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Gaming This one-of-a-kind prototype has auctioned for $360k. Find out why Page 30
Travel Like cathedrals? Read about some of the hottest spots for old architecture Page 20
Monday 9 March 2020 Issue 1406 Free
Film Find out why the male gaze remains a problem in film Page 26
The independent voice of Newcastle students
Est 1948
University warns that students who leave the UK over Easter may have issues with re-entry Grace Dean Editor The University has issued a statement asking students to be mindful when travelling abroad in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. In an email sent to all students, the University addressed concerns regarding travelling abroad during the Easter holidays. The University has advised students and staff to
follow Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice, though these are rapidly changing. The email states: “It may be that if you leave the country, you find that you have issues with re-entry into the UK which could then affect your university studies.” The advice provided on the University’s website has recently been updated in accordance with Public Health England guidelines to prevent students from undertaking any university business in China or any of the category 1 areas unless approved by their Faculty
PVC, and members of the public returning from these areas should self-isolate even if asymptomatic. At the time of going to print, PHE’s category 1 areas are listed as China’s Hubei province, Iran, Daegu and Cheongdo in the Republic of Korea, and any Italian town under containment measures. Newcastle University’s announcement comes following the Italian Government’s decision to close all schools and universities until 15 March. Sports events have also been limited, and it is reported that the Govern-
ment is also considering further measures such as the closure of cinemas and theatres and the suspension of public events. Regions including Lombardy have already shut their theatres and cinemas, providing precedent for this measure. Schools and universities in China are implementing strategies to ensure students still have access to education, such as by providing online resources, so students can continue to work from home. Students at some UK universities have al-
ready been diagnosed with the virus. Goldsmiths University in south London has confirmed that a recent visitor to one of its halls of residence has since tested positive for the Coronavirus, while Queen’s University Belfast has confirmed that a case has been diagnosed among its community. Newcastle University concludes: “The best advice we can all follow in this situation is to wash our hands regularly with soap and water and maintain good hygiene.”
Newcastle found to be ‘booziest student city’ Sophie Wilson News Editor
Following a Babylon Health survey, Newcastle has been found to be the “booziest student city”. The health survey consisted of almost 40,000 people being questioned. Through their app, the company asked consumers to
A Babylon Health survey reports that Newcastle students drink an average of 7.9 units per week Image: George Boatfield
take a test to find out the habits of those from both rural and urban lifestyles. The statistics given reveal the answers given between November 2018 and April 2019. Newcastle students, on average, consumed 7.9 units of alcohol per week. This was the leading university town, followed by Exeter. However, the second place city had an average of a full 1.5 units less per week. This is in comparison to Ipswich that came last, with
results recording that the average there is only 3.1 units. The average number of
units Newcastle 7.9 units alcohol students drink each week
On a more general level, Newcastle upon Tyne came seventh out of nine cities regarding a general level of health in the North East.
This general result takes into account three factors of being ‘healthy’. The first of these is smoking,which considers the percentage of smokers, quitters and the amount of cigarettes consumed by each person on a regular day. The second category is diet, which looks at how many portions of fruit and vegetables are eaten on a daily basis, the units of alcohol drank and the amount of alcoholic drinks consumed per week. Finally, exercise is also
taken into consideration. This considers the amount of time each week is spent doing physical activity, the resistance of the exercise and the intensity of it. Considering all of these factors, Newcastle comes seventh in the North East, falling behind County Durham that takes the place of first, but it does beat both Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
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thecourier Editor: Grace Dean
Deputy Editor: Molly Greeves The Courier, NUSU, King’s Walk, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QB Tel: 0191 239 3940 Email: editor.union@ncl.ac.uk
Current Affairs Culture 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
Food 19
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, Kate Dunkerton & Sophie Hicks
Film 26
c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Elisabetta Pulcini, Steven Ross, Joe Holloran & Lucy Lillystone
Arts 28
c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Caitlin Rawlings, Charlotte Slinger & Lauren Sneath
Gaming 30
courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk
Editors: Alex Darbyshire, Shawn Khoo, George Boatfield & James Troughton
Science 32
Puzzles 35
courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amy Harris, Beth Robson & Meggie Williams
Sport 36
Online Editor Tom Hardwick Social Media Managers Alicja Dryer, Holly Agar and Rose Hinds
Musings from the editor DARBYSHIRE’S DO’S
I’m a hungry kinda gal, and I always find myself looking forward to the next meal. Lunch is no exception. My salads have become somewhat of a trademark in the office. They generally follow the same build every day - couscous, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, chickpeas, and maybe some cucumber or olives if I’m feeling fancy. Couscous really is a forced to be reckoned with - on its own it can be a bit bland, but it really soaks up the flavours of whatever you serve it with, and is delicious when seasoned with some salt and oregano or rosemary and a delightful drizzle of olive oil. The Co-op’s opening has, however, been somewhat of a game-changer, and has revolutionised lunch on campus. It’s still much cheaper to make your own Grace Dean Couscous SaladTM at home, but if you’re lacking in the chickpea department I would thoroughly the Co-op’s soya “duck” wrap. Delicious.
AND DON’TS
This week: Cooking
DO: Salt your pasta water! Many Italian dishes go easy on the salt, and so much of the seasoning is added along with some pasta water. Adding a ladlefull of starchy, salty pasta water helps season, as well as thicken, all kinds of sauces. DON’T: Use blunt knives! I cannot stress this enough. As much as it may appear otherwise, the majority of knife injuries occur from improperly maintained utensils. Blunt knives require more pressure, and more pressure results in slipping. DO: Taste often! Your mouth and nose are your first line of defens. Tasting often allows you to make quick adjustments if you need to. DON’T: Cross contaminate! Keep your foods stored smartly, and many illnesses will pass you by. Separate your meat and veg!
NSR Show of the Week
FILMSOC RADIO SHOW Sunday 11am-12:30pm The FilmSoc Radio Show is a weekly catch up on all things film, including box office analysis, movie news, retrospectives, games, debates, and much more, with an ever-changing array of guests and opinions. Past episode topics have included Oscar predictions, film vs digital, and murder mysteries, with the rise of A24, fan theories, and a musical special still to come over the next few weeks! Join Kat, Devon, and Miles every Sunday, 11am to 12:30pm, or listen to our back catalogue podcast-style at mixcloud.com/FilmSoc/.
From the archives Grace Dean looks through the archives to trace Newcastle’s campus history
c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Eleanor Gratton, Patrick Harland & Seshadhri Subramanian
editor.union@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amanda Goh & Cayla Viner
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Monday 9 March 2020
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 is printed by: Trinity Mirror Printing, Barton Road, 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.
Get involved in student media
Established in 1948, the Courier is the 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. We hold our drop-in writers’ meetings on Wednesdays during termtime in the Planning Room of the SU from 1:30pm to 2pm, so come along to find out a bit more about us. Our next meetings are on Wednesday 19 and 26 February. Unable to attend? All our leftover articles get posted in our Facebook groups; 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 listed above. Our next print edition will be available on campus on Monday 24 February. 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 thisisnsr.co.uk. NUTV is our high-action, fast-paced television branch. Founded in 2007, NUTV produces both on-demand and live broadcasts, covering current affairs, entertainment, music and sports, allowing students to experience the world of TV production. 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@ncl.ac.uk.
This week in 2008, two students were arrested for shooting an air rifle in student accommodation Image: Chris Brown the Courier archives
12 YEARS AGO
Ricky rifle
Two nineteen-year-old male students were arrested by armed police after shooting an air rifle in Richardson Road, the student accommodation which has since been replaced by Park View. Resident alerted the accommodation’s security after hearing someone repeatedly firing an air rifle out of a bedroom window allegedly at a lamp post. The security guard then called the police after he felt like he himself was being shot at. The police response was immense, with residents claiming to see three police vans and four police cars outside the accommodation as an armed raid of the students’ flat took place. Alongside being arrested, both students were removed from the accommodation and told to find alternative lodgings for the remainder of the year.
20 YEARS AGO
Robber returns the cash
A skint Northumbria student was robbed at knife-point in the city, only to have his cash returned to him “because his mugger felt sorry for him”. The student was confronted by a man who explained that he had been barred from a pub but needed to contact someone inside, and asked the student if he would pass on the message himself. The man walked him down a back alley where he suddenly produced a knife and forced the student to hand over all his money, but after emptying his pockets it was revealed that he only have 54 pence. The robber then marched the student to the nearest cash point and demanded that he drain his account of money, however the machine refused to deposit any cash after it turned out that the student had exceeded his overdraft limit. The robber returned the money before making his escape. That week, filthy freshers also faced student scorn after wrecking kitchens and starting food fights in Castle Leazes. The students
raided six kitchens in Freeman’s Hall and spread the contents over walls and floors, including mayonnaise being found in the showers. What annoyed students most was that the residents were forced to pay the rice by having to clean up after the guilty parties, who the building staff were yet to ketchup with. One resident blasted, “I wouldn’t have minded, but it was my fucking Dolmio sauce. It was irresponsible, uncool and not that funny.” Only the year before that, Leazes residents had also caused trouble after smearing kebabs over CCTV cameras. The Courier also featured an obituary to Oasis, which reads as follows:
It was with great sadness that we learnt today of the death of Oasis, rock band, rock idols, rock idiots. It seems like only yesterday that ‘Supersonic’ was released, and the nation’s teenage bedrooms put away their cheesy house. The child of two squabbling parents, Oasis was born in Manchester, godfathered by the Stone Roses. Football, pints, acoustic guitars and hard drugs - this was the lesson this young band preached to a waiting nation. “You and I are gonna live forever,” they proclaimed and we believed them. They had all the hallmarks of child prodigy, a warring brotherhood, a schizophrenic sound, and a tender, unpretentious heart. “Your music’s shite, it keeps me up all night”, they sang at the end of first album “Definitely Maybe”. How ironic that was to prove. But something had started to smell bad. And it wasn’t Bonehead’s shitkicker boots. They just went too big, puking on America, playing Donnington-sized orgies like Knebworth, and releasing “Be Here Now”. They soon smacked of excess - the coke, the Met Bar and the celeb friends. Oasis were ailing - but they were not dead. But quickly their condition deteriorated - the “other blokes” in the band decided to get the hell out. “We’ve been left holding the shit sandwich here”, claimed Noel. But instead they just took one big fat chunk out of it. So now we have “Standing on the Shoulder of Giants”, an album that is just so dull, so bland, so insignificant. No one even cares anymore, the drunk has gone quietly to its grave.
It had to happen. “Go let it out”, we said. “Just not over us.” Many will attend their funeral - Ringo and George, Johnny Depp and Kate Moss, anyone who bought a parka in 1996. Goodbye boys. It was fun while it lasted.
43 YEARS AGO
Union beer 19p a pint
The Courier reported in 1977 that “the Union rolled out the barrel and offered beer to students at only 19p a pint – but the only condition is that you have to buy 88 pints at a time”. The decision made by the Union Management Committee meant that students were able to buy whole kegs of beer from the Union at cost plus VAT and 10% handling charge. The choice of beer was, however, limited – only Tartan and Exhibition were on offer, costing £16.86 and £17.89 per keg respectively. The Union was also able to provide a footpump provided that the students left a £10 deposit.
27 YEARS AGO
Stan Calvert mourned
The University mourned the tragic passing of Stan Calvert, Director of the PE Centre. Described as “a genuine, cultured Northumbrian gentleman noted for his wit, charm and ability to communicate”, the Vice-Chancellor said “he was the Centre”. In remembrance of his role at the University and as an advisor and administrator for many physical education bodies both locally and nationally, the Stan Calvert varsity was set up between Newcastle and Northumbria Universities, which took place yearly until 2018. Calvert was born in Alnwick in 1929 and played football for non-league side Bromsgrove Rovers while studying at Birmingham University. After several years as a PE teacher, he joined Newcastle University in 1958, where he helped to establish what is now the Sports Centre. In 1981 he became the University’s first Director of Sport.
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@TheCourier_News courier.news@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/news News Editors Aimee Seddon, Carl Smith Valdez, Em Richardson, Emma McLaren & Sophie Wilson
Brexit threatens Erasmus scheme Elisabetta Pulcini Film Editor
The Erasmus programme was established in 1987. Since then, the programme has allowed millions of students to incorporate living abroad into their educational and professional development. However, it appears that Brexit may bring this to an end. Erasmus has become a staple for students seeking to expand their horizons. According to the BBC, in 2017, “16,561 UK students participated in Erasmus, while 31,727 EU nationals came to the UK.”
In 2017, 16,561 UK students participated in Erasmus, while 31,727 EU nationals came to the UK
To better understand the impact Brexit might have on the programme, the Courier spoke to Dr Elena Katselli, Senior Lecturer and International Student Liaison Officer for Newcastle University’s Law School. Having acted as Erasmus Student Coordinator for a number of years, Dr Katselli can testify to the value the Erasmus programme has brought to the UK, allowing students to “expand their horizons academically, but also culturally.” The whole idea of the Erasmus programme is to “bring together different people from different backgrounds, different cultures, different educational systems.” Dr Katselli referred to the importance of mobility, which is “essential and fundamental, not for the sake of mobility, but because there is a well rooted belief that through mobility we become better in our disciplines.” Moreover, living abroad also helps students to “adjust to different environments.”
Erasmus University Rotterdam is one of the schools Newcastle University has exchange partnerships with Image: RSM Erasmus on Wikimedia Commons
Citing an increasingly competitive job market, it was also suggested that an experience abroad “translates into a stronger CV” and “adds value to the degree”, because it is “generally seen that students who participate in exchange programs become stronger academically.”
Funding allows students unable to afford to participate in exchange programmes
Students who choose the UK as their
destination of exchange programmes help enrich the community. In fact, “having Erasmus students or any other international students is a significant asset to us as a law school but also to the University.” It was also discussed how Brexit could act as a deterrent for exchange students, given the implications of the country choice to turn away from international collaboration. Dr Katselli proposes that “EU citizens are asking themselves why should they be coming to the UK?”, when “they have 27 other countries to choose from.” While the UK has a significant advantage due to being an English speaking country, “there is a growing number of academic institutions across the EU who offer degree programs in English, and therefore I believe
that students will prefer and will choose other countries as opposed to the UK.”
Erasmus has allowed students to expand horizons academically and culturally
More tangible effects of Brexit were approached. Despite the Department of Education stating a commitment to the programme through Brexit, Dr Katselli emphasises the “concerns that with Brexit the funding for the exchange students will disappear.” This move is likely to disproportionately
impact students from lower income backgrounds, who rely on the funding provided by the Erasmus programme. Dr Katselli pointed out that this might have a larger effect on social mobility. Katselli said: “I think that the funding enables students who were never able to afford or would never consider expanding their horizons […] to participate in exchange programs.” This allows them “to strengthen their CVs and career prospects”, making them more desirable to employers. These concerns are substantiated by a report from the House of Lords EU Committee, which seem to indicate that a national program would hardly approach the scope of contributions of the current programme.
Suspects arrested after student bar raids Grace Dean News Editor
Two armed raids and an attempted breakin at the Trent House, the Cosy Dove and the North Terrace have led to two suspected robbers being arrested. The North Terrace, located on Claremont Terrace close to the Medical School and Marris House, reported a break-in by thieves in the evening of Sunday 16 February. Two armed men who wore masks threatened a staff member stole cash.
The three pubs experienced armed raids and an attempted break-in in February
Two masked men entered the Trent House late in the evening Image: Grace Dean
In the early hours of Monday 24 February, a similar incident was reported at the Cosy Dove pub on Hunters Road in Spital Tongues, close to Castle Leazes, where intruders tried to force entry. Because the pub was closed, the intruders fled without getting access. Less than 24 hours later, two masked men entered the Trent House on Leazes Lane while a staff member was closing up the pub. The men threatened the staff members with
weapons, though they did not injure them, and stole cash. In light of the three incidents, police in both CID and the Newcastle City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team began an investigation and have this week identified two suspects aged 44 and 28 who have been arrested and charged with three counts of robbery and one count of possession of an offensive weapon. The younger suspect was also charged with burglary. Detective Sergeant Dave Lever, of Northumbria Police, said: “We know that these incidents have caused some concern among licenced premises in Newcastle. “We hope these arrests, and our swift response, can offer some reassurance to the victims of these raids and other licenced premises. “Despite the charges our investigation will continue and we still need any witnesses, or anyone with information, to get in touch with police. “We are also keen to speak to anyone who may have seen a black Honda Civic in the area of the raids around the time of the offences in question.” Not all students are worried about the incidents. Alex Darbyshire said: “whilst it may be concerning for some due to the pubs’ proximity to student areas, security measures at University residences are very tight.”
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Monday 9 March 2020
Sexual misconduct at Cambridge Uni
Cambridge Univeristy professor 'steps back' amid claims he mishandled sexual misconduct complaints. Elsa Tarring reports Dr Jeremy Morris, the head of Trinity Hall at Cambridge University, has stepped back following claims that he mishandled a series of complaints of sexual assault at the University. The most severe of these claims is how Dr Morris had handled 10 allegations of sexual assault in 2015 towards fellow Cambridge academic, Dr Peter Hutchinson.
Cambridge adjusted their definition of sexual harassment to exclude acts of sexual misconduct
While Dr Hutchinson stopped teaching when the assault claims were made, the professor was still able to attend college events, and he only resigned from the University in 2019 after pressure from staff and students. It also emerged last week that Dr Hutchinson published an erotic novel about students the same year that these sexual assault claims were made.
Dr Hutchinson stopped teaching after sexual assault claims was made but could still attend college events Image: Wikimedia Commons
It has also been said that Dr Morris acted in an improper way following a series of complaints of sexual assault against a male student at the university; as well as against another senior member of staff, who was allowed to remain in his job for five months after he was accused. All of these sexual assault claims were reported to the University as part of an internal investigation, but a number of students and staff have complaints over how the reports were handled, given that many of the alleged perpetrators were allowed to continue at the university with little or no investigation. Over 500 Cambridge students and staff have signed a petition demanding that Dr Morris resign after revealing that they have “no faith” in the college’s processes regarding sexual assault complaints. The mother of one of the students who made a complaint under the leadership of Dr Morris has expressed concern that the college “has failed many young men and women” in the way in which the cases have been handled. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article please call victim support at 0333 300 6389.
Lucy Adams reports on how a different professor has been accused of writing 'erotic fiction' about his some of his students A Cambridge University professor, who was previously accused of sexually harassing ten students, has written and published erotic fiction about students. The book follows the sexual encounters of a first-year student at a fictional Oxford college, (notably, he is also named Peter) who is eventually convicted for “sexual impropriety” in a trial. Ellie Pyemont, who brought a sexual assault case against him in 2006, said that she “recognised” herself in the story and emphasised the implications of a lecturer who writes erotic fantasies about teenagers: “The significant point is that the person behind this derisory book was in a position of power over young people at Trinity Hall for decades.”
Dr Peter Hutchinson revealed as writer of erotic fiction novel “First Time: Ooh la la!”
Hutchinson had been accused and cleared in criminal court of sexually assaulting a student, despite admitting to Norwich Crown Court that he patted the accuser on the bottom and commenting: “I cannot understand why something which seemed so trivial was important to her.” In 2015, after more than a dozen complaints of sexual harassment, he agreed to stop teach-
ing and was banned from all undergraduate contact.
Cambridge Uni reinstated the professor's emeritus status in 2019
His attendance at a Trinity Hall event in 2017 sparked an investigation into the terms of his agreement with the College, and after “having received legal advice”, Trinity distinguished which events he could and could not attend. Following this, in October 2019 they fully reinstated his emeritus status, stating that his removal had been “incorrect”. As an Emeritus fellow, Hutchinson retains his “dining rights” to free meals in college, as well as being allowed to attend certain events. Trinity confirmed the extent of his ban: Hutchinson “will not attend events primarily aimed at students or alumni except by agreement with the college”. During the summer of 2019, Cambridge also adjusted their definition of sexual harassment to exclude acts of sexual misconduct, which resulted in multiple complainants being told that their complaint would “not be taken further at this time.” If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article please call victim support at 0333 300 6389.
Multiple people have been told by Cambridge that their conplaints would "not be taken further at this time" Image: NeedPix
Proud 2 Be celebrates the LGBT+ community Alex Gervás
Tobias Cameron, LGBT+ Officer and Sian Dickie, President of Feminist Society discussing mental health Image: NUSU
The LGBT+ Officer of Newcastle University Student Union, Tobias Lawrence has launched the Proud 2 Be campaign last 17th February. The Proud 2 Be campaign intended to bring awareness of major issues faced by the LGBT+ community through two main conferences. The campaign also aims to highlight representations of LGBT+ community around the University campus. The first event celebrated on Tuesday, 25th Febraury focused on Queer History and colonialism. The second event on Thursday, 27th February explored issues relating to the LGBT+ community and homelessness. Tobias Lawrence went to the NSR News Show on 26th February to talk about the
meaning of the week and its purpose. Lawrence said: “[The Proud 2 Be week] looks into the issues faced by the LGBT+ community, but also highlights the issues faced by people with intersecting identities.” Throughout the show, Lawrence stressed the special difficulties faced by members of the queer community who are discriminated by multiple facets. Lawrence talked about Trans Black women, one of the most discriminated groups.
Proud 2 Be aimed to bring awareness to LGBT+ issues
When talking about this, Lawrence introduced the Queer History event to touch upon the problems of intersectionality. Lawrence
praised Bird la Bird’s walk through “queer history through the eyes of prisoners, workingclass people; and look into colonialism’s real impact on LGBT lives within history.” The second event of the week looked at the relationship between homelessness and LGBT+ people. Lawrence said it is important not only to consider visible homelessness but also the sofa surfing culture. The Proud 2 Be Trust reported that 24% of homeless youth are part of the LGBT+ community, and 77% believe coming out is the main reason leading to homelessness. As part of the Proud 2 Be campaign, Lawrence has organised the release of videos talking with a different guest about different issues faced by the queer community. Some of these videos include discussions on mental and physical health, sexual exploitation, substance misuse, targeted violence.
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TRY on the Tyne brings New plans for first triathlon to Tyneside Tyneside office Imogen Davies
Following the successful debut of Cintra TRY on the Tyne last year, the sporting event will return to the streets of Newcastle this August. As part of a two-day festival of multi-sports events, Newcastle and Gateshead will host existing favourites such as the 5K, 10K and Sprint Duathlon. This year the festival will also feature the launch of the brand-new super sprint triathlon, an event that has been in the works for many months and is anticipated by sports enthusiasts across the country. The triathlon, sponsored by North East firm Cintra HR and Payroll Services, will take place between the 22 and 23 of August and is organized by Events of the North, in partnership
with Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council. The TRY on the Tyne super sprint triathlon consists of a 400m swim, 10k cycling segment and a 3k run. The swim that opens the event will take place in Leazes Park Lane, thanks to Urban Green Newcastle. Participants will then complete a bike route through the city centre, before finishing the course with a run along the iconic Newcastle Gateshead Quayside. Last month organisers, event partners and ambassadors collaborated with members of Newcastle University Triathlon Club for a trial run of the swim section of the course and transition zone in Leazes Park. The race’s founder, Steve Cram, has stated that the circuit shows off Tyneside’s iconic landmarks. He commented: “we’ve created a really attractive city centre route that’s go-
ing to be great for participants and spectators alike. The shorter triathlon distances lend themselves to exciting races and should appeal to experienced athletes and beginners alike.” Last year’s sporting events appealed to a wide range of people and were used as an opportunity to raise funds for charitable organisations. Further fundraising efforts are anticipated this year as competitors partner with various sponsors such as TRY on the Tyne’s offical charity partner, the Newcastle based international children’s charity COCO (Comrades of Children Overseas). To compete in the TRY on the Tybe sprint triathlon, the entry cost is £50 for affiliated athletes and £54 for unaffiliated athletes, and the entry costs for the super sprint event are £45 and £49.
developements Plans for offices on the Quayside have been announced Image: Wikimdia Commons
Sophie Wilson
The event will take place in August Image: GoodFreePhotos
Bringing into the city one thousand new jobs, plans have just been declared for an office development on Newcastle Quayside. Situated on City Road, the building is going to consist of twelve stories and will be called No 1 Quayside. It will stand next to the Sage Gateshead and next to the Gateshead Millenium Bridge. There is hope that it will be a key feature on the Quayside, as it will span over one hundred thousand square feet and will be curved in design. The building has been designed by multiaward-winning international architects, BIG, who are renowned for their cuttingedge designs. Andreas Klok Pederson is a partner and design director of BIG London. He has said that he is “excited to be part of revitalizing the historic neighbourhood of Newcastle.”
Discussing the design of the building, he said that it “follows the hairpin curve of the road and becomes a ribbon-like building climbing up the hill side while creating a cascade of roof terraces overlooking the Tyne.” It is inspired by “the sloping hills and the curvy frames of the bridges over Tyne”, and so it is expected to be a landmark building in Newcastle.
The office will have a living green roof
It will bring much needed office accommodation into the centre, and will have a living, green roof with each floor having its own private roof garden. All floors will be able to see the River Tyne, and so it is a new venture that is coming into the city at a time when there is only one Grade A Scheme under construction, currently.
Shocking number of assaults on NE ambulance staff Gemisha Cheemungtoo
A survey has found that just over one in three staff members of the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) have personally been victims of physical violence from the patients or relatives they have attended to. From the same group of NEAS employees who answered the survey, 50.9% reported having experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, relatives or members of the public. Both figures above are approximately double the national average determined from the survey. The report has found that staff working at Ambulance Trusts continue to be affected more by harassment, bullying and abuse than those working in other trusts.
1 in 3 NEAS staff members are victims of physical violence from patients or relatives
The Chief Executive of the North East Ambulance Service, Helen Ray said: "“It was disappointing to note that this year more staff have experienced verbal or physical violence from members of the public while going about their work. It is totally unacceptable that our staff be subjected to any sort of violence at work. We will not tolerate assaults or abuse of any sort and do our utmost to pro-
vide the safest environment for them to work in. "
570,000 people participated in the annual NHS Staff Survey
This data comes from the 2019 edition of the annual NHS Staff Survey, where employees of the NHS are asked questions about their work environment and identify improvements that could be implemented to the workplace. From the 1.1 million NHS employees invited to participate last year, around 570,000 people completed the survey. Prompted by the findings of the survey, Health Secretary Matt Hancock highlighted in a letter addressed to NHS staff that there will be a new joint agreement formed between the NHS, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service for emergency workers. This will be to allow effective investigation and prosecution of assault and hate crime against NHS staff. Hancock added in the letter: "There is far too much violence against NHS staff, and too much acceptance that it’s part of the job. Far too often I hear stories that the people you are trying to help lash out. I’ve seen it for myself in A&Es, on night shifts, and on ambulances. I am horrified that any member of the public would abuse or physically assault a member of our NHS staff but it happens too often."
50.9% of NEAS staff reported having experienced harassment Image: Flickr
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Uni commemorates Phillip Lowe
The University celebrates Phillip Lowe Image: Newcastle University
Hannah Bentley Newcastle University is commemorating the life of Professor Philip Lowe, one of Europe’s eminent social scientists, who died 17 February 2020. Philip Lowe was the founding Director of Newcastle University’s Centre for Rural Economy (CRE), when it opened in 1992. He authored and co-authored more than 140 papers on topics as varied as renewable energy, agricultural pollution and aging populations, across his more than 40- year career. Philip Lowe’s contributions to understanding of the rural economy were highly valued, both inside and beyond academia. Under
his leadership the CRE became, according to the Times, the Government’s “favourite rural think-tank”. His achievements were celebrated in 2003, when he received an OBE for services to the rural economy.
Philip Lowe was the founding Director of Newcastle University’s Centre for Rural Economy
Climate change and ecological crisis are terms that have now fallen into common usage, however Lowe was an early contributor
to academic literature on environmentalism. As early as the 1970s, he recognised that ecology was no longer only a branch of science, but a “social movement”. Having studied Natural Sciences at Oxford University, before later deciding to work in the field of social science, Lowe championed collaboration between experts from these separate disciplines. Lowe was appointed in 2003 as the lead of a £25 million research program – The Rural Economy and Land Use Program (RELU). This program successfully funded more than 100 research projects over 10 years. Philip Lowe’s contributions to his field were recognised in 2013, when he was selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry for the Bertebos Prize.
Alumnus Dr. Nick Mead releases his book to Robinson Library Grace Piercy Newcastle alumnus Dr Nick Mead has written a personal blog on his experiences since his time at Newcastle. The blog discusses his university education, his professional career and the release of his book, ‘Values and Professional Knowledge in Teacher Education’, which has been released to Newcastle University’s Robinson Library for students to access. The blog details Dr Mead’s career. He has been in education since graduating from Newcastle University, teaching for 18 years before becoming a lecturer in Education at Oxford Brookes University in 1997, where he has since been for 23 years. In his new book, ‘Values and Professional Knowledge in Teacher Education’, Dr Mead incorporates all of his experience since 1969, the influences of his degree at Newcastle University and his following professional career in education. The book explores Mead’s advocacy for the relationship between a teacher’s personal, moral and political values and the freedom to develop these in their classroom practice, an interest initially formed
during his time at Newcastle. The book also takes note that there is ‘something of worth at stake’ when teaching is undermined by standards-based education that is focused on box-ticking and performance. Dr Mead states that this belief took on more meaning for him whilst he was the head of Religious Education at a comprehensive school and mentored new teachers, making him increasingly aware of trainee’s needs. He states that his self-understanding and communication skills were crucial when developing the relationship between mentee’s values and classroom practice, he called this ‘personal practical theory’.
Newcastle alumnus Dr Nick Mead has written a personal blog on his experiences
Dr Nick Mead’s book, ‘Values and Professional Knowledge in Teacher Education’, is available in the Robinson Library on the Newcastle University campus.
Dr Nick Mead shares his book at Robinson Library Image: Newcastle University
Ouseburn is Newcastle's first ‘plastic-free community" Em Richardson
Ouseburn is celebrating after being named Newcastle’s first ‘plastic-free community’. The award, which is given by marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), is awarded to communities that have cut down on their use of single-use plastics. The campaign to make Ouseburn plasticfree began in 2018, when local resident Chad Male became concerned about rising levels
of plastic pollution in the River Tyne.While working at Ouseburn Farm, the 28 year old set up a steering group with locals in order to address issues of plastic pollution.
The campaign to make Ouseburn plastic-free began in 2018
In response to receiving the award, Male
said ‘A grassroots campaign like this goes to show how each and every one of us really can make a difference and, of course, though Ouseburn isn’t yet completely plastic-free, the show of commitment towards that aim is truly inspiring and I couldn’t be prouder of this gem of an area in the heart of Newcastle’. He also commented that he would like to see other Newcastle suburbs such as Heaton and Jesmond follow Ouseburn's lead. Ouseburn is the first area of the city to gain such an award, and the bid to decrease its en-
vironmental impact was supported by many locals. Residents organised several events to contribute to the bid, including plastic-free street food festivals. Local businesses also contributed to the effort, cutting down on their use of products like single-use straws and coffee cups. Across the country, 673 communities have achieved ‘plastic-free’ status, according to the SAS website. The charity also encourages volunteers to get involved with beach cleans, several of which have happened in and around
the North East.
Ouseburn is the first area of the city to gain such an award
To find out more about the effort to keep Ouseburn plastic-free, and about how to get involved with their future events, visit Plastic Free Ouseburn on Facebook.
The Ouseburn steering group have worked to cut plastic pollution in the area Image: Newcastle City Council website
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the courier
campus comment
Monday 9 March 2020
Deputy Editor Molly Greeves @courier_latest courier.news@ncl.ac.uk courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk
Fewer than 1% of uni professors are black
This shocking statistic leads Victoria Osho expores how UK universities can improve racial diversity
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tatistically, less than 1% of university professors are black. It is not new knowledge that white people (particularly white men) have long dominated the higher education teaching field for as long as we can remember. But just how bad is this lack of diversity amongst professors? How do universities encourage this? And how can they improve? Firstly, there is a perceived idea that BAME staff are incompetent compared to their white counterparts. A great number of BAME individuals, particularly women, have reported that they feel as though their research is not regarded as highly as white professors, particularly white male professors. This not only leads to a feeling of self-doubt, but stories like this repel other BAME individuals from thinking about becoming a professor in the future. This feeling of inadequacy compared to their white colleagues is further perpetuated by the shocking wage gap between white and black professors. According to UCU (University and College Union) analytics on The Independent, “White academic staff at the UK’s universi-
ties and college were also found to earn £7,000 more than their black peers, or 14 percent more. They took home an average of £49,065 compared to £42,065 for the latter group”. UCEA (Universities and Colleges Employers Association) on the article also states that ““Pay penalties” for BME staff doing the same jobs as white colleagues were “significant””. There are also personal stories to show that a large amount of BAME academic staff and professors feel the need to “give up their authenticity” to feel respected and accepted by their white counterparts.
White academic staff earn £7,000 more
What can universities try to eradicate this? Well, to start with, close the wage gap between white and BAME academic staff. Whether knowingly and unknowingly, uni-
versities must come to terms with their large role to play in the wage gap, and tackle it head on by equally allotting wages to all races doing the same amount of work. By doing this, they are sending a message to the workplace that BAME professors must be taken seriously and deserve to be there just as much as their white colleagues.
Unis must tackle workplace racism
It is also important to make the environment as conducive for BAME academic staff as much as possible. Universities must tackle the seeping racism in the academic workplace that deters BAME individuals or makes them feel the need to downplay their identities and authenticity e.g. the idea of afro hair not being ‘professional enough’, or non-British BAME individuals feeling like they need to ‘change’ their accent to be accepted.
Creative degrees offer negative returns Image: Joe Molander
News' Sophie Wilson questions why creative arts graduates are struggling to make money
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ith IFS recording that one in five students would be financially better off if they skipped higher education, why is that the creative arts are providing the worst returns, according to tax data? We have heard it all before: why are you doing an arts degree? Where will English Literature get you? Get your head out of books and go get a degree that is socially useful! And now The Guardian has reported that, where 80% of former students gained financially from attending university, 20% earned less than those with similar school results. This shows that some subjects like creative arts are offering negative financial returns. This is all we need to raise the status of arts degrees… But why is this? Why do we have such a bad reputation? I strongly argue that in our society today there is a complete misunderstanding of arts degrees. Personally I study
English Literature, and I believe that it is so valuable to helping me grow as a person, but it is also so important for the future of society. In what science degree do we learn about feminist theories, and about how women have portrayed their thoughts and emotions into texts?
We have heard it all before: why are you doing an arts degree? Where will it get you?
If we do not read Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, then how will we know about how women gained an education? How will we know where feminism can go in the future? How will women learn that they deserve an education just as much as men, and then use this information to give girls the chance to gain equality in the future? I am not, by any means, disregarding the work of science degrees. Medicine is integral to society, as is civil engineering, mechanical engineering, biology, chemistry etc. But they are
not giving us a consciousness about what is going on society. They are not teaching us, as sociology, history and English do, about how we can use the past to improve the future. If we did not learn about World War 2 then there is more of a chance of some truly awful event like this occurring. We need to learn about people of the past and the present, and use this to change our future.
Studying art helps me grow as a person
Yes, we need science to help society function, but we need arts degrees to help us improve that society.
An ode to Newfess Image: Pexels
The confessions page has been deleted. Jennifer Mills reflects on its impact
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Image: Newfess, Newcastle University
was a big fan of Newfess. I loved submitting and commenting on the page. It was my favourite way to waste time, constantly refreshing, trying to find a post I hadn’t seen yet. Sometimes the posts would make me laugh or smile, other times it would make me concerned, or outraged even. But we loved our Newfess. We loved how it gave everyone an equal opportunity to be heard, share our experiences, and read about other people’s experiences too. It provided a platform for debate, displaying the entire spectrum of political opinions. It gave us a chance to express our views no matter what they were. Voices were listened to
from all sorts of perspectives. Newfess gave us the freedom to share what we thought. The anonymity meant we were free from judgement. It meant we could find solidarity in our views without drawing attention to ourselves.
Newfess started as a platform for debate, it should never have become so toxic
Newfess gave us a space to seek help or encouragement. It gave people the opportunity to ask thousands of students about mental health services or what shop sold the best vibrator. It gave people too scared to put themselves forward a chance to be heard. Newfess gave Newcastle University a heart, a community. It was a place of love. But also hate. Lots of hate. No group was free from anonymous attacks and judgement. People’s secrets and
embarrassment were publicised. People were tagged and shamed. Without responsibility, privacy and trust were decimated. It was exclusionary. Thousands of followers, tens of commenters. The persistent 'hornyposting' became dominant on the page, isolating those who aren’t as sexually active or don’t identify as the ‘typical’ sexualities that were represented on the page, as well as several faith groups who feel excluded by attitudes towards casual sex. Also, inciting violence should be a boundary when it comes to free speech. Newfess, why? A community that started as a platform for debate and encouragement and the occasional Robbo love story should never have become so toxic. What used to be positive and an injection of diversity into the opinions on campus became something that had to go. Newfess had to be destroyed – an inevitable tragedy that had to come. And now, in a post-Newfess age, there is a lack of trust. Our platform has been dismantled, our anonymity stripped. Where else are we supposed to be honest?
comment The cas e fo r
the courier
Monday 9 March 2020
@courier_latest courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/comment Comment Editors Aastha Malik, Joe Molander & Kelly Corcoran
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Image: Gage Skidmore Skidmore on Flickr
The Canadian calamity that's causing chaos Jude Mockridge on the protests over a pipeline that encroaches on indigenous land
fter ten years of political action against the proposed GasLink pipeline through Wet’suwet’en territory, it would appear some sort of agreement has been settled on. The pipeline – designed to channel gas from Dawson’s Creek to coastal Kitimat for export to Asian markets – passes through several First Nation, or in-
Sup er T ues day , To mL eac h lo anoks ders is a at moderate who’s been
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Image: Wikimedia Commons
HENRY DAYSH TOILETS
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Alex Derbyshire
ince the building of the Henry Daysh monolith, I’ve come to think that the majority of my student loan has been going towards the finishing up of said project. However, after experiencing the wonder that is the Henry Daysh toilet cubicle I don’t think I would really complain. I’m in second year, so my workshops and lectures are still strewn about campus like last week’s copy of The Cou-
thing of a lifeline for the Canadian economy. Thus seen, “solidarity” is being used in the most abstract and damaging sense of the word. However, it should be noted that Canada has dealt with its Native population despicably. Indigenous children were forcibly abducted from homes and put up for adoption, sometimes in Western Europe, as recently as the 1980s. Up to 1996, indigenous children went to church-led “integration schools”, where those forced to board faced squalid conditions, as well as sexual and physical abuse. In the 100 years of their running, around 5 000 children died in school related incidences. Consider Canada’s liberal strides in cannabis and immigration under Trudeau. Although the protests have been damaging, they may see Native discussion finally find its rightful place.
why Ber nie San der sw standould able: the still US has a past mak of sabotaging socialist eag revolutions globally. Imagine ood how well something similar would go down in its own country. pre side However, consider the state of the nothing-politics of Biden and Warren, which are just as pandering nt
branded a radical and a communist by a media and opposition that would not stand to benefit from his policy. He’s done well to get so far in America: the birthplace of capitalism and imperialism as we know it today (taking after its mother, the British Empire) has rarely been a welcome home for left wing politics. This includes Bernie’s social democracy, which is soft by global standards. Sanders is still smashing the polls, despite the media’s attempts at disparaging him, which include pretending he doesn’t exist, often naming the leading candidate in polling “other”. But this article isn’t about whether Bernie would win: it’s about whether he’d be good for the United States. Simply put: the best? No. The best there is? Yes. Sanders has good policy. I’m talking Green New Deal, Medicare for All and higher taxes on the wealthy. Stuff that’s been tried before in multitudes of countries in Europe, with significant success. This is desperately needed in a country whose past leaders – dressed in blue or dressed in red – have been overwhelmingly pro-oligarchy instead of pro-people, and have done next to nothing to solve the crises of the US healthcare system and climate change. It’s true that he’s not the best. Sanders misapplies the label of democratic socialism to his brand of welfare capitalism. He seeks to reform the current system to something better, rather than remove the framework that allows such crises to come about. He’d rather mitigate the symptoms than hit them at the root. But this is underndigenous artist Yolanda Bonnell came out today with a fairly controversial statement saying criticism should ‘come from a place of knowledge’. She had an unusual request for the media when her play Bug opened in Toronto – that the reviewers of the play only be people of colour. Her logic is that only they can understand where she is coming from. I can understand a little bit of where she gets that opinion from. Culturally there are significant differences from race to race – whether it is from historical point of view or from modern day scenarios. But that is about as much agreement as she will get from me. Art – whether it is film, plays, poetry or even just plain old painting – is about storytelling. It is to narrate some-
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digenous lands. Since the pipeline got the go-ahead in 2018, Wet’suwet’en protestors have obstructed construction; injunctions granted by regional courts have enforced continuation via the arrests of over 100, some of them reporters. A blend of solidarity and hysteria quickly swept the nation: demonstrators blocked Victoria Island’s ferry port (its only commercial link to the mainland) and several ports in Metro Vancouver. Canada National Railway cancelled the only two East-West rail lines from Toronto after a blockade on the route. This is especially damning when once considers that mining, which accounts for 20% of exports, relies on rail for most transport. Several far reaching, barely-livable population centres have predicted shortages of chlorine for water purification. Rail – responsible for exporting 4 500 cars a day and generating $200 billion a year from trade – is some-
to the same classes as the party they supposedly oppose. There isn’t time or room to wring hands about how Sanders isn’t properly socialist. You have to work with what you’re given sometimes; regardless of if he’s hiding his power level or not, the best we’ve been given is Bernie.
Image: Gage Skidmore on Flickr
Should everyone
Faye Navesey and Seshadhri Subramanian consider the playwright Yolanda
rier. At the start of this semester, the Henry Daysh became my new haunt for Monday mornings. I was awestruck. The building not only comes equipped with a high balcony, but also some of the finest toilet cubicles on campus. But what makes these cubicles so wonderful? Well, each toilet cubicle comes equipped with a sink, hand-dryer, toilet paper roll and sanitary bin. WOW! Even more, each cubicle is also all-gender, so not only do I never have to worry about walking into the wrong toilet, but also nor does anyone else have to deal with the guttural funk of my recent sauerkraut obsession. In a word, the Henry Daysh toilets are sublime.
thing that someone else may have never experienced and to make it somehow relatable – to impact the other person and to make them feel like they have been through that even when it isn’t the case. While being of colour can give an added perspective, it is not and should not be the be all and end all to decide if a critic is right. The main point of a review is to assess the work of art and quality of the review and not the colour of the reviewer should be the primary concern. In fact, to ban someone from reviewing your work by itself defeats the purpose of art which seeks to expose people to cultures and social dynamics that they normally would not be exposed to. Cutting a set of reviewers off would only serve to precipitate prejudice and even introduce a culture where people are scared to give an honest review for hurting their own perception within society – thus resulting in them not do-
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ing their job properly. Moreover, being someone of colour does not translate to an inherent understanding of indigenous art. Even among people of colour there are significant differences. A South Asian born and raised in Britain will probably have a very different perspective to a South Asian born and raised in South Asia like myself. And nobody can claim that both of us understand South Asian or British culture equally – because the truth very likely is we don’t. And finally where does this “niche reviewing” stop? Should only doctors review medical TV shows like House M.D. and Code Black? Should only war veterans review Saving Private Ryan? If it does not make sense there then there is no reason why it should make sense with race.
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Rashida Campbell-Allen
o it’s a Friday night, and if (like me) most of your friends have far more active social lives than you or a bit of alone time is long overdue, there is nothing better than entering the sane, cathartic and immersive space of a cinema. For a reason unbeknown to me, cinema trips are seen as group events, a day-trip out with friends or family, which upon reflection is a slightly ridiculous notion. Let’s face it, how often do you actually need to talk to anyone once inside a cinema?
the courier
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comment Lisa Nandy: trans rights activist or clever politician? Monday 9 March 2020
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Patrick Young discusses the labour leadership candidate's response to signing a transgender right pledge
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any labour party members have criticised the labour leadership candidate over her response to a pledge card asking her whether she’d agree to expelling leader members who belong to anti-trans groups, such as Woman’s Place UK. However, her response was arguably only polarising because she said that she had to take time to think it over before she signed the pledge, due to how the card was phrased. She also raised a valid point about the use of pledge cards in campaigns and how they are often phrased so that they pit groups of people against each other. This is obviously counter-intuitive to someone who wants to get people to vote for them, as they need to appeal to a large selection of prospective voters.
Clearly, there is an issue with these pledge cards, and it is simply bad luck that Nandy had to take time on this one, despite her obviously believing in Trans rights, as she later responded that “anyone who identifies as a woman” should be able to run in all-women groups.
She has shown those in the trans community that she views them as being valid and that they deserve a safe space within politics.
shown those in the trans community that she views them as being valid and that they deserve a safe space within politics. She also remarked that she wouldn’t back the removal of whole organisations from politics, but instead would operate on an individual basis, based on bigoted behaviour, that members of the Labour party exhibit. For some this may not be enough, but for me, it has shown that she is willing to stand with our trans brothers and sisters, and will protect their rights, and their safety.
So, I without a doubt believe that this slip-up was simply just unfortunate circumstances, and not, as some suggest, subtle transphobia, or her trying to appeal to all potential voters. She has
est b e 't th n s i ers d n a hy S w to conask vincehowSouthern Image: Athenaism o t on YouTube y r Democrats to vote for o t s i the Civil Rights Bill, ensuring h it would pass, along with the Voting tial n e Rights Bill. Johnson was incendiary: not esid content with the extension of civil rights, he also r p reinvented education in America, and created subsis US i dised healthcare. h n Johnson was arguably the most effective left-wing presio
up s e h rus b r f I was an American, and lke a my name was Zander MusxW tang Texicana McCheesee l A burger the Third, I would vote Sanders. I hope he
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wins. He wouldn’t be a good president, but I hope he wins. To explain why, we have to go back to Johnson and Kennedy, or LBJ and JFK. JFK was a phenomenal public speaker, and a highly progressive politician. Unfortunately, he lacked the political skill and experience to wrangle Congress. LBJ, on the other hand, knew
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dent of all time, and America needs a leader of similar views and influence now more than ever. The question that should be asked is can Sanders wrangle centrist and right-wing Democrats, not to mention the rest of Congress (not least the Republican-controlled Senate)? The evidence suggests not. Another problem is that Sanders may appear broadly left-wing, but no politician in America is really left-wing. America needs the balm of socialism to wash away the horrors to which it is currently witness: class divide, race divide, massive environmental damage, lack of healthcare, and on and on. Johnson’s ideas at the time were totally revolutionary, but Sanders doesn’t go any further ideologically. The most left-wing candidate in decades still isn’t left-wing enough. Furthermore, when Johnson left office, he was 61, and already saw himself as too old for politics. Sanders will be 79 at the next election. How can a man in his eighties have the verve and vigour to reinvent the most powerful country in the world? I really do hope Sanders wins, but I don’t think he’ll be the president America needs. America needs a new Johnson. Unfortunately, he’s dead.
Bonnell's request that only non-white people review her work, and if it's fair
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aving your work misunderstood is a heartbreaking feeling for any writer or artist, particularly when your work is dealing with issues important to you. For this reason, Yolanda Bonnell’s comment that she only wants people of colour to review her play ‘Bug’, which is about two indigenous women, is a completely rational way for her to feel like her work is being properly appreciated and understood. It isn’t a controversial thing to say that typically the majority of critics are from a very specific demographic that being mainly white, male and wealthy. This means however well-intentioned the critics are when reviewing plays that deal with issues of race, gender and class they have not had the first-hand experience of the kind of prejudice that is present. If you have never experienced racism then you may,
There are a plethora of perks of going to the cinema alone but namely, there is the opportunity to select a perfect seat, you can avoid any human interaction (which in this 2020 is a godsend) and more importantly, absolutely no-one cares that you are there alone. Once those lights go down, it’s just you and the screen, so you can comfortably slump into that cushioned chair and get lost in a whole different world. Spending time alone does not need to be synonymous with loneliness and pity, but instead merely an effort to escape the turbid essence of university and adulthood. So lets destigmatise the underrated greatness of solo cinema trips!
unintentionally, miss references to it and therefore look at plays in a completely different way to which they were intended to be read. This is not only frustrating for the playwright but also means that valuable messages are being missed and the play isn’t appreciated as much as it deserves to be.
Voices of colour have been underrepresented
For a long time in literary criticism, voices of colour have been severely underrepresented and undervalued and whilst the request that this particular play only is reviewed by people of colour has provoked controversy among some critics, actions like this will hopefully give
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voice to critics who have been ignored. The stance acts as a political statement, that people of colour need to be heard in the world of theatre, hopefully encouraging to more people of colour that have previously felt alienated by the world of theatre to participate in it. The comments made by Yolanda Bonnell were not unfair, they simply aired a frustration that many writers of colour face when their work isn’t read by people that could understand it and having only people of colour review her was a solution to this problem. And it is hardly likely to mean that white critics can’t write reviews anymore, they have a plethora of other plays to review instead.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Faye Navesey
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WETHERSPOONS' LAMB SHANK
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George Boatfield
t is not often that I venture outside of the Courier office, but I’ve ended up touring the country in recent weeks. And while I may journey outside Newcastle, I will never stray from the familiar comfort of a Wetherspoons pub. Last weekend’s trip to London, for example, culminated in a late morning, mad dash for sustenance. A seven-hour
Megabus journey just isn’t viable on a hungry belly, and there’s no better remedy than the beloved Sunday roast. While plenty of tried-and-tested hangover cures occupy the Wetherspoons menu, I found myself drawn to something less conventional – the lamb shank. Fresh from a slow-cooked cruise to hell and back, the lightest nudge of my fork was all that was necessary to displace the meat from the bone: as tender as my poor, aching noggin. So, if you ever find yourself dizzy from the latest roast-worthy political blunder, perhaps talk it through in the company of some willing listeners, and with a comforting, mighty-fine cut of meat.
life&style
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the courier
Monday 9 March 2020
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 Blind Date Editor Holly Mawdsley
Blind Date Kindly Sponsored by The Tyne Bar
meets James Dady
Third Year Politics
Meredith Hughes
Third Year Maths
Tell us about yourself. “The absolute worst person ever”- a close friend.
What are you like? Easy-going, laid back, I like music and going to the pub.
Why did you sign up for blind date? I got head-hunted by the editor.
What is your type? Someone funny, easy going, talkative, handsome.
What’s your type? Pretty, funny, left-wing, not up their own arse, passionate about things.
What was James like? He was very funny, chatty and northern. We agreed on a lot of topics like politics, which was good conversation.
Were you nervous for your date? I was shitting myself a bit in the day, but I had a desperado and was all good. What did you guys talk about? We had quite a lot in common. We talked about music, festivals, our house drama and a lot of politics, which we agreed on. We ended up spending like four hours together, so we definitely got along.
I went to her ‘Red Light District’ party a few months ago and she spanked me I have word that you have fancied Meredith for a while, can you confirm or deny? I went to her ‘Red Light District’ party a few months ago and she spanked me, as she was a dominatrix and I told my friends that I thought she was fit.
What did you guys talk about on the date? Festivals, music, politics, university. What was James’ best feature, both looks and personality? Personality wise, he was funny and witty with good northern banter. Looks wise, he had a really nice smile. If James was a drink what drink would he be? James would be anything but Prosecco, because he hates Prosecco. He would be a pint of Taddies, because it’s simple and cheap. What is the most interesting thing you learnt about James? He was very clued up about politics and I found that very interesting because I’m into politics too. Describe James in three words. Northern, northern, northern.
How was The Tyne Bar for the date location? I have been before and really loved it, staff were so sound, they gave us more free drinks because the bar man thought I was sound.
Did anything go badly on your date? I got way too drunk.
What do you think of Meredith? Really nice girl, funny, really good looking and easy to talk to. She made funny facial expressions which made me laugh.
He asked me to go somewhere else after so he must have enjoyed it
If Meredith was a pub in Newcastle which one would she be? Somewhere like the Ernest, a bit edgy, but a nice place. Have you been in contact since? I asked her if she wanted to meet again. Will you see each other again? I doubt anything will come of it, we might meet in a group setting.
Do you think you both felt the same about how the date went? I think we both had a great time, he asked me to go somewhere else after so he must have enjoyed it. He also asked me out again on a date. Are you going to go out again? I’m not really looking for anything serious, but we have mutual friends, so we might meet them at some point.
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life & style
Should we revel in gender reveals? Carl Smith Valdez discusses whether reveal parties are harmless or reinforce gender norms
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ender reveals has been a phenomenon for more than ten years. They have reached the mainstream, becoming a huge spectacle from cake frostings to firework explosions. Cameras are now ingrained as a part of our lives, becoming a third-party observer of meaningful and intimate events. The hashtag #genderreveal on Instagram has amassed 1.2m posts worldwide as of March 2020. Gender reveals has become even more extreme. Last October 2019, Pamela Kreimeyer, a soon-to-be grandmother was inadvertently killed by a ‘pipe bomb’ in Iowa, which was used to announce the gender of the baby. Metal pieces struck her in the head, after the gunpower exploded. Such risk-taking ideas highlight how individuals in a digital world are highly invested in whether a child accounts as a girl or a boy. Some celebrities have steered away from gender reveal parties in favour of raising their children gender neutral. Celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Kate Hudson have showed their support by raising their children beyond gender norms. Furthermore, Sweden has expressed inclusivity by introducing “hen” as a gender-neutral pronoun to their language. More recently, Grimes has recently stated in an online Q&A with her fans that she and Elon Musk will let their unborn child decide their gender identity. In the YouTube stream, the 31-year-old singer said they will not disclose its gender to protect their child’s privacy, as she does not think “they can consent to being famous or being in public.” “I don’t want to gender them in case that’s not how they feel in their life. I don’t know, I just feel like it doesn’t need to be known,” the artist added. Generally, gender reveals serve as celebratory markers of joyful moments before a child is born. Through baby showers, friends and relatives visualise commercial goods for an unborn child, who receives personalised gifts based
on their gender. On the surface, gender reveals appear exciting, capturing the cheers of enjoyment from the moment the colours blue and pink are revealed. It provides spaces for creativity as gleeful parents try to differentiate their videos and pictures from others. The spectacle overemphasises the festive nature of gender reveals, that many refuses to see its detrimental effects on child development. It subtly imposes rigid societal norms through only a spectrum of blue for boys and pink for girls. Assigning gender with two colours reinforces there are only two genders to be claimed. It subjects an unborn child that they must fit into limited categories through their genitalia. Even phrases from baby clothes forms contention. Boy’s bibs are in blue embroidered with words such as “rough and tumble” whilst girl’s onesies are usually in pink with phrases such as “daddy’s little princess”. This goes further to simplistic labelling in department stores of what shirts are for “boys” or “girls”. With t-shirt designs, it becomes apparent that boys are given visions of strength and active power from superheroes and sports related clothing. Meanwhile, girls are represented as cute and sweet with clothes with sequins and unicorns. This conceptualises the identity of an infant before they can even speak. Gender neutrality challenges dominant ideologies of gender by allowing children to explore themselves freely outside the bounds of stereotypes. It emphasises how identity can be formed beyond binaries. Without any constraints, children are openly encouraged to learn about themselves. Gender-open parenting is an outstanding beginning for children to understand they can be accepted by anyone regardless of their identity. We still need to be wary of external factors. Though appearing to be emancipatory, in a world filled with categories, one can easily be excluded from prejudice from
outside forces. Whilst, discipline starts at the home, it should not end there. Knowledge on gender neutrality needs to be shared to schools and wider communities. More diverse representations in the media can help educate people in an entertaining way. No one deserves to be judged. People should support and respect anyone regardless of their gender.
Patrick Young gives advice on how to be in a successful online relationship before meeting irl
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Image: Instagram: @haleydrewthis
borders of our own countries to find love. I met my boyfriend on a dating app, much the same as any other couple, yet he lives in Vermont, and I live here, in Newcastle.
We become like any conventional couple for the time in which we are physically together
We Facetimed every night and bought Christmas, Valentines, and birthday presents for each other, before we even met. We talked about our days, we introduced each other to our parents, we did couple things together, played videogames together, and just experienced the early development of a relationship. At first, this may appear as weird, which granted, it can be, but I fell in love with him, long before I met him in person, in the August of 2018, after eight months of ‘dating’. We are still going strong over two years later, and both make plans to visit each other, throughout the year. To any sceptics, I must admit that I have found myself to be lonely from time-to-time, but that feeling goes away whenever I’m with him, as we become like any conventional couple for the time in which we are physically together. I
Depop I
n a world in which fast fashion is a more prominent issue than ever before, Depop has been hailed as the saviour for fixing fashion. The app that has successfully revamped the idea of thrift shop buying. Second hand clothing has never been so popular. Depop is the perfect tool for students striving for style on a budget, with the target market aimed at a younger audience with 90% of users aged under 26. From the latest gizmo gadgets to high end designer goods, there is something for everyone. The app is perfect for people – like me – that would never be seen dead wearing the same outfit twice on a night out, let alone have it feature more than once on Instagram. Depop allows users to establish their style at an affordable price and then re-list these items for its next owner – from one man’s trash to another man’s treasure. The simplicity of the app could be a reason for its popularity with users able to create, snap and upload unwanted goods in a matter of minutes. The use of hashtags and categories inevitably means that your dream purchase is never far from a click away. Gone are the days of sifting through second hand stores and borrowing your mates staple pieces. Depop has reinvented the world of modern resale, shaking up the fashion industry by enabling users to re-invent their wardrobe in a more affordable and sustainable manner. Aside from the banging bargains, Depop allows users to develop their entrepreneur skills, with many choosing to make a career out of flogging fleeced sweatshirts and Image: Instagram: @skyecondrandesigns classic timeless trainers. If Uni isn’t working for you then Depop may be the next best idea with several teenagers earning up to five figure salaries through buying and re-selling items at a higher rate. Rather than leaving old clothes to pile on that unused chair, free up the clutter for cash. Through this you are not only making money, but also reducing fast fashion. So whether you’re interested in buying second hand goods or starting a business of your own, how can you advise that people only try to have a relationship like this if make your pop up shop stand out? they feel able to commit to not being physically with their Your profile page, also known as your storefront is partner whenever they want. where you showcase your goods. Therefore it needs But I have found my relationship to be rewarding and to have the wow factor. From clear photos to having a I have no regrets for anything – we even have made distinctive style, these are just a few of the ways to plans to eventually get married and have spoken attract potential buyers to your page. about children. The most successful accounts are those So, we are like any other couple in that that specify for a particular audience, regard, despite the geographical distance such as vintage or boutique stores. between us, we are planning for the Furthermore, be sure to upload several future, and for our future together. photos of your item. Alongside Times are changing, people are this, customer service is key. The changing, the way we experience messaging section allows sellers attraction and love has and buyers to interact in an developed due to technology, informal manner, similar to that so it’s time our ideas about of Instagram so that customers love and relationships did are able to build a rapport so too. with your account. We are living in the This leads to brand age of technology, loyalty, meaning that proximity to each customers will other has very little frequently return to do with our lives to your anymore. page. The Families are p ay m e nt becoming more method geographically is simple Image: Instagram: @fashionbujo distant, and as all increasingly transactions l a r g e are completed populations through PayPal of people are with Depop migrating taking 10% of the total from one country amount including shipping costs. to another. Whilst you may believe your old As such, we should view wardrobe may be the next best thing relationships as more of a global to sliced bread, don’t be disheartened if phenomenon as opposed to the past ideas your clothes aren’t flying off the shelves. of loves and the constraints of geography Building up a following takes effort imposed by the lack of technology between and dedication. Although the app communities. generates several timewasters, this is Relationships are complex, no matter outweighed by the number of genuine the level of technology involved, yet if customers interested in your products. you both love each other, you will With Spring round the corner, maybe it’s make it work. time to declutter your wardrobe, and pass those much loved leopard print flares onto someone new. Ruby Story Dartford
I dated someone I hadn’t met n our technological era, it is easier than ever to find someone to love, as the constraints of the past have been removed due to the invention of the internet. Many people now look to dating apps to find love, and for a few people like my s el f, we look past t h e
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Monday 9 March 2020
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lifestyle life & style
Monday 9 March 2020
Image: Instagram: @aishvannan
Taking initiative on initiations Elisabetta Pulcini evaluates the many problems with alcohol culture at university
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shaved before crawling into a garage to drink vodka from a pig’s head”: this is a sign of complete disregard for the clear risks of these actions, in favour of an apparent group cohesion. This highlights the one factor that should be addressed by universities in the abolition of initiations: the danger of group mentality, and how binge drinking culture serves to take this to the extreme. Alcohol culture Culture of extreme alcohol consumption is not exclusively a Newcastle problem. Universities are clearly aware of this problem, yet they are not focusing on educating the students. While addressing the single events is necessary and imperative, it might not necessarily prevent students from pursuing the same behaviour. A more explicit commitment to education on this issue should be addressed: as a third-year student, I’ve received more information on the dangers of a fire than those of alcohol poisoning. At the same time, it is unrealistic to completely banish the culture of drinking in university. Therefore, while advising to not drink in excess is useful, stuThis highlights the one dents should be educated on how to recognize an emergency situfactor that should be ad- ation and how to act to preserve their peers. The case of Ed Farmer was particularly heartbreaking because of dressed by universities the suggestion that his death could’ve been avoided, had his peers called an ambulance in time: according to Dr Reuben Saharia “Had he been in a hospital environment prior to cardiac arrest I Ed Farmer would expect that patient to survive.” It must be emphasized that simply reporting an Mental health incident, leading to an investigation, might be The second and maybe most often forgotten element of these oftoo little too late. This is evident in the case fences is the lack of effective mental health guidance. of first-year Newcastle University student At the core of the performances of these initiations is a need to Ed Farmer, 20, who tragically passed belong, which is tragically familiar for most people transitioning away following a triple-vodka bar from home to university life. crawl initiation ceremony. While peer mentoring and tutoring help this transition, they are The Independent reports not necessarily sufficient. A full commitment to creating a healthy that “first-year students environment should be a priority for any institution housing poswere expected to sibly vulnerable young people, so that they do not harm themselves complete the ini- in the desperate search for acceptance. tiation by havThis is seen not only in initiations rituals, but in the increasing ing their problem of anxiety and depression. In 2018, this was evidenced as h e a d s a problem at Bristol University, after BBC News reported that “11 students took their own lives there since 2016”. It is hard to point to one certain solution to the problem of initiations. Mental health, binge-drinking culture and group mentality all play a part. Therefore, while the form by the BUCS might be a helpful part of this problem, it should by no means be the ity TV show, after the deaths of contestants: Sophie GraKate Williams, Professor of History at the only action taken don, in June 2018, and Mike Thalassitis, in March 2019, University of Reading, Tweeted on the day of Caragainst these isresulting in many saying the show should be scrapped. oline’s death that the press have “hounded” a long list sues. This includes Sophie’s mother, who has spoken out, of strong females who have been in the public eye. stating that the much loved show should be “taken off This includes Princess Diana, Amy Winehouse and the air” and questions “how many more families must be more recently Meghan Markle. I think it’s fair to say, that destroyed?”. Caroline Flack should be added to this list! The way in One question that has been on the minds of many is, which these scandal sheets sensationalise lives of people who is to blame? On one hand, it may seem obvious to could be said to be blamed for Caroline taking blame ITV and Love Island for these tragedies. How- her own life. ever, many have linked Caroline’s death with the effect of the ‘Red-Top’ newspapers, suggesting that these tabloid Media coverage sheets should be to blame, due to the way they seek out opened a gateway and attack those within the public eye. Or, how about the general public? Caroline for internet trolls received hate comments across her soto haunt her cial media attacking her after domestic abuse allegations. In 2019, Caroline was Within society, it’s become the norm to find someone else to blame for anything that we don’t want to take responsibility for, and I think that’s what has happened here. The mass coverage of the death of Caroline Flack, and the speculations as to whom is to blame, have led to undermining the fact that as a society we could do with being a little kinder. But, what should be done to those we decide to blame? Some have accused of assaulting openly stated Tabloid newspapers her boyfriend, tennis player should been banned; with many Lewis Burton, leading to her beauty salons already getting rid of awaiting trial over this accusation. their Red-Tops and gossip magaDespite the tragic death of Caroline, that is zines. suggested to have been connected with the alleged Alongside this, an online petition assault, the fact that the trial had planned to go ahead named ‘Caroline’s Law’, has gained (even after Lewis Burton denied ever being hit by Caro- over 500,000 signatures, with the line), shows an enormous step in terms of domestic abuse aim to make it a criminal offense for being taken seriously, something that society has longed the British media to “bully a person for! up to the point that they take their The media coverage of this accusation, to which Caro- own life”. Whether this will take off, line pleaded not guilty, opened a gate way for internet we do not know. trolls to taunt her. It could be suggested that the flood of I do worry that this will not stop the these abusive comments is what is to blame for forcing online hate that leads innocent lives being All images: @carolineflack on Instagram Caroline to take her own life. lost and families being destroyed. nitiations remain a pervasive problem in university culture, and institutions are failing their students in addressing the factors that go at the bottom of this pervasive and complicated issue. Anonymous tip-off forms British Universities & College Sports (BUCS) has stated its commitment to eradicating the practice of extreme initiations. “Students should
Image: Instagram: @nnacunliffe
understand that problem initiations are not permitted by universities and will not be tolerated by BUCS” said Vince Mayne, CEO of BUCS. In pursuit of this goal, their website provides a form for the signaling of dangerous practices: the form allows anyone to make an anonymous complain, specifying the university, sport and details of the incident. The commitment to a “fully anonymous” report is commendable, because it will allow those who desire to do so to come forward. According to their website, BUCS will then report the incident to the institution, who will then “be asked to investigate the incident and report back their findings”. While this might be a useful first step in addressing extreme student initiations, it does not go to the root of the problem. In most cases, students may not be able to recognize when an initiation has gone too far: the attachment to traditions and the effect of group mentality might lead those most vulnerable to close an eye in respect of these problematic practices.
Caroline Flack: who is responsible?
Meg Howe analyses the media hounding of Caroline Flack and what needs to change
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he tragic death of Caroline Flack has left the nation lost for words. From online tributes to charity organised events, the death of the former Love Island host, has resulted in an uproar within the British media. Caroline’s suicide is not the first to have occurred in connection to the ITV Real-
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life & style fashion
c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Fashion Editors Kajal Patel, Phoebe Eyles & Shamara Mohsin
the courier
Monday 9 March 2020
Campus chic: the best university outfits
Chloe Buchan shares her observations on university fashion and how campus is the best place to express your style
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hen you walk into the Newcastle University campus, you may at first be taken aback by the selfexpression that is displayed in the students clothing; there is an array of colours, styles and unusual combinations. This could be due to the anonymity and acceptance that comes with living in a new city. In a place where nobody knows your name, I certainly found it liberating to be able to dress exactly how I pleased, without fear of judgement.
The coat has to be at least two
After attending uni for a few months, I have come to the realisation that there is something of a standard university uniform, that many people adopt without even realising. Maybe it is the comfort and convenience of this clothing style, or perhaps an inadvertent way of conforming to the 'university student identity. The clothing style generally consists of baggy clothing - whether it be trousers, hoodies or coats- everything is better oversized. Onto jeans- gone are the skinny jeans of sixth form, and in
their place a whole selection of styles. Mom neighbour- if this claustrophobia wasn't jeans seem to be a firm favourite, with enough, the added pressure of denim boyfriend and wide-leg jeans squeezing your legs could surely tip you over also being prominent on the edge. Not only this, but baggy jeans campus. These styles have the added bonus of feeling as soft are much more and comfortable as pyjamas- surely comfor t able conducive to a long and productive than their study session. If you draw the line t i g h t e r at jeans completely, another counterpart, popular option is the particularly humble flared trouser. during lectures These ridiculously when you have comfortable and they precisely half also accentuate body a centimeter Instagram: @sophiesuchan shapes to create a between flattering silhouette, as you and well as looking lovely your when paired with a large sweatshirt. Next on the list are North face puffer coats: without a doubt a staple in the fashion of Newcastle University, for boys and girls alike. The slightly more reserved opt for black, with the bolder
Mom jeans seem to be a firm favourite
of us exhibiting coats in orange, green and purple. But whatever the colour chosen; an unspoken rule seems to be that the coat has to be at least two sizes too big and
Instagram: @asos
draped around the body like a very expensive blanket. Along with warm coats comes the essential of layering. I'm sure everyone has experienced the angst of a face- paced chilly march to uni, only to be met with tropical temperatures as soon as you step foot inside any building, thus resulting in a sweaty and uncomfortable lecture, in which you greatly struggle to reduce your body temperature. The only way to combat this seems to be to tackle the Instagram: @emmaleger Baltic temperatures with layers- hat, scarf, multiple sweatshirts- that can be subsequently removed when you get inside. This is not only practical but fashionable, with woolly scarves being an essential aspect to the baggy clothing look. The final stage to university fashion seems to be self-expression in terms of temporary appearance modificationscoloured hair, eyebrow slits and an abundance of chunky jewellery add glamour and individuality to this standardised look. All in all, despite the similar aspects to everyone's outfits, the individuality and flare of each student means that no two people look the same.
You had me at scrunchies: timeless 90s style
Madeleine Raine considers the impact of 90s fashion to trends and our current style choices
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ith rumours of a Friends reb o o t circulating the internet, increased attention has been placed upon the 90s and the impact of this decade on our current one and how it managed to shape the history of fashion. The 90s were an iconic era that, for most of us, are a distant memory. The styles that dominated the TV screen certainly shook the fashion industry with some trends that are even re-emerging today. The classic look that we all associate with the teen comedy film Clueless is the chequered skirt suits. Worn by the main characters in a variety of colours, these suits add a sense of business to the casual school day. They are both professional yet funky with their bright yellow and blue. The mini skirt contributes to the playful nature of this outfit by encouraging a contrast between business and fun. Whilst this is not a fashion trend that has re-emerged in the 21st century, it is something that will always be remembered and never goes amiss at a Halloween party.
Dungarees are a fashion icon that has transcended all time and cultural boundaries
A timeless classic that dominated the stage in the 90s is the dungaree. This garment of clothing has been around for centuries with its invention in 1792 providing protective clothing for men involved in extensive manual
labour. By the 1990s, dungarees were certainly no longer needed for this purpose, therefore, becoming more of a fashion icon. Rachel from Friends is a prime example of a 90s TV star who owned the stage with this trend. Coupled with a nice top or your favourite jumper, this is an outfit that can be worn anywhere. Dungarees are a fashion icon that has transcended all time and cultural boundaries and are certainly making a comeback today. Crop tops are another example of the impact that 90s fashion has had on the trends of today. Crop tops were emerging across all TV shows in the 90s from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Full House. Everyone, both guy and girl, was wearing them, extending their popularity from the screen to real life. The craze did
not stop here however. Ever since its boom in the 1990s, crop tops have delved in and out of fashion as the seasons come and go, making them a timeless classic for young and old.
Crop tops have delved in and out of fashion
All Images: @90ssclassy on Instagram
Whilst the 90s may seem like a lifetime ago to many of us, with some students not even experiencing this decade at all, the fashion trends that arose and developed throughout this period are continually having an impact on styles today. Whilst not all trends made it out of this era, a lot are being grabbed up by stylists every year and re-emerging on the fashion market.
Instagram: @asos
Armani ap
Sesha Subramanian discusses Ge
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hile presenting his Emporio Armani fashion line at the Milan Fashion Week in February, designer Giorgio Armani came under fire making controversial statements (to say the least) about the fashion industry and its treatment of women. It started off innocuously enough, with him telling reporters that he was "tired of hearing trends." He encouraged writers to write about the thinking that goes into designing clothes - from himself as well as other famous designers like Alessandro Michele at Gucci and Miuccia Prada at Prada. He then preludes his next comments with "I am at a moment when I can say what I think." "There is so much talk about women being raped, but women today are regularly ‘raped’ by designers,” the veteran designer said, " I am thinking of certain ads where women are shown in a provocative way, half naked, and many women feel pressured into looking like that. That for me is rape. It’s unbefitting. Look around, they think that by wearing black leggings and a bomber they become modern. Excuse my outburst and the strong words, but I felt like I had to say this." To say that designers need to look after the models and to present them in a way that isn't outright obscene is one thing. To liken their mistreatment to sexual violence is completely another. There is no comparison and the two are poles apart. Armani made his statement in Italian and while things can usually get lost or misheard in translation, this was not one such case. When asked to clarify what he meant, he doubled down on it saying, "Women can be raped in various ways. Throwing her under a stairwell or suggesting she dresses in a certain way: for me, that is raping a woman.” In any language, the word "rape" cannot be used lightly. While it is noble of him to say that women need to be respected in the line of work that he is involved in - it is not equivalent to rape. Rape is trauma - and not just physical. It is also mental and emotional trauma. Fashion, while known for exploitation of women for imagery - something that does need to be rectified - is not rape and to liken the two together is insensitive,
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life & style
Monday 9 March 2020 Life & Style Editor: Nimra Rafique
How to keep a capsule wardrobe Beth Robson discusses the benefits of a capsule wardrobe and shares tips on how we can go minimal in a fast fashion world
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f like me, you’re an impulse buyer, you everything and can therefore be worn with any of your may be in need of a capsule wardrobe. As outfits. Once you’ve established this, you now need to do a student there are many benefits to keep- a purge. ing this penny-saving kind of wardrobe, but Not as daunting as it sounds, a purge is going to help what is it and where do you start? you determine what makes you look and feel good, but A capsule wardrobe, as term-coiner Susie also helps determine your overall style. This is the prime Faux explains, is a wardrobe made of essen- time to ask yourself, in the words of purging queen Matial pieces of clothing such as skirts or jeans rie Kondo herself, “does this piece spark joy?" As a rule of etc. that can be interchanged with seasonal thumb I suggest donating or throwing away (dependant pieces but never go out of style. on the condition of the piece) anything that doesn’t Think of the ‘little fit you, doesn’t flatter your shape, or black dress’ or a doesn’t suit your day-to-day life. We tailored suit; a timeless all have a pair of shoes that look fashion piece that every great but hurt like nothing else person needs in their and as a result sit at the bottom wardrobe and can be of our wardrobes (or under our used for any engagement. beds!) collecting dust; the aim of the The idea behind these capsule wardrobe is to eliminate this timeless pieces is that kind of problem. they’re versatile and imOnce you’ve purged your portantly, can be dressed wardrobe you will be left with up or dressed down. This pieces that suit your personal theme is the essence of style and aesthetic and this is the capsule wardrobe where the fun begins! Taking trend. note of what is missing from To set up a capsule your wardrobe’s basics, it’s now wardrobe you need time to go shopping! I must to do a few things; the make it very clear, that this first being rule setprocess can last months and ting. What are going certainly won’t be completed to be your base colin a matter of hours. You now ours? Typically these need to be a conscious shopare either black, navy per; trends can be fun to blue, grey, or nude (of play with, but with a capsule whichever shade fits!), wardrobe you need to be strict Instagram: @mariekondo because for the most on sticking to the classic bapart these colours go with sics and using trend pieces
pologises
eorgio Armani's comments on rape
cruel and downright imbecile. While one can try to have put this one down to language or age or any of the other factors involved in the formulation of that statement, it is a futile attempt because nothing explains the use of the word "rape" in that context.
Nothing explains the use of the word 'rape' in that context
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
sparingly. Whilst some may see this as far too limiting, I found having a ‘rule book’ on what not to buy very reassuring, and took the stress out of shopping for seasonal styles that just didn’t work for my body. Once you have a wardrobe of set basics it’s now time to accessories. Playing around with different metals or patterns can really set the tone of an ensemble, and how you choose to style them can say a lot about your personality. A criticism of capsule wardrobes is that they can feel too
‘cookie cutter’ but it doesn’t have to be! If you’re into big statement jewellery for example, the capsule wardrobe lends itself nicely; just keep the number of items down to a minimum. Capsule wardrobes exist to limit our clothing purchases and make us more ethically and consciously-minded shoppers. Whilst many of us revel in the luxury of retail therapy with every new season, there is a lot of good to be found in keeping things simple, so why not give it a go?
Fashion fixation: Thought clothing Sara Nigohosyan tells us why sustainable fashion brand Thought should have your attention
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ne of the latest, and probably best, trends of the fashion world is sustainable clothing. Fast fashion is harmful to the planet and often for the people working for it, which is why more people are turning towards environmentally conscious brands which also provide quality clothing that will last longer than just a couple of months. Thought Clothing is a brand which manages to combine the good ethics of the fashion industry with its own
timeless style, creating an eco-friendly wardrobe at affordable prices. With its compilation of unique patterns, styles, and colours, this UK-based brand offers a range for every part of one’s day. Whether you’re planning to go to work, a date, a night out, or even to bed, Thought has it.
It also offers a contribution to sustainable fashion
selves to young models only. Wearing this brand gives more than just a fashionable sense. It also offers a contribution to sustainable fashion that needs more support now more than ever. If you’re looking for new affordable and ethically sourced clothes, or even just for inspiration, just follow their motto, “be part of our thoughtful world,” and follow them for more sustainable living.
The UK brand’s beginning was quite simple – one-man started with one simple sustainable collection of men’s shirts and beachwear. Starting with just a pop-up shop, Thought has now grown into an expanding in recognition line, despite still being relatively small. Now, producing ethically sourced, organic, and ecologically friendly clothing, they make everything for everyone – women’s and men’s clothing, accessories, and they even have a special section for gifts if you want to give a thoughtful present which both the person and the environment will appreciate. The clothes and accessories Thought offer a combination of essentialism, minimalism, and a good style, which is what makes them so great- after their sustainable production of course. Their variety allows people to show their own personality through their clothing while still carrying the unique and recognizable style of the brand itself.
Thankfully though, he did come to his senses and issue an apology later, saying "If I could turn back and have used another word to express that all of us designers have the duty to respect the women we design clothes for I would".
They make everything for everyone
Image: Flikr (Elliott Brown)
Instagram: @thoughtclothing
The looks they offer have grown their Instagram following quite dramatically within the last year, as they become recognized for their aesthetic designs and timeless pieces. The social media platform is how many come to find out about them, and its effortlessly beautiful account (@ thoughtclothing) explains their quick gain in following. They are not only battling the fast fashion industry, but are also known for standing against ageism in the fashion industry, hiring models of all ages, and not limiting them-
Instagram: @thoughtclothing
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beauty life & style
Monday 9 March 2020 courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Beauty Editors Rashida Campbell-Allen & Ellie James
vs Wipes Were we a little too frosty to frosted tips? Micellar Eugenia Lo settles the debate
Joe Molander critically discusses past trends, taking us back to a questionable 90s hairstyle A bad look often makes for a strong brand that is difficult to forget
This agonising part of “style” haunted us throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The most obvious culprit is Justin Timerblake, but he doesn’t deserve all the blame for this: we all came together as a culture to agree that it looked good, and we should all be ashamed. It’s very likely that if aliens were ever thinking of visiting us, they found us at the pinnacle of NSYNC’s popularity – another crime that’s on all of us – and decided to put it off for a few centuries. Frosted tips aren’t the only things to be worried about: thawed tips also exist There are (somehow) worse things to be worried
about than frosted tips, though. At the height of their popularity, their inverse also became fashionable. Here, the poor wearer’s entire head of hair is bleached, with the dye applied to the very end of the hair strands. The result is a look that high-end barbers were presumably charging hundreds for back in the 1990s, and which can be achieved just as effectively by dipping the first inch of your hair in a pot of paint. A bad look often makes for a strong brand that’s difficult to forget Of course, it’s important not to be overly critical. A bad look is very rarely forgettable (which is why my look is remembered by everyone), and a memorable look can make for a strong brand. People are still talking about Paris Hilton’s mid-noughties fashion taste, and in ten years it’s likely we’ll still remember Billie Eilish’s genredefying baggy look.
It lends him the energy of a dad at a barbeque
Indeed, there is one person able to walk out of the smoking cultural wreckage that is frosted tips and be
for makeup removal methods
better for it. It is, of course, the immortal Mayor of Flavourtown himself, Guy Fieri. Combined with his sunglasses and flame shirts, he has assembled a brand that went out of fashion over a decade ago, but instead of appearing outdated or uncool, he comes off as knowingly wholesome. It lends him the energy of a dad at a barbeque, and that kindly paternal energy has ensured he’s still trusted to serve up dishes to America, over two decades since his first restaurant opening. Any look can be pulled off with confidence and self-love The Fieri case study is testament to how even the worst beauty throwbacks can be pulled off with the right confidence and unrelenting self-love. Difficult though it may be for people to accept – myself included – it might be the case that the worst looks of all come from the very healthiest of mindsets.
Instagram: @africanextract
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here’s no easy to way say this, so we’re going to take a deep breath and say it slowly, together. Ready? There was once a time where we thought frosted tips were a good look.
T Image: Getty Images - Ron Galella
Instagram: @clayluan
Instagram: @guyfieri
Jeffree Star blood lust backlash: overwhelming prices for underwhelming products Beth Robson discusses the influencers exploiting makeup lovers with mediocre products
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hen Jeffree Star revealed his new palette ‘Blood Lust’ on February 11 he was met with criticism over the supposed purple palettes lack of, well… purple. Many fans of the brand were underwhelmed and disappointed, but this isn’t the first time major brands have released critical flops. Makeup brands are businesses and businesses need to make money. It’s because of this that gimmicky or samey products keep getting released by certain brands over and over again with little to no innovation in colour story or concept. Jeffree Star (the brand and the man behind the magic) both have had questionable pasts and launches, but you cannot fault the brand’s innovation. It’s probably because of this that fans were so disappointed in the ‘Blood Lust’ launch. Star’s collaboration with Shane Dawson wasn’t my style at all, but you could tell a lot of work had gone into making it fit Dawson’s branding and personality. There is a personal charm to each of Star’s
palettes, and they tell their own stories through their individual concepts; the same can’t really be said for other brands… When I think of an influencer collaboration that really flopped, I think of the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid collection from back in 2017. Not only were the products pretty so-so in colour and packaging, but they were hugely overpriced. One of the palettes in the collection cost £13.99 and contained six shades; compare this to Revolution Beauty’s most popular collaboration with sophdoesnails (which twentyfour shade eyeshadow palette only costs £10) and you can practically smell the money-grab from a mile away. It was pretty clear to see that Maybelline had ran with Hadid’s name and the attention it would bring the collection, not realising that the mediocre release would for some time tar the brands reputation. The same thing happened with the launch of Jaclyn Hill’s palette with Morphe; costing an extra £15 than Morphe’s other 35-shade palettes. There was nothing new about the launch really, it was Hill’s name and fans that would bring in the cash, and as a result really turned off day-to-day makeup wearers like myself.
It’s wrong and in cases like Zoella’s advent calendar launch for example, exploits influencer’s young fans Instagram: @jeffreestarcosmetics
aking off my makeup is a skincare necessity and the key to leaving your skin fresh and ready for bed at night. There is a range of makeup removing products available in the market which helps to cleanse your skin without much effort. The two main ones we can find in drugstores are makeup wipes and micellar water: but which one is better? There has always been a debate over the effectiveness of these makeup removers and here I will compare them and recommend some of my favourite ones. I’ve tried different types of makeup removing products like cleansing balms and gel cleansers but at last I found micellar water is the best for me because it is so friendly to sensitive skin. Most of the micellar water found in drugstores are pretty gentle, claiming to be hypoallergenic and paraben-free. But obviously, not all brands are suitable for sensitive skin so you need to read the ingredients before buying the product. Micellar water is also great for fixing your makeup: simply soak a little bit of it onto a cotton bud and fix your eyeliner mistake or eyeshadow powder that falls out to your under-eye. My all-time favourite will be the Bioderma Make-up removing micelle solution (250ml, £10.80 in Boots) because it leaves my skin feeling so soft and hydrated without the need to rinse it off. They also come with two other formulas to fulfil the needs of other skin types so you can find out which one suits you the best.Another product I would definitely recommend is the Glossier Milky Oil (100ml, £10 in Glossier). It has a combination of micellar water and lightweight oils that dissolve your base makeup as well as waterproof formulas that are usually hard to remove with typical micellar water. Talking about makeup wipes, although they come in handy when you are travelling, I wouldn’t recommend using them daily. Scrubbing your face with makeup wipes can cause irritations and they are usually not powerful enough to remove waterproof eye makeup. Also, makeup wipes mostly contain alcohol and will cause stinging for sensitive skin, so be sure you look for products that are alcoholic-free. The yes to Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Facial Wipes (pack of 10, £2.66 in Boots) is my travel must-have item because it’s easy to pack and I can remove my makeup on the plane with just a few simple swipes. The smell of green tea and cucumber is very soothing and is ideal to use on-the-go. Although both micellar water and makeup wipes claim to take off waterproof products, they won’t remove your makeup thoroughly so I will still use an eye makeup remover to dissolve my eyeliner and mascara, following with a foam cleanser to make sure my skin is clean before getting to bed. I would recommend using micellar water as a daily makeup remover more than makeup wipes unless you are feeling extra lazy, but don’t just rely on it because it won’t remove a full face of makeup.
Revolution Beauty isn’t so squeaky clean when it comes to influencer launches however (no matter their more than acceptable price-tag!).
There is such a thing as “too much of a good thing”, and Revolution hit this nail on the head. It feels like there is a new collaboration coming out every week that all end up looking the same and clearly lack any innovative thought. There’s also a touch of, dare I say, favouritism, with influencers who have high numbers being given a lot more advertising and time to perfect their collections before the next collaboration inevitably is released. It rubs me the wrong way, and feels like a PR stunt on the brand and the influencers behalf; it’s wrong and in cases like Zoella’s advent calendar launch for example, exploits influencer’s young fans. Collaborations in the beauty world are becoming less a way of sharing an influencers personal style and branding, and more of a money grab or a way to seal brand-influencer relationships. It’s disheartening and lazy, but as long as we keep buying mediocre products, they will still be made.
the courier
21
food life & style
Monday 9 March 2020
Food Editors: Cayla Viner & Amanda Goh
Dish of the week: Hidden food gems to visit this Easter break Zuppa Toscana Josh Blackburn gives us insight on hidden gems around Newcastle to try this holiday period
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uppa Toscana is a popular Italian soup that is a favourite amongst many families in Italy (including my own) that serves to nourish the body, warm the heart and satisfy the taste buds. Nothing reminds me of my childhood more than my Grandad’s own Zuppa Toscana. This delicious soup is a humble concoction of various beans, greens, pulses, bread and any other veggies you’ve got left over from your culinary conquests the night before. From its origins in a sleepy village amidst the rolling Tuscan hills all the way to your dinner plate in your halls of residence, this family recipe makes an extremely easy, affordable and healthy alternative to your typical Saturday night take-away or microwave meal. This hearty dish is ideal for students living on a tight schedule (and even tighter budget) as it requires just a few simple steps and relatively cheap ingredients to make. Not to mention it is one hundred percent vegan for all the health conscious and Ethical food fanatics out there! So why not try out this super soup this week? Your body (and bank balance) will certainly thank you for it! Ingredients: 1 cup of Kale ½ small Zucchini ½ tin of Cannellini beans 1 large potato 1 stick of celery 1 onion 1 clove garlic Tomato pulp (or Vegetable stock) A splash of water A splash of extra virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon chili powder Salted Tuscan bread (or Ciabatta) Equipment: 1 saucepan Wooden spoon (for stirring) Knife (for dicing and slicing) Chopping board Tin opener
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ood: we depend on it to survive, we resort to it during boredom, and we come together to enjoy it; three fantastic reasons why you should delve into some of Newcastle’s best hidden food gems this Easter – all tried and tested for guaranteed satisfaction.
Butterfly Cabinet – Heaton
This vintage and edgy café is a delightful pit stop for students. Offering an indulgent breakfast and lunchtime menu, guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to food. However, if you happen to visit this boutique restaurant, I would heavily persuade you to go for ‘The Business’ – an incredibly good value breakfast to kickstart your day at only £9. Hidden in the streets of Heaton, the Butterfly Cabinet is only a stone’s throw away from the buzzing city centre and gives off a relaxed and tranquil vibe (a well needed reprieve after a term packed with lectures and seminars).
Dog and Scone – Pudding Chare
What better way is there to spend your Easter holidays than drinking a refreshing beverage, in one hand, and a butter-wouldn’t-melt puppy in the other? Perfect for a well needed university break, this boutique little café is certain to leave you feeling totally de-stressed, with an abundance of positivity. If you do decide to visit, be sure to sniff out ‘Noodle’ – an adorable dachshund in need of lots of cuddles! One of the many affordable pick-me-up pit stop cafés that Newcastle has to offer.
Chaophraya – Eldon Square
Indulge in the delicacies that fine Thai cuisine has to offer, right in the bust of Newcastle city centre, you will definitely leave this restaurant with a whole new perception on Thai food, and at the same time: equipped with sizzling taste buds and a full stomach. If Easter for you means catching up with friends to indulge in Newcastle’s haute cuisine, then look no further. This relatively new restaurant is
without doubt a hit with the Geordie clientele. To enquire about cooking classes and cocktail masterclasses, enquire online to experience a fantastic hands-on night of fun!
Botanist – Monument
An all-time classic. The dome shaped roof draped in warm lights illuminates the city skyline at night, and the tree which is central to the character of the restaurant is stunning, accentuating the botanical brand. This is a great place to meet up for cocktails, and if you happen to visit when the sun is shining, the outside balcony upstairs is undeniably worth a visit! In terms of food, you can’t go wrong with the hanging skewers and half-roast chicken: a clear wwUSP for this delightful eatery.
Lola Jeans – Tynemouth
Newly renovated, newly branded, Lola Jeans is rather lavish, but the price is definitely worth it. With a flamboyant cocktail menu, you are really spoilt for choice! If you happen to fancy sticking around for a boogie, this cocktail bar turns into a nightclub with a DJ on weekends come 9pm. I would definitely recommend visiting for afternoon snacks, what better way to spend the early evening than sharing platters of tapas-like starters with friends.
Centre. Enjoy a fantastic Italian meal under the luminescent ceiling. The dark and intense setting is a great choice, if you’re looking to treat a lover this Easter. Otherwise, the Sunday Lunch menu is flawless and definitely a great way to meet up with friends over the seasonal break. Why not tie in a lovely meal at Babucho with a few boujie drinks on the quayside? – perfect for those with a slightly expensive taste.
Crusoe’s – Longsands
I had to seal off the list with this beauty. A definite winner every time. Located right on the golden sands of Tynemouth, it is perfect for breakfast or lunch. If you’re feeling spontaneous, why not get up at the crack of dawn, jump in the sea as the sun begins to rise and then enjoy a well-deserved coffee in this warm and cosy café? P.S. you’ve never tried a better cake than those offered at Crusoe’s.
Babucho – Quayside
The restaurant has one of the most delightful ambiance’s on offer in Newcastle City
Butterfly Cabinet Image: @ninimxo on Instagram
Supplement or substitute: Organic food: dangers of a protein shake diet is it really better?
Em Richardson comments on whether the use of protein shakes as meal substitutes is sustainable and healthy Meggie Williams discusses the benefits of organic eating rotein shakes are drinks that con- can actually be detrimental to our health, even increas-
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Image: @saltandlavender on instagram
Method: Chop up potato, celery and zucchini into evenly sized chunks. Finely dice kale, garlic and onion. Add a splash of oil into the saucepan, tilt pan to make sure the whole surface is covered and heat it up the on hob. Add the celery, onion and salt, allow to soften for a few minutes whilst stirring. Add the tomato pulp, kale, zucchini, potato and cannellini beans then stir. Season with the chili powder and let it cook for 15 minutes, stirring every so often. Add just enough water to cover all the ingredients, stir, then allow to simmer for 25 minutes. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 200º/400F. Then, prepare your ciabatta or Tuscan bread by lightly toasting it in the oven before adding a tiny dash of olive oil onto the bread. Finally, serve the soup on top of the toasted bread, allow it to sit and cool down for a few minutes before tucking in! (I would certainly recommend letting the soup to sit on the bread for a few minutes before eating as it allows all the flavours of the vegetables to absorb into the bread which is utterly mouth-watering!) Amelia Thorpe
tain a high amount of protein, ing our risk of developing certain types of cancer. From intended for the consumption a scientific perspective, it seems that using protein shakes by those who want to gain muscle. as a meal substitute simply isn’t maintainable long-term. They’re a staple in many body-builders’ diets. Just because In some cases, consumers are encouraged to replace their entire meals with a something is done in protein shake, in order to lose fat, whilst the name of 'fitness', also building muscle. However, is this behaviour really healthy, or maintainable in doesn't mean it's not the long-term? I’m inclined to say no. disordered behaviour To state the obvious, I believe protein shakes should always be a ‘supplement’ that adds additional nutrients to someone’s diet, rather than However, my biggest problem with the protein shake someone’s sole calorific input. trend is actually the fact it could lead to a seriously toxic This view is supported by science, with nutri- relationship with food. Let’s face it- undertaking a liquidtionists frequently pointing out that, for all only diet is an EXTREME measure to take for aesthey contain generous amounts of thetic purposes. If someone who appeared protein, these shakes simply can’t very thin said they lived off liquid, they contain all of the nutrients and would be accused of having an eating anti-oxidants found in ‘real’ disorder, yet it’s somehow become food. Moreover, the aversocially acceptable for gymage shake contains just goers to state this openly. Just 200-400 calories. Even because something is done in for someone who is the name of “fitness”, doesn’t on a diet, this is an exmean it’s not disordered betremely low amount haviour. of energy. For referAs someone with a hisence, the NHS recomtory of obsessive dieting, I mends that dieting can also almost guarantee women should still that this behaviour is likely aim to eat no less than to lead to a cycle of binge1400 calories a day, in ing. By the time you “allow” order to lose weight at a yourself to eat solid food safe rate, and dieting men again, you’re bound to be so Image: Thought Catalog Unsplash should aim for 1900 calohungry, and deprived of the foods ries. If someone ate less than a you love, that there’s a tendency tothousand calories of solid food in ward binge eating. This will inevitably a day, they’d be accused of eating far lead to a cycle of restricting again, then too little, so I fail to understand why bingeing again, over and over. it’s become socially acceptable to eat this Society seems to have brainwashed us into believing amount, as long as it’s in liquid form. Evidence that achieving an athletic physique is worth any extent of suggests that protein shakes can take a considerable misery, hunger, and even damage to our bodies. At the amount of time before they contribute to significant fat end of the day, food is meant to be enjoyed. loss, so consumers may be expected to maintain this danIn fifty years’ time, I firmly believe you’re more likely to gerously low calorific input for prolonged periods. regret denying yourself of the foods you loved, than not Long-term, consuming excessive amounts of protein consuming enough protein.
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n a phenomenon of ‘you are what you eat’ its no surprise that organic has become somewhat of a buzzword as we think more carefully about what we eat. If this were a romantic comedy, organic would be the wholesome superhero (with a kilowatt smile) that humbly saves the world from the clutches of artificial chemicals in the growing of plants and animals for food. I’m here to investigate what all the hullabaloo is about…
Better for the planet
There is an overwhelming amount of evidence to suggest that organic faming is immeasurably better for the planet. In the words of Soil Association Organic, organic farming works with nature to “reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy”. On top of all of these, the avoidance of preservatives on fresh products promotes a more seasonal, local diet, which does not have a huge carbon footprint to answer for. Finally, organic farming promotes higher levels of animal welfare and the lack of pesticides is better for the surrounding fauna, flora and people.
Better for overall health
The investigation into whether organic is significantly better for your health is under much deliberation; it is generally accepted that there are benefits but questions as to whether these justify the bigger price tag? There are definitely some areas where its been proven worthwhile to go organic, for example organic meat and milk are richer in certain nutrients, sometimes up to 50% higher, and eating organic fruit and vegetables could increase your antioxidant intake by 20-40%. In other situations, peeling the vegetables can remove the majority of the artificial chemicals.
Going organic on a student budget
Despite the often significantly more expensive price tag of organic products in supermarkets, organic eating can be viable on a student budget. First of all, shop in smaller, independent shops that often buy straight from local farms, for example Grainer Market or the fruit stalls on Northumberland road. Secondly, pick and choose what you go organic with; known as the Dirty Dozen, there are a list of fruit and veg that have the highest amount of pesticides and thus, worth avoiding. You could sign up to an organic box scheme that delivers local, seasonal veg right to your front door or get your hands a little dirty down as Ouseburn farm or the city’s allotments.
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life & style travel
courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Travel Editors: Amy Harris, Meggie Williams and Beth Robson
the courier
Monday 9 March 2020
The evolution of travelling
Amanda Goh discusses how the world of travel has evolved throughout history; buckle up, time to take a trip through time! The late 19th century saw an increase in railroads with faster and safer transport
The last 100 years saw many vast changes with the way people travel. In the early 19th century, travelling was usually done by horse or buggy for destinations within a day’s ride. Travelling was slow and difficult only the rich were able to travel, while the poorer people walked everywhere. While the late 19th century saw an increase in railroads with faster and safer transport to further destinations. There was also an increase in hotel and guesthouse construction at desirable destinations. Between the 1920s to the 1950s, tourism became more popular as paid vacation plans were offered. There were also more amusement parks and rides for children. With more money, people were able to buy cars and vacations. There were also more vacation weeks, which were not a thing before the 1900s. Destinations also started to promote themselves. Technology also seemed to be improving, now with trains and planes, the rich were able to travel to further destinations. The travel industry slowly became popular. By the 2000s, people were able to travel far and near. Vacations and airplane use be-
came more frequent. The internet was also gaining popularity, allowing tourists to book flights and reserve hotels and cars for their trips. The internet increased competition in the tourism industry. Instead of booking through agents, they realised that it would be cheaper and better finding flights and hotels themselves. In addition, social me- d i a had created a layer of information vital for making decisions, through recommendations, reviews and blogs. Budget airlines have recently been increasingly popular. They have been more suitable for people wanting to visit a city for a few days. It had opened people's minds to the thought of travelling further for less money. Not only has transport come a long way in the tourism industry, so has accommodation. In the early days, guests and travellers accommodated in family homes and local inns. Hotels were only introduced in the
60s due to an increase in international travel. Motels were replaced with fancier alternatives and slowly lost their charm. Even the concept of solo travelling has only recently been popular. The Global Solo Travel Study from British Airways in 2018 had showed the nearly 50% of women worldwide have gone on a solo trip. Between 2010 and 2019, solo travelling has increased by at least 20%. Large families used to travel together with many big joint family trips. Also, in the earlier days, booking for accommodation was only available through travel agencies. Going directly to airlines was not cheaper and might not even have been possible. Accommodation was usually booked with flights at one go. However today, booking separately and by yourself might be cheaper than through an agency. Image: Karen Arnold from PublicDomainPictures
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volving technology over the years has resulted in many improvements and differences in the travel industry. Technology has allowed people to have a different perspective on how and where they want to travel to.
Image: mohamed_hassan from Pixabay
Previously, on trips, there would be less pictures. While travel photography had dated back to the 1800s, the possibilities of capturing travel experiences on camera were not widely done. Only as photography equipment got lighter and more portable over the years, travellers were able to take pictures easily. In the 19th century, to take a photograph to document their travels would mean processing their photos after exposure and lugging their huge equipments wherever they went. Kodak founder George Eastman revolutionised the world of travel photography in 1900 with his camera that only used a roll of film. It had made it easier for more people to take photos while travelling.
Since the 1960s, motels have gradually lost their charm
Not only did photography technology advance over the years, the quality of the images did too. The rise of digital cameras in the 2000s had allowed more photos to be taken, without worrying about the quality of them. Slowly, technology allowed us to have a photo galore and have also allowed for immediate sharing. Imagine trying to travel back in the days. As travelling gets more and more popular, the world seems to be much smaller than we thought 100 years ago. But, technology doesn’t stop here, there are still multiple possibilities available for the future of travel. Who knows, maybe we will actually be able to travel in a blink of an eye in 100 years!
From castles to cathedrals Madeleine Raine shares her favourite historical sites to visit in the North East: from Alnwick Castle to The Victoria Tunnel
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he North East of England is one of the most iconic and beautiful regions that our country has to offer. We are spoilt for choice not only with our expansive coastline but also country attractions and buildings that date back to the medieval period. The North East of England is the perfect place to explore both modern and historic sites, making it a true hub for British life and culture.
Alnwick Castle The most popular historic site that is situated very close to Newcastle itself is that of Alnwick Castle. Built in the eleventh century, this country house has been home to numerous gentile families for centuries. After Windsor Castle, it is the second largest occupied house in England. Whilst part of this castle is still occupied by the current duke and duchess, it still prides itself in acting as a
Image: Phil Thomas on Flickr via Wikimedia Commons
tourist attraction, welcoming thousands of visitors every day. Adorned with extravagant furnishings and paintings this castle has served not only visitors but also the movie scene for decades. Most famous for its place in Harry Potter, this castle has also been home to the set of Downton Abbey and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Durham Cathedral Another famous North Eastern landmark is Durham Cathedral. Durham itself is rich in both history and culture, with its cathedral bearing no difference. Also built in the eleventh century, this cathedral has always been the central attraction of this small market city. Serving as both a religious institution tourist site, Durham Cathedral
attracts thousands of visitors from all around the globe every month. This cathedral has also collaborated in the Durham Lumiere scheme since its debut in 2009, augmenting its revenue and popularity particularly in recent years. A light festival encompassing the city every two years, Durham Lumiere sets its centre at the cathedral, promoting various artistic representations from the projections of the Lindisfarne Gospels on its walls to the manifestation of thousands of hanging clothes beneath its roof.
The Victoria Tunnel The Victoria Tunnel that exists beneath the city of Newcastle is an attraction that despite being bathed in history is often neglected. Opening in 1842, this tunnel served to transport coal from the Town
Moor to the River Tyne. Serving less than twenty years, the tunnel was unfortunately closed in 1860 until the beginning of the Second World War when it was re-opened to the public as an air-raid shelter. Spanning 2.4 miles, this tunnel is still intact today and still receives visitors yearning to learn more about our coal-mining region. The North East of England is a beautiful region that often does not receive as much publicity as its competitors. We are incredibly fortunate to have a breath-taking coastline that most have access to within an hour’s drive. Our region is home to countless stately homes and castles that remind us of our past and heritage, as well as country parks and forest trails for nature lovers. Whether you love nature, sport or history, this region has so much to offer and really is the gemstone of this country.
the courier
21
travel life & style
Monday 9 March 2020
Unexpected travel tax Is it ever ok to profile?
Isabel Ellis gives her verdict on Amsterdam's tourist taxation
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e all thought Brexit would be the biggest disaster of 2020. Little did we know, some European countries were plotting something much worse… tourist taxes! I’m sure many people have experienced the bane of an Amsterdam trip when they get to their hotel to discover they have to pay an additional 7% on your already expensive central hotel. But no, if that wasn’t bad enough, on top of that 7% tourists will now have to pay an extra 3% per night as of the 1st January 2020. As for all you frugal Airbnb users, this tax also applies to you too! There is literally no escaping it, I’m afraid. Although tourist tax seems very much like a thing of the present as 2020 has been branded “the year of tourist tax”, it has actually been around for many years now. In fact, more than 150 countries worldwide have begun to impose the tax such as France, Bhutan and even Japan. But why the increase in tax you may ask? As reported in The Telegraph, a spokesperson for Amsterdam’s deputy mayor has noted that actually the tax isn’t to keep tourists away (something I am finding very hard to believe I might add). The reason for the increased tax in terms of
Amsterdam is to attempt to break up the flow of tourism plainly named “over-tourism”, and to help contribute to the overall upkeep of the city. However, cities such as Venice make it no secret that the increased tax is to combat chronic over-crowding in an already crowded city. In fact, Venice is being particularly strict on initiating tourist tax as even day-trippers will be charged €10 during peak periods. As for Amsterdam, with a population of a mere one million, they received over 19 million tourists within the year of 2019. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema expects this figure to rise to around 29 million by 2025. Thus, perhaps tourist tax will be a blessing to the city as opposed to a financial curse. Although I’m a traveller who loves a good bargain and avoids any optional extra costs like the plague, I do believe that tourist tax will overall benefit the cities that choose to impose them; it truly would be a shame for their demise to be at the hands of over-tourism. So next time you choose to visit one of these cities, don’t forget to bring an extra bit of cash to cover the taxes!
Em Richardson discusses Michael O'Leary's islamophobia
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udget airline Ryanair is yet again embroiled in controversy, this time after its CEO, Michael O’Leary, stated that Muslim men should be ‘profiled’ at airports. Speaking to The Times, O’Leary expressed the controversial belief that Muslim men pose the most significant terrorist threat out of all airline passengers, and suggested they should face extra security checks at airports. He clarified that his comments did not extend to Muslims travelling in families, and only applied to men travelling alone, because “the chances [that they] are going to blow them all up is zero”. The inflammatory comments have, quite rightly, been met with widespread condemnation. The Muslim Council of Britain described O’Leary’s remarks as “racist and discriminatory”, and Ryanair has since been forced to apologise for the offence caused. Unfortunately, remarks like O’Leary’s are all too common. Sadly, I think this “us and them” attitude towards Muslims is all too common. A certain type of in-
Image: meineresterampe from Pixabay
dividual thinks that, because a tiny minority of Muslims have committed acts of terrorism (just as a tiny number of white people have done the same), they can dismiss all Muslims as “a threat”. Just because a racist remark is “hidden” within “concern” and “good intention”, like O’Leary claiming he is concerned for the safety of airplane passengers, doesn’t mean it isn’t racist. Moreover, O’Leary needs to consider the logic behind his comments. In the US, statistics suggest the majority of mass-shootings are committed by white people. Yet, noone is passing a motion suggesting white people should under-go more security checks when buying firearms, because people can understand that these atrocities are only committed and condoned by a tiny percentage of the population. People like O’Leary are unable to apply this same logic to Muslims, and realise that only a tiny, insane percentage of their population is ever likely to try to blow up a plane. I think there’s a clear reason for this: a tendency to label all Muslims as “dangerous”, and completely forget that Islam is inherently a peaceful religion.
A hostel takeover: the top spots Image: World Travel & Tourism Council from Wikicommons
Can cheap and comfortable really go hand-in-hand? Rory Ewart shares his favourite hostels for a weekend away in Europe
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s students, hostels provide the perfect mix of accommodation for young people ready to explore countries with university mates, mixed with relatively inexpensive rates and the almost certain guarantee of meeting people that doing the exact same thing as yourself. From Edinburgh to Athens, Copenhagen to Lisbon, there is no shortage of hostels and therefore prime opportunity to sightsee what Europe has to offer. Below I list three hostels that I believe provide the perfect backdrop to any city trip away.
If that doesn’t entice you enough, Dublin offers truly unique sites to visit also, the Guinness Storehouse (10 min walk from the hostel) is up there with some of the best museums I’ve visited.
City Backpackers, Stockholm Although Stockholm may not predominantly feature as your typical student getaway, this hostel resides itself in a
chic jugendstil style building near the heart of Sweden’s capital. Unlike many hostels, The Backpackers boasts not only plenty eating areas in an outside garden, but also has a café inside also, mixed with its spacious social space and complimentary food on arrival, you are guaranteed to not come up stuck on where to eat if you arriving in Stockholm for the first time. Its facilities don’t end there, laundry facilities are aplenty as well as public computers to use too. Perhaps the most surprising addition is the fact that the hostel has its own sauna inside, meaning you can
College Street, Dublin I visited this hostel two years ago shortly after the beginning of my first year of uni. A classic halls pre-drinks ended up with myself and two other friends booking flights to Dublin to soak up some of the rugby-mania atmosphere the city boasts, as our weekend away overlapped with Ireland’s fixture against Scotland in the Six Nations. The hostel itself was one of the friendliest accommodations I have stayed at, and this, mixed with the fact we managed to befriend German roomies on our first night, our weekend began perfectly. As students here in Newcastle, I couldn’t recommend Dublin enough as a city to visit if interested in travelling with mates over the course of your degree. Return flights came in at under £50 each for a long weekend away, mixed with one of the friendliest cities I’ve visited.
Image: Thomas Fabian from Flickr
relax in style after a long day walking around what Stockholm has to offer. And if walking isn’t your sort of cup of tea, you’d probably not end up in a hostel called “Backpackers”, regardless, public transport links are a stones throw away from the hostel. The “T-Centralen” subway is only a seven-minute walk away and the popular Skansen museum a leisurely 20-minute jaunt.
Lucky Lake Hostel, Amsterdam This hostel technically isn’t in Amsterdam, being just outside of the city; however, this place is well worth the slightly extra journey to visit, as it is truly unique. Located on a lakeside a stone throw from the Dutch capital, Lucky Lake offers every room in the form of a mini caravan. If your caravan cravings weren’t filled enough, the site even has it’s own caravan movie theatre. If being away from the city puts you off, fear not, the site lies just seven kilometres from the nearby Holendrecht train station, from which it is just a short ride until you reach the heart of the Amsterdam. This, therefore, provides the perfect platform for day-trip outings to what the city has to offer, which varies from the world-renowned Van Gogh Museum to the home of Anne Frank. If sport is more your thing you are in luck, the Johan Cruyff Arena plays home to the Ajax football club, who currently boasts some of the best footballers in not only Holland but European football collectively.
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culture music
c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Music Editors Dom Lee, Jagoda Waszkowiak & Joe Smith
the courier
Monday 9 March 2020
The Courier Chats: indie legends The Sherlocks Finlay Holden chats to the lovely Sherlocks about life on the road, rock classics and how to not fall out with your brothers B
efore they play to their biggest crowd in Newcastle yet, the four Yorkshire lads that make-up indie-rock band The Sherlocks chat to Finlay Holden in their dressing room at Boiler Shop. Kieran Crook fronts the band on vocals and lead guitar, with his brother Brandon on drums behind him. Brothers Andy and Josh take the wings as bass and rhythm respectively. Where have you played in Newcastle when you’ve been here before? Kieran: We headlined Riverside last time, and have played Think Tank before that. Andy: We even did O2 Academy 2 back in the day, we’ve been around the block up here. Do you think playing independent venues makes a big
Image: Finaly Holden
difference to the show? Is it more enjoyable Kieran: It does, sometimes you’re in an independent venue that’s right quirky, you could have the best gig ever and it looks mint, but on the flip side it could be a terrible venue with shocking electrics. Andy: Aye, we have had some shocking acoustics, but at least an academy is always a good space. Do you think touring has had a big impact on songwriting or your lives in general? Josh: *gestures at Kieran* It’s turned him into an arsehole Andy: I mean when he wrote the whole first album he was like 15, and he’s written all this second one lately while in his 20s, so the writing is different, we all are. ‘NYC (Sing it Loud)’ obviously came from touring the first album, were there any other experiences that directly impacted songs? Kieran: They probably do come from experiences but I don’t usually write songs specifically about places I’ve been. There was another called ‘I Want It All’ which is about places I’ve been and memories and stuff, it comes from a lot of places. What’s the vibe of the new music going forward? Kieran: To me, pers o n a l l y, it sounds more reminiscent to the first album. Andy: Rock ‘n’ roll baby. Kieran: Yeah, there are certainly some
fast tunes, we’ve been playing one we just recorded on to some of the newer stuff. I’ve listened to Sam Fender this tour so you’ll hear that later. so much now that I’m a bit bored with him. He put a For the first album, you recorded it all together live in a couple of new tunes out though so I’m back into him. room – what was different this time? Josh: I liked The Strokes’ new couple of tunes. Kieran: You’ve done your homework! We’d all get in a What is it like being two sets of brothers, does it drive you room together with our cans on and you might crazy sometimes? do it once or it might take six goes. ReAndy: I’ve had every bit of banter that anycently we’ve been in the studio one can throw at me, I think we all recording a new song and have, we can handle anything we ended up keeping now. the very first take of Kieran: Apart from your drums. Guitars ale… and stuff we Are there often motend to rerecments on tour ord on top of where you’re was that blown away at Josh: For the how far you’ve second alcome for a bum we group of Yorkwould shire lads? rehearse Have you e a c h made a lot of s o n g memories? for like Andy: Yeah, an hour we’ve deffo together got some stountil we’d ries to tell the nailed the kids. arrangement, Kieran: Certainly then move not tonight, we’re onto drums and only like 2 and a layer it up from half hours from home. there Glasgow’s probably the Did it get a bit boring furthest we’re going on this treating the studio as a 9-5 tour. Image: NME.com job? Did the days feel long? One of my favourite things you’ve Brandon: We were actually in the studio done is the version of ‘Blue’ that came out of a less that way. Maida Vale session in 2015 – do you often try to rework Andy: For the first record you’d have no idea how long old material and rearrange it into something a bit differyou’d be in there, it was unpredictable. ent? Kieran: Time just doesn’t exist when you’re in the studio, Kieran: We’ll do stuff like that now and again, we did one minute it’s 10 pm then next it’s 6 am. the piano version of ‘NYC’ recently. Certainly, when it Josh: It does go quick comes to playing live we just like to give the fans what Do you all listen to different stuff? they want to hear and stick to the original recording. Andy: The stuff we all listen to isn’t too far off each other. Too many bands just play whatever they want to play We listen to all the rock classics but do try to get around and change it ‘cause they’re bored.
Review: Inhaler and Feet come to Newcastle Finlay Holden reviews punk upstarts FEET and Dublin indie stars Inhaler - just please don't mention U2 or Bono to Elijah
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ublin-based indie 4-piece Inhaler have released a string of catchy guitar-centred indie-pop singles over the last 2 years, including ‘My Honest Face’ and ‘Ice Cream Sundae’, building up quite a following and earning millions of streams online. On the 22nd February, they took to the stage for a headline show at Riverside, with support from FEET.
This act will surely explode in popularity when a debut record emerges
Special guests FEET are the first on-stage. Hailing from Coventry, the self-declared ‘crease pop’ band consists of 5 gents, fronted with a chaotic energy by George Haverson. Their most successful tracks ‘English Weather’ and ‘Ad Blue’ certainly gain interest from the growing crowd, with the direction of tracks swerving and diving at the most unconventional and unexpected moments, which is most certainly intentional. The crackhead vibes shine though and certainly make for a memorable performance.
Rumour has it he doesn't like it being mentioned that he is Bono's son
Inhaler walk out next, with undeniable boyish looks and charm apparent from the get-go. Surprisingly, the audience isn’t overwhelmingly swarmed with 14-year-old female fans – in fact, the crowd mostly seemed to consist of young men and a few older gents. It is always nice to see a young boy-band that genuinely has something new and just straightforwardly enjoyable to give to the indie music scene; I would compare their vibes quite closely to the latest Blossoms record. The band shows off a vast number of unreleased tunes
mixed in with their most recognisable songs; the crowd bounces to the chorus of ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ before calming to pay close attention to ‘Falling In’. In particular, a new track called ‘Cheer Up Baby’ will make a great addition to the Inhaler discography, with a catchy chorus line that is instantly picked up by their fans, supported heavily by frontman Elijah’s strong vocals. Rumour has it he doesn’t like it being mentioned that he is, in fact, the son of U2 frontman Bono; while it is respectable for a young musician to carve his own path rather than cling onto the spotlight provided by generations past, it is also a tad ignorant to not acknowledge the immense privilege of receiving support and advice from Bono and his many musician friends, notoriously including Noel Gallagher. The high-energy continues through several more choruses, such as the guitar-heavy ‘We Have To Move On’ that was dropped only a month prior to this show and has already been hugely embraced by fans. ‘My Honest Face’, which is currently sitting at over 5 million streams on Spotify, is undeniably the most familiar material, with
the bittersweet vocal performances being echoed across the room, and every lyric being heard very clearly from the packed-out venue. The charismatic band end their short and early set there, leaving with a quick goodbye during which the band’s drummer hopped over the barrier and recorded a Snapchat story for one very lucky fan. Although it
was disappointing to see the show close early with no encore, it is undeniably a good thing to be left wanting more from a musician. Inhaler have developed a great sound and following without even releasing an EP as of yet. This act will surely explode in popularity when a debut record emerges and should be followed with great interest by any fans of indie-pop.
Image: Instasgram (@inhalerdublin)
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Monday 9 March 2020
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music culture
Pressure to be perfect: the industry's impact Elisabetta Pulcini discusses how the music industry requires artists to be perfect 'products'
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he music industry does not pressure individuals into being perfect: however, it does require them to fit the mold of a perfect ‘product’. Everything is in service of that goal. As long as that image is intact, whether the individual is actually perfect does not matter. Release schedules can be a big part of the singer’s pressure to be perfect: the idea of creativity being scheduled can be overwhelming to any serious artist. However, by far the most problematic aspect of the industry’s control on artists is the cult of personality. Unlike in the film industry, where studios largely rely on IP to build their brand, in the music industry the individual is at the centre of the experience being sold. Not the music. The individual.
Singers, more so than other artists, are treated like products
This explains why, according to ABC News, “recording artists are 10 times more likely to have mental health problems”. Though probably a bit one-sided, the newly released documentary Miss Americana shed some light on the extent the industry controls the lives of musicians. In the case of Taylor Swift, the decision to speak about politics was probably felt, and right for the moment: however, it went against the brand she built. That is, one of a girl next door who sings about break-ups and doesn’t concern herself with more serious topics. The pressure to be perfect doesn’t refer to individuals per se, but rather the image they project. As long as that image remains intact, the actual individual is forgotten. A clear example of this can be inferred by the notorious break down Britney Spears suffered in 2007. When asked
why she decided to shave her hair, she answered “I just don’t want anybody touching my head. I don’t want anyone touching my hair. I’m sick of people touching my hair”. The cult of the personality requires, particularly of young
As long as the image stays intact, the individual is forgotten
women, to continuously reinvent themselves: this is simply because narratives sell. Her going from a teenage popstar to a fullygrown woman was probably not done because she wanted to change: rather, the industry required her to, to keep the interest alive. With so many people depending and deliberating on her appearance, her gesture becomes completely understandable. Though the extent of the control the industry can exercise on one individual is undeniably suffocating, it becomes more understandable once why this is the case in the first place. Why does Taylor Swift feel policed in her decisions? Shouldn’t an artist be able to determine their own career? The answer isn’t that simple. What an extremely successful singer chooses doesn’t only impact them: every choice has the potential to reverberate across all the people that rely on their success to live. The truth is that singers, more so than other artists, are treated like products, because they function like one. Designer collaborations, albums released, and even tweets. Everything is carefully considered in function of the place the individual occupies within the music industry. Most often people are drawn to these ‘products’ of the music industry not only because of their music, but what their music means to them. And that is largely determined by the image the singer chooses to
Brexit for touring musicians
Rae Farren discusses how Brexit will affect touring musicians
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he UK is preparing to leave the European Union. Emotions run high. The economic freedom and prosperity that we were promised fail to materialise. The tabloid press ramps up the jingoistic bullshittery, leading swathes of our country into blind submission. But what are our musicians thinking?
They don’t care that music brings joy to so many people
more lucrative career path. They don’t care how many of us are skint. They don’t care that our music brings joy to so many people who would otherwise be overwhelmed by the monotony of life under this wretched capitalist system. They don’t care how depressing life would be, even for them, without us. Anything outside their own pockets doesn’t concern them. What positivity can we possibly find in this mess? A small source of hope is music’s tenacity in the face of social division. Political turmoil has often been accompanied by unexpected developments in grassroots popular music. Music is tightly interwoven with social reality and acts as a means of expression for those who are otherwise excluded from political discourse. It is fair to predict that we are in for an upheaval of dominant forms of music, particularly at the grassroots and DIY level. The question here is this: how will the music industry
Unlike many professions, musicians are practically unanimous in our dismay over the prospect of leaving the EU. The Musicians’ Union has campaigned strongly against Brexit since before the referendum. Their call for a Reciprocal Musicians’ Passport to protect the rights of Music is tightly touring musicians offers some hope (however sceptical interwoven with social I am personally about how successful it can be). Freedom of movement is essential for us to make our living, reality and acts as a to share our art with our fellow human beings across the means of expression world. Revoking this right and charging large amounts of money for visas could make touring prohibitively expenreact? How long will it take to pick up on these develsive for many of us. This is opments? How will it mediate them, how will it turn not mere speculation. them into profit? Because let’s face it, the people Much-loved French at the top of this industry are businesspeople duo The Noise and just like any other. Of course, the large corthe Naïve, who had porations at the top of the music industry long been based will always find ways around the barriers in Newcastle, created by Brexit; it is the small, indehave recently moved pendent artists and labels who will suffer. to Canada – a counThe British musicians who will now have try which “manifestly to think twice about touring in Europe. The needs us more”, acsmall community music venues who will cording to their Facebook find it more difficult to book acts from page. the EU, preventing the cultural I don’t believe the governexchange on which music ment will do anything to help thrives. us – any faith I had in them was Rae Farren shattered long ago. Their overlooking of musicians is just another example of their disrespect for the creative sector. In Tory eyes, we are just lazy scroungers who should have chosen a Image: (Wikimedia Commons- EU2017EE Estonian Presidency, Council of Europe)
project. In order to materialize the extent of the music industry, the best cases to look at are those singers who have been shaped entirely by the industry. Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, they have all cited the pressure to be perfect and conform to a external ideal as the result of an overly invasive industry.
Grimes Miss Anthropocene
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iss Anthropocene sees Grimes embody a goddess of the climate crisis. And just like the multi-faceted nature of earth’s climate, her fifth studio album explores a variety of musical terrains. The album is an arguably rare example of an artist simultaneously surviving in the realm of their audience’s expectations and evolving their sound beyond their predictions. The dreamlike vocals and synthetic pop sound that are so archetypal of Grimes are reintroduced alongside an increasing ethereal darkness that starkly contrasts the optimistic pop of her previous album, Art Angels.
With her initially jarring vocal, Grimes can seem impenetrable to an outsider
Image: Instsgram (@taylorswift)
Agnes Obel Myopia
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’m a big fan of some ambient sound, I have whole playlists filled with it, dedicated to working or cleaning up, or even just some chilled, sleepy tunes. If you’re like me, Agnes Obel’s latest album, Myopia, is right up your alley. Obel is a Danish artist whose influences lie all across the musical spectrum, with an upbringing steeped in classical, jazz and folk music. She knows what she’s doing when it comes to engaging but mellow tunes, which is exactly what this album delivers. I’m a big believer that an album’s opening track ought to set the temperature of the whole record, while leaving room for growth and traversal – something Obel understands keenly. The album greets the listener at the door with “Camera’s Rolling”, whose rolling, ethereal sound immediately relaxed me, body and soul. Obel’s layering of dissonant, but beautiful vocals, combined with some sparse percussion gave the song an otherworldly quality. It’s definitely one I’d save for a nighttime playlist, or even a studying mix.
They were crafted to be listened to together
These songs don’t just stand on their own, however, they were crafted to be listened to together and doing so really shows off Obel’s prowess as an artist. If “Camera’s Rolling” and “Broken Sleep” begin with airy, relaxing melodies, “Island of Doom” very much grounds the listener by comparison. Ironically, the song delivers a much brighter sound than its name suggests, bringing some extra energy that tunes back down again in “Roscian”, a soothing, melancholic piano piece. The album’s title track bears the influence of Obel’s more electronic work, bringing some very subtle synths into the mix. I always try to understand why certain songs give their name to the album, be it for where the album started, or for the song embodying most fully the writer’s vision, but here I’m at a loss. It’s not a bad track by any means, but it’s not my favourite. Compared to the rest of the album, it doesn’t bring much new or moving into the record, and it’s by far the safest of all the songs I’ve discussed, as well as the haunting vocal harmonies in “Promise Keeper”, which is another highlight. Ultimately, this is a very strong album, and deserves a full listen if you’re into some very slow and moving music, even if Obel leaves some potential untapped. Alex Darbyshire
Miss Anthropocene radiates experimentation and, paired with her initially jarring vocal, Grimes’ can seem impenetrable to an outsider. However, she tiptoes into Top 40 territory on ‘You’ll miss me when I’m not around’, the album’s most commercial track, which provides a refreshingly accessible entrance to her music. Grimes transforms the agony of being alive into an affectionate game of desire, and then disguises this with a deceptively upbeat melody. ‘4ÆM’ is a highlight of the album; Grimes samples a Bollywood film score for the verses, before bulldozing through its tranquility with a surprising drum and bass chorus. The song is a battle between light and shade overrun with the haunting repeated lyric ‘I’m out late at 4 am’ creating a sense of delirium. Perhaps though this unconventional track would have benefited from less polish, to leave some edges frayed to truly expose the experimental production. The album ends with Grimes’ version of a lovesong, which demonstrates how her electronic vocal works equally well in moments of love, as it does in pessimism. If we can forget that Grimes is most likely addressing Elon Musk – who potentially plays a role in the climate crisis she sings so vehemently against – then it is a beautiful song. The lyrics are simple, mono-syllabic rhymes. The melody is delicate and raw. This really is Grimes at her best. Miss Anthropocene marks an incredible upgrade in her ability and secures her position as one of the most interesting women in Jess Herbert
Recent Rumours Heart Baby
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ecent Rumors dropped their first full EP almost two weeks ago, and you still haven’t listened to it? Tragic. We’ll let it pass this time as long as you take out your phone this instant and stream it on any music app. Now, instead of harassing you some more I will actually give my review of this amazing EP. If you don’t know, Recent Rumors is a Dallas, Texas based alternative pop band with six singles and now an EP out. Their new EP Heart Baby was released on the 21st of February, and let me tell you, it is all I have listened to since then. Heart Baby deals with the ups and downs of relationships and what it means to be in healthy relationships but also in toxic ones. With songs like “Boulangerie” and “Kissing Slowly”, Recent Rumors keep upbeat tones while having almost devastating lyrics such as, “Maybe that’s all that you wanted- not a lover just an object”. In my opinion, it is indicative of what a toxic relationship is like- happy and ecstatic on the outside, but crumbling on the inside.
Recent Rumors keep upbeat tones while having almost devastating lyrics
Then there are songs like “Only One” and “Belong With Me” that show the softer side of a love story; while they still have a melancholy tone matched with sad lyrics, they show- in my opinion- a more hopeful love. While it isn’t perfect, it has real emotion in it. All in all, this is an extended play record that will make your eyes well and your heart swell. Recent Rumors definitely is not a band to overlook or miss. Grace Lazzaro
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culture TV The best LGBTQ+ representation that we actually enjo Film Editor Lucy Lillystone shares her most loved LGBTQ+ couples on television that were actually realistic, memorable and go I Monday 9 March 2020
c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk TV Editors Amy Brown, Sophie Hicks and Kate Dunkerton
n the past, LGBTQ+ representation on TV was incredibly sparse. You were lucky if you even got an accurate representation of a lesbian character or a bisexual individual. Transgender characters were almost non-existent. Most of the time, these characters were also put in to appease the masses demanding more representation or ten times out of ten, they would end up dead by the end of the season or unhappy at the least. However, recently, LGBTQ+ representation on TV has made huge strides with shows like Sex Education, Orange Is the New Black and Brooklyn Nine-Nine allowing LGBTQ+ characters to shine with many even getting the well-deserved happy endings we are all rooting for. We’ve gone from just two gay men most likely sexualised to accurate representation of asexuality and transgender. Being part of the community myself, it is incredibly important to see these characters reflected on screen, showing LGBTQ+ viewers that they do matter, they are valid and they can have happy endings. Here’s some of my favourite LGBTQ+ couples and non-couples across TV.
Mickey confronted his self-loathing and concepts of queerness
Mickey Milkovich and Ian Gallagher – Shameless
Otherwise known as Gallavich, this is most definitely one of my favourite couples on TV. Coming from the south side, being gay wasn’t something that was openly accept-
ed in their community on the show never mind the fact that Mickey had one of the biggest homophobic families going. This is a relationship that started violent, started chaotic and was definitely not healthy in the beginning but it turned into something beautiful. That scene where Mickey comes out in The Alibi, smashing all gay stereotypes? I was in tears. Gallavich are a couple where Mickey was able to confront his own self-loathing and harmful conceptions of queerness, growing to love himself and his boyfriend with a passion that was almost too much at times. After a few rough patches and rough seasons (where was Mickey for half the show?), the producers finally gave us what the couple deserved: their marriage.
Ian & Mickey support each other from the beginning to the end
Gallavich are the perfect representation of two gay men who help each other grow and learn so much together. Unlike all the other relationships in the show, Mickey and Ian support each other from the beginning to the end. Watch Shameless if you want the perfect representation of a careless guy who doesn’t give a shit about anyone else, that wouldn’t even kiss someone to developing into a loving partner, emotionally involved with Ian on a deeper level than any other relationship. When everything goes wrong for the Gallaghers and the Milkovich’s, Gallavich stay strong and that’s enough to make me cry into my cereal every morning.
Stef and Lena – The Fosters Not only a biracial couple, this lesbian relationship has been through its ups and downs throughout the show.
Struggling with not being able to have their own biological children, with the lack of intimacy in their relationship due to having to balance work and kids, The Fosters takes issues and natural developments that have typically been depicted in heterosexual relationships and works to show that this is also the case for lesbian relationships. Stef and Lena are two characters that are easy for audiences to Images: IMDb identify with, regardless of their sexual orientation and their status as lesbian parents fades into the background as the show progresses, highlighting again this natural and simple representation of LGBTQ+ individuals. One thing The Fosters does perfectly though is the struggle of acceptance from parents. At one point in the show, Stef confronts her father’s homophobia, depicting this woman who is in love with her wife and despite the lack of acceptance from her family, will not suppress who she is. The Fosters shows a stable, loving LGBTQ+ relationship, allowing young people to turn to these characters and see stories they can relate to. That, no matter your sexual orientation, Stef and Lena are an example of the hope that LGBTQ+ individuals can grow up, find love, create a family, get married and live happily despite previous representations that suggest this is not possible.
10%
Image: IMDb
with her father’s death and the small issue of developing superpowers. Unlike Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven, who seems fearless and in control of her powers, Lillis portrays the polar opposite, someone terrified about what’s happening to her. It’s a much more realistic take that I really enjoyed watching and let’s be honest, we would all do the same.
They all have great chemistry which makes it believable
Alongside her is IT co-star Wyatt Oleff as Stanley and Sofia Bryant as Dina. They all have great chemistry which makes the story a lot more believable as a high school drama. Despite only spending a few hours with these characters I am already craving more and want to know what will happen to our little trio. Similar to shows like Entwistle’s End of the F**king World and Netflix’s Sex Education, the show uses a blend of modern and 80s technology, clothing and set pieces to make the audience question when actually the show is set. This, as with the other shows, may annoy a lot of viewers but I feel this actually lends to its strength as the time confusion matches the stress and confusion Sydney experiences with her new powers and helps us to emphasise with the character. If you are expecting a lot of action, I’m afraid this is a show which
may disappoint as the powers definitely take a back seat. Sydney spends most of the time trying to avoid them. But as the show progresses, we get to see them used more and thanks to its limited but effective use, they are portrayed brilliantly with the use of special effects. The show is also beautifully shot, which was expected after TEOTFW. With only 7 episodes at around 20 minutes long, you can easily finish this over a weekend and have time to spare. This short run time, while it did leave me wanting more, meant the show didn’t drag and wasn’t bogged down with useless scenes. So, while it may not be the next Stranger Things a lot of people are hoping for, I Am Not Okay With This, is sure to help scratch that itch. It is a great show within it’s own right and definitely worth a watch. George Bell
Netflix’s Sense8, much like Sex Education, was one of the biggest triumphs for the LGBTQ+ community. From non-straight main characters to a trans woman played by a trans actress, it does everything
Percentage of regular characters in scripted Prime Time broadcast series were LGBTQ+
Review: Netflix's I Am Not Okay With This C rammed with 80s vibes, Stranger Things follows a young girl with telekinetic powers trying to learn the secrets of her parents. Wait, no. This is actually a review of the recently released I Am Not Okay With This. Sorry about that. From producers of Stranger Things, and director of End of the F**king World, Jonathan Entwistle, I Am Not Okay With This is as much a science fiction as it is a high school coming of age story. I wouldn’t expect Jim Hopper to turn up though as while there are a few similarities, this is a show much more grounded in its exploration of our main character’s powers with no alternate dimensions. It works on it’s own in a very effective way. Sophia Lillis, (IT, 2017), takes on the main role of Sydney Novak, a pretty ordinary teenager trying to survive high school, come to terms
Nomi Marks and Amanita Caplan – Sense8
Image: Showtime
American Ho
TV Editor Sophie Hicks talks us thro
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think we can all agree that Ryan Murphy has had a very successful career, despite the blatant hits and misses in regard to the plots of his shows. Although you may not watch all of them anymore, Murphy has been a central creator of teen-demographic shows for over a decade. Whether you fell in love with Murphy during the Glee era or the Tumblr-driven American Horror Story aesthetic, there’s something for everyone. Murphy’s new show Hollywood is airing on May 1st on Netflix and will star the beloved Darren Criss (you may recognise his name from other Murphy productions such as Glee or American Crime Story season 2) and will focus around the sex industry and the Golden Era of Hollywood within multiple narratives set in the 1940s. In the wake of this news however, it made me consider Ryan Murphy’s career and the vast amount of shows he’s created, but also the variety in quality. When I think of Ryan Murphy, my brain goes back to 2009 and the rise of Glee. When Glee was at its peak, I remember hearing ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ every two seconds. If this show was made today, I’m not sure how popular it would have been. In retrospect, it isn’t Murphy’s best work (with some very questionable decisions which would not have been greenlit in 2020). Though it did bring a lot of interesting topics to Images: IMDb the table such as teen
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TV culture oyed watching Television shows that totally lost the plot ot the happy endings they deserved TV Editor Kate Dunkerton discusses the hit shows that created more loose ends than they tied I Monday 9 March 2020
right. One of the best things about Nomi and Amanita is that as two of the main characters in the show, her focus is on her talent and determination rather than on the fact she is transgender. Their relationship is happy despite the danger Nomi faces with Amanita always by her side, always supporting her. Much like Gallavich, they get married in the final episode and Nomi’s parents (previously depicted as transphobic) finally call Nomi their daughter, not their son. Truth be told, this moment had me in tears. The acceptance from two of the most important people in Nomi’s life as she stands by the love of her life had me sobbing into multiple tissues. Sense8 gave us a main character who was both trans, in love with a woman and was happy. The couple were represented with respect, removing all the stereotypes associated with trans women and lesbians and despite the cancellation of the show, Sense8 will always remain one of the strongest representations of LGBTQ+ characters on TV. There’s so many more characters and couples I could have mentioned – Oliver and Connor from How To Get Away With Murder and the important representation of a gay man being HIV positive, Cosima and Delphine from Orphan Black, Eric as a proud, happy and flamboyant gay character in Sex Education. Let’s also not forget Magnus and Alec from Shadowhunters, another example of a stable, happy relationship that allows Alec to grow to love himself as a gay man and come out to a society that has traditionally been homophobic. The list is endless and I could go on forever. Television has come leaps and bounds in the recent years and I hope in the future, shows can continue to include LGBTQ+ characters that have depth and emotion and couples that can be happy and strong, accepting their queerness for who they truly are. Background: Wikimedia Commons
@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/TV
sn’t it great when you find a new show to obsess over? With interesting characters and compelling storylines that keep you coming back for more. Sometimes, producing original material becomes too much as fans demand more, making these once smash hits in television go downhill. An obvious one has got to be J.J. Abrams’ Lost, which completely lost the plot (pun intended). Starting off with a diverse group of survivors of an airplane crash, we watched the group work together to survive on an island that isn’t all that it seems. Laced with complex backstories, focusing on a specific character arc in each episode, the audience can understand their choices and what brought them on that fated flight. From the first episode, the series is filled with mystery as the survivors soon realise they aren’t alone.
J.J. Abrams is notorious for not fulfilling fan wishes
Lost was a show that kept you guessing…until season 4 that is. Suddenly the group were faced with bigger issues as they introduced the element of time travel. By the end, we didn’t get answers to ANY of our questions. Where did the polar bears come from? How did they start time travelling? Where did the “Others” come from? Were they dead the whole time? To this day fans still don’t understand the ending. His inability to wrap up storylines and fix plot holes has made J.J. Abrams notorious for not being able to fulfil fan wishes. Next up is True Blood. Alan Ball’s supernatural vampire show started off as a funny comedy-drama. It was campy in a good way, with the typical vampire-human romance plot which has never seemed to lose its appeal amongst audiences. Despite the annoying southern accents, True Blood had the classic whodunnit format and what set it apart was that the vampires were “out of the coffin” rather than being hidden from human knowledge, unlike many vampire-themed shows and films. The series lost its spark once the supernatural element when too far, specifically the faerie-human hybrid storyline and the introduction of the Vampire Authority. The storylines and the acting were laughable, as if the actors themselves knew the show was a lost cause. Even Alexander Skarsgard’s portrayal of iconic vampire Eric Northman couldn’t save this series. Despite a promising start, True Blood’s quality was tarnished after Ball stepped back
as showrunner, peaking too early as the show blagged its way through seven seasons.
The disappointment of the last six episodes was heartbreaking
It hurts me to include Game of Thrones on this list. Some argue that the show had dipped in quality during its seventh season, but Game of Thrones was groundbreaking television until its final season. After waiting two years since the cliff hanger that saw the white walkers destroy the wall and descend on Westeros, the disappointment that fans faced with the remaining six episodes was heart-breaking to say the least. Although never being a show to shy away from the unexpected, the ending was REALLY unexpected, leaving things unresolved. What was the Night King’s goal? What did he want with Bran? Why was he so interested in Jon Snow? Redemption arcs appeared to be done for nothing. Had there been another series, perhaps Daenerys Targaryan’s murder at the hands of Jon Snow would have felt more powerful. Instead, I felt nothing. After watching this character struggle for 8 seasons to reclaim what she thought was hers, only to have it all taken away within a matter of one episode. If we’d slowly seen her turn into a mad queen her death would have been more emotional and satisfactory. E v e n worse than Daenerys’ fate was that of Jon Snow, whose
entire arc was wasted. After so much mystery surrounding his true lineage, only for him not to take the throne and being exiled back to The Wall felt like a slap in the face. This was made even worse having the most useless character in season 8, Bran Stark, take the throne for himself. What started out as being some of the most exciting shows in TV either lost its way early on, meaning you could clock out while you were ahead, or took an unexpected turn for the worse too far in. No show is safe from losing the magic that made you love it in the first place.
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orror Story: Ryan Murphy's career in retrospect
ough a timeline of Ryan Murphy's best and worst work after the announcement of his new show, Hollywood, coming to Netflix soon pregnancy, sexuality and mental health which were still fairly taboo at Glee‘s peak of popularity. If that isn’t something to applaud (despite it’s execution) then personally I believe that more shows need to take one for the team and have a birth scene to a show choir version of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
Each season needs to quickly establish characters and plot
When American Horror Story came out, it took the world by storm in a similar fashion to Glee. Still, to this day, I see people wearing nOrMaL pEoPlE sCaRe mE jumpers with no shame (somehow). My issue with AHS is that although it has new plots every season, the flaw in this is that each season needs to quickly establish characters and summarise a plot, either leaving many questions left behind (AHS: Asylum, I’m looking at you) or bore you to tears because of a lazily written plot. At one point, I was utterly
hooked to this show, but Murphy has a habit of starting seasons strong and having interesting art concepts but then never going through with them. Plus, some questionable decisions along the way (like the internet’s fascination with Tate Langdon despite literally sexually assaulting Violet’s mum and being a mass murder, and generally an abusive piece of shit). Once again, Murphy’s characterisation was questionable like in Glee (let’s not get started on Will Schuester), but did raise awareness of mental health issues, so Murphy has certainly
had quite a controversial career. The newest release from Ryan Murphy, Netflix’s The Politician, has also not been without its scrutiny. I really enjoyed this one, despite my initial interest in the show stemming from my unconditional love for Ben Platt and Laura Dreyfuss. The plot of this one is also high school-related, but it’s about politics, queerness and a lot of societal issues, such as privilege and who has the right to exercise their voice and power more than others. Oh, and Ben Platt also has a few musi-
cal numbers added in there for your delight. However, it still has its issues: the most glaring being its romanticism of suicide. You’d think after shows like 13 Reasons Why people would learn to be more sensitive to these kinds of issues, but it’s still a decently put together show with interesting social commentary. However, despite these shows having their ups and their downs, it’s pretty unanimous that American Crime Story is great. It follows the similar trend of Hollywood and American Horror Story where each season has a different plot, but this time it just works. I’m not sure why, maybe because it doesn’t seem to pander to a teenage audience or the fact that Murphy is only an executive producer of this show, but it truly is stellar. Each season goes through major high-profile crime events in America, such as the OJ Simpson case and the assassination of Gianni Versace and each episode is tension-filled, beautifully shot and gripping. I cannot express enough how good this show is. Ryan Murphy has clearly had an expansive career over the years, and whilst his shows come with their fair share of controversy, when an idea is executed well it really pays off. Murphy’s shows display diversity and queer representation in many of them, just sometimes the shows don’t quite hit the note (sorry Glee). However, even when they aren’t at their best, they still spark important discussions about everyday issues, such as mental health, which may not have been provoked by a teen audience if Murphy’s work had not existed.
Catch Hollywood on Netflix 1 May
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culture film True History of the Kelly Gang (18)
the courier
c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Film Editors: Elisabetta Pulcini, Joe Holloran, Lucy Lillystone & Steven Ross
Monday 9 March 2020
The Invisible Man (15) Colour Out of Space (15)
Why Hollywood
TV editor and feminist Amy Brow
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very man should write his own history” proclaims Kelly (George MacKay), bare chested and wild-eyed. It is this sentiment that carries through the film, adapted from Peter Carey’s 2000 novel of the same name. Despite its title, True History of The Kelly Gang is not strictly biographical, but rather seeks to fictionalise the accounts of Kelly’s activities he left to his son in his diaries. What results is a postmodern examination of how legends are created. Was Ned Kelly the folk hero that exists in the Australian psyche, the Robin Hood of the outback? The audience are left to question this notion. Was he the brave Boy, tormented by his upbringing, as portrayed by Orlando Schwerdt? The cocky and fearless Man he grew to become? Or the manic Monitor, clad in iron armour? Outstanding performances by Schwerdt and MacKay leave all as a possibility. Was Kelly a man of the people, oppressed and driven to crime by the slimy British constables exemplified in Fitzpatrick (Nicholas Hoult), or was he the brutal murderer and thief they deemed him to be?
A provocative western with important ideas suited to our post-truth world
The themes of myth are continued in the not-tooaccurate soundtrack and costume design. Kelly and his gang are styled as pseudo-punks and rockers 100 years before their time, with leather jackets (and colourful ballgowns) and striking hairstyles contrasting against the clean cut but fascistic constabulary. The film also features music that evokes Iggy Pop and Nick Cave as much as the outfits, mimicking the rebellious spirit of such controversial figures, leading us to question if Kelly was possibly even cool. Where critics may possibly launch their attack is at the plot, which is somewhat incoherent, and focuses more on the creation of Ned Kelly, rather than the actions of the gang. However, this only serves to raise doubt about what is truth and what is Kelly’s own fiction. Kelly Gang then becomes a provocative western with important ideas suited to our post-truth world. Thomas Leach
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he Invisible Man (2020) redefines a life after abuse, and the intense paranoia that accompanies it. Elizabeth Moss, who has already demonstrated her emotional intensity in The Handmaid’s Tale, stars in this year’s reboot of The Invisible Man series (1933), which is based on the 1897 novel by H. G. Wells. However, the only connection between the two seems solely the presence of the titular invisible man, and the name ‘Griffin’. Instead, the story follows Cecilia Kass as she escapes an abusive relationship with wealthy scientist Adrian Griffin only to be haunted by the memory of him, and maybe something more? After Cecilia leaves Adrian, she takes refuge with her childhood friend, James (Aldis Hodge) and his teenage daughter Syd (Storm Reid). She begins to experience symptoms of anxiety, unable to leave the house to get the mail, jumping when someone knocks at the door, until she receives news that Adrian has committed suicide, leaving her $5 million. For a brief moment she feels free, yet it doesn’t last long, as Cecilia soon begins to experience strange goings on, portrayed with chilling camerawork and numb music, leaving her labelled as crazy by those around her. The film explores the isolation that one can feel when dealing with mental illness well, especially when the whole world doesn’t believe that your dead ex-boyfriend has found a way to become invisible and is stalking you. In the age of #MeToo, Leigh Whannell has created a new emancipatory tale using the character of the invisible man as a metaphor for the seemingly tangible baggage that an abusive relationship has, even after one has escaped from it. Despite its sometimes unrealistic behaviours from secondary characters and slightly irritating drilling in that Cecilia’s nickname is ‘C’, it is still an important film to watch, and is truly unnerving. Ruby Osborne
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ased upon the novel of iconic Cosmic Horror author H.P. Lovecraft’s novel, Colour Out of Space is a fantasy/sci-fi adaptation directed by Richard Stanley. The author and the genre combined with the director is a giveaway of the world the movie portrays, which is in every sense far from the usual mainstream horror flicks. If you magnify the amplitude of a familial life-threatening fear invoked by A Quiet Place by a thousand, you get Colour Out of Space which although is contained to a small part of Arkansas but much more concentrated in intensity. The film is audacious and unflinching in its grotesque graphic form, which spares no expense to make the audience squirm in its inflicted tension. Everything is going fine and dandy for the Gardner family until a meteor of unexplainably vivid unearthly colors drops in their front lawn. Like any ‘rational’ fictional character, Nathan, the patriarch of the family ignores the malfunctions caused by the mutation of every sentient thing around the place. This hypnotizing energy wave is present in the static, the atmosphere and through water, it contaminates Nathan’s family and everything around them. The visuals of the film are entrancing with the vibrant colour palette and cinematography of a cosmic Portugal snatching the breath away and then bringing it back to enliven the films’ malformed and monstrous bits. The screenplay tries to fit in absurd comedic bits every now and then, but the overwhelming tone of a lingering heterochromatic horror devours its effect by the time the dialogue ends. Nicholas Cage as Nathan is the riveting centre of the film, effortlessly switching from the role of a domestic and sentimental father whose frustrations burst forth, birthing an impetuous madman. However, the film’s ending abruptly dials down the pronounced extremes to a sudden zero, which leaves a permanent deficient void. Arnojya Shree
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he film industry has been male dominated since its inception, and after having no women directors nominated in the Oscars category this year (disappointed but not surprised), we have to start having these conversations. The basis is that there should be more exposure for women in film, even more so for women of colour. I look out for women directors because as a woman, I know for a fact their stories will be more realistic for me. The differences between the directing styles are obvious. Frequently, a lot of male directors are catering to their male viewership only, and the (almost always traditionally beautiful) women characters are one dimensional, with little to no development. It is almost always male directors that fall into stereotypes or borderline damaging tropes, often ones that are to serve the male characters only. An example is the makeover montage that we see often, where a girl only gets the guy after completely changing her physical appearance and/or adapting her personality (see Grease, The Princess Diaries, Never Been Kissed, She’s All That…). The presence of the male gaze is obvious; any female characters have to become the object of heterosexual male desire. And that’s not to say, as a female viewer, that I don’t enjoy these movies. A lot of classic rom-com/ coming-of-age teen movies include these tropes and we still appreciate them, but we should also be able to recognise the problematic nature behind them. These films support the idea that we shouldn’t actually be true to ourselves if we want to succeed. They continue to perpetuate wrong ideas to younger viewers and this isn’t what we should
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The evolution of th
Disney nerd Harriet Metcalfe highlights the drastic transfo
now White once sang ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’. But in 2020 – he doesn’t really have to. I think it’s a safe bet to say that the fair majority of us grew up with some part of Disney in our lives. But the ‘princess’ genre has come a long way since Snow White and Cinderella – and with the new live-action and colour-blind cast remake of The Little Mermaid (1989) due to be released at some point next year, it seems like the right time to step back and see just how far one of the most influential Disney ‘genres’ has come. Disney films are normally split up into about seven ‘eras’ based off of their release years. Most of the ‘classics’ are in the Golden and Silver age; Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Sleeping Beauty (1959)… you get the idea. But the issue with these eras is almost a complete lack of cultural diversity. To put it bluntly, these films are either about animals that can talk, white people, or the mouse himself. It wasn’t until the Renaissance era that Disney started to explore cultures other than its own American one; Aladdin (1992), Pocahontas (1995) and Mulan (1998)– these might have somewhat problematic themes watching them in 2020, but it was unarguably ground-breaking stuff that led to
image: Pixabay
films like The Princess and the Frog (2009) (in the revival era) – notably the first Disney movie to feature an African-American princess. Whilst it’s taken Disney far too long to represent different cultures and ethnicities in its princesses, 2016’s Moana was a total game-changer. Based on stories from Polynesian mythology – it didn’t see a girl trying to do the ‘right’ thing and end up falling in love (probably the most common plot line; Belle goes to rescue her father, ends up falling in love with the Beast, etc) – but rather a girl doing something almost everyone tells her she can’t, and succeeding at
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the courier
Monday 9 March 2020
@Courier_Film thecourieronline.co.uk/film
d needs more female directors
wn discusses how the male gaze distorts the portrayal of women be teaching them. Some of my favourite films of this genre happened to be directed by women, and it does make a difference. Edge of Seventeen (2016) directed by Kelly Fremon Craig is wholly underrated. Watching it in my teens and even now, it has been one of the most relatable films for me. There is no makeover, no over-sexualised outfits and it’s all pretty realistic. Another of my favourites is Lady Bird (2018), a movie that you can tell Greta Gerwig poured her heart into. These movies capture reality for women (albeit, white women, with exposure to films about women of colour rare, a whole other problem in itself). So what about other genres? This is where we get on to the brilliance that is Birds of Prey (direct-
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ed by Cathy Yan), Harley Quinn’s solo movie after Suicide Squad. I was beyond excited to watch Suicide Squad when it came out, and to see Margot Robbie portray Harley Quinn for the first time. But as we all know, it didn’t exactly impress, though Robbie was one of its redeeming qualities. That being said, the presence of a male director has never been more obvious. As a woman watching Suicide Squad, none of it felt right. The camera angles were too close, the costumes were questionable, and that scene where Harley Quinn undresses in front of a group of men? The male gaze isn’t even a theory here. It’s happening. Her main outfit is still a point of question. It’s cute and has a nice aesthetic, but it also looks majorly uncomfortable. Also, although this isn’t essential, it’s not in keeping with fashion trends. Low-waisted shorts? Harley Quinn would never. Obviously, they’re trying to bring Harley to life from the comics (which also frequently sexualise women) but the costumes in Birds Of Prey demonstrates how that can be done without it being overly sexualised. Harley Quinn turns some looks in the new movie, every outfit uniquely Harley, like she’s actually picked it out herself. And the kicker was that there was a lot of critique online that viewers didn’t like Birds Of Prey because Harley and the other women weren’t ‘sexy enough’. This was also an issue with Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman. (see that ‘What? No smile?’ scene in Captain Marvel). I absolutely adored the costumes in Birds Of Prey and thought Harley and her gang looked beautiful (see those high-waisted shorts!) but certain people had an issue because they weren’t sexualised; the male gaze wasn’t hovering over the entire movie. It was more grounded, and even had a moment where Harley gave Black Canary a hair tie during a fight scene. Only other women would think to include that. The problem is that certain viewers have come to expect women to be sexy. And hey, sexy is great! Women should have total control and freedom over what they do with their bodies, but it becomes a problem when it’s only catering to the male gaze; objectifying instead of empowering. This needs to change; it’s 2020.
he Disney princess
ormation Disney princesses have undergone since 1937 it. Even the soundtrack was a refreshing step away from Disney’s traditional love songs; written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (who certainly wouldn’t throw away this shot), Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i, there are lyrics in English, Tokelauaun, Tuvaluan (both Polynesian languages) and Samoan (language of the Samoan Islands). The next in line for Disney’s live-action remake machine is The Little Mermaid (directed by Rob Marshall) and is probably one of their biggest steps in the evolution and diversity of princesses, with the
film having a colour-blind cast. Halle Bailey (A Wrinkle in Time) is taking the role of Ariel, with Jonah Hauer-King (A Dog’s Way Home) as Prince Eric and Daveed Diggs (of Hamilton fame) voicing Sebastian. Some internet trolls, however, decided to complain that she doesn’t look like Disney’s original version of Ariel, who is drawn as white. She’s also a mermaid – but funnily enough the trolls weren’t bothered about that. Whilst many people see Disney’s remaking process as another way to get us to dish out more money to the mouse (and last years’ remake of The Lion King was definitely just that), this one is pretty important. As Bailey told Variety, “this role was something bigger than me, and greater, and it’s going to be beautiful and I’m just so excited to be a part of it”. She recognises the importance of this representation on screen, especially for younger audiences, as one of the most popular Disney princesses. I can only hope that it doesn’t go Under the Sea and becomes Part of your World… I’m sorry. Disney princesses have definitely evolved for the better. As someone whose grown up with the ‘classic’ storyline of a prince always coming to the rescue – it’s refreshing to see so many strong, independent princesses on the big screen. It’s almost looking like a Whole New World.
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filmculture
Masterful marketing Laramie Hevland looks back at the most artistic posters
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hile movie posters are often dismissed as mere marketing tools, the truth is that a well designed poster is a work of art in and of itself. From Gone With the Wind (1939), to Scarface (1983), to Jaws (1975)and Star Wars (1977), the posters for many classic films are just as enduring and iconic as the movies themselves. However for more recent films, no matter how popular and well-regarded, this element seems to be missing. In a culture dominated by advertising and promotion, how is it that so little focus is put into a key part of films marketing campaigns? In trying to explain this phenomenon, some commonly cited factors are the forced inclusion of billing blocks (the large block of credits which appear at the bottom of posters), as well as contract stipulations which dictate that actors names must appear in a specific order and font size. When such a large portion of the layout is dictated by these regulations, artists are severely limited in their layout and design choices. This can also go some way to explain the relative uniformity of modern movie posters, regardless of the films genre or target audience. Others believe that the main cause is the increased focus on star power in promoting films. As a result of this tactic, the majority of movie posters in the current day are glorified cast photos, in contrast with the more artistic and symbolic style of many iconic movies. Perhaps the most glaring example of this are the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; whose posters without exception feature photos of the titular characters, and all have a strikingly similar colour scheme regardless of the tone and characters of the specific film in question. While Marvel have produced many of the most profitable and widely viewed films of the 21st century, it’s safe to say that the accompanying imagery won’t be nearly as fondly remembered as the blockbusters of years past. Furthermore, the changing landscape of advertising has led many studios to treat posters as an afterthought in their promotional campaigns. As digital screens replace traditional billboards, we also see trailers and movie clips replacing static advertisements. With this shift in focus towards digital media, it's easy to conclude to see that many studios and executives simply don't care about the quality and originality of movie posters, or at least don’t value its importance. While all this has led some to conclude that movie posters are a lost art, there may yet be hope for the medium. A quick Google search will reveal dozens, if not hundreds, of stunningly creative well designed fan-made posters for films released in the past few years. If studio’s take notice of these talented creators and the responses their work receives, that might be enough to encourage them to invest time and attention into poster design again, and we could see a return to form in the coming years.
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culture arts
c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Arts Editors Caitlin Rawlings, Charlotte Slinger & Lauren Sneath
the courier
Monday 9 March 2020
Writing OCD: a Ladybones interview Sophia Kypriotis interviews the creator of the one-woman show to uncover the many home-truths Ladybones has to offer
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he one hour, one-woman show Ladybones has taken its audience by storm with its hard-hitting yet accessible foray into the reality of living with OCD. Sophia Kypriotis had the pleasure of interviewing Sorcha McCaffery for the Arts section:
Where did the first idea for Ladybones come from? I think if I’d seen a play or a film or something about OCD when I was really struggling I would have felt less alone. I wrote Ladybones because I wanted to show what OCD is truthfully like, as it’s such a misunderstood condition. It was also important to me to make the character more than just her condition. Sometimes the focus on mental illness can be about the difficulties, and I wanted this play to be about hope for recovery too.
The audience participation was really effective; when did you decide you wanted them to be involved? As we developed the show I wanted to find a way for the audience to experience the story along with Nuala, the main character, rather than just being an onlooker. We found that by giving the audience a way of choosing whether or not to take part in this interaction by giving them a sticker put people at ease - some people love audience interaction and some people really don't so this was a way for us to invite people to watch the show in a way that works for them. It’s also been exciting for me as a performer as the interactive element makes it different every night and keeps me on my toes! I thought the girl’s remains being that of a witch was very apt; what did you want to convey to the audience through this being the case? The girl from the past being labelled as a witch kind of parallels the main character Nuala feeling like an outsider in the present. They are both young women who are seen as different for reasons outside of their control. I’m intrigued by the history of witchcraft and the idea of labelling women witches as a way of oppressing them, and I think we still sometimes see mental illness as something
to be separated from ‘normal’ society. Nuala connects with the girl she discovers because they have both experienced isolation and feeling like they don’t belong.
patriarchy folks.)
In the performance I saw, an audience member called Dave gave a very funny portrayal of Nuala’s therapist Julia. What has been one of the strangest audience interactions? Shout out to Dave! We’ve had some cracking interactive moments. There was a great moment in Edinburgh where the audience person being Julia reached out to hand me a can of Coke, lost their balance and tumbled three rows of seats (the audience managed to catch them before they fell onto the stage). It was also through a bit of audience interaction that I learned that Newcastle slang for having sex is ‘bumping uglies’. Glorious. The audience interaction has also been a lovely chance to see people’s genuine kindness and empathy.
How much do you think Nuala reflects you? Nuala definitely reflects me, but she’s maybe a version of me based on a specific time in my life. I wanted her to be both caught in this struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and also a fully formed person with a vocation and complex relationships with people. She is self-assured but also trying to discover who she is in this tangle of mental illness. (Also a fun substitute for ‘losing your virginity’ is ‘making your sexual debut’. Smash the Instagram @ladybonesplay
What did you want to achieve through using comedy to portray mental illness and OCD? I think a lot of the time creative work that deals with mental ill health is about the darkness and the struggle of it. This is really valid but I also think it’s important to show that people living with OCD or other mental health conditions also have moments of lightness and that there is hope. I think you can gently bring people into a story with humour and then they are maybe more open to dealing with the tricky stuff because they feel they are in safer hands. I also wanted Ladybones to be an entertaining hour that explores the realities of OCD in a genuine way, and comedy is a way of connecting with people. I understand you didn’t realise that you had OCD until you were 21. How did being diagnosed help you to better understand yourself? Yeah, I’ve had OCD since I was tiny, but wasn't diagnosed until I was 20. Sometimes labels and diagnoses can be difficult but for me know-
ing that what I was dealing with was an actual condition rather than something being wrong with who I was gave me hope. When I was growing up I couldn't tell anyone about my terrifying thoughts and the compulsions that went with them because I thought everyone would ostracise me. Knowing that it was a mental health condition made it less of a frightening secret, and I discovered that recovery is possible and that I wasn't alone. How important was it for Nuala to be a queer character? I think representation is really important and as a queer woman I didn't really see stories like mine when I was growing up so I wanted that to be an element of who Nuala is without it being the struggle or the focus of the play. I’m really glad people’s attitudes to queer folk are shifting but there is still a lot of intolerance towards LGBTQ+ people. I think the more stories we see on stage that show different queer and intersectional experiences, the better.
It is fantastic that the play is partnered with the charity OCD UK. How did that come about? OCD-UK are a brilliant charity who supported me when I was really ill. They are a great resource for help and information, and I chatted to them about making the show and was delighted that they were keen to be involved. It felt important to be able to direct people who came to the show towards support, and I also wanted to represent OCD properly. I’ve had lots of conversations with people who’ve said that this show is the first time they’ve seen their own experience reflected on stage, which is so heartening.
An arty homage to blue-collar workers
Rashida Campbell-Allen discusses Mario Moore's work 'The Work of Several Lifetimes'
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s the notion in the modern art world that workingclass people of colour can only be created and depicted by artists of colour? Arguably, yes. Artist Mario Moore, a Yale graduate and recipient of The Hodder Fellowship in 2018-2019, has drawn on his own stories, experiences and environments within the university to depict those African-American blue-collar workers that are often overlooked and not illuminated in portrait form, and thus rendered invisible in both everyday life and the art world. “The Work of Several Lifetimes” is the exhibition of Moore’s work consisting of several portraits of blue-collar workers, such as security guards, dining staff and grounds people, depicting a mixture of black men and women. Princeton often has corridors and spaces of grandeur lined with portraits of the wealthy founders, prominent alumni and presidents, yet what Moore’s work draws attention to is how these blue-collar workers are the ones who create and maintain the very foundation upon which such success and value emerges from. By creating portraiture of these workers it is not only a display of respect and acknowledgement, but also power. It is a beautiful way to recognise the subjects’ occupation within a space like Princeton University which is stereo-typically white-dominated. Portraiture, in my opinion, is the practice of representation. A way to
give life, visibility and stories to everyday individuals. Although historically, portraits were reserved for the elite as markers of wealth, marriage and legacy, today they can be used to shine light over any individual with empowering results.
Moore's art is a demonstration of the class and racial oriented realities of not just Princeton, but the art world itself
Drawing back on the notion of race, Moore’s work is particularly necessary and poignant given the racial tensions that somehow continue to exist, particularly in America. Equality can be depicted and suggested through art, especially through portraiture, by having laypeople of colour demanding and commanding an entire space: a canvas. I would even go as far as to say (although possibly a slightly abstract thought) that the canvas of these portraits could be seen as a social microcosm of possibility, progress and equality. Mario Moore depicts the subjects in both their workplaces and leisurely spaces which speaks to the rich and meaningful personal lives they lead beyond the physical space of the university. The very nature of this artwork collection is intersectionality; Moore's art is a demonstration of the class and racial-oriented realities of not just Princeton University, but the art world itself. How often do we see portraits of blue-collar, working class people of colour in portraiture? Is this a direct call to engage and inspire more black artists to depict their realities and interactions with these workers, or does it fall on the responsibility of all artists, regardless of ethnicity or class? Art is visual storytelling, and in the words of Mario Moore, “When it comes to art, whoever tells their story has the power. I just like telling history". Image: Instagram @mariomooreart
Instagram @mariomooreart
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arts culture
The Vivienne slays the Students' Union
Catherine Entwistle reviews the performance of drag superstar The Vivienne at the Students’ Union
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n Monday, I went to my first drag show and I loved it. A night full of glitz, glamour, makeup, comedy, song and dance, I was blown away by how talented the drag queens were. The night consisted of three drag acts and the final act was The Vivienne, the winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK 2019.
We were often the butt of many of their jokes but this added to the hilarity of the night
Instagram @TheVivienne_
The first queen, Gladys Duffy, was a drag queen local to Newcastle, and she was excellent at getting the evening started with her sharp wit and hilarious singing/dancing acts. Standing in the front row, we were often the butt of many of their jokes but this added to the hilarity of the night. The second act, Novympia, was a Youtube-famous duo that mainly performed covers of songs but they were equally as great and just demonstrated the diversity in the drag world. Finally, The Vivienne ended the night with her one-hour set of singing, dancing and drinking. Having never been to a drag show before, I didn’t really know what to expect, but their talent genuinely blew me away. All the drag queen’s hair and makeup was unbelievably good and all of them made very convincing women. From lashes to nails, they had it all. You end up forgetting or not believing that it is in fact a man dressed up as a woman, so every act is totally mesmerising. As the winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK, The Vivienne is the Kim K
of the drag world, so to see her at Newcastle University Student’s Union was a fairly surreal experience. She made it look so easy and seemed so natural on stage. Her imitations of Donald Trump and Kim Woodburn were uncanny, and it really felt like they were on stage at times. She also sung covers of Cher, Lady Gaga and Boy George and her voice was faultless. Her ability to wear a body suit, 6-inch heels and full-length sequin gown whilst performing on stage only added to our
amazement. It was a great example of cultural diversity and gave me a wider appreciation of alternative entertainment. I would definitely recommend drag shows to anyone who is keen for a light-hearted evening of fun. This was my first drag show but having enjoyed it as much as I did, it certainly won’t be my last!
Making architecture great again Trump's latest endeavour to bastardise American culture, as explained by Jude Mockridge
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n unapologetically self-promoting megalomaniac employs a collective fascination with the imperial allure of classical architecture and a talented designer to realize his dreams of imposing aestheticism and vulgar uniformity." That was my summary of Albert Speer’s Inside the Third Reich, an insightful yet unreliable account of one of Hitler’s pet talents, supposedly owning his undeniable skill to some perceived sense of inherent ‘Germanism’, where architectural nuance is owed to some theoretical inheritance of German “values”, brick upon brick reflecting the superior finesse and panache of its people, mortar joining these into a grand cement monument to panAryan solidarity. From this pompous, self-important and delusional hobby, it is unsurprisingly easy to segue to our more recent mascot for political polarisation: Donald Trump.
Interestingly, there have already been federal statutes on architecture. In 1962, “guiding principles' ' on federal building endorsed the existing classical styles, yet in respect of the bastardly, melting pot nature of cultural currents, specifed there should be no over-arching philosophy. Instead, art should progress in its natural form and the government will reflect that. This is what separates the naturally liberal nature of architecture from authoritarian fancy, and neoclassicism as an independent discipline from the grimly homogenous direction in which it has previously been shoved. Our beloved strongmen often wedge supposed inspirations drawn from virtues they have supposedly ‘revived’ or ‘reinvented’ over physical inspiration from an existing school. Mussolini’s Modernist Casa del Fascio, built under the enlightenment signalling brand of “rationalism” features square floors of identical rooms, which extend
three-dimensionally to break every conception of structural parameters with the “cube”. The foundations of floor and wall extend outside the main front to indicate that, yes, this is a building, and not just a big Nazi jack-ina-box. But Mussolini was consistent, and Donald’s hazy eyed reflections on architecture reflect the new, right wing side in the Trump confessed “culture war”. Pat Buchanan, 1991 presidential candidate and “Trump before Trump” had pornography, gay marriage and other old testament pet peeves in his sight, but Trumps cosmopolitan genesis makes this too narrow to be the case. Instead, Trump leads a grieving white working class, threatened by the progressive nature of both scientific and social advancement. In this cultural clash they hate the new, but seem to be hastily pick-and-mixing elements of the old, both fictional and factual, with the general theme of conservatism, pomp and testosterone.
This one plays like a Stalinist iteration of The Sims
It is not the strangest transgression in thought, considering that his recent foray into architectural fingerwagging, (he easily could have been an architect, you know) is a new theatre for his fun game playing at being “President” (name change imminent - not beautiful enough). This one plays like a Stalinist iteration of The Sims, kicked off by the draft presidential bill, “Make federal buildings beautiful again”. In the Operation Barbarossa of his culture war, he posits new styles are incapable of representing America’s “national values' ', particularly those of the founding fathers. At face value, the similarities between the emerging American republic and romanticized classical virtues may be deceptively similar. Liberty, rationality, a strong judiciary, the slaves... the list goes on. Nevertheless, the employment of neo-classicism did not diverge from contemporary trends in urbanity. Neo-classical buildings are interpolated across European streets: the National Theatre in London, fittingly so considering its renaissance focus, and The Louvre, similarly apt in its marriage of appearance with purpose and context.
Instagram @TheVivienne_
Poem Box Polyethylene Fish for Supper The sea Foam like a bubble bath Vehemence like my late-grandmother’s Crashing and swirling Swirling and crashing A mesmerising blur of blues, blacks and greens The sun A veil of gold leaf on its quaking surface A non-existent road to some place new The beach Fine yellow-white sand between your toes And rocks bigger than your thighs Tiny little shells Crushed beneath your feet The plastic Like tiny floating jewels Choking birds Who swoop down To catch the pieces between their beaks Like jellyfish and mussels Choking turtles Choking you Stomachs twisted Organs bursting Oceans drowning Polyethylene fish for supper? Rachel Makinson
Image: Flickr.com
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culture gaming
Monday 9 March 2020
courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Gaming Editors Alex Darbyshire, George Boatfield, James Troughton & Shawn Khoo
Eli Roth to direct Borderlands movie
The Mad Max-inspired shooter returns to its big screen roots as Peter Lennon deliberates how crazy this adaptation might get
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f you haven’t already put the pieces together, Hollywood is gearing up for a comeback of the video game movie, despite the sub-genre’s long history of commercial and critical disappointment. The latest in this line, however, is a bit of an odd one with Eli Roth – director of “torture porn” films Hostel (2003) and Knock Knock (2015) – taking on a Borderlands film for Lionsgate. Borderlands has been a fan-favourite video game series since its debut in 2009 and has since spanned two more sequels (and a “pre-sequel”), with the release of Borderlands 3 last year seeing sales of five million copies in its first five days of release. The series has been renowned for its cartoonish, but violent, art-style, as well as its blending of first-person shooter and randomised treasure-hunting mechanics. The film adaptation has been in development at Lionsgate since 2015, going through various screenplay treatments. The current draft is reported to be from Craig Mazin, writer of the critically acclaimed mini-series Chernobyl (2019), in addition to his work on and the cult horror-comedy film series, Scary Movie (2000-2013). Like Roth’s involvement, the hiring of Mazin might seem like a strange choice at first, but there may be some order to this chaotic marriage. Both director and writer have had what one could call a “mixed” career, with Roth having directed the PG-13 The House with a Clock in its Walls (2018). But their variety of R-rated horror and children’s film, drama and spoofs, could be the formula to success if they are able to find a balance. Borderlands “borders” between the violent and the comedic, so this adaptation should lie somewhere in the middle of the creative team’s prior projects.
Hype is a powerful tool for developers, but it's always a balancing act
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and (to some extent) critical success of Sonic the Hedgehog (2020). Still though, the video game film is not a donedeal and Sonic has been the exception rather than the rule. Before Borderlands hits the screen, Warner Bros. will be releasing a new Mortal Kombat in January 2021 which, naturally to the game series, is looking to be R-rated itself. It’ll be interesting to see if Kombat’s success as an R-rated video game film will have any bearing on Borderlands’ final theatrical cut. In the meantime, we’ll just have to sit back and wait for this new era to wash over us.
Rotten Tomatoes score of Eli Roth's 2006 slasher film Hostel
Memory Card Hotline Miami
With his sadism questioned, Muslim Taseer recalls game sessions filled with wanton violence
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Seeming a strange choice at first, there may be some order to this chaotic marriage
Roth’s involvement, however, suggests that this project will be designed around an R rating, whether or not it is actually suitable for this IP. During the recent Gearbox PAX East panel, Roth briefly took to the stage, stating that he wished to honour the community by casting cosplayers to kill off in brutal and Borderlands-esque fashion. Essentially, Roth seems to be taking the same
Image: IGDB
o you like hurting other people? In one of the most important moments in Hotline Miami’s short yet packed narrative, a representation of inner consciousness donning a rooster mask asks our nameless protagonist this question. You kind of have to like hurting other people to enjoy Hotline Miami, or at least enjoy tearing apart little pixel sprites representing Russian mobsters - it’s practically all you do in this game, over and over again. To clarify, this is what you do: You break into a building, smash a few guys in the face, and immediately get killed. You restart, break in again, s m a s h some more faces, pick up a gun, and get shot again. You restart again and again until you’ve made it through the level and then you do it all over again. Image: IGDB Unsurprisingly, Hotline
approach to the project as James Gunn has done with The Suicide Squad (2021), casting cult celebrities as C-list villains to axe-off. With this in mind, Lionsgate might be able to carve a nice piece of the video game film adaptation cake, which has recently been made all the sweeter with the financial
Miami is an absolute masterpiece. Released in 2012 by indie studio Dennaton Games and published by Devolver Digital, it was critically acclaimed on release and has since developed a cult following. It’s easy to see why - it’s an amazing game in almost every way, maintaining a level of adrenaline-pumping exhilaration throughout a playthrough. The soundtrack acts as the perfect pairing to this, so much so that I'd say it is actually a part of the gameplay. Aesthetics-wise, the look of the game is simply superb. Heavily influenced by Nicolas Winding Refn's 2011 film Drive, which was also partly responsible for the rise of the outrun aesthetic and synthwave genre seen in the 2010s.
Image: Twitter (@Kristige)
'NintendoPlaystation
After a record-breaking auction, Ale
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he Nintendo Playstation prototype console has sold for $300,000 in Heritage Auctions, not including a buyers premium of £60,000. The biddings began on 14 February closed on 6 March. The Super NES CD-ROM system or SNES-CD was the beginning and the end of the brief joint-venture between Nintendo and Sony in 1991. Only 200 consoles were made, but the project never got to the distribution stage, and 199 of the consoles were allegedly destroyed, along with the company’s business relationship. Terry Diebold, the current owner of the console got the prototype form an Advanta sale of goods, an American banking company on the brink of bankruptcy. Supposedly, the console would have ended there after the former CEO of Sony left the company and went into the banking industry.
The Tarantino-esque violence of Hotline Miami makes it a memorable bloodbath
The Quentin Tarantino-esque hyper-violence of Hotline Miami makes it a bloodbath that’s hard to forget. The game still has an active fanbase a whole eight years after release and five years after its sequel, which is another impressive game. If you haven’t played this game yet I suggest you pick it up today, it’s only £6.99 on Steam and definitely worth a play. Image: IGDB
Images: YouTube (element14 presents) & flickr
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Monday 9 March 2020
@Courier_Gaming thecourieronline.co.uk/gaming
ESL flying high
Rashida CampbellAllen dives into her Jack Wallace-Hunter reports childhood to reflect on this anti-toxicity campaign on this underrated ince 2000, the Electronic Sports League (ESL) has PlayStation 2 dreamscape provided a platform for Esports through event
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management and advertisement. In its latest move, the ESL has partnered with the US Air Force for the Intel Extreme Masters North America 2020 and the ESL Pro League Season 11. This partnership will also involve AnyKey, which, as described on their website, is “an advocacy group that supports diversity, inclusion, and equity in competitive gaming.” This move is described by the vice president of brand partnerships, Paul Brewer, as a means “to fight toxicity in gaming and to drive awareness of diversity and inclusion in Esports.”
The US Air Force will also operate on-site content at the events
The issue of toxicity has been a major issue within the pro-gaming industry. In an interview by Jordan Forward with the Rainbow Six Siege esports director, Wei Yue, the latter acknowledges that “toxicity is something that’s in every single game out there – even the most casual game on your phone”. It is statements such as these that have led to the ESL’s move in tackling the issue.
2000
The year the Electronic Sports League launched its pro-gaming circuit
As well as this, the US Air Force will also operate on-site content and be a part of the livestreams at these events. Timeouts within the ESL Pro League and IEM are also being branded as ‘Air Force Tactical Timeouts’. Maj. Ross McKnight, Chief of Air Force National Events Branch said, “This partnership provides the perfect platform to generate public awareness about the Air Force and the many opportunities we have to serve.The Air Force has a lot in common with gamers, especially the intellectual challenge that both provide.” However, this decision has come with controversy, as some gamers are pointing out the potentially harmful recruitment tactics that are being adopted by the US Air Force. Esports fans were quick to point out that many audience members are young, suggesting that this latest move may create a biased and skewed perception of the military, hindering recruitment based on careful consideration. Despite this, others are claiming that this is a great initiative to help boost gamers’ career options.
n'underthehammer
ex Gervás details the biggest bidders But Diebold has already declined a $1.2 million offer from an unknown European party; this is the first time the console has gone into auctioning. Diebold explained through Twitter: “I’ve put a lot of work into this by travelling with it and we have made nothing on it. Every trip that we... have taken with it has cost us money out of pocket.” The console was tested with Mortal Kombat and Heritage Auctions reported that it works perfectly. While no games were specially made for it, the console supports Super Nintendo cartridges. Engadget reported: “The current high bid for this retro prototype at auction is $300,000 (plus a buyer's premium of $60,000).” This quantity makes the Nintendo Playstation the most expensive video game item to ever be sold. As of right now, the main bidder is Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus VR. After selling his company to Facebook for $3 billion and being kicked out for supporting Trump, Luckey has stated that he is “on a quest to digitise and preserve the history of physical video games.”
gaming culture
Memory Card Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams
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hat do we get when we cross the summer holiday of 2008, a PlayStation 2 and a very questionable farcical dream with a sprinkling of juju...Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams! Honestly, this has to be one of my fondest childhood gaming memories, thus it is only right to sing its praises. Released on GameCube and PlayStation 2 by Avalanche Software in the UK in 2005, it received pretty positive reviews with IGN giving the game a score of 8.4 and Metacritics's user score standing at a solid 8.8. Despite its critical success, it seems only my siblings and I knew of its very existence. Perhaps the fact that it probably could have only been found in the deep depths of Blockbuster's shelves speaks to the overall poor and rather underwhelming marketing of this game. As the sequel and successor to the first game Tak and the Power of Juju, Tak 2 is more than just a game. If anything, it could be likened to one of Aesop's fables where we come to learn the importance of perseverance, tactical thinking and resourcefulness. Like an unorthodox fairy tale, Tak's goal is to defeat the Dream Guardian and save the perplexed princess stuck in the tower of Dreamworld. The nostalgic and novel aesthetic of this game must be applauded, with its avant-garde and twisted art style creating a truly unique experience - an aspect reinforced by numerous wellconstructed CG movies that flesh out background stories between each level.
Tak 2 has an avantgarde and twisted art style creating a truly unique experience
As we delve through the various dimensions of Dreamworld in which Tak is unknowingly trapped, we have the opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery of tropical nature, mountainous skylines and even volcanic
terrains. Despite his good friends Jibolba and Lok attempting to awaken Tak from his deep dreams, Tak seems to really command the space - some would even argue he appears to be in his element given his skillful handling of the Staff of Dreams. Yet what I recall more than anything is his incredibly poor performance in the face of water - Wetstone Lake. Boy, do I lament the hours my siblings and I relentlessly spent trying to keep Tak afloat in a barrel-turned-raft alongside accomplice Jibolba, as they battled against harsh river currents of Bedlam Falls. But nothing was too much for Tak. He draws on his innate resourcefulness and learns several skills such as the ability to swing between trees and earns Juju powers, yet surprisingly never quite seems to nail the ability to swim. Ultimately, this game will forever live on in my memories and I shall be continuing to pass its underrated legacy on to future generations. Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams can probably only be found on sites like eBay or Amazon today, but if you have a functioning PlayStation 2 or GameCube I would recommend the investment if you are looking for a distraction from university or adulting responsibilities.
Image: Wikipedia
GDC postponed due to coronavirus scare As even more c oronavirus woes cripple the GDC, Monika Song weighs in
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he Game Developers Conference (GDC) in March has been postpsoned due to growing coronavirus concerns. On 28 February, organisers of the GDC announced the postponement of the March conference until further notice. Prior to this, a large number of companies, including Blizzard, Sony, Microsoft and Facebook Technologies, haved already withdrawn their attendance due to health and safety concerns amidst the outbreak. Microsoft announced their withdrawal a day before the GDC was cancelled with the following statement: “The health and safety of players, developers, employees, and our partners around the world is our top priority. Especially as the world is experiencing growing public health risks associated with coronavirus (COVID-19).” The organisers of the GDC had originally decided to move forward with the annual event in March according to a statement given to The Verge on 25 February 25. However, the company announced its intentions to postpone three days later, shortly after a coronavirus case with unknown origin was confirmed in California, the US state where the event was to be held. The postponement of the GDC is not the only tech
Valve is the latest company to report virus-related shortages
industry event that has been called off in 2020 with the Mobile World Congress, Facebook’s F8 developer’s conference and the PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds event also being cancelled due to concerns over the virus.
Not only are large scale events being affected but also there have also been reports of a supply companies, with reports of shortages. With China being the leading manufacturer in the video game industry, many companies have stated that they are facing repercussions in their production processes. Valve is the latest business to claim a shortage, with their VR headset, the aptly named Valve Index, suffering production issues. Facebook had also announced limited availability of its own VR product, the Oculus Quest.
1988
The year of the first Game Developers Conference (GDC)
So far, there have been 39 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom. The countries outside China that are affected the most by the COVID-19 are South Korea, Iran, and Italy.
@culture_courier @thecourieronline
Image: IGDB
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the courier
culture science Blue whales numbers surge in the face of adversity Kristina Flexman discusses whether there is still hope in saving some of the world's rarest animals that have been endangered W c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Science Editors Eleanor Gratton, Patrick Harland & Seshadhri Subramanian
hilst conservation scientists often highlight the environmental damage caused by humankind, they also celebrate nature’s victories which remind us that nature is resilient. One such victory is reported by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), who led a 23 day expedition in South Georgia Island which, due to hunting, has been barren of blue whales for decades. During the survey, they recorded an “astonishing” 55 Antarctic blue whales, a far higher number than they predicted.
The current day whale population is estimated between 5,000 and 15,000
Even blue whales, the largest mammals on the planet, have not evaded human impact. South Georgia Island used to be an epicentre for whale hunting. The International Whaling Commission estimates that between 1866 and 1978, over 380,000 blue whales were hunted by humans, leaving the current day population estimates between 5,000 and 15,000. More specifically, the Antarctic subspecies population is about 3,000 individuals. On the upside however, no whale hunting has been re-
corded since 1978, after global agreement to an international ban in 1965. Whilst the BAS survey is only a small piece of evidence, extensive studies published by Doctor Trevor Branch, and colleagues, confidently show Antarctic blue whale population increase by 4 – 9%.
Monday 9 March 2020
The cetacean specialist commented on the recent sightings by BAS, saying that it is “truly, truly amazing” and that “in a period of 40 or 50 years, I only had records for two sightings of blue whales around South Georgia. Since 2007, there have been maybe a couple more isolated sightings. So to go from basically nothing to 55 in one year is astonishing”. Antarctic blue whales are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, but their future is optimistic, and could result in a prime example of how international governance can successfully protect nature and even reverse the damage caused by humans.
1978
The last year when there was an incident of whale hunting
Images: Wikipedia
Civilians are blasting off to SpaceX Dementia diagnosed early using PET George Boatfield reports the newest way to get to outer space Louise Elliott on latest discoveries to catch the disease early erospace company SpaceX has announced the cost of space travel, a ticket for this mission could still
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plans to send four members of the public into space, but it doesn’t quite look like Student Finance England is generous enough to cover it. The company will allow the Earth’s richest to buy seats aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft which will be sent into space by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket – the same method that will be used to transport US astronauts to the International Space Station. However, civilians won’t visit the ISS or anywhere else for that matter. Instead, they will be treated to a journey orbiting above Earth – higher than the ISS – before dropping back down to the planet. The Wombats must be jealous. While SpaceX’s biggest innovation so far has come in the form of reusable rockets that dramatically decrease
Image: Pixabay
cost tens of millions of dollars. A ballpark can be found from the $52 million per person deal that SpaceX had with Bigelow Aerospace last year, though this was to fly individuals directly to the ISS. But for now, uncertainty continues to surround the actual cost of the journey. Further uncertainty is added into the mix thanks to departure date: while SpaceX plans to launch its first NASA astronauts between April and June of this year, the launch for paying customers is tentatively set at the end of 2021. If the timekeeping of owner Elon Musk’s automotive company Tesla is anything to go by, this likely could extend even further into the future. Space Adventures, the booking agent that has partnered with SpaceX, has stated that the trip will last for five days once underway. SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell in a statement that “[t]his historic mission will forge a path to making spaceflight possible for all people who dream of it, and we are pleased to work with the Space Adventures’ team on the mission”. The fortunate few who reserve places on this journey will reach the highest altitude ever achieved by a private citizen. Accompanying this will be a far more expansive view of Earth than what’s been on offer with the near-orbit trips to the likes of the ISS in recent years. If the mission goes to plan, they will have a view of Earth not seen by astronauts in decades. Sharing the statement with Shotwell, Eric Anderson, chairman of Space Adventures, said that “[h]onoring our combined histories, this Dragon mission will be a special experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity – capable of reaching twice the altitude of any prior civilian astronaut mission or space station visitor”. This commercial project clearly puts SpaceX in direct competition with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and even NASA. And while Elon Musk continues to delve into controversy, not least due to the increasinglycontested idea of billionaires, this is a clear next step in his ambitions for a brighter, better, more optimistic future, whether that is in pursuit of profit or not.
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ementia is a neurodegenerative syndrome cases the fluorodeoxyglucose ‘marker’ can be utilised to caused by a number of diseases such as Alz- assess the patient. heimer’s disease. Current research suggests that the disease begins years before symptoms may PET scanning detects appear. This makes early diagnosis critical for management of symptoms and whether the patient could metabolic changes benefit from any current or future clinical trials. PET in the body by scanning, or positron emission tomography, has shown potential for diagnosing patients with demenmeasuring gamma tia, which is currently challenging. rays PET scanning is a medical imaging instrument that is able to detect metabolic changes in the body. It works by detecting gamma rays that are given off by a radioactive Our understanding of the types of dementia is advancmolecule or substance which the patient will have been ing and with it comes new treatment opportunities. given. Dependent on what the scan is for, you can get dif- However, in the majority of dementia the disease process ferent tracer molecules to detect different metabolic pro- has been happening for many years before patients may cesses. The most common, typically used for cancers, is even notice they have anything wrong. This is a huge fluorodeoxyglucose because it monitors glucose obstacle for drug development, as reuptake which is altered in cancers. versing severe brain damage, not Many patients living with dementia resulting from dementia, is may not have a diagnosis due to the extremely difficult, rarely variety and severity of the different successful and impossible diseases that cause dementia. The to completely reverse range of technology available and dementia has an in different NHS trusts around additional level of the country can also wwwwcomplexity. Howwhinder diagnoses. PET scanever, using PET to ning may be the answer. Many diagnose people of the metabolic processes earlier and monialtered in common types tor their disease of dementia are known progress you could and therefore PET not only provide markers have been develtailored manageoped that can distinguish ment for these pabetween normal brain and tients but could also lead abnormal brain metabolic to a deeper understanding processes. For example, the of disease progression. This most common disease causadditional knowledge and patient ing dementia, Alzheimer’s contact could accelerate drug develdisease (around 60-70% of opment and clinical trial participation. dementia) is associated with However, PET scans are very expensive decreased brain activity and and other scans may provide a similar Image: Piqsels therefore lower metabolism of sugar. In these understanding at a fraction of a cost.
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Monday 9 March 2020
@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/science
science culture
bots flame eco ignorance Romulus robbed of remains Tweet Carl Smith-Valdez on technology impacting climate change Em Richardson reports discoveries supporting its existence
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f you know anything about ancient history, chances are you’ve heard the legend of Romulus and Remus, who are said to have founded the city of Rome. The legend claims that the twin brothers were the sons of Mars, God of war, and a mortal priestess. They were said to have been abandoned at birth, on the orders of a local ruler who felt threatened by their existence, before being found and raised by a she-wolf. The twins were said to be natural leaders, who ultimately amassed a following of loyal supporters. They overthrew other local leaders, and decided to found a city of their own. The legend states that Romulus, or a supporter acting on his orders, ultimately murdered Remus, allowing Romulus to reign supreme as Rome’s first king.
The discovery is controversial as the tomb doesn't contain any bones
Unsurprisingly, historians reject this version of events. Some have even proposed that the legend has no basis in fact at all, and that Romulus and Remus never existed. However, claims that Romulus never existed have recently been challenged. Italian archaeologists working in the Roman Forum, located in central Rome, are claiming to have found his tomb. The tomb in question dates from the 6th Century BC, and was found amongst the remains of an ancient temple. Experts have speculated that it could be Romulus’s final resting place because it is located extremely close to the Lapis Niger, which is traditionally thought to have been either the site of Romulus’s death, or the site of his tomb. The tomb also bears an inscription claiming it belongs to a ‘holy king’, and historians have pointed out that Romulus would indeed fit this description, given his status as a demi-God ruler. Yet, experts have stopped at officially stating that the tomb belongs to Romulus. In part, this is because his very existence has always been contested- some historians believe that the myth of Romulus and Remus
is probably based around real men, but others claim the twins are entirely fictitious. It has been suggested that the name ‘Romulus’ is simply a back-formation, coming from the word ‘Rome’, which was created after the city was founded, in order to create an interesting origin story. Some also believe that Rome was probably created when several pre-existing settlements were joined together, meaning it is unlikely that the city ever had a single founder.
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th century BC is the believed date of the tomb discovered amongst the remains of an ancient temple
The discovery is also controversial because the ‘tomb’ doesn’t actually contain any bones. This has led some to claim that it is most likely a holy site where a cult worshipped Romulus, rather than a burial place. Others have pointed out that it is hypocritical for believers of the legend to claim that Romulus was ever buried at all, given the myth says he died when members of the Roman senate ripped his body to pieces. It’s extremely unlikely that we’ll ever know whether Romulus really existed, let alone whether his tomb has really been discovered, yet the story seems likely to fascinate historians for the foreseeable future.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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recent research undertaken at Brown University reveals that 25% of tweets about climate change were likely written by bots. The study analysed 6.5 million tweets from June 2017, specifically from the period when President Donald Trump announced United States will be removed from the Paris climate agreement. The tweets were categorised through the a Botometer from Indiana University, which determines the likelihood whether tweets are posted by humans or by bots.
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gathered knowledge by bots influences what users see in their digital spaces, aligning with their personal interests and views. The advancement in artificial intelligence naturalises bots, making it easier for them to resonate human nature. This blurs distinctions between the real and the hyperreal, leaving online users into constant confusion of who they are exactly interacting with. Bots can become more visible in accounts of huge following, retweets or likes. In a digital world, where large numbers equate to authenticity, bots can spread falsehoods on the climate crisis. Once it maintains an illusionary nature of understanding, surplus of bots can contribute to an unstable distribution of fake news. The inconsistent results on topics can advance political propaganda. This can potentially lead to public manipulation, mistrust and misinformation. Botometer, formerly known as BotOrNot is an available tool online that analyses data available from a Twitter account to determine the probability of followers being bots. It learns and classifies bots from thousands of labelled examples. The higher the score it gives, the more likely the profile is a social bot.
The percentage of tweets about climate change written by bots
The Botometer found that the majority tweets posted by bots denied existence of global warming and rejected climate science. When President Trump announced US was leaving the Paris climate accord, there was an increase of Tweets about climate change. The posts created by bots rose from hundreds to 25,000 per day. The Botometer also showed that on an average day, bots had a 38% proportion of all tweets about “fake science” and 28% of tweets about petroleum company Exxon. Conversely, tweets generated by bots supporting climate crisis were least prevalent at 5%. With the continuing pervasiveness of bots in the social media, it becomes harder for the public to separate the truth from factually inaccurate statements. Bots deny their inauthenticity, disguising themselves as humans when participating in online conversation. Its sophistication extends further from data it can harvest from every single clicks and discussions users have on social media. The
Image: Pxfuels
Can artificial intelligence assist combating microbial resistance? Abbie Matthewman tells us how the latest technology could be revolutionary in the development of the latest medicines
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new antibiotic termed Halicin has been discovered through the revolutionary use of artificial intelligence. The discovery was led by multiple departments including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard MIT. The drug has been shown to be effective against both antibiotic sensitive and tolerant strains of bacteria. Traditionally, antibiotics were discovered through screening of microbes for growth inhibitory molecules. However, recently developed algorithms in neural network-based molecular representations have been able to hugely advance the rate of discovery of new antibiotics. The network learnt to predict the inhibition of E. coli growth then applied this to a database of known molecules to identify which molecules would be potentially be suitable for further investigation. 120 compounds were discovered that could inhibit growth of bacteria by at least 80%, with 99 molecules common to the Drug Repurposing Hub, a database of known drugs that could have additional functions to their current use). From this, 51 molecules were isolated and screened for human toxicity using the ClinTox database. This finally led to the discovery of the antibiotic halicin as being the only molecule to comply to all the criteria set by the AI models. The nitrothiazole structure of haliImage: Flickr cin makes it unique to
other antibiotics in use, which would suggest it can have a divergent function from other drugs. Excitingly, halicin was shown to be efficient in killing both actively growing bacteria and cells halted in their growth. Even more interestingly, halicin was able to kill cells that persisted after treatment with ampicillin, a common antibiotic that is becoming subject to resistance. The World Health Organisation has recommended M. tuberculosis, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae as being the pathogens that most urgently need new treatments. Halicin was able to rapidly kill M. tuberculosis and greatly slow the growth of the other pathogens excluding P. aeruginosa, as salicin could prevent these bacteria from being able to cross the cell membrane. This data is extremely promising for the prospect of halicin becoming available to cure dangerous infections. Halicin functions by preventing the bacterium from being able to generate ATP, a universal molecule absolutely essential for the release of energy in the cell, and hence its sur-
Image: Needpix
vival. Scientists have been able to detect which genes in bacteria were expressed differently when they were treated with halicin. In addition to loss of ATP, genes involved in the cells ability to move in its environment were downregulated, while genes for iron regulation were upregulated. It has been suggested that halicin prevents its essential iron uptake by the bacterium and therefore, stops bacterial growth.
Halicin could present hope for treating resistant infections
of progressive antibiotic resistance. Halicin was able to kill extremely resistant bacteria that have resistance genes against multiple common antibiotics. The possibility of this new drug being able to combat antibiotic resistance has huge implications in healthcare, with the WHO estimating approximately 700,000 people die every year from resistant infections and predicting this statistic is likely to continue rising due to the lack of funding for new antibiotic research. Halicin could present hope for treating resistant infections, showing a potential new generation of antibiotic and also demonstrating how effective the use of AI in drug discovery can be.
The fact that halicin showed significant ability to kill bacteria in usually antibiotic-intolerant cells is very promising in the current climate
Image: Wikimedia Commons
the courier
Keep an eye out, that daftie Barton is around here somewhere. Back to Bedlam with him once we’ve found him.
Monday 9 March 2020 Puzzles Editor Emma Dawson Deputy Puzzles Editors James Blunt & Mark Sleightholm Solutions will be revealed in next week’s issue, available on campus from 16 March
puzzles
MR TAYTO’S CROSSWORD 1
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The first person to find Editor-inChief Grace Dean with a completed copy of the crossword wins a mysterious prize from our puzzles drawer
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1. Music genre popular in the US (7) 2. An action performed without conscious thought (6) 3. Irish equivalent to an MP (1,1) 4. City on the French Riviera, that hosts an annual film festival (6) 5. _ machine, decoding device based at Bletchley Park (6) 7. Smallest particle of a chemical element (4) 9. Form of medical imaging (4) 13. Passenger rail service connecting London to Europe (8) 14. Primate only found in Madagascar (5) 15. Film _, genre of thriller and detective films of the 40s and 50s (4) 16. English king who died at the Battle of Hastings (6) 17. Love is _, reality dating series (5) 18. Type of beer (5) 20. _ Stine, writer of the Goosebumps series of books (1,1)
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Your Puzzles Editor apologises for a mistake made in last week’s crossword, shown in red in the above solution.
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Monday 9 March 2020
Blistering buffalo runner vs Bolt record
Carl Smith Valdez brings you everything from the bizarre event featuring Srinivas Gowda’s startling sprint with buffalo friends A buffalo runner in India has become a national sensation after his record-breaking win in the traditional Kambala race.
13.52 secs
Gowda’s time posted over the 142 metre course
Srinivas Gowda, a 28-year-old construction worker, has been compared by local newspapers and journalists to Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt. It was believed that Gowda has run 142 metres in 13.42 seconds. If this record is accurate, he is considered faster than Bolt, who still holding the 100-metre world record with 9.58 seconds in 2009. The National General Secretary of BJP, P Muralidhar Rao has celebrated Gowda’s record on Twitter. He appreciated Gowda’s potential declaring that “India will rise and shine the Indic way!” He further states that proper training will “help [Gowda] to make name for the country.” However, some commentators had raised their doubts on the comparison.
Usain Bolt strikes his iconic pose Image: Wikimedia
In an interview with BBC Hindi, Prof K Gunapala Kadamba, the president of the Kambala Academy, has warned that the Olympic events have “more scientific methods and better electronic equipment to measure speed.” Some experts noted that the claims do not account the mechanisms that helped Gowda reach remarkable speeds. Buffaloes can charge at speeds up to 56km/h, which is significantly faster than Bolt’s record. The buffaloes are outfitted with a plough as the participant matches and controls their speed. Speaking for The Guardian, Ángel David Rodríguez, the former Spanish record-holder for 100m in Kambala racing observes:
Kambala is an annual sports race originated in Karnataka, roughly translating to “paddy-growing mud field” in the Tulu dialect.
“In Kambala we run on heels whereas in track it is on toes”
Participants sprint in a muddy field, normally either 132 metres or 142 metres with two buffaloes tied together. It has been controversial sport in the past with strong objec-
tions from international animal rights activists. In 2014, India’s Supreme Court banned races with bulls, following public campaigns against Jallikattu, a 2,000 years old bull-taming contest practiced in southern India. In Jallikattu, bulls roam freely with the crowd, as contestants grabs prizes from its sharp horns. In 2016, Karnataka’s state court ordered a temporary stop to all Kambala events. The state allowed Kambala races again in 2018 but banned whips to make the sport more humane. Kadamba said that the sport has been updated in response to concerns by the state
court. He states: “This Kambala is quite different from the traditional Kambala that used to be practiced some decades ago.” He further claims current and former students of Kambala Academy are now taught how to handle buffalos “without unnecessarily hurting the animal.” Kambala continues to face criticisms from PETA India with their pending petition to the Supreme Court. The animal rights group has given detailed accounts of alleged cruelty to buffaloes from four events from December 2018 to February 2019. Their petition challenges the reinstatement of Kambala in Karnataka.
“Buffalo are faster than humans, so his jobs is to not fall down”
“This guy is fast, his body is strong. But to put simply, buffalo are faster than humans, so his job is to keep them straight and not fall down.” Kiren Rijiju, India’s Sports Minister has posted on Twitter on 15 February that he had invited Gowda to the national trials for the Tokyo Olympics. He had spoken to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Officials. He also arranged rail tickets for Gowda to travel to the centre run by SAI, where the trials will be held. The tweet has reached 9.7k retweets and has 44.9k likes. Gowda has declined Rijiju’s offer after suffering from leg injuries. He said: “Kambala and track events are different and those who have done well in one cannot replicate the other. Many who have achieved in track events have tried Kambala and have not been successful. In Kambala we run on heels whereas in track it is on toes.”
Srinivas Gowda and friends Twitter @GSV1980
“Racism has won”: worrying signs that t
Em Richardson and Toby Bryant investigate the latest worrying developments of racism incidents happening in professional footba Em Richardson
In December 2019, Chelsea’s Antonio Rüdiger claimed he was racially abused, during a match against Tottenham Hotspur. Rüdiger was booed and jeered at by Spurs fans, and claims to have seen some of them making racist gestures. The incident was investigated by Spurs as well as the Metropolitan Police, however both have since concluded that there was no evidence of racist abuse.
“Those who commit racist acts ought to be banned from football grounds”
This led Rüdiger to claim that “racism has won”, since the verdict means any fans involved in the incident will not be barred from attending future matches. At the time of the incident, which led to the game being paused, Spurs had vowed to take the “strongest possible action” against offending fans. As soon as Rüdiger indicated that he could hear racist abuse during the match, a PA system announcement could be heard stating that “racist behaviour is interfering with the game”. The early signs appeared to indicate that strong action would be taken against the alleged perpetrators of any racist
abuse. Yet, both investigations into the incident have now ceased, on the grounds of a lack of evidence. In part, this is likely to be because spectators have failed to report racist behaviour in their midst. To me, this poses several issues. Firstly, I find it hard to believe that the investigating bodies were unable to pinpoint who was responsible for this behaviour. In a world where every moment of a match is filmed, be it by television cameras, CCTV cameras or by individuals posting on social media, footage of such incidents ought to exist somewhere. If Rüdiger was able to see and hear the abuse from on the pitch, it can hardly be described as difficult to spot. I firmly believe that, if the police were to put time and effort into analysing and enhancing match footage, they could identify the individuals responsible, and reprimand them appropriately.
“I find it hard to believe the investigating bodies were unable to pinpoint who was responsible for this behaviour”
In terms of individual fans, I think more can be done to hold other, racist supporters accountable for their actions. Whilst it may be intimidating to reprimand someone from their behaviour, there is nothing stopping fans from telling a match steward about rac-
ist abuse, or from handing police any footage they may have taken. You may support the same team as the person sitting next to you, but that comradery shouldn’t extend to failing to report a crime. I’d argue that doing so is in fans’ best interests- if they report such behaviour it can be dealt with quickly, so the match doesn’t have to be halted or cancelled.
“Racism isn’t banter - it’s illegal and perpetrators should be punished”
Moreover, they can ward off allegations that supporters of their beloved club are in any way bigoted. For the same reason, I think football clubs themselves ought to distance themselves from any supporters who commit racist acts, in order to spread a clear message that they do not condone such behaviour. In my opinion, those who commit racist acts ought to be banned from football grounds, at the very least. Preferably, they should be punished by police. At the end of the day, players should never have to endure racist taunts. Racism isn’t “banter”- it’s illegal in our society, and perpetrators ought to be punished accordingly. It’s just unfortunate that this won’t happen until both clubs and supporters make more of an effort to identify the individuals responsible. Perhaps cancelling any match where racist behaviour is reported would provide the appropriate incentive.
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Monday 9 March 2020
Fury dominates Wilder in all-time great performance
Jake Tye discusses the return of The Gypsy King Fury and his emphatic win over Deontay Wilder in a fight for the history books For Tyson Fury to come from the incredibly dark place he was in to overcome alcohol, drugs, depression and serious weight gain, and to fight his way to a draw with one of the hardest punchers in the history of the Heavyweight Division, is already one of the greatest comeback stories in boxing history.
The scorecards at the time of the stoppage were all heavily in Fury’s favour
But for Fury to fight Deontay Wilder again in one of the best displays of heavyweight boxing in decades, and to win in the manner he did, is something that feels almost unique within all of sport. There is no doubt now that The Gypsy King will go down as an all-time great. In the leadup to their rematch, Tyson Fury promised a knockout, something which seemed rather unlikely due to the point scoring style Fury has employed for almost his entire career. Fury referenced the twelfth round of their previous fight, where he seemingly rose from the dead after a show-reel knockdown by Wilder, only to somehow recover and even push Fury onto the back foot, something done by few of Wilder’s previous opponents. He even went so far as to recruit Javan Steward, nephew of the great Manny Steward who had trained the likes of Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Fury’s old rival Wladimir Klitschko, in order to work on increasing his aggression. Despite all of this it seemed unlikely that Fury would change his style in the manner he did. During the first round he forced Wilder back in a way that the American couldn’t find a response to, finding no success despite land-
ing a couple of shots with his now infamous right hand.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury currently hold every possible world title in the Heavyweight Division
This pattern continued until the third round where a thudding right hand to the side of the head sent Wilder crashing to the floor. Over the next couple of rounds as he desperately struggled to recover Fury piled on with more and more aggression, as it became worryingly clear Wilder’s legs had gone, slipping twice before another knockdown in the fifth round. Fury was penalised for holding but it didn’t matter, the question was no longer if Fury would be able to knock out wilder, but when. In the seventh round, Wilder’s corner controversially threw in the towel seeing no hope of Wilder being able to turn things around.
Over the next few rounds Wilder struggled to recover as Fury piled on with more and more aggression
Fury had dominated Wilder, the scorecards at the time of the stoppage were 59-52, 58-53, 59-52. As of right now it looks like Wilder will activate the rematch clause in his contract and fight Fury again in the summer, but it seems unlikely he will be able to adapt his style like Fury has and its hard to see anything other than another Fury victory. Looking forward, it’s a great time to be
Tyson Fury won the bout Twitter Wikimedia Commons
a British boxing fan. Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury currently hold every world title possible in the division, and the prospect of a superfight in the near future looks pretty likely. It’s hard to describe just how impressive Fury’s return to the ring is. Even legendary fighters like Muhammad
Ali fell from their prime when they took time away from the ring and Fury’s experience with alcohol, drugs and weight gain made returning to boxing at all an unlikely prospect. The Fury we currently have however is arguably the best he’s ever been, even managing to captivate the illusive American boxing
crowd that even Wilder himself struggled to hold the attention of. In one of the greatest comebacks since the likes of the great George Foreman it feels like there’s a real chance that within the next year or two, The Gypsy King will claim the undisputed crown.
the fight against racism provides no end
all, including the lack of urgency from the FA to listen to players and the distortion of fines continuing to persist for those found as guilty Toby Bryant Sport Editor
Whilst the Metropolitan Police somehow claim to have found “no evidence of racist abuse” in regards to Antonio Rüdiger, the race-related hate crimes in football keep coming.
£15k
The difference in fine between Sturridge and Casilla’s charges
Pointing to a problem far-wider and deeprooted than the sport’s top leagues, an incident from the Sky Bet Championship last September has returned to the headlines. West Bromwich Albion’s Jonathan Leko, at the time playing for Charlton Athletic, reported a racist slur from Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla to the match referee in a clash with Leeds last year.
Antonio Rüdiger and Chelsea teammates Twitter @ToniRuediger
The commission accepted Casila “is not a racist”
Last week, the FA banned Casilla for eight matches and fined the player £60,000. An improvement on the poor findings in the Rüdiger case, the Casilla ban seems to be a true victory? Sadly, that’s far from the case. The news breaks in the same week that Daniel Sturridge
was suspended from all football and footballrelated activity worldwide until the middle of June 2020. Found guilty of breaking betting laws after giving his brother inside information on a move to Sevilla in the January 2018 window, the extended sentence builds on an initial two-week ban and a £75,000 fine. Yes, Sturridge and his family shouldn’t have been acting on the information in such a way, but it throws the FA’s effort to rid the sport of racism into an ugly light. To ban Casilla only eight weeks and fine £60,000 for a racial slur yet fine Sturridge £15,000 more and cast him aside from any notion of worldwide football for months over “inside information” is appalling.
Clearly, the insult used by Casilla is not a niche word he could possibly only come across after months of living in the United Kingdom. It’s almost impossible to believe he managed to shout the word without malicious intent and the fact the FA can consequentially label him not a racist is bewildering. What’s more, in an official statement released by West Bromwich Albion, Jonathan Leko admitted that he had received no support from the PFA, or “leading anti-racism bodies such as ‘Kick It Out’ and ‘Show Racism The Red Card’”. Leko then went on to say: “I found the hearing, at which I was made
to feel I had done something wrong, extremely stressful.” “It made me question whether I would be prepared to go through it all again were I on the receiving end of similar abuse in the future. I certainly would think twice about how to advise another player placed in the same situation.” Tragically, not only is the ruling half-hearted but the current process is deterring further incidents being raised too. Not enough is being done to stop racism in football – by the FA, PFA or anti-racism groups. More drastic action is needed.
“It made me question whether I would be prepared to go through it all again”
The FA may claim to be doing all they can to fight racism, but comparing the two cases shows a clear difference in priorities. To add insult to injury, the commission looking into the Leko and Casilla case deemed the keeper to be “unaware of the existence” of the racist slur he used. Casilla claimed to only learn the word’s “existence and meaning” a month after the incident, the commission accepting that Casilla “is not a racist” and the language to be “wholly out of character”.
Jonathan Leko Twitter @JonathanLeko
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Monday 9 March 2020
Footy goes from kick-ups to ‘Heads Up’
Addressing the stigma around mental health within football, Prince William’s new scheme hopes to net these negative attitudes Dominic Lee
Britain’s biggest footballing league- the Premier League- recently celebrated the launch of their mental health campaign “heads up” throughout the month of February.
“Former footballers such as Seaman and Merson have been more open on their struggles”
Headed by Prince William- a huge fan of struggling Premier League club Aston Villa- the key message of the campaign was to encourage people to talk more openly about their mental health. The heads up branding was featured in Premier League stadiums over two weekends of matches, being seen by thousands of fans in the crowd and millions more at home. Additionally, matches in the EFL and FA Women’s Super League supported the initiative.
It can be said that the beautiful game has come a long way from the violence seen in decades past where warring factions of hooligan firms and ultras clash in the streets and in the terraces. It is this toxic atmosphere which can often drive people away from football and I myself can attest to the fact that animosity shown in the stands has made me lose a bit of passion for the game I once loved. However, endorsements from players will certainly help and it’s hoped that endorsements from players such as Troy Deeney, Andros Townsend and Adebayo Akinfenwa, alongside the Duke of Cambridge, will encourage the next generation of fans to not see their struggles as a weakness. It’s also great to see the coverage that the campaign has been receiving on TV and on YouTube, with beloved players setting a strong example for fans, players and even people outside of football who may be struggling. Former footballers such as David Seaman and Paul Merson have also been talking more openly about their past struggles both in their lives and in their careers. This arguably represents a change in society which is encouraging for fans of the future. A move away from the hateful atmosphere which is a fixture at
a lot of stadiums will hopefully encourage a more friendly and inclusive football without a lot of the toxic masculinity which unfortunately still lingers in the game today.
“It should help break away from the negative stigma around football”
Campaigns such as “Heads Up” aren’t taking the passion out of the terraces. Passion doesn’t come from abusing opposition fans and players and using slurs. It comes from a love for your club, country and the game. You can have all of that without the negative things that happen in the stands. Heads up encourages a real footballing and sporting community that is missing at the moment. It’s a message I truly believe in and I think it’s a really important step which I’m proud that the Premier League is reaching. I’m hopeful that the heads up campaign will continue to thrive and grow and that one day I can go to a match and not feel embarrassed by what goes on in the terraces.
Prince William is leading the mental health initiative Instagram @kensingtonroyal
Eagles steam past Scorchers GIAG Caving
Serena Parekatt reports on Newcastle Eagles’ dramatic victory over the Surrey Scorchers in the BBL Despite a weak start to the game, as Surrey Scorchers flew into an impressive and unexpected 19-31 lead, the Newcastle Eagles were able to overturn the odds during the second half of their BBL Championship game, coming back to win 91-78. Top-scorers Mike Morsell (Small-forward) scored 22 points and made 3 assists and Rodney Glasgow Jr. (Pointguard) took 17 points and 6 assists. The win was important to the Eagles who were missing influential centre C. J. Getty. The win represented a successful start to an important weekend for the Eagles and headcoach Ian MacLeod is determined to keep the team focused for their upcoming games. The Scorchers started the first half strongly, with defeats at every away game this sea-
son and the 104-94 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Eagles last month proving
The first half saw the Scorchers in control as the Eagles narrowly missed the few shots they managed
great motivation for the players. The addition of GB International player Matthew Bryan-Amaning also gave the team a boost. The Eagles faced Surrey after a two-week rest following their heavy 101-63 Valentine’s Day
defeat to the Leicester Riders. The first half saw the Scorchers in control, as the Eagles narrowly missed the few shots they managed. The Eagles’ poor defensive performance in the first period had the home fans raging from the stands. The Scorchers displayed a clinical offense in the first quarter, but were unable to replicate this in the second. Strong words were exchanged in the locker rooms at half-time, as the Eagles showed their strength in defence during the second half, in tandem with an impressive offensive line made up of Rahmon Fletcher, Mike Morsell and Sade Aded-Hussein. Point-guard Glasgow Jr. did not disappoint with his efficiently constructed offense, making 3-pointers, lay-
ups and free throws, and orchestrating the team’s attack. He initiated points from the first few second until the last.
The Eagles then came out after the second quarter showing their strength in defence
The game finished 91-78 to the hosts and Newcastle Eagles now sit at 5th in the league table, and the Surrey Scorchers 9th .
The Eagles won the game 91-78 Image: Serena Parekett
David Keegan
This weekend the club ran a GIAG trip down to Alum Pot, a large active pothole on the flanks of Ingleborough. After an early start everyone collected kit and equipment from the club stores, before heading to Ingleton to get lunch and helmets and travelling to the cave. A short but windy walk took us up to the upstream entrance to long churns, the stream passage heading down towards the pothole, where we all entered the cave. Shortly after, we reached the first obstacle, Dr. Bannisters Hand Basin, a short waterfall leading into a large pool that needed to be climbed down. Jacob and I descended but decided that due to the volume of water coming down, it would be too challenging to get the whole group down, so we all returned to the surface and headed down to a different entrance. Once back underground, the group followed the streamway for a short distance, before heading into dry fossil passage for the first real challenge of the day, the double step. The double step is a series of chest deep pools that need to be traversed around. I jumped in to help guide people around the edge, and the group were able to make their way past, with only minimal dunkings! Shortly after we all reached an easy rift which we climbed down, before stopping for a short break and turning off the torches so that those new to caving could experience total darkness. Torches back on, we then headed through the cheese press, a tight squeeze leading to a three metre climb. As everyone made their way through, Jacob went ahead to rig the 15m Dolly Tubs pitch. Once through the squeeze, members of the group then had the opportunity to climb down the pitch and see the view from the window, an opening overlooking Alum Pot. The group then returned, back up the pitch and another climb, through the double step and up to the surface. Once we got there, we found a very different world to the one we ventured away from, as a couple of inches of snow had fallen, however we were soon back at the minibus, warm, dry and on our way back to Newcastle!
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Monday 9 March 2020
Newcastle sprint to XC glory
Lauren Davies-Beckett reports on NUAXC’s performances at Alnwick Castle in the Harrier League
Newcastle University’s Athletics and CrossCountry Club (NUAXC) celebrated the leap year on the 29th February with a magical outing to Alnwick Castle for the 3rd race of the Harrier League series. With several previous races sadly cancelled due to car park flooding, the team of 10 (although missing a couple of its key crosscountry enthusiasts) were more than ready to battle it out on the gruelling course of hills, mud and plenty of wind. So, after an irresistible trip to Parkrun for the captains, it was off to the home of Harry Potter to see what performances the squad could conjure up. First to tackle the Northumberland hills was the women’s team comprising of president Shona Haston, captain Lauren Davies-Beckett, secretary Aoife Smith and keen beans
Erin Gallagher and Anna Keeble. Off to a confident start around the 4.5 mile course were Gallagher, Keeble and Smith from the medium pack, soon to be chased 2.5 minutes later by fast pack runners Haston and DaviesBeckett. After a hotly contested battle it was Haston who stormed past Davies-Beckett in the final 150m to finish first from NUAXC, with the pair happy to post the 5th and 6th fastest times of the day. A strong performance from Gallagher earning her promotion to the fast pack, along with gutsy runs from Keeble and a Greggs-fuelled Smith also saw NUAXC’s women excitingly achieve the top combined team score on the day out of over 60 teams. Next up were the senior men to face 6.8 miles of the now nicely churned up course.
Jack Douglas’ Harrier League debut saw him comfortably cruise his way ahead of his slow pack competitors, with Chris Robinson and David Gaskin following strongly in his
“NUAXC’s women achieved the top combined team score out of over 60 teams in the Harrier League”
wake. 2.5 minutes later social secretary Toby Loveday set off on time and started making his usual gains on the masses in front, soon
to be chased down by captain Chris Larkin on a mission from the fast pack. Leading for most of the way there was no sadness for Douglas as he stayed on his feet and comfortably bagged himself a silver medal, with Larkin then zoom zooming through in the 2nd fastest time of the day to prove that you can perform with a broken wrist (even if you can’t tie your laces). Solid efforts from the entire team saw them impressively all finish in the top 24 out of a 347 strong field, with Douglas, Robinson, Gaskin and Loveday all gaining a hard-earned promotion. With the Harrier League season soon to be drawing to a close, the team will be turning their attention to the track and road with plenty more races to come this year.
BUCS RESULTS BADMINTON
M2 v Durham 2nds
5-3
M2 v Bradford 1sts M3 v Leeds 3rds
46-66 49-39
BASKETBALL FENCING
M1 v Leeds 1sts M2 v Durham 3rds
FOOTBALL
M2 v Teeside 1sts M3 v Sunderland 3rds W1 v Durham 2nds W2 v Leeds 2nds
GOLF
1sts v Durham 2nds
HOCKEY
M1 v Manchester Met. M2 v Durham 3rds W2 v Durham 4ths
4-7 5-3 11-4
2nds v Leeds 2nds 3rds v Leeds Beckett 4ths 4ths v Leeds 5ths
30-60 49-42 32-59
M1 v Exeter 1sts M4 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds M5 v Sunderland 1sts W2 v Bradford 1sts
20-13 19-22 29-0 47-10
RUGBY
SQUASH
M2 v Northumbria 1sts M3 v Durham 3rds W2 Sheffield Hallam 1sts
TABLE TENNIS
Elana Shapiro discusses how Maria Sharapova has called time after an outstanding 20-year career
The time has come for tennis to bid farewell to one of its greats. Maria Sharapova has announced her retirement after a remarkable 20 year playing career, enjoying success at both junior and senior level. Billie Jean King was one of only a few to pay tribute to the Russian star, praising her capabilities both on and off the court. With five grand slams and an estimated net worth of £105 million, Sharapova can leave tennis with knowledge that she is one of its biggest success stories. This fame and fortune is a far cry from where Sharapova started and surely not something she could have envisaged as a 6 year old moving to the USA with her father. They had less than 1,000 dollars and she slept on a pull-out couch. Her mother had to remain in Russia for the first two years due to problems with her Visa. By the age of 11, she had started to repay the faith shown by her family and was signed by Nike and IMG. Just 17 years old and she caused one of the most shocking upsets in sporting history. It was a win that would fling her into the public sphere and launch her illustrious career. In straight sets, she beat giant Serena Williams to take home the trophy. Just 17 years old. Later on she stated that at the time, she didn’t understand the “magnitude” of what she had accomplished. Nevertheless, the world realised and this was only the beginning. Two years after her success at Wimbledon, she reached the final of the US Open. Her op-
ponent was the Belgian, Justine Hennin, yet again Sharapova was victorious and won her second grand slam. 2008 saw her beat Ana Ivanovic for her third grand slam and in 2012 and 2014, she won her fourth and fifth. Perhaps the most recent two meant were more significant as they were both on clay surfaces which was arguably Sharipova’s weakness. She described herself as a “cow on ice” when on clay. Nevertheless, injury problems and doping scandals have possibly restricted Sharapova. She has struggled with a shoulder injury since the age of 21 and despite surgery, had to play
about not being sure how to do this, not being sure how to say goodbye to what has been her life since she was 6. She will not remain involved in tennis
through coaching or managing, however, instead she looks forward to a well-deserved stillness, to relaxed breakfasts and coffees, and dance classes.
She described herself as a “cow on ice” when playing on clay courts
through immense pain. She speaks about struggling to look at pictures of herself on the court as it causes her to cringe when she remembers the agony that she was in. She also faced a fifteen month ban for testing positive for meldonium. Despite all of this, there is no doubt that Sharapova has had a career worth celebrating. She could have bowed out with a farewell tour and final games in London, New York and Paris. She didn’t want this, instead preferring a well-written essay in Vogue and Vanity Fair announcing her departure. She writes
4-2 3-1 2-0
NETBALL
End of an era for tennis legend
5-0 11-1 4-1 2-5
M1 v Durham 3rds W2 v Northumbria 1sts
LACROSSE
Image: Lauren DaviesBeckett
134-127 41-135
M2 v Leeds 2nds
TENNIS
0-5 0-3 1-3 W/O Ncl
M2 v York 2nds
5-1
W1 v Stirling 1sts
3-0
VOLLEYBALL
ROY KEANE’S QUOTE CORNER Don’t talk to me about what happened the other day. My heads still hurting. How we almost lost to Everton was beyond me, even if DCL is the future of England. Anyway, here’s my quote about a certain Man U GK. It’s short and sweet... “I’d have killed him at half time” - Roy Keane on David de Gea
SURF FORECAST Tynemouth Longsands
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Is it true? Have we almost got a little bit of sunshine? Sure, the first time you wake up you might have a brisk hit of cool winter wind, but every now and then we get a nice hint of sun and voila! Nice and warm (for a few seconds). While spring is slowly but surely coming, you can take a quick dip in the water and get that summer bod almost ready, because guess what’s gonna happen in a few months? Surfs Up!
sport the courier
Monday 9 March 2020 Issue 1406 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
Basketball bounce to League Championship win
Dominic Lee reports from the Sports Centre where the Basketball Men’s 3s won the Northern Tier 4B League against Leeds 3s
Newcastle won the Northern Tier 4B League Image: Dominic Lee
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Newcastle 3s 49 Leeds 3s 39
Dominic Lee at Newcastle Sport Centre Newcastle Mens Basketball 3rd team faced a tough challenge against Leeds Mens basketball 3rd team in their final game of the season. The game was incredibly high stakes as a win would see the Newcastle Knights win the league championship. The scoring started out relatively slow, which is probably to be expected in a game of this magnitude as while Newcastle seemed to be getting the ball into the paint well the shots just weren’t falling. However, some smooth shooting from the Knights towards the end of the first quarter saw them up 13-7. Newcastle’s aggressive defensive approach also helped create fastbreak opportunities, with George Rayers showing
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great discipline to deny the Leeds attack. The second quarter was much more even, both in terms of scoring and overall play. Newcastle started out a little more slowly than in the first, still creating open shots but the threes were unfortunately not falling. On the other hand, Leeds looked to get the ball inside to attack Newcastle’s 3-2 zone defense. This certainly worked in their favour as they tried to exploit the space left under the basket. However, Newcastle kept in it as the star of the game began to emerge in MJ Lim who chased down a Leeds fastbreak to deny an easy layup. As the quarter went on the Knights began to find their shooting strokes again with Aidan Buckley drawing fouls in the paint and then converting his free throws consistently. This was aided by David Wilson whose spacing beyond the arc created opportunities inside. Leeds struggled as towards the end of the quarter as the Knights tightened up defensively forcing a lot of turnovers. A very even second quarter ended 22-17 in favour of Newcastle. Newcastle came out much more aggres-
sive to start the second half, keeping up the momentum they had towards the end of the second quarter. Lim scored a three pointer to set the tone, followed by Leeds replying with a three ball of their own. However, Demetris Iasonidas also hit from beyond the arc to continue Newcastle’s high scoring offensive output. At the timeout the Knights led 32-20 and Leeds looked like they didn’t have much hope of catching them. However, this title-deciding gamewhich had already had its fair share of twists and turns- wasn’t done throwing out surprises yet. Leeds came out swinging after the timeout scoring 7 unanswered points to close the gap to 5. However, a three from Wilson calms the nerves a little as a thrilling third quarter comes to a close, with Newcastle 35-31 up but their strong lead reduced significantly. Thankfully, the final quarter was a much happier one for the Knights as they started to score consistently again. They also looked far more confident on the defensive end as Buckley took a well timed charge to force a
Leeds turnover. Lim continued to shine as an impressive passage of play saw him jump over an opponent’s legs while pushing the ball underneath his own. Unfortunately, he couldn’t turn this into points as his layup was blocked at the rim, but he showed incredible ball handling skills to gather after such a complex move. Wilson once again hit a three to solidify the Knights lead as they finished the game strongly. An impressive final quarter saw Newcastle win the game 49-39 and secure the league championship!
At the timeout the Knights led 32-20 and Leeds looked like they didn’t have much hope of catching Newcastle
A thrilling four quarters showed the resolve of the Knights team who demonstrated their determination and stamina to
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both keep the Leeds attacks at bay and secure their lead. Newcastle’s number 9 Joseph Byers said: ‘Despite the slow start we managed to play the game at our pace and force the other team to match us. We’ve played these guys twice before so we made the necessary adjustments against their strong shooters and aggressive rebounding. Staying cool and confident was key.’ Number 6 Harry Best added: ‘Commenting on offence and defense I think their scoreline speaks for itself. We held them to 39 which I think was really impressive and the fact we could maintain it for the whole game was one of the biggest reasons we won. MJ Lim, number 10 reflected on the season and said: ‘I think the depth of our squad this year was really good and we stepped up when it mattered. We can have a bad game individually, but different players step up when it matters most. How well we get on off the court also translated onto the court.’
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