financial returns of a university degree decreased over the last 20 years Image: Newcastle University

Research has shown that the value of having a university degree has halved over the past 20 years.

The findings come from an analysis of the so-called “graduate premium”, which references how much more money university graduates earn on average than their counterparts who do not have a higher education qualification.

The study shows how this financial return from a university degree has decreased over the last 20 years, with graduates born in 1990 earning 11% more than non-graduates by the age of 26. Those born in 1970, however, earned on average 19% more than nongraduates. It is, however, argued that much of this was caused by the 2008-9 economic recession.

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, argued that this shows how “some degrees these days are ‘disqualifications’ rather than ‘qualifications’ for employment”.

“A degree in heavy metal music from Nottingham Trent University, for example, is likely to put off potential employers and close doors even in the rock music industry.

“The declining earning potential of graduates reflects the fact that many young people are being seduced on to useless degree courses that launches them on a pathway leading to debt, disappointment and, not infrequently despair.

“Nottingham Trent University may recently have re-named the Heavy Metal course but heavy metal is heavy metal by any other name and the certificate-carrying graduates are still down at the job centre.”

The study, however, claims that the findings are not necessarily indicative of a longterm trend, and further research into graduates born post-1990 will show whether this dip in the graduate premium will fall or not.

Tej Nathwani, an HESA econometrician, explained the importance of such findings: “Whilst the benefits of a degree are not solely financial, higher education remains a significant investment decision for young people.

“Consequently, graduate earnings continue to be an important area of research in higher education.”

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Closing the gender gap in the workplace

News Editor Sophie Wilson interviews alumni Anna Jones about her graduate success and the disparity of women at work As a Newcastle student, hearing about alumni who are now successful in their chosen business sector is so inspiring. It makes the hard work that we put into our degrees seem worth it. What made you choose International Business Management at Newcastle University specifically?

I chose Newcastle’s business school because it had a great reputation and International Business Management specifically because I wanted a degree that offered a wide spread of subjects under one umbrella. During my studies we covered everything from marketing theory to quantitative maths. My course also offered a year overseas, which meant I got to spend a year at a prestigious business school in France.

Being a very successful businesswoman, what would be your one piece of advice for students to achieve highly at university, whilst also not suffering from too much stress?

I think it’s important to think about how you learn best and when you are feeling most energetic about studying. I am a morning person and always have been. During my exam revision I decided to treat my days as if revision was a job. I got up early, went to the library, worked through the day and then finished around 6pm. I then did different activities in the evening to take my mind away from my studies and restore my energy levels.

Working and studying is not just about hours; it’s about productivity

I had friends who did the opposite, starting late in the afternoon and working late into the night. Working and studying is not just about hours; it’s about productivity.

Your decision to take a year abroad to France is one that many students do at the university. Do you have any advice for these students while they are abroad, for anything that they can do to make the most of their time?

If you can learn how to navigate different culture and approaches when you’re still a student, it will definitely give you a leg up

The business school I studied at in France had a very different culture to the one I was used to at Newcastle. The students were more like corporate citizens and were dressed accordingly, many of them even had brief cases!

At first this approach seemed quite alien, but I realised that they just saw their studies as a dress rehearsal for their careers. I learnt a lot about such a French approach to business and studying, and this was hugely helpful when some years later I got a job with a French company. It’s important to embrace differing cultures and approaches as most of us will work in international companies at some point in our careers and if you can learn how to navigate this when you’re still a student, it will definitely give you a leg up.

With many students undecided on what to do after university, it is helpful to know how successful alumni decided on their chosen career paths. What made you decide to enter the media sector?

During my course at Newcastle I was drawn to Marketing as a subject and media was a passion of mine from an early age. I even

wrote my dissertation on the media, so my plan was to work within marketing and once I had some experience to try to get a role in the media.

I saw media as a fast-moving industry and as someone who has always enjoyed moving quickly, it felt like a natural fit for me. I did a role in Communications and then in Product Management before getting into the media.

It’s important to recognise that there is rarely a linear path to get where you want to.

A lot of your work has focused on women.

With magazines like Cosmopolitan saying that they include “empowering careers advice” for women, how important is it that women’s magazines nowadays push females to believe that they can succeed in the world of business?

I have spent most of my career working on brands aimed at women. The impetus to Co-found AllBright came from my own experiences within the corporate sector but also from looking at the statistics. Still only one penny in the pound goes to back female cofounders and only one in six ‘C-suite’ roles are held by women.

Only one penny goes to back to female cofounders and only one in six ‘C-suite’ roles are held by women

Until we reach parity it’s important that women support and learn from each other.

We foster these connections via AllBright Connect, our digital platform that’s free for anyone to join. As well as the AllBright Academy that offers free online courses for those looking to boost their careers.

The project that you embarked upon, All-

Anna Jones Image: Newcastle University Press Officer

Bright, is also focused on women in work.

Do you think that women still experience large prejudices when looking for employment?

I think it is slowly getting better, but we still have a long way to go to reach parity on al-

Virtual 5K launched for Alumni Weekend Lorcan Flahive

The Newcastle University Alumni has launched a ‘Virtual 5K’ worldwide for the first time from 11th to 13th October.

The Virtual 5K was a part of the Newcastle University Alumni Weekend. It was intended to promote physical wellbeing from past graduates in a supportive environment. The weekend consisted of a mixture of discussion panels, lectures, theatre productions and so-

cials.

In ‘The Virtual 5k’, alumni from 23 different countries participated virtually regardless of their distance to Newcastle. The goal of five kilometres could be achieved in different ways from running, walking, swimming or cycling.

Participants were encouraged to post photographs and social media posts with the hashtag #NCL5K as evidence. Their time was also recorded through Strava, a website which provides a comprehensive leader board of the participants.

The Newcastle University Alumni team highlights that competitivity is not key to the event. Their post mentions: “The time doesn’t matter, you get to run at your own race, at your own pace, and be a part of something special.”

“You get to be a part of something special"

Newcastle University Alumni Team

The Newcastle University Alumni

team considers the event to be successful. In a post after the weekend, they have said: “It was AMAZING to see you all be part of Newcastle University Alumni Weekend 2019 on an international scale. Whether you came along to one of our events or took part in our international virtual 5K; we have thoroughly enjoyed it, hope you did too! We will see you next year.”

One of the participants, Kevin Sadler firmly believes events such as this is beneficial for alumni around the world.

He had graduated in 1991, with a degree of Geophysics and Planetary Physics.

“The Virtual 5k is a great idea to connect the students past and present all around the world”

Kevin Sadler, BSc Geophysics and Planetary Physics, 1991

The Virtual 5K event had alumni participants from 23 different countries worldwide.

Image: Newcastle University Alumni

According to Sadler: “The Virtual 5k is a great idea to connect the students past and present all around the world.

As a lone runner it’s very encouraging to see and hear of others taking part.

"For me, as well as the encouragement, it helps to retain a connection with a place that was a very important part of my life.”

"The first I had heard of the alumni event was after the event had taken place so I feel that the advertising for it wasnt enough"

most any metric! Understanding that diverse executive teams and Boards deliver better business results is a start but we also need action and that means from both women and also enlightened men. We only make change happen if we work together.

Operation Ouch:

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Art installation in the Arches Holly Margerrison

The recent sound installation in the Armstrong Arches has now gone, as The Walking Festival of Sound ends.

The transdisciplinary exhibition, The Art of Field Recording, was located in the Arches as part of the festival, from the 10-14 October.

The event explored the idea of listening to our everyday surroundings, by combining a number of walking performances and walking seminars.

The unique sound space of the Arches played host to multi-channel audio works

from artists and researchers working in and outside of the University.

One of the recordings, titled Jarrow Slake, was by Digital Media Lecturer Tim Shaw.

He organised the events, which were funded

by Newcastle University Centre for Creative Arts.

Tim has done several similar exhibitions nationally and internationally, but this year saw the opening of the Arches as a new listening space.

Jarrow Slake focused on a small stretch of reclaimed land situated on the River Don. This industrial site hosts an incongruous mixture of a Nissan car storage facility, and a

thriving wildlife community.

Researchers used underwater microphones to capture some of the complex sounds that exist below the surface of the river. The river’s large mud bank is home to many underwater creatures, which reveal themselves at low tide.

The recording was unprocessed, and was made in one take, with minimal top and tail editing.

The Creative Arts at Newcastle University Twitter account acknowledged the festival and gave praise to the artists: ‘Congratulations to @Tim4Shaw and his collaborators on the delivery of the 2019 Walking Festival of Sound’.

The Arches exhibition received positive praise on Twitter. ‘@UniofNewcastle Under the arches tonight listening to amazing soundtrack of Walking Festival of Sound.

So unexpected. So beautiful,’ tweeted Helen Stringer.

Other events for The Walking Festival of Sounds included Begin to Hear, Ambulation, The Road to the Holy City, Instructions for Walking Women, Dog Leap Stairs, Still Walking, Walking Festival of Sound RecordA-Thon and Recording the Ear. You can find similar events on the Newcastle University Centre for Creative Arts website.

The art installation was situated in the Armstrong Arches Image: Wikimedia Commons

news iNCLude app launch Phoebe Hurst

Newcastle University have introduced a new, free wellbeing app: iNCLude, designed to help students take steps to help improve their mental wellbeing.

The app encourages students to make changes in five key aspects of their lives.

It encourages students to keep learning new skills, give back to others, connect with other people, be active and to take notice of their healthy habits. Users are encouraged to complete two small habits per day in order to improve wellbeing. These habits range from doing one push-up, to going out for coffee with a friend. The variety of habits available accommodates busy schedules and aims to appeal to an array of interests.

Within the app, there is also access to financial advice services support, such as booking into assessment appointments or support groups, and a news feed, which shares articles on how to support yourself and loved ones. The app also has help available for anyone in a crisis, or who is struggling with breathing control, and tools to help you stay in the present.

Newcastle University said: “The app has been designed with specialists, using evidence-based methodology and looks at how to maximise your experience at University by creating positive habits to ensure you’re focusing on more than just your academic studies.”

In a time when student mental health is taking a downward turn, and more and more students are suffering with mental health problems, this app ensures every student has access to wellbeing and mental health support. There is no waiting list for the app, meaning students have access to support as and when they need it.

: Newcastle PhD student brings slime to CBBC #SaferPartying campaign relaunched in Jesmond Eleanor Winchester

Cassie and Xand sourced mucus from hagfish Image: Newcastle University Press Office

Humans produce 1.5 litres of mucus a day, and according to Newcastle PhD Student Cassie Bakshani and her team, its bacteria trapping capabilities mean it could be used in future healthcare. CBBC show Operation Ouch visited Cassie to find out more.

Operation Ouch follows Dr Chris and Dr Xand in their exploration of biology and medicine. In episode six of series eight, Dr Xand meets Newcastle Postgrad Cassie Bakshani to discuss all things slime. Filming took place in the summer, aboard the university’s boat, RV Princess Royal, as well as in Cassie’s lab.

PhD student Cassie Bakshani and her team study slime and conduct research into the protective properties it possesses. In this episode, Bakshani informs Xand that Hagfish were the first organism to produce slime.

Hagfish are an eel-shaped marine fish, and in this slime-centred feature Xand and Bakshani collect samples to investigate. The hagfish are then returned back to their habitat in the sea, so they are left unharmed after the sampling.

It is said how humans and hagfish use mucus and slime as a protection mechanism.

One of the main properties of mucus, which is produced everyday by the human body, is trapping bacteria, and hagfish use their slime to protect themselves from predators.

The feature discusses exciting possibilities for infection treatment in hospitals. Cassie tells us that despite the protective properties that mucus holds, some bacteria can still manage to move through it. In her interview with Xand, Bakshani reveals that the longterm goal of the team’s research into slime is to combat this and “produce a synthetic mucus to help treat infection in hospitals.”

Megan Butterfield

A student property in Jesmond has received legal notices following a ‘dangerous’ house party.

The party, hosted earlier this month, saw around 100 students locking themselves into the property. This led to the emergency services being called following concerns for the safety of those inside. Police officers had to force entry in order to bring the party to an end, due to hostile behaviour and a lack of cooperation from attendees. Once inside, police officers received verbal abuse and found that the address was at great risk of a potential fire, as smoke detectors had been covered up, along with windows and doors being blocked off.

Police have been called to numerous house parties in Jesmond

Whilst revisiting the property to issue legal notices, officers from Newcastle City Council and Northumbria Police found over 200 nitrous oxide cannisters, as well as a considerable quantity of cannabis. Since September, police have been called to numerous house parties in Jesmond, the largest of which had around 150 students in attendance.

The recurrence of large parties in the Jesmond area has resulted in the relaunching of

the #SaferPartying campaign, in an effort to educate students on the risks associated with hosting large house parties, and prevent a resurgence of such events. Following its initial launch in 2017, the digital campaign caused an 88% decrease in call-outs to house parties within Newcastle, saving the council and emergency services thousands of pounds.

The campaign led to 88% decreasein police call-outs to house parties

Cllr Nick Kemp, Newcastle City Council cabinet member for Environment and Regulatory Services, argued that parties occurring in residential areas are ‘selfish’, and ‘disregard the safety of all involved’. He went on to claim that such parties are ‘extremely dangerous’ and ‘put everyone in attendance… at serious risk’ leading to ‘real and significant anti-social behaviour’. Sergeant Tony Davis, a member of the Northumbria Police Force, reiterated these points, encouraging students to ‘drink safely and responsibly, while being mindful of others who are living in the vicinity’. The #SaferPartying campaign has also received support from Vashti Hutton, Head of Student Progress at Northumbria University, who ‘welcomed the resumption of this campaign’.

It is hoped that this campaign will again succeed in raising awareness of the risks of house parties, and highlighting the dangers that parties pose for the hosts themselves, their friends and those in the surrounding area.

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news Fair paid, Newcastle: New Policies for Jobs on Campus 6

Monday 04 November 2019

Gabriela Więckowska Improvements to Student Employment on Campus policies and processes have been introduced this year, affecting all student employees and making working on campus more attractive than ever.

Restrictions on Tier 4 visa holders have been lifted, ensuring all students have an equiatable experience

The most significant change, affecting all undergraduate and postgraduate international students, is the lifting of last year’s restrictions regarding Tier 4 visa status, which meant that Tier 4 (general) visa holders had extra restrictions placed on them. Since the new Student Employment on Campus Policy launched at the end of July, all students have the same working opportunities regardless of their visa status. This will significantly improve equality between the UK and International students, ensuring all students will have

an equitable experience.

Another development is the switch to a paperless system. Previously, student workers had to sign off paper forms regarding their work assignments and worked hours.

However this year the University has introduced the My Working Hours app – an online portal that can be accessed from desktop and mobile devices. The app provides an easy way to track all work assignments, and submit work hours for approval, before being sent to the Payroll department to be paid to the student worker.

There has also been improvements to pay this year. Newcastle University is now a Real Living Wage employer, so new pay rates have been introduced for student jobs, approved by the University’s Executive Board. Real Living Wage is an hourly rate introduced by the Living Wage Foundation and is calculated by taking into account real costs of living. It is paid voluntarily by employers who believe

My Working Hours app offers an easy way to track work assignments

that their employees deserve fair payment for their hard work. The proposed rate is £9 per hour outside London, regardless of the worker’s age; this is higher than the National Living Wage which is currently £8.21 per hour for people aged 25 years or more. Newcastle University has now adopted the Real Living Wage and so the starting pay level for student roles is £10.09 per hour (including 12.07 % holiday pay) which increases for higher levels of work.

Students will now be paid a Real Living Range, starting from £10.09 an hour

The new policy also ensures that no one can be asked to work, or expected to work, for free anywhere on campus.

Newcastle’s Students Union was involved through the whole process, acting as a voice for student interest when discussing new policies with the University.

Questions about working on campus and registering as a student worker should be directed to recruitment@ncl.ac.uk.

Newcastle University Campus Image: Newcastle University Press Office

(Not so) bog standard, (not so)Bigg Sam Fender to turn gin bar opening in unused toilets on Christmas lights Alex Downing

The unused toilets in High Bridge Image: WC Newcastle Ltd via Newcastle City Council planning portal

Swetha Vasan The dilapidated Victorian female toilets in High bridge, Bigg Market, are set to be transformed into the smallest gin bar in the UK by Easter 2020.

WC Newcastle, the company behind the plan, said the proposed venue will be an "intimately designed and atmospherically lit subterranean bar, in keeping with the Victorian heritage, but fused with a modern outlook and feel".

The gin bar will seat only 15 people and offer 40 varieties of gin and tonic The toilets, situated next to Kal-

tur Restaurant on the cobbled High bridge street, were put up for auction in 2016. The venue measures up to 11 square metres inside According to the proposed plan, ‘The gin closet’ should seat no more than 15 people and is expected to offer more than 40 varieties of gin and tonics.

“Our gin closet will snatch ‘the smallest gin bar’ tag from Tin of Sardines in Durham to become a landmark in the UK,” says Steve Blair, the director of WC construction company. Currently the Durham venue can hold only 16 customers.

Following the success of his plan to convert the male toilets in Bigg market into a wine bar, Steve came up with the idea of renovating the female toilets as well.

This is part of the Bigg Market redevelopment plan which aims to increase investments, pro-

This year, the start of Newcastle’s Christmas celebrations will be marked by the turning on of the Christmas lights by Geordie musician Sam Fender, just two months after the release of his debut album Hypersonic Missiles.

The annual lights turn on will occur on Thursday 7 November, with Sam Fender pushing the button to illuminate over 230,000 individual lights at 6:30pm. The event itself, hosted by Metro Radio’s Steve and Karen, will start at 5:30pm.

There will also be a performance from Johnny ‘Blue Hat’ Davis, Fender’s saxophonist, and entertainment in the form of Christmas sing-alongs, appearances from Moodbay and Khalysis, and a festive panto production from the cast of Aladdin at the Tyne Theatre.

Having only released his debut EP, Dead Boys, a year ago, Fender’s rise to the top of

the charts has been astonishingly fast. His debut album went straight to number one in the charts in September, and he won the Critic’s Choice BRIT Award in February.

Fender will next be seen in Newcastle when he plays a gig here in April 2020.

Fender won the Critic's Choice Brit Award in February

The Cabinet Member for Employment and Culture, Ged Bell, said ‘This Christmas in Newcastle is set to be the biggest ever, and the lights switch on is the best place to be to start the Christmas countdown’.

David Cook, Lord Mayor of Newcastle, remarked that ‘the annual Christmas lights switch on in Newcastle is known to many as the official start of the festive season in the city, and it always provides a night of great fun for people of all ages, and this year will be no different.’

vide more jobs and transform the city centre into a cultural hub.

“The idea is to come up with a bar that provides a wholesome experience,” says Steve.

“We will have gin tastings and history sessions for those interested in knowing about the origin.”

These 18th century toilets have remained unused for over six years since the 2012 council budget cuts. Still in the approval process, Steve estimates three months for the construction work after it receives a green signal from the City council.

The toilets have been unused since 2012 and date back to the 18th century

Third year Media student Carl Smith Valdex said: "I think it's a great idea! Having the smallest gin bar in the country is a quirky thing to claim. And it makes it even better to know we're taking the title off Durham!"

Sam Fender is a Geordie actor and singer-songwriter Image: @sam_fender on Instagram

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campus comment

Got an opinion on this week's news? Students share their thoughts on the city and university on the brand new campus comment page

Time to close the blinds on Fenwick's Xmas window Rebecca Johnson

want to queue, they instead loiter around the window to get a quick glance. Christmas crowds are frustrating at the best of times never mind Christmas window crowds.

2019 is drawing to a close, which means that it’s time to don your hats, scarves and voting slips for that potential December election.

It also means the return of one of the most overhyped and underwhelming parts of Christmas. Nope it’s not the annual prospect of a white Christmas, but the unveiling of the Fenwick’s Christmas window.

As a Christmas lover, the Fenwick window is too much for me

Like everything as you get older, the Fenwick window has turned to shit

As a youngster pottering around town with my parents, the prospect of the Fenwick Christmas window was exciting. It wasn’t a ginormous affair, instead a humble window display you’d mooch along and peer at, before promptly forgetting it existed and turning your interests elsewhere.

Like everything else when you get older, the Fenwick window has turned shit. No longer is the window this humble little display, no it’s far worse. The window has a “build-up” which starts a couple of hours until the “official unveiling”, where families and Christmas window enthusiasts are encouraged to stand in the November cold and get hyped for whatever wonderful winter display Fenwick

Images: Paddington Bear Instagram, Wikimedia Commons, Goodfreephotos, Public Domain Pictures, Flickr

have decided to shove at us this year.

Even after the “unveiling” the window causes all sorts of bother. You can’t have a

wander down Northumberland Street without getting caught up around the area outside of Fenwick because the Geordie people like

To Recap or not to Recap?

Imogen Davies

The lecture capture system, ReCap, is popular among Russell Group universities. Here, at Newcastle, ReCap is provided across the majority of lectures, though (and perhaps controversially) staff have the option to cancel recordings at their discretion. This ‘opt-out’ policy is the source of much debate.

At first glance, ReCap is immensely useful. An amazing revision tool and especially for auditory learners, it can be used at any time and any place. Recap is also a lifeline for students with disabilities, chronic illnesses and mental health issues that prevent consistent attendance, allowing students to catch up on any content they may have missed. In fact, in a recent

study, 85% of students with disabilities use the system frequently as a revision resource.

Keeping this in mind, the fact that lecturers can pull the plug on Recap recordings without any notice appears unfair on those who can’t attend for genuine reasons or struggle to maintain the high levels of concentration required for long days on campus. After all, life is messy. You never know what it might throw at you.

Despite this, we all seem to know someone who sacks off their lectures for an extra hour in bed. In my opinion, the people who

Images: Pixabay

take advantage of ReCap do merit concerns about overall lecture attendance. This trivial use of lecture recordings can be interpreted as a slight or disrespect to lecturers whose job it is to be there in person to provide the course content. Additionally, ReCap’s use raises issues surrounding intellectual property rights.

As at the end of the day, the study material does belong to your lecturer.

With only 67% of the students surveyed satisfied with ReCap, there is definitely more to be done to improve the service. Occasionally, there are no recordings provided during crucial weeks and sometimes the recordings have poor quality audio.

Ultimately, ReCap should be considered a necessity for those who strongly rely on it and a complementary tool for those who might not.

all good Brits are bloody queuing up to look at the window. It’s unprecedented nonsense.

Then there’s those sneaky bastards, who don’t

The maddest thing about this window is that it’s been running for over forty years. Recent windows include Alice in Wonderland and Paddington, which was a pretty wild one too. Last year’s was the story of the Snowman, a staple of Christmas viewing/reading.

Call me a Scrooge, but the last thing I want to be reminded of is the ending of that oneit’s pretty cutting than seeing the lad sobbing over his melted magic friend whilst you’re on your way for a Greggs.

As a Christmas lover, the Fenwick window is too much for me. Let’s get back to Christmas basics, Fenwick, have your window, but let’s not have a DJ set opening it up, and let’s scrap the window queues. It’s a little bit daft.

How do you feel about Fenwick's new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory window? Are you a festive fanatic or a grumpy Grinch?

Tweet us at @courieronline and let us know your opinions.

Is PEC a pain in the neck?

Charlotte Boulton For any student who has ever faced the daunting task of submitting a PEC form (Personal Extenuating Circumstances form) when they're unwell or experiencing a challenging time in their personal life, they will know just how stressful and confusing the whole process is.

Often, the very thought of submitting a PEC form is a huge source of stress and upset in itself, making the issue even worse and creating a horrible cycle of you feeling bad enough to need a PEC but not sure if your 'evidence' will be enough to convince your school that you need the extension, extra time or whatever provision necessary.

Losing someone close to you is a horrific experience in itself, and you would hope that your university (that you pay huge sums of money to attend and consider your welfare) would help make the grieving process as stress-free as they can.

However, the trend of the university asking for 'evidence' when a student requests time off or extensions due to a death of a family member or friend proves how little the university actually cares.

The official university policy is now that students do not have to send in evidence, but are "advised to obtain independent evidence" such as supporting statements from tutors; that's still a difficult request, asking students to share details of their personal situations and grief to a member of staff to then just be used to prove they're not lying. Worse still, is the suggestion that the PEC application will be "helped" if the student can provide information about factors like relationship to the person who died, how much study time was lost and even "the location of the funeral". I find it appalling that students are asked to share

personal details to appease staff who somehow expect grieving people to be coherent and in the right frame of mind to be compling detailed documents of evidence of an awful sad event that recently happened.

I have spoken to multiple people, from across various schools within Newcastle, who have shared their stories with me about being told to submit death certificates, funeral notices and supporting letters from grieving family members to prove that they needed the time off or extra provisions. This policy is obviously not being adhered to, or is expecting students to provide ridiculous amounts of really sensitive information whilst in the middle of their bereavement.

Students are expected to provide ridiculous amounts of personal information

Whatever the university's 'official statement' is, I truly do not believe that is what really happens to students who need PEC forms after losing someone. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to ask a parent, family member or friend to give you a death certificate, potentially only days after the death, just to appease your university bureaucracy. If the university thinks that people are going to lie about someone dying just to get out of an exam or get an extension because they've just not bothered to do the essay...let people have that on their conscience. If people genuinely do lie about this, that's on them to recognise what a horrible action that is. The university should be helping the majority of students who just want a crumb of welfare and to feel like their university sees them as more than just a lying £27k.

comment Extension-ating circumstances: is the courier

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another Brexit delay a good idea?

Grace Piercy and Sesha Subramanian debate the decision made between the UK and the EU to delay Brexit until 31 January

Grace Piercy

Whilst the process of Brexit seems neverending, an eternal Brexit is infinitely preferable to crashing out of the EU with no deal. Having yet another extension to our leave, whilst tedious, ensures that we at least know what’s ahead.

We shouldn’t have to soldier through. We shouldn’t have to panic.

We are not at war, and we should not have to act like we are

People are panicking, stockpiling their prescriptions and buying fruit in cans, lest a no-deal scenario makes attaining them more expensive or difficult. People shouldn’t have to fear that happening, and I’m sick of Brexiteers claiming that we “just need to have the Blitz spirit”. We shouldn’t have to soldier through. We shouldn’t have to panic. We are not at war, and we should not have to act like we are.

Considering the referendum that chose this course of action was based on vague and idealistic lies, we should be taking as long as possible to get

an informed deal that actually works for everyone, especially if we won’t be having another referendum. That the EU are being a bit difficult makes total sense to me: we don’t know what we want, and yet we’re making demands?

We all want it to be over, of course we do.

Brexit has dragged its proverbial heels for three long years.

But just because we are bored, we should not wish it finished.

Think of it like an essay: if you just submit it because it is too dull to spend more time on, you haven’t done the work properly. Instead, you have pushed it to be done before it was ready, and likely done it Image: Needpix poorly.

Sesha Subramanian

There has been yet another day and yet another time where the Brexit date has been postponed by a few more months. Just when you think the world’s longest running soap opera not on television is about to end, the people in charge add a plot twist.

This latest extension sees the date being extended all the way to 31 January, with a general election on 12 December all but certain. While the situation is still quite muddled and nobody is really sure what’s going to come out of it, one thing is quite clear: no amount of exten-

sions are going to do any good. At some point, a line has to be drawn, and we have to say (for lack of a better phrase) that Brexit means Brexit. With or without a deal, Brexit should mean that Britain gets out of Europe.

Leaving without a deal makes clear the position of both sides, allowing for compromises to be reached faster

Leaving without a deal may be detrimental in the short term, but at least it will make clear the positions of both sides, and both the UK and the EU can start to negotiate separate deals and agreements, on various issues. This helps eliminate ambiguity about one another’s points of view, allowing for compromises to be reached faster.

Moreover, both parties know that staying with no compromise or agreement will only exacerbate the problems that a no-deal Brexit will bring. That in itself can serve as a motivator of sorts to get things done at a quicker pace than what we’re seeing right now: yes, this idea may be a reach, but it’s not impossible.

All in all, Brexit means Brexit, and it’s time Britain got out of Europe instead of trying to negotiate short term lease agreements.

HowshouldtheUKbluntthelethalbladesofyouthknifecrime?

After the murders of two young adults at a party in Milton Keynes, our writers discuss what can be done about UK knife crime

Ceri Clarke

Following the recent murders of two young men at a party in Milton Keynes, the overwhelming and devastating problem of knife crime in the UK is apparent, and it is on the rise. Despite endless promises from the government to support police officers and finance increased patrols, weapon sweeps and stop and search methods, it appears that in reality none of that has been successful in actually solving the issue of knife crime, and it begs the question, what should actually be done?

This year incidents involving knives has reached a record 44,000 and with the government breaking promises and slashing police budgets, the problem is only being fueled further. But perhaps giving police more power and authority to try to prevent these horrific crimes is overlooking the causation of them, and surely that is the most serious issue that needs to be addressed, particularly when increased stop and searches has not resulted in the decrease of knife crime.

44,000

The number of incidents involving knives recorded this year

Knife crime is an issue that predominantly centres itself around the young people of the UK. By cutting youth budgets, limiting funding to mental health, closing youth centers, and with the constant pressure of youth unemployment, it is fair to say that in recent years the Conserv-

atives have created a toxic environment for many young people, particularly those who are already in a vulnerable position. A ‘poverty of hope’ has been created, and with little trust between young people and the authorities the issue of knife crime will only get worse.

Scottish knife crime has been more than halved

Perhaps notes should be taken from Scotland. They too suffered from an epidemic of knife crime. However, after more energy and funding was implemented into education and health services, knife crime has been more than halved, preventing the crimes at their very root. Although our government has tried to adopt this strategy, it appears that they are still playing catch-up to reduce knife crime, and a more serious attempt must therefore be taken to support the youth exposed to these horrendous crimes and prevent them from happening in the first place.

Iona Lowe Knives have always been legal. In fact, it is legal for those aged 16 -18 to purchase kitchen knives, and although cahoots of knives are banned, it only takes one sharp edge for something so normalised to become lethal.

With the news of two young adults being stabbed in Milton Keynes, it is obvious that the UK’s knife problem has spread from the confines of London to other surrounding

cities. However, while we know that the crime has been increasing, the question is, how do we stop it?

Firstly, we need to address the root of the problem, the gangs

While the answer is not straightforward, there are certainly measures we can take to reduce the number of young adults being knifed, mostly as a result of group mentality.

Firstly, we need to address the root of the problem. The gangs. The drug fuelled groups who, bored and often intoxicated end up causing fights, and with the backup of their group, are encouraged to commit even more serious crimes.

It is mainly down to boredom that these fights occur, so perhaps we need to think of a way to limit the free time that these gangs have.

Often unem-

ployed, it is no wonder that they turn to crime, they must find fun in something. Perhaps if they were removed from the street before they could get into such abrasion, and offered a constructive way of life we could nip the problem in the bud.

Something as simple as making them feel part of the community could do the job. Bringing the community together and making each person feel involved would mean that people respect each other, rather than seeing these other people as a threat.

If they can be shown that they are all equal, then it could be their personal choice to stop.

Image: Pixabay

Next General Election announced for 12 December Have your say in our next general election and register to vote at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Remember that you can register to vote at your home and your university address.

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The summit that never was: Trump’s botched G7 venue Our writers discuss Trump’s now cancelled plan to host the next G7 summit at his own resort

Faye Navesey

Trump’s actions are often unpredictable, but something that can be anticipated is his abuse of presidential privilege.

After all, it is hard to believe he chose Trump National Doral Miami – a property the Miami Herald reported to be “severely underperforming” – to host the G7 because he thought it was the best America had to offer. The plan has since been dropped, but the story stills acts as another display of his disregard for political norms and lack of respect for office. Unlike typical corrupt leaders, he seems to flaunt the conflicts of interest that his business creates: he didn’t release his tax returns or put his assets in a blind trust.

This diminishes the authority that the US needs to carry out diplomacy

This may seem a fairly trivial issue, but the US dominates the world stage, and when presidents act like this it diminishes the authority that the US needs to carry out diplomacy effectively. How can the president air legitimate criticisms of the corruption in other countries when he attempts to use his businesses to host summits like the G7?

Even besides the clear conflict of interest, it is a deeply embarrassing foreign policy choice. World leaders do not expect to be used as a marketing

ploy for the president’s business. This decision doesn’t portray the US as the greatest country in the world, as Trump might hope: it shows a country with a president who is incapable of basic professionalism.

This decision was not only a huge mistake, but one of many signs that Trump cannot be trusted to carry out the basic diplomatic roles which were once a given for the president.

attempt to dupe the poor, ignorant people who voted for him into funding his own lifestyle. If this was Obama, the right would be incensed about it, so why have the majority of Trump’s working-class voters not raised concern over where their money is going? And since next year is an election year in the USA,

Patrick Young Trump, as we all know, is a man of… questionable decisions. From his controversial trans military ban, to his ridiculous plan to build a wall. So why are we all still surprised when he does something highly unethical?

His latest controversy is his decision put forward his own resort to host the G7 summit. This, unsurprisingly, serves his own interest. The resort, the Trump National Doral in Miami, has been struggling the past two years and as such, Trump – clever businessman that he is – has decided to spend taxpayers’ money on himself. How did this man win the election again?

If Obama had done this, the right would be incensed

This right here is how the rich get richer: although the plan has been scrapped, he has still made an

Image: Wikimedia Commons

shouldn’t Tr u m p being doing all that he can to invest money into communities to secure their votes? This seems like poor foresight to me.

But I’m just a student, who’s to say that I have any understanding of how to ethically run a country without squandering public funds to host a bunch of powerful people, in my own resort? A failing resort at that!

I’m certain Trump knows what he’s doing, and that there is no way this will blow up in his face.

I’m hoping sarcasm translates into print.

Violence after Verdict: the escalated problems in Catalonia

Philip Etchells discusses the increased violence in Catalonia after the separatist leaders’ trial

O

n Monday 14th October, the Spanish Supreme Court sentenced leading Catalan politicians and civil activists to between 9 and 13 years in prison. It is with perverse irony that the Spanish justice system announced the verdict on the same day that General Franco’s regime condemned Lluís Companys to death. He was the last President of the Catalan Republic and executed on 15th October 1940.

Although this verdict isn’t quite as severe, many are wondering why these Catalan people are in jail for exercising their civil rights?

Since 14th October, over 600 people have been injured in clashes between riot police and demonstrators. Peaceful action is fundamental to the Catalan independence movement, but tensions have risen. Videos on social media shows the shocking violence of national police and rioters. It may seem hypocritical that a movement, which promotes non-violent resistance, has cost the Barcelona

city council a reported €500 million euros of damage.

But it is no longer just a pro-independence protest. The violence cannot be justified, but this is self-defence against police brutality, repression and injustice.

To deny the Catalan people their right to vote on Independence Day is anti-democratic

To deny the Catalan people their right to vote on independence is anti-democratic.In a recent survey in May 2019, only 47.2% of Catalans wanted independence, in comparison with the 44.5% of Scottish people who voted to leave the UK in 2014. The difference is Scotland gave its

people the chance to vote, whereas the Catalan attempt at self-determination in 2017 was deemed “illegal” and repressed by police brutality. The reasons are complex why Spain doesn’t want a Catalan republic, but the way the situation is being dealt with only fuel pro-independence feeling.

I was staying in Catalonia when the government declared independence on 27th October 2017, and witnessed the reaction of Spain to implement the “nuclear option”. It was then that the former president, Carles Puigdemont and members of his cabinet had to flee to Belgium, where they remain in exile. After the 14th October’s verdict, Spain reissued their European arrest warrant.

There has been little coverage in our national news about Catalonia, but with the current European political situation, it’s no surprise that we are turning a blind eye on the extremism of the Spanish state.

SOAPBOX A CALL FOR CLASS UNITY

W

Matthew Lacey

hile we may all differ regarding our ethnicity’s, sex, gender, sexual orientation and religious beliefs, what we all have in common is that we are being increasingly impoverished and exploited by the global regime of greed and hegemony.

Yet, at the same time, we are increasingly more politically disempowered, surveilled and controlled.

The more austere the economy becomes and the more authoritarian the Tory state becomes, the more identity issues and cultural issues are pushed to the foreground, especially in academia and establishment media. If we stopped just purely celebrating our diversity’s and fighting different strands of difference long enough to see our common plight, we just might wake up to the reality that class, economic austerity, and western totalitarianism have been and remain among the most pressing issues of our time.

TOAST OF THE WEEK

CAMPUS C ATS

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Mohi Choudury

round Northumbria University’s Campus resides the infamous campus cat. Humphrey is a light brown, black striped, emerald eyed cat who has been helping students and non-students manoeuvre the herculean maze that is in existence.

When I first met him over a month ago, I was instantly dazzled by his confidence and warmth. He lovingly rubbed up against my leg and invited me to pet him. He is cool like that. Next time you’re on Northumberland Road, watch out for this feline; he is often seen during the mid-point of the road, but I have been informed that he even ventures further out, even reaching the Five Swans pub. I can’t blame him given the reasonably priced meal deals. Being a student can be stressful, but Humphrey is a nonjudgemental entity that gives us humans the privilege of playing with his furry physique. Cats are the best.

ROAST OF THE WEEK

FASCIST FRANCO’S FIASCO

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Image: Rob Shenk on Flickr

Joe Holloran

n October 24th a grave injustice was put right when the remains of the fascist former dictator of Spain, Francisco Franco, were exhumed from the Valley of the Fallen mausoleum in the outskirts of Madrid.

While many celebrated the move, members of the far-right protested.

The Francoist government was responsible for the death’s of around 100,000 people during its 36year existance, yet when the despot died in 1975, he was given a state funeral and buried in a monolithic tomb, constructed for him by slave labourers.

Despite this, his family had the audacity to petition the High Court to try and block the move. Although they lost the case, they were granted many consestions.

One day the reality of what Franco did may dawn on some of his descendants. Until that day their presence in Spanish political life will continue to denigrate the memories of the victims of Europe’s forgotten fascist.

life&style

11

the courier

Monday 4 November 2019

c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk @Courier_Life thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle Life & Style Editor Nimra Rafique Lifestyle Editors Catherine Entwistle, Cecilia Adamou, Holly Margerrison & Jess Herbert

Are you unlucky in love? Email us at c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk

Greg Williams meets Eve Hodkinson Second year Marine Engineering

Third year Philosophy

Blind Date Hey Greg, how long have you been single?

I’ve been single for about two years now, basically all of my time at uni.

What kind of girl were you hoping for on your date?

To be honest I was just hoping for someone who can hold a conversation and doesn’t take themselves too seriously, no one likes being bored on a first date.

What did you get up to on your date?

We got offered free drinks at Tyne Bar but turned them down because Jesmond was easier to get to.

Turning down free drinks was a bit of a red flag What were your first impressions of Eve? I recognised her straight away as a mate of a mate so that was a good start and made the rest of the night more comfortable when you know the person’s sound and not a weirdo although turning down free drinks on the Quayside to go to Osborne Road instead was a bit of a red flag.

You met outside Waitrose, but if Eve was a supermarket which one would she be and why?

She seems like an Asda, overall good quality but not too upmarket - as in, she’s not fake or trying to be something she’s not.

What did you talk about? Any topics you avoided?

We just chatted shit for most of it to be honest, I find it nice learning about someone else’s life. We avoided politics and any possible controversial phrases - I learnt that from my housemate’s disaster viral date.

Do you think the Courier did a good job matching you up?

Yeah we were fairly similar, we were both just happy to not get a rah.

Describe Eve in three words.

Fancies my housemate.

Would you recommend taking part in Blind Date to others?

Yeah of course, blind dates are usually a good experience and you’ll get some decent practice which never hurts.

What made you sign up for blind date?

I honestly can’t remember signing up for it. I think I did it when I was at the pub. I’m glad I went though! I’ve never had a blind date before.

Who is your celebrity crush and why?

Jake Gyllenhaal. He’s just absolutely gorgeous and a class actor.

How did Greg compare to Jake Gyllenhaal? What were your first impressions?

Hmm he didn’t really compare! They are quite different in a lot of respects.

But my first impressions were Greg seemed really friendly and up for a laugh which is important on a first date as I didn’t want it to be me just talking at him for hours.

Where did you go for your date?

We went to Osbornes for £2 tuesdays of course.

If Greg was a bar on Osborne Road what would he be and why?

He’d probs be Osbornes or maybe Billabong before it burnt down. Quite loud but in a good way !

We went to a party after the drinks and he was pretty funny there Did you have a lot in common, and if so then what?

We didn’t have a lot in common but that’s not necessarily a bad thing! We got along really well and had different interests so we had a lot to chat about What’s your favourite memory from the date?

We went to a party after the drinks and he was pretty funny whilst we were there.

What could’ve made your date even better?

Maybe doing an activity or something after drinks would’ve been good so we aren’t just sat around Describe Greg in three words.

Friendly, funny and talkative.

If Greg was a Greggs pastry what would he be?

Probably a steak bake .

Do you think you’ll go on a second date? If so, where?

No probably not.

12

the courier

life & style lifestyle

Monday 04 November 2019

A brief history of Bonfire Night Is it too early to start the Christ Lindsey Ward explains where the explosive tradition came from

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onfire night is one of the best autumnal British celebrations, but do you know the history behind it?

Many know that Bonfire Night marks the celebration of Guy Fawkes being caught and executed for his attempt to blow up parliament with gunpowder in 1605. He was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot.

But did you know, because of this, that even today, the reigning monarch only enters parliament once a year and before their entrance, the cellars of the palace of Westminster are checked?

In true British style, we love to carry on a tradition, hence why we celebrate Bonfire Night, as a way of remembering that momentous night.

Moreover, Bonfire Night was known as ‘Guy Fawkes Day’ up until the early twentieth century when

Firework companies began to re- brand the celebration of Guy Fawkes’ death as ‘fireworks night’ in order to capitalise off the event.

Since then, Fireworks have been an integral part of the celebration, becoming more of an interest than the traditional burning of a Guy Fawkes dummy. Bonfire Night has been a huge part of British culture for the last 400 years and until the year 1959 it was even illegal to not celebrate the holiday.

Such a law is taken advantage of by St Peter’s school in York, as Guy Fawkes was a former student there so out of respect the day is understandably not actively celebrated.

Nevertheless, 400 years on, Bonfire Night is still loved by many across the country. Some see the celebration innapropriate but most people in Britain never fail to wrap up warm and gather together to watch beautiful displays of fireworks, eat toffee apples, and stand around warming bonfires.

Laura Chaney has distilled her seasonal go-to guide into a useful list and dis

I

s it too early to start thinking about Christmas? Hokum and flapdoodle. There is a big difference between thinking about Christmas and between putting up your tree, decorations and watching Christmas classics whilst our dear pumpkins haven’t even been made into soup or stew yet.

Whilst it may be a bit early for our local shops to be playing Christmas music and stocking up on mince pies, it is not too early to start planning.

As students, often with limited budgets, thinking about Christmas early is simply apt and good forward-thinking.

As much as Christmas may represent roasts, tradition, sherry and merriness, it can also very quickly become a time of financial stress and last-minute-madness. To avoid turning Christmas into a frenetic omnishambles, why don’t you:

Make a present list:

If unlike Mariah, you have important people in your life who do care about the presents under the tree, why not make a list now? This will allow you to keep an eye out for good deals and know what you’re looking for.

Gradually start your Christmas shopping: Last minute shopping, feeling hot and bothered, whilst surrounded by hundreds of other hot and bothered last minute shoppers, is never going to be a pleasant experience.

Prepare a budget:

As awfully boring as it may sound, preparing a budget that takes presents, Christmas parties and festive food into account, could help you avoid over-spending and entering the new year feeling financially not-so-great. Do 2020you a favour today!

Image: Wikipedia

Salsa salsa salsa!

Tess Bryson tells us about her experience of salsa dancing

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alsa to some means cheesy nachos; to others, it means chips n’ dips. If this is you, read on because you are in serious need of a salsa education… and I mean, the tantalising deliciousness of salsa dancing.

To ‘fill one’s soul’ has always seemed an odd expression to me, yet it comes to mind when I think of why salsa is so fantastic. When you attend a salsa lesson, a salsa club, or simply salsa dance in your kitchen, your soul is filled with joy, laughter, sensuality and confidence – you feel liberated.

Liberated from your dancing or musical insecurities, you swing and swizzle your hips, tapping your toes until you are forced to stop (usually because the class ends or the club closes – not by choice).

One might think that with the excessive amount of partying that “Geordies” and Newcastle university students enjoy, that there might be a wider variety of clubs and dancing.

Unfortunately, this is not so, but I have done my research – which I cannot call research because it was so enjoyable and the term insinuates boring endless trails of useless information – and there are some

local salsa gems.

Revolutión de Cuba, my personal favourite discovery, not only has two cocktails for £10 (stronger than your average drink, too), loyalty cards which include you into their Amigos de Cuba club and giving you a sense of honour, but every We d n e s d a y evening hosts salsa classes which are for all levels of amateur dancers. I took with me three accomplices who were all beginners (I had previously dabbled), and I can confirm that each of them moved their bodies in ways which made us laugh till we could not laugh (nor dance) anymore. They were apprehensive at the beginning, but by the end, we were all agreed that salsa had to become a very regular activity. In fact, we became so involved in the Latino lifestyle that we left to go home and cook fajitas – which funnily enough did include tomato salsa – which we ate whilst ‘salsa-ing’ around our tiny student kitchen.

Your soul is filled with joy, laughter, and confidence

Image: Pixabay

I thought about saying that if, like me, you like to keep busy and are always looking for new adventures to replace the daily visit to the pub to ‘do something’, then salsa is the perfect solution. However, this is not true. Salsa is not something everyone should try once, but instead, something everyone should try once a day, every day. It makes you feel tremendously joyful, and it makes you feel tremendously sexy – what else could you want?

Organise secret santa:

Worried about money and about getting all your friends and family a present? Secret santa could be the answer. It removes the stress of shopping for ten people and the element of surprise is always fun.

Get your obligatory tacky jumper:

Don’t leave it till last minute and find that everyone has sold out of the Rudolf’s. And why not check out charity shops whilst you’re at it, they’re already stocked up with them, you’ll save yourself some cash and be re-cycling.

Win win.

These five steps could help you reap the benefits of a stress-free Christmas.

By the time the season to be jolly really does come around, you won’t be clutching a page-long to-do list but rather will be able to concentrate on watching the city lights go up, being home alone with Home Alone and baking snowflake-shaped cookies.

Some may even say it is our onus to ourselves to get organised to really make it the merriest time of the year!

The great news is, there is nothing stopping you from thinking about Christmas now whilst still enjoying autumn, Guy Fawkes Night and staying well in season.

Most importantly, if thinking, singing or smiling about Christmas is what makes you happy then the answer is no, it is not too early to start thinking about Christmas.

In the very wise words of Buddy the Elf, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear”.

And to those who don’t agree, bah humbug.Ianswer. It removes the stress of shopping for ten people and the element of surprise is always fun.

Don’t leave it till last minute and find that everyone has sold out of the Rudolf’s. And why not check out charity shops whilst you’re at it, they’re already stocked up with them, you’ll save yourself some cash and be re-cycling.

Win win.

These five steps could help you reap the benefits of a stress-free Christmas.

By the time the season to be jolly really does come around, you won’t be clutching a page-long to-do list but rather will be able to concentrate on watching the city lights go up, being home alone with Home Alone and baking snowflake-shaped cookies.

Some may even say it is our onus to ourselves to get organised to really make it the merriest time of the year!

The environmental

Catherine Entwistle and Sophie Wilson discuss how our favourite

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eeling ashen about Bonfire Night? We are too.

We must remember to thank Guy Fawkes one day for his failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605.

Hundreds of years later, our annual celebration of Bonfire Night is a way of remembering that momentous night, bringing festivity to our communities and colour to our skies. Beautiful though they may be, sadly Bonfire Night is bad news for the environment.

Fireworks produce harmful polluting toxins and lingering particles. Such toxins cause extensive air pollution in a very short space of time, leaving metal particles, chemicals and smoke in the air for hours.

The compounds used to create dazzling colours can contain heavy metals, which contribute to an alreadyexisting industrial contamination of our water and soil.

If you want to choose more eco-friendly fireworks, go for white as this avoids the harmful chemicals associated with the coloured ones.

They also create non-recyclable waste as plastics are often used in fireworks, which means when they explode in the air, plastics along with other particles are released and end up back on the ground where they will never degrade. This also means they become a threat to wildlife if accidentally ingested.

Bonfires may be comforting and warming for humans, but they can be detrimental to hibernating animals. Animals such as hedgehogs and water voles which are experiencing a rapid decline in numbers as it is, use log piles and leaves to create a habitat, which means they can often get caught up in bonfires without realising before it’s too late.

Not only that, the smoke released by fires impacts local air quality and the health of people in the vicinity. If you must have a bonfire, burn all-natural materials and avoid burning things that contain plastic or rubber. Better still, visit a communal bonfire at a fireworks display rather than having smaller individual ones, as the pollution is less impactful.

A fairly new tradition on Bonfire Night is the use of sky lanterns. These too are very pretty, as they float up and away through the sky.

But they also pose a significant risk to wildlife when

they eventually drop back to the ground. Avoid using sky lanterns wherever possible.

Bonfire Night can still be enjoyed and celebrated in the UK but we must take action now in order to decrease the impact that it has on our already-suffering environment.

Sophie Wilosn

Image: Pix

the courier

13

lifestyle life & style

Monday 04 November 2019

Feeling S.A.D?

tmas festivitities?

scusses whether the festivities can

The great news is, there is nothing stopping you from thinking about Christmas now whilst still enjoying autumn, Guy Fawkes Night and staying well in season.

Most importantly, if thinking, singing or smiling about Christmas is what makes you happy then the answer is no, it is not too early to start thinking about Christmas.

In the very wise words of Buddy the Elf, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear”. And to those who don’t agree, bah humbug.

Lily Abery debunks myths surrounding S.A.D and offers remedies

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ou might be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, but don’t despair, there are ways and means to climb off a winter rut.

It is officially cold. It’s happened, there’s no denying it.

It’s not just ‘chuck on a jumper’ cold, its chuck on three jumpers, two pairs of tights under your jeans (this is actually genius and would 10/10 recommend to a friend), a hat and a scarf.

Now, these are physical means of combatting the big freeze, but to tackle the transition of the seasons, we must think beyond the physical and delve into the emotional to form the ultimate winter shield.

Upon careful observation of the human species over the past 20 years, I have come to the conclusion that we are all generally nicer creatures once the recommended amount of Vitamin D has been met.

When the hours of light are restricted, the rain seems to be incessant and temperatures don’t come above 5 degrees, I have found human beings to be on the whole, a lot less pleasant to be around.

Of course, there are still those who thrive under a snow cloud. But if you do feel especially low during autumn and winter and seem to do so on a recurring annual loop, you might in fact be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

S.A.D is a form of depression which arrives in tandem with the colder seasons.

Symptoms include: • a lack of energy • finding it hard to concentrate • not wanting to see people • finding it difficult to sleep

• lack of a sex drive • feeling more hungry Aside from the need to have a higher calorie intake so our bodies can stay warm, a lot of people find winter weight gain a real issue due to an elevated desire to eat carb-heavy, sugary foods as a coping mechanism for the emotional strain winter poses.

It is so important, especially with busy schedules, for us all to acknowledge the legitimacy of this illness and how it affects people.

Fear not, though! There are ways and means of fighting off the ‘winter blues’; very simple yet effective measures which will help us all to cope.

A healthy diet is crucial; although comfort eating might be a temporary fix, it will not actually make you feel better as a long-term fix.

Exercise should also be a number one priority, though perhaps swap the gym for a walk or run outside for increased exposure to natural light.

Walking is extremely beneficial for both your mental and physical health and doing it as much as you can will make a remarkable difference, just make sure you wrap up! (There is no bad weather, just bad clothing…)

The environment is also a huge factor, so head to a garden centre and stock up on house plants, not only will they brighten up your room, but they also have been proven to increase the release of endorphins (plus its really fun trying not to kill them!).

Now that the clocks have changed, let us indeed use the rhyme to help us remember, but also as a mantra for winter survival 101; lets all Spring forward to avoid Falling back.

Image: Pixabay

impact of fireworks

e Bonfire Night celebrations may actually be bang out of order

xabay

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emember, remember, the fifth of November.

It’s bonfire night! You look up to the sky and all you can see is dazzling displays of colour whizzing around, banging, crashing and mesmerising your town.

It stops you thinking about the clocks that have just been turned back….. (not another winter of dark nights and dreary

coldness here in Newcastle?)

It gives you a break from thinking about those uni deadlines that have been giving you anxiety for weeks.

But most of all, it can bring you and your friends together to go and buy a toffee apple and sit on the grass together watching a firework display.

But is it worth it? Is the impact that it has on the environment really worth this second of satisfaction? Let’s face it, they only last a few minutes at most anyway?!

In a world where a climate emergency has been called, is our fascination with fireworks actually just an extremely selfish way of harming our environment even more? Here are the top three ways that fireworks our harming our environment.

Firstly, the debris that is given off from firework displays largely impacts animals. The plastic that is left behind from the burnt out remains of fireworks can harm animals in the surrounding habit.

If an animal eats the plastic remain, they can potentially die from it getting stuck in their throat.

Also, the toxic chemicals left in the plastic debris can harm the animals if ingested.

Secondly, water supplies can be infiltrated with the chemicals that fireworks contain. Fireworks contain chemicals which include gunpowder, metal salts and oxidisers.

Long after the firework has been lit do these substances linger in the atmosphere.

Eventually, they will find their way into the local water supplies!

Finally, the air pollution that they cause is staggering.

With America doing a test on how much air pollution is cause in their country on Independence Day, they found that as a national average, fireworks introduce 42% more pollutants into the air than are on a normal day.

This is a global crisis caused by fireworks!

So, if fireworks re bad for our animals, our water and the air then are they really worth it? Is it time we found a cleaner way to celebrate Bonfire Night?

Catherine Entwistle

Image: Instagram: @adriannewalujo.o

Staying safe: IUS

We get the inside scoop on all thing coil-related from Beth Robson

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hen it comes to the coil, there are a few misconceptions that more often than not scare people away. It’s understandable because quite frankly, some of them are terrifying.

The thought of a little bit of plastic embedding itself into your uterus is probably enough to make even the most gutsy person cringe and run in the opposite direction.

No later than a week after the procedure, I was up and about

But I want to dispel some of these fears and offer my own two-cents on my experience with the Kyleena (or as I call her, Kylie!) IUS. After having trouble with both the combined and mini-pill, I needed to look for a new type of contraception that would help regulate my periods and not have too many adverse symptoms.

I looked into lots of different options including the depo-shot and implant, but ended up settling quite reluctantly on the coil.

Like many, I had heard the horror stories, but after a few long conversations with sexual health nurses, and on Reddit with other IUS users, I decided to give it a go.

I’m not going to lie, the procedure was quite unpleasant; never having had a smear or a baby, I wasn’t quite prepared for the pain (my pain meds didn’t kick in until AFTER the procedure was done; take them at least an hour before!), and I spent the following days in bed with a hot water bottle permanently attached to my lower ab-

domen, taking my pain medication to a strict timetable, and eating lots of chocolate.

No later than a week after the procedure though, I was up and about life like usual with no pain and only a little bit of spotting which was easily managed using sanitary pads.

Since then, I’ve had no problems with the coil itself or my periods; whilst they did get slightly longer, they also got much lighter.

Once a month I check for my wires but apart from that the IUS is a great option for people who want the protection and period-management with no fuss.

Forgetful? Not a problem! Hoying your guts up after one-too-many drinks? Not a problem! Really not wanting kids for at least 5 years? Not a problem! All of the problems and fears I had had with the various pills I had been on, are now all of the past.

If you’re considering switching your method, seriously have a look at the IUS or IUD; for every horror story, there are a dozen more success stories like mine.

Image: Wikimedia

14

life & style fashion

c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Fashion Editors Kajal Patel, Phoebe Eyles & Shamara Mohsin

the courier

Monday 4 November 2019

'Rise and Shine' to the capitalisation of content

Rommie Pintatham discusses Kylie Jenner's latest venture in expanding her empire by making money through viral memes

Instagram: @kyliejenner

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f anyone has been on social media for the last few weeks, you should be very familiar with Kylie Jenner’s new song, “Rise and Shine”, which provided the famous “momager” Kris Jenner with enough ammunition to launch an entire hoodie line based on the meme.

The phrase triggered a global social media uproar

The three-word tune went viral when the famous Jenner sister gave a video tour of her Kylie Cosmetics Headquarters and woke her daughter up with the infamous song. The phrase triggered a global uproar of memes, videos and posts.

The hoodie itself comes in 2 colours, black and white,

and sold out almost immediately after being released in Jenner’s shop. Both hoodies have Jenner’s face surrounded by a drawing of a sun with the phrase “Riiise and Shiiinnee” on the sleeves (black) and at the centre (white). They are selling at $65 USD on Kylie’s official online merchandise store. Sizes range from XSXXL and are only available for pre-order with the actual hoodies shipping in four to five weeks.

Considering the fact that the hoodies were released a mere 48 hours after the video went viral, there is something to be said about influencer culture and their power to use any sort of content as a means of making money.

Despite the success of the preorder, controversy still remains regarding the simplistic design of the hoodie and how it doesn’t look “worth its price.” With small writing, music notes and Kylie’s face edited to look like the sun in Teletubbies, it isn’t difficult to see the reasoning behind the backlash.

Apart from all this, Jen-

Boujee on a budget Iona Lowe talks how to dress high end at high street prices

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ashion – we spend our life in it (as quoted in the fit look expensive, despite being a bargain.

Devil wears Prada) but how can we keep up Number two – Accessories. Everyone swears with the seasons when so many of us are limby them but one age-old tip to making your ited by a budget? wardrobe look couture is those small accesCan we make the cheaper brands work sories. Maybe just one or two pieces will to our advantage, making us look like the make you stand out from the crowd, deKendall Jenner’s and Gigi Hadid’s of those spite spending under £100. glossy magazines we so often fawn over?

Another problem with all these There are plenty of brands which fit into the shops is the sheer capacity of cloth‘affordable’ category, Topshop, Zara, H&M ing that they hold. Floor after floor of and many more. While they may not have the clothes that leave you panic buying brand name of status, they can still be chic, after thinking you need all of these after all, a brand is just a brand. items to look elegant, when, in There are a host of celebrities which manreality, less is usually more. Just a age to make the affordable brands work to few pieces, a coat and maybe a their benefit, Rosie Huntington Whitley, jumper or two – knitted. And for example, is seen making a Zara bodythere you go, that’s all you suit work to her advantage (only £12.99!!) need, buying more does not and she still looks glamorous. It would necessarily mean you have seem her style tip for shopping high more outfits, you just have street would be to keep it simple! With more tatter. all of her clothing being neutral tone The oversized trend – and colours – so maybe a leaf from her one cannot beat it, espestyle book is worth the investment. As cially when buying from Coco Chanel would say "Before you the high street, one or leave the house, look in the mirtwo oversized pieces ror and take at least one thing paired with the tailored off." Wise words from the runjeans, or baggy trouner of a luxury brand – it sers and a tight-fitting really is easy to be top. The combo cheap and chic. works a treat, The first golden especially on rule to any clotha budget as ing is to make sure tightly fitit fits! Any clothted items are ing whether expenoften inexpensive or not will only sive and are frelook chic if it fits. So don’t quently found in try and make the clothing fit you, unfortunatethe ‘basics’ section, a ly for these brands, we must fit the clothing unbasic that may make all less one wants to pay to get them altered. Cloththe difference. ing that works is clothing that is suited to one’s So with determination and effort, body shape. And with the extensive volume of it is clear that one can shop high street, clothing within the walls of the fast-fashion while still looking high end. Following only high street shops, you are sure to find somea few golden rules can save both your wallet Instagram: @freddy thing that fits like a glove, making your outand improve your style.

ner had also trademarked the phrase, “RIIISE AND SHIIINNE”. What does this mean? It means more merch for the phrase such as headbands, hats, belts and so many more. This might also include cosmetics as well so fans can now expect to be buying “Rise and Shine” merchan- dise for a long time to come. This may be questionable as trends on the internet seem to die down after a couple o f weeks. By the time these hoodies are pro- duced and arrive i n t h e hands o f h e r fans, the

meme may have died down which, might make the hoodies lose their “worth".

As it is often said, the devil works hard, but Kris Jenner works harder!

Despite all this, it’s highly doubtful that Jenner will lose her support, thus allowing her to continue selling “Rise and Shine” merchandise.

Especially with the trademark of the phrase, the hoodies might expand into a clothing line and eventually, a cosmetics line. Clearly, Kris Jenner has “done it again” as she was able to make something out of the attention Kylie was receiving on social media and turn it into a commercial empire. As it is often said on social media, the devil works hard, but Kris Jenner works harder!

Images - Instagram: @thekylieshop

Rugby never looked so good Rebecca Johnson shares tips on how to style a rugby t-shirt

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s the Rugby World Cup draws to a close in Japan, the demand for supporting your team and looking good is more essential than ever. Styling your shirt is so important so I've compiled a list of the ways you can change up how you wear yours.

A simple, yet incredibly effective way to look good whilst cheering on your team is the t-shirt tie. Grab your shirt, maybe a slightly bigger one than your usual size, and get the bottom of it to tie a knot. Maybe pair this with some high-waisted jeans to really round off the look.

Another couple of ways include experimenting with a couple of different style tucks. You could tuck in fully or go for the Queer Eye favourite of the “French tuck” as both look pretty decent.

One aesthetic you really can’t go wrong with is the retro look. Websites like eBay and Depop have some hidden gems for a reasonable price. With an England

Instagram: @jessportman_

v South Africa final, there’s such a good range of cool shirts for both sides out there. A Roses classic has to be the 2003 World Cup shirt, the only time the side have won the tournament thanks to a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal. A sleek look from Nike, introducing more skintight material than the typical baggy rugby shirts. The Springboks 1995 World Cup winning jersey is also a smashing number, fitting into the more retro baggy shirt style, whilst retaining a simplistic beauty about it.

If none of these styles appeal, then have no fear, there’s one more style that’s really taken off during the 2019 World Cup. Rugby super-fan, Bak-san, went global at the start of October when he was revealed to be painting the shirts on his body, rather than buying them. If worse comes to worse, then take a leaf out of Bak-san’s book and pop down to your nearest B&Q for a couple of tins of paint to create your own shirt.

the courier

15

fashion life & style

Monday 4 November 2019

Live to lounge: comfort is key Ellie James rounds up her favourite loungewear on the high street so we can stay snug and stylish

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e all love to get in from a long day at uni or work and get into our comfiest clothes, make a brew and climb into bed. But where to shop the best and comfiest loungewear? Or how about those days when you want to stay comfy whilst you do your work but still look boss doing it? Well here are some perfect places to rock that effortless yet slaying look.

Topshop

Topshop offers some of the softest fluffy joggers in their loungewear range and you’ll certainly find a pair that will last you throughout the long days at uni. But what makes Topshop unique here is their new ‘Considered collection.’

The collection aims to be made through eco-friendly production, use lower impact materials and certified suppliers. Take a look at their first piece to hit the stores - the pink organic cotton joggers using cotton grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. If you want to splash out further, then go and treat yourself to the matching cotton hoodie. It might be hard to choose which one to buy. But I say if in doubt buy it all, life’s too short not to buy a set that is eco-friendly AND cosy. You’re onto a winner here.

writing your essay (whoops). For Missguided the go to looks are neutral shades including beige, grey or stone in crop styles or full hoodies with leggings or joggers to match. Who needs a boyfriend to borrow a baggy hoodie when you can have your very own? Go and take a look for one to snuggle into ready for the oncoming winter months – just try not to fill your shopping cart with all 200 styles…

Primark

If you want to save the cash a little, Primark gives some cheaper options to keep your pocket smiling. Their knit look leggings give a tighter fit and all the warmth with a super soft material. This is another look that you can flaunt to your flatmates or to lectures whilst still looking stylish. Plus they’re only £13. Bargain. Primark might be your best friend for the onesie’s too, and if you’re a Disney fan then you’re in for a treat. With onesie’s including Sully from Monsters Inc and even a matching set of Rick and Morty for you to wear when you’re lazing with your bestie. Maybe don’t go to your lecture as a Disney monster though, we don’t want to be scaring the lecturers!

Pretty Little Thing

Our nation’s love of PLT can’t possibly be disappointed in the endless options on this fire online store. There’s just too many to name. Think bicycle shorts with oversized Tshirts, baggy joggers, and even more over-sized hoodies in every colour you can think of – it’s like PLT’s main aim is to make us comfy and look good without even thinking about it. Best part? The trend is the baggier the better. Plenty of space to hide snacks in for lengthy lectures.

It’s hard not to envy that person that looks like they’ve rolled out of bed looking crazy good even though they’ve thrown on their joggers and an old t-shirt. Well now you can be that person. And you’ll be warm and snug whilst you’re working it too.

Missguided

Instagram: @prettylittlething

Co-ords are a thing and they are everywhere. The likes of Kim Kardashian seem to love a good co-ord and you totally should too. Missguided knows where it’s at when it comes to the loungewear version with 200 styles for you to scroll through when you are supposed to be

Instagram: @topshop

Drop business, be casual: interview inspo Em Richardson shares her personal take on 'business casual' and how you can look the part for your upcoming interviews

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usiness casual - a very ambiguous term, especially when it’s being used to advise you on what you should wear to a job interview.

On the one hand, ‘business’ summons images of power suits and expensive heels. ‘Casual’, however, makes one think of checked shirts and jeans. The use of the two words together creates a dilemma for interviewees - do you wear something casual and approachable, and feel comfortable, but risk looking under-dressed? Or, do you wear something smart and professional, but risk looking up-tight and unoriginal, in your stereotypical ‘formal’ attire?

I recently attended a job interview where the dress code had been described as the dreaded ‘smart casual’, and I noticed a massive variation in the outfits on display. I saw everything from tailored suits - for women as well as men - to blue jeans and a busy, patterned shirt. So, which approach is correct? I’m inclined to say neither.

Personally, I opted for a smart, dark-coloured, checked pinafore, with a similarly-coloured poloneck jumper beneath, and a long, black coat on top. I wore black tights and finished the look off with black Doc Marten shoes. I felt this look worked because it incorporated some elements of my personal style (everyone knows how much I love dungarees and pinafores, and I never leave the house without my trusty Docs!), whilst still being conservative enough for a job interview setting.

Don’t be afraid to wear something you actually like

The company I was interviewing for were known for having strict, smart dress-code requirements for employees, yet the fact the company was specifically

looking for young interns made me think that they’d appreciate a look that still incorporated a little bit of youthful individuality. So, my top tips for perfecting ‘business casual’? Don’t be afraid to wear something you actually like! At the end of the day, ‘casual’ implies you should be wearing the kind of clothing that you actually wear during dayto-day life, rather than sweating in a suit.

Research the company and their dress-code

Instagram: @fakerstorm

However, remember not to over-do it with the informality - t-shirts should never be seen at an interview and, in my opinion, jeans should be as dark a colour as possible, rather than the lightblue denim we wear every-day. You should also research the company you hope to join, and their dress-code, and consider whether they’re the type of organisation that is likely to value individuality over formality, or vice-versa.

As for which items are ‘business casual’ appropriate, I’d recommend chinos and a smart shirt for men, paired with a dark-coloured jumper in Winter. This way, you still look presentable and professional, but you’re also wearing items that could feasibly be worn outside the office. For women, I’d recommend wearing a blazer, but in a slightly more eye-catching colour than the usual black or grey, such as navy blue or cream. Pair this with dark jeans and a smart shirt, or a skater or pinafore dress, to achieve a look that is appropriate for both a day in the office and a coffee with friends afterwards.

Instagram: @ inthefrow

the courier

17

beauty life & style

Monday 4 November 2019 courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Beauty Editor Rashida Campbell-Allen

Drag Race UK: shantay, you stay!

Beauty Brand Lovin'

Instagram:@botanicsusa

Editor Grace Dean shares her most eye-conic looks so far to stun viewers on RuPaul's UK runway

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espite only four hours of Drag Race UK having aired so far, we have already witnessed some quite frankly jaw-dropping looks.

As someone very much drawn to defined, regal makeup looks, I was naturally impressed by Sum Ting Wong’s looks. Her looks are understated ooze elegance without detracting attention away from her stunning outfits. By playing it simple with a very clear, even complexion, well defined brows and a classy bold lip, Sum Ting ensures that her gloriously voluminous hair and beautiful outfits that accentuate her curvaceous body do all the talking. A prime example of this is her stamp where she immediately won my heart in the Queen Elizabeth II runway look, and in the same episode she let her stunning dress and bull accessories take centre stage in her Birmingham look. While ultimately criticised by the judges for playing it too safe, I felt that her looks allowed her natural beauty shine much more than the other queens.

One of the most clearly defined looks is that of youngest contestant Scaredy Kat, who from the start had a very characteristic style regarding both her outfits and her makeup, and seemed to somehow very accurately reflect her personality. Corresponding to her name with her ditzy, shy, nervous and somewhat skittish nature, Scaredy established a distinctive look from the start with her exaggerated contour, excessive lashes and oversized accessories – all of which contrasted with the supposed meekness of her personality. While unfortunately not winning the judges hearts as the second contestant to be eliminated, Scaredy’s Marmite-like style was highly praised by guest judge Maisie Williams for her Bond

YouTube: @JordanThijs Instagram:@crystal.will.see.you.now

outfit which ultimately showed her to not shy away from contrasting with the Drag Race norm. While Scaredy’s look may not have been everyone’s cup of tea, she added variety to the show with her bold looks and won the heart of many viewers with her genuine sweetness.

"I'm like a GCSE art project, high fashion from outer space, a cartoon character with muppet realness” - Blu Hydrangea

Someone who has greatly grown in confidence over the first five episodes is Blu Hydrangea. The only Northern Irish queen in the show, Blu is undeniably proud to be representing the few queens in her country which only has a very small drag scene. Regarding her looks, Blu argues that she is “queen of the makeup brush and her strength lies in her mug. [I’m] like a GCSE art project, high fashion from outer space, a cartoon character – with muppet realness.” This corresponds to everything we’ve seen in the shown so

far – Blu is never afraid to get creative with her out-there looks, and in particular her spectacular job to transform her face into a flawless blue eye for the geneticallymodified drag queens challenge, which really made her stand out from the competition. She also showed her ability to create a high fashion, avant-garde look in the car boot sale challenge with party streamers and fantastic two-tone lipstick. Blu has to date received very little praise so far in the series, having merely been safe three times and coming in the bottom two once, but I believe that this is only the start for Blu as she gains more experience she will only start to dazzle more as her confidence continues to blossom like the beautiful Hydrangea she is.

Despite the dazzling looks of these queens, two further looks from their rivals cannot go unmentioned. One of these is Crystal’s car boot sale look where she just exuberates class with her stunningly defined figure and well thought out accessories which really stole the show.

The other is Davina de Campo’s GM queen look, which screams of a beautiful, aquatic, floral fairytale. While not being a fan of her Bowie-inspired high fashion look (which is surprising as a lover of his music), I was amazed by her ability to orchestrate such a different look with her mermaid-esque flowing locks of blue wavy hair, flawless contour and imaginative outfit.

The queens so far have impressed us with their phenomenal ability to rival, and even exceed, their American counterparts. I’m excited to see how the UK’s drag scene responds to the on screen looks and vice versa, and I don’t doubt that Ru has already been blown away.

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aving recently committed to going cruelty free with all makeup and skincare, I’ve been on the hunt for a good eco-friendly range. Despite initially searching on the more expensive side of things, I found myself at the opposite end of the spectrum with Boots own Botanics skin and body care range.

The range is not only 100% vegan and cruelty free, but it has a sustainability commitment to have ethical and eco-friendly production and packaging. All oils used by the company are certified organic. They offer a range of cleansers, moisturisers, toners, scrubs, bath and body care, oils and balms, under the following range of sub-sections so you can target problem areas: organic, brightening, early ageing, hydrating, mature skin.

I have used the Botanics 82% Organic Softening Cleanser for about 8 weeks now and I’m absolutely loving it. I always used Garnier Micellar Water to remove my makeup then just toned after, but this switch has really improved my skin. It’s made it far more moisturised and glowy, given the organic rosehip oil inside. At just £7.99, it’s a complete steal, bearing in mind I’m still on my first bottle and I use it twice a day, every day. Botanics are also often (and currently) on 3 for 2, so if you purchased 3 products it would be even cheaper. I’ve also been loving the Botanics Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz as a replacement for my Mario Badescu Rosewater Spritz. Like the cleanser, it’s priced at just £7.99 and lasts ages! I think using this combination has really improved the moisture in my skin, which is key for the winter months.

I also love the aromatherapy products they offer. As a yoga lover, I like to put oil on my mat while I practise.

My favourite at the moment is Botanics Fresh Mind Pure Essential Oil Tea Tree as it feels cleansing and fresh during practise. It’s just £6.00 for 10ml, which for an organic essential oil is a bargain! I also use the Botanics Peaceful Night Rollerball in Lavender when I struggle to sleep. I used to use the more expensive This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, which really does send me to sleep, but the Botanics Rollerball does the exact same job at a much smaller price – £5.00! I put it on my neck, wrists and sometimes pillow. I couldn’t recommend enough!

Overall this brand is cheap, good, and natural so I’d really recommend giving it a try, especially while its on 3 for 2.

It gives your skin all the good bits without a big cost to you, the environment or animals – what’s not to love?

Emily Cartwright

Looking for a cut above the rest Instagram:@dragraceukbbc

Instagram:@rupaulsdragraceukfans

Instagram:@bluhydrangea_

Facebook: RuPaul's Drag Race UK

Rachel Makinson recommends the best hairdressers in and around Newcastle to get your hair game on lock

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e all know that a visit to the hair salon has potential to be a highly traumatic experience: you ask for an inch off, and they take off seven; you ask for a choppy bob, and they leave you looking like like Severus Snape. Finding a good hairdresser is important, and luckily for us, Newcastle has its fair share of them.

Unsplash: @andiwhsikey

Salon M

With salons on Shakespeare Street and Pilgrim Street, Salon M is super central and convenient to get to. They offer a discounted price to students, and frequently post new clients offers on their social media, so keep an eye out. The stylists at Salon M are fantastic; they always seem to achieve the exact look you are after and make the entire salon experience a really enjoyable one. The salon has a sleek and professional feel about it, and they have an equally fabulous and professional beauty salon just next door.

Foxy Hair Extensions

Located in the Metrocentre, Foxy is one of the best salons in Newcastle, especially if you are wanting a dramatic change up for your locks. The salon recently won the Intu Metrocentre retailer awards for Small Retailer of the Year, and World Class Service, and specialises in high quality human hair extensions. The team there couldn’t be any lovelier or more helpful, and will be sure to carefully listen to exactly what it is that you want. Foxy also sells high quality human clip-in extensions, which they can help you to colour match to your own colour.

On top of great hair extensions, Foxy offers all the other regular treatments you would expect from a hair salon, and at a reasonable rate too.

Lox Hairdressing

If all you are really looking for is a great value haircut, then Lox Hairdressing is the place to go.

For most students, this salon on Westgate Road is going to be quite far out of your way, but their going rate for a cut and blow dry is just under £20, and if you’re willing to cut out all the frills, a dry cut at Lox will only set you back £12-£15.

Although the price is much cheaper than your typical, town-central salon, the service isn’t at all compromised. The stylist does a wonderful job, and if you can be bothered to make the long trek (or pay for an Uber) then this salon is a brilliant, budget friendly option.

Newcastle. All of these hair salons are wonderful, and definitely won’t leave you looking like Professor Snape, or Curtis from Wife Swap. The best way to get the cut or colour of your dreams, however, is by actually telling the stylist if you’re not quite happy, rather than passively sitting in the chair with you soul secretly dying at each snip of their scissors.

A great salon + great communication = great hair.

Toni & Guy

There is a very good reason as to why there are multiple Toni & Guy salons up, down and across the entire country. Although it is a slightly pricier salon, all their stylists go through rigorous and intensive training to ensure they give you the very best new look and a great salon experience. Toni & Guy also offer students 10% discount every Monday to Wednesday and their Newcastle salon is super close by to the university.

Having a bob that I like to get cut every 6-8 weeks, I have tried out my fair share of hairdressers in

Instagram:@toniandguynewcastleuk

18

life & style travel

courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Travel Editors: Amy Harris, Meggie Williams and Beth Robson

the courier

Monday 4 November 2019

Leave only (sustainable) footprints

Laura Chaney lists a myriad of achievable ways to keep exploring and enjoying our beautiful globe while being eco-friendly

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hilst it may not quite be travelling season, with assignments looming and the prospect of travelling seeming very distant, there’s no doubt that travelling-planning season is always around the corner.

Whether it’s a trip to the Alps for some whooshing and apres, backpacking from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, heading to the Lake District for some fresh mountain air or lying on a beach in Bali sipping from a coconut, your travels will always have a knock-on effect on the world around you. Now more than ever, it is so important to consider these knock-on effects and and how we can mitigate the negative ones. The destination we jet off to on our holibobs for our five days/weeks/months adventure is someone else’s home. Going to these places and travelling unsustainably is destroying our planet. It’s not all doom and gloom though, the good news is that there are a myriad of achievable ways to keep exploring and enjoying our beautiful globe whilst being a sustainable traveller:

Choose locally owned hostels that recycle By actively seeking out hostels that are locally owned your money will be going back to the local economy.

Choosing to stay in a hostel with sustainability initiatives and that recycle makes such a difference, however do

watch out for green washing and that hostels aren’t taking advantage of sustainability as a buzz word without actually being green.

Buy locally made products and use local services

By supporting businesses which are run by and employ local people, your money will positively

contribute to the local economy. In contrast, by going to international chains, hotels and restaurants alike, your money will likely not enter the local economy.

Be conscious of the wildlife

Seek out responsible tour operators. There are so many operating whilst harming the planet for profit. As a general rule, it is not a good sign if you are allowed to touch, hold or ride the animals.

Use a re-usable water bottle and lunch box – It is no secret that plastic waste is a huge problem and avoiding buying plastic drink bottles as a start makes a huge difference. If you’re worried about the quality of the drinking water in certain countries, do not fear, you can buy water bottles fitted with a filter.

Get involved with community tourism projects

This is a great way to positively contribute to the country your are visiting however be sure to do your research.

There are lots of reputable charity projects and NGOs to get involved with out there but there are also less legitimate ones, so be sure to check where your money is actually going!

Consider your transport

Flying is the most carbon-intensive activity an individual can do, holiday air travel making up around 10% of the average UK annual carbon footprint. If there is another option and you have the time, consider the train, bus or car. You’ll be saving the planet whilst also saving yourself money. Most of a plane’s carbon emissions are caused by take offs and landings so if you must take a plane, why not try and find a direct flight and avoid changes or stop-overs where possible. Once at your destination, walk, bike or use public transport to get around wherever you can.

Pack light

Image: Hands-diema from Pixabay

Your luggage contributes to carbon emissions, the heavier the plane, the higher its fuel consumption. Believe it or not, luggage allowances aren’t just in place to prevent us taking that extra cute top on holiday with us.

What sustainable travel comes down to is finding a way that tourism can be maintained long-term, without destroying local environments, wildlife and economies.

Sustainable travel should be the only way we travel because the reality is that if we don’t, our children and grand-children may never get the chance to see the world as we do now.

The good, bad and the chugly of rail travel

Mimi Wang reminises on her rail travel adventures from impressive Swiss Alps to an experience on the North East train line

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cross Europe and beyond, people rely on trains a lot. In the past, the rail was a means of transferring passengers and goods. Now, the increasing awareness of environmental ramifications is influencing people to ditch flights for the train.

Moreover, the rail journey is incredibly scenic. Looking out of the window, resting your head on you arm and leaning against the window is a pleasure. Feeling the rhythmical movement of the train is somehow peaceful.

There are many incredible train journeys across the world from the Trans-Mongolian, weaving through untouched parts of Asia, to the Copper Caynon railway in Mexico, known for being one of the most dramatic railway journeys in the world.

It is indispensable to mention my experience by rail through the heart of the Swiss Alps on the world-famous Glacier Experience train in Switzerland this April. The classic route was impressive. The trip began and ended in the sophisticated mountain towns of Zermatt and St. Moritz. Taking a seat on the Glacier Express, I enjoyed the breath-taking scenery and endless skies above the Swiss Alps through the train’s huge panoramic windows there was so much to see. The eight-hour journey on the Glacier Express toured via various bridges and tunnels that cut thought the dramatic landscape. I was so stunned by their rail technique and wondered how it was built in such a rough topography – one side of the train was a steep cliff, the other side was an edge. Fragmentary houses located in the broad glacier area, their roofs rather inclined to prevent the houses from being crushed by the weight of the accumulated snow.

But still, some had already been buried under the snow, only the roof exposed. People hopped off and on at different spots to spend some nights in the Alps, most with rosy red cheeks and an alpine glow. Even though it was near the end of the season, many brought ski equipment with them, even very young children.

As the gentle sun shined upon the snow making it sparkle I was struck by the irresistible beauty of nature which made me lay rapt with a peaceful mind. Ah, how wonderful this moment was.

The journey was interspersed with an au-

dio guide which offered interesting historical explantions and a catering service. A funny waiter with a moustachesbrought the delicious meal that I ordered. It was a pleasure to dine while enjoying the alpine mountains. I noticed a couple bought food on-board to save money - which is always a good idea.

Experience the breathtaking scenery and endless skies around the Swiss Alps

casual but stylish way. After a friendly greeting, we had a brief conversation. They were two couples travelling around the world twice a year after retirement.

I always find that so many unexpected situations happen on train journeys. For example, once on a return trip from Durham to Newcastle the train was held up, causing the train to stopped still in the tracks for an hour. Passengers became frustrated. A father and his twin sons, who looked like four years old, sat next to me.

‘How long will we need to wait? Papa?’ the twin climbed up and down the chair restlessly. The father simply explained the situation to them and asked them

to wait patiently, they ignored him and fought over a toy unicorn. The father kept telling them to stop but with no luck until his phone rang. It was from his wife, the children’s mother, the twins instantly stopped the naughty behaviour and jumped to the phone, ‘I miss you so much, mommy!’ How lovely and heartwarming it was to witness this.

Travelling on trains is the perfect place to people watch, strike up conversation and let your mind wander, no wonder so many authors say their best ideas came when travelling by public transport.

There was a group of elders sat at the next table. They radiated elegance in a

Image: GlacierLandwasse- Champer Wikipedia

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19

travel life & style Appsolutely

Monday 4 Novermber 2019

Crack on with Krakow essential With the exciting promise of beautiful architecture and amazing cuisine, Alicya Dryja will have you on the Skyscanner app quicker than you can say twoje zdrowieand shot your vodka

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rakow is one of the most intriguing travel destination in Europe and definitely has a lot to offer. It’s the kind of place where everyone will find something interesting, from sightseeing the tourist gems to eating delicious Polish food, tasting vodkas or enjoying a vibrant night out.

In comparison to the Polish capital, Warsaw, Krakow wasn’t bombed by Nazi Germany in World War II thus nowadays we can still admire its centuries old beauty.

Walking down the streets of the old town or Planty Park which surrounds the old city is an experience itself. The town can be proud of owning the largest marketplace in the whole of Europe where you can do various activities like shopping for souvenirs in beautiful Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), sightseeing the Basilica of the Virgin Mary with the largest Gothic piece anywhere in the world, visiting the Middle Age Museum Rynek Underground or Art Gallery on top of the Sukiennice, and if you’re hungry just have a seat in one of many restaurants or cafes and simply enjoy the view!

Secondly, visit the Wawel Royal Castle perched on top of the hill and have a walk through the courtyard to admire architecture and then you can follow your walk along the Vistula river. Another must-see point is an old Jewish Quarter, Kazimierz, which was a centre for Jewish life in Krakow for over 500 years and today is one of the most charming districts in the city. It has been rediscovered thanks

to the lens of Steven Spielberg and his Oscar-winning Schindler’s List. If you have a little bit more time you may fancy a day trip to resort town Zakopane, located at the foot of Tatry mountains, or as a more thought-provoking destination choose Auschwitz concentration camp.

Poland is well-known for its delicious cuisine and Poles tend to be very traditional in terms of food. Dishes that are worth trying without a doubt are pierogies (Polish dumplings) in both sour and sweet variations, red broth, or zurek – a soup made of fermented cereals. In fact, Poles love marinated food of any sort including sauerkraut and the famous dill pickles. If you are on a budget, try Cracovian pretzels, which you can find on one of many stands around the old town for less than 50p! Krakow has a very well developed culinary scene thanks to the many tourists. Not only you can eat well but also you won’t spend lots of money.

I would com-

pare prices of food in nice Cracovian restaurants as equivalent to the prices in fast food bars in the UK. On top of that the price of a pint of beer or shot of vodka starts just from one pound. Krakow offers a wide range of bars and pubs not only in the heart of the city but also in Kazimierz or in Dolne Mlyny, a ‘city in a city’, located in an old tobacco factory. There’s a lot of choice but every venue has its own unique vibe.

So if you have a free weekend or are looking for a holiday destination you can surely consider Krakow!

Amanda Goh shares the best apps to use when travelling

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fter a few long weeks of university, who wouldn’t be dreaming of a vacation, right? If you are itching to get away from the cold rainy Newcastle but don’t know where to start, here are some travel apps you could use to make your travel planning much easier.

Airbnb The first app on the list has to be Airbnb, right? If you have not heard of this app before, it is a marketplace which allows you to rent places to stay in the area you are vacationing at. There are plenty of apartments for you to rent and a wide range of prices. The site now also offers even more than just lodging. With tours, offers and workshops, you will definitely not want to miss out.

Couchsurfing

Okay, this may sound a little shady but just hear me out.

Couchsurfing is a service where locals allow tourists to stay with them for a few days while on vacation. While some may not be open to the idea of staying with locals, let me assure you it is safe. Not only that, you are able to mingle with locals and who knows, you might just become close friends with them.

Image:: Sebastian Hietsch from Unsplash Image: Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons

Having a pickle over what to pack?

Not all heroes wear capes: Madeleine Raine is here to save you from the packing panic

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hether you’ve been travelling for months in Australia or are taking a weekend away in some chic European city, we’ve all had the panic over what to pack in our hand luggage. What will I need?! All these ideas bounce around our heads until it’s finally time to go and you’re no closer to having a packed bag, just a very messy room. Here I will go through my ten backpack essentials.

Travel documents

I know this may be stating the obvious but how many times have you packed everything and are ready to leave for the airport only to realise you’ve left your passport upstairs? This can also include any insurance policies that you need (or probably should take out) or health cards. I find keeping all these loose papers in a folder makes it so much easier to find at a moment’s notice.

Water bottle Don’t be fooled into paying those extortionate airport prices when you can bring a refillable one for free! Whether it be a reusable plastic one or these new metal ones that have taken the world by storm, bringing your own bottle makes it cheaper and gives you access to water wherever you go.

Portable charger We’ve all had that moment, when you’ve got less than ten percent of your battery left and you’re wondering how you’ll make it to the hostel in time.

You shouldn’t have to worry whether you’ll be stranded without your phone; just plug it in and off you go!

Padlock

I know this may sound slightly unusual but I’ve found having a padlock in my backpack is such a handy tool. You never know when you’re going to need to lock away your valuables during the night or storing them in a hold during the day. This way, your belongings are always kept secure and you don’t have the fear of anything suspiciously going missing.

Book or magazine Although reading isn’t for everyone, I find taking a book or even a magazine away with me is such a lifesaver if I want to conserve my phone battery but also don’t want to be sitting idly for an hour waiting for a connecting train or flight. Slipping this into your backpack gives you the option to divert your gaze during travel and can even be used as a wind-down activity at the end of a long day. Often hotels and hostels offer a small library or book swap too, so you are never out of options to swap or change when you like.

Sanitary wipes/hand sanitiser This one needs no explanation. Why suffer from the constant fear of germs when a quick wipe over the plane tray tables can leave you feeling refreshed and germ-free!

Umbrella or poncho

Getting caught in the rain when you’re travelling is one of the worst experiences. Especially if you haven’t brought a waterproof and you’re squelching around wondering why you even bothered to leave the hotel that day. Bringing an umbrella or poncho is a great way to keep dry and can be bought at almost any shop or supermarket.

Headphones or earplugs We’ve all been on those flights. The ones that feel like you’re at a football match they are that loud.

Bringing headphones or earplugs is a great way to ensure you have a quiet and relaxing flight, also coming in handy if you’re staying in a hostel and those eight hours of sleep are a make or break situation for you.

Tripadvisor TripAdvisor is something every one should use when travelling. It is a website which allows you to see restaurant and hotel reviews and other travel related recommendations. The reviews are as honest as it can be. If you are like me who plans there trips around the places they want to eat, then this is definitely worth checking out.

TripCase If you love organised trips, TripCase is one for you. This app helps you organise your travels by making an itinerary for you. This includes flights, accommodations, restaurant reservations and more. All you have to do is forward your travel confirmations information to the app.

Packpoint While TripCase organises you while travelling, Packpoint organises you pre-travel. This app is a free packing organiser and will help you based on where you are going, length of travel, and even the weather! If you are always forgetting to pack things for your trips, try this app.

While these 5 apps are some you should definitely try out for your next travel, there are still many others that you could go for! So, go forth and explore!

Tissues I find these to be the most useful item to bring along with me anywhere. Whether it’s flu season or the toilet stalls have run out of toilet paper, tissues offer the perfect rescue for any holiday nightmare.

Snacks Last (but certainly not least) is snacks. Whether you’re a chocoholic like me and crave a chocolate bar every hour, or want to opt for a more healthy snack such as a cereal bar, this is the perfect way to ensure that you never go hungry and is a great way to save the pennies when travelling.

Image: TeroVesalainen on Pixabay

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21

food life & style

Monday 4 November 2019

Food Editors: Cayla Viner & Amanda Goh

Will the bubble tea trend ever pop?

Jade Aruzhan Sagynay spills the tea on the sweet drink trend

Molly Greeves reveals her best dish for the autumn season

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he variety of drinks existing in Newcastle is ever growing. Students moving into the city every year can no doubt rest assured that they will find at least one to their liking.

With popular coffee chains and a huge number of pubs and bars, there is always something to taste and try in this city.

And bubble tea is no exception. This particular drink is getting increasingly popular among the residents, and especially students, of Newcastle. It is overtaking the city with its ever growing fan base and it doesn’t want to stop.

Adding tapioca balls to flavoured tea became the new trend

For those people who have been stuck studying in the library for long enough to miss the rise of this sweet drink, here is an overview of what it is. “Bubble Tea” is essentially a tea based drink with flavours and toppings. It has originated in Taiwan in the early 1980’s and had children as their targeted customers. After school, kids often wanted a cool refreshing drink and many tea-stand owners competed in selling their products.

One such owner infused his teas with fruit flavours which attracted more children. This addition required the tea to be shaken for an even taste and that produced bubbles, which in turn resulted in the name “bubble tea”.When tapioca balls were introduced to the industry, adding them to the flavoured tea became the newest trend. Thus, the original name stuck.

In Newcastle, one of the earliest shops to starts selling the drink was Bubble T Break in late 2012. It became an instant success among students prompting the owner to set himself a goal of turning it into a chain. Chatime, has located itself in Eldon Square in January 2017. It was originally established in Taiwan in 2005 and quickly became a world-wide known chain. Over the span of a few years, some great places like Bubble Cha and Joyo Handmade popped up nearby the Newcastle University campus. However, another notable addition to the industry happened in August 2018, when the city centre saw the opening of Manhua Cha’s first ever permanent shop.

Previously it has t ravel le d all over UK starting June 2016. The name “Manhua” comes from Chinese and means “impromptu sketches”; Manhua is a comic series produced in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong; the name therefore means “Comic Tea”.

Two of the most recent additions to the Newcastle Image: Pixabay bubble tea scene are Utepia Tea and Mua Cha. With this many options to choose from, here is my “Author’s Guide to Bubble Tea in Newcastle”: Personal favourite: Bubble Cha. Close proximity to campus, reasonable prices, welcoming staff.

All-things-bubble-tea: Manhua Cha. For those who prefer to make their own tea at home, you can find all the ingredients you need here.

Take her on a date: Joyo Handmade. Although there is a long wait, the tea in this cute cosy place has the smoothest texture and most pleasant taste.

My next stop: Utepia Tea. A place I am hoping to explore soon due to many recommendations.

Now my only question is: how long do we have to wait for a bubble tea place to open at the SU?

Dish of the Week: Chicken and Chips Travel editor Meggie Williams shares one of her top dishes

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f your university house is anything like mine, Sundays are spent lolling around the sitting room, watching films and nursing a heavy head from the night before.

Your housemates and you all love the idea of a Sunday dinner in the evening to ease the Sunday blues but the thought of slaving away in the kitchen is not very appealing and before you know it, your dinner consists of Pringles and a cold slice of pizza from the night before.

But alas, I present to you the student alternative to a Sunday roast: chicken and chips tray bake (pinched from Delicious magazine).

I’ve nominated it for Dish of the Week because of the sheer simplicity: ingredients are minimum, everything gets thrown into one tray and hands on cooking time is literally less than 10 minutes, not to mention that it’s mouth wateringly good and a real crowd pleaser.

Ingredients (serves 8-10): Chicken thighs and drumsticks 2kg Thyme leaves 3 tbsp Rosemary, chopped, 3tbsp Olive oil Onions, sliced, 250g Potatoes

Method

Start by heat oven to 130C/fan 210C/ Gas 8. Slice the onions and scatter across the base of a large ovenproof tray.

Next, peel the potatoes and cut into one cm thick slices, add these to the tray with the chicken.

Generously cover in olive oil, seasoning, thyme and rosemary. Give the tray a good shake to make sure everything is covered.

Roast in the oven for roughly 45 minutes to one hour.

The chips should become deliciously crispy and the chicken cooked through.

Serve with whatever greens you have kicking about the place; I love it with a fresh kale salad. To jazz up a kale salad I usually add broccoli, bean sprouts, flaked almonds, red onion, shredded carrot, sunflower seeds and a delicious lemony dressing.

Lemon Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 1 tbsp dijon mustard 1 clove garlic minced 1/2 tsp dried oregano A pinch and good grind of S&P 1 tsp honey

Molly’s soup-erb tomato soup

Image: Pixabay

hen I think of autumn, there’s only one dish that comes to mind: soup. I don’t like pumpkin, I’m not a sucker for Halloween sweets.

But a good ol’ soup, for me, is what the October-November period is all about.

However, the beloved Heinz just doesn’t do it for me when it comes to tomato soup; I might as well be eating straight ketchup it’s so sweet. My personal soup recipe (which is less of a recipe and more of an improvised cooking performance) incorporates the best spices without blowing your head off.

Better yet, it’s super healthy, which is more than you can say for most of my favourite foods.

I call this recipe Leftover Soup, as you can pretty much throw in anything you have in the fridge. That being said, the main things you will need are:

Ingredients

300g tomatoes 1 onion 1 carrot Garlic (a fresh clove is probably best but I’m lazy, so I use powder) Italian herbs

Image: Flickr

Celery salt (regular salt is fine, but celery salt is healthier) Olive oil Tiger bread Butter (salted, obviously)

Unfortunately, you do Image: Pixabay need a blender for this recipe which is something that not many students have. You can get one for as cheap as £11 online – they’re super helpful for a lot of recipes so could be worth a splurge.

The action plan

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Cut up your veggies. This is pretty self-explanatory; take the stalks off your tomato, peel your onion and carrot and chop em’ all up nice and small.

While you’re doing this, heat up a saucepan and chuck in some olive oil.

Put your vegetables in the pan and cook them until they’re soft.

Take them out and let them cool for a while. Once they’ve cooled down a little pop them in the blender and blend until smooth.

Pour this wondrous mixture into a big pot.

This part of the cooking process is where I improvise.

Chuck in your spices to your taste; if you love garlic, go wild with that. If you prefer spicier soup, add some chilli powder – you’re a braver person than I. 7.

Bring your soup to a gentle boil.

8. Butter your tiger bread, pour the soup into the bowl and enjoy!

9.

This recipe is perfect for if you’re sick, you’ve walked home from uni in the cold, or if you need something you can heat up for lunch. For optimum coziness, throw a blanket over your feed and put a Youtube video of a fire on your laptop and you’ve achieved the autumn dream.

The great British debate off

Meg Blount dishes up the most delicious food controversies

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s students, we all know that the university volves the Jaffa Cake. Biscuit or cake? For many years this lifestyle introduces us to a range of new ex- philosophical question has been discussed. Some people arperiences, especially as we are thrown into gue it has the typical appearance of a biscuit and, if you were the deep end of the socialising pool: forced to make to browse a supermarket, you would stumble upon the confriends with strangers and flat share with random troversial delight within the ‘biscuit’ aisle. Nonetheless, others claim that the sponge part of the Jaffa and the jelly like jam, people. clearly make it a cake. Plus, McVitie’s themselves Yet, as these relationships grow, we are constantly made the decision to call the snack a discovering various sayings and habits from around Jaffa Cake, reiterating what they the country, contradicting with our own ideology. As a intended to advertise and result, ongoing debates often occur within the flat family, what is really in the conthreatening to end potential lifelong friendtents of the packet. As ships with judgments made due to perI like to rock the boat sonal preferences. Furthermore, when and to be even more the controversy revolves around food, the controversial, I will slip atmosphere becomes even more tense, and in a sneaky side note: in my perdivides normally emerge as people pick a sonal opinion, Jaffa Cakes are exside of the argument and try to enforce tremely overrated - I would never their opinions on the opposing group. go out of my way to purposely There are several mainstream debates that purchases a packet. Despite this, are bound to make an appearance; one of the if anyone offered me one, I most common questions whether pineapple should probably would not debe allowed a privileged place on top of pizza, a heavcline… enly food. Many relish the sensation of the tropiImage: Flickr Are you really a true cal fruit merging with the ham, cheese and Brit if you do not aptomato, introducing an exotic twist to the preciate the wonderfully classic Italian delicacy. However, I myself patriotic member of an afternoon refuse to accept this madness and, from tea: the scone? No matter if you my own experience of Italy, I am able to pronounce it ‘sc-on’ (the correct way) vouch that Italians traditionally made pizza with or ‘sc-own’, the real debate is: jam first or the intention of Margaritas only, meaning they disapprove of any additions, especially one as bizarre as pineapple – it is cream? Typically, it is known that the people in Devon spread the clotted cream on first and then dollop the jam on top, not a Piña Colada! whilst the Cornish population do the reverse, with the jam followed by the cream. I suggest you should all take a visit to Another major Cornwall to do things the proper way. deliberation involves Alongside these three universal disputes, a plethora of othfood and drink debates exist, and many more are sure to the Jaffa Cake. Biscuit erdevelop in future years. My advice to everyone: stick to your or cake? guns and do your own thing - it does not matter what anyone else believes, and sometimes a good flat or house discussion is Another major deliberation that cannot be ignored in- healthy. However, be right (like me), not wrong!

the courier

22

culture music

Monday 4 November 2019

c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Music Editors Dom Lee, Jagoda Waszkowiak & Joe Smith

‘Thinkin Bout Frank’ a look back on his career Following on from ‘DHL’ Frank Ocean’s first track in a year, Ben Travis takes a retrospective look at the star’s life in music

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rank Ocean’s new track ‘DHL’ arrived on October 19th, making it Ocean’s first delivery of the

year.

Christopher Bureaux was raised in New Orleans, with his mother until the age of 18. He studied English Literature at The University of New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina hit, influencing Ocean to move to L.A, to pursue his passion of music as ‘Frank Ocean’.

With little over $1000, Ocean began writing songs for artists such as Justin Bieber, John Legend and more. Tricky Stewart, a producer known for the likes of ‘Umbrella’ by Rhianna and ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyoncé, eventually discovered Frank, signing him to Def Jam records as a solo artist.

Around this t i m e , Ocean began mingling with Odd Future,

Image: Dave Gold (Wikimedia Commons)

an L.A based rap group made up by artists like Tyler the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt.

When asked if Odd Future had impacted his career in a BBC interview, Ocean said: ‘absolutely, it liberated my thinking in some ways, creatively and in a sense of knowing you can do a lot of it by yourself ’.

Frank O c e a n’s Nostalgia, Ultra was leaked in 2011.

The Guardian reports that Ocean had apparently leaked the mixtape himself; due to his record Def Jam Records being ‘too slow’ in releasing his work. Nostalgia, Ultra was mainly written and produced by Frank, whilst also sampling many songs from his favourite childhood bands; Coldplay, MGMT and Radiohead.

The 9-song masterpiece received instant acclaim

and was the beginning of Frank’s artistic recognition. Shortly following, Ocean was asked to feature on the Jay-Z and Kanye West album Watch the Throne, widening his following to a global scale.

Ocean later released Channel Orange, his first studio album on July 1st, 2012. The album again received rave reviews, being declared the album of the year by several publications. Channel Orange additionally won Best Contemporary Album; beating the likes of Miguel and Chris Brown (who had punched Frank Ocean weeks before). After

per year since the release of Blonde. ‘Chanel, ‘Biking’, ‘Moon River’ and now ‘DHL’ have all satisfied our quench for more Frank Ocean; but in today’s climate, we don’t stay hydrated for long. Regardless of the demand for another Frank Ocean album, it’s safe to say we are living in Frank’s world, and until he decides to supply, we will wait.

It’s safe to say we are living in Frank’s world

Channel Orange, Ocean stayed quiet for over three years, besides a couple of features.

Replacing his manager, publicist and lawyer, Frank Ocean moved to London. He fought to break the shackles of his Def Jam Records Contract; resulting in Ocean having to use his own money to buy his way out; with the agreement that he would release his next project with Def Jam. Ocean did so, creating a video album titled Endless in 2016, which is only available on Apple Music. Endless lacked substance to many; critic Brian Josephs’ wrote that Endless felt ‘formless’ and said ‘if Endless is supposed to be the Album… well, ouch.’

But it wasn’t THE album. Two days later, Frank independently released Blonde, a project he had secretly kept from Def Jam. 1-0 Frank Ocean. Blonde was an immediate hit, satisfying fans who had been clutching their Frank Ocean love for three years.

Ocean decided not to submit it for any Grammy consideration, claiming the award system was outdated and how “It just doesn’t seem to be representing very well for people who come from where I come from, and hold down what I hold down.”

Ocean has been dropping singles once or twice

Image: David Hwang (Wikimedia Commons)

Live and direct: gig reviews from across the city’s scene Reverend and the Makers

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18th October, Venue

unique mix of Sheffield’s well known indie influence, a hint of ska, and even poetry: Jon McClure’s Reverend and the Makers never fail to provide an eager and adoring crowd with the energy to bounce.

With the band’s supporting history full to the brim with major headliners such as Arctic Monkeys, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and Oasis, it is clear that Reverend and the Makers have the quality and fan base to play bigger and more populated venues. In spite of this, they remain extremely grounded, seemingly devoted to ensuring that each and every fan is given the show they expect.

Support acts Lona and The Dearly Beloved set the scene, with the latter’s frontman, Matt Bowman (Previously of The Pigeon Detectives), doubling down on their ‘dirty northerner’s’ heritage with chants of “Leeds, Leeds, Leeds!” Their recently released debut single ‘The King of The French Kiss’ is well worth a listen.

‘The State of Things’ opening synth and punchy bassline coerced even the most immobile into a metronomic head bob and threw Reverend and the Makers into their 23song set. This was followed by other songs from their 2007 album, ‘What the Milkman Saw’, ‘Armchair Detective’, and most notably ‘Miss Brown’. Dropping content from their second album A French Kiss in the Chaos allowed for a period of varying dynamics, intricate musicianship, and a greater focus on McClure’s vocals in ‘No Soap (In a Dirty War)’.

Well known indie influence, a hint of ska, and even poetry

Known to draw inspiration from poetry and specifically John Cooper Clarke, McClure read aloud an apt poem about his visit to South Shields. Passionately cheered by the crowd it showcased his writing ability and evidences why so many of the band’s lyrics are instantly and addictively memorable. The set continued with the shared vocals of keyboardist Laura McClure adding an additional element in ‘Auld Reekie Blues’, and then later taking centre stage in a James Bond-esc ‘Black Flowers’. Humorous anecdotes regarding the song’s narrative and an acoustic version of ‘Sex With the Ex’ broke up the set and provided diversity before returning to crowd pleasers ‘MDMAZING’ and ‘Bassline’. Closing with ‘He Said He Loved Me’ and ‘Silencing is Talking’ left a lasting impact and would be enough to make any music lover want to see them all over again.

McClure almost didn’t want to end the show, running to meet fans outside for one last crowd pleaser. A real feeling of gratitude was presented as the crowd sang along surrounded by the red brick arches.

Bruce Skelton

Miles Kane

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18th October, Boiler Shop

pproaching the Boiler Shop behind Newcastle’s Central Station I sort of knew what to expect.

Having seen Miles Kane before and being a big fan I knew that he would put on an electric performance. Upon entry this was confirmed as a platinum blonde Miles came out to rapturous applause.

Miles’ discography landed well with the crowd as hits like ‘Blame it on the Summertime’, ‘Come Closer’ and ‘Rearrange’ made the mosphit go wild in exciting scenes where beer cups were flying and chants of “Miles! Miles!

Miles f*cking Kane!” were reverberating around the venue. ‘Blame It On The Summertime’ stacks up well compared to Miles’ previous material, drawing on the upbeat sound of The Last Shadow Puppets ‘Miracle Aligner’from his side project alongside Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner.

Miles’ guitar hero heroics made the instrument sing as the crowd watched on in awe, alongside some great showmanship with the crowd. Support act Buzzard Buzzard

Buzzard also came up on stage for a cover version of LCD Soundsystem’s ‘Daft Punk Is Playing At My House’- a surprising choice for both artists but one which was incredibly well executed and sounded fantastic live.

‘Blame It On The Summertime’ made the moshpit go wild

Overall, Miles produced an excellent show and with ‘Blame it on the Summertime’ landing so well with fans this is incredibly promising for the scouse star’s future releases.

Dominic Lee

Image: Dominic Lee

the courier

23

Monday 4 November 2019

@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/music

music culture

The onslaught of live albums: cash grab or super fab?

In an age where a new live album comes out every week, Hope Lynes and Finlay Holden debate whether they’re worth your time and money

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For: Hope Lynes

n my argument for live albums I want to focus on what is possibly my favourite album of all time, that just so happens to be a live recording.

DMA’s released MTV Unplugged Live earlier this year, and it is a masterpiece. Combining songs off their both their first and second albums as well as their EP this is a beauty of a gift for fans.

And that is exactly what I would argue live albums are, they are a gift for fans. A different interpretation of fans’ favourite songs redefined.

It’s a new way to listen that isn’t overplayed and can mean something special, often focusing more on the lyrics. Lyrics become even more beautiful when they are stripped back or enhanced.

Equally, live albums of gigs or festival

performances can recapture the music within experiences where we often focus on the visuals and the memories surrounding the events. Phones can capture images and what the eyes see but sound quality is often poor and misleads interpretation of an event.

The live album rekindles a special performance for those that were there, and allows those unable to attend to share some experience of the sound that can’t be captured through a badly recorded Instagram video.

Personally, I thoroughly enjoy listening to live albums as I prefer sound to be unperfected, raw and to hear the unedited sounds of the instruments. Listening to these albums on a record player is a unique listening experience that is the definition of a special record to own in my opinion. My favourite record that I own is my live DMA’s album and that sums up for me the importance and uniqueness of the live album.

Image: Wikimedia Commons (Bruce)

Rex Orange County Pony

Third Eye Blind Screamer

S

ome albums you finish listening feeling pumped-up. Others leave you chilled or in a thoughtful mood. By the time Third Eye Blind’s Screamer came to an end I found myself confused, disappointed and frankly wondering how far a band can fall.

Let’s backtrack a little bit. It’s 1997, the grunge scene has come crashing down and nu-metal is still in its infancy. In the midst of the appalling, overproduced nonsense of those ‘post-grunge’ years came Third Eye Blind’s debut self-titled album.

With catchy rifts, introspective lyrics and inventive sound-design the album was met with moderate success from both mainstream MTV audiences and rock critics.

Sadly, with Screamer it is clear that Jenkins is in the midst of a major identity crisis. The guitars are gone, replaced by simplistic computer-generated beats. Smart, witty lyrics about addiction and self-destruction are replaced by painfully generic, swearing-filled sentiments about love, modern life and a dystopian future.

The group has a cult following who were happy with their consistent – if predictable – releases.

This new direction will alienate them while the general lack of quality will bring in few new listeners.

Songs like ‘2X Tigers’ and ‘Got So Blind’ are truly awful. It is common knowledge that Jenkins is hard to work with and these days the roaster of rotating band members are basically there to fulfil his wishes. What this record showcases most clearly is how important that first incarnation of the band was in shaping the groups sound and direction.

Screamer is by far the worst Third Eye Blind album and clearly showcases that the band are at a crisis point. I fear the only way for the band to return to their 90’s hey-day is to reconvene that era’s members. But given how much Jenkins has since alienated those guys I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Joe Holloran

P

rofessional sad boy Rex Orange County plucks our heartstrings once again with his latest album, Pony.

Despite the surprise release of single ‘New House’, Rex had remained relatively quiet since Apricot Princess, which he credits to a difficult and uninspiring year. However, after his year-long hiatus, Alex O’Connor returns with a fresh but familiar blend of pop and soul – a reminder of what we have been missing.

The first song from the album, ‘10/10’, is an uncharacteristic introduction. A loud concoction of synths accompanied by auto-tuned vocals that severely detract from his often-charming voice. Understandably, this was a stylistic choice to perhaps garner a different audience, but it feels misplaced.

Pony is an album of acceptance

Thankfully, Rex quickly returns to form with the next song ‘Always’, which bursts with colour. The swelling trumpets and occasional jingle set a relaxed, uplifting mood that follows throughout.

Rex boasts his newfound optimism on Pony; a change from his usual solitary lyrics. His wellestablished relationship with Thea, also a singer, is undoubtedly a force behind this. This change of heart is characterised by the upbeat and cheery anthem, ‘Never Had The Balls’. Still, we are offered a dose of nostalgia with ‘Pluto Projector’, a tender reflection on the close bond between the pair. In typical fashion, his more sentimental moments on this song are flush with violins, reminiscent of Apricot Princess.

Pony is an album of acceptance. ‘It’s Not The Same Anymore’ he reasons. Life changes, people change, and so do you. But no matter how dark things may seem, Rex Orange County assures us that it gets better.

Taylor Stubbs

Against: Finlay Holden

W

hile it cannot be argued that live renditions of records shouldn’t be heard, I do not believe that recordings of performances being released as entire albums is the best way to approach this.

First of all, the magic of hearing your favourite tracks blasting out from the artist in person is an incredible feeling that is hard to replicate anywhere else. It will always sound different to the pre-recorded, maybe over-produced version that you’ve had on repeat on Spotify for months beforehand, and this new sound is interesting to observe. Each artist will render their songs live in an unique way.

are many online platforms that allow you to do so.

Clogging up the feed of streaming platforms with attempts to capture the essence of a gig is simply a nuisance that should be avoided.

It is an inferior replication of going to a live show

What live albums do is try to recreate this feeling by giving you a tape of a show, but it every way it is an inferior replication of going to a live show that will not ever live up to being at a show yourself.

Ultimately, music is produced in a specific way by each artist in the studio for good reason. The flair of a performer and atmosphere of a crowd can elevate it to another level, but listening through a microphone on stage is not sufficient.

If you want to see how songs sound live, there

Kanye West

Jesus Is King

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fter over a year of missed deadlines, Kanye West’s long-awaited album finally came out last Friday.

In that time, West went through several notable stylistic transformations. From discussing overtly explicit themes in his 2018 Ye, to completely switching the focus in his music to religious topics for spiritual gospel choir ‘Sunday Service’.

Needless to say, after seeing the enormous potential Kanye exhibits in those sessions, I expected that Jesus is King would be an extension of the same originality and production value. It had the potential to be the hip-hop album of the year. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

It seemed as though West cherry-picked discarded older tracks that failed to make the cut in his previous albums and added a gospel choir to them in an attempt to fit the new brand. For example, the tracks ‘Follow God’ and ‘Use This Gospel’ were suspiciously reminiscent of the flow and rhythm that was used in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Other songs were outright ludicrous. On ‘Closed on Sunday’ for example, Kanye opens with, verbatim, “Closed on Sunday, you’re my Chick-FilA.” Generally speaking, the lyrics on all eleven tracks were uncharacteristically shallow and unoriginal: something I never thought I would say about Kanye. I expected that a great deal of time would be spent exploring West’s personal convictions and relationships through the lens of his faith. Instead, he simply chanted banal Christian verses over simple beats and some background harmonies.

The gospel choirs used in the album are its only saving grace. The vast, rich collection of heartfelt voices added depth, filling out the otherwise plain tracks. Also Kenny G even has an unexpected feature in ‘Use This Gospel’ - the best part of the song.

Overall, I greatly admire the idea of combining gospel and hip-hop, and I thought that certainly, of all artists, Kanye West would be the best candidate for the creation of an album like this. Unfortunately, it was underwhelming both lyrically and musically.

Bonya Kleyman

Image: Max Pixel

Cigarettes After Sex Cry

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arrying on the soft simple tunes from the first album, Greg Gonzales continues to sing in his breathy sensual voice about love, heartbreak and lust.

On Friday 25th October Cigarettes After Sex released a new album Cry which showcased very little evolution from their previous works. The melodic guitar strumming and slow lullaby-like baseline create an overall soothing atmosphere of serenity, resulting in an apparent dream-pop style.

One of the first impressions to receive from the initial run through the album is the sense of drifting along the waves of an ocean in the middle of nowhere.

It is clear by now that the band has developed their own evident signature sound which undoubtedly works for them. The lovely uniform tune of their works creates this idea that all of them could be combined into one extended song, which is both their strength and weakness. The question here is: was it really necessary to stick to the overused themes of romance and eroticism? The lyrics and poetry of the songs seem incredibly simplified and lacking character and personality, focusing primarily on sexualising the ideas and expressing the protagonist’s desires.

The combination of the alluring lead voice, pleasing melody and lyrics about seduction, longing and regret leaves a confusing aftertaste. All I can picture after listening to this album countless times is an autumn setting and a lonely man standing on a balcony with his third dimming cigarette. But isn’t that what the name of the band suggests in the first place? With the way this is going, expect more of the same from their future works.

Jade Aruzhan Sagynay

/The CourierMusic @culture_courier

24

culture TV Time Travel Gavin and Stacey

Katie Brownlee reminisces on a British classic

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he long-awaited return of the BBC hit comedy Gavin and Stacey is closer than ever, as devoted fans wait 10 AGONISINGLY long years for the ‘important’ answers – what exactly is occurin’?

Picture this: Christmas day 2019, you’ve just finished an amazing Christmas dinner, the Queen’s speech has been and gone, everyone’s sitting with full bellies from food and drink, you change the channel to BBC One, you hear the opening lines “Tell me tomorrow, I’ll wait by the window, for you…”. Let’s return to Barry Island.

Since the airing of the last episode in 2010, I have rewatched the show countless times, in awe of the loving, family- orientated humour, the hilarious euphemisms, the catchphrases, and of course, the characters of whom we can all relate to at one point or another. For anyone who hasn’t watched the show, I cannot, (I repeat, CANNOT) stress this enough – it is the epitome of British family life in the 2000s, something of which everyone is familiar with.

Now, in my late teens, I have this sudden realisation that I'm more of a Pam Growing up I had always idolised the character of Stacey, played by the amazingly talented, Joanna Page, her life was literally everything I had dreamed for myself as a little girl. Growing up, meeting the love of my life, surrounded by a loving family and living happily ever after (for the most part). Now, in my late teens, I have this sudden realisation that I’m more of a Pam (Alison Steadman) or Nessa (Ruth Jones) figure than I ever will be a Stacey. Of course, if you have seen the show, you’ll get that that’s nothing to be ashamed of… right?

Recently, the news of the reunion has sparked an internet sensation of memes and cultural references to the show via social media. I can’t go a day without seeing a reference to the show online, or making one myself – from a ‘corn on the cob’ reference, or a barn dance reference, the fans cannot seem

to get enough.

Simple, yet seriously entertaining comic genius, if you ask me.

So, what’s happened to Neil, the baby? Has he learnt the difference between Osama and Obama yet? Do Gavin and Stacey have a baby? Do Smithy and Nessa eventually get together? Are Pete and Dawn divorced? Most importantly, do we get answers for that bloody fishing trip? All will be revealed Christmas Day, this year at 8pm on BBC One, and ‘I for one, truth be told, can’t bloody wait!’

Image: IMDb, BBC/Baby Cow/Neil Bennett

the courier

Monday 4 November 2019

c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk TV Editors Amy Brown, Sophie Hicks & Will Nsieyanji

Has Jane the Virgin lost her innocence?

Writer Yasmine Bridge exposes Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez for insensitive language N

ot too long ago, Jane the Virgin’s Gina Rodriguez posted a video of herself online, singing along to one of Lauryn Hill’s verses in the song ‘Ready or Not’ by the Fugees. This was posted for her 4 million followers to see. Within the swiftly deleted clip, Gina Rodriguez sings the N word.

This word is a racial slur. Furthermore, her apology that followed also raised questions over its sincerity. This event, on one level draws attention to Gina Rodriguez’s history, having been numerously accused of making anti-black remarks, whilst also highlighting a pivotal, more widespread issue with regards to the use of this word, both within the music industry and indeed society.

fence as a possibility rather than a guaranteed consequence of her actions. This being said, she did go on to post a written apology on the same platform. Rodriguez stated “the word I sang, carries with it a legacy of hurt and pain that I cannot even imagine”. The scandal has reached further platforms, having been discussed on many news and talk shows within the United States.

Indeed, to understand this issue from all angles, it’s crucial to consider the root and history of this word.

It's crucial to consider the root and history of this word Her initial apology, a video of a similar format, arguably appeared insincere. “I’m sorry if I offended anyone” seems to suggest of-

Image: IMDb

YouTube Reviews: The new television?

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Jenna Marbles

ouTube, which debuted in 2005, is now officially old enough to have its own “veterans.” By that, I mean its content creators - YouTubers - who have stayed relevant for over ten years.

Since the website is constantly flooded with an increasing number of new users, accomplishing this feat is impressive. Every YouTuber does it in their own way. Some reinvent their image (like Shane Dawson), some set out on a new endeavor (like Jeffree Star), but others almost do nothing at all. Today, I will discuss Jenna ‘Marbles’ Mourey, a veteran YouTuber who is still a household name today.

Jenna is a unique case. It almost seems as though she now puts in less effort in her videos than she did five or more years ago, while still remaining as popular as she was then. It is not her older classic ten-minute-videos that earn her the following she continues to have today, but rather her humorous, charming, and relatable personality. Back in 2011, Mourey released scripted sketches and amusing compilatory videos - you know, typical early 2010s content. If you check out her channel now, though, you will see videos entitled ‘Putting 200 Fake Nails on One Nail’ or ‘I Filmed My Dog Whenever He Cried Or Was Nasty For 24 Hours,’ which set out to do exactly what they promise in their title - no clickbait here.

Jenna picks the most random ideas and makes countless videos about them. From dipping her hand in paraffin wax and making candles out of her fingers, to giving her boyfriend, Julien, a Bratz doll makeover, Jenna literally does it all. These videos are incredibly entertaining. The chemistry and rapport that Mourey has with Julien, the constant appearances her four dogs make, as well as her trademark humor make each of her videos a hit.

Jenna is one of the rare cases where her true personality is enough ammunition to create memorable content. She makes a living simply by being herself, and I think we all secretly wish we could have her job.

Bonya Kleyman

Image: Harry Murphy / RISE via Sportsfile

Sidemen

Image: Rhuben Vlug, Wikipedia

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he Sidemen are one of the biggest groups on Youtube and my personal favourite. The Sidemen boast a diverse fan base and while primarily aimed at younger teenage boys, the group share a large young adult and female audience.

The Sidemen were originally formed in 2013 consisting of Youtubers KSI, Miniminter, Behzinga, Zerkaa, TBJZL and Vikkstar123, this group is referred to as “the ultimate sidemen” because in early 2019 Wroetoshaw joined the group and has remained ever since. Since 2016 the Sidemen have hosted their own events such as the ‘Sidemen charity football match’ since 2016 which was last held at the Valley (Charlton Athletic’s stadium).

Other events include the KSI vs Joe Weller and KSI vs Logan Paul boxing fights, the latter having a rematch at the Staples Centre in LA in a few weeks time. The sidemen have released one book away from YouTube, Sidemen: The Book, that was released in 2016.

56.6m

The word is a racial and ethnic slur, and has been used in derogatory terms towards black people, particularly in the United States from the mid-20th century. Historically, the word was used during and associated with racial violence, lynching, discrimination, verbal abuse and even slavery. This is not to say that the word is not still used now however.

The debate makes this a vital social issue rather than merely a celebrity blunder So, there are also questions raised around the use of the word in music, and particularly rap. Do artists have a responsibility to eliminate the use of this word in the first place? Or is it the right of black people to reclaim this word from its deeply racist origins? The debate makes this a vital social issue rather than merely a celebrity blunder.

The word should not be readily used in our vocabulary.

It should, by absolutely no means, be a go to insult. We should consider why this has happened. It’s 2019.

Review

The Office Ladies Podcast

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ix years after its conclusion, actresses Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey have launched a podcast series to commemorate their iconic mockumentary-sitcom The Office (2005-2013), appropriately titled Office Ladies. Fischer is best known for playing mischievous receptionist Pam Beesley and is one half of a “will-they, won’t-they” romance with John Krasinski’s Jim Halpert.

Fischer and Kinsey’s first podcast focuses on the ‘Pilot’ episode of The Office, describing their nostalgia as the show approaches its 15th anniversary.

The actresses relate to the fans as they describe themselves as becoming “nerdy fans” themselves after rewatching the episodes. Rather than providing a commentary of each episode, Fischer primarily indulges fans with what she calls “fast facts” about the production process and filming the Pilot episode. For example, Fischer reminisces about meeting original show creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, describing how nervous she was as a “super-fan” of the BBC comedy, which had a small but significant run from 2001-2003.

As Fischer relinquishes anecdotes from the set, it can at times seem like Kinsey needn’t be there as she listens to stories which she wasn’t involved in. However, the dynamic between the two and their close friendship lets Kinsey weigh in on the conversation, as they reminisce about their off-screen bond with Steve Carell and his performance as lovable buffoon Michael Scott, which left them in hysterics.

The total number of subscribers between all members of the Sidemen group

Highlights include their 'Sidemen Tinder in Real Life' video currently with 27 million views; this video saw the Sidemen in a studio and giving their ‘best pickup lines’ to chosen members of the public. The video included some hilarious lines and while not impressive womanisers, awkward and hilarious moments there are many.

Another popular video is the 'Sidemen $10,000 vs $100 Holiday' with 24 million views, this video saw the Sidemen randomly split in half, half were sent to luxury and the others to modesty and the teams didn’t know which until arrival. The 'Sidemen Gameshows' are always fun as they have done numerous adaptations of TV shows including The Weakest Link, The Chase and Countdown; all with adult humour and Sidemen charm.

Collectively the Sidemen’s main members boast 56.64m subscribers, with the Sidemen channel itself having 6.22m subscribers and second channel More Sidemen adding another 2.45m subscribers. While I’m now older than the typical demographic, at the time of the Sidemen forming, I WAS the typical demographic. Years later, I still enjoy their content, perhaps through a scope of nostalgia and in honour of my adolescence.

Andrew White

Image: IMDb (NBC) A highlight of the podcast includes Fischer talking about her first impressions of the cast. Already in character as Dwight without her knowing, Fischer thought Wilson was “the weirdest person I’d ever met in my life”.

His method acting clearly paid off as Dwight has since become one of the most quotable characters in the series. Although the podcast is peppered with awkward sponsor promotions from the actresses, overall it is a nostalgic podcast which will please fans of The Office as we learn on-set hijinks which resonate with the magic of the show, making listeners remember why we loved it in the first place.

Kate Dunkerton

the courier

25

Monday 4 November 2019

@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/TV

Another show bites the dust

George Bell mourns three well loved TV shows that were cancelled unfairly before their time

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e’ve all been there, there’s a show that you simply can’t get enough of. You’ll be sat in bed binging hour after hour of it, investing time in the characters and storylines. So, it sucks when it ends but at least you are given some semblance of an ending in most cases. However, there are the times when there is a show that for one reason or another gets cancelled before its time and leaves us wondering what could have happened.

Daredevil (and other Marvel-Netflix shows) One of the key selling points of the streaming service Netflix was the Marvel shows which showed a much darker side of the superhero genre through well-written stories.

The brilliant performances by Charlie Cox in Daredevil and Krysten Ritter in Jessica Jones portraying people who aren’t good or bad, just human and dealing with serious issues like religion and substance abuse are some of my favourites in recent memory. The latest season of Daredevil, in my opinion,

was the best yet improving on all fronts from previous seasons. So, when shows like Luke Cage and Iron Fist got cancelled, I was disappointed. I had no real worries about the other Marvel-Netflix properties due to how much more well-received they were. But as a result of viewership of season 3 of Daredevil dropping by 50%, Netflix then took the axe to Daredevil and shortly after airing latest seasons for Punisher and Jessica Jones, cancelled them too.

So just like that all the characters we have known since 2015 we won’t be able to enjoy again. This is made all the harder as it’s unlikely we’ll see them in this style in the MCU due to the darker tone that wouldn’t match.

Firefly Star Wars meets the Wild West. The muchbeloved but short-running

TV show Firefly took this premise and ran with it building up a universe in no time that was easy to wish you were part of. Made by pre-avengers Joss Whedon, the show had all the charisma and charm of the MCU and made the show feel like the fun uncle of Star Trek. Leading as Captain Malcolm Reynolds was Nathan Fillion in one of his most iconic roles to date and cemented the character as one of the greats in pop culture. But due to poor ratings - thanks to bad handling by Fox Network airing episodes in the wrong order - the show was cancelled after only 14 episodes. It may have been given a spin-off movie Serenity in 2005 which was enjoyable and gave a decent conclusion, but that just left me wanting more.

$108m

The estimated cost of filming a 12-episode season of Sense8

Sense8 Netflix has given us some great shows, but, like the Marvel properties, has also taken them away in a brutal way. Another example would have to be Sense8 which followed 8 individuals around the world who are connected due to a linked threat.

The show is made all the authentic as for the most part it is filmed on site around the world. This made Sense8 one of the most expensive shows on Netflix.

The show was well received and enjoyed by a large audience but apparently “not large enough” according to Netflix boss Ted Sarandos to substantiate the cost, so it was cancelled. The show did later receive another episode acting as a goodbye and tie up loose ends so to attempt to appease fan outcry.

Image: IMDb

Review

Living With Yourself: Rudd double trouble

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aul Rudd out-dos himself (literally) in new Netflix mini-series Living With Yourself – a psychological and oddly melancholic comedy which raises the definition of self-loathing to hysterical new heights.

Gasping for breath as he claws his way free from his own grave bewildered, lost, and hysterically screaming, is how we’re introduced to disaffected married man Miles Elliot, a lack-lustre husband and employee who bets his life’s savings on a mysterious procedure to become the best version of himself. Returning home to find his perfect clone settling comfortably into his life, however, isn’t the deal he was expecting.

This short series was far more engaging than I first expected. Originally, I was just intrigued by the sci-fi theme and the trippy premise, but the show quickly surprised me in its sincerity and its difficult topics with are ap-

proached humorously but with real, intense feeling.

The dynamic between Miles and his clone evaluates some of the trickiest questions we, as human beings, often ask ourselves – existential questions of who we really are, what we contribute to the world, and why it’s so difficult

(Paul) delivers numerous impressively to love yourself.

We watch Miles’ journey in attempting to break from the destructive habits fueling his self-pity while simultaneously addressing his complete and utter hatred for himself manifesting in the form of a bitter feud with his more confident, more talented, and far superior clone. For me this is where the humour truly stems from – the s h o w ’s ability t o

take such deep topics and twist them into scenarios so painfully disastrous and relatable it feels as if you’re allowed to laugh at Miles’ misery because no one can say with confidence that they wouldn’t act in exactly the same, ludicrous way.

While I felt the ending was slightly anti-climactic and too strange to sit well with me as a satisfying conclusion, the whole show is indeed worth watching.

It’s easy viewing at it’s finest and there are countless instances that are memorable in the best kind of way. The acting is surprisingly outstanding, with Aisling Bea often stealing the show, and the intricate choreography between both of Rudd’s characters – especially during an action-packed fight sequence in the final episode – is completely seamless and a joy to watch. He delivers numerous impressively nuanced and emotional performances leaving anyone who watches this show to agree on at least one thing: there really is only one Paul Rudd.

Emy Moore

TV culture

Should The Accident be linked to Grenfell?

Alfie Blincowe discusses the controversial new drama

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hannel 4’s new drama, The Accident, centres around the community of a small, Welsh town that is torn apart by a factory explosion that takes the life of a group of teenagers. Everyone is looking for someone to blame as parents mourn their children. The first episode of the four-part series aired on 24th of October.

News outlets such as The Guardian, The BBC, The Independent and others argue that this program says volumes about the real-life events of The Grenfell Tower fire of 2017, but is it disingenuous to link the two?

The real Grenfell fire shook the nation when a blaze broke out in a housing block that killed 72 people, and uprooted the lives of the remaining 221 people who lived there. Just these numbers compared to the ten teenagers, and a smattering of adults involved in the fictional explosion leaves The Accident seeming somewhat toothless. Whilst both are tragedies, does it not cheapen the victims of the real fire by comparing their deaths to this much smaller, fictional event?

The Grenfell inquiry brought up questions about the systemic problems in building regulations, fire safety, and inadequate housing that led to the fire. This is likely where the similarities between the show and real-life will become clear; in the aftermath.

Some say that it is too soon and in poor taste So far the links made between the two in press releases seem weak, like misleading adverts that use real death to promote a drama that are only slightly relevant. The series was written by Jack Thorne, The BAFTA winner behind TV series such as This is England, Skins, and the film Wonder. Thorne has even said “I had an idea in my head and then Grenfell happened and the idea changed.” He also shared that he was “offered [the job of adapting] Grenfell three times by three different production companies… but I didn’t feel like there were the facts in place to look at it properly without hurting an awful lot of people, trampling over people’s lives.”

A missed opportunity that has been falsely advertised Some say that it is too soon and in poor taste to make a television adaptation of such a recent event because it still affects hundreds of people’s lives. I feel that it is in even poorer taste to promote a fictional drama with a real-life catastrophe.

The Grenfell Tower fire is a sensitive subject that effected real people and destroyed real lives; that is why we need to talk about it. Television adaptations should be calling out the appalling state of things that led to that fire, much like HBO’s recent hit Chernobyl. A drama that tiptoes around the issue should not be given the same praise as one that actually tackles them.

The Accident it a good drama in its own right, and hopefully the following episodes will delve more into the systematic corruption in our country that allows events like Grenfell to happen. Linking this show with Grenfell before it even aired, in my opinion, has cheapened the drama, making it seem anti-climactic and disrespectful.

The whole thing is a missed opportunity that has been falsely advertised.

Image: Youtube

Images: YouTube

26

culture film Documentary Corner

Image: YouTube

(2007)

I

magine a country where prison is the easiest way to access totally free healthcare, where because of the price of surgery you have to choose which of your fingers to save. I doubt the country in your mind is America. However, this is the truth, the truth that is documented in Michael Moore’s 2007 film Sicko.

An exposé that gained him an Oscar nomination that year.

At the centre of this documentary is the people and the consequences of America’s private insurance healthcare system. The failings of this system are outlined by Moore through personal heart-breaking stories told first-hand by a range of people; both those who work for insurance companies and those who have suffered because of them. Moore’s storytelling and dark sense of humour drive this film making for an ultimately sickening shock factor.

the courier

c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Film Editors: Elisabetta Pulcini, Joe Holloran, Lucy Lillystone & Steven Ross

Addams Family (PG)

Terminator: Dark Fate (15)

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Image: YouTube

o say that this installment is the third best movie of the franchise might appear to be a backhanded compliment but given some of the movies that make up the said franchise, it's really not.

Terminator: Dark Fate is not a movie that is going to leave you with a sense of amazement at the end of it no matter what you think of - whether it's the story, the special effects or even the acting. But it isn't going to waste a good few hours of your life either. It falls somewhere in between - and somehow seems like an appropriate place for it.

This film directly follows the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day and finds a rather convenient way to bypass the not-so-good Terminator films that came in between.

As far as the franchise goes, it sticks to what works. There are scenes that gory enough to satisfy some fans while still being aesthetically alright to watch - with pieces of metal and flesh flying around somehow not nauseating. It also has an underlying political tone to it with references to undocumented migrants for example - somehow trying to relate a fictitious world to the real one.

Mackenzie Davis is by far the most impressive of the actors in the movie and definitely holds her own as Grace.

Some of the acting from the others - especially Luna and Reyes - definitely seems more pedestrian than what one might expect. Some of it, of course, may be down to the script and the character development but it's hard to pin all of the blame on that.

Overall, Terminator: Dark Fate is not the movie that is going to leave a lasting imprint with regards to the Terminator franchise, but it is a movie that provides a fairly controversy-free, even if generic storyline, that should make the movie just about watchable.

Sesha Subramanian

Monday 4 November 2019

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (PG)

Image: YouTube

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or one of the most iconic families in American history, The Addams Family (2019) does not prompt many laughs or scares. With so many previously successful shows and productions, it is obvious that the new release would find it hard to top the already existing fame. Unfortunately, even the voice cast of star actors could not help the poor character development.

As a horror genre, there was not a single point in the whole movie that was frightening or even mildly spooky.

The only reference to horror being the dark setting of the Addams house. Understandably, this particular animated movie was directed towards a much younger audience and therefore limited itself in exploration of possibilities.

This could also be the reason for over-simplified twodimensional characters, which would be easier to comprehend by children. However, this does not explain the tragic humour present throughout the film, which didn’t make a single adult or child in the audience laugh.

As for the making of the film, I personally found the animation unimpressive and strongly resembling Tim Burton’s signature style. This is explained by the fact that he was originally supposed to be directing the movie, but chose to resign the position. It is heart-breaking to see his spectacular art style butchered and made mediocre in attempt to copy. On the bright side, the soundtrack list seemed to make a strong addition to the plot of the movie. 'Haunted Heart' sang by Christina Aguilera made a powerful opening scene for the entrance of an equally powerful character of Morticia.

I would not suggest wasting your money and your time on a cinema outing for this movie unless you want to entertain a few very young misfits on October 31st. just not worth your attention.

Jade Aruzhan Sagynay

Image: IMDB

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n Disney’s break of practically remaking every animated film into live-action, Angelina Jolie returns in the sequel to 2014’s Maleficent, that proves for a second time that our traditional ‘heroes’ and 'villains' aren’t always what they seem.

Elle Fanning is back as Aurora, who wishes to marry Prince Phillip and unite their two kingdoms. Maleficent, on the other hand, obviously isn’t as enthusiastic about the engagement, whilst the royal family seems almost too happy to welcome Aurora as one of their ‘own’.

Mistress of Evil, thankfully, doesn’t fall victim to the Marvel curse (the sequels are always the worst: Thor: The Dark World, Iron Man 2) – if anything I actually enjoyed this more than the first. There’s some interesting plot points here that could make for a trilogy: it’s magical, but it’s certainly not perfect, and whilst I could’ve done with more of the stronger, feminist Aurora that we saw in the first film, Angelina Jolie and Michelle Pfeiffer’s characters prove better examples here, outstanding in both action sequences, and conversational pieces.

Special credit especially goes to Ellen Mirojnick, the costume designer for Mistress of Evil. It’s clear that every detail has been considered, from the contrast in colour between Aurora and Maleficent (the first time the two share a scene, Aurora wears pale blue, Maleficent shades of somber brown and black).

It’s a sequel that I’m not sure anyone actually asked for, yet it’s not what you think it’s going to be. Your classic fairy-tale, albeit from the perspective of someone we always considered the ‘villain’, manages to be funny, heartbreaking, and honestly if I’d seen this as a kid, I might have even been a little scared. Ken Loach would probably label this as a “hamburger film” and “not cinema”, but I think it’s worth more than your average McDonald’s on a Saturday night.

Harriet Metcalfe

Did Marvel kill 'smart' cinema?

Elisabetta Pulcini discusses Scorsese & Coppola statements on the health of the industry

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Image: IMDB

I re-watched Sicko recently and after a difficult week for the NHS with a bill being passed meaning it’s no longer protected from privatisation, this documentary heightened my awareness of how the importance of our NHS. It terrified me the thought of losing a valued gem in our crown jewels; a system that keeps us all safe and well while not breaking the bank.

rancis Ford Coppola has expressed disdain for superhero movies, worrying in particular about their "invasion" of cinemas. While the merits of the movies themselves can be debated, the distrust laid by studios on original content in favor of a continuous rehash of recognizable IP is a creative tragedy.

Although Scorsese and Coppola’s comments may come off as unfair generalizations, in calling Marvel movies "Despicable" and "Theme park rides", his concern for the way cinema is changing is valid. In fact, the main problem is not with superheroes themselves, as much as it is in the homogeneity of MCU films.

Due to all being part of the same cinematic universe, there is no doubt that Marvel movies all seem to have a specific look and feel to them, which does not allow for much variation from its pre-determined tone.

Eventhehomogeneityofonefilmfranchisewouldnotbe bothersome, did it not come from Disney. Especially considering their recent acquisition of Fox, the idea of a mo-

What Moore uncovers is the gluttony of the American healthcare system

Despite being now 13 years old this documentary is as relevant as ever because with the failure of Obama Care the American healthcare system is unchanged. What Moore uncovers is the gluttony of American insurance company methods that are designed to make them obese with profits while neglecting those who are most vulnerable. The American dream truly turned into the American nightmare.

Eve Ducker

Image: YouTube

nopoly on cinema by one studio is real and troublesome.

In fact, the variety that a genre like superheroes has the potential to offer is instantly killed the second Disney is in creative control, due to their unbreakable tie to being a family-friendly brand, and their cynical concern with merchandising. In fact, films like Joker (2019) and Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse (2018), who have both gathered commercial and critical success, are incredibly daring projects that would not be encouraged by Disney, who seeks to create one homogenous universe.

Considering how we are living in the ‘golden age of television’, it is not surprising that movies are adapting to a serialized way of story-telling. And while many studios failed miserably in creating their own money-making universe, Marvel is doing it successfully. The effect Marvel is having on the industry explains the hatred many feel towards the studio. In fact, more and more studios seem to be attempting a recreation of the big events by relying on recognizable IP, rather than actually good mov-

ies. A perfect example is Jurassic World (2015).

A complete bastardisation of the themes presented in the original, this movie butchers the legacy of the visionary Jurassic Park (1993), and demonstrates just how bad blockbuster movies can be with no strong creative vision to guide them. Despite the abysmal execution, Jurassic World is still one of the top ten highest grossing movies of all time. It is rare these days to come across a good movie with an original concept that dominates the box office. At the same time, television is breaking those boundaries, and delivering more original content than ever before. It seems that studios feel that the only way to attract people to the cinema is to create big events starring their favourite characters.

Depressingly enough, out of the top ten highest grossing movies of 2019 in the United States, Us is the only one to not be tied to a recognizable IP. The Irishman director Martin Scorsese.

This is not to say that Marvel movies are cannot be good: Black Panther (2018) and Captain America: Civil War (2016) sought to convey relevant discussions, through complicated characters and realistic relationships that the audiences have come to know and love. However, despite directors having been granted greater creative control, these movies can still be hindered by the fact that they are made by Disney.

For example, the third act of Black Panther is beneath the message of the movie: instead of focusing on the discussion between T’Challa and Killmonger, the film ends on a generic Marvel showdown which, despite the moving death scene of the antagonist, cheapens both the characters and the themes.

The prevalence of one genre at the box office is not new. Superheroes are popular the way cowboys were in the 1950s and '60s. However, while Hollywood has not given up on smart films, it is seemingly giving up on supporting original content.

the courier

27

Monday 4 November 2019

@Courier_Film thecourieronline.co.uk/film

Do live-action film adaptations work? and argue for and against the creation of live-action films Carl Smith-Valdez

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Sophie Hicks

Yes

rom The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, live action remakes seems to be taking its toll in the Disney realm. This has raised concerns over originality, laziness and lack of creativity.

Fear not. Live action adaptations can still work.

Adaptations can provide a visual update to animated texts and make them more accessible to today’s young generation. For instance, The Lion King can be enjoyed by children of today with its realistic CG animals. This undoubtedly will also spark nostalgia amongst older generation. Hence, both audiences are positively enhanced. The Lion King had a $1.6billion gross worldwide since its first release. This goes to show how children can enjoy watching it for the first time whilst adults can see the original story re-imagined.

It builds more understanding and engagement to the film

Another successful adaptation can be seen when How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (1996) was adapted in 2000.

The Hollywood director, Ron Howard retains the meaning of this classical Dr Seuss story with his remarkable casting. One could not fail to recognise Jim Carrey’s humour and surreal moments which makes the film work.

It is his energetic performance that builds more understanding and engagement to the film.

There are moments where adaptation can be considered straying from the original content. It is the Whos who learn a valuable lesson on consumerism and political corruption. This therefore adds a new aspect into the story by adjusting it into something that is more resonant and relevant to today.

Through the live action adaptation, the grinch is also humanised. All the overlooked aspects of the original are given light to – the love triangle between Marta May, Mayor Augustus and The Grinch. We can see his inner motives through an emotional backstory to his character. This gives the viewers a chance to empathise with his character and recognise his progression over the course

of the story. Additionally, Howard’s representation of Whoville from costume and set design is truly terrific.

It's attention to detail brings depth and authenticity to the animated film.

If these two texts have been able to achieve worldwide successful from adaptations, then surely, we should give the future a chance.

Carl Smith-Valdez

I

No

believe that any sort of adaptation/remake is extremely lazy on behalf of film and TV producers.

Especially with the recent trend of Disney live-action remakes, my hate for them has only grown. I used to be excited about what films Disney had on offer every year, and now I just lose hope.

Firstly, the term ‘live-action’ is questionable at bestare CGI lions classed as ‘live-action’? Isn’t that just a different form of animation? When live-action remakes are made, it generally loses the soul of the original TV show/film because they get lost in translation from cartoon to ‘live-action’ and strays so far from the original source, the characters are unrecognisable.

I’m not mad that they choose different designs for characters, I’m mad because the original characters are generally so iconic (otherwise there wouldn’t be a franchise for a remake) that any form of differentiation causes chaos. No matter the remake, no one can be happy with a design, there’s always criticism- the team behind the Sonic the Hedgehog liveaction learnt this the hard way.

What made Disney so iconic in the first place is that they made films that no one else dared achieve. I grew up idolising Disney, and now I find them lazy because live-actions are pure cash-

cows; they make them because it’s guaranteed as a box office success because they already know audiences enjoy the story. I know they “adapt” the story, it’s just to satisfy the Reddit threads where people share minor critiques that really don’t affect the plot-point in any way, such as “WHERE ARE THE DISNEY PRINCESS MOTHERS?” that Disney now takes upon themselves to create a throwaway backstory for 2017's Beauty and The Beast.

The ‘added-depth' backstories that Disney create are just a way to pad out the films, as a way to market it as a reinvention so people don’t feel like they’re watching the same film (spoilers, you are, and it’s worse.)

Personally, I hate them so much that at this point I refuse to watch them. I don’t want to support them, and I spend the entire time comparing the remake to the original, up to the point where the experience isn’t enjoyable in the slightest.

Sophie Hicks

film culture

Mirror Image Image: YouTube

(2007)

Image: YouTube

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veryone should be watching Bollywood films.

Even if you don’t understand it, neither do I, that is what subtitles are for.

For me, Bollywood films encompass a different feeling to Hollywood films. Their films are jam packed with emotions and subtle themes that Hollywood sometimes try but fail to do. While there are a myriad of Bollywood films that would tug on your heartstrings, one of my favourites is Taare Zameen Par (Eng: Like Stars on Earth).

The film was ahead of its time, produced by Aamir Khan in 2007, it explores the imagination of a dyslexic child, Ishaan, and his struggle to overcome his disability.

Khan not only directs the film with amazing filmography, he also stars in it as an art teacher. The film celebrates the abilities of children.

While we never be able to feel the pain of a dyslexic, the film helps us sympathise

Image: IMDB

Should it ever 'be continued'...?

The way the film is produced, with art and animation scenes coming up from time to time, represents how a child's mind behaves. It also gives us a tiny glimpse on what dyslexia looks like. While we may never be able to feel the pain and trials of a dyslexic in our life, the film helps us to to sympathise with those with the disability and gives us more of an open mind to struggles of the disability.

Ruby Osbourne takes a look at some of Hollywood's best and worst sequels

W

hen you have a cult movie, sequels can be a hit or miss thing. Just being a sequel can make them seem worse than if they’d been released as a standalone film.

That’s what happened with the first sequel on this hit list: American Psycho 2 (2002).

Now, you’re probably thinking, “I love American Psycho! How come I never knew there was a sequel?”

Count yourself lucky. What was originally pitched as an original movie was turned into a sequel to the 2000 classic starring Christian Bale.

Image: IMDB

The m u c h maligned sequal to the acclaimed cult classic. Image: IMDB In American Psycho 2, Mila Kunis plays a university student who after watching the brutal murder of her babysitter by serial killer Patrick Bateman when she was a child, murders Bateman herself (at age 12 no

less) and decides to turn her hand to the practise full time in order to beat the rest of her university class to secure her a place in the FBI. With Morgan Freeman as director, and Kunis starring alongside William Shatner as her professor, this film could have been passable. Its true downfall was its attachment to the original as an afterthought.

Next on the list, we have a sequel that lives up to, nay, exceeds its original: Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde (2003).

Despite earning a place in Entertainment Weekly’s '25 Worst Sequels', I have to disagree. Having seen Elle Woods basically invent feminism and expose issues such as slutshaming, assault in the workplace and completely defy the dumb blonde trope in Legally Blonde, she comes back with a further activist bang.

Wanting her beloved chihuahua Bruiser’s mother to attend her wedding with Emmett, Elle hires a detective to find her, only to discover that the dog is being held captive in a lab used for testing! Despite the absurdity of the whole movie, it holds a special place in my heart. Elle Woods evolves from being a solely feminist and humanitarian to fighting for not only animal rights, but LGBT rights too; a true icon of our generation.

I experienced our next sequel at 2:30 AM in Tyneside Cinema as part of their Halloween AllNighter, and as it was a Mystery Screening, I had no idea what I was signing up to. It turned out to be Zombi 2 (1979), Image: IMDB

the sequel to the re-edited Italian release of Dawn of the Dead (1978).

In my sleep-deprived and highly caffeinated state, I found myself almost crying laughing at the incongruous soundtrack, bizarre dialogue, and unnecessarily nude women.

Due to entering late and not seeing the title, I was not even aware the film was about zombies for the first half of the film, instead thinking it was about a swamp monster and his pet, an uninterested shark. The film was deemed a video nasty in the UK, due to its gore, and to be fair, the special effects makeup was one of the redeeming qualities of the film.

To end on a good note, lets talk Back to the Future Part II (1989).

Marty and Doc travel to 2015 to a world of hoverboards and self-lacing Nikes, in order to save Marty’s children from going to jail. However, of course, it’s not that simple. Doc, Marty, and Jennifer face a complexity of dilemmas taking them back to a series of different timelines and possibilities. Despite being confusing at times, half the fun of the film is testing yourself to work out what the hell is going on. This is emphasized by not even Doc Brown not even knowing what’s going on himself. The film is crazy and absurd, but its lack of realism is the thing that holds all the charm.

Image: YouTube

What makes this film great is that Khan is able to express this disability physically to the world. As we are not able to physically identify someone with a disability like dyslexia, Khan is able to open our eyes to a whole new world.

The film raises awareness for the issue of dyslexia

Not only does this film sympathise with those with the disability, it also encourages them to know that they are not alone. Through the bright colours and animations, it also teaches us to show our creative side – to know that grades are not the only thing that is important.

The film raises so much awareness for the issue of dyslexia, prompting more discussions about the illness – especially with parents, schools and activists. It had also changed the way parents had been treating their children.

Amanda Goh

/NewcastleCourierFilm @Courier_Film

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culture arts The Talented Mr Ridley: Q&A with the Lost Voice Guy Sophie Wilson quizzes the well-loved comedian the Lost Voice Guy on his time at university, dealing with fame and all things comedy T c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Arts Editors Caitlin Rawlings, Charlotte Slinger & Lauren Sneath

he Lost Voice Guy is a stand-up comedian who was crowned the winner of Britain’s Got Talent in 2018. Lee Ridley was diagnosed with a neurological form of cerebral palsy during infancy which induced a brain infection and left him unable to speak. In later life he received a communication device which he is now renowned for as the first stand-up comedian in Britain to use a communication aid during his live performances.

After stealing the nations hearts back in 2018 he now takes the country by storm on his extended UK tour Only In It For The Parking.

Did you enjoy your time studying journalism at the University of Central Lancashire?

I adored my time at university it really was some of the best years of my life. I would really love to go back in time and experience it all again. It was my first real taste of independence and I grew up a lot when I was there. It definitely shaped me into the person I am today.

I would just advise students to enjoy every second of it Do you have any particular fond memories of your time at university?

To be honest most of my favourite memories of university are of going out with my friends and getting drunk in Preston. I made some really good mates in Preston and we’ve kept in touch ever since. It was definitely those people who made my university experience so good.

Do you have any advice for undergraduate students about how to make the most of university, and how they can use their degree to get a job that they enjoy?

I would just advise students to enjoy every second of it because it really does go so quickly. One moment you are a Fresher and the next you are graduating with a degree.

People should definitely just take a step back from time to

time and appreciate everything they’ve got. Don’t let stress spoil it for you.

For the first time they seem comfortable talking to a disabled person

Being a patron of the Sequal Trust must be a rewarding experience. The charity says that its mission is to help people be seen as an individual rather than as being seen through their disability. Do you think that universities should be doing more to help those with any type of disability to be comfortable at university?

Yes, I’d like to see universities do more to help disabled people whilst they are studying. I was made to feel really at home when I started university myself so it would be nice to think that other disabled people have similar experiences. I think many universities already do a good job but it’s important that they keep on improving further.

What is your favourite part of your job?

My favourite part of the job is definitely the reaction I get from the audience. One of the best things to happen since I started comedy is that people are engaging with me a lot more than they would have in the past. For the first time they seem comfortable talking to a disabled person. I am used to being stared at for negative reasons so it’s nice to be stared at for positive reasons for a change.

What has been your favourite place to perform at from all of your gigs?

This is very bias of me, but I love performing in my home city of Newcastle. You just can’t beat playing in front of a home crowd who all adore you. So, I always look forward to shows in Newcastle the most.

How surreal was the Britain’s Got Talent experience, and what is your favourite memory for it?

The whole experience has been amazing from start to finish and I’ve had the best 12 months. I’ve made some

really good friends by doing the show and the reaction from the general public was phenomenal. Winning the show has changed my life in so many ways. I am busy than I ever was before as a comedian. I am on a nationwide tour and I have also written a book called I am only in it for the parking. I think my favourite memory from the whole thing was the face that I made when I won. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as excited as that before.

How did you cope with such a big lifestyle change when you were propelled into the public limelight?

I think I just had to adapt to the changes really. For example, I used to check my social media a lot more than I do now. It was almost part of my daily routine but now I’ve learned that you can’t keep on top of everything, so I don’t check it as often. It also helps that I turned off the social media notifica-

Monday 4 November 2019

tions on my phone as well. I also think I’ve become much better at managing my time too. I plan what I need to do much more than I used to, so it doesn’t all creep up on me at once.

My physical health is definitely a lot harder to look after because I am often travelling, I get quite tired from that. So, I have to pace myself and not push myself to do too much. Once again, I think that I’ve learned to do this better over the year. I’ve realised that my health is much more important than my job.

Lee’s upcoming show Only In It For the Parking tours at The New Vic in Newcastle on Saturday 2 November.

Image: Steve Ullathorne

‘This One’s For the Aliens’: a Fringe favourite

Muscial comedy duo Harry and Chris talk to Katerina Vasilaki about bringing their sell-out Fringe show to Newcastle’s The Stand

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riting comedy is hard. Writing music is harder. But writing comedy in verse for a live-performed music piece is what Harry & Chris know how to do best. Creating an explosive combination of rap, jazz and comedy, those two are clearly able to delight their audiences with their charm and quirkiness.

The two have been paired up for years now, and their chemistry is undeniable on stage. Already they have managed to sell out their 2016 and 2017 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, and they were featured on Sky’s very own The Russell Howard Hour, while also touring the UK. Luckily for us in Newcastle, they performed on the 27th of October at local comedy club The Stand. Their hit show ‘This One’s for the Aliens’ sold out across the Fringe, and for obvious reasons.

They propose the most creative escape from reality for an evening, and offer their audience the opportunity for physical exercise due to excessive, cannotstop-for-the-life-of-me belly laughter; and I got the chance to ask Harry and Chris a few questions about their life as a comedy duo.

Doing what you guys do is difficult, a different kind of comedy. What was the turning point in which you decided that this was what you wanted to do? What made you decide to do it together?

We’ve always performed together in some capacity since being childhood rivals in our school battle of the bands competition, but the turning point was coming up to the Edinburgh Fringe three years ago in the spoken word section, and being told we were surprisingly funny, so we’ve been in the comedy section surpris-

ingly speaking words ever since.

Being an artist has its ups and downs. How do you find new ways to entertain and stay relevant but without losing your essence? Can you touch upon your favourite part of the creative process?

It’s really fun working with your best friend. A lot of our songs start off by trying to make each other laugh, and that extends to the tour. We’ll get to a point where 10 dates in we’re trying to keep each other on our toes and I think by keeping it fresh for ourselves it stays so for the audiences. Equally a large part of this years show is based on a trip out to America to be on a talent show out there, and it really helps having someone else to experience that with, as well as making it more fun to recount afterwards. My favourite part of the writing process is when we can make each other cry with laughter, knowing full well half of it won’t even make it to the final edit or even make sense on stage, but it feels like an important part of the journey.

I have noticed many of your jokes have to do with current events and try to showcase the problems of society in a lighthearted way. If you could change one thing about the current UK reality, what would it be and why?

For people to have more empathy. It feels like people are very ready to dismiss other people for all kinds of reasons, whether it is for having a different background or set of beliefs, but any kind of effort to un-

The turning point was coming to the Edinburgh Fringe three years ago and being told we were ‘surprisingly funny’

Image: Ali Johnstone

derstand where someone is coming from can make a world of difference.

In our more recent shows we’ve tried to tackle more serious stuff but always bringing an element of lightness to it, and we would hope that anyone would be able to get at least something from it. This is mainly

done in our new show by reminding everyone we’ve all been in a womb in a song so catchy we printed 250 t shirts with the lyrics on and have approximately 237 left over, if you’re interested.

What are your future plans? Is there an end-goal,

It’s really fun working with your best friend. A lot of our songs start off by trying to make each other laugh somewhere you’d like to be— say in about five or ten years?

We’re seriously considering changing the ‘and’ in ‘Harry and Chris’ to an ampersand (&), and that will probably take around 5 years for us to remember the passwords to our recovery email accounts so we can access to our myspace, bebo, band camp and other social media accounts and put that master plan into action. Also having fun and writing tunes and playing shows and making people happy.

Could you describe your favourite show until now, and what it is that holds it so dear to your hearts?

Our current one! It’s the most that’s felt like a wellrounded comedy show (as a opposed to a spokenword-jazz-fusion-with-some-laughs). There will always be a soft spot for our first show because it was performed in a pub and involved us handing people their lunchtime orders mid-show, and elements from other shows that stick with us (shoutout The Ballad of Sir Killalot!), but I think because it feels new and fun we’re really excited to be taking our new show around.

One thing we love about tour is we get to chuck a couple of old songs in there too.

If you missed their Newcastle debut but like the sound of rip-roaring comedy and witty silliness set to music, check out their currently ampersand-less website, harryandchris.com, for their upcoming show dates and more!

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Monday 4 November 2019

@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/arts

Two women, one Booker Prize

arts culture Poem Box Inevitable

Are you an Atwood or an Evaristo? Katerina Vasilaki debates the 2019 Booker prize controversy

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he saying ‘sharing is caring’ has been around for decades- however, this is the first time it has ever been applied to 2019’s Booker Prize award for fiction, in the cases of Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo.

The decision has caused controversy, with the public torn between The Testaments and Girl, Woman, Other. Both novels possess and effectively demonstrate different qualities to justify their nomination as well as their eventual success.

£50,000

The amount received by the winner of the Booker Prize

tle too high after the first book and the follow-up, as is the case with many sequels, did not live up to them. Of course, Atwood justly and deftly weaves an important political message through the novel’s plot; but that does not alone merit a Booker Prize, and conspiracy theories are abounding that the award was to commend Atwood’s previous hit, rather than her most recent literary endeavour.

Evaristo’s piece, on the other hand, is a polyphonic, raw and moving novel, which speaks out about struggles not often portrayed in contemporary fiction. Arguably, had it won on its own, the judges would have given the book the chance to reach, and to positively affect, a wider audience. A variety of people have also pointed out that the first woman of colour to win this award has had to share it - which certainly is not positive PR for an old institution with a clear history of favour towards

On one hand, Atwood’s sequel is a piece which makes a political statement, following in the footsteps of her seminal classic The Handmaid’s Tale - while Evaristo’s work is a verse novel which centres on British women of colour.

It is worthwhile highlighting the fact that Margaret is the oldest contestant, and that Evaristo is the first black female author to win the award.

Although being nominated for this award is a great honour on its own, it is safe to say that most of the time, the judges are able to decide which piece of fiction has the ‘X-factor’ that makes it worth the title along with the £50,000 prize. The burning question is, however why were they unable to make a choice this year?

Personally, I felt let down by the sequel of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Perhaps my expectations were a lit-

director later added that “the judges claim they wanted to acknowledge the importance of both books in their cultural context, but this decision completely ignores the context of Bernardine’s win”.

As already mentioned by numerous critics, this is not so much a case of an undeserving winner in Atwood, but more about Evaristo’s brilliance and ability to stand out next to a literary legend. At this point, it is understood that both women are extremely talented and deserving of recognition - but should this have been Evaristo’s year to shine?

Ellie Pidgeon reviews the polemic and poignant work on the current UK immigration experience

It is not afraid to criticise the corrupt and broken system In addition, Hostile Environment cleverly unwraps the history of our immigration system, exploring how ideas surrounding immigration emerged. The historical journey began with Winston Churchill, and traversed the route of immigration policy all the way up to the EU referendum of our generation. In this

It’s okay to cry Until your body Seems to be bled dry Down to its last five percent It doesn’t make you weak If you are still fighting with Days that are bleak Filled with demons from your past And I know sometimes The hardest thing is breathing And one day seems to last lifetimes So if you’re reading this right now I am proud of you Grace Lazzaro

O Captain, My Captain...

Rory Cameron enjoys Heaton Perk Cafe’s Dead Poets Society

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Hostile Environment: How Immigrants Become the Scapegoats

U

It is a thousand times okay To fall to your knees Surrounded only by grey And scream to the heavens

Evaristo’s piece is a polyphonic, raw and moving novel...which centres on British women of colour

Images: Wikimedia Commons

pon reading Maya Goodfellow’s carefully crafted compilation of shared experiences, my eyes were opened to a new terrain that is so rarely explored in the British news.

It is not afraid to criticise the corrupt and broken system that so many people previously accepted, in a concise fashion; the book is easily read but a heartbreaking read.

In the past eighteen years I have learned that pain is inevitable There is no escape from the tears Pain is inevitable and it is okay

white authors. Evaristo has stated that she is “thrilled” to share this award with the “legend that is Margaret Atwood”, despite critical disappointment regarding the result. Eishar Brar, editorial director at publisher Knights Of, stated that it was “incredibly short-sighted for the prize to be split in the year it’s awarded to the first black woman to receive it”. The prominent

way, the reader begins to understand how ingrained these opinions are within our society. Even when newspapers document the harrowing scenes of daily life for immigrants entering the country, the public often only feel surface-level remorse. Guilt is quickly overpowered by another news article, largely due to the impersonal nature of the stories - but not so in Hostile Environment. This work beautifully personalises the stories we hear about day in, day out. In reading this book, I read countless personal accounts of human experiences.

Statistics are no longer simply figures on a page, but characters, places and stories, and the reader’s eye is opened to the Images: Pixabay

gravity of the situation of immigration here in the UK. The timing of the book’s release is also poignant - released mere days after the UK’s supposed departure date from the EU. Brexit marks a seismic shift in our immigration policy and in doing so, granted space for the rise of the far right. As the book suggests, hateful opinions are so intertwined within our society that impersonal newspaper articles will not be enough to amend public opinion. However, there is an element of hope for change weaving throughout the book. Hopefully, this book will change opinions, especially of those with the power to make legislative changes.

earing up textbooks, striding across desks and quoting Walt Whitman at the top of one’s lungs- an iconic moment in cinema, as Robin Williams delivers a gem of performance in the Oscar-winning Dead Poets Society. Despite the lack of table mounting, the first meeting of Newcastle’s Dead Poets Society was a success in its own right, 30 years on.

The crown jewel of cafes in the NE6 area, Heaton Perk, provided the location for a couple dozen amateurs to gather and share poetry written by both past greats and members of the congregation.

True to type, coffee and cigarettes settled the nerves of the first courageous speakers to read their chosen passages before their numerous peers, with the majority (yours truly included) hoping to muster the courage to speak at the next meeting. Co-founders Alex Joyce and Hannah Couch said that they decided to organise the fornightly meeting in order to create a safe space for other amateurs to share and discuss their musings.

Having listened to many original pieces, Newcastle is not short of blossoming poets, perhaps ones who will be read at at other dead poet society meetings of the distant future…(?) For less talented writers (yours truly also included) however, there is no need to fear the critics as the atmosphere of support and conviviality soon broke the ice and swept away many of the initial nerves of publicly speaking before a group of, by and large, strangers.

An experience shared, and one becomes slightly less so strangers. The Dead Poets Society next meet Monday4th November 7pm at Heaton Perk Cafe, on Heaton Park Road. All are welcome to come and share, or simply listen, appreciate and admire.

@TheCourierArts @thecourierarts

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culture gaming

Monday 4 November 2019

courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Gaming Editors Alex Darbyshire, George Boatfield, James Troughton & Shawn Khoo

Review: Fortnite Chapter 2 Bonfire Nig

Kaitlyn Maracle leaps from the battle bus and parachutes onto the next stop on Epic's journey

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s the end of Fortnite season ten came to a close, theories were running rampant about what Epic Games would do next. Destroy the map?

A new game mode? A new game altogether? Well, it ended up being all of the above.

The fateful black hole took over social media, with hundreds of thousands of people staring at a mostly black screen searching for cryptic numbers and messages appearing every so often, teasing something new, something different. Loyal players were searching for some indication of the servers coming back online just to see what had changed.

There is a new map which retains several familiar locations

Then they came back online. And Fortnite Chapter 2 was live. No patch notes, and no blog post to tell players what had changed, everyone just had to dive into a different-yet-familiar game completely blind, which was such a refreshing change. After entering the game for the first time, you're shown a short cutscene and then thrown straight into a solo Battle Royale game. While unexpected, I personally really liked the surprise of it!

There is a new map (finally) with a few familiar locations, but the entire map itself feels completely alien to previous seasons.

An abundance of new mechanics are now

in the game for you to play around with, including but not limited to: actual swimming and diving, fishing for health boosters and ammo, in-game bots in place of players, group emotes, the ability to physically carry downed teammates, hiding places like deep bushes that you can jump out and attack from, upgradeable weapons and a brand new experience progression system. It’s a lot to learn without patch notes.

78 million

The number of gamers playing Fortnite each month

The new exp. system was something that really stood out to me as a player who got a little bored around the last season and stopped playing. Now, you get exp. throughout the game, as opposed to at the end, gaining more exp. for things like eliminations, surviving certain lengths of time and even opening chests. It feels much more streamlined and more rewarding, although some players have reported it feeling like a grind at

higher levels.

The new weapon system also feels like a positive change as well. There's less of a reliance on getting a gold weapon from a chest, and more of an emphasis on using your resources to upgrade weapons from one rarity to the next.

An abundance of new mechanics have been added in Chapter 2

All in all, I think that Fortnite Chapter 2 has been a really positive change for the game, adding in enough new mechanics and things to explore to get me playing the game again, as well as keeping it entertaining for regular players.

Considering this is a completely free content update for a free-to-play game, there really isn't much to complain about. I'd highly recommend this update to anyone considering getting either on or back on to the Fortnite train.

The Blizzard of backlash continues

As the Hong Kong-troversy rages on, Alex Gervas weighs in on an avalanche of worrying news

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October 16 saw Blizzard cancel the NYC Overwatch launch

But fans weren’t the only ones concerned by this limitation of free speech and the Chinese government’s influence over American companies. United States legislators, including Marco Rubio and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, issued a statement directed at Blizzard’s CEO. In this letter, the legislators argued that even Blizzard’s employers “believe that Activision Blizzard’s decision to punish Mr Chung runs counter to those values.”

4.9 %

The stake that Chinese conglomerate Tencent have in Blizzard

This November, fans will be awaiting Activision Blizzard’s sharing of good news, mainly involving Overwatch

With all this firepower to play with, St

B

onfire night is almost upon us, and that means one thing: explosions! Well, that and bonfires...

But mainly explosions!

Sainsbury’s might not be selling fireworks this year, but the games industry has you covered. With an honourable mention to Anthem for literally turning your console into a pyrotechnic display, here are the five best pyrotechnics in gaming.

5. Saints Row: The Third The Mollusk Launcher Whether you want to feed your foes to sharks, dubstep them to death or just hit them in the face with a massive sex toy, Saint's Row provides you the opportunity.

When it comes to pyrotechnics though, there’s only one weapon you need: the Genki Mollusk Launcher. The gun fires out explosive octopuses, whose guts then splatter all over your enemy.

It’s a sight to behold and probably doesn’t smell the nicest. Stick to virtual use only for this bonfire night.

4. Borderlands 2 Hive

Image: YouTube (Fortnite Official )

s October comes to an end, this year's Blizzcon has everyone expecting some special announcements as well as some controversy.

A few weeks ago Blizzard received massive backlash after banning Hearthstone player ‘Blitzchung’ for six months following his vocal support for Hong Kong’s freedom. The community was outraged with fans starting ‘#boycottblizzard’. The hashtag raised concerns of violence at Blizzcon 2019, causing organisers to consider cancelling the event.

Pyrotechnic

2 and Diablo IV leaks.

However, 16 October saw Blizzard cancel the NYC Over watch launch - a decision that was made following the cumulative backlash, not least when fans began using Mei, one of the game’s characters, as a symbol for Hong Kong’s protest.

Blizzard also announced that Mike Ybarra, former Vice President of Xbox, will be their new Executive Vice President and General Manager starting 4 November. This new addition could mean significant changes in the company’s international marketing strategies.

It looks like even after a drop in their stock of almost 2%, the long term prognostic for Activision Blizzard is still positive. The company can expect to keep growing and increasing their revenue. Somehow, despite these controversies, their competitive presence in the market is stronger than ever.

Image: Twitter

Weapons in Borderlands come in various elemental categories, one of which is Explosive, so you really aren't going to be short of a good light show on Pandora. Hive, however, isn't actually an Explosive weapon, instead featuring in the acidic Corrosive category.

You'll find more traditional explosives throughout the Borderlands games, but do you really play Borderlands for traditional weapons? Over-the-top wackiness has always been its style.

Hive fits this exactly, shooting a rocket that then shoots exploding acidic bees, following up with the rocket itself exploding in a noxious ball of corrosive chemicals. These don't all include exploding animals... promise.

3. Burnout 3 Crashbreaker Moving away not only from animals but from weapons altogether, Burnout 3’s Crashbreaker is next on the list.

In Crash events, you launched your car into busy traffic and scored points for the damage you caused. Once the car was airborne, you could guide the car with the thumbstick, then when it came to a total stop, Crashbreaker exploded your car into a huge fireball, letting you double down on the carnage.

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Monday 4 November 2019

@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/gaming

gaming culture

ght top five: What I'm Playing: Katana Zero cs in gaming L

tacey Henley lights it up for Fawkesy 2. Just Cause Just... Everything

It’s hard to pin down a single thing in the Just Cause series as an example of their best pyrotechnic. This Saint’s Row meets Far Cry sandbox probably still hasn’t lived up to its full potential, but it packs more explosions per pound than any other game going.

You can blow up cars, jets, buildings, and you can even pull a Donald Trump and drop bombs in tornadoes.

Considering Trump struggles with umbrellas though, we probably won’t see him strap on a wingsuit any time soon.

If you’re looking for a game that really ‘booms’, you’ve found it.

1. Wii Party Lucky Launch Though less popular than Wii Sports or Mario Party, Wii Party was still a solid party game. One of the many mini games featured was Lucky Launch, an entirely luck based game which saw you pick one of four fireworks to launch. Whichever firework soared the highest, won.

It sounds like basic Wii game fodder, but the winning player would see the sky lit up with a firework in the shape of their own Mii’s face. How many fireworks displays can offer that?

Looking for her metroidvania fix, Alex Gervas jumps right into this retro-inspired psychedelia ast week, my flatmate and I decided we should do a little bit of bonding. Naturally, we started playing video games, and it didn’t take long for him to turn and say: “You’d LOVE Katana Zero”; he wasn’t wrong. In Askiisoft latest game, you play as Zero, a samurai war veteran who has completely forgotten his past and now works as an assassin. Apart from his combat knowledge and sword control, Zero develops extraordinary abilities thanks to a mysterious drug referred to as ‘Chronos’. This grants him the ability to slow down time and see into the future.

The aesthetic of the game bears a close resemblance to the Hotline Miami

though that only works to its benefit. In a time where games get padded with mindless content far beyond what even the best gameplay mechanics could sustain, I found being able to finish this game in a weekend very refreshing. That’s not to say that there isn’t replay value, however. The story manages to keep you interested and invested, and what may seem like a lighthearted narrative with a shallow theme can get pretty intense at points.

It depends on how much you end up investing into the narrative and how deep down the rabbit hole you choose to go. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

Closely interlinked with the story is the music, and Katana’s is one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard. The idea of having Zero listening to the game’s music while traversing a level makes it even better. LudoWic and Bill Kile created a very fitting set of upbeat music for the fights with touches of psychedelic effects that mirror the dramatic side of the story. The whole soundtrack reminded

Clearly then, this drug has a significant influence on the form that the gameplay takes, much like the effects it has on the lead character. While the immediate objective is to defeat enemies as you progress from level to level, you’ll need to uncover as much as possible from Zero’s past by interacting with other characters.

Katana Zero uses elements of humour to mask what would otherwise be a very depressing story.

The interactive dialogue also works to keep things engaging and break the monotony that might come without a reprieve from the action sequences. Nonetheless, some of the choices don’t seem to make much of a difference, making you ask yourself if your decisions matter…

Katana Zero is not a long game, mind you,

me of 80s music, a feeling that perfectly matches the game’s design.

Katana Zero features one of the best game soundtracks that I've heard in some time

The aesthetic of the game bears a close resemblance to the neo-noir vibe of Hotline Miami, and also keeps the pixelated design. However, the game does opt to swap the top-down view of Hotline Miami to a side-scrolling 2D perspective. Besides looking cool, the colourful visuals and rapid movement also do wonders in conveying the effects of the drugs that Zero takes to gain his abilities. Even though many games show characters taking drugs, the visuals are hardly ever affected - this stands as something distinctive to Katana Zero.

My only big complaint is related to the playability of the game. I downloaded it on my computer, but I found it very difficult and confusing to play without a PlayStation controller. Even with that, it took some time to get used to the fixed settings of the Xbox controls.

In conclusion, Katana Zero is an excellent mixture of action and storytelling with great music and original design. Not only do I recommend it, but I suggest replaying it several times to make sure you aren’t leaving any worthwhile secrets behind.

Image: IGDB

Riot Games unveil line-up

Shawn Khoo runs riot amongst the myriad announcements from this notorious developer

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Images: James Troughton, IGDB & Wikimedia

n a Twitch livestream for the tenth anniversary of League of Legends on 15 October, Riot Games revealed multiple fresh titles spanning various different gaming genres.

Titled “Project A”, Riot Games have made their entry into first-person shooter games with what appears to be a simple team-based shooter game with the added twist of abilities. Most significantly, however, Riot promises that this game will have improved netcode compared to other titles, allowing for better synchronisation between players and servers.

Riot also has also revived the fighting game known as “Project L”. This game features League champions in a similar way to Tekken and Street Fighter, but little else is known about it as developers seem to be withholding information for now.

Even more obscure is “Project F”. Almost nothing was said about this, and all fans know is that it is essentially an action RPG multiplayer game that allows players to explore the world of Runeterra.

Riot has also released information about a card game called “Legends of Runeterra”. Much like Hearthstone, there are a variety of cards that can be obtained during gameplay, but Riot promises that there will be no randomised packs you have to pay for with real money. This game is currently in its closed beta test, with keys being given out to people who have pre-registered.

League itself will soon be available on mobile and consoles in a different form – Wild Rift. While similar to League, matches are expected to have shorter durations

and cosmetic items will not be quite as prolific on release in comparison. Alpha and Beta tests are now running in select regions, with worldwide coverage expected by the end of 2020.

Fans will soon be able to form their dream teams in League’s Esports Manager, a game that places the player in the role of a manager where they will be able to select which professional League player they want on their team to compete in fictional matches. This title is slated to launch in 2020.

Last but not least, Riot is creating an animated series based on League of Legends. Set to air in 2020, Arcane, ac-

cording to the YouTube description, will be based on the backstory of “two iconic League champions”.

Aside from new games, Riot also announced changes and updates to the existing titles of Teamfight Tactics and League of Legends itself. Specifically, the former received a mobile port, while the latter has a new champion, Senna, and an update to the “Summoner’s Rift” game mode.

With companies in the gaming industry coming under fire (Riot included) due to a variety of controversial decisions, these releases add a much-needed sense of anticipation and hope amidst the disappointment that has settled in.

Image: YouTube (League of Legends Official)

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culture science

c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Science Editors Eleanor Gratton, Patrick Harland & Seshadhri Subramanian

the courier

Monday 4 November 2019

Five Australian women awarded top honours in STEM Emma Monaghan on the Prime Minister's Science Awards Down Under and how it rewards women in science and tech

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ccording to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women. Studies have shown repetitively that in STEM fields, women are paid less for their research and do not climb as far as men in their chosen field. The country of Australia however, moved to close this gap this October. This year the Prime Minister’s Science Awards in Australia were pocketed by more women than have ever been recognised before.

From just one female receiving

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n

Image:Publicdomainvectors.org

award in science last year in Australia, this year saw an increase of 400% of women receiving an award. Scott Morrison, the Australian Prime Minister, awarded eight scientists and two educators for their outstanding contributions to science.

400%

Increase in the number of women recieving an award

The Prime Minister’s Prize for Science went to the internationally acclaimed Mathematician Professor Cheryl Praeger. Professor Praeger’s 40 years of research includes ground-breaking research into mathematical symmetry used to improve search engine efficacy, and her work in algorithmic cryptography.

“What I love about mathematics is the way that it explains the world. It makes sense of the world.”, enthused Praeger.

The Prize for Innovation was accepted by a cancer-fighting team from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Developing venetoclax, a break-through anticancer drug, the team hope to aid “hundreds of patients in Australia with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia”. They have been awarded $250,000 for their efforts. Prof Praeger also received a prize of $250,000 for her accomplishments.

Some other award recipients included Samantha Moyle and Sarah Finney for their dedication to teaching science

in primary and secondary schools.

Laura MacKay, a prodigy in the field of immunology, won Life Scientist of the Year. Her work to understand the mechanisms of tissue-resident t-cells has contributed to anti-cancer strategies and new vaccines for malaria and HIV. $50,000 was awarded to these recipients and others to recognise their success.

entist. In 2016 the Chief Scientist published findings that of the 2.3 million people who pursued a career in STEM, only 16% were female.

Australia’s current celebration of these successful scientists hopes to set precedent for young women and girls that STEM careers are a realistic goal for men and women alike.

STEM careers are a realistic goal for men and women alike

There is a national stigma surrounding females across many fields of science. In 2015 at the World Conference of Science Journalists hosted in South Korea, Nobel Prizewinning Biochemist Tim Hunt publicly displayed the blatant sexism many women experience in STEM environments across the world. “Let me tell you about my trouble with girls…” Hunt expounded. “Three things happen when they’re in the lab… you fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticise them, they cry”.

In Australia, the government adviser for issues surrounding science and technology is called the Chief Sci-

Image:John Henstridge

How can we save the whales?

Rocket science!

Lily Holbrook reports on whether space technology can be used to help with preventing the stranding of these mammals T

he Great Barrier Reef, Dubai’s Palm Islands, the Golden Gate Bridge…all things you can see from space. Contrary to popular belief, the Great Wall of China doesn’t make that list, but what if I told you orbiting satellites can detect whales?

In 2015, 337 Sei whales were reported to be washed up on the remote coast of Chilean Patagonia in the largest mass stranding event ever recorded. With no sign of what had occurred until weeks later, aerial surveys at the time struggled to conclude what had caused the event. However, new revelations published in Public Library of Science suggest that retrospective satellite archives may be a useful tool for understanding the extent of the disaster.

Whales are big. Measuring 10-15m in length, you’d find it hard to miss them washed up on a beach. But what about on a global scale where everything is big? Using images from the World-View 2 spacecraft, researchers were able to produce distinctive outlines of the animals, including their characteristic fluke.

343

in the ill-fated Gulf of Penas, six more than originally accounted for. A possible explanation may be movement of the animals back into deeper water in the weeks between disaster and discovery, but why do whales strand in the first place?

Following each other to shore, disruptive navy sonar and shallow topography are all explanations as to why whales strand in their masses. In the case of the 2015 stranding, the suspected cause of death was exposure to toxic blooms of microorganisms, known as red tides.

Despite the key role of satellites in enabling scientists to manually identify the whales, widespread application of the technology is not that simple.

Due to the changing colouration of the whales from blue-grey to orange-pink as they decompose, using spectral indices (i.e. col-

minimum number of whales wash up on the Gulf of Penas

Since details of the satellite pictures have been unearthed, it is believed that at least 343 whales washed up

our) to detect them is problematic. However, as described

by Dr Carlos Olavarría from the Centre for Advanced Studies in Arid Zones in Chile, ‘the technology is getting better all the time,’ meaning automated analysis may provide real hope for the future of stranding research.

How will whales benefit from this science?

With new techniques to automatically alert us of their presence underway, satellite imaging may offer whales a sea of benefits.

Early detection means a more rapid recovery response to animals on the scene, which is vital for scientists to better understand the cause of an event by monitoring their general condition and dietary habits.

Although 343 dead whales are a heavy price to pay, Dr Jennifer Jackson, co-author of the recent research at British Antarctic Survey, suggests that the events of 2015 may better help us understand the whales’ distribution patterns. By looking for stranding patterns in association Image:Publicdomainpictures.net

with climate change, environmental pollution and human activity, we may then be able to predict risk factors for future events.

It is also worth mentioning that with increased recovery of whale populations from whaling in recent years, there is now a greater chance than ever of whales coming into contact with humans.

We may then be able to predict risk factors for future events

However, with the emergence of satellite imagery as ‘a fast and cost-effective alternative to aerial surveys allowing us to assess the extent of mass whale stranding events, especially in remote and inaccessible areas’, the work of Dr Peter Fretwell and his team highlights that it is up to us to make that interaction as positive as possible.

Translating to Gulf of Distress, the Gulf of Penas certainly lived up to its fateful name for the victims of the 2015 stranding. However, with new scientific developments, the shock of such disasters may be a thing of the past.

Could your breathing troubles be an obesity based issue?

Amanda Goh talks about research linking the two problems

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or the first time, researchers in Australia have recently found fatty tissues stored in lungs of mainly obese and overweight people. 52 lung samples were analysed and a correlation was found between the amount of fat found in the lungs and body mass index (BMI).

The observation points at true airway changes that are associated with obesity

Fatty build ups in different parts of the body can lead to a variety of problems and illness. If fat builds up around the arteries and heart, it may cause heart problems. The Australian researchers found that if fatty tissues are built up in the lungs in a way similar to how they build around the heart, it may lead to asthma. While obesity and asthma has been known to be related, scientists have not been able to understand this correlation until now.

Asthma is a condition in which airways narrow and

produce mucus, making it difficult to breathe. This also leads to coughing and wheezing.

According to the European Respiratory Journal, published on 17 October 2019, the co-author Peter Noble stated in his study that not only does the weight in obese people put pressure on the lungs and have inflammation in their body, there is also “another mechanism at play”.

Noble stated that “We’ve found that excess fat accumulates in the airway walls where it takes up space and seems to increase inflammation within the lungs”. The researchers had analysed this by sampling more than 1,000 lung airways.

1000

number fo airways sampled in the study to discover results.

Going forward, the researchers are looking for ways to measure and observe the fatty tissue in the lungs. They strive to further confirm the findings of this study and to find out whether this can be reversed.

The President of the European Respiratory Society, Professor Thierry Troosters, stated that these are key findings that allow more understanding of the relationship between body weight and asthma. “The observation points at true airway changes that are associated with obesity.”

Image:Pixabay

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33

science culture Denying death: how brains process our inescapable end Grace Dean explains the theory behind associating death more as something that occurs to others than something that could befall us R

Monday 4 November 2019

ecent research has shown that the brain protects us from existential fear by only associating death with other people, meaning that we cannot fully comprehend our own mortality.

The brain develops a comprehensive prediction system that encompasses many aspects of our lives, but the brain somehow seems to block such predictions when related to death.

The participants brain had paired the idea of demise with one particular face

The study shows that the brain refuses to link the self with death to ensure we are grounded in the present and not the future. This is because the body is programmed to ensure we stay alive, and awareness of impeding death would oppose the body’s primary functions; lead author of the study Yair Dor-Ziderman argues that “the moment you have this ability to look into your own future, you realise that at some point you’re going to die and there’s nothing you can do about it. That goes against the grain of our whole biology, which is helping us to stay alive.”

The findings emerge from a study by a team at Bar Ilan University in Israel, in which 24 volunteers had their brain activity monitored using magnetoencephalography while watching one face flash on screen. In some trials, the volunteer’s own face was used, while in others the volunteers were presented with the face of a stranger. Each face was accompanied by a word written above, half of which were related to death, such as “funeral”, “grave” and “burial”. The final image that flashed, however, was a different face to the one previously used, causing the brain to flicker with surprise because this image went against the brain’s prediction. This showed that the participants’ brain had paired the idea of demise with one particular

@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/science

face, and so they registered surprise when death was suddenly connected with a new face. However, upon viewing their own face alongside a death-related word, the volunteers’ brains shut down their prediction system, and no surprise signal was registered.

Avi Goldstein, a senior author on the paper, said: “This suggests that we shield ourselves from existential threats, or consciously thinking about the idea that we are going to die, by shutting down predictions about the self”, which Dor-Ziderman further by saying: “We cannot rationally deny that we will die, but we think of it more as something that happens to other people.”

The authors argued that previously brains were more attuned to death because humans encountered it much more frequently and at much closer corners, whereas now our society has supposedly become “death-phobic” by confining the dying to hospitals and hospicImage:Pixabay - ElisaRiva es. Zor-Diderman argues that this shielding from direct exposure has led death to be associated with much more mystery and ultimately fear than in the past.

Research by Arnaud Wisman, a psychologist at the University of Kent, suggests that nowadays many people are trapped in a socalled “escape treadmill”, in which the element of modern daily life – long working

Death will still always hold an aura of intrigue and mystery for many

hours, social arrangements and a reliance on technology – mean that people are simply “too busy” to think about death.

What do these findings mean? Ideology surrounding death and the after-life vary greatly between religions and cultures, and despite evolution it seems evident that spiritual and cultural concepts of death can overrule than of the brain. While the research confirms how neurologically our brains block us from contemplating “the idea of ending, of nothing, of complete annihilation”, death will still always hold an aura of intrigue and mystery for many.

of the Week - Horripilation One giant leap for womankind Word Tomo Clarkson explains the original name for goosebumps

Patrycja Ubysz reports on NASA's first ever all-female spacewalk

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n 18th October two astronauts, Jessica Meir and Christina Koch, performed an extravehicular activity (EVA) to replace a faulty power unit. The spacewalk duration time was 7 hours 17 minutes and was first in the world’s history to be performed only by women. The event was broadcast live on NASA’s official Facebook page.

7

hours was the amount of time that the first all female spacewalk lasted

Jessica Meir and Christina Koch were selected to the NASA training program in 2013. Meir worked previously for the space agency, supporting research on human physiology in Johnson Space Center, while Koch was an Electrical Engineer in NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

The spacewalk took place in the middle of a series of EVAs, aiming at changing the old nickel-hydrogen batteries to more powerful lithium-ion ones. Koch and Meir’s task was to replace a power unit which had failed and was preventing the newly installed batteries from providing power. The current spaceflight is the first of both women and the spacewalk was Koch’s fourth and Meir’s first. This is not the only historic achievement for women in space Image:Wikimedia Commmons the astronauts are

contributing to. Christina Koch is scheduled to spend a total of 328 days on the International Space Station, which will be the longest time in single flight to stay in space by a female astronaut.

The all-female spacewalk was in fact scheduled for March this year and was to be performed by astronauts Christina Koch and Annie McClain. During her first spacewalk, McClain observed the best fit of the spacesuit is the medium-sized one (M), and not the large (L). While both women’s fit is M-sized suit, only one properly sized could be provided on time. Although McClain received training in the outerwear of both sizes, she decided not to risk her safety by stepping out to the vacuum in an illfitting spacesuit, so the spacewalk with Koch was instead completed by her colleague, Nick Hague.

The event triggered a media discussion about female contribution to space exploration. Around 11% of people sent into space are women, starting with the Soviet cosmonaut and first woman in space Valentina Tereshkova, and the first female to perform an EVA, Svetlana Savitskaya. Some people even came up with a statement that women are better suited than men for space exploration missions due to their physical and psychological qualities.

In 2014, NASA published an article titled: “The Impact of Sex and Gender on Adaptation to Space: Executive Summary” in the Journal of Women’s Health. The researchers analysed differences between male and female astronauts in the way they are affected by a prolonged stay in space. For example, they found that flight-induced visual impairment affects only men astronauts, and orthostatic intolerance is more frequently observed in women. The research also emphasises the importance of increasing the female contribution, as the sample size of women being sent to space was very modest.

11%

percentage of the people sent into space that are women

Meanwhile Artemis, the mission planned to land the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface, is expected to be completed by 2024. I am pleased to see NASA’s efforts to increase the female participation in space exploration after decades of all-male missions and hope for safe, uninterrupted return of the astronauts staying currently at ISS.

W

alking alone on a dark Halloween night, you hear a call in the wind and a shadow dances on a wall behind. Scared, you feel a shiver down your spine and down your arms you feel the horripilation …

Anyway, enough with the atmospheric description, this is science, so let’s talk some. Horripilation, also known as goosebumps, is derived from the Latin word

‘horripilare’, meaning to bristle with hair. It is a subconscious reflex caused by either sudden increases in stress or a rapid temperature change. The function would have allowed other apes to appear larger to scare predators and trap air in their fur to provide insulation. The same reflex can be seen in porcupines that when threatened will raise their quills to deter predators. There is also a surprisingly successful film series starring Jack Black.

We didn't start the fire(works)!

Rebecca Johnson explains some chemistry behind the colours

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s the clocks go back, the chilly northern air begins to creep in and the fifteen tog duvets make a return, it also means that Bonfire Night is approaching. Bonfire Night is a true staple in Britain, with fireworks being set off on November 5th to commemorate Guy Fawkes, the bloke who tried to blow up King James and Parliament in 1605.

There’s several different types of fireworks used in celebrations. However, all fireworks have a wick attached to them, that acts as a detonation device, when ignited, gunpowder allows the firework to have the energy to go up in the air.

How do fireworks get their wonderful colours? Oxidis-

Image:Pixabay

ers in the fireworks provide more oxygen so when they ignite in the air, the oxidisers and metals react to produce an array of bright colours. Aluminium and magnesium tend to create bright white and silver colours. Metal salts are the substances that when burnt, produce the different colours. Things like Lithium chloride give off a red colour, potassium chloride is more purple and calcium chloride is an orange. Combining these metal salts generates a whole host of colours.

Firework manufacturers have to be careful about what gets packed into the firework to ensure that the height, bang and colours are all stable enough so that no one is harmed.

puzzles 35

the courier

Monday 4 October 2019

Puzzles Editor Emma Dawson

Solutions will be revealed in next week’s issue, available on campus from 11 November Images: Pixabay

MR TAYTO’S CROSSWORD Across

Down

1. British girl group formed in 1994 (5,5) 6. 1986 Stephen King novel (2) 9. Star ____, spice often used in Chinese cuisine (5) 10. Dance that originated in Cuba (5) 11. Sweet made from sugar, butter and milk (5) 13. Patrick ___, author of A Monster calls (4) 14. Norweigan band who sang Take On Me (3) 16. Native of a doubly landlocked country in central Asia (5) 17. Follower of the world’s oldest religion (5) 21. Country with the capital Lima (4) 24. Japanese art of paper folding (7) 26. Popular social media site (7) 27. See image “hidden” in crossword (3)

1. Music genre that originated in Jamaica in the 1950s (3) 2. Ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer (5) 3. Female sheep (3) 4. Love ____ , reality TV show (6) 5. House of ____, upper house of the UK paliament (5) 7. Country formerly known as Siam (8) 8. ____ Thurman, Kill Bill actress (3)

The first person to find Editor-in-Chief Grace Dean with a completed copy of the crossword wins a mysterious prize from our puzzles drawer

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WORD LADDER : Spook, Spork, Spark, Spare, Scare

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sport

Monday 4 November 2019

Emotional returns from sport’s softies Following Andy Murray’s tearful tennis comeback, our team cast an eye over other heart-warming sport returns from yesteryear Andy Murray Toby Bryant

Michael Jordan Dominic Lee

With a rise to tennis stardom shrouded by his grouchy behaviour and on the court antics, you’d have been forgiven for thinking you’d never feel emotional for Andy Murray.

In recent years however, the Scotsman has blubbed and blubbed his way into the nation’s hearts, even winning Sports Personality of the Year three times. Late last month, the now more charismatic shot maker, was making headlines after his tearful return to tennis success after time out with a niggling back injury.

Two words. “I’m back”. These two words, addressed in a letter to the league in 1995 announced the return of the game’s greatest player after a two-year hiatus. But that’s not where the story of Air Jordan’s break from basketball begins.

It’s 1993, MJ’s Bulls have just defeated the Charles Barkley led Phoenix Suns to win their third championship in a row. Jordan was at the top of his game and looked like he had sole ownership of the Larry O’Brien trophy. However, everything changed when Jordan’s father died convincing the G.O.A.T. to hang up his sneakers and pick up a baseball bat to pursue his father’s dream of being a baseball player.

After a couple of years floating around Baseball’s minor leagues in the Chicago White Sox’ farm system, Jordan announced his return to the hardwood by penning an open letter to the league. The letter contained the words “I’m back” and the very same night Jordan played in the Bulls game at the Indiana Pacers- donning the number 45 he had worn in baseball rather than his usual 23.

A comeback win against Stan Warwinka and a first title in seven tournaments started the waterworks

The final of October’s Antwerp European Open was only Murray’s second final since major back surgery that had some questioning if he would ever play again. A comeback win against fellow injury-prone player Stan Warwinka and a first title in seven tournaments started the waterworks.

“It means a lot,” Murray said. “[The] last few years have been extremely difficult. Me and Stan have had a lot of injury problems in the last couple of years. Amazing to be back playing against him in a final like that.”

A Grand Slam challenge may still be a way in the distance, but Murray is certainly glad to be back among the titles.

45

The shirt number which Jordan wore upon his return, instead of his usual 23

That year the Bulls lost to Shaquille O’Neal’s Magic who went on to lose against the Houston Rockets in the Finals. Nonetheless, Jordan’s return still marked an incredible return in sporting history as after the 94/95 finals the Bulls went on another 3-peat completing the story of the greatest player in the league’s history.

Thierry Henry Andrew White

Thierry Henry’s return to Arsenal in January 2012 filled Arsenal fans with both shock and excitement.

Henry was brought back to Arsenal on a two-month loan from parent club New York Red Bulls in the MLS; to cover for Gervinho who was leaving for the African Cup of Nations.

The excitement around North London was growing from the moment Henry had re-signed. The visitors for ‘the king’s’ homecoming? Leeds United in the FA Cup. At 0-0 in the 68th minute- Thierry Henry was about to make his anticipated Arsenal return. What happened next, was FA Cup history. 77 minutes on the clock, Alex Song plays a delicious ball to the feet of ‘ the king’ “Henry. Chance. Goal!”

The Emirates Stadium was in ruptures, goosebumps all around. Emotions ran high as Henry embraced the manager who brought him to Arsenal all those years ago.

Henry had previously scored 226 goals as an Arsenal player; this was the first goal he scored as an Arsenal fan. The talisman would later describe his goal against Leeds as his favourite in an Arsenal shirt. “You know, I wasn’t meant to come back and I came back. I wasn’t meant to play, I played. I wasn’t meant to score, I scored. It was so emotional, it was what it meant to me.”

In the king’s final goodbye, Henry would score a last minute winner for Arsenal against Sunderland, leaving his goal tally at 228 goals for Arsenal. The return of the king, the goodbye of a king, Henry’s return touched the hearts of football fans everywhere.

Alexander is now manager of Salford City Image: Instagram @salfordcityfc

Graham Alexander Stanley Gilyead Graham Alexander is a Preston North End legend. The long-time club captain helped PNE to

the 1999/2000 League 1 title and played in two Championship play-off finals for the club, but he is perhaps most warmly remembered for scoring in an end of season damp squib as he made an emotional return to Deepdale for the final season of his career.

‘Grezza’, as he is known to the PNE faithful, signed for Preston in 1999 and was their regular right back for 8 years before being controversially sold to Burnley. There, he impressed in a new central midfield position and helped secure promotion to the Premier League in 2008/09.

Whilst Grezza enjoyed an impressive swansong to his career North End’s fortunes faltered and they were relegated to League 1 in 2011. Amidst the disappointment of that summer one positive shone through, the return of Grezza on a free transfer.

‘Grezza’ signed for Preston in 1999 and was their regular right back

The 40-year-old struggled with injuries as the club limped home to a midtable finish, and going into his final game it looked as if the fairytale return everyone had hoped for wasn’t to be, but that all changed in the 84th minute of the season finale against Charlton when, with PNE 2-1 down, North End won a free kick on the edge of the box.

The fans held their breath as Grezza stepped up to take it. He dinked it over the wall and straight into the bottom corner, sending the crowd into raptures as they mobbed their returning hero and chanted his name one final time.

40 Andy Murray at October’s European Open Image: Twitter @EuroTennisOpen

The age Alexander managed to reach by the time he retired

The shot turned out to be the last touch of Grezza’s career and every Preston fan will remember the goal as a rare moment of ecstasy amidst the club’s worst spell in decades.

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37

sport

Monday 4 November 2019

The Hundred Draft: the worst sports TV ever?

Stanley Gilyead reports on the widely ridiculed, downright ridiculous draft for The Hundred which took place last weekend The ECB’s PR machine has rumbled into action this week as preparations start for next year’s new limited over competition, “The Hundred”. Team names have been announced, kit designs revealed and superstars including Ben Stokes, Heather Knight, Steve Smith and Chris Gayle allocated to the 8 competing teams.

The prospect of some of the best cricketers in the world coming to our shores to battle it out in a 38-day festival of cricket is mouthwatering to some. With big-hitting limitedover competitions having proved wildly suc-

cessful in Australia and India it is hoped that “The Hundred” can harness the momentum of England’s World Cup win and return cricket to its rightful place as the centrepiece of the English sporting summer.

100

The time (in seconds) each panel received to make their pick in each round

The tournament is set to be played over

the summer holidays, bringing the game to the attention of a whole new generation, and features both men’s and women’s leagues, providing much needed exposure to the women’s game.

However cricketing purists are less keen on the tournament. It’s 100 ball format, a departure from the 20/20 format used in most franchise competitions, has been widely ridiculed and labelled unnecessary. The format means ten, ten-ball overs are bowled each innings, rather than the traditional twenty, sixball overs, and bowlers are permitted to bowl

Selectors discuss their picks Image: Instagram @thehundred

in either 5 or 10 ball spells, rather than an over at a time as they have done for centuries.

Ian Ward and Isa Guha desperately tried to inject some excitement into proceedings

The ECB has argued that these changes are necessary to simplify the game and therefore broaden its appeal, whilst the shorter format also means that the game can be played in under 2 hours and so is more appealing to broadcasters. However many take the view that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and claim that the new format actually makes the game more complicated than the tried and tested 20/20 format.

Quite apart from the game’s complexity, traditionalists claim that the loss of cricket from the public consciousness (outside of major moments of triumph like this summer’s ODI World Cup) is due to the game disappearing from terrestrial TV in 2005, instead being hidden behind the iron curtain of Sky TV.

Similar to Eurovision except with dour Yorkshiremen in shirts emblazened with crisp logos

Whilst “The Hundred” sees some cricket return to the BBC, the fact that only 10 men’s

and 8 women’s games will be broadcast on the channel, with the rest on Sky, seems perplexing when the ECB’s stated intent is to engage as many people as possible in the format.

There have also been claims that further focus on limited over cricket will take attention away from the County Championship, the traditional proving ground for young cricketers hoping to make their way in the longer form of the game, therefore weakening the test team.

Against all the odds the draft turned out to be fairly entertaining purely on account of how bad it was

However, others argue that increased attention on cricket of any format is positive. Since 2005 engagement in cricket has decreased dramatically. By attracting attention to cricket in general it is hoped participation rates will improve across the formats, with people becoming more aware of the longer form of the game once their attention has been grabbed by the big hitting of “The Hundred”, eventually giving the test selectors a greater pool of talent to pick from.

“The Hundred” is by no means perfect. It would be great to have all the games on freeto-air TV or for the country to suddenly fall back in love with the 5-day game. But with cricket’s popularity falling fast we can’t dismiss an idea that may well bring millions to the sport due to a few quibbles with the details.

Japanese Rugby at all-time high after World Cup Tom Moorcroft takes a look at the bigger picture of Japanese rugby after their glitzy World Cup run came to an end against South Africa What teams do you think of when you think of Rugby?

The world-famous ‘All-Blacks’, New Zealand’s national team, who’ve dominated international competitions as long as they’ve been around.

What about our home-nations: England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, the main figures every year in the 6 nations? Or how about the mighty Newcastle Falcons, fresh from relegation but with enough passion to go the distance?

Well, what if I told you Japan are, perhaps, this year’s biggest Rugby team. For people not familiar with the sport, you might be thinking: “Japan? Why would I want to follow Japanese Rugby?” Or a question I’ve received a few times this year: “Do Japan even have a Rugby team?”

If we dive deep into the annals of Japanese Rugby, you can see that they’ve actually been around for a fair amount of time. Originally being played in 1866, in ‘treaty ports’, areas of Japan which opened trade with the United States, Rugby was played between the Japanese working classes.

Japan organised their first ever game of rugby in 1932

Alongside a wave of modernisation in Japan, Universities started to organise Rugby games and, slowly but surely, Japan recorded their first International game in 1932.

Since then, Rugby in Japan has gradually been on the rise, and every now and then they’ve recorded some epic feats: A 28-24 win against Scotland in 1989, a 23-8 victory against Wales in 2013 and, a moment which created goosebumps across the world, a 3432 win against the Springboks, in the last phase of the game.

I remember watching this game live, and I still get emotional thinking about it; the cheering of the crowd, the pure passion of the players, the cheek of Japan opting for a Scrum instead of being complacent in a kick, and most importantly, the pure elation of Japanese fans as their team recorded their biggest ever win.

They beat Scotland by going 28-0 ahead in the first half alone, suppressing a spirited comeback also

I say ‘biggest ever win’, but after the events of this year’s World Cup, I may be mistaken.

Playing against Ireland in what many Ireland fans, including my house-mate, thought was a ‘sure win’, Japan battled against the odds, dominating a somewhat weaker Ireland side, and delivering a confident 19-12 win. But that wasn’t enough for Japan, and they knocked out another home-nation from progressing in the World Cup.

2013

The year Japan secured a famous victory over Wales

They beat Scotland, going up 28-0 in the first half, and suppressing a Scottish comeback of 28-21, an event which my fellow Sports editor and Scotland rugby fan, Rory Ewart, probably hasn’t forgotten about. This saw Scotland fall short of, while Japan reached, their first ever World Cup Quarter Final.

However, Japan lost 26-3 against finalists South-Africa, leaving a somewhat sour cher-

Kenki Fukuoka makes an incredible catch Image: Instagram @rugbyworldcup

ry on top of their World Cup sundae.

Japan are a team which have emerged as dark horses in World Rugby over the last 40 years, and credited themselves as a strong presence. They’re currently ranked Number 8 in the World, an all-time personal high, and I truly believe we might see them reach top 5 within no time.

They’ve attracted some of Rugby’s top coaching talent over the years, no more than the likes of Eddie Jones, who was the mastermind behind their 34-32 thriller in 2015.

England fans will be hoping Eddie Jones replicates something like this this year, given that he’s now our current head coach.

They’re now coached by Jamie Joseph, a

New Zealand born, ex-Japanese Rugby player who’ll be hoping to steer this team to success. It truly is a great time to be a Rugby fan, and I think that in a few years, when Japan are international stars, we’ll be telling the next generation that we witnessed the birth of one of the all-time greats.

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sport

Monday 4 November 2019

Newcastle Football 1sts still top the table d MEN’S FOOTBALL

Newcastle 1sts Leeds Beckett 1sts

2 5

Sam Slater at Cochrane Park

Despite a valiant effort, Leeds Beckett were unfortunately able to do it on a cold, occasionally rainy, Wednesday night in Jesmond as Newcastle fell to a 5-2 defeat.

The Leeds Beckett team strolled in from the changing rooms at 18:30 just in time for kick-off The Newcastle warm-up looked lively, attempts from the edge of the box in order to keep the keeper active for what promised to be an entertaining spectacle. The Leeds Beckett team strolled in from the changing rooms at 18:30, just in time for the kick-off, much to the annoyance of the referee. Despite a lack of obvious warm up, Leeds Beckett started sharply in a 4-5-1 formation, apparently aiming to flood the midfield with bodies and float the ball up to wingers and their number 9. It did not take long to reach a breakthrough. Only a few minutes after kick-off, the pacey Beckett number 9 was able to break through into the right side of the box,

striking the ball into the far corner, leaving the keeper powerless.

Newcastle seemed more able to counter Beckett’s threat following the shock of the early goal, perhaps hoping that the age-old adage “there is always a risk in scoring early” was true. More midfield battles were won, and a volley following a corner was narrowly blocked on the edge of the Beckett six-yard box. Beckett weren’t without chances either, with the Newcastle keeper pulling off a brilliant save from a long-range effort as the defence began to look more assured.

At around 20 minutes, Newcastle found their breakthrough. Quick feet from the number 9 led to him being scythed down in the box, the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Number 7 buried the penalty, tying the score. However, Beckett responded quickly. Shortly after a free kick was won on the edge of the Newcastle box, only for it to be floated into the far post and headed in by a Beckett centre half. Mere minutes later, it felt like Groundhog Day as another dubious free kick was awarded in a similar position, only for another Beckett free header to finish it leaving Newcastle 3-1 down.

Despite the score line, Newcastle tried to quickly get back into the match with a goalmouth scramble following a corner unfortunately not dropping right in the six-yard box.

The Newcastle defence became more

aggressive, a few ‘Brexit’ challenges from the left back seemed to rattle the Beckett forwards as a Neil Warnockesque long ball approach in Newcastle’s 4-3-3 formation took hold.

Incredibly, the plan worked with number 11’s deep looping cross to the far post missed everyone, including crucially the Beckett keepers’ hands, nestling into the top left corner and leaving Newcastle only a goal down at the break.

A few “Brexit” challenges from Newcastle left back seemed to rattle the Beckett forwards

Newcastle came out as the better team in the second half, with quick passing around a very physical Beckett side looking to frustrate them. Unfortunately, just as Newcastle looked to get back into the game a thumping effort from out wide found its way into the top right corner, immediately increasing the deficit back to two.

Newcastle did not let it hit their spirits, immediately finding themselves through on goal, only for the squared pass across goal to be miscontrolled and allowing the Beckett defence back in the box. Shortly after, number 9 managed to win a header that

Newcastle 1sts are still top of the Northern Tier 1 Image: Stanley Gilyead

Hamilton cruising towards sixth Drivers’ title

Sesha Subramanian reports on the Mercedes driver’s latest racing success in Mexico as he chases Schumacher’s record-holding seven titles

British driver Lewis Hamilton took the Mexican Grand Prix - notching his 100th race win in a Mercedes car - but his wait to be crowned the Drivers Champion will go on at least till the next race in Austin, Texas at the United States Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel took second while teammate Valteri Bottas finished third ahead of polesitter Charles Leclerc.

The Mercedes car came into this

Lewis Hamilton Image: Twitter: @MercedesAMGF1

weekend distinctly slower than the Red Bull and the Ferrari cars with the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez not being a favourable one for the German manufacturer. This was further confirmed in qualifying when Max Verstappen for the Red Bull took pole position with Vettel and Leclerc behind him. The Dutchman did get a grid penalty for ignoring a yellow flag in Q3 thanks to Bottas’ crash on the

final turn meaning he started fourth alongside Hamilton - as Ferrari locked up the front row.

Verstappen’s race further descended into chaos when a scrap between him and Bottas resulted ina puntcured rear tyre

Verstappen suffered a horrendous start as both he and Hamilton were side by side going into turn two and three - eventually forcing both of them onto the grass and losing places to Alex Albon in the other Red Bull as well as McLaren’s Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris. Verstappen’s race further descended into chaos when a scrap between him and Bottas resulted in a punctured right rear tyre, forcing the Dutchman into an early pitstop and dropping to 20th place in the race.

Mercedes benefited from bad strategy on the part of Ferrari where they

effectively took the race win from Leclerc’s hands by sticking to a twostop while Bottas and Hamilton both stuck to one-stop strategies - as did Vettel who took matters into his own hands. While Bottas decided to mirror Vettel, Hamilton was called in on lap 23 to make the switch to hard tyres with boss Toto Wolff probably seeing how Daniel Ricciardo in the Renault had benefited from them himself.

Despite repeated moans from Lewis about how he thought they had pitted too early (it required chief strategist James Vowles to intervene at one point and reassure him), Mercedes thought they struck gold when Vettel eked out 37 laps on medium tyres before switching to hard tyres. Despite having fresher tyres towards the end of the race, Hamilton’s tyre management meant that Vettel was never close enough to use the Ferrari’s superior straight-line speed and perform an overtake - especially on the notoriously long pit straight - while Leclerc’s twostop strategy consigned him to fourth place ever since lap 15.

Behind the leaders, there were disasters aplenty in the pit lane as McLaren’s Lando Norris came out nearly a full lap

behind when his mechanics didn’t put in the left front tyre properly - causing an unsafe release before eventually fixing it. It didn’t matter though as Norris eventually retired to save the car. Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi was dropped off from the jack with his right rear still loose although the team - unlike McLaren - did catch it in time.

Local boy Sergio Perez was the best of the rest in his Racing Point car as the Mexican finished 7th behind Verstappen, who had a brilliant drive to finish in the top six.

Hamilton’s tyre management meant that Vettel was never close enough to use the Ferrari’s speed

Hamilton, with this win, came even closer to winning his sixth Drivers’ title and nearing Michael Schumacher’s record-holding seven. He will have another chance to do so at the US Grand Prix - a race he has won five out of the last seven years.

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Monday 4 November 2019

despite loss to Leeds Beckett 1sts looped onto the bar, leaving the feeling that perhaps it just wasn’t going to be Newcastle’s day.

Strong tackles commenced with both sides looking to leave their mark on each other with Beckett’s tempers flaring

Strong tackles commenced, with both sides looking to leave their mark on each other with Leeds Beckett’s tempers flaring, and a series of questionable dives went unnoticed by the referee which perhaps ensured they would receive little sympathy from him. Again, Beckett struck just at the wrong time with a counterattack resulting in a dangerous out swinging cross from the right side of the pitch well finished off on the volley into the bottom corner of the Newcastle goal at around 65 minutes, leaving little hope of a Newcastle comeback.

Newcastle adopted a ‘Hail Mary’ tactic, shifting to a 4-4-2 formation and hoping that more direct passes would be more effective. Leeds Beckett seemed happy to sit back and enjoy their lead, only attempting long range

efforts resulting in some top-quality saves from the Newcastle keeper. The Beckett number 9 late in the game did have a couple one on ones, although perhaps showed his earlier goal was a fluke with the Newcastle keeper saving once at the near post and the other attempt sailing well wide. The game fizzled out towards the end, bar a curling effort from Newcastle that narrowly went over the bar, leaving the game to finish 5-2 to the visitors.

Despite the score line, Newcastle put up a good fight and were perhaps unlucky at times to concede at the wrong moments which prevented a possible fight back into the game.

Some stellar goals and performances, particularly from the goalkeeper and front three, means Newcastle can keep their heads held high and hope to make sure the next match goes their way instead.

FOOTBALL Men’s Northern Tier 1

Pld

W

D

L

Pts

1 Newcastle 1sts

4

3

0

1

9

2 Sheffield Hallam 1sts

4

2

1

1

7

3 Liverpool John Moore 1sts

3

1

2

0

5

4 UCLan 1sts

4

1

1

2

4

5 Leeds Beckett 1sts

4

1

1

2

4

6 Manchester 1sts

3

0

1

2

1

Stan Gilyead dissects the punishment given to Bulgaria for racist chants in their game against England last month leading the charge of a real, concerted effort to rid the international game of the stain of racism. However the punishment handed out by UEFA has been widely perceived as showing that the governing body is once again shying away from the issue and not taking it seriously enough.

The fine handed out to the Bulgarian side is less than the one given to Nicklas Bendtner for wearing Paddy Power pants at Euro 2012, showing UEFA to attach more importance to protecting their commercial interests than kicking racism out of football.

The fine amounts to less than a quarter of many top players’ weekly wage and cannot be truly thought to have an effect on such a deep-rooted societal issue.

Whilst condemning games to be played behind closed doors is a forward step the measure has been taken before and shown to have little impact, with games having been played behind closed doors in many European countries recently to little effect. It can only be presumed that, whilst the measure will rid at least one game of any racist incidents, many of the same offending fans will return once the ban is up, and will presumably carry

on acting in the same way.

After the match in October Ian Wright made an impassioned speech in which he said that if that night’s incident was treated seriously enough, with governing bodies following the lead of players on the pitch in taking strong and appropriate action, then it could eventually be seen as a positive night. If Bulgaria’s punishment had

BADMINTON

M1 v Lancaster 1sts M2 v Northumbria 1sts W1 v Durham 1sts W2 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts

BASKETBALL

M1 v Worcester 1sts M2 v Northumbria 1sts M3 v York 2nds W1 v Manchester Met W2 v York 1sts

FENCING

M1 v Newcastle 2nds

135-83

FOOTBALL

M1 v Leeds Beckett 1sts M2 v Leeds 1sts M3 v York St Johns 6ths W1 v Lancaster 1sts W2 v York St Johns 6th

2-5 1-4 4-1 1-3 10-0

fit the crime then that night would have been remembered as one when football finally started taking racism seriously enough. As it is, this punishment means that the incident will be just one in a long line of racist incidents in international football that resulted in a slap on the wrist, the issue being brushed under the carpet, and nothing at all changing.

1 v UCLAN 2nds 2 v Sunderland 1sts

4-2 5-1

HOCKEY

M1 v Manchester 1sts M2 v Northumbria 1sts M3 v Leeds Beckett 2nds W1 v Nottingham 2nds W2 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts W3 v Leeds 2nds W4 v Teeside 1sts W5 v York St Johns

LACROSSE

M1 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts M2 v Leeds 2nds W1 v Edinburgh 1sts W2 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts W3 v Hull 2nds

NETBALL

W1 Leeds Beckett 1sts W2 Northumbria 2nds W3 Newcastle 4ths

8-0 2-6 6-2 2-6 78-68 80-72 48-51 50-69 34-78

GOLF

Bulgaria fined €75000 for racist chanting The Bulgarian men’s national football team have been ordered to play two games behind closed doors, and given a fine of €75000 by UEFA in response to the racist chanting widely heard at last month’s European Championships qualifier against England.

The match was almost forced to be abandoned after fans were heard making racist chants at a number of England players. The offending fans, who were forced to leave the stadium at half time, were suspected far right supporters, with many dressed in balaclavas and several shown on camera doing Nazi salutes.

The response by the players on the night was widely applauded as they followed UEFAs three strikes system and almost walked off the pitch. Despite worries post-match that the Bulgarian camp weren’t taking the claims seriously enough, with the manager claiming not to have heard the chants, most were encouraged by the resignation of the Bulgarian Football Association’s President and the arrests of five of the offenders.

On the night many hoped that the incident could act as a turning point, with Gareth Southgate’s England side

BUCS RESULTS

3-2 6-1 1-6 1-2 2-1 2-1 1-2 0-2 21-3 4-1 10-12 17-5 29-1 57-34 15-53 39-40

RUGBY UNION

M1 v Nottingham Trent 1sts 28-20 M2 v Northumbria 2nds 19-36 M3 v York 1sts 16-24 M4 v Leeds 3rds 28-12 M5 v Durham 5ths 19-41 W2 v Teesside 1sts 27-7

RUGBY LEAGUE M2 v Hull 2nds

SQUASH

M1 v Manchester 1sts M2 v Leeds Beckett 1sts M3 v Durham 4ths W2 v Durham 2nds

TABLE TENNIS

M1 v Nottingham 1sts M2 v Durham 3rds M3 v York 2nds

54-16 1-4 1-4 0-3 0-4 0-17 1-16 4-13

TENNIS M1 v Liverpool 1sts M2 v Leeds 2nds W1 v Durham 3rds W2 v Leeds Beckett 3rds

6-0 12-0 2-10 6-0

ULTIMATE M1 v Leeds 1sts M2 v Lancaster 1sts

8-15 W/O Lanc.

VOLLEYBALL England won the game 6-0 despite the game being stopped multiple times Image: Instagram @england

W1 v Leeds 1sts W2 v Sheffield 2nds

3-0 3-0

sport the courier

Monday 4 November 2019 Issue 1395 Free

@Courier_Sport courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/sport Head of Sport Rebecca Johnson Sport Editors Rory Ewart, Stan Gilyead, Toby Bryant & Tom Moorcroft

BUCS Lacrosse: Ncl Men’s 2nds smash Leeds

Laurie Kitchen reports on a table topping 2nds win for Newcastle against Leeds 2nds at Longbenton Sports Ground last Wednesday evening

The victorious Newcastle Lacrosse team post match Image: Jack Clohessey

MEN’S LACROSSE

Newcastle Men 2nds Leeds Men 2nds

4 1

Laurie Kitchen at Longbenton Sports Ground This Wednesday top of the table Newcastle Mens 2’s took on Leeds Mens 2’s at home.

A good match up on paper, with Newcastle scoring 4 goals past their keeper on a day where they struggled to find the back of the net. A 6 o’clock start a cold rainy night under the lights set the scene for what was to be a very physical contest.

Newcastle won the first face off putting the pressure right on Leeds. Straight into attack as they spun the ball around with fast and accurate passes, opening large gaps in their defence. After England’s recent thrashing of New Zealand on Saturday, Kiwi Dominic

Inside Sport today >>>

Aldridge somewhat made up for his nation’s recent poor sporting performances by netting home the first goal for Newcastle in no time at all.

Not long after George Thompson managed to find a long distance pass to Laurie Kitchen in space near the crease, who put away the second. Then towards the end of the second

15

The length of each quarter in a lacrosse match

quarter another shot from Laurie Kitchen at goal hit the woodwork, the ball ricocheted back at him and he calmly slotted home to make it 3. Leeds were in disarray.

An inspirational speech from captain Tom

Wilson at the end of the quarter rallied the troops to put the hammer to Leeds. Confidence in the camp was sky high with ground balls now being swept up with ease and regular shots being taken left, right and centre.

With the score still 3-0 it was that man Dom Aldridge once again with a piercing shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net. The goal was met with a roar from the side-lines As the second half started with Newcastle 4-0 up Leeds were in desperate need of a goal, but their attack was no match for Newcastle’s defence, led by Alex Adams-Waite keeping everyone in check.

The game saw a standout performance from Ewart Rees as he bullied the opposition with his big pole and helped the attack by feeding the ball into good areas countless times. The attack’s luck was running thin as they aimed shot after shot at the Leeds make

Emotional Sport

Men’s Football

We take a look at some of the most heartwarming sport returns Page 36

Sam Slater reports on Newcastle 1sts game against Leeds Beckett Page 38+9

but couldn’t get another goal, the Leeds Uni goalkeeper was having a good day in net making their job very tough.

As the second half started with Newcastle 4-0 up Leeds were in desperate need of a goal, but their attack was no match for Newcastle’s defence

Nothing could find the back of the net.

Then just like the week before Newcastle’s opponents managed to sneak one in against

the run of play at the very last minute, ruining debutant goalie Bertie Mitford’s hopes of a clean sheet. However, it does not takeaway from what was a great all around performance from the lads in blue keeping Newcastle’s 2nds firmly at the top of the table.

LACROSSE Men’s Northern Tier 3

Pld

W

D

L

Pts

1 Newcastle 2nds

4

3

1

0

10

2 Hull 2nds

4

2

2

0

8

3 Durham 3rds

4

2

0

2

6

4 Sheffield 2nds

4

1

1

2

4

5 Leeds 2nds

3

1

0

2

3

6 Sheffield Hallam 2nds

3

0

0

3

0

Daft Draft

Stanley Gilyead reflects on the inaugural ‘The Hundred’ draft Page 37