thecourier thecourieronline.co.uk
TV Are interracial couples represented accurately on the small screen? Page 12
Comment We discuss the idiocy of Britain’s crisis response Page 26
Monday 23 March 2020 Issue 1408 Free
Arts A celebration of female pioneers in the arts for Women’s History Month Page 16
Coronavirus chaos: The independent voice of Newcastle students
Est 1948
classes cancelled, Courier continues Grace Dean Editor
further notice. Summer 2020 graduation ceremonies will be postponed but please note final year students will be able to attend a graduation ceremony in the future. Please be reassured that you do not have to attend a ceremony in order to successfully graduate – the ceremony is just the celebration!”
It is rumoured that students will graduate during the winter ceremonies in December, but this remains unconfirmed, and a dedicated graduation ceremony may be hosted for those unable to graduate this June. For international students or those relocating from Newcastle after their studies finish,
this poses a particular problem as they may not be able to attend the postponed ceremony. The North East has meanwhile confirmed its first coronavirus-related death last Tuesday.
Image: Molly Greeves
From last Tuesday onwards, all face-to-face activity at the University has been suspended or greatly restricted. Classroom-based teaching has been suspended for the remainder of the academic year and face-toface assessments are being replaced with online alternatives. On its coronavirus webpage, which is updated daily, the University announced that all lectures will be suspended until the end of the current academic year in light of the coronavirus outbreak. Emails sent to all students announced that the Philip Robinson Library would be shut from 5pm last Friday onwards, with the Law and Marjorie Robinson Libraries having been already shut prior to that. The University is following in the footsteps of Durham, Northumbria, Leeds and Sheffield, who all announced a suspension of classroom-based teaching last week. The University states that it is looking into mitigation strategies such as expanding its provision of online counselling, and it hopes to bring all teaching online. Regarding campus-based teaching, the email states that “the majority of lecture- and seminar-based teaching will be delivered remotely as far as this is possible.” Many students have expressed fears about upcoming assessments. Addressing these concerns, the University has stated that it “will also be using alternative approaches to assessment and will develop our plans over the next few weeks. This will be a priority and further information on the different types of assessment will also follow.” The University concluded that “This is an unprecedented situation. However, your education and safety are our top priorities and we will endeavour to continue to provide you with everything you need to continue your studies. We are firmly committed to supporting your remote learning. We want to assure you that whether you choose to stay, or return home, the University will continue to support you as best we can.” This stance has been reiterated on the University’s Facebook page, with the University deciding to streamline all social media posts to focus coverage on the coronavirus. This announcement comes following a petition created by a Newcastle student for the University to suspend teaching. British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) has cancelled all sports from midday tomorrow til the end of the month, and all inter-mural sports have been suspended until the end of the academic year at Newcastle. The Sports Centre and all associated facili-
ties have also been closed for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, summer 2020 graduation ceremonies will be postponed until further notice. The email states that “all University-run and NUSU events will be cancelled until
the courier
2
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 10
c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Catherine Entwistle, Cecilia Adamou, Holly Margerrison & Jess Herbert
Fashion
c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Kajal Patel, Phoebe Eyles & Shamara Mohsin
Travel 12
courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amy Harris, Beth Robson & Meggie Williams
Food 14
editor.union@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amanda Goh & Cayla Viner
Beauty 15
courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Ellie James & Rashida Campbell-Allen
Online Editor Tom Hardwick Social Media Managers Alicja Dryer, Holly Agar and Rose Hinds
Culture Editors: Charlotte Boulton & Ella Williams
Music 16
c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Dom Lee, Jagoda Waszkowiak & Joe Smith
Television 18
c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amy Brown, Kate Dunkerton & Sophie Hicks
Film 20
c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Elisabetta Pulcini, Steven Ross, Joe Holloran & Lucy Lillystone
Arts 22
c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Caitlin Rawlings, Charlotte Slinger & Lauren Sneath
Gaming 24
courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk
Editors: Alex Darbyshire, Shawn Khoo, George Boatfield & James Troughton
Science 26
c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Eleanor Gratton, Patrick Harland & Seshadhri Subramanian
Puzzles on holiday editor.union@ncl.ac.uk Editor: Emma Dawson
Sport 28
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.
Monday 23 March 2020
Final musings from the editor
NSR Show of the Week
I’m very saddened to find myself having to write this so soon. Without another term on the horizon, I’m finding my prospects looking quite bleak at the moment. I love this paper, and the people I am fortunate enough to work alongside. I love feeling the tingles down my spine as I look at the stunning lay-ups the team have crafted each week, and I love feeling inspired as I read the articles. My wonderful editors, I really love you guys so much and you have made this one of the best years of my life. Thank you so much for all your hard work, but most importantly for all your love (and the many recent Newfess posts thirsting for me). You all make me SO happy and I love my job. I have been so touched by all the love and friendship you have all given me. You keep my spirits up and just make me so so so happy and have really made me feel so much more confident about myself. Dearest writers, thank you all so much for your continued commitment throughout the year. Your dedication to the paper has astounded me, and I really appreciate you all sacrifising your Wednesday lunchtimes to attend our writers’ meetings and snap up some snazzy articles. The Media Awards are still going ahead online, but the ceremony is postponed indefinitely, and unfortunately will probably not happen this year. You can still nominate yourself as a writer, your articles or a fellow contributor for the Media Awards at nusu.co.uk/employability/awards/ media/ This year as Editor has been so much fun, and I’m gutted that it has come to an end so early. I am so proud of each and every one of you, and of our darling newspaper. And we got shortlisted for four categories in the Student Publication Association Awards this year - I think that proves that the Courier is a force to reckon with.
THE MUSLIM TASEER COMEDY HOUR
Thurs 11pm-12am Cinema has ‘The Room,’ music has ‘Results May Vary’ and radio has ‘The Muslim Taseer Comedy Hour.’ The perfect storm of bad jokes, terrible stage presence and awkward banter between its hosts has created “the worst show NSR has ever gave the green-light to.” The Muslim Taseer Comedy Hour is a show that must be heard to be believed; a superb example of how never to conduct a radio show. Every week, the three hosts attempt to tackle the latest developments in World News, and sometimes even manage to fit a joke in there. If you want to experience a fever dream distilled into radio form, tune into The Muslim Taseer Comedy Hour. Do it before its inevitable upcoming cancellation so you can say you listened in to the “closest thing radio has ever come to breaking the Geneva Convention.”
From the archives Grace Dean looks through the archives to trace Newcastle’s campus history
71 YEARS AGO
65 YEARS AGO
A survey conducted in 1949 by the Social Science Society of 189 students investigated their attitudes towards the food served by the Students’ Union. Even in the days before the Coop came to campus, over 72% reporting eating lunch in the Union at least three times a week. Despite this, it was reported that 51.7% of those surveyed found the meals poor in quality, 78.6% lacking in quantity, and 96.5% lacking in variety. Respondents suggested that “potatoes could be baked or roasted as an alternative to boiling and mashing”, and the Courier reported that “the considered opinion of the student body regarding cabbage is, alas, not printable. General suggestions range from a request for a fish and chip counter, to an earnest plea for more kippers.” The Courier regrets to inform its 2020 readers that unfortunately there is still no fish and chips counter at the Union, and it regrettably the kipper offering is still greatly limited, with the Co-op being the only current provider. In somewhat unrelated news, fter sustained criticism from the Courier regarding the finances of the Union’s catering team, cooking and waiting staff decided to go on strike one lunchtime in 1949, however this only lasted half an hour, with strikers stating that they did not even read the Courier and were not entirely sure why they were striking.
In 1955, the Union clearly went quackers as the Courier printed the following: The appearance of three pink celluloid ducks in the Gentlemen’s Cloakroom coincides with that of twin blue ones in the Ladies’ Bathroom. The names of the lady ducks are Diana, Tricia and Rhiannon; whilst those of the drakes are Phyl and Ben. Members may therefore now have a duck to play with whilst they partake of a bath. May we be allowed to hope that the Union Management Committee will continue to give such delightful additions to the Union amenities. That same year, the Courier also printed this poetic piece on the Union’s coffee offerings: That Heaven-sent aid to students, coffee, is available almost anywhere in the Union and its kindred catering departments, generally for an exorbitant price. The viscosity and qualities of this particular liquid are so variable as to make the study of coffee illuminating even within the precincts of the University. The sale of coffee is of two categories, for the general mass, and the coteries. “General” coffee varies from bad to even worse while “coterie” coffee can be drinkable to almost as putrid as bad “general’’ coffee. The days following the Union Ball
Kippers in the Union
Union goes quackers
displayed bilious people drinking Technicolor coffee in the Bunroom owing to the coloured decorations on the lights. Despite this, Bunroom coffee still tasted of brickdust and hot water. Bam coffee shares similar virtues. An improvement is seen on ascending the heights of the Union to the Coffee Room at lunchtime. This coffee is actually drinkable, perhaps due to socialite and intellectual conversation? It would be sacrilege to reveal the exact whereabouts of all “coterie” coffee for then it would no longer be “coterie” coffee. But, to give one example of “coterie” coffee we may list Art School coffee. To indicate the superiority of such “coterie” coffee it is seen, that both black and white coffee can be discovered here. Art School wits make it more palatable? “I sit there drinking coffee, Drinking it all day, I don’t know if it’s black or white But just the same I pay.”
NINE YEARS AGO
King’s Gate spending scandal
The University postponed a £850k refurbishment of the King’s Gate building, proposed to make the £30m building “more VIP-friendly”. Despite being only 18 months old, the administration proposed introducing a floating bar in the building which would have been suspended above the atrium of King’s Gate and supported from the ceiling, costing the University £738 per square metre. A document accessed by the Courier stated: “It has been recognised that there is currently no world-class venue anywhere within the University, commensurate with its academic eminence, which creates the right ambience for receiving important guests”.
The University was criticised for proposing a VIP refurbishment to King’s Gate, while students on 1949 complained about the lack of kippers offered by Union catering
Images: Pxhere (herring), John Lord on Flickr (King’s Gate)
news 3
the courier
Monday 23 March 2020
@TheCourier_News courier.news@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/news News Editors Aimee Seddon, Carl Smith Valdez, Em Richardson, Emma McLaren & Sophie Wilson
Academics refused permanent visas due to field trips her to spend a year in Delhi.
Em Richardson News Editor
Dr Islam had her visa application denied for the same reason
Evidence has come to light suggesting academics at UK universities are being denied permanent residence visas, due to spending long periods of time outside the country whilst conducting academic research. Dr Nazia Hussein completed her PhD at Warwick University, and now lectures at the University of Bristol. She recently applied for a permanent residence visa, but her request was denied, on the grounds that she had spent too many days outside the UK during the past decade.
Dr Hussein had returned to her home country for 6 months while conducting PHD research
Hussein had previously returned to her home country of Bangladesh for six months, whilst conducting research for her PhD project. She believed this period would be considered a “legitimate absence” by the immigration authorities, given she was completing “essential fieldwork”. Her husband had previ-
In Hussein’s case, she does not intend to appeal the Home Office’s decision on her visa. Her solicitor warned her that an appeal is likely to take so long, that she would risk over-staying her work visa whilst waiting for the result. After spending over £11,000 on legal fees, she has been able to obtain a twoyear dependent visa, on the grounds that her husband has been granted a permanent visa.
Hussein has already spent £11,000 on legal fees
It is unknown whether any Newcastle University academics have been affected Image: Pixabay
ously been given a permanent residency visa, and her three-year-old daughter has a British passport. An investigation into this issue, conducted
by The Guardian, found that Hussein’s case is far from unique. Dr Asiya Islam, of Cambridge University, had her visa application denied for the same reason, and the report
found that previous academics had been rejected as far back as 2018. In Islam’s case, Cambridge University had supported her claim that her PhD research project required
Another academic claims that she was denied a permanent visa because she had spent two months working abroad at the University of Cape Town. It is unknown whether any academics at Newcastle University have been affected by these issues.
Government cuts funding on ‘low-quality’ degrees Beth Robson The government’s plan to cap the number of students attending university is set to disproportionately affect those from lower socioeconomic classes, academic experts warn. The cuts come from the Treasury’s need to cut back on government spending, of which student loans are significant with rising numbers of young adults attending university. The degrees most at risk for funding cuts are deemed “low-quality” and include subjects like sociology and the social sciences among many others. The supposed need for these cuts comes from the large amount of loans being paid out by the government through Student Finance, but seldom paid back by students whose degrees do not yield high wages postgraduation. Consequently, the typically lower paid humanities degrees are most at risk of having numbers capped. Academics such as professor of social mobility at Exeter University Lee Elliot Major spoke out against these cuts stating: “Limiting numbers would be the death knell for social mobility”. Major warns of a potential ‘clash of the classes’ if universities are unable to provide the “low-quality” degrees that poorer students typically gravitate towards. Feeding into the age-old ‘humanities versus the sciences’ debate, the proposed government plans appear to be ever-increasingly putting more merit in STEM fields. As a result, those who do not fit the STEM mould often feel left behind by the economic pull of London. Lower socioeconomic areas rely heavily on graduates of “low-quality” degrees such as social work and sociology which lend themselves to careers in areas such as policing, which are hugely under-staffed and yet desperately needed. Capping the number of students attending university for the supposed “low-quality” degrees poses a potential lack of people to fill the crucial roles needed in these areas, and could pose a real threat to the economy. This in turn will create a wider gap in social equal-
ity between the working and middle class, experts explain. Professor Ieuan Ellis, pro-vice chancellor at Staffordshire University also expressed his disagreement with the proposed plans. In a region with a below-average Higher Education turn-out, it is vital that potential students of “low-quality” degrees are encouraged to pursue these areas despite a lower pay. “Talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not[…] we are giving our talented students that opportunity to realise their potential”, Ellis remarks. Interestingly, it is current Education Secre-
tary, Gavin Williamson who could have been hit by these proposed cuts during his time at university. Williamson studied social sciences (now known as sociology) at Bradford University, which currently yields a graduate salary of £17,500 after three years, marking the course by the government’s standards, as “low-quality”. However, Williamson’s £67,505 salary would suggest that humanities degrees have just as much potential for high earnings as their STEM counterparts. Alongside the proposed Ofsted-style monitoring of the credibility and value of degrees
across the UK, the financial cuts to “lowquality” degrees looks to be a steppingstone in Conservative higher-education reform. Of notable importance is the using of graduate earnings as a means of determining whether a degree is “low-quality” or not. In light of leaks about proposed student loan “bans” for low-achieving A-Level students also, areas that have low-levels of Higher Education attendance or low-quality secondary school education look to be worst hit. Of these areas includes the North East, which would be affected the worst across the country. The region has the lowest num-
bers of youth employment in the UK, however these cuts will only further damage the economy and growth of the region, and stifle ambition for social mobility. With the North East’s historic sentiment of feeling “left behind” by London, former Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, launched Opportunity North East to combat some of the regions roadblocks to high standard secondary education, and attendance to universities. These proposed cuts look to undo this work and are a cause for real concern for those residing in the North East.
The Governement plans to introduce tighter caps on the number of students studying “lowquality” degrees such as the social sciences Image: Pexels
the courier
news
4
Monday 23 March 2020
New alcohol prices could Georgia Corbett save up to 2000 lives in NE ten year fight for
Lucy Adams interviews Georgia Corbett about he
Research by University of Sheffield suggests that the rate of alcohol consumption in North East would fall by 7.7% Image: Rawdonfox on Flickr
Elsa Tarring Research conducted by the University of Sheffield reveals that the North East could benefit the most from the introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP).
North East has 22% higher alcohol-related deaths than the national average in the UK
MUP is an initiative that sets a minimum price per unit of alcohol sold. The initiative aims to lower the number of alcohol-related deaths each year, as well as reducing pressure on the NHS. It has already been implement-
ed in Scotland, in 2018, and earlier this March in Wales.
Minimum unit pricing has been debated in parliament for over a decade
The North East has the highest rate of alcohol-related deaths in the country, with 22% higher than the national average. In 2016, the region accounted for 1424 of the 9214 alcohol-related deaths, according to ITV News. The research estimates that MUP could prevent just under 2000 deaths attributable to alcohol over the next 20 years in the North East. According to The Guardian, alcohol is estimated to cost the NHS around £3.5b every year. With the introduction of MUP, it predicts that the NHS in this the North East could save up to £8.5m a year. The rate of al-
cohol consumption in the North East is also estimated to fall by 7.7%. Under MUP, retailers must charge at least 50p per unit, which is measured as 10ml of pure alcohol. One unit is equivalent to approximately half a pint of beer or cider, a single shot of spirits or a small glass of wine. While there is currently no MUP on alcohol in England, the topic has been debated in parliament for over a decade. In 2016, Public Health England conducted a report which gave them the conclusion that “setting a minimum price for alcohol can reduce alcoholrelated harm while saving health-care costs.” Most recently however, the government revealed in July 2019 that it had no plans to introduce MUP. Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health for Gateshead has announced that the introduction of MUP would have “the biggest impact on the heaviest at-risk drinkers, while leaving the average moderate drinker virtually untouched”.
iQ accommodation sold in UK’s largest property deal Grace Dean Editor
The student accommodation company iQ has been sold to Blackstone for £4.7bn in what is the largest-ever private real estate deal in the UK. UK-based iQ, currently owned by US investment bank Goldman Sachs and health research charity Wellcome Trust, has been bought by the US-based private equity firm Blackstone.
iQ owns 67 residences in 27 towns and cities, across the country
iQ is one of the largest student housing firms in the UK, currently owning 67 residences in 27 towns and cities across the country housing over 28,000 students. 52% of iQ’s portfolio is in London, where it is the largest provider of student accommodation. In Newcastle, iQ operates Stephenson House on Stoddart Street in Shieldfield close to the Northumbria campus and the Collingwood site close to Manors Metro. The rising demand for student housing has
made this a particularly lucrative market for investors. It has been reported that there were fewer than 650,000 student accommodation beds for a total of 1.8 million students in the UK last year. Only 32,000 new beds were provided across the UK last year. Of these, almost 90% were provided by private sector accommodation companies rather than university-owned halls. The number of full-time students in the UK is projected to increase further, with experts estimating that the figure will grow by 461,000 by 2030 to reach a total of 2.2m students. This is primarily due to a projected rise in international students, who are expected to constitute 45% of the total. Since 2014, the high demand has seen rents rapidly rise, with those for en-suite accommodation increase by 16% above the rate of inflation, according to a 2019 report by Cushman & Wakefield. A report published last year by the National Union of Students detailed how on average rent now accounts for 73% of the maximum student loan, while the proportion of studio accommodation has more than doubled since 2012/13. For 2019, Newcastle University accommodation ranged from £84.14 per week for a self-catered room with a shared bathroom at St Mary’s, to £175.63 for a catered room with en suite facilities at Castle Leazes. Park View
There were less than 65,000 student accommodation beds for 1.8m UK students
is the University’s newest build, and caters for the largest proportion of first years, with en-suite rooms costing £137.13 a week. From September 2020, the St Mary’s site will no longer be available for students. Furthermore, Newcastle University offers accommodation through a range of managed partnership agreements with private providers, including Liberty Plaza, Newgate Court, The View and Turner Court, Blackstone first ventured into student accommodation when it created Nido with the developer Generation Estates in 2007. Nido now owns three accommodation sites across Newcastle: Union Square, Stepney Yard and The Bridge. Across the UK it caters for students from over 120 Higher Education institutions. Currently 18% of purpose-built student accommodation is owned and operated by companies such as iQ, Downing Students and Vita, while universities own 18% and private rentals 42%.
Georgia Corbett discusses her ten years worth of fighting for a better world. In this years, she has walked 800km to fundraise for Alzheimers UK, protested for abortion and equal marriage rights in her home country of Northern Ireland as a high school student, worked with The Angelou Centre and Citizens UK to shape legislation which defines misogyny as a hate crime, founded a national network of welfare reps within universities, and much more. You’ve been an activist for while. Tell me how you took on that role and the journey you’ve been on since then. I was brought into a legacy of strong women. My grandmother works often in Africa, Sudan primarily, stuff like providing menstrual products, helping to build schools and advocating to end children being enlisted as soldiers. Growing up in Northern Ireland in general could be oppressive; if I expressed an opinion I was opinionated, if I spoke I was loud – anything I did was critiqued in a sexist way. Yet I had this granny in my ear saying: don’t let the bastards grind you down. My campaigning began with my granny within the church. Later, whilst at school, I found LGBT groups where we pushed back against discrimination issues together. Watching same-sex marriage pass in Parliament and then get vetoed over and over was devastating. Fighting and knowing that it may never come through. I got to a point where I was like: I’m sick of this and I feel like I can’t do anything. And then I came to Uni. I really wanted to do something. I saw the privileges that LGBT people have here that we don’t back home and I wanted to bring attention to that and to more nuanced issues within the community and sexual violence.
By the next year I was on the committee, [of It Happens Here] as well as the Disability and Neurodiversity committee. Talk to me about other projects that you’ve worked on. I ran a “subtitle motion” for SU videos to prevent inaccessibility for so many people. That took a really long time and was hard; ReCap still doesn’t have subtitles which is a huge disability issue. I did the Misogyny and Islamophobia Hate Crime Conference last summer, feeding the law that named misogyny as a hate crime. It’s small scale stuff too, like I’ve ran support groups working with survivors for the last two years, every other Wednesday. I sought out training for my whole committee to make sure they were covered and qualified. I reached out to people and I ended up going to sexual misconduct conferences, talking about student services with National providers. I started working with charities and now I work as more of an independent; I get invited, as me, with expenses paid to come and talk about things. Sometimes I’m like: are you sure? I run a national network of students who do what I do, and sabs, and officers. What’s it called? Not on my Campus UK. It’s been several years of building connections at every university possible. We’re trying to build representation across the board, so I get to amplify other voices above my own which I think is so important. You’re a founder! Definitively, that’s making change – creating a system. What does this network do? It’s the only group that exists where students feed information upwards, as opposed to
the courier
5
news
Monday 23 March 2020
t discusses her Chancellor plans for r a better world northern Treasury hub
er time fighting for equality at Newcastle University
Georgia Corbett talks of how her childhood influenced her fight for change Image: NUSU
the other way round, about sexual misconduct. We want to represent student voices and communicate how they’re feeling. We’re making charters to go into SU’s that can hold universities to account more directly, instead of the University creating a charter by which to check themselves. What have you gained from this? It’s been amazing to be able to uplift other people’s voices. What I’ve learned in this sector is that people try to figure out, or sometimes try to tell you, what you need. So it’s knowing that your voice about what you need is just as valuable as everyone else’s. Support services cannot act without the information from people who need support. Has working with others so often made you feel more hopeful? I went through a stage where I turned away from doing this kind of work and then came back to it because my life is so much worse when I’m not doing it. I think that we have a natural disposition towards social responsibility. The more we turn away from each other we’re denying our community aspect – we want to take care of each other. That’s something that needs to be heard right now! Yes! It always makes me think about Peter Singer’s concept of ethical proximity – the idea that if a child’s drowning in front of you you’ll run and save them but if they’re on another continent starving you won’t make the same effort. This sounds counterintuitive but can you talk about – I’m wary of the word “failure” – incidents where you haven’t got through or
been listened to? Definitely. I do wish more people knew, going in, that it can feel hopeless and frustrating because they get disillusioned quickly. You need to learn to celebrate the small victories. The little changes matter - a lot – on a bigger scale. Do you know how many times I’ve run a talk or a film night and no one turned up? It happens. But you have to hang on for that third one when people really engage. You’ve got to reassess how you quantify achievement. Even helping one person is an achievement. What tools do you have to employ to make change day-to-day? These roles in particular have to be filled by people who want to look beyond their own experience. We’ve had conversations asking: “do we vote as our ourselves or our roles?” and in my perspective it has to be our roles. The people who elected me e as Disabilities Officer expect me to represent the needs of disabled students in every decision I make even if it’s against my opinion. Even if there are other issues at play. Disability and environmental issues often clash but because I’m Disability Officer I act with disability interests in mind. It’s also about picking your battles. If you try and do everything you’ll drive yourself mad. You have to organise yourself, and pull yourself back. Which issues have you decided to champion, and which are you auxiliary to? I’ve focused on the handling of sexual violence and misconduct, the mental health provisions, and disability access. I support other activists’ pursuits but I have to restrain myself - in my mind you should not advocate for something you don’t have time to educate yourself on.
Tom Hardwick Online Editor
The Tees Valley has been widely tipped as the location for a new Treasury hub, as chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed plans to move 1500 staff to a base in the north of England. The move coincides with the release of the 2020 budget on the 11th March, just a month after Sunak replaced former chancellor Sajid Javid following a cabinet reshuffle. Along with aiming to negate the economic damage caused by the coronavirus epidemic, the Richmond MP has pledged to enact Boris Johnson’s ‘levelling-up’ agenda by increasing governmental investment in the north. In a broadcast interview with Sky News, Sunak said “it’s not just about building a road here or a railway station there, it’s about ensuring everyone can fulfil their dreams. I want to make sure the Treasury is at the front foot of that. We are driving economic policy in this country, it’s important that we have a
presence everywhere in this country.”
"It's important we have an economic presence everywhere in the country"
Chancellor Rishi Sunak
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen expressed his joy at Sunak’s announcement, stating that “I’m delighted that he has now confirmed that he plans to relocate a substantial number of Treasury jobs out of London as part of a
"I'm delighted Sunak plans to relocate Treasury jobs out of London"
Ben Houchen, Tees Valley mayor
Darlington voted in a conservative MP for the first time in 27 years in the 2019 general election
new economic campus. It is fantastic news.” Houchen recommended that Teesside or Darlington, the latter of whom voted in a Conservative MP for the first time in 27 years in the 2019 general election, would be the ideal site for this new hub. Houchen said:“If it is to work it must be located outside of our major cities, so that it truly represents the North and not just another metropolitan city. Somewhere like Teesside or Darlington would be ideal and would be a demonstration by the Government of their true commitment to levelling up and delivering for people who voted Conservative for the very first time.”
Newcastle University leads industrial centres Newcastle Helix, is a Newcastle University funded national centre that researches cutting edge urban innovation. Image: Newcastle University
Alex Walker Newcastle University is to lead a new £30 million national network of four cuttingedge centres. The centres would enable faster collaborative research and development of electric machines, including cars, planes and ships.
The network aims to tackle climate change and drive UK to reach zero net emissions by 2050
The Driving the Electric Revolution Centres (DER Centres) will provide open access
facilities with state-of-the-art equipment. DER Centres will bring together the UK’s technology and manufacturing expertise in electrification research and development. The goal of the network is to help drive UK manufacturing to tackle climate change and ensure the UK reaches zero net emissions by the target of 2050. The centres will help businesses across numerous sectors to invest and work together to capitalise on the UK’s strengths in technology. Chris Day, the Vice Chancellor of Newcastle University, said: “We are committed to expanding our leading research in this important area and working alongside our regional and national partners [to] help attract foreign investment and the creation of new, innovative projects. The DER Challenge, and the reduction in carbon it will help bring about, is a key focus for research at Newcastle University as we progress towards achieving the Govern-
ment’s carbon neutral target by 2050.” Newcastle University will also head up the DER Centre North East at the Innovation Centre, International Advanced Manufacturing Park, based in Sunderland, in which Sunderland City Council shall invest £18m.
"We are expanding our research to attract foreign investment"
Chris Day. Newcastle University Vice-Chancellor
More than 30 partner research and technology organisations, including 21 UK universities, will be lead by Newcastle, which will boost the place of the North East and the UK’s position as a world leader in global electrification.
the courier
Monday 23 March 2020
Cath Kidston shuts its Grainger Street shop Emily Hawksley
Cath Kiston shop on Newcastle Granger Street is due to shut Image: Geograph
Cath Kidston has left Newcastle, after the company’s Grainger Street store closed on Sunday 15th March. The store opened in November 2012, and was a statement of the time. A spokesperson said that Cath Kidston rapidly expanded 10 years ago and that many of the leases for these stores are coming up for renewal. They went on to say that this provides the oppor-tunity to relocate stores or add new branches in order to best serve the customers. But it is yet to be announced why the Grainger Street shop has closed. Management at the shop have been unable to comment on the closure of the Grainger Street store, however there is a sign which stands outside the main entrance and simply reads: “Farewell Newcastle, it is time for us to go”. Despite the closure of this store, Cath Kidston’s Metrocentre branch remains open, and it is still unknown as to whether the clo-sure will result in job losses or if members of staff will be transferred to the Metrocentre store. It is not the first chain which the company has shut. Earlier this year it closed its Essex branch, and last August, the Harrogate store shut. Cath Kidston is also not the first branch of a big company which has been closed on Grainger Street, as recently both Starbucks and Patisserie Valerie’s shops are now shut. Local businesses are also facing closure as before Christmas, the independent food re-tailer MMM and Glug said that “crippling” business rates were partially to blame as they had to shut suddenly. The owners Simone and Ian Clarkin said in a statement posted on Twitter that it was costing them around £100,000 a year to simply just open the doors. Having already had so many closures, Grainger Street could end up seeing even more stores closing.
scheme revealed for NCL airport named best in Europe New apartments in Ouseburn Maud Webster
For the third time, Newcastle's Airport has been called the best airport in Europe for its size. The Airports Council International (ACI), a non-for-profit organisation which considers itself to be “the voice of the world’s airports”, declared Newcastle Airport the best in the category of five to fifteen million passengers, within Europe. It was also the sole airport in the UK to win an award.
It was the sole airport in the UK to win an award
The award is based on the Airport Service Quality Award, which monitors the levels of customer service, as well as infrastructure investment and a “general airport ambiance”. The chief executive officer for the airport, Nick Jones, told the Chronicle Live that he is “proud that we have been given this title for the third year in a row.” He commented: “2019 was a year of new route announcements and investments, made so that we can continue to develop and provide the best service for our passengers. The ASQ award also represents the dedication that our staff across every department put in over the year, and I am thankful for all of their hard work.”
airlines, and we would like to congratulate the airport’s management and employees for their successful delivery of these aims.” Newcastle Airport continues to participate in the Airport Service Quality programme "The ASO award - the world’s leading customer experience benchmarking scheme - which measures satalso represents the isfaction over thirty-four performance indidedication that our cators. During last year, over half the world’s 8.8 billion travellers flew through an staff across every airport which aligns itself with the ASQ department put in" programme. We will see Newcastle International joining “The airport has taken a long-term stra- the rest of the winning airports at the ASQ tegic focus on developing an outstanding Awards this September in Krakow, Poland. customer experience for our passengers and The Head of Airports Europe for the company AMP Capital also gave comment to the newspaper:
Newcastle Airport's size is praised Image: Geograph
George Boatfield Gaming Editor
While Newcastle has seen a sharp increase in the development of student housing, a new £7.5m multi-storey residential scheme of fifty flats is set to appear in Ouseburn, aimed at first-time buyers and families.
The architects hope to attract first-time buyers
The aim of developers is to regenerate a site which overlooks the River Tyne in Ouse-burn. The idea is for a block of flats to be situ-ated on derelict land off St Lawrence Road. McLundie Geddes Architects plans include a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom apartments alongside on-site parking beneath the building. First-time buyers and families will be attracted by greater choice on offer, according to the architects and the planning consul-tancy behind the new scheme, acting for the developer A&A Properties LLP. Beyond this, the local shops and amenities are set to be within easy reach of this “accessible and quality accommodation. Another appealing aspect of the project comes in the form of employment, with the planning statement proposing that approxi-mately 155 construction jobs could be gen-erated, alongside further stimulation of the local industry via the supply chains sector.
This is all pending on the approval of the plans later on this year, but the applicant seems confident. The firm’s managing direc-tor Sean Hedley welcomes the planning submission, stating that the redevelopment “will unquestionably make a meaningful and significant contribution to the local and wider economy, both during the construction and long after families have moved in.” The statement goes on to posit that the de-sign “responds positively to nearby national designated historic assets” before concluding assuredly, affirming that “the applicant has demonstrated that the site is suitable for development and that no significant harm would arise from the proposal. Therefore, in line with the presumption in favour of sustainable development and should be ap-proved without delay.”
This is all pending on the approval of the plans later on this year, but the applicant seems confident
Hedley echoed this, stating that the project will “leave a long-lasting legacy, contributing significantly to an important part of Newcastle.”
7
the courier
campus comment
Monday 23 March 2020
Deputy Editor Molly Greeves Guest Editors Alex Darbyshire and Joe Molander @courier_latest courier.news@ncl.ac.uk courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk
Ella McCaffrey and Joseph Caddick on a key issue each about the higher ups at the university, and the campus so far this year
The Newcastle pay gap The Chris Day situation
T
o have not heard about the 14-day University and College Union (UCU) strikes that have just taken place at 74 UK universities would be quite a feat. Whether your lectures have been cancelled, you’ve stumbled across University picket lines, or you’ve overheard gossip in the Philip Robinson Library, the strikes have created quite a buzz. However, it is easy to forget the purpose of the strikes, which would undermine their purpose entirely. Did you know that in 2018, only 37% of the Newcastle University staff paid above £46 924 were women? Equally, did you know that if a non-clinical female member of staff received an annual bonus, it was on average 31% lower than the male equivalent? Of course, these are not statistics that any institution would choose to promote, which makes a lack of knowledge across the student body completely understandable. However, the gender pay gap at Newcastle University is 4.4% higher than the average gender pay gap at other UK universities: this is something that can no longer be ignored.
There are fewer women in senior, permanent roles within university
Why does the gender pay gap at Newcastle University exist? This is the key question, and a hard one to answer. The most obvious cause is that fewer women progress to senior, permanent roles within the University. Furthermore, when women do break through the glass ceiling – an invisible barrier that prevents women from progressing to the same occupational level as men – they are likely to earn less than them. Of course, the glass ceiling can be observed across a range of labour markets. However, the UCU suggests that academic institutions place a particularly high value on uninterrupted career paths. This means that if women take a career break, typically to have children, they instantly fall behind their male-counterparts in terms of workplace progression, creating a gap that can be difficult to close. Nevertheless, discourses suggesting that this is an insurmountable problem must be challenged. For example, as of January 2020, Bristol University has actively promoted the career progression of its female staff; the introduction of flexible contracts, including flexible working hours, enable career progression based on merit, rather than sex. Per-
A
haps it is time to ask why Newcastle University has not yet proposed similar contracts? Why is a conversation about gender equality at Newcastle needed now? Actress and activist Emma Watson argues that “if we do nothing it will take 75 years, or for me to be nearly a hundred before women can expect to be paid the same as men for the same work”. If universities continue to be male-dominated, then hiring discrimination will persist, promotional-boards will remain biased in favour of men and male academics will continue to shape the direction of academic research. Yes, strikes may entail cancelled lectures and problematic picket lines, but for Newcastle University to succeed, it is imperative that gender equality is fought for. After all, women represent half of our great human potential. Ella McCaffrey
Image (striker): AP_Davidson on Twitter
Image (Chris Day): Christopher Day on LinkedIn
I
t’s no secret that this year has been a turbulent time for students, and that’s putting it lightly. Between the strikes, scandals and spreading viruses, it seems like we’ve been moving from one bit of negative news to the next. To me, a Vice Chancellor should stand strong and try to keep the peace, not spout shallow soundbites. Soundbites don’t keep the peace. They incite anger. People become annoyed that they don’t have real answers. Articles in the past few weeks have shown this, and given the extent of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s beginning to feel like there’s a disconnect between Chris Day and the student body. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not an easy job to be tackling so many issues at the same time. What truly grinds my gears is the lack of communication. We’ve gotten the odd email here or there, thankfully more frequently regarding the coronavirus situation, but it’s nigh on impossible to get in touch with him during these troubling times. I was told I’d get an email back from a member of staff who’s part of his office; I’m still awaiting a reply. Granted, I’d used some strong language that might have scared them off. Still, we should be able to voice our concerns to him, or at the very least to one of his representatives. Given that next term is going to be taught online, students have been undeniably shortchanged. Not to mention that it deprives u s
Image: YouTube (NUTV)
of a solid chunk of our student experience. Add this to the 22 days of strikes and it’s honestly infuriating. £9250 a year has been squandered, and the Vice Chancellor has done nothing to alleviate people’s concerns. As long as he’s making his sixfigure salary, eh?
Right now, we're being treated like complaining children
Having read the description of the role of Vice Chancellor that was provided by Newcastle University, candidates are expected to “inspire and motivate the entire University community”, and this is to be done by “personally engaging with students, staff and stakeholders”. I’m of the opinion that in order to do this, students need to be listened to. Right now we’re treated like complaining children, briefly acknowledged and then ignored whilst the adults carry on as they were. There’s only so many times that can happen before unrest develops, and frankly, I think we’re at that point now. Something needs to be done. Many students I’ve spoken to are unhappy and want partial refunds. Chris Day has failed “personally engage” with me, he didn’t even get another member of staff to personally engage with me. What he did was hide behind the veil of “being busy”, when part of what makes him busy is meant to be preventing panics among students. And such a person is meant to “inspire and motivate” us? It’s delusional. Over the past few days I’ve become of the opinion that students need a bigger say in who becomes Vice Chancellor, or a stringent evaluation procedure. There could be votes whenever a Vice Chancellor decides to step down, with the student community also getting to consider any applicants. The student body could scrutinise them closely, holding them to account when they act against our interests. Unfortunately, right now people are scared, confused and demoralised, and I think a better response to these issues would have done well to prevent hysteria. It’s safe to say that if I were to evaluate Chris Day’s performance right now, he’d be getting a big fat zero, which fits nicely with his policies of zero-action, zero-motivation and zeroempathy.
Are SU election debates necessary?
Patrick Harland moderated the 2020 Education Officer debate. Here's what he thinks should be changed
lot of fuss has been made in the past week over the debates for the sabbatical positions in the university. Most had poor attendance and fairly low views on the streaming platforms used by student media. Despite this, I am here to argue that the debates are vital for electing candidates that
represent you. Further, I think we can reach a stage where they become an important, if not the most important step in the process for a candidate’s election. This is primarily down to the fact that each candidate is competing for a paid role with a graduate salary. This alone makes it vital to ensure that each candidate is questioned and put on the spot about their policies, ideas and intentions in the role. Otherwise, candidates would gain a valuable paid job for what is essentially a popularity contest.
The debates suffer from a lack of interest and from a lack of exposure
One could make the argument against the debates that they aren’t very effective, and are often seen as being run unfairly in favour of certain candidates. However, part of the issue with the debates is that there just isn’t enough interest or exposure. They would be far more effective with a bigger audience that care more about their repre-
sentation and thus the results of the SU elections.
Debates help hold candidates to account, which is badly needed
The debates are currently something of a formality. Much like persistent flyering and covering the students’ union in posters, it’s something all the candidates do, but arguments about how effective they are can be made for both sides. The debates allow people to really get to know candidates, and crucially put pressure on them to defend what they believe. However, the impact that the debates have are so minimal compared to almost every other part of the campaign that it must be questioned how necessary they are in the grand scheme of the elections. With more preparation, more exposure and more interest developed in the debates, they would be a far more effective tool. They would provide a platform for candidates, as well as an opportunity for students to have their questions presented
Joseph Caddick
and answered by those who will take hold of the University they attend. They would also help hold candidates to account, something desperately needed.
Images: Joe Molander
comment
the courier
Monday 23 March 2020
@courier_latest courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/comment Comment Editors Aastha Malik, Joe Molander & Kelly Corcoran
THE CORONAVIRUS IN FOCUS
As COVID-19 continues to spread and countries go into lockdown, three of our writers offer up their opinions and experiences
Government responses, under the microscope Patrick Harland and Alex Walker mull over the situation in America and across Europe, and ask if the state is doing enough
D
espite the inaction of the UK government in combatting the current crisis facing us, there are governments across the globe whose actions are far less controversial. Here I will give focus to some of the actions our government should be taking to aid us in fighting the increasingly ’ m lucky enough to have an uncle who doesn’t live somewhere rubbish like Baildon (an interesting suburb of Bradford, known as Britain's best), but rather the beautiful, isolated land of Apulia in Southern Italy. Beautiful olive groves older than Rome, white stucco cities, and beer for a Euro. Given this virus lark, I decided to give him a ring, and see how Italy is doing at the moment. “It feels like wartime,” he tells me, “You need a pass to
I
Image: The Telegraph on YouTube
problematic coronavirus. The Italian government is well documented to have taken action by putting its populace in lockdown with travel bans and other measures despite riots and people flaunting the new rules. Across the country citizens must get permission for even essential travel, with those who lie facing fines or potentially jail sentences. People are forbidden to gather in public with only trips to supermarkets and pharmacies being sanctioned. However, despite facing the tough actions of the government and the highest death toll outside of China, the spirit of the Italian people can be seen clearly through the balcony singing throughout the country, people purely leave the house, only the supermarkets and pharmacies are open. It’s like the end of the world.” It feels sad. Bari, the city that he has lived in for twenty-five years, has always been indomitable. Few tourists, unpretentious, beautiful, and always charmingly wild. It’s hard to imagine the place cowed, the mad spirit of Italy broken, the crazy streets empty, the packed-out bars closed. We talk about how it got so bad in Italy. “The problem is Southern Italians go and work in the north. Some government gimp leaked the fact that they were planning to cordon off the north, and in one day, nine thousand people came home on the train.” He goes on, and criticises Johnson for doing nothing, but it is this that I find the most interesting. Both the government and British universities have
letting each other know that they are there.
The US government has taken decisive action, including extensive flight bans
Meanwhile, the US government has also taken decisive action. To an already extensive list, the UK and Ireland have been added to the countries facing flight bans into the nation. Aside from those returning US citizens, all flights are being cancelled; returning US citizens still then facing two weeks in isolation to slow the spread of the virus. Although cases have been reported in every single state, many of those have very few cases so the current measures appear to be working somewhat to at least slow the progression failed to send students – who tend to live in cities, home. Once we all head back, the chances are we will take the virus back with us. The infection will spread with us, just like it spread from the north of Italy to the south. And then there will be no options, once the virus is spreading actively in every community, the government will have no choice but to put everyone under house arrest, just as the Italians have. If Johnson does not take the virus seriously now, the
of the virus. This has been vital in allowing healthcare services the time to prepare and treat each person case by case. Similarly, the French government has put the country ‘on a war-footing’ in an attempt to combat the virus. All non-essential movement has been banned from the 17 March onwards for 15 days, with all residents being compelled to remain at home and punishments being put in place for those who break this imposed quarantine. The military will also be used, in two ways. First, they will transport those suffering to hospitals; second, military hospitals are to be utilised for the general public. They have also taken the action to postpone local elections until a safer time. There are numerous other measures being taken by various governments, some of which are in a very similar situation to our own in terms of the number of cases, population and the rate at which the virus is spreading through the country. It is clear that our government in the UK must start taking far more action, akin to their international counterparts. The current inaction leaves the public not only vulnerable, uncertain, and at risk, but it also suggests a severe lack of leadership from our governing body. In this hour of peril, that is something that we need that desperately. Patrick Harland spirit of Britain shall break as well. Worse, people will die. Lots of people.
Alex Walker
On the idiocy of stockpiling Lilla Marshall considers the consumer angle, from toilet roll to takeaways, to ask why our crisis response has been so poor
S
upermarkets across the UK are struggling to keep up with the demands of the British public for toilet paper, hand sanitizer and dried pasta as the public shows it has no idea how to deal with a crisis. Let me be clear – COVID-19 is a very scary threat, if it can’t be contained it will lead to the deaths of thousands of loved ones and as the days tick on, it’s looking like we are struggling to contain it. Government advice, at the time of writing, is to wash your hands reg-
ularly and avoid unneeded social contact. Unfortunately, the British public seem to have ignored this advice and came up with their own ways of protecting themselves: actively making the issue worse in the process. Those who have stockpiled hand sanitiser have shown a clear misunderstanding on how washing your hands actually helps in this case. For washing your hands to actually be an effective method of combating COVID-19 – it requires everybody to do their bit.
The British public seem to have ignored this advice and came up with their own ways of protecting themselves
If one person buys all of the hand sanitiser, then everyone else (including society’s most vulnerable) are left with nothing, putting them more at risk of infection, which in turn, makes the person who stockpiled the hand sanitiser more at risk of infection. Congratulations, you played yourself.
The public have also taken it upon themselves to avoid Chinese restaurants and takeaways, with many of these businesses reporting online that they are struggling to stay open as their nights are becoming very, very quiet. You’d imagine with the advice of social distancing and self-quarantine, this would be a good time of year to be a takeaway. Clearly, however, some people have made the racist connection that since COVID-19 originated in China, all Chinese people must be avoided. This absolutely abhorrent behaviour is leading to some people having a financial burden, as well as the burden from the disease. Now, the government certainly aren’t helping matters. The lack of transparency has people scared that they might not be able to go and buy food if worst comes to worst, so they are panic and stockpile. This leads to others seeing that the supplies in shops are dwindling, so they feel that they have to stockpile themselves. Some leadership from the government could mean a lot here, but we can’t excuse the individuals either. Many look back and admire how the British public “pulled together” at the times of World War II. We will look back at how we reacted and treated others in the events of COVID-19 and feel deeply ashamed of ourselves and our society.
Image: Joe Molander
the courier
9
comment
Monday 23 March 2020
The struggle to give up 'bossy' ROAST OF THE WEEK Patrick Young speaks his mind on our continued cultural obsession with gendered language
G
endered language is often detrimental to a nuanced view of whole communities of people. Why, then, have people struggled to give up language that creates a pejorative idea of women? Why can men be commanding, but women can only be bossy?
2014
Ban Bossy campaign is launched by LeanIn.org, bringing international attention to gendered language
This ultimately stems from misogyny, or the idea that the notion that a woman can be powerful, and commanding, usually implies that they have dominated over their male counterparts. This is not the case. Maybe, just maybe, a woman is your manager because she worked hard, and was the most deserving person for the job, Gary!
The word "bossy" is detrimental to discourse, and diminishes female accomplishments
I feel like Boomers remain hard to convince on this idea as gendered language is one of the only parts of their culture that they have left. All this new-fangled complexity around gender, and employment must be really hard to comprehend. Surely, in 2020, we can see how calling a woman “bossy”, for example, is detrimental to discourse, and ultimately diminishes the achievements of that woman into only being accomplished due to her intimidation
and aggression. The end of gendered language may be where this revolution can start, because who cares if small-minded people view their female bosses as “bossy” or young adult women as “sweet” and “cute”, because this focus on femininity is prehistoric. What is femininity? Why are people so obsessed with making sure that these double standards continue into contemporary discourse? The 20th century view of women is limiting, not all women like to be “sweet” or innocent. So why should all women be forced into small boxes? People need to just understand that times change, and our language needs to catch up.
Since interest in the gendered use of the term 'bossy' was generated in the UK and US, the Centre for Creative Leadership conducted a study on its interplay with the workplace. They found that female employees are more likely to be deemed bossy than their male counterparts, despite being almost exactly as likely to have engaged in "bossy beaviours" . The research was published as a white paper entitled "Bossy: What’s Gender Got to Do with It?", and is freely available online
Image: Joe Molander
Students' thoughts on the decision to repeal the infamous 5% tax on female hygiene products
A
I
Period poverty sees 49% of girls sometimes miss whole days of school Over recent months, the issue of period poverty has become a key social issue in the UK. With figures showing that young girls, refugees, and women on low incomes across the country were struggling to afford basic sanitary products each month, the significance of the issue became obvious. This heightened the unjust and indefensible taxation on items such as tampons and sanitary towels. With the removal of the taxation upon them, figures such as 49% of girls sometimes missing whole days of school due to an inability to afford proper period hygiene products will likely see a fall. Despite the positivity of this, we cannot ignore the other ludicrous and incomprehensible taxation placed on other female items, which demonstrates the prejudiced attitudes towards women’s hygiene in the UK. For example, in 2016, price differences between male and female ra-
ago – with £12.17 of that being on VAT – an amount equivalent to a decent weekly shop at Aldi. It has taken so long for the tampon tax to be abolished because of EU regulations, which treated them as a luxury as opposed to essential, meaning a tax of no lower than 5% had be added to their cost. Now that Brexit has returned the choice firmly to the UK government, we see that matters such as ‘period poverty’ are being acknowledged by those in higher (national) authority. After having five different tax rates places on sanitary products since 1973, it can be seen that the government is finally paying attention to these issues.
zors w e r e brought to light, with Boots UK charging £2.29 for a women’s 8-pack of razors, and £1.49 for a men’s 10-pack. Meanwhile, in 2019, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine argued that “products marketed at women are on average considerably more expensive that those marketed at men”, the difference usually deriving merely from the products’ colour. Thus, from sanitary products to razors and deodorants, women are constantly faced with higher hygiene prices than men. This ‘pink tax’ that we see day-to-day highlights that while the tampon tax marks a huge success for female equality, the unfair and unnecessary targeting of women’s products still exists. Further, it demonstrates that attitudes towards men’s and women’s hygiene are not equal. Does this taxation infer that female shaving is less important or necessary than men’s? This would be an ironic position to infer, considering the constant targeting that women face with regards to bodily hair and grooming. We can celebrate the success of the (albeit very slow) acknowledgement of the unjust and unfathomable taxation of sanitary products, but the inequalities that are still present surrounding women’s hygiene must still be brought to attention. The continued circulation of the gender pay gap throughout society makes the impacts of these sexist taxations even more prominent. Kelly Corcoran
W
hile the unfortunate ending to current 3rd or 4thyears’ time at university probably isn’t on the top of the nation’s priority list for concern right now, it is a very sad end nonetheless. After two and a half brilliant years in Newcastle, mine and hundreds alike have found our time in this city cut unexpectedly short thanks to the infamous Coronavirus. Without a proper chance to say goodbye, students have dashed from beautiful Jesmond and the city centre alike in a hurry to get home before a potential lockdown, and likely will not be returning after Easter. While these measures are understandably necessary, it certainly wasn’t the farewell that I, or any of my friends were expecting. No final trips to Tynemouth, or the infamous quayside spoons in the sun, no final nights out, and no grad or course balls to properly grace our goodbyes. After three years of building friendships and exploring this wonderful city, it is under very unfortunate circumstances that we depart from this city. However, let’s not be too pessimistic yet, we could still have to chance to come back for one last term and one last goodbye. But if not, Newcastle you have been splendid, and thank you to everyone who has made my time here so special.
TOAST OF THE WEEK
Is scrapping the tampon tax enough? bolishing the tampon tax is a clear indication that social issues are at the forefront of the government’s reforms post-Brexit, and that Parliament are willing to listen. According to a BBC News calculator, I have spent £271.71 on sanitary products since starting my period six years n the recently announced 2020 budget, the 5% tax implemented on women’s sanitary products was confirmed to be removed in 2021. Once categorised as a “non-essential, luxury item”, the removal of this tax marks a huge success, and a shift forwards in the drive for women’s equality. Items such as condoms are famously not taxed, while tampons still are. However, whether this is a complete success – and a sign that the government is committed to removing all prejudiced taxes on female products – remains ambiguous.
A VERY SAD GOODBYE DBYE KELLY CORCORAN
It has been estimated that a woman will now save £40 over her lifetime. While that may not seem a lot to some people, others could manage to buy four weeks’ worth of shopping with that amount.
The government finally care about period poverty What will the government do with all the money it has collected from the taxation of sanitary products? The government are left with £700million, and many are pushing for this to be spent on women’s charities and organisations. If the government decide to put more money into these charities, it will be even more obvious that they are finally listening to social issues such as ‘period poverty’. Meg Howe The policy was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak earlier this month
Image: Wikipedia
THE COURIER JOE MOLANDER
B
efore I came to the Courier, I was doing standup comedy. In comedy, you deal with ego every single day, which made me the ideal candidate for editing a section about politics. Then I realised I didn’t want to do it anymore, for the first time since 2013. The thing to which I’d devoted all of my teenage years just got up and left, and what remained was a hole in my life. The Courier is the only other thing I’ve done that’s matches that level of enthusiasm, potential for creative flare and dedication, and thankfully with a lot less ego (unless I’m in the office). It’s no secret that student media involvement isn’t the key to being popular, and I’m glad (shut up, I am). The people who make this paper every week cast aloofness to one side, and let their drive, talent and generosity known to everyone who has the pleasure to work with them.
SOAPBOX CING SOCIAL DISTANCING AASTHA MALIK
W
hile the world seems to be coming to a screeching halt because of the increasing spread of coronavirus, social distancing has become the most common recommendation by experts in order to flatten the curve. Yet, you will still find Instagram stories of people you know hanging at their favorite club or taking advantage of the low flight fares, with absolutely NO REGARD for anyone but themselves. It seems bizarre that this even has to be said but stay at home people! You finally have an excuse to just be home and binge your favorite shows but NOW you decide you want to be the socialite of the century? Take this seriously. Your peer international students are all scrambling to get home, fighting anxiety about what happens to their visas. Students without access to the internet are worrying about their education. The most vulnerable members of society are scared to even go grocery shopping. And you’re telling me staying at home and distancing is a problem? This is a hard time for a lot of people. We need to fight this together as a community to come out on top. Grow your heart and choose to be better. Stay. At. Home.
10
life & style
c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk Life & Style Editor Nimra Rafique Lifestyle Editors Catherine Entwistle, Cecilia Adamou, Holly Margerrison & Jess Herbert Guest Editor Grace Dean
A recipe for relaxation
the courier
Monday 23 March 2020
Joseph Caddick discusses the theraputic nature of baking and its effects on wellbeing
U
ni life is hard. Between the deadlines, grades and social pressures, you don’t get to relax a lot. Combine that with having anxiety and it can add even more to that constant pile of stress. There’s one thing I’ve found that’s really helped me when I’ve been at my most stressed; baking. There’s a reason why baking is so popular. You get food at the end of it, which is always great. You can put on your favourite playlist and sing along whilst you’re mixing some batter, which is great too. And, even if only for a little while, it takes your mind off everything else you can stress about, which is also great. Second year’s been pretty tough on me and many others, so that brief moment where I don’t have to worry about academia or my social life is bliss. Sure, baking brings with it its own brand of stress. Have I put the right amount of ingredients in? Will I end up burning my cookies? Are those cupcakes going to sink? They’re some of the questions I’ll ask myself on repeat until I’ve reached the end product. Believe me, it’s easy to make a mistake, and I’ve made all of those mistakes before. The difference is that it’s even easier to move on from those mistakes when you’re baking. Of course, there are some pitfalls that you can fall into when it comes to using baking to cope with the pressure of uni life. Images: Nick Youngson on nyphotographic
Stress eating is a major worry, and something I’ve indulged in during exam periods when it seems like everything is going to go wrong and failing is inevitable. There’s a way around this though. Sharing your bakes with your friends, flatmates and course-mates is a good way to avoid eating everything, and it’s always nice to see people’s faces when you offer them something you’ve made.
Baking is also a conversation starter; everyone wants to talk to the person carrying cupcakes
It’s also an easy conversation starter; everyone wants to talk to the person carrying a box of bakes. Just don’t get downtrodden if they don’t take one, because sometimes it’s not hard to see why someone will turn down your latest batch of jelly bean cookies, be it dietary or just because they’re not hungry. Another problem that can come up when you bake often is money. Ingredients (like everything else) aren’t cheap. You can always try and ask any of your flatmates if they have spare flour or icing sugar, and more often than not I’ve been lucky enough in that regard and they’ve let me use them. Usually this is in return for some of what I’ve baked, of course; everyone becomes a shrewd businessperson if there’s food involved. One of the great things about baking is that it encourages you to be a little adventurous as well. You can always try and slightly alter the recipe. As you’d expect it’s a gamble, and things can go wrong very easily (and often do), but then it gives you more to keep in mind for the next time. It’s surprisingly scientific that way.
This is something that is true for cooking as well, which is basically the same thing really. Just last weekend I tried altering a pizza recipe I’d used a couple of weeks before to make a stuffed crust one. Miraculously, it worked, and I couldn’t have been more proud. Pride definitely comes from making food as well, and again even if it’s temporary you feel great for that moment. The pride never goes away though, which is nice. There is also a social component to baking that can make it even more fun, and an excuse to throw yourself out there and meet more new people. Obviously that’s scary when you’re anxious, because there’s a worry that they might not like you or that things will be awkward, but everyone bonds over their baking, regardless of whether it goes right or wrong. It brings people together. I’ve been a member of the Baking Society this year and it’s been brilliant for helping me be more social, everyone is so friendly and you get rewarded in food, which is never a bad thing.
Only recently have I realised just how baking has made me more confident and happier overall
Teamwork is really helpful in baking too, and I’ve learned some really valuable tips (mostly regarding decoration) from friends of mine who have way more experience than I could ever hope to have. Baking is something I’ve always enjoyed, but only recently I’ve realised just how important it’s been in making me feel more confident and happier overall. It’s a learning curve that can feel as intense as uni in the heat of the moment, but there’s no pressure and even when things go wrong you don’t feel like your world is falling down, at least not long term anyway.
Image: Instagram: @octvwdy
Throughout uni, baking has definitely helped me keep calm(ish) during the more stressful moments, and that’s something I’m very grateful for. And the food it’s generated, I’m grateful for that too.
A love letter to friendship: the antidote to loneliness Beth Robson shares her story of finding life-long friendship amid the chaos of uni life
I
Image: Stories on Freepik
started off my ‘career’ as a writer for the Courier this year with an article about toxic friendships. Hurt from previous failed friendships, I was apprehensive to make new friends. What I did not know was that over the coming year I would make friends with some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Often overlooked in favour of romantic or familial love, the love between friends is, in my opinion, unmatched. The Ancient Greeks had a phrase for the intensity we feel for our friends; ‘philia’. Unlike with ‘pragma‘ (long-lasting, or romantic love) and ‘storge‘ (familial love), the Ancient Greeks use of ‘philia‘ represented a feeling of self-sacrifice and camaraderie for your friends. In modern English, the best translation would be ‘true friendship’ but that doesn’t really come close. As a graduate in English Language, I know full well that there are words in many languages that we could do with in English; ‘philia’ is one of them. Yes, this phrase has been… co-opted… in English to denote seedy behaviour, but the original meaning of the phrase shouldn’t be lost! If the Ancient Greeks (literal pioneers of modern Western philosophy) recognised the importance of
friendship, perhaps we should too. After all, friendship is good for us; there’s even science to back this up! Numerous studies have found that friendships are key in the maintenance of good mental health and have positive influences on our self-worth and selfesteem. Having gone through a brief bout of loneliness during my time at university, I can vouch personally for the life-changing affects making friends in the office has had on me. According to a survey conducted by Sodexo almost half (46%) of students in the UK have felt lonely at one point or another during their studies, compared to the global average of 32%. Loneliness is also incredibly prevalent in the international communities here at university, as discussed by Courier writer Arifah Badlishah in the article linked below. It’s clear to see that universities have a problem with loneliness, and that if you are feeling alone, you’re very likely not alone in that. So, this is where the importance of friendship can really be felt; my mental health before and after joining the Courier team are on polar opposite ends of the spectrum! Since joining the Courier, I have felt supported, cared for, and heard; it’s great! We’re silly, we can have a laugh, and we really do care about each other. If someone is going through a hard time, we look after them. When someone achieves something amazing (like being shortlisted for a SPANC award!), we celebrate. And now that so many of us are leaving, we’re reminiscing and mourning the time we thought we had left together. It’s special, and a very unique kind of love that I’ve never quite felt before. Nowhere have I felt more inspired creatively than in the Courier office surrounded by my colleagues. Contrary to what Alex Williams of The New York Times writes, my friendships with my work colleagues have been some of the most enriching in my life, and I’m devastated to leave.
We are there, and always will be there, to lift people up and support them in reaching their potential. Perhaps the lack of itching for a pay-rise or promotion, or the fact that we’re still at university, has allowed my friendship with other sub-editors to flourish; who knows? But what I can definitively say is that having these friendships has made my life better.
We’re silly, we can have a laugh, and we really do care about each other
As many of us go into self-isolation or are now faced with the reality of graduation and friends moving away earlier than we had thought, it’s more important than ever to reach out to your friends. It’s also really important to let yourself be sad. Loneliness is a disease; it creeps into our lives and destroys so much of our being without us even really noticing until it’s consumed us. Friendships are, therefore, so unbelievably important in such uncertain and scary times. As we move onto other walks of life, the memories made with our friends will last forever. Hold onto them tight, and don’t take the time you have together for granted. Dedicated to my lovely friends at the Courier, who have without a shadow of a doubt changed my life forever. Wherever we go, we will always have each other and always be our treasured Courier family. I love you all so much.
the courier
11
lifestyle life & style
Monday 23 March 2020
Ready, set, grow
Cora Herbert dons her gardening gear to discuss bringing Mother Nature into your student house
E
veryone needs a way of escaping life’s daily stresses, so why not try something new as we head into spring? Get in touch with Mother Earth and follow these tips to bring some green into your life.
Houseplants
Time to jump on the bandwagon – these days your house is not complete without a leafy addition to brighten the room. But a droopy plant is not a happy sight – so how do you keep houseplants alive? And which ones do you get? There’s loads of info out there but here is a quick guide to houseplants for students. Some great starter plants are spider plants, ivy and aloe vera. Succulents and cacti are also fool-proof ways of bringing some greenery into your room. When it comes to buying your plants, look in supermarkets and garden centres. Alternatively, the house plant sale that comes to the SU is well worth paying a visit to get your botanical
bargains. In terms of keeping your plants alive, it’s easier than you think. It may seem basic, but the only thing you should have to do is water your plants. If you’ve set them up with a good supply of sunlight and plenty of room to grow then most plants will take care of themselves. This might sound like an odd one but bear with me – dust your plants. I know you probably haven’t dusted a single thing since you’ve been at university, but cleaning the leaves keeps your plants looking fresh and glossy.
Herb pots
Looking to take your spag bol to the next level? Fresh herbs are a great way to add flavour and bring a bit of zest to your dishes. Luckily, they’re much easier than you think to look after. The ‘cheat’ option is to buy a live plant from the supermarket, but there’s also the option of sowing your own seeds. Garden centres and even some
supermarkets have seed packets, plant pots and compost mixes to get you started. Although it might seem like a faff, having herbs readily available year-round is a bit of a game-changer. You can grow your herbs inside or outside, but remember that some of your more delicate herbs like mint, coriander and parsley might struggle in the colder months. The key thing to remember is making sure your pot has space to drain – this just means a hole in the bottom so the water can flow through. Other than that you’re good to go! If you’re feeling like you’ve mastered the basics, then maybe it’s time for something a little more adventurous. Sprinkle a packet of mixed salad leaves seed in an old baking tray full of compost and cover with another thin layer of soil – then just water and wait for hassle-free salad! Or, try popping some dried peas in a pot of soil and grow some pea shoots to make your salads extra bougie.
Always look on the hygge side of life Meg Howe explains how you can adopt the Danish concept of hygge
A
hygge (pronounced hue-guh) lifestyle is a central part of the Danish culture. It is the idea that one should live their life through eliminating any stress, and taking happiness and pleasure in the small things in life – and fortunately, usually these things are free. The lexeme ‘hygge’ can be used as a noun or a verb, as well as an adjective: someone can be described as a ‘hyggespreader’, someone who spreads the lifestyle and hygge ideas. The term derives from Old Norse language to mean comfort or console; this is the source of the English word “hug”. This therefore creates connections of everything associated with the feeling of getting a hug: embrace, warmth, safety, happiness, and closeness. Due to these positive everyday emotions that accompany the hygge lifestyle, it doesn’t require learning the howto or necessarily buying anything – making it very easy to build and embrace a successful lifestyle around this concept. Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institution in Copenhagen, has studied this cultural concept
and is among those who state that Hygge is the reason for economic happiness in Denmark. The Danish city of Copenhagen does not conform to the stereotype of a ‘normal’ city; the prevalence of the hygge lifestyle there means it lacks the busy, stressful vibe, and remains calm and relaxed. But how can the normal British person live hygge? There are a number of things that you or I can do to ensure that we are finding happiness in the small things we enjoy. Firstly, finding a place to be mindful of your lifestyle is a focal starting point. A “hygge nook” is a Danish place where hygge can take place; it is usually decorated in a way that pleases the individual with little effort and minimal design. Secondly, by lighting candles you are more likely to feel relaxed and happy within this place. Whether it is the sweet scents that you enjoy or the tranquility of looking into the tiny, flickering flame, candles can create an ambient environment that many of us can learn to take pleasure in. In Denmark, candles are very popular, with Danes going through more candles than anywhere else in the world – so I’m sure that this is a brilliant way of achieving that stress-free lifestyle we all long for. Just be careful if you live in halls and private rented accommodation as any burns left on the carpet can be very costly. The centre of the hygge mood is being relaxed and comfortable, so a perfect way to embrace this lifestyle is to ditch the jeans and replace them with a comfy set of PJs. Especially in the winter, this feeling of comfort can be achieved
through warm clothes (that give off the same feeling as a warm hug), perched in a “hygge nook” and reading a book. Similarly, another common hygge activity is singing songs – a common Danish pastime – and releases endorphins that make us feel happy.
Danes go through the most candles in the world
By bringing in these Danish pleasures, we will all be able to achieve a perfect hygge lifestyle!
Don’t opt out
I
n spring of this year, the law on organ donation is changing. On 20 May, every single person in England will automatically be assumed to be an organ donor after they die meaning that anyone who doesn’t want to be, must actively say so by opting out and taking their name off the register. We welcome this new opt-out system in the hope that it will encourage more people to donate and therefore contribute to solving the shortage of organs available for people in need of transplants. As a transplant patient myself, I know first-hand how important this is. There are a number of reasons a person may need an organ transplant and in total, there are over 6,000 people waiting for one right now, here in the UK. Ten years ago, I was one of these people. Born with congenital heart disease, I went into heart failure at just 10 years old after having major heart surgery that went wrong. I was placed on a ventilator and relied on around the clock care to keep me alive. Most evenings, my parents would leave not knowing whether I would make it through the night. Eventually, after 4 months on the intensive care unit, my family and I were told that the only way I would survive was if I received a heart transplant. I was transferred to The Freeman hospital in Newcastle where after a month waiting, I received my gift of life. Unfortunately, because I had been ill for so long, my kidneys failed too. After spending 2 years on dialysis, my Mum (live) donated one of hers to me in 2012 and I have been well ever since. Others aren’t as lucky as me though as there simply aren’t enough organs to go around. 3 people in the UK die every day waiting for a transplant. This law change, brought about through years of campaigning, aims to solve this problem. Contrary to misconceptions that you will no longer have a choice as to whether you donate your organs after your death and will be forced to do so, everyone still has the choice to opt – out. However, as someone who has the heart of a total stranger beating inside me, I want to convince you not to. You don’t need your organs after you die but there are people who desperately do. The opportunity to save a life doesn’t occur often but advances in medical science mean that everyone has the chance to. One person can save around 9 lives through organ donation and improve the lives of over 50 people through cell and tissue donation. You’re not limited by age or gender– I received my heart from a middle aged man - or race. In fact, BAME organs are the least commonly donated meaning that members of minority groups are less likely to receive well-matched organs and on average, spend more time waiting on the transplant list. Most importantly, whether you’ve decided to remain on the organ donation list and donate your organs after your death, or have opted-out and decided against it, your family and loved ones always have the final say. So, talk to them. Tell them of your wishes. If you want to pass your organs on to give somebody else the chance to live, let your family know so that if the worst was to happen, they’d know what you wanted. My life was saved by a stranger. Someone I never met. Thousands of people in the UK, from tiny babies to fully grown adults, are waiting for their lifesaving transplants just like I once was. Perhaps, one day, hopefully a long time from now, you may have the chance to be the one that saves them. Don’t opt-out. Cecilia Adamou
Images: AnnaliseArt on Flickr
the courier
12
life & style travel
Problematic pandemics
Airlines crash land and currencies fall: Madeleine Raine discusses how COVID-19 affects travel
A
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
s the coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, has been sweeping across the world, it has left its mark not only on those who have been in contact with the virus but also on thousands of companies in every country. Due to new government incentives to prevent the further spread of the virus by advising against all unnecessary travel, travel companies across the globe are beginning to face a large crisis that could leave hundreds and thousands of staff without a job. Flybe in particular has suffered with its announcement that it has gone into administration on the 5th March putting 2000 jobs at risk: Flybe released this statement claiming that COVID-19 unfortunately had a large part to play in the disruption of
Travel companies across the globe are beginning to face a large crisis
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
their company. The fact that Flybe operates regionally immediately deemed it a vulnerable company who would suffer in the case of a pandemic such as COVID-19. Flybe operate around 40% of the UK’s regional flights meaning they have lost a large amount of their revenue due to the increased precautions and government advice in the face of this growing virus. As of yet it is unknown whether Flybe will be able to surface from this or whether the virus was in fact the final blow for this small airline company. It is not just airlines that are suffering with this new onslaught however, with hundreds and thousands of Britons facing decisions when it comes to flying. With the Easter holidays fast approaching, many who were looking forward to their holidays are now beginning to have second doubts. With China, South Korea and now Italy enforcing its own quarantine, many holiday-goers have been faced with the disappointment of not being able to travel.
The travel industry is a crucial asset to the smooth flow of the global economy. It is the only industry that can comfortably boast the fact that it supports 1 in 10 jobs. The travel industry does not relate solely to airline companies, but also supports hotels, restaurants, retail, and even technology. With the increasing modernisation of our world today, the importance of travel whether for business, or leisure, is too crucial to ignore. Without the demand that the travel industry is usually host to, millions of jobs around the globe are threatened. With the uncertainty surrounding this virus and the continuing work by researchers and scientists to unravel more of its mystery, airline companies have taken it upon themselves to be highly accommodating with their passengers. For those whose travel plans have been directly affected by the virus, meaning entry into the country is impossible under government restrictions, then a full refund will be offered. For those on long-haul flights that pass-through Asia information regarding travel and whether refunds would be available are more easily gathered by the airline company itself. Those with trips booked to countries like Asia and Australia should have already been contacted individually regarding the nature of the trip and the feasible course of action. The start of the new decade has certainly been a stressful and worrying one and we are certainly far from ridding ourselves of this virus. However, the main message to take away from this all is the importance of excellent self-hygiene and solidarity in a time that is very daunting indeed. As Boris Johnson announced at Downing Street, “Our country remains extremely well prepared. We already have a fantastic NHS, fantastic testing systems and fantastic surveillance of the spread of disease”. Whilst British cases are growing in size, the excellence of the NHS and the power of the people can and will help fight COVID-19.
Noteworthy Northumberland Image: Michael Hanselmann from Wikicommons
Emma McCartney shares her love for the beautiful sights Northumberland has to offer
G
rowing up in the North East of England, I was lucky enough to have the wonders of Northumberland right on my doorstep. I have many happy memories of family day-trips to the likes of Alnwick, Bamburgh and Lindisfarne. As a county, Northumberland has so much to offer, in terms of history, culture, and scenery. So whether you want to find out more about the heritage of our neighbouring county, or simply want to immerse yourself in the breath-taking rural landscapes, Northumberland is a place you really ought to explore during your time at university in Newcastle. Northumberland is home to more castle sites than any other county in the country, with over seventy to its name. From the romantic ruins of Dunstanburgh and Berwick castles, to those fully restored to their former glory, such as Bamburgh castle, Northumberland is rich with fascinating history and astounding architecture. My personal favourite is Alnwick Castle – the country’s second largest inhabited castle (after Windsor Castle), which has been home to the Percy family for over seven hundred years. Right by the castle, is the stunning Alnwick
Monday 23 March 2020
courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Travel Editors: Amy Harris, Meggie Williams and Beth Robson
Garden, which offers twelve acres worth of meandering, and houses the world’s largest tree house Restaurant and biggest Tai Haku Cherry Tree Orchard. And for you Potterheads out there, Alnwick Castle was also a primary filming site for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Or if you’re looking for a spine-chilling experience, visit the appropriately named Chillingham Castle, notorious for being one of the most haunted castles in the country. Another fascinating and historic place to visit in Northumberland is Lindisfarne, or ‘Holy Island’, as it is often referred to. While the Island has a population of just over one hundred and sixty people, Lindisfarne welcomes more than six hundred and fifty thousand visitors each year. While the island is connected to the mainland by a causeway, this is completely covered by water twice daily – so you really have to get your timings right when visiting Holy Island, or you might just get stuck there! If history isn’t really your thing, then perhaps the picturesque coastline and long sandy beaches of Northumberland would be of a greater appeal. Or else, you could visit the county’s historic market towns. For cobbled streets and stylish shopping, Morpeth is the place to go, or else
you could go to Hexham, which is acclaimed to be England’s favourite market town. If you are a book lover, then Hexham offers an annual book festival, held in Queen’s Hall Art Centre. This year the event will be held from 24 April to 3 May. Another place in Northumberland that is bound to be of interest to bookworms, is Barter Books, in Alnwick town. This is a converted railway station and one of the largest second-hand bookshops in Britain. And if you are at all interested in art, it is worth visiting the giant land sculpture ‘Northumberlandia’ by Charles Jencks, nicknamed ‘The Lady of the North’, which is situated just over the Northumberland county border. While it is perhaps easiest to explore Northumberland by car, there are public transport links available that could take you to all of these wonderful places. If you or one of your friends happens to have a car at uni, then you should absolutely take advantage, and explore the beautiful and historic sites of Northumberland at your leisure. Or else, look into buses and trains, and plan some day-trips. You really would be missing out if you spent three (or more) years in Newcastle without ever venturing across the Northumberland county border.
Red Light
reformation
T
he unique city of Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, which had a staggering 19 million visitors from all around the world just last year. But which of the city’s unique attributes draws these tourists in like moths to a flame? Is it the city’s artistic heritage, gothic architecture, or perhaps the infamous Red Light District? De Wallen, Amsterdam’s Red Light District, consists of a network of alleyways and canals that house hundreds of legal window prostitutes who are illuminated by red lights. Prostitution was first legalised in Amsterdam in 1811 by the French. Despite the temporary ban of prostitution between 1911 and 1988, the Red Light District has historically been a significant tourist attraction for those who want to partake in activities that are often illegal in their own countries. Recently, the city government is questioning the ethics of this industry. From the first of April this year, there will be stricter laws surrounding the Red Light District in an attempt to generate more responsible tourism. These legal reforms include capping the number of people on guided tours to 15, banning free tours of the area, and reducing the number of tours by issuing mandatory permits to a limited number of companies. Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, has also proposed either removing the sex workers from visible brothel windows or hiding them behind curtains, which is in current discussion among the city government. Deputy mayor Udo Kock supports this proposition as she argues, “We do not consider it appropriate for tourists to leer at sex workers.” The government hopes this strategy will not only tackle existing problems of overtourism but also prevent the sex workers in the area from being objectified by these tourists. While this new responsible tourism aims to benefit the sex workers by creating a less objectifying environment, many of the workers do not view the changes in the same way. The industry generates approximately 625 million euros a year; therefore, the sex workers fear that these legal reforms will cause substantial damage to their businesses as fewer tourists equate to less profit. In protest towards the upcoming changes to the Red light District, the sex workers have formed a union called Red light United. The members of Red Light United argue that a colossal 93 percent of sex workers are hostile towards the changes and demand a reconsideration. They believe that “any measure aimed against tourism is a measure against sex workers in the Red Light District.” The workers acknowledge the issues that exist; however, they argue a higher regulation of photography in the area will benefit the workers more than merely limiting the inevitable mass tourism. For many of the workers, their involvement in the sex industry is a secret life. Therefore, photos taken of them by tourists could not only spill their secret profession to family members left in the dark but could also detract them away from actual paying customers. Another major issue the government is concerned about is the existence of illegal pimping. While many prostitutes are self-employed, selling their bodies on their own accord, others are owned and controlled by a “pimp.” Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam however pimping is not, mainly due to the concern of women being sex trafficked against their own will. Pimping is becoming increasingly difficult to regulate and not even the city governments proposed reforms will tackle this problem. Velvet December, the chief coordinator of Proud (a sexworker led organization in Amsterdam) highlights the increasing hostility between the city council and sex workers. December points out that “the dichotomy attached to it for categories of sex workers – the ‘happy hooker’ and the ‘poor victim’- leaves no room for the realities we face and to address the problem we see.” While removing sex workers from windows may reduce the risk of objectification by tourists, it may simultaneously endanger the prostitutes who are now controlled by their pimps away from public view.
Image: Grace Dean
the courier
13
travel life & style Travel opportunities: cultural exchange programs For all you culture seekers, budget travellers and language lovers, Travel Editor Meggie Williams discusses cultural exchanges A
Monday 23 March 2020
s Annette Gulick famously quoted, “when you’re young you have time and energy but no money. When you get older you have money and energy but no time. And later when you finally have time and money, you no longer have energy”, although it may all sound a little doom and gloom, the quote for me is about making the most of every second of your youth and exploring the world.
They've allowed me to travel when I've struggled for pennies
So often we shut down travelling experiences because of the perception that they’ll break the bank when in reality it doesn’t need to be this way. For me, cultural exchange opportunities where you work in exchange for your food and accommodation have transformed my experiences and outlook on travel; they’ve allowed me to travel when I’ve struggled for pennies, filled extraordinary long summer holidays, extended travelling adventures and helped
me out in one or two sticky situations when I’ve found myself with nearly empty pockets. So I’m here to command you to remain positive for a future of more adventures and fill out those dull days in self-is solation by searching voluntourism websites.
It is also the perfect opportunity to gain work experience
After paying an annual subscription, usually around the £20 mark, hosts and volunteers create a profile on the websites talking a little bit about themselves, what they are looking to gain from the experience and what they can offer; both are able to contact the other to discuss a possible exchange. There are so many websites out there but the few I’ve had experience with include: Hovos, WorkAway and WWOOF. The first two usually offer experiences such as gardening, animal-care, work with NGOs, building, farming and general help around the house though
there are some wild and wonderful jobs out there so your bound to find something to ignite a passion. The latter, WWOOF, is a worldwide movement that links organic farms with volunteers across the globe, it offers incredible opportunities to learn from experienced farmers and meet likeminded people. In the past couple of years I’ve worked in a rural school in India, painted the kitchen for a family in Byron Bay, lived the wholesome farm life in New Zealand and spent an idyllic month in the Algarve working in a surf guesthouse. Without getting too preaching about ‘getting to know the locals’ and the ‘real country’, these experiences have been some of my happiest, fulfilling adventures. Quite often, if the job is for a larger organisation (e.g a hostel), you’ll have a good team of other travellers working there and have a real laugh both working and in your plentiful time off. The prospect of going to live with a stranger can be daunting and there are a few precautions you should take before committing to go, these include getting a clear understanding as what you are expected to do beforehand and for how long each day, it reduces the chances of awkward situations once you are there and will give you a good idea of what to pack.
Learn a language or a new skill
Secondly, make sure you are comfortable with the living arrangements, one of my experiences was a month in a minuscule mixed dorm of seven others which I didn’t realise until I arrived. It’s often a good idea to do the exchanged with a travelling partner if you are at all hesitant but if travelling solo, I would advise applying to work at bigger organisations that have other volunteers working there too rather than just for a family. Finally, read the reviews from other volunteers, they give invaluable insight. Travelling can sometimes feel a little hectic and relentless so its good to settle somewhere for a few weeks or months and get to know the place and the people who come with it. It’s the perfect opportunity to gain work experience, learn a language or a new skill with the websites boasting a mind blowing range of jobs in locations all over the world; from sailing the high seas to whipping a lasso in the outback, all of this at the click of your fingers. Image: Sports9494 on Wikipedia
The slopes are calling
Ever fancied trying skiing but are too strapped for cash? Don't fret! Isabel Ellis shares her new-found love for skiing in Bulgaria
W
hen the average person thinks of skiing, it is highly doubtful Bulgaria is at the top of their list. The famous European trio of France, Austria and Italy have shrouded many people’s perceptions on skiing as they promote Alpine views, luxurious chalets and the middle-class dream. But big names come with big prices and leaves people thinking that skiing is only a rich-mans (or woman’s) sport. However, one little south-eastern European country has been cooking up a snowstorm when it comes to budget-friendly skiing. This country you may ask? Bulgaria. Bulgaria famous for… well not that much, and has a lot more to offer in terms of skiing than you may think.
The ski resort is definitely a ‘good things come in small packages’ deal
Having been an I did at first slightly turn my
avid skier since the age of six,
nose up at the fact our next family skiing vacation was to be Bansko in Bulgaria. Soon after I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised with the entire atmosphere of the country. Armed with a six-day lift pass, Atomic ski equipment and a 4* spa hotel to return to home to after a busy day on the slopes, I was ready to go. A 25-minute gondola ride to the heart of the slopes and I couldn’t contain my excitement. The peak of the Todorka mountain being a dizzying 2600m, it boasts views that could almost rival that of the Swiss Alpes. Don’t get me wrong, the ski resort isn’t massive but is definitely a ‘good things come in small packages’ deal. With three blue runs, twelve red runs and three black runs, this holiday is definitely aimed for a more relaxed ski experience. According to Ellis-Brigham, an average ski holiday in the Alpes will set you back around £3,000 per person. To this, Bulgaria laughs in their face. All in all, our week-long family package holiday to Bansko cost us around £450 per person! This included: flights, transfer, half-board accommodation, ski hire, fast pass lift pass and optional ski lessons. I know. The value for money at this resort is truly unbelievable. To achieve the best deals, I recommend booking a package deal through companies such
as Iglu Ski and Balkan Holidays. I’m sure you can easily enough book on your own, but to gain all the benefits we did your best bet is package.
As you all may be wondering, yes, the après-ski is also phenomenal
As you all may be wondering, yes, the après-ski is also phenomenal. On the mountain, it’s inevitable that you will be charged more for the convenience of cool alcoholic beverage 2000m above sea level. Further down the slopes and in the town itself you can swindle half a litre of beer for three Bulgarian levs, which works out at around £1.50 a time! Surrounding the gondola there are numerous bars and watering-holes to fulfil your
alcoholic needs. Live music is supplied, most notably at 9pm every evening in Amigo’s Pub there is a ‘Whiskeyman’ who demands nothing other than a shot of whiskey every 15 minutes or so, to keep his band going till 4am. The crowd excitedly chants “Whiskey time… all the time!” and it is indeed quite the spectacle. I hear you asking, what is the catch? And in my opinion, there isn’t really one. If you are a thrill seeking, fastpaced skier, this might not be the place for you. Bansko does boast a wide range of slopes, but I found that by about days three and four we we’re repeating the same runs. This didn’t bother me in the slightest, but for some really hard-core skiers this may be a massive downside. Bansko is truly the ski gift the keeps on giving and I will no doubt be returning for next season.
Imag
e: Isa bel E
llis
the courier
14
life & style food
Monday 23 March 2020
Food Editors: Cayla Viner & Amanda Goh Guest Editor: Elisabetta Pulcini
Do we really need vitamin supplements?
Rachel Makinson discusses the benefits of incorporating supplements into our diet
W
hilst the NHS recommends that we should be able to get all the nutrition we need through a healthy, well balanced diet, it’s no secret that sometimes we don’t eat as well as we should do. Most convenience foods like microwave meals, fast food and takeaways contain practically no real nutrition, and if you eat these things too frequently in the place of proper meals, you can easily end up becoming deficient in essential vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium and vitamin C. In an ideal world, we’d always prepare super healthy, well balanced meals for ourselves, but more realistically life often gets in the way and we just don’t have the time to do that each and every day of the week. You can pick up general multivitamin and mineral supplements affordably at most supermarkets and pharmacies, which provide you with up to 100% of your recommended daily intake of minerals and vitamins like iron, calcium, niacin, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, D, E and B12, amongst others. It is possible to do damage to your body by taking more than the recommended daily amount, but generally, so long as people follow the guide-
lines for the supplement they’re taking, it should benefit your general health and well-being. If iron deficiency is left untreated, it can weaken your immune system making you more prone to infection and illness
We definitely shouldn't use vitamin supplements as an excuse not to eat well
People who menstruate are typically much more susceptible to developing iron deficiency anemia, which can cause tiredness, shortness of breath, noticeable heartbeats and pale skin. In the UK, around 4 million people have this type of anemia. People who menstruate require up to 18 milligrams of iron each day. Chickpeas, which are particularly high in iron, contain around 6mg per 100g. Similarly, tuna, another iron rich food, contains around 3mg per tin. As such, it is understandable how getting enough
iron from diet alone can sometimes be difficult. If iron deficiency is left untreated, it can weaken your immune system making you more prone to infection and illness, and can potentially lead to complications that affect the lungs and heart. In severe cases, this can even lead to heart failure. Similarly, around 6 million people in the UK are B12 deficient. Many people associate B12 deficiency with veganism because only foods of animal origins, like meat and dairy products, naturally contain the vitamin. However there are plenty of B12 fortified foods which are vegan, and it’s a fairly common deficiency that anyone on any type of diet can be affected by if they are not eating well enough. Symptoms of B12 deficiency can include depression, irritability, disturbed vision, psychosis, muscle weakness, mouth ulcers, and a pale yellow tinge to the tongue. Whilst the vast majority of deficiencies can be addressed through improving your diet, taking vitamin and mineral supplements is an easy, quick-fix way in which we can ensure our bodies are getting the correct nutrition they need. We definitely shouldn’t use taking vitamin supple-
ments as an excuse not to eat well, but taking them can help us to stay healthy when we’ve had a rough day, or a really hectic week, and have let our good eating habits slip.
Aggro in agriculture? Adobo Chicken
George Boatfield on the effects of COVID-19 on agriculture
I
t’s safe to say that the recent impacts of coronavirus have been heavily documented. In a study by Carbon Brief, one such repercussion is that in China – the source of the disease and the world’s largest carbon emitter – there has been a sharp 25% reduction in carbon dioxide thanks to the actions taken by authorities.Another is in the form of knock-on effects to air traffic, with Jet2 recently turning planes around in mid-air as the airline cancelled all flights to mainland Spain, Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands because of coronavirus. However, the impacts on the agriculture industry have fallen to the sidelines somewhat. Of course, emissions and output are key factors, but another area overlooked in recent weeks is how the supply chain has been affected right the way through. Besides the environmental impact thanks to shipping and the processing of food, a worldwide virus affects all areas of food production. With the general public suddenly obsessed with the oh-so precious paper of the toilet, you wouldn’t
think that fresh produce had been affected all that much. However, as regions like Italy and Spain continue to suffer through the spread of the virus, this could change in the coming weeks. That’s the problem with a global supply chain: when a single shopping basket can contain food that’s sourced from numerous countries, product range can quickly diminish when there’s a blip. Thankfully UK agriculture is keeping up with demand for now, but as the government implements more stringent tactics to delay the spread of the virus, perhaps the situation could decline in the coming weeks. Now, the biggest challenge to fresh produce staying on shop shelves may well be labour shortages rather than excessive demand. One area of food products that has been affected is that of the long-life variety: pasta seems to be running low on the shelves, while tinned products, couscous and UHT milk are also in short supply. With that said, the biggest impact of people bulk buying these products for themselves is that the focus is taken away from giving these items to food banks. As institutions that often rely on long-life products, the recent buying habits of the public have meant that many food banks are now struggling and pleading with the public to reconsider
what they are actually buying all this stuff for. Despite all this, Easter eggs are unlikely to be affected, having been present on shop shelves for months. So I suppose, as food stockpiles continue to dwindle, a huge mound of chocolate will always be there to fall back on before the big day. We shouldn’t let it get to this point: now really is the time for us all to give a little more to the food banks. And with that, in this uncertain time, despite what we are all seeing in the world currently, I hope you all have a wonderful, chocolatey break. Image (cow) : Wolfgang Hasselmann Unsplash
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Carl Valdez on his dish of the week
C
hicken adobo is a delicious, easy and popular dish, originating from the Philippines. The term adobo derives from the Spanish phrase adobar, meaning “marinate”. The tasty delicacy is traditionally cooked with vinegar and soy sauce. This was practiced in the past by many countries that usually experienced high humidity and hot temperatures to extend the shelf life of food, before freezers and refrigerators even existed. The dish was first recorded in 1613 by Pedro de San Buenaventura on a dictionary he was compiling. He named it adobo de los naturales, translating as “adobo of the natives.” Yet, adobo bears resemblance to Mexican and Spanish dishes of the same name, which has led to some questioning its national identity. The dish was carried by the Spaniards on their voyage to survive in their ships. Adobo’s preserving qualities was a means of survival when the Spanish conquers sailed for several months. However, Borja Sanchez, a Spanish culinary scientist has revealed at Ateneo University in 2019 that the dish already existed before the Spanish invaded the Philippines. Archives of ancient cookbooks such as Libro de Cocina by Ruperto Nola, published in 1529 and El Arte de la Cozina by Diego Granado in 1599 shows its strong presence in precolonial Philippines. Its original name was never recorded and through cultural imperialism, the Spanish word remained.
Chicken adobo is a perfect dinner for friends and family
Adobo flourished in various countries beyond it as a cooking or preserving method; it now also translates into a specific flavour. Spain’s interaction with the Philippines and other countries has undoubtedly influenced the country’s cuisines. The traditional ingredients of the Spanish cuisine consisted of spices from around the world, including the Philippines. It seems that the dish was cursed from colonialism, but this serves as a blessing in disguise. Through globalisation, the food culture brought strong connection and knowledge between two countries. Variations of adobo would not have existed without one’s passion to explore the world.
Ingredients (serves 4): 2 lbs chicken 3 tablespoons cooking oil 4 tablespoons white vinegar 8 tablespoons low sodium Soy sauce 3 pieces dried bay leaves
1 medium onion (thinly sliced) 5 cloves garlic (crushed) 1 ½ cups water 1 teaspoon whole black Peppercorn 1 teaspoon sugar
image: @parchmiss_art on Instagram
Method:
In a large bowl, combine the crushed garlic and soy sauce with the chicken. Marinate the chicken for about an hour. Alternatively, the marinated chicken can be covered and refrigerated for approximately 18-24 hours to submerge the chicken with additional flavour. Heat the cooking pot over medium heat, add the cooking oil. When the oil is hot enough, sauté the chopped onions until softened. Fry each side of the marinated chicken for two minutes. Pour the marinade and add water. Bring it to boil. Add the whole peppercorn and bay leaves. Leave the chicken to simmer for about 35-40 minutes. This will make the chicken tender and will extract the flavour from the marinade. Add vinegar. Stir for 10 minutes. Add the sugar and stir. Serve and enjoy! Chicken adobo is a perfect dinner for friends and family. It is a simple to make meal, only requiring a few ingredients available at any supermarket store. Any cuts of chicken can be used, and the meal can also be easily cooked in one pot. The sweet and sour aroma as it simmers will leave you eager to try it immediately once it is ready! Adobo is best served with warm white rice. The combination of the mouth-watering sauce over the rice brings more flavour into the dish. To make it more appetising and appealing, vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can be added. This will add strong flavours and colours into an already tasty, nutritious and filling meal.
the courier
15
beauty life & style
Monday 23 March 2020 courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Beauty Editors Rashida Campbell-Allen & Ellie James
It must BB that time of year: a spring clean and refresh to create looks in full bloom Spring is finally upon us and Ruby Story Dartford advises us on the best tips on how to refresh our collections to get us fresh faced
Instagram @lanma_cosmetics
W
ith the new season upon us, is it time your make up bag had a spring clean? From high end to drug store products, there’s plenty to consider when choosing a new flawless foundation to best match your skin to achieve that summer glow. Here are several, new and old foundations, c on c e a l er s and BB
Week e h t f o n o Ic ore o M a y Ind Actor,
writer, social a ct and fouivist producnder of t Beetlefrion company u Moore it Media, Indy , is a famousone of the mo st transge individ n uals to der, non-bina day. Th jawline ry e speaks and palpableir striking aesthe to an effortle confidence, Instag ram @ t t indyam 'l ess is ic. Inspo fo ss old-time ruly oore them a more' vibe. Pr anyone that glamour mo d s an ico a e n of a n rsonally, I w spires for theel ould de ew era . scribe Rashid a Cam pbell-A llen
Looks to spring you into the next season of 2020
Ellie James shares some simple changes we can be making to have our beauty looks bloomin' beautiful this spring season
There are plenty of drug store options to shake-up your make up bag this spring
If you are forever struggling to find a foundation to match your skin tone, look no more as Rihanna’s much loved foundation is available in 50 shades, perfect if you’re searching for something to match your spring glow. Although rather costly, as the Fenty Beauty PRO FILT’R is priced at £27, it is worth every penny. This is definitely a must have in any make up bag this upcoming season. The medium to full coverage is perfect for hiding any blemishes or spots from exam stress, or for those who prefer a more built up look. When shopping for foundation on a budget, there are plenty of drug store options perfect to shake up your make up bag this spring, for years on end I’ve turned to Max Factor during the warmer weather. The Facefinity all day
mean our eyes can’t. Think glitter eyeliners either on your bottom or top lid, shimmery star stickers and smokey glitter eyeshadows. Aside from the glitter there’s some more fun pops of colour happening too. Ombre effect shadows and a defining white liner make your eyes bigger and bolder this season – maximalists where you at? It’s quite literally your time to shine.
Lips
Im age :g
eyes of others with those lips. What. A. Combo.
Instagram: @bb_cream_products
flawless foundation has never failed to give me that extra glow without looking too patchy. Its thin formula allows you to build-up sheer to full coverage lasting the whole day. Working as a primer, concealer and foundation, it’s perfect for those rushed to do their make up in the morning whilst looking for a flawless touch. Although, if you’re planning to treat your face this Spring, there are plenty of high-end products, such as ‘Peach Perfect’ by Too Faced. Whilst a rather pricey contender at £27, this matte foundation is sure to give that bronzed summer glow without clogging up your pores. Its smooth texture gives a medium coverage without that caked appearance. Not only this but it smells of peach and sweet fog milk. What more could you ask for? From morning to noon, this brand can always be relied upon to deliver. If liquid foundation isn’t your forte, powder foundation may be for you, with less mess and stress it applies easily, enabling you to build up coverage whilst maintaining a more natural look than that of a foundation, a particular favourite being Bare Minerals. The lightweight foundation is perfect for those who regularly top up make-up on the go. The powder applies effortlessly without drying up your face. When it comes to concealer, the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer is a must have this spring. With a wide range of colours sure to match your skin tone, this creamy formula easily glides onto skin, perfect for covering the worse of eye bags. At a very reasonable price, it’s the perfect size to chuck into any handbag for times of need. The medium coverage is sure to hide any unwanted blemishes on the worst of days. Whether you’re looking to try something new or fancy mixing up your make up bag, these must haves are perfect to freshen up for the spring.
Contrasting colours
As mentioned, contrasts are what are working in 2020. Clothes and makeup mismatching is one thing, but we are taking it further with mismatching our eyeshadow from our bottom liner. Try using a darker shade on your lid and smudging a subtle pastel on your bottom eye line to really get them staring. Or try taking opposite to the next level and choose colours on other sides of the colour wheel (you’re just wild). I mean, opposites attract, right? Attract that good spring makeup energy beauties.
ram
@r
ud
eco
sm eti
csu
k
igi
ha d
id
It seems we are loving the reflective look and the shimmer is reaching our smiles too. Glossy lips are IN, which we are loving for our entire FACE actually. Clear gloss gives you a healthy glint, and can be applied to your lips as well as your lids and cheekbones to give a subtle highlighter effect. Try this one out, it works more than you expect. Of course we need some pops of colour to go with any bolder eye looks, which is why red is in style – confident, sassy and looks bomb on all skin tones. And perhaps rather strikingly, more gothic vibes are creeping in with dark purples and maroons. Pairing this lip look with pastel clothing draws the eye to your face so you’ll be catching the light with your gloss AND catching the
Ins tag
S
pring is officially here, and this year we are moving aside the usual pastels and bringing in some new makeup moves to shake things up a little. We think of spring and our head is filled with flowers, sunshine and good times ahead. This year it’s a little harder to feel that way what with the pandemic happening. But if you end up self isolating and feel a little bored, you might want to try out a few of these new spring trends happening in the beauty world right now. Eyes Most of this years trends seem to be focused on the eyes, with various new eyeshadows, liners and even eye embellishments. One key feature is glitter, and just because we aren’t feeling quite so glittery doesn’t
creams sure to spice up your make up bag. If you’re opting for a lighter look this spring, perhaps a BB cream would be a good choice. The Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream is certainly a staple piece. Whilst still maintaining coverage, the light formula applies and blends easily with an SPF of 30 to protect your skin from the heat, ideal for those who prefer a more natural look, without the stress of make up melting off your face. The water gel formula leaves skin hydrated all day. If you’re opting for a lighter look this spring, perhaps a BB cream would be a good choice. The Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream is certainly a staple piece. Whilst still maintaining coverage, the light formula applies and blends easily with an SPF of 30 to protect your skin from the heat, ideal for those who prefer a more natural look, without the stress of make up melting off your face. The water gel formula leaves skin hydrated all day.
Image: Glossier gloss
Instagram @emmylupinstudio
16
culture music
c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Music Editors Dom Lee, Jagoda Waszkowiak, Joe Smith & Patrick Harland
the courier
Monday 23 March 2020
The Courier Chats: Jean-Jacques Burnel
Joe Molander chats to Jean-Jaques Burnel about his writing, performance and changes in the music industry over the years
T
he Stranglers are going on tour in Autumn but have announced that afterwards, they’re taking a step back. Why have you made that decision now? If you look at our schedule for the last seven or eight years, you’d agree with the decision. We’ve done too much and we haven’t had the balance right: we haven’t done an album in seven years, eight years, and I’d like to take some time back. I haven’t had a chance to collect my thoughts and write. Do you know what you wanna write about next? Same as ever: the world that I live in. A lot of tour dates have lights and choreographed dances. Do you find that less authentic than the atmosphere you’d have to create with none of that in pub gigs? I’m old-school, so we’re just a band who play a bunch of songs and try and make it as entertaining as possible. But we don’t choreograph [laughs]: that’s showbusiness, that’s variety, which is what predominates at the moment. So you wouldn’t say there’s a modern-day equivalent to pub rock or punk rock? There are a lot of indie bands playing, and really well, without the gimmickry of a show. They’re doing well, and they have their audiences. Do you think there being fewer small music venues makes it harder for bands to start out now? It is harder, but now there are different platforms. Recording technology is so much more democratised that people can do things in their bedrooms, and produce quite good sounding stuff. The platforms are different, aren’t they? You have YouTube, but you don’t have so many live venues. Live venues are still where people learn their trade, and also learn to perform in front of an audience. There’s a huge difference between that and doing it in your own room: it’s like wanking. You wank in the privacy of your own bedroom, and but it’s not quite the same as shagging a real person. And when do you think you got the knack of – to continue the slightly awkward metaphor – of shagging a real person? What’s awkward about it? We [laughs] we started when there were lots of pubs going, so everyone was trying to play in pubs: that was the first step really. I suppose you could call them youth clubs, the step before even
that. Then there was discernible progression to college circuits: colleges everywhere had entertainment secretaries – ent secs – a lot of them became successful in the music business later on, so there was a lot of facility for live music at one point. For everyone fighting for stagetime, did you all have to up your game to stay competitive? We certainly did. In America, for instance, you had all these bar bands, and the musicianship is without equal, and it was the same over here. So I suppose musicianship might have gone down a bit, but that’s not really the main thing. The main thing is creativity, which we’ve always had in this country. Do you think that’s what helps us compete with America? Yeah, and with the rest of the world. The places which find it difficult to access big acts innovate in a different way. Look what happened in Australia: they had all those ABBA parody bands like Björn Again, because they weren’t getting ABBA over there. The Australian Doors, the Australian Pink Floyd and stuff: they innovated. Why do you think Britain is more creative than other countries? I don’t know: if you go back to the early sixties, the Brits started to listen to black American music, it went through a British filter and was reexported to the states. White America discovered black roots through the Brits: the Stones, the Beatles and so on. You have a band like Pink Floyd that’s basically a blues band, and they went through an English filter and got reexported. How else has music changed since you started? When the Stranglers started, it was just on the cusp of everything going digital. We were recording on tape, and at the same time everything was starting to digitise, so we had digital desks and later on, we were recording onto computers or tape-to-tape, which wasn’t necessarily better. We were right in the middle of that technological revolution; also, first the Stranglers had monophonic synthesisers, and then we went up to polyphonic synthesisers, so I witnessed the revolution first-hand. Looking at music now, does the industry obsession with branding stop the growth of genres like punk – where the brand made itself – or do you think this obsession is helpful? Everyone’s trying to create their own brand. That’s become a bit of a buzzword, hasn’t it? I still don’t quite un-
derstand it: if you mean identity – a brand as an identity – everyone seeks their own identity. You listen to a lot of music, and it’s not only now, it’s over the years, there are trends. Suddenly you have something that works, and suddenly you have loads and loads of imitators. They don’t really seek their own identity, they’re all on a bandwagon, so you could say they’re slightly faceless. It’s quite ironic when you think about it, because every human being has got their own digital footprint and identity: the output of those individuals should be distinctive, shouldn’t it? Everyone’s got their own fingerprint, but suddenly you have these mass-markets of people trying to emulate whatever’s been successful, and not really being honest to their own identity. People talk a lot about a band’s early days, and then about after they’ve made it. What were the Strangler’s middle years like? We had ups and downs. We had commercial ups and downs, and we also had personnel ups and downs [sic]. It’s really, really difficult to maintain friendships and relationships when you’re in a very intense situation. That’s always a challenge. What I’ve noticed with a lot of bands is you get one person or two people who are more dominant in the songwriting, and if they have success they accrue more money, more royalties. You start out as equals, as friends – hopefully, anyway – but then with success comes inequality. It changes the dynamic between former friends. I’ve seen bands where you’ve got one or two people making a lot of money, and the others become hired musicians. It does change the dynamic between them, and usually results in animosity.
between the four of us, at one point there were five of us. It eliminates that problem I was talking about earlier. Everyone shares everything equally: successes and failures. You’re all part of the same thing, and pulling in the same direction. It’s a stupid reason to split up, money, but it’s often the case. That and ego. It must have been very difficult to get big and then control your ego. Were there any issues with that? I think that happens to anyone. You go from being Mr No Friends to everyone wanting a piece of you, if you’re successful that is. It can go to your head for a while, but hopefully you come out the other side a better person. Sometimes people stay with their fingers stuck up their arses. They don’t develop as good people.
It does change the dynamic and usually results in animocity
The Stranglers have been going for forty six years: is there a secret behind maintaining the dynamic? The main one is that from day one, we decided to split everything evenly, even though it was only one or two people writing the songs. It was me and before it was Hugh – it’s me and Baz now – but we share everything
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Showing the strength of the community in the face of adversity Finlay Holden discusses the power of people during the hardest times, uniting against those that seek to break down the world
T
here have recently been more shootings at concerts, only adding to the anxiety that some music lovers face while attending live performances. This is a real shame, as no one should have to feel unsafe or that they’re putting themselves in danger while enjoying music in its best form, but unfortunately that is the case.
an act of seemingly untargeted and mortal harm upon strangers. For Brits, the glaring incident in this vein is obviously the Manchester bombing in May 2017, when a radical Islamist detonated a homemade explosive following the conclusion of a performance by Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena. This left 23 dead and 139 wounded, and caused mass panic in the bustling city, as well as Nationwide. This incident specifically showed us how people can bind together in the face of tragedy. One attendee, Daren Buckley, ran towards the bomb to use clothing merchandise as a tourniquet on those injured.
No-one should have to feel unsafe or that they have to put themselves in danger to enjoy music
This incident showed how people can be strong together when facing overwhelming tragedy
In Birmingham, Alabama, just this week, an altercation spilt onstage from the backstage area of a Lil' Baby show. There is a video online in which a single gunshot can be heard as the crowd makes a dash for the exit before the concert is stopped and police intervene to clear the venue. Although no injuries were reported, it’s hard to imagine the scare this must have given fans. Back in February, a Turkish comedy night in the centre of Berlin was the centre of a larger incident; a 42-year-old man was killed outside by gunfire which also injured 4 others – this was deemed not to be a terrorist-related incident, and it is truly hard to imagine the motivation behind such an act.
Truly its hard to imagine why anyone would consider inflicting such harm upon strangers
Neither of these had clear motives, and truly its hard to imagine why anyone would consider inflicting such
Survivors have formed a choir, and special visits to the arena have been held for those who were present on the night. Most notably, a huge concert dubbed ‘One Love Manchester’ was held in support, with huge names such as Coldplay, Liam Gallagher and obviously Ariana Grande herself gave performances to raise money to benefit those affected. The Manchester bee became a symbol for the support movement, with Ariana sporting it herself alongside thousands of others. No matter how hard some vile individuals may try, the music community has shown that it is too strong to be pushed away from venues. We can only hope that security measures lessen the frequency of these heinous acts so that we can enjoy our concerts together in peace. Image: Wikimedia Commons
the courier
17
music culture Coachella cancelled in COVID-19 craze
Monday 23 March 2020
@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/music
The Snuts Mixtape-EP
Isabel Ellis tells us about the widespread disruption across all summer festivals worldwide
T
he only thing that kept people going amidst the winter gloom, was the thought of a jam-packed summer filled with festivals, yet, Covid-19 certainly has other plans. In attempts to curb the virus spreading, many music festivals around the globe have put a halt to their events. The virus has caused major disruptions within the music realm, with many artists cancelling world tours and self-isolating. After a flurry of music related cancellations over the past few weeks, it was announced that America’s biggest music festival, Coachella, is to be postponed to October. Coachella, which was set to have headliners such as Travis Scott, Rage Against the Machine and Frank Ocean, released a statement on Instagram saying, “we take the safety and health of our guests, staff and community very serious”. They later added that all guests who purchased ticket for April will be honoured for the rescheduled dates and refunds will be issued.
brits afloat, but as of March 15th, only one major UK festival has been officially cancelled. However, Radio 1’s Big Weekend has announced its cancellation with no plans to postpone or reschedule. This comes as heart-breaking news for Dundee as the festival was due to take place over the May Bank holiday and was set to feature acts such as Camilla Cabello and Harry Styles. There is a definite uneasiness of uncertainty swirling festivals at the moment. Glastonbury, who are celebrating their 50th Birthday this year still intend to go ahead with their plans. After revealing a star-studded line-up amongst the Covid-19 madness, they told BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat that they are still closely monitoring the situation. After weeks of whispers that highly anticipated, large-
scale events are still able to take place, parliament are set to reveal that such events legally have to be cancelled. Music fans are due to be disappointed with nearly all music events that involve more than 500 people are most likely to be cancelled. Many fans have noted that they are willing to take the risk when it comes to attending, stating that “you are just as likely to catch it in the supermarket”, but looking forward, the future of such events is uncertain. Their hopes for minimal disruption in the coming weeks seem to be looking extremely unlikely. Seemingly, the music industry is on its knees due to the recent coronavirus, but on the upside, if you are self-isolating, you won’t be missing out on much!
The interludes link the sings together, it's a very personal experience to release onto an EP
Responses to the delay on Twitter were seemingly pleasant, with influencers and festivalgoers excited
Responses to the delay on Twitter were seemingly pleasant, with influencers and festivalgoers alike voicing their excitement. Influencer, James Charles even joked “ok wait coachella in october could really be a vibe tho… cute outfits with jackets and pants?”. What Coachella have failed to acknowledge is what is to happen to those who had already sorted flights and/or accommodation for the April dates. I’m not sure if it’s just old English spirit that is keeping us
Image: Instagram (@coachella)
Band names: exploring the best and worst
Tom Leach tells of how a band's name can have almost as much impact the music they produce
I
n the consumerist age we live in, branding is just as important in media as the content produced. In music, we judge just as often by image as we do by skill or sound. A band’s name can make or break them. The annals of music history hold some absolute belters, but also some names that make you wonder just exactly the band were thinking. I’m not talking about the terribly offensive names you see in some genres of metal and punk – these are so crude because that’s precisely their point. I want to instead give examples of names that are objectively awful. First up, the atrociously dubbed Panic! At the Disco. I’m no linguistic prescriptivist, I like to play around with the confines of grammar as much as the next person, but an exclamation mark in the middle of a phrase? A little too left field for my tastes. Condemned for similar sins are Mötley Crüe and Motörhead, along with the plethora hard rock bands that play too haphazardly with umlauts. This would not be a sin usually, were they recognising and following the change in pronunciation that an umlaut denotes, but the diacritics are little more than garnish. Conversely, a good band name is one that describes a band perfectly: I’m a big proponent of Gang of Four’s choice, considering their line-up includes four people. The slightly esoteric and obscure New Beat outfit Club Music produce precisely that. But the king of practical and clear band names goes to The Band – what else can be said about that? It’s difficult to place judgment on a lot of names however, especially those in the realm of “so bad they’re good”. I’m a huge fan of indie rock band Car Seat Headrest, but I agree with many detractors who say that their name is pretty stupid. However, its stupidity is what makes it intriguing, and makes you come back for more. Criminally underrated jangle pop project The Cleaners from Venus has a similarly daft name, but I’m giving it top accolades simply because it just about rhymes. At this point in the article I feel as though I should crown winners and losers. The title of worst name is difficult – one must be careful of choosing a name that’s so bad it’s actually good. Instead, I’m opting to present three of the most boring and uninspired band names I can come up with: The Beatles, Radiohead, and Coldplay. Obviously, none of these names seem to have hindered their careers, but I don’t understand choosing these when they could’ve picked literally anything else slightly more exciting. The title of best band name ever is, in contrast, clear
to me. I choose this name not because of solely how it sounds, but what was done with it after the fact. Sophistipop group Living in a Box have what I’d call a good name; it’s not bad. It’s also no surprise that they named their album after themselves – the self-titled debut is no rarity. However, the spicy move is also
T
he second EP since the intial release The Matador in 2017, The Snuts have released an EP that shows their development of their music style, from their initial demos that sounded raw, these songs show how the instruments and mixing has been enhanced. The EP features 5 songs, alongside 4 small interludes in between each song which enhances the experience of listening to the EP as a whole. The interludes link the songs together, with low-key riffs of the songs mixed with the band talking. It’s a very personal experience to release onto an EP.
titling the lead single of said album Living in a Box, resulting in the delightful track listing of Living in a Box, by Living in a Box, from the album, Living in a Box.
‘Fatboy Slim’ is the definition of a football anthem, which will definitely be on Fifa and probably get the recognition that Tom Grennan received from ‘Found What I’ve Been Looking For’. The chorus is upbeat, and has a very funky bass line underlying the heavy guitar riffs. ‘Coffee & Cigarettes’ gives me Amy Winehouse vibes in the lead singers soulful Scottish voice. This song is very definitive of the band’s new direction, with standard indie verses leading it completely funky riffs in the choruses with an energy that is reminiscent of early Courteeners. ‘All Your Friends’ is my favourite song that the band have ever released. I used to be a fan of The Snuts songs’ like ‘Glasgow’ and ‘Sing For Your Supper’, and even though I still am, the sound of this bassline is incredible and completely unique which really sets The Snuts apart as it shows how every song is different and I think that’s unique for an indie rock band where your sound can be very singular. I’d recommend this song to anyone, the bassline is simply something else. ‘Boardwalk’ and ‘Don’t Forget It (Punk)’ close the EP and are both previously unreleased songs. The contrast between the slow, soulful melody and the high energy almost Punk tune, shows the vast contrast in the bands discography right now. Hope Lynes
The Lathums Fight On EP
F
or fans of the upcoming Wigan band The Lathums, the release of this EP was much desired with only a catalogue of stand along singles previously. The band were discovered mostly through a groundbreaking response on twitter, with fans of Oasis immediately clinging to them as the next big thing. The tours sold out imminently, they supported Gerry Cinnamon, and then got signed, for four boys, aged 18 to 19, it’s unbelievable.
Time For Me, Light For You, one of their slower songs is reminiscint of Artic Monkeys Riot Van
Image: Wikipedia
The 4 song EP is rumoured to be soon released as a vinyl and it features two new songs It Won’t Take Long, sounding like festival season with an extremely catchy bassline that makes it infectious, and ‘Time For Me, Light For You’, which is one of The Lathums’ slower songs with a reminiscent beauty of Arctic Monkeys’ ‘Riot Van’. The new EP also features two already released songs, ‘Fight On’, which was extremely well received by the fan base, and ‘I Know That Much’. ‘Fight On’ is my favourite single the band have ever released, its like anything I’ve heard and I can’t wait to see the crowd, full of flares and booze, going wild for them this festival season. Hope Lynes
18
the courier
culture TV
c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk TV Editors Amy Brown, Sophie Hicks and Kate Dunkerton
Monday 23 March 2020
Review: Elite season 3 Are TV shows becoming mo
A
fter binge-watching Elite season 1 and 2 over Christmas simply because I was so tired of seeing the trailer on my Netflix, the Spanish teen drama has returned for its third season and as expected, from the very first episode I was hooked. Elite follows a bunch of rich kids at a private school tearing each other apart while in between dealing with murder, sex and lies. This season, we follow the aftermath of Polo being revealed as the killer of Marina and the potential backlash this has for characters such as Samuel and Guzman who seek revenge. As we get into the season, in classic Elite form, we then flash to the future to find Polo dead and the other students scrambling to place the blame and find the culprit.
It is heavily character driven, which is what makes it so compelling
On paper, this show probably sounds terrible and a knock-off version of How To Get Away With Murder. However, it is very heavily character-driven and that’s what makes it such a compelling TV show despite the very repetitive plot. This is a show that also deals with very real and serious issues such as class differences, poverty, racial injustice, LGBTQ+ characters and their lack of acceptance by their
heavily religious parents and much more, portraying deep matters in a realistic light making you forgive the mediocrity of the rest of the show. What made season 3 great for me was Carla. Slowly becoming one of my favourite characters in season 2, her endless looks and sass as she slips between real and fake emotions are intensified in the new season and gives her a new presence that you can’t ignore as an audience member. Another thing this season did particularly well was in making me believe that everyone had a good reason for wanting Polo dead. Each flash-forward had me questioning who actually did it and in the end, I was pretty torn between all of them. I particularly liked how you thought you knew the murder weapon but then another character would go get some champagne and bam, another potential murder weapon. It was extremely confusing but effective, all in all. That being said, Lu being the killer pissed me off – out of all the characters, it just didn’t feel right. The scene was also extremely anticlimactic. Overall, season 3 wasn’t my favourite season but it still delivered with many of its characters getting the development arcs they deserve but also the pain (I’m still mad over Ander) but what can you expect from a teen drama? What stands at the heart of Elite and what makes it a show I will always return to, though, is the fact that these characters will always have each other’s backs. They have strong friendships; they have strong bonds, and despite the season being much like The Hunger Games regarding competition in University, relationship dramas and murder sprees left to right and centre, these characters will ALWAYS support one another. Lucy Lillystone
Image: IMDb
Arnojya Shree discusses the increasing emphasis on cinematograp
T
he world of cinema was a true game changer from when it first began. Movies gripped our senses, culture and lifestyle to a point of no return. Cinema took fantastical intangible ideas and turned them into actuality, through audio-visual transformation. In a dark movie theatre, anything was possible. Fast forward to a century later, after witnessing cinematic excellence with directors like Hitchcock, Coppola, Spielberg, Tarantino and Nolan, the past decade has not been as kind to its dedicated cineastes. Audiences became aware of cinematic potential. Cinema arguably went into a decline with repetitive narratives, cliché tropes, stereotypical characters and overall, bad film-making. This is when big production streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime got involved. These companies appealed because they brought together film, television and web shows on to a single platform, readily available. The competition for such sites has been huge. We’re now watching these services, using their ever-growing budgets, to make TV shows that are more cinematic. Special attention is given to the visual aesthetics and cinematography, appealing to a wider audience. Shows are bigger and better than ever! Here’s just a few of the best shows that are breaking through the constraints of television. When it comes to combining stylistic elements with great cinematography, Stranger Things comes to my
mind straight away. The appreciation comes from the bold colour palette, which uses intense primary colours and neon lit-mall complexes. From the use of low and eye-level camera angles to vibrant lighting, the cinematography draws reference from 80s adventure films like E.T., Goonies, Stand By Me but also from recent Sci-fi hits like Under The Skin. The show is cinematic in the way that it looks like it should belong on a big screen, and its ability to transport viewers back in time.
Cinematography creates a believable world for audiences
Game of Thrones is another great example of bringing cinematic excellence to television. In terms of visual style, the show epitomises the globalising epoch of 16th – 17th century (Benjamin Breen, Pacific Standard). The show portrays the best use of special effects and digital cameras, which bring the ice and fire to life. It makes the fantastical appear real, from dragons to giants. The show also focuses on the visual grandeur of kings and queens, like Daenerys’ transformation to Khaleesi upon a burning pyre or Jon Snow’s defining moment in Battle of Bastards. Anne With an E is another example of beautiful cinematography. Based on an early 20thcentury coming-of-age
Imag es: IM Db
Reel: PXhere
Noughts and Crosses: does the adaptation get across the right
Film Editor Elisabetta Pulcini discusses the representation of interracial couples on TV, and why it's important to be both visible and i
W
ith the surge of representation in TV shows, interracial couples are becoming increasingly common. Yet, not many shows are able to accurately strike the balance between entertaining difficult conversations, while still portraying the couple realistically. Noughts and Crosses is definitely a show that should be admired for its attempt, yet sometimes still falls short. The premise is not subtle. Despite
Images: BBC
this, the attention to detail and the compelling visuals succeed in creating an immersive world, which plausibly reflects realities of our own. Though some aspects will be sadly reminiscent of current-day Britain, the world mostly mirrors the Apartheid in South Africa, the Jim Crows laws of the US, and Britain’s past of brutal colonisation. Taking real-life conflicts to the extreme is typical of young adult novels, and works best when it still allows for some more subtle commentary. In this case, some carefully constructed elements, such as the architecture and fashion, expose the significance of living in a society not built around you to those who do not experience it today. Some of the moments are powerful and relevant, due to being able to expose the different faces of racism. However, this should not be the only type of representation available for interracial couples.
In fact, it is important to also see them in a more realistic setting. As brilliantly constructed as the world of Noughts and Crosses is, it does not feel like our own. Mostly because of its lack of subtlety, both in characters and themes. The romance at the heart of it is at times forced, and others straight-up problematic. In the first episode, for instance, Sephy using a racial slur against the Noughts, and still ending up kissing Callum the same night, comes off as rushed and superficial. In real life, slurs are not something solved with a simple excuse: in this case, the show missed an opportunity to reveal the true impact of such behaviour. Details like these make it harder for the mes-
The best couples deal with challenges and embrace them
sage to come across as powerfully as the creator would have liked. At the same time, however, having only interracial couples without ever approaching the themes that a normal couple might discuss is also problematic. Couples like Chidi and Eleanor from The Good Place are essential, and appropriate for the world they inhabit. Racial barriers may not be relevant in an existence after death, since cultural differences are not much of a focus: yet they are important in portraying happy and unproblematic interracial couples. Just like LGBTQ+ storylines, while affronting the harsher realities is needed, only having those kinds of stories is not healthy for the people who seek to identify in them. The best couples will both comment on the chal-
lenges and nuances of being in an interracial couple, while still being able to overcome it, or even embrace those differences. For example, Kevin and Holt in Brooklyn 99: these characters being soulmates is what defines them as a couple, not them being interracial. Because representation is about variety and accuracy, it is important to show the variety of interracial couples as much as we do with other couples. In fact, we need to be aware of not setting unfairly high standards: relationships like that of Kelly and Ryan in The Office (US) are still relevant. The element of cultural differences comes up but is not the focus of the relationship: rather, their toxicity is. It would be problematic for
Sociopolitical commentary
these couples to always be expected to be an example of progressiveness and love: dysfunctional relationships are a reality of life. Portraying interracial couples whose only story beats are related to race might make sense in the world of Noughts and Crosses, but is not necessarily representative of real relationships. From the first episode, though the chemis-
the courier
19
Monday 23 March 2020
@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/TV
TV culture
Self-isolating? Disney+ has you corona-covered ore cinematic? Harriet Metcalfe covers the launch of Disney+ UK, and the TV shows we should look out for phy and stylistic choices in television T novel Anne of Green Gables, the show is shot on Prince Edward Island of Canada. The cinematography features a naturalistic landscape which highlights the essential theme that nature plays in Anne’s life, almost to the extent of nature being its own character. The snow-covered fields, blooming cherry blossom trees, cliffs overlooking the ocean and autumnal forests appear frequently in the show, and their painting-esque form unveil the depths of Anne’s mind to the viewers. This show uses these cinematic themes for good reason. Westworld, an HBO production based on Michael Chrichton’s 1973 film of the same name, is now running its 3rd season. It has maintained consistency in delivering beautifully executed shots. The camera movements, framing and angles subtly hint towards the Blade Runner aesthetic style where the visuals mould a high-tech futuristic controlling underground world with a Western. It creates a believable world for its audience where two timelines, centuries apart, mirror one another. This filming style makes the show as perplexing for the viewers as it must for its characters. With higher production budgets, television shows are always improving by becoming as rich in their visuals as they are in their narrative. These streaming giants know exactly what appeals to audiences, and how movie-like shows thrive. This gripping cinematic effect isn’t only available in the cinema anymore; it’s readily available in the comfort of your own home. This is likely to be the future of television, so let’s sit back and enjoy the show.
he week is almost upon us and Disney+ is so close to being in the UK. But when Disney are pretty much throwing their whole back catalogue and new content at you, where do you head into the unknown? Fear not, we know the way: The Mandalorian: For those among us who have waited (im)patiently and avoided the dodgy streaming sites, The Mandalorian has to be one of the most anticipated shows. In case you’ve been living under a rock, the show follows the exploits of the bounty hunter and “the child”, and has already been renewed for a second season due in October this year.
This looks like a completely different step for Marvel
The World According to Jeff Goldblum: Resuming his role as Dr. Ian Malcom, Jeff Goldblum’s National Geographic series pretty much takes us round everything he wants to learn about: “it’s me with all the information and experience that my life has entailed up till this point now”. There’s even a whole episode on coffee – because who wouldn’t want to see the Grandmaster of Thor: Ragnarok on a caffeine kick?
informative within their presentation try between the two is present, their connection does not go beyond socio-political conversations. Though when employed correctly such storylines can deepen the connection between two on-screen characters, making that the purpose of the entire relationship can feel forced.
Catch up on Noughts and Crosses on BBC iPlayer
sort of 50s style suburb – but soon realise that something is amiss. There’s a few really important Marvel cast members/characters returning; Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau (the daughter of Maria Rambeau, Carol Danvers’ best friend) – we saw a younger version of her character in 2019’s Captain Marvel, so what role she’ll play is anyone’s guess. Kat Dennings also returns to the MCU as Darcy Lewis from the first two Thor films. Cue more sarcastic lines and 2011 beanies with questionable fashion tastes, I’m here for it all. LOKI: The best till last. The God of Mischief (and my favourite Marvel character) is returning to our screens. After his brief appearances in Infinity War and Endgame – that left us with a more mischievous 2012 Loki, escaping with the Tesseract – Tom Hiddleston and his black locks are back to cause trouble. Whilst plot details are somewhat scarce, the cast, like WandaVision, keeps getting better. Sophia Di Martino, Owen Wilson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw have all been cast, and Richard E. Grant was recently announced to guest star. In the words of Owen Wilson himself: wow. It’s going to be the least lowkey series on the platform. Disney+ might essentially just be another corporate cash-grab in the streaming industry. But I’m hoping the freedom of the platform means Disney can become more diverse and take more risks with its content. Hakuna Matata, after all…
Disney+ UK available from March 24 Images: IMDb Logo: Wikimedia Commons
Don't cry for me, I'm on your screen-a George Bell talks about his picks for the most devastating character deaths in television shows W atching TV gives you hours of entertainment and gets you to invest a lot of time in characters you can’t help but love. So, when the show decides to cut that character it hurts and you might need to fill out a PEC form so you can take some time to mourn. Time to grab some tissues, if you can still find any, and prepare for the worst trip down memory lane of some of the saddest deaths in television.
t representation?
Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Despite multiple setbacks (first an earthquake in Puerto Rico back in January, now the Coronavirus in Prague), I’ve still got high hopes for this series. Following on from the events of Endgame, it’ll see Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) becoming Captain America, and his abilities being put to the test alongside Sebastian Stan’s Bucky. I’m expecting “on your left” references to make me cry. WandaVision: This looks like a completely different step for Marvel. The teaser trailer for Marvel/Disney content showed us Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul B e t t a ny ) living in a
Game of Thrones was iconic for killing off its main characters
You can’t talk about the saddest deaths in TV without mentioning the sadistic bastard that is George R.R. Martin; author of the book series that inspired the global phenomenon Game of Thrones. The show was iconic for its tendency to kill off main characters left, right and centre, usually in shocking ways. From Ned Stark to Oberyn Martell and Margaery Tyrell to Hodor, no one was safe and everyone feared their favourite would meet a grisly end. But easily the most shocking and tragic death on the show goes to Robb Stark at the Red Wedding. The King in the North was a fan favourite from the pilot for being basically the opposite of Joffrey Baratheon and one of the few morally good characters on the show. His death at the hands of Walder Frey (fuck you, and your cat, Filch) during 'Rains of Castamere' shook the show to its foundations and reduced many of the fans to tears and represented how amazing this show could be in its prime. His death is only as sad as how bad the show got near the end. Another hit TV show where fans fear to grow attached is The Walking Dead, where the zombie apocalypse leads to some really gruesome deaths. It’s a longrunning show so it’s hard not to get attached and it
definitely stings when favourites bite the dust. And the worst has got to be Glenn. One of the original characters on the show, Glenn was loved from the start as this ray of sunshine in a grim world and we got to watch him mature and fall in love. And it was brought to a brutal end in the season 7 premiere with Negan violently beating the character in the head with a baseball bat. The horrific scene had already played out with another fan favourite, Abraham, so adding Glenn was too much for many, especially with all his friends, and pregnant wife, being forced to watch. A horrible death for such a great character was undeserved.
HIMYM portrayed the sudden death of a parent perfectly
Losing a parent is an awful feeling, and can come out of nowhere. The sitcom How I Met Your Mother portrayed this perfectly with the death of Marshall’s dad. Throughout the show, we were shown how close the two were as a father-son
duo and were a treat to watch on screen. So, at the end of the episode “Bad News” when Lily tells Marshall that his dad had a heart attack and died, we are forced to see as the usually happy and kind guy as he breaks down in tears. It’s a hard watch which doesn’t get better when its revealed that over the episode there is a countdown from 50 (a number per scene) to 0 and his dad’s death. While losing a parent is awful, losing a child is just as bad, if not worse. This next death technically happened before the show started but it’s too emotional not to mention. Avatar: The Last Airbender Uncle Iroh’s son Lu Ten died before the first season but played an integral part to Iroh’s characters and arguably the most emotional scene of the entire show. In the episode 'Tales of Bah Sing Se' all the characters go about on various tasks, Iroh goes about collecting various for a reason we don’t know. Turns out it was because he was visiting his son’s grave in a very emotional reunion. And if the waterworks hadn’t started yet Iroh begins singing the melancholy tune 'Little Soldier Boy' before, like all of us, he burst into tears. A show usually targeted at kids masterfully dealt with the issue of losing a child in a mature way. There are tons more deaths from loads of shows that I’m sure to have missed out, partially because I have a word count, but mostly because I’m sad enough as it is.
Images: IMDb
the courier
20
culture film
c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Film Editors: Elisabetta Pulcini, Joe Holloran, Lucy Lillystone & Steven Ross
Monday 23 March 2020
Is 'based on a true story' a film fib? A24: Hollyw Alec Wilson on the importance of accuracy in film in an era that profits from true stories
H
istorical films and films based on true stories are a staple of the film industry. In these strange times of fake news, the importance of accuracy in such films is a pertinent discussion. Film is in the business of escapism, transporting us away and connecting us with that world and its characters. Deviations from accuracy is a device sometimes used to create such a connection. Often, the importance of accuracy to a film depends on the type of film. In a biopic, there is a greater responsibility for the filmmaker to depict events accurately so the subject is not misrepresented. If filmmakers are deviating from the truth they should only do so with the permission of those it is depicting. In Rocketman (2019) Elton John and his husband served as Executive Producers on the film, so they could have a say in how Elton was portrayed, giving a
fair depiction of his life. In films showing a singular event or ‘true story’, an accurate portrayal is important as filmmakers have a responsibility as guardians of those stories and the people in them. Further, when an audience is told that events are based on a true story it makes them more engaged with the characters, more accepting of events that take place. This was exploited by the Coen Brothers in Fargo (1996), with their infamously misleading opening text, claiming to be a true story. Films telling a true story can sometimes take liberties with the truth to make it more entertaining: take Tarantino’s rewriting of history in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019). Again, as long as permission is given and there are historians in the world to point out what is and is not historically accurate, artistic license is in some cases acceptable. Dramatisation is also necessary for films telling a fictional story but set in a historical period. Subsequently, it is important that
Images: IMDB
the setting is authentically rendered onscreen, meaning an accurate use of props and set design. 1917 (2019) is loosely based on an amalgamation of stories Director Sam Mendes was told by his grandfather, and yet that film gives a very authentic portrayal of what trench warfare and life for soldiers in WWI was like. The intentions of the filmmaker also influences the importance of accuracy. If they wanted to inform, they have a greater responsibility to be accurate and not misrepresent what happened, as people may be watching for educational purposes. Mary Queen of Scots (2018) was criticised because, as pointed out by historian Simon Schama, the whole drama surrounding the two monarchs was that they did not meet, something the film did not seem to grasp. Key historical moments should not be altered in this way for the sake of dramatisation Conversely if they intended to primarily entertain, they can be permitted a greater degree of artistic license. I’m pretty sure that Adolf Hitler wasn’t an imaginary friend of JoJo Betzlet, but then I didn’t go to JoJo Rabbit (2019) to learn about Germany under the Third Reich. It is not the job of the filmmaker to be a historian. They have a responsibility to those that the ‘true’ story involves to create a faithful version of events, but it is not always an absolute necessity that they produce a historically accurate version of events in their film. Films have a double-edged purpose: to entertain and inform. As long as the main events of a story remain accurate, filmmakers should be permitted some leeway for artistic license and dramatisation, in order for the audience to be swept along in the story being told.
George Bell praises A24's impress
I
n a time where cinema is under the tyrannical rule of Disney, it is important to stick up for the little guy and the studios that haven’t sold their souls to Mickey. I can’t think of a better studio for the film industry at the moment that the brilliant A24 with it’s no fucks given attitude of if a director/writer has an interesting idea, then just let them make it. Since being founded back in 2012, A24 has produced countless movies, of which a significant number are regarded very well critically. No two films are the same, cover a wide range of issues and styles and are made to excellent quality. How good are they? Well, A24 produced Moonlight (2016), the academy award winner for the best picture if that’s any notion. As of 2019, A24 has had an impressive 25 Academy Award nominations so clearly know what they are doing. But what films have they actually graced our eyes with? I could name all of them but we’d be here all day and I’m sure you’d like to be doing better things, like watching some A24 films. So, here are just a few to show why A24 is so great *(takes a deep breath)*: The Farewell, The Lighthouse, Midsommar, Uncut Gems (In 2019 alone!), Mid90s (2018), Eighth Grade (2018), Hereditary (2018), Lady Bird (2017), The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), The Florida Project (2017), A Ghost Story (2017), The Lobster (2016), Green Room (2016), The Witch (2016) and Ex Machina (2015) *(exhales)*. So, as you can see, A24 has clearly not been sitting around and have no end in sight with more interesting projects in the pipeline. If you haven’t seen any of these films you definitely owe it to yourself to go watch at least one and trust me you won’t be disappointed. A24 has been behind so many fantastic films over the past which are sure to be classics in the years to come. Obviously, it’s the writers, directors and everyone else in the film crew that make these films as great as they are and not just the paycheck behind them. But it’s how A24 is willing to take risks in making these projects and give them all the creative freedom they need to make what they set out to do, movies.
Student film festival is a success
Film Editor Steven Ross gives a run down of Film-Soc's first film festival
N
ewcastle University Film Society hosted a national student film festival from 13-15 March, with work being submitted from universities across the country. Drama, comedy, arthouse, music, and documentary films were submitted, with 24 being selected by a panel to be shown at the festival. The opening ceremony involved a speech by Film-Soc President, Patrick Keelan Harland who talked about the importance of student filmmaking and his excitement at starting a festival which will hopefully become an annual event. This was followed by an opportunity for filmmakers and enthusiasts to network in Luther’s Bar. On Saturday, all of the films that had been selected
Image: Unsplash
were screened in the Students' Union. Some students who had been involved in making a film spoke about their work and the creative process involved in filmmaking. This provided an opportunity for the audience to gain a deeper understanding of the films they watched.
The Cyril Offense took Best Picture whilst 36 Hours won the People's Choice award
Devon Young, former Film-Soc President, also hosted a radio show to speak to some of the filmmakers including Matteo Magazzino, Holly Eysselinck and Kelly Wong. They talked about the areas they would like to work in as professional filmmaker and offered advice to other students who wanted to take the first steps in making their own films. Devon hosted another radio show on Sunday morning with other committee members. They discussed their favourite films from the festival, the development of student filmmaking, and reviewed the romantic drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire. The festival closed on Sunday with an awards ceremony. The Cyril Offense, a film about accusations of child abuse by the MP Cyril Smith, took Best Picture, whilst 36 Hours won the People’s Choice award. This was a meta-film project led by Alex Battersby about the process of making a short film in 36 hours. Other highlights included Skint, a dra-
ma about a debt collector who falls on hard times and Ghostin? You Gotta Be Joking, a mockumentary about ghost hunters. LOWFI BOOM BAP BEATS CASSETTE TAPE [DIRTY] - or- Postmodernism.mp4, directed by Film Soc's own Holly Eysselinck and Miles Cracknell, won Best Sound Editing and Best Art Film. Holly said, "The whole process felt quite organic. Miles and I were lucky to have similar tastes, it meant we could both go off and add to the film and when we showed each other it was always seen as an enhancement".
The whole process felt quite organic
Holly Eysselinck, Director of LOWFI BOOM BAP BEATS CASSETTE TAPE [DIRTY] - or- Postmodernism.mp4
This was the first festival of its kind led by Film Society and there are hopes that in future years it will continue and grow as more students hear about the event and submit their films. The festival saw a great variety of films from across genres, providing an opportunity for every filmmaker to experience something unique. Patrick said of the festival, "It went far better than we could have expected. With how well it went this year, I can only imagine how much better the festival could be in the following years". To find out more information about Film-Soc, check out facebook.com/newcastlefilmsoc/ or check out their page on the Students' Union website. The Society host weekly screenings of films from a variety of genres, alongside producing their own films and a variety of other social events.
Image: IMDB
21
the courier
Monday 23 March 2020
@Courier_Film thecourieronline.co.uk/film
filmculture
wood's heart The tortuous myths of cinema
sive visionary achievements in film
Other studios under the shadow of Disney never seem to take risks with what they make, instead of going with what will make them the most money. While that clearly works now with most recent marvel movies earning in the billions, it’s only a matter of time before we get bored. A24, however, are making all sorts so you have no clue what going to come next, making strides in the industry and setting a great example for what all studios: great films first, then profit. Disney employs around 210,000 people & has an estimated yearly revenue of a staggering $60bn. And much of that profit comes from their ownership of three massive film franchises – The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Pixar Animation & the Star Wars franchise. All of these movies make monumental profits and regularly end up as the biggest box-office hits of the year. The collected profits of all A24’s film doesn’t even scratch the surface of the Disney Empire. Disney doesn’t only dominate the cinema industry however, it also owns a substantial amount of TV companies including: ABC, The History Channel, Lifetime, ESPN &, surprisingly, 10% of Vice Media. It’s a studio that doesn’t just take an interesting direction with its movies but also, it’s marketing style. Typically, A24 doesn’t do a wide release for its films with only 8 of its 64 films being shown in more than 1000 theatres such as Swiss Army Man (2016). This is likely due to a large portion of its films being more artistic and likely not to appeal to a majority. As I described, A24 brings out loads of films each year, on average between 15 and 20, which is impressive for an independent studio where most movies don’t earn as much. This just goes to show a budget isn’t everything. So please go give A24 all your money so they can keep giving us great films. By now I have probably said A24 almost 24 times but it’s important that the studio that many seem to pass over is actually behind some great films. The film industry would be a very boring place without them.
Peter Lennon discusses the controversial depiction of torture in 2012's Zero Dark Thirty
I
t has become very easy to forget that film, despite its abundance, is a relatively new form of storytelling. From Ancient Greek orators to the playwrights of the 17th Century, all the way to our contemporaries, storytelling has been the most affluent mode of spreading ideas and building mythology. Unfortunately for film, which has become the most influential medium, it also bears the responsibility for perpetuating harmful myths. Perhaps the most famous offender in recent years is Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty (2012), which dramatized the international manhunt for Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after the events of September 11. So, what harmful myth could this “all-American” Biopic have to offer? Quite simply, torture. Even if you haven’t seen the film, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that there would be one or two instances of torture that would be revolutionary in the discovery of Bin Laden. After all, torture is tried and true method of interrogation that yields accurate and useful information from the “torturee” every time. Every Time... Needless to say, that what some might call a “fetishization” of the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation techniques” came under attack left, right and centre. This included various media outlets, all the way to a publicly signed letter from Dianna Feinstein, Carl Levin and John McCain – the latter of whom was infamously tortured during his service in North Vietnam. What is important to note, however, is that it is not the depiction of torture that has been criticised, but rather, as stated by Jane Mayer in The New Yorker, the “sidestepping [of] the political and ethical debate that it provoked.” That is to say that sensitive matters should be discussed sensitively. Both director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal openly defended their film amid these criticisms. Bigelow stated that the film “depicted a variety of controversial practices and intelligence methods”, while Boal has asserted that no method of torture was exclusively responsible for tracking Osama bin Laden. While, of course, depicting events in films is not the same as endorsing them – after all, there is rarely an outcry for every horror film that is released – care needs to be taken. The reason there isn’t an outcry over horror films
(with some exceptions from a particularly extreme audience) is because the films make a moral stance i.e. Leatherface’s penchant for killing teens with a rusty chainsaw does not situate him as the good guy. Though Bigelow states that she hasn’t taken a stance, only depicted the events, the film takes a stance by default. This isn’t to say that films aren’t allowed to explore the moral ambiguities of our anthropologic world without coming to a conclusion; in fact, the best films often do. But not discussing the events depicted at all positions myths such as these as being endorsements. As a visual medium, we can only accept what we see and what we see is torture being effective. Naturally, Zero Dark Thirty is not the only offender of perpetuating myths. Cultural and racial, as well as gender and sexual, stereotypes have long swept through Hollywood in films too many to count. Like the depiction of torture, stereotypes can often be harmful in their presentation unless treated with sensitivity and a complete self-awareness. The situation isn’t an easy one Images: IMDB
The Hunt (15)
Image: IMDB
T
Harriet Metcalfe
Bloodshot (12A)
Onward (U)
Image: IMDB
he Hunt follows the events of twelve strangers, who wake up in a field with no idea where they are, let alone how they got there. In a Hunger Gamesesque Cornucopia they find weapons, but it’s only when they start getting shot at that they realise what's going on. They’ve all heard rumours of ‘Manor-gate’, a twisted game where liberal elites hunt "deplorables" (yep they use that word) for fun – but is it real? And why were they chosen? Marketed as anything and everything between horror, thriller, action and satire; the glaring problem with The Hunt is that it doesn’t know what it wants to be. References to racial tension, gun laws, freedom of speech, race, fake news, constitutional rights, privilege, elitism and feminism make the film a mish-mash of every trending topic on Twitter – whilst attempts at satire feel more like ill-judged jokes. The film wants to say something, but the script has such clunky dialogue that it can’t decide what. If they'd really leaned into the concept of the privileged elite hunting the poor, and had less gratuitous violence, The Hunt could have been a much more impactful film - but it tries too hard to cover everything at once. The Hunt was supposed to be released last year, but after two mass shootings in the US there was huge backlash over the premise. Now the coronavirus is here and it feels like there was never going to be a good time for this film to be released.
to navigate. Our psychological ability to separate what we see on screen from real-life has been a point of controversy since the dawn of television and cinema. While, I like to believe, that most of us can separate the two and that we have a responsibility to do so, a crude representation of these myths is harmful for those that can’t, as well as to those that have had to live through the experience.
O
ver the years, Pixar has become a giant in terms of delivering emotional and soul pleasing animated movies, which has charmed people of all ages. Onward, directed by Dan Scanlon (Monsters University) is the recent sentimental addition to the list of Pixar’s wonderful movies, centring upon the loss of a parent as its tragic core. The hearty-core of the film is the brotherly-bond of Ian and Barley Lightfoot, who live in a modern world which has swept magic under the carpet after the arrival of the immediate comfort brought by technology. It’s Ian’s 16th birthday and his mother gives him the gift his late father had left behind for the brothers to discover together. This gift takes them on a quest to spend a few moments with their father, whilst simultaneously introducing them to the magical world of wizardry. The film focuses upon the grief of a lost parent, and the strength of the familial relationships which already exist in the boys’ life. Interestingly enough, the film is smeared all over with pop-culture references which hint towards the narrative’s setting in a modern-time equivalent. Burger King becomes Burger Shire, Quests of Yore is just a fantastical alternative of Dungeons and Dragons, the suburban neighbourhood looks like an over-grown mushroom and dragons replace over-zealous doggos. Although the film starts with a ruckus-filled pace but gradually regains balance and delivers a heart-wrenching end which promises to make one cry, no matter the age. Arnojya Shree
Image: IMDB
I
have nothing against a well-done action flick. Something simple minded that you can switch off and enjoy. This was what I was hoping for here. Adapted from a comic book Vin Diesel stars as an experimental new soldier whose blood has been injected with nanobots that make him un-defeatable. The comic book this was adapted from is somewhat of a fan favourite, a legacy you would hope would carry on into this film. This isn’t quite the case though with the dialogue crudely sellotaped into this film from the comic’s original story. The action sequences are effective but repetitive, proof that throwing an endless amount of money at a film doesn’t necessarily make it good. Not only this but the attempted comic relief character of the film Wilfred Wigans (Lamorne Morris) while being not funny also was stuck with a very awkward cockney accent (I think it was meant to be cockney). It got to the end with me thinking the graphic novel should have been left well alone. The core fault of the film was the mundane, predictable plot which centred around many other problems. Despite this there was a level of enjoyment at the awkward cringe of the bad acting or shots of cars being obliterated by explosions in dimly lit tunnels. In a time of stress it’s not necessarily a bad thing to see a film crammed with expensive explosions and bizarre superheroes, just don’t bet on it changing your life. Eve Ducker
22
culture arts
the courier
Monday 23 March 2020
c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Arts Editors Caitlin Rawlings, Charlotte Slinger & Lauren Sneath
Celebrating female pioneers in the arts E Judy Chicago S Image: Instagram @mariomooreart
ome would say Judy Chicago is the Godmother of feminist art. She might be eighty years old but she still has a strong foothold in the feminist art world. Since the 1970s, Chicago has worked tirelessly to alter the representation of women through her artworks. In a world where inequality is still a problem, it is difficult to imagine the social and political climate that she was working in over fifty years ago. Women were put in boxes and limited to domestic roles, often seen as objects of ownership. Chicago frequently used imagery of male and female genitalia, a move that was unimaginably bold back then. However, boundary-pushing artistic decisions such as these that made her such a pioneering figure. Her most famous artwork is The Dinner Party, which is now on permanent display in the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum. The artwork consists of an installation of a huge ceremonial banquet arranged on a triangular table with thirty-nine place settings, each one commemorating an important woman from history. In-keeping with her style, Chicago chose to place raised motifs in the centre of each place based on vulvar and butterfly forms rendered in styles appropriate to the individual women being honoured. It stands as a beautiful yet powerful memorial to women in the arts. The BALTIC Art Gallery in Newcastle is currently exhibiting some of her work in the first major UK survey of the artist. The exhibition displays works spanning her fifty-year career, through which she has explored the human condition, birth and death, as well as her own emotional journey as an artist. This stunning show, which takes its spectators on a ferociously feminist journey, is not to be missed! Catherine Entwistle
Y
Image: Lauren Sneath
Image: Instagram @politipins
ach of Beatrix Potter’s paintings and sketches are masterfully put to paper with care and immense skill; somehow captivatingly enchanting with each precise stroke. The beauty in Potter’s art is its ability to capture reality whilst simultaneously transporting her readership to the whimsical world of her beloved characters. Based on her observations of living in the ever-beautiful Lake District, Potter was able to capture nature in all of its raw beauty and grace; from the trees bustling in the Northern winds, to the twitching whiskers of the iconic Peter Rabbit. Her paintings speak for themselves and tell stories that many artists attempt but seldom achieve; to create a world so vivid as Potter’s without even so much as writing a word.
Potter is often cited as a founding inspiration for the National Trust
You cannot do Potter’s art any justice without mentioning the work she did for science and conservation. In her earlier years, Potter dedicated her talents to painting scientific illustrations of fungi, which she studied as a keen part of her interest in mycology. Talented and passionate in the field, Potter’s observations were nonetheless disregarded by her male counterparts based on her sex but continue to influence scientific illustration to this day. Without Potters insistence and endless efforts, much of the beauty in the Lake District that we have the pleasure of seeing today and have inspired countless pieces of art, would not exist. A firm believer in preserving natural scenes of beauty, Potter is often cited as a founding inspiration for the National Trust. Dedicating much of her life to the preservation of fell-life, the countryside, and artistic Lancastrian tradition, Potter bought, restored, and managed countless properties for the National Trust. When Potter passed in December of 1943, she left nearly all of her properties to the National Trust thus enabling the conservation of what is now the Lake District National Park. Potter’s tenacity in her causes, art, and writing career are no doubt enough to herald her a pioneering woman of arts and culture. Before her time, she did not let the restrictions of her gender prevent her from making valuable contributions to some of the most beautiful places in the UK and shaping millions of children’s childhoods through her enthralling and whimsical tales. Beth Robson
Margaret Atwood
ou may not think that a novelist of dystopian fiction, who writes about female, societal subordination is brimming with hope for gender equality. Most of her work provides as much optimism as a soured existential monologue from our favourite purple donkey, Eeyore. Instead, her novels are impregnated with rich narratives of men controlling women, where women's sexual relationships are censored and monitored and their every move deeply criticised. Disturbingly, Atwood famously states that the terrifying events of her novels all have their precedents in some of the darkest chapters in world history: everything she writes is based on scandalous, inhumane fact. This isn't exactly the 'female empowerment' kind of chant you hear at an International Women's Day street march, then, is it? Atwood's writing doesn't, however, bring us hope as a gender, though perhaps not in such an in-your-face way as a rousing chant at a protest. Firstly, she has consistently developed new ways of thinking about gender. She empowers women through her novels, as she provides them with the tools to successfully diagnose and unpick unjust, societal gender norms. Atwood published The Edible Woman in 1969; this early proto-feminist, second wave work which actively dismantled gender stereotypes paved the way for other feminist fiction to enter the mainstream literary market. Atwood's recent novel The Testaments turns its more pessimistic prequel on its head, as this text begins to delve into resistance against subordination. For potentially the first time ever, a dystopian novel actually ended with a (relatively) happy ending. This gives me hope. If the most brilliantly cynical writer of our time reckons that the future for women isn't all doom and gloom, then I think we might just be okay. Sophie Schneider
Beatrix Potter
Image: Instagram @frizzkidart
T
Hana Shafi
here are so many female artists who are making changes every day on social media platforms such as Instagram. There is Floss aka @florencegiven, Frances Cannon (@frances_cannon) and the illustration account @pink_bits. Each account battles issues such as body image, depression, identity and sexuality through their powerful work. One artist in particular who is making a change in a world full of body negativity is Toronto- based journalist and artist Hana Shafi aka FrizzKid. Hana’s illustrations, which are posted on her social media accounts (mainly Instagram), deliver positive and supportive messages such as “you are good enough” and “it’s ok to put yourself first” communicating messages with thoughtfulness and care.
Hana’s illustrations... deliver positive and supportive messages
Hana started to experiment with art in high school after feeling very insecure, stressed and struggled with anxiety, so art become a form of therapy in her younger years. By expressing herself creatively, she was able to tackle the issues she faced in her early adolescence and now years later she is creating both poetry and illustrations to help other women who are also fighting their own battles. One particular illustration that she became known for was the “healing isn’t linear” illustration relating to survivors of sexual violence. By combining such poignant words with flowers, Hana was able to create something visual and by taking such a difficult healing process and creating an illustration which grasps the point perfectly millions were able to use her art to have hope with their own healing process. Many of her illustrations have been used by fans for tattoo inspiration, especially her "healing is not linear" work, as a way to remind themselves that healing is never simple and never straightforward but instead is a constant process of self-love and acceptance. Amy Harris
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
W
omen’s recognition, status and respect is slowly but surely on the rise, and has been for some time now, not only in politics but in the creative arts as well. There is one woman who I think has had a large impact on so many people’s lives, especially recently; in a world over run with fears and anxiety, she is able to put a smile on so many faces. This woman is Phoebe Waller Bridge, or as you may know her, ‘Fleabag’. With an effortless charm and a manner I think we can all agree we resonate with, she has taken the creative industry with almost as much force as the many storms we have seen cut across the UK. Not only are her erotic sketches amusing, they also open up so many taboos we still currently hold, especially for young women. They televise issues so many people can understand and relate to, yet so many people are too timid to accept.
A creative genius who has even infiltrated the male-centric world of James Bond – and as more than just a bond
Not only this, but her audiences are inclusive of practically everyone – even 60 year old men! Removing the gender competitive nature we see within so many industries today, as women rise to roles previously dominated by men, there is a certain nature about her character Fleabag that is open to a universal audience. With a host of different television shows, such as the simultaneously macabre, sexy, and amusing Killing Eve (which is, for a bit of trivia, based on Greek Mythology). Waller-Bridge is a creative genius who has even infiltrated archaic, malecentric world of James Bond – and as more than a bond girl. For this reason among many, she is certainly worth celebrating as a symbol of female empowerment. Iona Lowe
T
Joan Didion
he influence that women have in the art world is ever growing. Women writers particularly, document exactly what it means to be a woman, and to be working in industries still dominated by men. I have a lot of love for these writers. After all, I would not have wanted to become one myself if I had not read works by Jane Austen, Mary Shelley and Maya Angelou just to name a few. Right now, I want to bring focus to Joan Didion. Didion has been writing since the 60s, and has covered everything from novels to screenplays to journalism. I only very recently read her novel Play It As It Lays (1970) and found it to be totally weird and addicting. Her sparse writing style, although something I could never achieve myself, is brilliant. She captures an essence of womanhood, while also bringing exposure to privilege. Didion never actually showed support to the feminist movement, as it was known back then. It is important to remember that women in the arts should not only be admired because of feminism, but because of what they do and the groundwork they lay. Didion lives and works for herself. Her work is not anti-feminist, nor is it feminist. It just is. Speaking as a feminist myself, there is a lot of pressure on women feminists who have platforms, to speak for all women. No one asks male writers to speak for all men, right? I hope that we are heading into a world where all women can use their own voices, regardless of race or sexuality. Back to Didion. She openly defied ideas of gender roles, and never felt herself to be a feminine ideal. She has even been described as a distant and emotionless person, which is fascinating to consider when reading her material. She did not fit into traditional feminine roles. In an interview for The Paris Review, she commented: “There was a kind of social tradition in which male novelists could operate… a man who wrote novels had a role in the world, and he could play that role and do whatever he wanted behind it. A woman who wrote novels had no particular role.” Didion created that role for herself and many women writers who came after her. She always emphasised that gender roles are arbitrary, and that the key to success was not being put into a box. Instead, it was in hard work and self-affirmation. Amy Brown
the courier
23
Monday 23 March 2020
@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/arts
arts culture
arts activism revisited Is #MeToo a 'sex panic'? Lesbian Sophie Wilson tells us about a new exhibition which Arts Editor Lauren Sneath reviews a new book which seeks to unpack the nuances of the #MeToo movement explores how artists shaped London’s Gay Culture
W
hat We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About #MeToo: Essays on Sex, Authority and the Mess of Life. First of all, what a title. Standing alone, it evokes a sense of mystery from what has previously been seen as a black and white movement - victim versus offender. Woman versus man. Subsequently, a lot of women versus a handful of men. In mainstream western media, it evolved into famous, intelligent and privileged women (in terms of their ability to voice concerns and, in recent years, actually be heard) versus famous, intelligent and privileged men (in terms of their status as rich, white males previously able to silence pesky female complainants with money). The title of JoAnn Wypijewski's book adds new layers to the #MeToo movement, implying that there is more than meets the eye when approaching such a hot-button topic. Additions like ‘Authority’ and ‘the Mess of Life’ add
new dimension to this media sensation. Is this more than simply a group of chauvinistic abusers who exist in well-lined pockets of society? Has our reaction been influenced by previous panics in society, by our approach to media in the twenty-first century, and by our historic prejudice surrounding gender? Wypijewski, through a startling blend of lyrical prose asserting that, ‘Sex figures as a preternatural danger, emotion swamps reason, monsters abound, and protection demands any sacrifice’ and a mind-boggling array of statistics, has a forthright, if not controversial, objective. She seeks to pick apart the ‘ever expanding default language of monsters and victims’ and posits a manner of sexual politics to be applied to the fast-moving, messy society we live in. Essays in the collection range through sensationalist, media-driven manhunts like that of Harvey Weinstein and Woody Allen, to earlier examples of media panic around the AIDs crisis in the US. Her clear and incisive approach to historically taboo topics, which addresses cases and subjects with sensitivity to each particular context, shows us that there is a measured, analytical, and inherently modern attitude to be taken when discussing, prosecuting, and writing about entrenched sexual violence in industry and gender politics. As Wypijewski concludes in the flagship essay of this illuminating collection: ‘The politics of good and evil leaves only righteousness and shame. Complex humanity evaporates in shame, and we’re back in the Garden, stitching fig leaves into garments.’ I think that says it all, to be honest. What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About #MeToo: Essays on Sex, Authority and the Mess of Life, by JoAnn Wypijewski, will be available to buy on the 2nd June, 2020. Instagram @ashlukadraws
I
n the 1980s and 1990s, a time where Margaret Thatcher was trying to stop people talking about queerness in schools and in other areas associated with the council, three artists were working towards documenting the culture of queerness. And now, their work has been revisited in a new exhibition. Tessa Boffin, Jill Posener and Ingrid Pollard were the three photographers who documented the lives of lesbian Londoners in the 1980s and early 1990s. Their work celebrated a positive alternative that was queer female identity, and touched on homophobic representations of these people in the press. They lived in a time when there was an anti-LGBT law through section 28, and when there was widespread homophobia, and their work sought to correct this. Their work is now being featured in an East London art space named Auto Italia. The exhibition is called Hot Moment, and was curated by Radclyffe Hall. It not only collates their photographs but also footage of their performances and interviews. But even their photography is so diverse within their styles. Posener reproduced imagery of theatrical performers, and had regularly worked with a gay professional theatre company prior to this. Her photos show the vandalization of billboards. Pollard photographed the late night performances of a community of Black women, but also documented protests for lesbian rights. And Boffin used satire in her work: she focuses on crossdressing and how this was represented in a case in her time where a crossdresser was accused of raping two girls. As Frieze has described, it “offers glimpses into a significant recent past that has been woefully accounted for and wilfully erased, attending to artists who pushed back against poisonous cultural narratives with care, humour and style.”
Women's prize for fiction Sophie Wilson discusses the impressive list of nominees for the Women's Prize for Fiction
A
s the 25th year of the Women’s Prize for Fiction has arrived, it is time to view the longlist for the 2020 competition. The competition is an annual one, awarding a female author of any nationality a prize of £30,000 and a bronze sculpture, named Bessie. The author has to provide a full length novel that is written in English, and the winner will follow in the footsteps of previous authors like Zadie Smith, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ann Patchett. The first of the sixteen titles that have been nominated is a book that has been ever present in the eye of the public: Girl, Woman, Other. Written by Bernadine Evaristo, this book has already won the 2019 Booker Prize. It follows the lives of twelve characters, most of whom are black. Their stories do not contribute to one overarching story line, but rather it looks at how they negotiate their separate worlds. Their lives inevitably intertwine, but so do their encounters with issues like feminism, politics and relationships. Hillary Mantel is also not unaccustomed to publicity from her literature. With works like Wolf Hall and Bringing up the
Bodies, she has is already an acclaimed success. For this year's Women's Prize for fiction, her novel The Mirror and the Light has been nominated. This book focuses on the four years between 1536 and 1540, and explores the dissolution of monasteries, a northern uprising and the politics surrounding Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne of Cleves. Her work in the field of historical fiction has grown in volume with this novel, yet another book to be nominated for prestigious literary awards.
With a variety of settings and plots involved, the longlist seems to cover a diverse range of narratives The other books cover a variety of themes and areas of exploration: in Girl, Edna O’Brien portrays a young girl who has been abducted in Nigeria. It follows a story of incarceration, horror and hunger in the lives of those touched by the bureaucracy. Jacqueline Woodson’s Red at the Bone explores the impact of teenage pregnancy on a family, Jenny Offill’s Weather explores climate anxiety, and Maggie
O’Farrell’s Hamnet imagines life in the family of Shakespeare when his own son died at the age of 11. With a variety of settings and plots involved, the longlist seems to cover a diverse range of narratives. Ann Patchett has written a novel about siblings thrown out of their childhood home by their stepmother; Candice CartyWilliams has told the story of a young black woman who is struggling with relationships and work in London; Haynes’ book is about the Trojan war from the perspective of the women involved, and Dominicana is about a Domincan girl navigating a move to New York. The authors tackle harrowing topics, with Lee’s novel, How We Disappeared, telling the story of a grandmother who looks back on her time in a Japanese military rape camp in 1942. The same is true in Lombardo’s The Most Fun We Ever Had, and Goldie’s Nightingale Point, which talks about a London tower block that goes up in flames. Anappara’s novel about why children have died in an unnamed Indian city, Akner’s Fleishman is in Trouble, and Enright’s Actress finish the list. With so many books having been chosen at shortlist worthy, then which will be the next book that you pick up? The shortlist will be announced on the 22nd April, so have a read for yourself and choose your winner.
Instagram @ashlukadraws
Poem Box “fix me, fix me I need an emotional connection As durable glue for my broken life My broken love Im broken inside And the shambles Of my heart Can be mended With true love, true lips A taste of true hips Might just make me whole again.” But I will not fix What I did not break still a table That I did not shake And how can I live In a burning house Catch an invisible mouse Love me, dont drain me Kiss me. dont strain me, I will not fix you Fix yourself. Victoria Osho
Instagram @robineisenburg
@Culture_Courier @thecourieronline
24
culture gaming
courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Gaming Editors Alex Darbyshire, George Boatfield & Shawn Khoo Online Editor James Troughton
the courier
Monday 23 March 2020
Is E3 heading for a permanent exit? It certainly is... Peter Lennon
T
he headline of ‘E3 has been cancelled amid coronavirus concerns’ is something that shouldn’t come as any surprise at the moment. In fact, it’s really one that should almost be taken for granted, considering the annual event’s large attendance of journalists and gamers across the globe. But should E3 come back, even if the pandemic comes to a close? Inaugurated in the summer of 1995, the Electronic Entertainment Expo has been a staple in both the gaming industry and pop culture for the last 25 years. Although it started as a closed event, E3 eventually expanded to live streams of their panels in 2017 as well as admittance to the public, selling 15,000 general admittance tickets. Unfortunately – as there’s no denying that it has a special place in all our hearts – this expansion is a strong indicator that E3 has run its course. The truth of the matter is that most people don’t attend, opting to watch the presentations from the comfort of their own homes. So why should game developers go to great financial length, only to reach the same audience as Nintendo does through their own Direct streams? While it would be arrogant to dismiss the smaller developers who attend to secure deals, E3 isn’t the only
gaming event in the year – though it may seem that way to those less familiar with gaming culture. Moreover, plenty of indie developers have found success through fund-raising public benefit corporations, such as Kickstarter. Gaming has a wide and ultimately supportive community that will feed into the indie scene, as long as the idea is innovative. Finally, as I mentioned at the start, E3 is attended by thousands of people from across the globe. In a more climate-change savvy world, wouldn’t it be prudent to reduce our carbon footprint by minimising our travel? It only makes sense to think digitally in the world of electronic gaming.
I
’m sure that most of you will have felt the impact that coronavirus has had across the world, but even if you were completely oblivious to global disruption, the cancellation of E3 this year still might not have come as much of a surprise. There’s no denying that the yearly expo has been on the downturn over the past couple of years. Since Sony’s blowout media briefing in 2016, companies have increasingly favoured an online-only format, and with it has come reduced media interest. But I’ve never been to America, and I certainly haven’t been to an E3 event in person. So while the coronavirus may well be fasttracking the end of the
Please, no! George Boatfield
show, the change in format hasn’t really affected things on my end, and the magic of E3 lingers. There’s still something special about this season of hype and announcements. With it often being described as a gamer’s early Christmas, the bright new future of gaming put forward by E3 can lead to some of the most exciting times of the year. Personally, I find the ritual of hunkering down beside my screen of choice, and with a supply of snacks to view each media briefing something that marked the beginning of summer.
E3 often leads to some of the most exciting times of the year
The ESA has tried to combat the shift from media briefings to pre-produced videos E3 to the public, making it more similar to Gamescom, but that has only exacerbated the issues that tradespeople and media have had with the overcrowding at the show and drawn more people away from its halls, without the need for a live audience or a presence in Los Angeles. While hype is increasingly dangerous in an industry like this, where working conditions for developers and exploitation of vulnerable players is only increasing, it does provide pause for thought when it comes to hyping up the event. This is especially the case for companies like EA and Ubisoft, the former of which has been trying to distance itself from E3 for years.
The latest coronavirus impacts on gaming...
E3 2020 is cancelled! E
3 2020 has officially been cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Rumours had been circulating on social media a couple days prior, but in an unprecedented move, the ESA has shut down the trade show. In a statement, the ESA confirmed that "after careful consultation with our member companies regarding the health and safety of everyone in our industry – our fans, our employ-
As coronavirus, Jack Wallace-Hunter weighs in
ees, our exhibitors and our long time E3 partners – we have made the difficult decision to cancel E3 2020, scheduled for 9-11 June in Los Angeles." The statement goes on to say that the ESA "are very disappointed that [they] are unable to hold this event for [their] fans and supporters. But [they] know it’s the right decision based on the information [they] have today." This comes after iam8bit announced that it will resign from its partnership with E3. No reasoning has been disclosed as to why the company has ended its creative directorship at the event. Following the announcement, major companies in the industry have rallied to offer support regarding
the future of E3. Nintendo announced that it "supports the ESA’s decision to cancel this year’s E3 to help protect the health and safety of everyone in our industry". Nintendo has always attended the convention but still stands with the ESA cancelling E3. Phil Spencer, Executive vice-president of gaming at Microsoft, has also joined the rally to provide clarity for Xbox fans, stating in a tweet that "this year we’ll celebrate the next generation of gaming with the @Xbox community and all who love to play via an Xbox digital event." With rumours circulating that Xbox was set to announce its new entry to its console franchise, key players will now have to find different ways to reveal new games and consoles.
Despite this shocking turn of events, the ESA is currently "exploring options with our members to coordinate an online experience to showcase industry announcements and news in June 2020." Therefore, despite the ongoing public health crisis, fans will likely still receive their gaming news, albeit in a coordinated E3 digital showcase.
GDC and IGF Awards to be held online Amanda Goh reports on the measures taken by the Games Developers Conference to cope with the global pandemic
A
fter the postponement of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) this year amid health concerns on the COVID-19, it has been announced the two key parts of the show will be streamed online. The conference will still be taking place between 16-20 March. San Francisco, where GDC is held, has declared a state emergency over coronavirus to prepare the city in event of a widespread outbreak. This announcement was followed by major game conventions and Esports tournaments being cancelled, including the postponement of GDC. Previously, organisers of the GDC had mentioned that the conference might be rescheduled to later in the year,
but recently announced plans to deliver the conference online instead. In addition to select GDC 2020 talks, virtual award ceremonies for The independent Games Festival (IGF) and Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) will stream at 5pm pacific time on 18 March.
Hype is a powerful tool for developers, but it's always a balancing act
GDC further announced that there will be no physical
gathering or audience, but a pre-recorded show will be streamed on the official GDC twitch channel. Their website adds: “GDC 2020 speakers also have the opportunity to submit their talk even after the physical event would have occurred, so keep watching GDC Vault and Twitter as more free talks are added!” The recent changes to the GDC had caused much anxiety. Brendain Drain from Brain and Nerd told PC Gamer, “it was pretty stressful seeing all those companies had started to pull out”. John Ingold, Inkle Studios’ narrative director explains that the sudden change puts on a lot of stress onto small studio developers, as developers from other parts of the world take advantage of GDC
as a means of getting face-to-face time with the US or worldwide press. The GDC is the annual video game industry’s premier professional event. The event champions game developers and the advancements of their crafts. It is known as the “largest developer-facing event of its kind in North America”. Last year’s GDC attracted more than 25,000 people at the San Francisco Moscone Convention Center.
the courier
25
Monday 23 March 2020
@Courier_Gaming thecourieronline.co.uk/gaming
gaming culture
Amnesia to get sequel in the form of 'Rebirth'
Following this announcement from horror game developer Frictional Games, Alex Gervas struggles to contain her excitement
F
rictional Games have officially announced the release of a new Amnesia sequel for fall. Titled Rebirth, it’s a first-person game, putting players in the shoes of Tasi Trianon. Later this year, the creators of SOMA and the Amnesia series, plan on releasing Amnesia: Rebirth for PC and PlayStation 4. The game will be a direct sequel to Amnesia: The Dark Descent, released ten years ago. While the original story followed the footsteps of Daniel around a castle as his past haunts him, the new game will have a unique setting, in which Tasi is trapped in the Algerian desert.
900%
Percentage of Amnesia's budget earned from it's first year of sale
Friction Games have described it as: “A harrowing journey through desolation and despair, exploring the limits of human resilience.” The game will focus on the tension created by the narrative rather than jumpscares. As Tasi tries to recover her memories, a creature follows her, feeding off her fear. Exploiting the insecurities and psychological fears of both the audience and the characters
will hopefully create a more engaging experience.
Rebirth will focus on the tension created by the narrative rather than jumpscares
The official trailer followed several secret videos and clues given through an Alternative Reality Game (ARG).
Players followed the little pieces of evidence left for them by developers until they reached nextfrictiongame. com. There they found a pulsating neuron that is now a growing fetus. Additionally, further down the website is a description of the game and a few teaser videos. Co-founder of Frictional Games, Thomas Grip, told IGN: “I personally always thought that Amnesia: The Dark Descent lacked a good narrative.” “Now with SOMA under our belt, and a ton of experience in just that, it felt like the right time to tackle it. To have this really scary game, with all what you expect from an Amnesia sequel, but to also add an emotional journey on top.”
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary makes it way to PC
The year is 2552, and Sam Blackburn is here to finish the fight with news on this port of the classic first-person shooter
W
ithout any fanfare or marketing, 3 March 2020 saw the surprise release of Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition on PC after previously being announced last year. A late addition to the The Master Chief Collection which hit PC back in December, it’s rather surprising that a remake of one of gaming’s biggest franchises appeared to slip so far under the radar. If this was Nintendo rereleasing Super Mario Bros. for the 1630th time, there would be at least an announcement in a Nintendo Direct or some form of marketing. What’s more baffling is that PC gamers purchasing Halo: The Master Chief Collection have had to wait
up to three months to finally play the first game in the series. Although a lot of the appeal in Halo stems from the competitive scene which developed in Halo 2 and 3 throughout the mid to late noughties, a lot of gamers would have interest in picking up The Master Chief Collection on the basis of experiencing the full Halo story for the first time. Although porting games over to different platforms isn’t always such a straightforward task, one must wonder how this impacted sales when the collection initially launched. The lack of announcement mixed with the delayed launch makes one question Microsoft’s marketing department, although it’s easy to imagine that they’ve got
their sights set upon a bigger launch: Xbox Series X.
Halo has lost much of its punch as a franchise since 343 acquired it
At the same time, is this just an example of how Halo has lost its punch and marketability as a franchise? The last main entry in the Halo series was Halo 5 back in 2015, which received positive reception from critics but was scrutinized more harshly by the hardcore gaming
community. Within the past five years, we’ve seen big names like Call of Duty drop off for shooters like Overwatch and the battle royale craze popularized by Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. There’s always the possibility that Halo has just lost some of its spark, or perhaps PC gamers just don’t care anymore about this Xbox-centric series. It’s a bizarre one, but only time will tell if Microsoft still cares about their golden boy, Master Chief.
Myst (1993) (2010) Skate 3 Elizabeth Meade looks back to this eerie 90s point-and-click
M
yst, one of the first open-world games by Robyn and Rand Miller, is sure to evoke nostalgia in anyone who remembers early PC games on CD-ROM. It remains one of my top recommendations to everyone from professional gamers to those who are completely new to PC gaming. But why was it so good, and what made us keep playing? A game from my early childhood, I watched my dad play Myst while giving the wise suggestions that only a five year-old could. “This is a game called Myst,” my dad said, showing me a picture on the screen of our new silver laptop. “Click on something to go there.” A picture of a
The creators' vivid imagination alone make Myst worth a go
grassy patch sat in front of me, with a mysterious building ahead and a bunch of trees. My tiny hands clicked around the screen, exploring the eerily silent island with its abandoned ship, empty library, creepy forested area, and multiple small buildings. At the age of four or five, I had never seen an actual computer game before, so it was an exciting new experience. I soon learned the basic rules of the game: walk around the island, click on something to find out if it can be interacted with and solve the puzzles along the way. Before long, I figured out how to travel through the island’s magical books to different Ages with different scenery and even more puzzles to solve; playing Myst became a nightly ritual for our family. The story of Myst is simple but dramatic: a man named Atrus and his wife Catherine live in a world where they can write new Ages, or worlds, into books. They have two sons named Sirrus and Achenar whom Atrus has imprisoned in their own unique Ages, known as the 'Prison Books' - a result of their attempt to kill thousands by destroying hundreds of books containing Ages, also why most of the books in the library are burnt. As the player, you get little other information besides this and it is up to you to solve the puzzles and find out more about the island, its mysterious inhabitants and its history. From a technical perspective, gameplay is firstperson and interaction is based on simple clicks,
with no battle mechanics or time limits. The puzzles range from navigating a maze to figuring out how machines work, providing a variety of challenges for players to take on. Art and architecture lovers will enjoy the game as well, as, despite being an earlier game, the graphics are quite nice for its time and there are a variety of imaginative environments such as a forested Age, a crystal Age, and a mechanical Age. The creators’ boundless imagination and interior design sensibilities make the game worth playing in and of itself. Myst is for anyone who wants a peaceful, singleplayer adventure which will both delight the eye and challenge the mind.
Music Editor Dominic Lee hits the virtual pipes one last time
W
e all have that one game where you were sure you were the best in the world. The game you’d be begging your mates to come online just so you could beat them and claim the glory. For me that game was Skate 3, which I spent far too much time on during my teenage years. I knew the game world inside and out after endless roaming,hitting up new spots to carve up with my board. Port Carverton was my skatepark and I owned it, with each and every spot perfectly designed to provide hours of fun. I’d spend hour upon hour jumping over the shark at Port Carverton
University with my friends, all of us desperate to get the perfect jump. We’d climb to the top of the Observatory and careen down the hill to see which one of us could get down the fastest, often attempting to push my fellow racers off the hill along the way. It wasn’t just the map which was great about the game though. Skate 3 had numerous game modes to keep online play exciting. Domination pitted two teams against each other to see which could rack up the most points by chaining tricks together. ‘SKATE’ modes took a classic real life game into the virtual world where skaters would try to replicate each others tricks to see who could achieve them all. Honestly, most of the time I would just waggle the right stick around and hope for the best, but occasionally I’d would land a huge trick, the payoff for which could only be marked by yelling at the top of my lungs. There were also ‘Thrasher’ challenges where you would land a trick to appear on the front of the magazine. However, ‘hall of meat’ challenges were by far the most entertaining. In these challenges, players would throw themselves off their boards and see how many bones they could break. At spots with big drops, this could result in some hilarious gameplay. The game also had some fantastic customization options, allowing you to build your own skateparks, ranging from small halls to huge arena-sized parks for you and your friends to jump around on. This customization option was the main reason I kept coming back to the game, designing intricate runs and jumps to show my friends. The only downside of Skate 3 was that it made me think I could skateboard in real life. This is probably a familiar story with other people who played the game and found out that what they could do so easily on their consoles was seemingly impossible in reality - I for one can’t even get round a corner on a skateboard. The fact that you’re reading this article now just shows that I didn’t even get close to attempting a ‘hall of meat’ challenge in real life. Nonetheless, Skate 3 is a game which I fondly remember playing and It’s a game that I would strongly recommend if you’re looking for a cheap way to have a lot of fun back over on an Xbox 360 or PS3.
26
culture science
c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Science Editors Eleanor Gratton, Patrick Harland & Seshadhri Subramanian
the courier
Monday 23 March 2020
How can we change what we do to try and protect our home
Lilla Marshall advises us on what we can do to in our day to day lives to try and save our planet for ourselves and for the future
A
s the climate crisis looms closer and closer, it’s easy to feel powerless under the current political climate. Here are some tips as to how you can do your bit in protecting the planet.
1. Shop selectively
At the end of the day, we are living on a tiny island and our carbon footprint is minuscule in comparison to countries which are undergoing their industrial revolution. It’s countries such as India and China we are holding the cards in this game, but we are not blameless. It’s becoming increasingly cheaper for us to export our labour to these countries, rather than produce products ourselves and, as a result, domestic companies in some areas of trade are struggling.
Buy locally if you can, it means the product doesn't have to travel as far
Images: Peakpx
Buy locally if you can. It means the product doesn’t have to be shipped across the entire country or across the entire world. It also means that you are giving money to companies who have more environmental regulations, if they are a UK based company. Head to Grainger Market or use a local charity shop, rather than Primark – who export their production to Bangladesh. Buy meat from local farmers, if you can. You’ll be supporting your local econ71% omy and
2. Get Involved in Politics
An EcoA study found that 85% of FTSE100 companies do not have sufficient regulations on limiting greenhouse gas emissions. These same companies are responsible for over 71% of all emissions. You can live as a hermit, not using any electricity and it won’t make a single difference. Top down change is required, as the climate crisis is showing that non-interventionist capitalism struggles to regulate itself in the face of long-term disasters. If a big company was to willingly take a hit to protect the planet, they would be undercut by another
It's an exciting step, but we need more of them
Plastic pollutants found in fish Em Richardson discusses a developing deep-sea dilemma
R
esearchers from Newcastle University have discovered “the presence of plastic” in a sea creature inhabiting the deepest part of the world’s oceans. The discovery is said to be a stark reminder of the true extent of plastic pollution. The creature itself is a new species of deep-sea amphipods, and was found in the Mariana Trench, between Japan and the Philippines. The trench, known for being the deepest stretch of ocean on Earth, is located in the Pacific Ocean. The species has been named Eurythenes Plasticus, in reference to the type of plastic it was found to contain. Said plastic is commonly found in household waste. The research has been widely discussed, including in renowned scientific journal Zootaxa. As to how the species came to ingest plastic, scientists have pointed out that much of
Image: Wikimedia Commons
the world’s plastic pollution ends up in Southeast Asia, despite originally being manufactured in industrialised countries, including the UK.
The newly discovered species shows the extent of our impact
Ultimately, Southeast Asia struggles to dispose of plastic pollution, often resorting to dangerous disposal methods. This includes dumping plastic at repositories, from which it eventually makes its way into the water system. Once it enters the ocean, plastic is broken down into micro-plastics, which are then ingested by marine life. Discussing the significance of Newcastle’s discovery, Dr. Heike Vesper, Director of the Marine Programme at WWF Germany, said “The newly discovered species Eurythenes Plasticus shows us how far-reaching the consequences of our inadequate handling of plastic waste really is. There are species living in the deepest, most remote places on earth which have already ingested plastic before they are even known about by humankind. Plastics are in the air that we breathe, in the water that we drink, and now also in animals that live far away from human civilisation”.
3. Be a leader
We can only solve climate change if we work together. Decades of individualist policies such as turning off the lights, using a washing line and using public transport have not helped us avoid the impending disaster. It still lingers ever closer. That’s not to say these ideas aren’t helpful. We should be trying to reduce our carbon footprint, we should be recycling and we should be trying to cut down on our of meat products. 2030
company immediately. If you care about climate change, you need to be looking to the government for answers. In his 2020 budget, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a plastic tax for companies using plastic in packaging. It’s an exciting step, but we need more of them. This is not a partisan issue, every major political party in the UK acknowledges the approaching climate crisis, but there doesn’t seem to be much willingness to actually act. At the bare minimum, you can write to your local MP and encourage them to make the crisis a priority. You could even just let them know that it’s an important issue to you, if they want to win your vote. If you’re serious about it, join a political group or party and make the change yourself. In 2019, a fringe environmentalist faction within the Labour party managed to get a 2030 zeroemissions deadline in to the Labour manifesto, through passing it at conference. There’s no reason that other parties, can’t be pushed to similar targets.
That's not enough however. Educate yourself and lead by example
That’s not enough, however. Educate yourself on how real of a threat the climate crisis poses and lead by example in ways in which you can help minimise your own output. If you can convince one of your friends to join you, then you’ve doubled your impact. Convince your boss to recycle more at work, and you’ve increased it by a factor of ten. It’s no longer enough to passively do small things and believe that we are making a difference, because the science shows we are not. The time-bomb is still ticking, and we’re stuck on a loop with the same advice as we were given decades ago.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Hunting for a cure for Huntington's
Tom Hardwick reports on the incredible research by Roche
P
harmaceutical giant Roche have suspended a 20 patient clinical trial of a drug with the potential to treat Huntington’s disease, with two patients becoming infected after giving cerebral spinal fluid samples. Huntington’s disease is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder, early symptoms of which include aggression, compulsive behaviour and lack of coordination. But, as the disease progresses, the motor skills and cognitive abilities of the patient deteriorate, eventually leading to dementia. Symptoms usually develop between the ages of 35 and 44, and the prognosis for sufferers can be anywhere between 10-25 years. Currently, there is no cure for the disease, which according to the UK Dementia Research Institute affects approximately 8000 people in the UK. However, in 2019 there was increased hope for sufferers and their families. Researchers from the University of British Columbia, sponsored by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, established that the drug IONIS-HTTRx reduces the number of toxic huntingtin proteins responsible for the illness. The research team, which was headed by Dr. Sarah Tabrizi, director of the Huntington’s Disease Centre at University College London, found that the drug (otherwise known as Tominersen) induced significant decreases in the amount of the toxic huntingtin protein. Not only was the triImage: Wikipedia al effective, but no patients suffered serious side effects as a result of the tests, reinforcing earlier indications that human treatment with Tominersen is indeed safe. Dr Blair Leavitt, who as director of research at the Centre for Huntington’s Disease for UBC helped coordinate the trial, stated at the time that “this is a tremendously exciting and promising result for patients and families affected by this devastating genetic brain disorder. For
the first time, we have evidence that a treatment can not only decrease levels of the toxic disease-causing protein in patients, but that it is also safe and very well tolerated.”
A treatment can decrease levels of the toxic disease
Roche, the second largest global pharmaceutical company after Johnson & Jonhson, acquired the development and marketing rights to Tominersen from Ionis Pharmaceuticals. They then followed this initial success with further trials, designed to establish exactly how the decrease in proteins might alter the development of the disease. Unfortunately, Roche ended this promising trial prematurely after two cases of infection were reported. The drug is injected directly into the cerebral spinal fluid of participants, and the patients involved were infected by the catheters used to take samples of this fluid in order to check the levels of the toxic protein. Whilst the postponement of this trial is a blow to those affected by Huntington’s, it is not cause for complete despair. As this potentially revolutionary drug did not cause the infections that ended the trial, other international tests of Tominersen are continuing. Furthermore, this hurdle provides the opportunity for Roche to ensure that subsequent trials will be more effective. The company will either adapt the catheters used to extract fluid samples from patients, or indeed alter the sampling process altogether. In doing so, Roche will make future tests safer for those who participate, minimising any disruption to future efforts to find a cure for Huntington’s disease.
the courier
Monday 23 March 2020
27
@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/science
science culture
Low carb diet could help in later life Top honours for two uni projects Amanda Goh reports on the effect of your diet on the brain
A
study by Lilianne R. Mujica-Parodi, a Stony periment had shown both good and bad news. “The bad Brook University professor, had revealed that news is that we see the first signs of brain ageing much neurobiological changes associated with ageing earlier than was previously thought. however, the good can be seen at a much younger age than expected. The news is that we may be able to prevent or reverse these study was published in PNAS, with Dr Mujica-Parodi effects with diet , mitigating the impact of encroaching as the lead author. hypo metabolism by exchanging glucose for ketones as Titled ‘diet modulates brain network stability, a bio- fuel for neutrons”. The study had additionally found that marker for brain ageing, in young adults’, the study fo- the effects of brain ageing had emerged at 47 whilst the cuses on the presymptomatic period to better understand most rapid degeneration occurs at 60. how diet influences brain ageing. This was done by exResults of the study had also suggested that brain netamining brain scans, where the research determined that work destabilisation may reflect early signs of hypo-mebrain pathways start deteriorating in the late 40s. “How- tabolism, which is associated with dementia. This is seen ever, the study also suggests that this process may be pre- as neutrons slowly lose the ability to use glucose effectively vented or reversed based on dietary changes that involve as fuel, further highlighting that dementia may be the minimising the consumption of simple carbohydrates,” ‘brain’s manifestation of metabolic disease’. Dr MujicaDr Mujica-Parodi notes. Parodi also suggests that “if we can increase the The researchers had focused on young amount of energy available to the brain people whose brains had yet to show by using a different fuel, the hope is any signs of ageing. This can be that we can restore the brain to seen as the period where prevenmore youthful functioning”. tion may be the most effective. Fortunately, it was also found The study further used the that dietary interventions rebrain scans of 1,000 individusulting in ketone usage will als between ages 18 to 88, as increase energy and may well as targeted experiments show potential in protecting in humans. Researchers the ageing brain. A ketogenfound that damage to neuic diet is one high in fats and ral pathways accelerated proteins, with little to no cardepending on where bohydrates. This diet would the brain gets its energy force the body to burn fat from. They had used rather than carbohydrates. Dr both methods to test Katy Stubbs, from Alzheimer’s the impact of manipulatResearch UK had mentioned that ing fuel types, between while this study is ‘very interesting’, glucose and ketone bodies. it needs to be further investigated. In a standard diet, the pri“The ketogenic diet has risks of its mary fuel metabolised was own… eating such high levels of fat… found to be glucose. Whilst generally goes with people eating less in a low carb diet, the fuel mefruit and vegetables, has a detrimentabolised was ketones. The results tal impact on your heart…” had shown that the differences between the While further research at a midiets could result to the type of fuel provided to croscopic scale is needed, the Image: MissLunaRose12 the brain. study continues to encourage on Wikimedia Commons Dr Mujica-Parodi highlighted that the exdietary interventions.
Alex Gervas on archaeology studies that earned recognition
T
he magazine Current Archeology, has recently published the results of the Archeology Awards with Newcastle University involved with the winners of the project for Rescue and Research of the Year. The award winners, voter by the magazine subscribers and the general public, were “Roman Writing on the Wall” and “Life beside the Lake”. The Rescue Project of the Year, “Roman Writing in the Wall” is part of the “Written wall of Gelt” archaeological site in Cumbria. The site revolves around inscriptions found during a quarry on Hadrian’s Wall. The award was accepted by Jon Allison from Newcastle University. Together with Historic England, Newcastle University used cutting-edge technology to recreate 3D models of the inscriptions. To reach the site, archaeologist abseiled nine metres down the rocky wall. Hadrian’s Wall is approximately 1000km long, and went from one side to another of the island, separating Britain from the Roman Empire. The 50km of stone surrounding the Cumbrian coast was used as a strategic point to control the ships moving across Solway Firth. Investigations on the “Wall of Gelt” began in the 1960s. Still, research was challenged during the 1980s when the path leading to the writings collapsed. Since then, these inscriptions from the 3rd century were being damaged by wind and water erosion. The origin of the engravings come from soldiers repairing the 5.5km section of the wall. Within the findings, archaeologist observed capitalised initials, in cursive and “graffiti form”, and ‘doodles’ (including a caricature and phallic imagery). Engravings were part of the Roman culture. They were used “as religious dedications and tombstones, as records of building work, and as milestones, and also a tradition of inscribing weapons, tools or domestic utensils, ingots of metal and so forth, with the names of the owner.” Archaeologists believe that this piece of culture is more than just art. The drawings are also evidence of the skill set and the tools of the authors. “The inscriptions are also a good example of rough and unskilled work cut by poorly trained masons, and thus illuminate the contrast between this type of inscription and that produced on many public buildings,” said Historic England. For the second time, Star Carr’s archaeological site has
won Research Project of the Year. The 11.000-year settlement in North Yorkshire has been deemed one of the most relevant discoveries in the UK. By the lakeside rests a hunter settlement dates back to 9000-4000 BC, to the Middle Stone Ages. The site has been under work since 1947 when it was discovered by John Moore. Now the archaeological research continues across its 10 sections with Dr. Chantal Conneller from Newcastle University. The project is carried in collaboration by the Universities of York, Chester and Newcastle. Star Carr meant a change in attitude towards what experts thought about Mesolithic people. Initially, they were thought to be nomad hunters, who made the lakeside their home after the ice age. However, the objects found in the trenches indicate that they were more than a primitive society. The official site reported finding “flint artefacts and waste including scrapers, probably used for cleaning hides of animals, axes for woodworking and ‘microliths’ which were used as the tips of arrows.” But apart from these, the most shocking findings were headdresses made from deer skulls. Experts believe they might be part of ceremonial rituals and animal sacrifices.
Image: Flickr - quisnovus
Research calls for help for hedgehogs
A
Elizabeth Meade tells of research by Nottingham Trent showing our damage on the small animals
ne w study by Nottingham Trent University is making car traffic a pricklier topic for commuters than ever before with their new study to gauge the impact of traffic on the humble hedgehog, one of the United Kingdom’s most beloved local species. According to the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, a nature charity that is funding the study, approximately 100,000 hedgehogs are killed on roads each year in the UK as of 2016. PTES also published a report in 2018 on “The State of Britain’s Hedgehogs” alongside the British Hedgehog Preservation Society which showed a 30% drop in hedgehog populations in urban areas and a 50% drop in rural areas since 2000, suggesting that road collisions may have a significant impact on species survival.
ip e
di
a
featuring a family of hedgehogs were aired during this time period in the UK. In these 40-second ads, cartoon hedgehogs showed children how to safely cross the road by looking both ways and not running into the street after toys or balls, with the aid of songs that included a cover of “Stayin’ Alive” and an original song called “King of the Road.” While a spokesperson admitted that “the hedgehog is not normally an animal that’s particularly good at crossing roads,” the idea was that the image of the hedgehog would be “a popular one with children and one they can remember W ik
The study will assess hedgehogs by demographic to figure out which are most likely to be killed by traffic—males, females, adults, and juveniles. Researchers will also consider the ratio of casualties to local population size, and will look at six sites with hedgehog tunnels to help them cross under the road safely and six sites without tunnels. Data collection methods include genetic analysis of the small creatures’ tissue, faeces, and hair; nocturnal observation, and recording the frequency of hedgehogs cross-
ing roads, using the tunnels, and, unfortunately, being hit by cars. PhD student and researcher Lauren Moore said, “We need to know whether roads are affecting the long-term viability of hedgehog populations. To the best of our knowledge, the impact of roads on hedgehogs has not been investigated in this way before.” PTES staff agreed that her research would be of great benefit to hedgehog conservation efforts. People who grew up between 1997 and 2008 may already have formed a mental connection between hedgehogs and traffic safety: THINK! road safety ads
Im ag e:
The study will assess hedgehogs by demographic to figure out which are most at risk
and relate to.” The Department of Transport invested £600,000 into the program, which resulted in a small but notable decrease in child pedestrian deaths. Perhaps these memorable ads will help commuters who learned from them as kids remember that hedgehogs are sharing our roads with us, even if they are not as safety-aware as their televised counterparts. Readers concerned about our bristly little friends will want to mark their calendars for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society’s Hedgehog Awareness Week from 3-9 May, 2020. Their advice for people who want to help their local hedgehogs is to build hedgehog homes, create log piles where hedgehogs can take shelter, and check compost heaps and grassy areas before digging a fork in or mowing.
Interested citizens can register as Hedgeog Champions to help protect them
Their Hedgehog Street website allows citizens to register as Hedgehog Champions and gives even more helpful information, including instructions for how to make hedgehog highways through your garden wall, guidelines for feeding hedgehogs, and advice on how to talk to your neighbours about hedgehog conservation. These resources can be found at hedgehogstreet.org. Information on other studies done by PTES can be found at ptes.org/campaigns/hedgehogs/
the courier
28
sport
Monday 23 March 2020
Covid-19 : Sporting Events-0 world sporting ca Our sports writers run you through the coronavirus’ effect on sporting events around the world, as leagues, cups Situation serious as Serie A suspended Colm Williams
At time of writing, Italy has the highest number of deaths attributed to Covid-19 in the world. It is now experiencing a harrowing morality rate of 7.17%. The nation has been put into complete lockdown which has seriously impacted all major sports in the country. Football, Italy’s most popular sport, has been significantly affected by the spread of
coronavirus. At first fixtures were moved behind closed doors for games in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto on 23 February. Later games such as the Inter Milan vs Juventus fixture, which was key in a tight title race, were also moved behind closed doors in Turin. However, Serie A was suspended until 3 April due to the Italian government’s decree issued on Monday. Furthermore, the Italian football governing body has said the season may not be completed although alter-
native options are being assessed. This comes as Juventus defender Daniele Rugani tested positive for Covid-19 on 11 March, resulting in his star teammate Cristiano Ronaldo refusing to return to Turin. Several other Serie A players have since tested positive including former Southampton forward Manolo Gabbiadini. Gabbiadini’s team Sampdoria have since had four more positive test results for payers as well as their team doctor. Thoughts go out to all teams and athletes
who will all face extreme uncertainty over the future plans of Serie A which will place a financial strain which could result in the loss of a number of jobs and smaller clubs suffering. There is also uncertainty over whether there will be relegation, who will be crowned champions and who will qualify for the lucrative European football. However, it is important to remember that the cancellation of these games will hopefully reduce the fatal impact of Covid-19 in Italy.
Instagram @unnobanoticias
La Liga postponed for ‘at least’ two weeks
Amy Harris
Spain’s top football division, La Liga, has been suspended, with all football matches being postponed for “at least” two weeks. After La Liga ordered football club Real Madrid to be quarantined, due to fear of the Coronavirus spreading, the league’s committee acted further and concluded in a statement that all football matches would be postponed for a minimum of two weeks. All decisions were made after it was found that a Real Madrid basketball player, who shares the same training grounds and facilities as the football club in Ciudad Real Ma-
Iran continues to struggle Rory Ewart
The Iranian government suspended all sporting activities from the end of February. Originally planned for just 10 days, this has now spread into March and continues presently. Despite this, heroes have still been able to emerge. Brighton and Hove Albion playmaker and Iranian Alireza Jahanbakhsh has donated £6,000 to his deprived hometown of Qazvin. Presently (as of 18.03.20) only China and Italy have more confirmed cases of the virus compared to the Middle Eastern country. The Premier League winger has also urged all locals to stay indoors follow advice that has been dispersed to them from authorities.
drid, was tested positive with COVID-19. As a result, Real Madrid players and the basketball first team are self-isolating for 15 days. Originally only Real Madrid’s match against Manchester City on Tuesday was postponed due to the need for players to selfisolate to the reduce risk of spreading the virus. The next two rounds of fixtures were to be played behind closed doors after receiving advice from Spain’s ministry of health. However, after numerous cases emerged in the Premier League and throughout other sporting events, it was decided to suspend football matches completely. The league stated: “Given the circumstanc-
es that are coming to light this morning, referring to the quarantine established in Real Madrid and the possible cases in players from other clubs, LaLiga considers it appropriate to continue to the next phase of the protocol of action against COVID-19. As a result, in accordance with the measures established in Royal Decree 664/1997 of May 12, it agrees to postpone at least the next two match days.” La Liga is said to be evaluating the situation closely and as soon as the teams have completed their time in quarantine the situation can be re-assessed in case of more affected clubs and situations arising in the meantime.
US sport under threat Stanley Gilyead
American sport has been hit by the global Covid-19 pandemic, only days after President Donald Trump declared he was “not concerned at all” about the spread of the virus. Every major US sport has been affected, with the MLS, NHL and NBA pausing their seasons with immediate affect, and the upcoming MLB season being suspended.
19
Covid-19 has caused lockdown in Los Angeles and New York
The first major infection of a sportsperson in the US came when Rudy Gobert, a Utah Jazz All Star centre, announced he had tested positive for the virus. In a move of extreme hubris Gobert had ended a press conference a few days before his diagnosis by wiping his hands over every microphone
recording him. The move, apparently an ill considered joke, turned sour once he announced he was infected and he has since apologised, stating “I wish I had taken this thing more seriously”. Several more American sportspeople have tested positive since Durant, including four Brooklyn Nets players, the Nets have since been quarantined. With the spread of the virus showing no signs of slowing down there is no indication of when sport will be resumed, but it is likely to be a long wait for American sports fans, who themselves could be facing extended periods of isolation. The US Tennis Association have also ruled (as of 20.03 20) that they will not immediately cancel this year’s US Open, with it possibly being shifted to later in the year. This would follow in line with the current decision made on the French Open, with Roland Garros currently being postponed until September.
Subcontinental T20 leagues cancelled Rebecca Johnson
Pakistan Super League
One of the many things cancelled due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic is the Pakistan Super League. After the initial outbreak of the virus, the T20 format style cricket competition started to condense down and still play games but was brought to a complete halt last week after one player started to develop Coronavirus-like symptoms. The tournament opened last month, with the Quetta Gladiators beating Islamabad United by three wickets. The semi-finals were due to be played last Tuesday, as top of the table side, the Multan Sultans, were scheduled to play Peshawar Zalmi and the Lahore Qalandars playing away to the Karachi Kings. However, the semi-finals and final have been postponed due to the ongoing pandemic. Karachi Kings batsman, Alex Hales, re-
turned home from the tournament and developed symptoms like that of the Coronavirus. The England player has gone into self-isolation after developing a dry cough and a fever. Although it wasn’t the way organisers wanted the tournament to end, there have still been some incredible highlights and stats from the competition. Ben Dunk twice set the record for the most sixes hit in one game, he broke the record hitting ten sixes before finishing on 12 sixes hit in his innings. Batsman Kamran Akmal also hit the largest score in this edition of the PSL, scoring 101 for Peshawar Zalmi.
12
Number of sixes Ben Dunk hit in one innings, a PSL record
It is unsure as of yet if the tournament will resume once the pandemic calms down. However, all teams will be wanting the tour-
nament to resume as soon as possible, especially table toppers the Multan Sultans who will be itching for their chance to win.
Indian Premier League
Arguably one of the biggest franchises in T20 cricket, if not the biggest, the Indian Premier League found itself another victim of the Coronavirus outbreak. With big names like Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes and Steve Smith lined up to compete, the cancellation is a necessary yet disappointing one for cricket fans all over the world. It was announced on March 13 that the tournament’s start had been “delayed” due to the ongoing pandemic. The IPL is one of the most hotly contested T20 cricket tournaments around at the moment. Full of star-studded teams, smashing sixes and wacky wickets, it’s no wonder the tournament is a firm favourite amongst cricket fans all over the world. In the draft for the 2020 tournament, a vast amount of
The virus has caused have to the sporting schedule worldwide Image: Flickr @WonderWhy
England players were due to pad up and play in front of some of the wildest cricket crowds around. England all-rounder Sam Curran was purchased by Chennai Super Kings for £590k, becoming the most expensive English player in this draft. Captain Eoin Morgan was sold for £550k to the Kolkata Knight Riders. Elsewhere, Australian fast bowler, Pat Cummins became the most expensive overseas IPL player in history, fetching for an astonishing £1.6 million to KKR.
A vast amount of English players were due to play in front of some of the wildest fans in the world
Elsewhere, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Steve Smith returned to the Rajasthan Royals.
England batsman Jonny Bairstow joined Sunrisers Hyderabad alongside Australia’s David Warner and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson. India’s superstar captain Virat Kohli remains at Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he’s played since the IPL’s beginning in 2008. Ben Stokes was due to play in the IPL Instagram @ rajastanroyals
the courier
29
sport
Monday 23 March 2020
alendar throne into chaos as Coronavirus spreads s and competitions are cancelled in every continent, leaving fans facing a dull, sport-free few months. Fifa anyone?
England football season grinds to halt amid surge in cases Phil Etchells
All elite football in England has been postponed until 3 April to combat the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). On Friday 13 March, the Premier League, EFL, FA Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship collectively agreed to suspend all professional football matches until at least 3 April due to fears about the spread of
Covid-19. The National League is still going ahead with games as of writing. On Monday 9, The UK Department of Cultural, Media and Sport stated that there was “no rationale” for cancelling sporting events. However, the following day a fixture between Manchester City and Arsenal was called off as a “precautionary” measure, after Olympiakos’ owner revealed he had contracted the virus. Evangelos Marinakis, who is also the owner of Nottingham Forest, attended Olympiakos’ Europa League tie at
Arsenal on 27 February. The Premier League announced there were no plans to postpone any other matches and all “necessary precautions” were being taken. A contingency plan to play games behind closed doors was being discussed in order to combat the spread of the virus, as done in some European countries. However, the decision to suspend all professional football until 3 April came on Friday 13 after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive. Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi
With the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially recognising Covid-19 as a global pandemic, organisers of major sporting events have been facing difficult decisions, including in regards to the 2020 Olympics. The Tokyo Olympics are currently being threatened by Covid-19, which has taken the lives of more than 20 people in Japan. The Olympic Games are the leading international sporting event which features both summer and winter sports competitions. Occurring every 4 years, the 2020 Olympics are due to take place in Tokyo from 24 July
Stanley Gilyead
Australia’s sporting calendar has not been hit as heavily as many others, with the NRL, AFL and A league seasons going ahead at the time of writing. However Australia’s main summer sport, cricket, has been affected, with both the domestic Sheffield Shield season and the international series against New Zealand being cancelled. Australia had been due to compete in ODI and T20 series at home to New Zealand, after having beaten them in the test series earlier this year. The first ODI went ahead behind closed doors on Friday 13th March, but the next day it was announced that the two remaining ODIs and three T20s had been called off after concerns about the virus spread to the island nations.
The New Zealand team has since returned home, making it extremely unlikely that the matches will get played, at least in the short term. The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) also announced that the Sheffield Shield, Australia’s first-class state cricket competition, would be ended with two rounds of matches yet to play. New South Wales, who were 12 points ahead of Victoria and extremely likely to win if the games were played, were awarded the title in what has been described as an “unprecedented season”. The Sheffield Shield has been played every year since 1892/93, having only broken before for the first and second world wars. The ACB have also advised that all grade, amateur and youth cricket should be cancelled, meaning that the season looks to be over for professional and amateurs alike.
For lower-league teams the postponement may cause major financial problems
A concern is whether the season will even finish. There are only two midweek dates (22 April and 12 May) between now and the end of the season to rearrange matches. Financially, this suspension means top flight clubs may lose between £1-6 million in TV money. Whilst this may not be an issue for major clubs, for lower-league teams, who rely on their matchday income, the postponement may cause major problems.
Organisers resolute Japan Olympics will go ahead Amanda Goh
Australian cricket cancelled
became the first player to contract the virus and a number of players and staff at Premier League clubs have gone into self-isolation.
to 9 August. Sources at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stress that nothing has changed, vis a vis the plans for the Games. President Donald Trump had suggested postponing the Tokyo Olympics due to the spread of the virus. However, this was shot down by Seiko Hashimoto in a news conference on 13 March in Tokyo. “The IOC and the organising committee are not considering cancellation or a postponement,” she said. A decision to cancel the Games would be made by the IOC. Dick Pound, a member of the IOC, noted that a decision to cancel could be made as late as May. Cancelling or postponing the Games will result in a ripple effect, hitting sponsors, athletes, staffs, airlines, and
ticket sales. The IOC oversaw the Olympic flame-lighting ceremony in Greece on 12 March. President of the IOC, Thomas Bach, stated that, “this ceremony demonstrates once more our commitment to the success of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020”. He has also praised officials that have been taking on significant measures to contain the virus spread. Whilst since then, the Greek Olympic Committee had suspended the remainder of the Olympic torch relay through the country in order to avoid attracting crowds. Although the handover of the flame to the Tokyo 2020 Game organisers is still set to take place on 19 March, whether the Olympic Cauldron will be lit in July is still unknown.
The ceremonial lighting of the flame was completed in Greece eaarlier this month Instagram - @tokyo2020
Chinese Grand Prix cancelled
Sesha Subramanian
Being the very first country to be hit by the COVID-19, it was no surprise that China saw a number of sporting events in the country cancelled. But one of the highest profile events to get cancelled in the country was the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix which is usually held at the Shanghai International Circuit. The Chinese GP has been on the Formula One calendar since 2004. It has been the site of some of the most exciting races in history. The first ever race in 2004 was won by Rubens Barrichello of Ferrari. Fernando
Alonso won the constructors title for Renault in 2005 here and Michael Schumacher’s last F1 victory came in China.
The Formula E GP in Sanya was also cancelled
There were many doubts initially as to whether or not the GP would go ahead once the severity of COVID-19 was established but eventually, the authorities deemed it far too big a risk to have the race go ahead even behind closed doors. So the decision, taken sometime in February, was that the venue which had hosted the 1000th race in Formu-
la One would not host a race in 2020 for the foreseeable future. F1 was not the only motorsport event to get cancelled in the country as only a few days before, the Formula E Grand Prix in Sanya was cancelled for the same reason. As time passed, more postponement would follow within F1 as the opening Australian GP was postponed following the news that a member of McLaren F1 had tested positive. Soon, Bahrain and Vietnam which were the next two races on the calendar would also be subjected to the same outcome. As of now the European part of the calendar has not been changed but given the disease’s impact on the continent, it is likely that a majority of races will be postponed or cancelled.
the courier
30
sport
Monday 23 March 2020
A Dier situation: Eric’s feisty fan fiasco
Tom Moorcroft takes a look at the recent confrontation between Eric Dier and a Norwich fan, after Spurs lost 3-2 on penalties
Picture this. You’re having a nice day in, let’s say, the pub, when all of a sudden someone starts on a member of your family, verbally berating them. Would you stand there and watch? Or would you jump in and do something? This is the question which, one can assume for a split second, arrived in Eric Dier’s head on March 4th, when Tottenham Hotspur took on Norwich in what ended a 3-2 defeat. As if Spurs’ shocking run of form in recent months wasn’t enough, he looks into the crowd, towards where his family normally sits, and he sees his brother being attacked verbally by a fellow fan. Dier ran into the crowd, jumping over various obstacles and scaling towards the fan zone, and began confronting this ‘supposed’ fan. He was held back by fans and staff alike, as he stood up for his brother. As long as it took him to arrive, he was gone, being escorted out by both stewards and security. This has raised a few question marks within football communities across the nation. People seem divided on whether he did the right thing, or was completely irresponsible. When considering his role as a professional footballer (emphasis on the ‘professional’), the concept of running off the pitch and confronting a fan is somewhat unethical. You’re supposed to keep your cool, both in success and defeat.
Although not as physical, it musters up imagery of the infamous Cantona flying kick of 1995; a footballer losing his head and acting on impulse. However, we have to appreciate that this is his brother. His own flesh and blood. It’s fair enough saying that we wouldn’t have acted in the way in which he did, but if you saw your family being bullied, we would all rush to their side. All this confusion over Dier’s actions, and it’s consequences, has been summed up perfectly by his manager. “When somebody insults you and your family is there and they get involved with the person insulting him I think Eric Dier did what we professionals cannot do but probably what everyone of us would do”.
team. God knows as an Everton fan I’ve had my fair share! But acting on your emotions in such a hateful way, in seeking a players’ family
as if they’re to blame, surely shouldn’t have a place in the modern game. Perhaps we should consider what it’s like for
the players who have to receive this abuse day in and day out, before we attack them for acting on it?
I think Eric did what we cannot do, but what we would probably do
As much as we instinctively want to attack Dier for his actions, we should think about that fan in the crowd. He perfectly sums up football culture in the 21st century. The same fans which may sing your praises one week, will be attacking your family members the next. I’m not saying it’s irrational to feel some despair, some pain or some hate towards your
In the Spurs squad since 2014, Dier is one of the side’s more senior figures Image: @ericdier15 (Insta)
Beck’s back livin’ the American Dream Will Beckham achieve success States-side with his Inter Miami MLS team? Or is it the league still a retirement home for players
Rory Ewart Sport Editor
David Beckham leads a consortium of owners of the latest MLS expansion team – Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, or Inter Miami for short. Miami has had a long history of attempted franchises in the past. This began in the early 1970s with the creation of the Miami Gatos / Toros, who formed in 1972 in the nearby Fort Lauderdale. They eventually evolved into what is likely the most commonly known team from the Miami region, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, however this side folded by the end of the 1980s.
Football once more returned to Miami in the 90s, with the creation of the infamous Miami Fusion. This team did manage to win silverware, winning the Supporters Shield in the MLS; however, they only existed until 2001, lasting just four years.
Football returned to Miami in the 90s, with the creation of the infamous Miami Fusion
This then brings us to the last time an attempt was made to create a Miami side, this
David Beckham with his custom-made Ralph Lauren x Inter Miama Suit Image: Instagram @davidbeckham
time, it was Brazilian legend Romário who attempted to resurrect the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 2006. This was once more shortlived along with the Brazilian Ronaldo’s attempt to do the same thing, which, along with other Brazilian investors, folded in 2016. This then brings us to the present day, where Inter Miami has completed thus far two games in the MLS, losing on both occasions to LAFC and DC United respectively.
The League itself has matured vastly even in the 13 years
Despite early setbacks on the pitch, off it seems that there is a long-term plan to create a club that will be sustainable for the future. The team currently plays in the temporary stadium, Inter Miami CF Stadium, in Fort Lauderdale, however, the permanent home of the club, Miami Freedom Park, is currently being built, with the 25,000-seater arena set to be opened in 2022. Despite the high-profile owner and the quirky pink and black crest and football kit causing serious interest from football fans from around the world, many are led to ask the question of whether the MLS is still a retirement home for Europe’s top players from yesteryear. The answer, as with many things, is not as simple as yes or no. The league itself has matured vastly even in the 13 years since Beckham first appeared in the league as a player himself. Back then, the MLS was seen as a somewhat of a laughing stock, with no players of any real meaning competing in the league, a 32-year old Beckham arrived to a league begging for a man of his presence, but by the time he left, was celebrating the presence of legends of the game such as Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane. Despite this, it is difficult to argue that players, especially Europeans in their prime, have made the jump to the MLS in their prime. The latest former-European star, Javier Hernandez, is now aged at 31 with dwindling
Becks back in the white and blue strip of LA Galaxy Image: Beale Air Force Base
amounts of pace and having been playing a bit-part role for La Liga outfit Sevilla.
Inter Miami has managed to attract attention from neighbouring Mexico
Despite this, there is clear evidence that Inter Miami has managed to attract attention from continental winners from neighbouring Mexico. The club’s first-ever head
coach, Diego Alonso, had seen his previous job at Monterrey peak as they were crowned CONCACAF Champions League winners, the equivalent of the Champions League in North America. Although Europe’s current crop of influential stars are still unlikely to make the trip across the pond at peak age any time soon, Rome wasn’t built in a day. The MLS is evidently growing at a steady and positive rate, to the extent where another 10 years may allow it to be viewed as a genuine league of choice for the world’s best.
the courier
31
Monday 23 March 2020
The Corona Diaries: unmissable sporting TV As Netflix and Amazon Prime dominate the world of documentaries, the Courier Sport looks at some sensational sporting series Rebecca Johnson The Test
The popularity of sport documentary series is growing year on year. Netflix boasts features on Barcelona player Antoine Griezemann, Juventus and of course the infamous, Sunderland ‘Til I Die, which from a Sunderland fan’s perspective is the most depressing piece of television in history. Amazon Prime also have a series about Manchester City and are currently filming at Tottenham Hotspur. However, whilst the bulk of these series concern football, Prime’s new series The Test stands tall alongside football as one of the better sports documentaries out now. However, whilst the bulk of these series concern football, Prime’s new series The Test stands tall alongside football as one of the better sports documentaries out now. The Test follows the men’s Australian cricket team in the aftermath of the infamous balltampering scandal right up until the 2019 Ashes in England. The first episode opens with footage from the infamous South Africa tour. Watching with the benefit of hindsight, you almost wince as Cameron Bancroft is summoned by the umpires and displays the small piece of yellow material that causes a national scandal back home in Australia. It jumps to a press conference where Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull condemns the tampering trio of captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and young batsman Bancroft. Footage then shows the public apologies of Bancroft, Smith and Warner, with the latter two bursting into tears on camera in images that rocked the world of cricket. The sequence finishes with the scene of Darren Lehmann publicly resigning from his role as coach of the Australian cricket team and the stage is set perfectly for a hero to step in. That hero is former Australian batsman Justin Langer, followed by his sidekick, Tim Paine who becomes captain of the side. No matter what your opinions of Austral-
Tom Moorcroft Drive to Survive Recently, when doing the typical late night browse of Netflix with a few of my house mates, the documentary Drive to Survive appeared in my recommendations. I was somewhat bewildered at first. I haven’t got an innate love of F1, nor have I watched any car related shows except for Top Gear, so the suggestion that it would be something I’d like was puzzling. However, after being urged by F1 aficionado Finlay Ransome, we were hooked to the high octane drama and edge-of-your-seat addiction which F1 had to offer. What immediately hooked me was the amount of drama that got packed into the short 30 minute episodes. Now I know, in reality, F1 could be viewed as somewhat dull, but when condensed into these little snippets of action, accompanied by off the track interviews and personal battles which become uncovered as the documentary develops were outstandingly eye catching. Whether it was Daniel Ricciardo switching from Red Bull to Renault, or the saddening tale of F2 driver Anthoine Hubert suffering from a fatal crash, my and my mates were laughing, shouting, and at times emotional throughout.
In the one opportunity I took to have a gander at F1, I was sucked into its aura
It begs the question: What role does TV
ian cricket and all that has happened, it’s incredibly difficult not to like Langer. Both he and Paine emphasise from the beginning that it’s their job to reinvent Australian cricket, to win over the public and become a feared, yet respected cricketing team.
That hero is former Australian batsman Justin Langer and his sidekick Tim Paine
The build-up to the entire series comes in the final two episodes as Australia excel under their new ethos. The battle between England fast bowler, Jofra Archer, and Aussie batsman, Steve Smith is a key highlight of this. As a cricket fan, the backroom reaction of Smith’s concussion is fascinating, as head injuries in any sport are taken incredibly seriously nowadays and cricket has brought in brand new guidelines. It subsequently produces one of the most poignant moments in the series as the incident happens, Warner whispers, “it hit him where it hit Hughsey”. He is, of course, referring to the tragic incident of Australian batman Philip Hughes, who was caught in the head by a fast ball and died in a freak accident. One of the biggest moments in the documentary comes in the final episode. The Headingly Test is focused on as Australia are in a good position, they bowled England out for 67 runs and set a run chase of 359 - a nearimpossible feat. Then came one of the most incredible sets of batting ever from England’s Ben Stokes, smacking the ball around the park. Australia made a poor series of decisions, not bringing the field in when eleventh man Jack Leach was batting, using their final DRS decision for a ball that clearly wasn’t hitting the stumps, then not having a review a couple of overs later for a plumb ball and, of course, Nathan Lyon fumbling the ball and fluffing a simple run out.
Langer is far from impressed with his team, even kicking over a bin whilst watching the game from his technical area before meekly picking it back up. The coach makes the entire team come back in the next morning and watch the session ball-by-ball to make them pick out their mistakes. A brutal watch, but it clearly did something to the team as they went to Manchester and reclaimed the famous urn.
The Test is streaming now Image: @thetest_amazon (Insta)
As well as the serious cricket moments, there are a lot of wholesome scenes in the series
As well as the serious cricket moments, there are a lot of wholesome scenes in the series too. The camera catches a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment where Langer describes giddily how much he enjoyed the film A Star is Born. Away on tour in India, the crew capture the bromance between Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa as the latter describes his love for coffee and how he brings his own brewing kit on every tour he goes on. Despite there being brief mentions of players and their mental game, it’s a shame that this isn’t something expanded upon. Mental health in sport is something that is rising in importance, and arguably there could have been more on this.
If there’s one take away from The Test, it’s that Australia are changing their public image
If there’s one thing to take away from The Test, it’s that whilst Australia are changing their public image from a, quite frankly, unlikeable side to a feared but respected one, the reactions behind the closed doors don’t change. There are bats thrown, swear words
yelled and quiet seething in the corner; one image focuses on Nathan Lyon sat in the shower block, head in hands after the Headingly Ashes test and the heroics of Stokes and Leach. However, there’s the good stuff too, like the team joking over a game of cards and of
course the celebrations after retaining the Ashes at Old Trafford in Manchester. Whilst there are some big characters in that team, they’re all still human, they care about winning and they’re fiercely passionate about cricket. They’re well on their way to winning back the Australian public.
have in our appreciation of sport? We’re not immune to the presence of shows such as All or Nothing: Man City, or Sunderland ‘Till I die, but these shows are often only chosen by fans of that sport.
It’s nudges, crashes, trash-talking, communication with a mentor, pit stops...
In the one opportunity I took to have a gander at F1, a sport perhaps notoriously mentioned for it’s length and dullness, I was instantly sucked in to its aura. It’s not only 20 people driving around a track. It’s nudges, crashes, trash-talking, communication with a mentor, pit stops which sometimes go a little pear shaped.
So I guess the moral of this short article is to try something new!
If you told me I’d been screaming at a pit crew for taking 30 seconds to change someone’s tyres, as opposed to the conventional 2, then I’d say you were mad! So I guess the moral of this short article is to try something new! There’s a wide variety of sports shows on both Netflix and Amazon which offer the chance to harness new fans for their chosen sport, in a concise and dramatised manner. Who knows. Maybe one day, when they release an ‘All or die’ Cricket special, I may finally be hooked!
The Netflix show looks at some of the biggest hitters in the F1 Image: @thetest_amazon (Insta)
sport the courier
Monday 23 March 2020 Issue 1408 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
Triple header weekend for NUAXC Toby Bryant at Lambton Estate, Durham
Past and present members unite on the Town Moor Image: NUAXC
Shona Haston at Exhibition Park, Newcastle Despite the season now looking to have been suddenly cut short, Newcastle University Athletics & Cross Country still managed to fit in one more race last weekend. On Saturday 14 March, NUAXC alumni travelled back to Newcastle for a reunion and to meet up with the current club members at their annual Past vs Present event. The event consisted of a 3x 2-mile relay around the Town Moor, with mixed teams of past and present members. Dominic Head, whose team was in the lead when he set off on the final leg, somehow managed to get himself disqualified after sprinting off the wrong way around the course. Despite turning back when he (eventually) realised, he had lost too much ground which allowed the team made up of present members Sam Hansen and Ruaridh Mon-Williams, and past member Mike, to take the win. Past NUAXC members Tom and Zoe claimed both the fastest men’s and women’s times of the day respectively, with Ruaridh and Shona Haston running the fastest of the present members. After the relay, the group headed to the pub for some well-earned pizza and pints.
Inside Sport today >>>
The past members had plenty of stories to share from their time at NUAXC, when they were known as the ‘Waders’. Before everyone left the pub there was time for the highly anticipated annual boat race, with present, past and recent past teams. After a bit of confusion by Shona in the present team and a disqualification of the recent past team, it was the past team that claimed victory.
Past NUAXC members Tom and Zoe claimed both the fastest men’s and women’s times
Those of us that could still hack it carried on the social, and, after a minor blip, social sec Toby Loveday showed up to lead it, reintroducing the past members to the Toon nightlife. The club’s Past vs Present event proved once again to be a popular one, with many past and present members coming together to enjoy the day, organised very well by Vice President Alice Nottingham. The club’s year may have been cut short, with many upcoming events cancelled, but Past vs Present was a successful note to leave it on for now.
Lauren Davies-Beckett at Brough Law Fell, Northumberland
finishing strongly in the top 10 women. A successful day for the trio saw them all awarded Easter eggs for their efforts, ready to rest up until the next race.
From mud to the mountains, Sunday saw a few NUAXC’s athletes take to the friendly Brough Law Fell Race in their double competition weekend. Cross country captains Chris Larkin and Lauren Davies-Beckett, along with adventure aficionado Emily Oakshott, pushed to new heights on the 5-mile Northumberland course, featuring a huge 1300ft of ascent, whilst battling the 60mph winds. A fearless Larkin demonstrated his skill on the downhill and flew down the final descent to pip his fellow teammate, and last year’s reigning champion, Callum Hanson to the finish. Meanwhile, DaviesBeckett came through as 3rd female in her fell race debut, with Oakshott also
espite flooded car parks getting the better of numerous Harrier League events this year, the worldwide pandemic wasn’t quite enough to get the better of the Lambton Estate fixture. Famed for its prestigious founder, the first Earl of Durham, and history as a Lion Park, it was ravenous mammals of a running kind who hit the cross-country course for NUAXC. A reduced team due to an action-packed weekend, Chris Larkin, Lauren Davies-Beckett, Jack Douglas and Toby Bryant set off with sights set on final leaps up the table. A far drier course compared to previous Harrier League exploits, quick performances were on the cards from all in tough fields. In the women’s race, Davies-Beckett bounded through the packs to post a time of 32:17 and finish the season 2nd place overall in a field of 219. Haston, racing at the Past vs Present that day, still clinched 4th place despite not being able to compete. In the men’s race, Bryant put in his quickest showing of the season over the lengthy 11-kilometre race. Douglas impressed once again to finish 5th overall with a time of 42:41, even after a pesky fallen tree sent him flying on consecutive laps. Larkin may have ditched his trademark red shorts for the day in a move to unnerve competition, but there was nothing irregular in his performance, storming home with a time of 39:49 - a run which saw the crosscountry Captain crowned champion of the Harrier League for 2019/20.
NUAXC elation at Harrier League domination Image: NUAXC
Coronavirus map
A Dier showing?
ML-Less?
Pages 28 & 29
Page 30
Page 30
We plot how the sporting world is affected
Tom Moorcroft has a say on Eric Dier’s fan confrontation
Is the MLS worth the hype amidst Becks investment?