dramatic surge in demand.
all she can to prevent the Conservative government from carrying out measures “that would see money taken away from the people of Newcastle”.
She continued, “I voted to retain the £20 Universal Credit uplift, against a rise in national insurance, and I voted in favour of North Sea oil and gas companies footing energy bills rather than working people”.
Baugh and Mack Marshall, President and Education Officer of the Students’ Union, respectively, outline how Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) plans to help students cope amidst the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis.
The Sabbatical Officers posted a statement on the NUSU website last week detailing the three strands of their campaign: the work the union is doing internally; the work the union hopes to do with the university; and their backing of the NUS (National Union of Students) Cost of Living Campaign.
This year’s Sabbatical Officer team aims to set up a pantry free to all Newcastle University students. Comprised of donations of food, clothing and hygiene products from the Co-op, the pantry will be located on the ground floor of the Students’ Union, and open to anyone to ‘take what they need’. The plan is to have it set up and functional by the end of the month.
NUSU will also continue to provide participation bursaries, offer free memberships to certain societies for the first six weeks of the academic year and give out free sexual health and hygiene products, including period products, condoms and STI test kits.
The President and Education Officer also aim to lobby the University for wider eligibility criteria for hardship funding, thus increasing the number of students able to receive financial support. They hope to introduce PECs for the crisis, as well as extra support for those who have paid jobs whilst studying, meaning students will be able to apply for extensions on deadlines
As well as this, they want the University to deliver cheaper food to those on Campus, a discount on transport for those who travel to get to university and more opportunities for work on Campus, all of which will reduce the financial strain on students.
In addition to working with the Students’ Union and University, Baugh and Marshall have also signed a national open letter to the government written by NUS. The letter is calling for an increase in funding, a higher maintenance loan and a cap on student rent to support those in higher education.
Talking to The Courier, the two Sabbatical Officers explained the gravity of the crisis: “students are being faced with decisions about ‘heating or eating’, how many shifts they can take at work, and how to maintain a social life in a time of financial crisis”.
Furthering their statement and campaign, they expressed their desire to hear from university students: “your student voice is at the heart of what we do so please share your thoughts and ideas about how your Students’ Union can best support you”.
NUSU’s Athletic Union Officer, Hannah Danks, said she’s pleased that “sport and activity continue to thrive this year” and that if students would like financial support regarding clubs and societies, there are “multiple pots of funding and bursary opportunities” available to them.
NUSU is not the only organisation in Newcastle striving to increase support for its most vulnerable members; foodbanks across the city are facing a
Newcastle West End Foodbank, which provides free food at six locations across the city, told The Courier that this September they issued 2019 food parcels to those in need, the highest number on record. This is up from 1375 parcels in September of last year. Whilst demand for food has increased, donations have decreased by half, making the situation even more severe.
A representative from the foodbank suspects the situation is only going to get worse. Speaking to The Courier, they said, “We anticipate a rise in the number of people needing our services in the coming months”, and that work needs to be done to implement the “structural changes needed to create a future where people no longer need to use foodbanks”.
Despite only being five weeks into the academic term, the effects the crisis is having on students are already being felt across the city.
One Newcastle University student described having to focus more of their time on finding ways to reduce
spending. “I’m having to think a lot more carefully about what I’m buying [and] put off putting the heating on for as long as possible”.
Another mentioned the mental toll these decisions are taking on them: “I’m finding this year a lot more stressful having to worry about if I can afford heating”. They also echoed the same tactics to preserve money, “We’re still putting on more layers and blankets in our house to avoid using heating”.
As the months get colder, students worry about how they are going to cope.
“I feel as if I’m living in my coat, even when I get home it’s too cold to take it off”, one student told The Courier.
The Students’ Union continue to provide welfare support and advice to anyone who may need it. This can be accessed by emailing wsc.union@ newcastle.ac.uk.
If you would like to volunteer for Newcastle West End Foodbank, visit their website at https:// newcastlewestend.foodbank.org.uk/ news/.
Talking to Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, it is clear she thinks more needs to be done to aid students during the crisis. She described students as being “at the brunt of the government’s bad decisions”, referring in part to Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget released on 23 September, a pre-cursor to his wider plan to be set out on 31 October.
The mini-budget, or “kamikaze budget”, as dubbed by Onwurah, includes plans to cut income tax and benefits, which will widen the gap between those at either end of the economic spectrum.
“All Britain has to show for the last 12 years of Tory government is low wages, high prices and a Tory cost of living crisis”, said Onwurah. “As well as energy bills going up at the start of October, people are facing higher interest rates and mortgages”.
The MP told The Courier she is doing
a
in September
“I feel as if I’m living in my coat, even when I get home it’s too cold to take it off”
the
of
those dreaming of an adventure full of natures natural beauties
Hello and welcome back to The Courier! Thank you, to both new and returning readers, for picking up this copy of your student newspaper. This edition is very special, as it marks the return of our weekly print production. So, from now on, you can expect to see a brand new copy of The Courier across Campus every single Monday (during
term time)!
I feel so privileged to be writing this Editors’ note, and it fills me with so much joy to - once again - see a brand new Editorial Team and group of passionate contributors work on this project. The amount of time and effort that everyone involved gives to the production of this paper never fails to astonish me, and I’d like to thank you all for your creativity and dedication. Editing this edition has
reminded me just how important student journalism is. The experiences of having your words on these pages really boosts both skill and confidence. I’ve been reflecting on my journey with The Courier - from my first article written in February 2020, to sitting in this office at 9:30pm about to click ‘send’ on the files to the printers - and to me, that is what makes The Courier so magical! I want to use both this
Editors note, and the whole paper, to facilitate important and thought-provoking conversations. We all have a story to tell; an opinion to share; or a passion to ignite, and I really believe The Courier is the place that really showcases
the student voice at its finest. So, sit back, grab a snack and a drink, and enjoy reading through the musings and creativity of our students! Thank you for reading - see you next week!
-- Meg Howe xoxo17th
Reflections on Freshers' Week 2022
Freshers can be a bumpier ride than it's made out to be: have a look into what the 2022 cohort have to say | Page 7
Women, Life, Freedom: A summary on the feminist revolution in Iran
Discussing the protests and outrage in Iran since Mahsa Amini's death | Page 9
Mirror, mirror: How complex is a woman's relationship with vanity? Exploring the relationship between societal standards and ownership of the self | Page 13
Photo Diary: 15 countries on one camera
One lens captures it all, from nesting penguins and golden sands and beach-bound surfers, to rustic architecture | Page 18
Culture | Music
Live Review: Melanie Baker
A night filled with gleefully melancholy lyrics and overflowing intimacy at Baker's gig in Newcastle's Lubber Fiend | Page 21
Don't Worry Darling - a visually stunning mixed bag Does a star-studded cast and whirlwinds of hype make for stellar visuals and a hooking plot? | Page 24
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70 years ago today!
The 1952 Letter to the Editor had comment from three different students, all levelling accusations and anger at how the University handled freshers week and alcohol use on campus. With statements like: "Here [on campus] is encouraged indolence, spendriftness and depravity".
One of our writers discusses the former Chancellor of the Exchequer's new economic policies
On23 September, former Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, set out a number of economic and financial policies covering issues such as tax cuts and energy costs, commonly known as the mini-budget.
Some key policies of the mini-budget include the scrapping of the corporation tax rise, which had previously been set to increase from 19% to 25%, restrictions to universal credit and a cut in the base rate of income tax.
The mini-budget saw econmic distress across England, with a fall in the pound
This mini-budget saw economic distress across England, with a recordbreaking fall in the pound and a soar in mortgage rates. Moreover, Kwarteng’s deafening silence on funding for public services amid high levels of borrowing and threats of austerity 2.0 has left councils especially worried about what this financial package will mean for them.
Newcastle City Council and other organisations have already warned of financial turmoil since the announcement.
A leaked report showed that Newcastle City Council were facing a £30 million cost spike by next year due to spiralling inflation.
could pose a “massive risk” to the council in the long term.
Also expecting a substantial overspend and looking for solutions, Northumberland County Council has offered their staff the opportunity to apply for voluntary redundancy, hoping to prevent a £12 million overspend.
Similar budget deficits are expected throughout the area, with both Durham City Council and North Tyneside Council facing similar financial difficulties for the upcoming year.
This uncertainty suggests that this is a mini-budget in name only, as there have been significant repercussions and
high levels of distress throughout the financial community. As a result, we can expect councils to make a number of difficult decisions to compensate for escalating inflation that shrinks their funding alongside the ever-growing demand for public services.
Factors such as the combination of rising energy bills, pay rises and contract inflation could see a budget deficit for the council of a whopping £22.2 million.
Deputy leader of the council Karen Kilgour warned of uncertain funding and a clear increase in risk following the crisis.
The mini-budget is in name only, since there have been significant repercussions
Additionally, Liberal Democrat Councillor Gareth Kane explained that before the announcement of the mini-budget, the council were already expecting an overspend due to rising inflation, so the chaos following now
After the closure of the popular container village in May this year, plans for a new venue are being put in place
Thecontainer village closed in May of this year. Fans of the popular spot, which had brought in over 3m visitors, were left devastated.
The venue was shut down in order to make way for new HMRC offices being built on the premises, bringing an end to Stack’s four-year run.
However, new plans reveal that Stack will be relocating. A new temporary site has been proposed on Forth Street at Stephenson’s Quarter (behind Central Station and next to the Crown Plaza Hotel).
Newcastle holiday season in recent years.
If plans are approved the spot will also include several shipping container bars, a double tipi and street food vans with the owners of Stack expected to release CGI renders of plans for the site in the near future.
Developers plan to have the venue open before Christmas with hopes that the site will be able to house the popular Hadrian’s Tipi over the festive season which has become a pillar of the
Neil Winch, the CEO of Danielli Group, who own Stack, has said that he was “overwhelmed by the emotional response our customers shared about their sadness at the closure” and “very excited to be able to announce our plans”.
He went on to add, “Our customers have been very vocal in letting us know that they would be delighted to see Stack come back sooner rather than later”, detailing the motives behind their relocation.
Fans of the venue can be hopeful for approval of the plans with the city council saying they are "100% commited" to the development of Stephenson’s quarter.
Plans for a permanent location for Stack in Newcastle are also being finalised and are set for release in the near future.
The plan could pose a "massive risk" to Newcastle City CouncilImage credit: Wikimedia Commons
Stack was "overwhelmed by the emotional response" of their customers
Plans for a permanent Stack location are being finalised
called for strong leadership and the need for change.
He also criticised the state of the British economy and accused the current government of neglecting the working class for the sake of the richest 1%.
and GPs, ensuring that fewer patients need to go to hospital and thus reducing the cost of hospital care in the long term.
This year’s annual Labour Party conference is over. Party members, politicians, activists, and delegates got the chance to debate and vote on the party policies and hear their leaders' speak from Sunday 25 to Wednesday 28 September in Liverpool. Here are some of the key points from the conference.
In terms of the Cost of Living Crisis, he mentioned the necessity of helping the working people, as well as supporting the NHS.
Tuesday was the day of Keir Starmer’s speech, in which he referred to the “cloud of anxiety that hangs over working people". Starmer
He also announced the launch of the Green Prosperity Plan and emphasised the importance of delivering 100% clean energy by 2030.
Next to speak at the conference was Labour's Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary, West Streeting. Focusing primarily on the modernisation of the NHS, he said, “The next Labour Government will agree a 10-year plan with the NHS to shift the focus of healthcare out of the hospital and into the community”.
The objective of the plan is to shift resources from hospitals to social care
Labour also committed to increasing the number of places at medical school, doubling the number of district nurses who qualify every year as well as training at least 5000 new health visitors per year. All of these measures will provide more healthcare workers for the NHS.
The money for the expansion will be provided by reintroducing the 45p additional rate of income tax, paid by those whose income exceeds £150,000 a year.
Starmer also vowed that he would create a new, publicly owned energy generation company, named Great British Energy, if Labour were voted into power.
This new energy company forms part of Labour’s plan on how to cut energy
bills, deliver energy security, and create jobs for the British people
In his speech, Starmer mentioned that several British energy generators are completely or partly owned by foreign governments or companies: “The
The Conservative Party Conference took place in Birmingham between 2 and 5 October. Within the first 10 minutes of the conference, Greenpeace interrupted Truss’ speech whilst shouting, “Who voted for fracking?”, and they were then forcibly removed.
This did not stop Truss from laying out her plans to ‘Get Britain Moving’, however, claiming that she had “three priorities for our economy: growth, growth and growth”. There was a clear theme of the growth of the economy in Truss’ speech.
The significance of growth was evident when she labelled the Labour Party, the Lib Dems and the SNP as
With regards to housing and levelling up, the Conservative Party conference strengthened the fact that their policy of levelling up the country has not been at the top of the current
government's priorities. However, there was an insistence from the minster of levelling up and the secretary of state for Wales that levelling up remained a government priority.
The importance of economic policy covered much of the Prime Minister's speech as she saw her party as one of fiscal responsibility. This is despite her recent U-turn on her proposed cut to scrap the 45p rate of tax for the highest earners. Her former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, who was sacked from his position on 14 October, admitted that his economic plan caused a few problems.
Neither the former chancellor nor the Prime Minister took accountability for their economic failures, and most of Kwarteng's economic policies remain. Truss told the conference that her government would cut taxes as it was the “right thing to do morally and economically” and she said she
Truss only mentioned net zero once in her speech and Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, showed his support for offshore and nuclear power.
Brexit was another of the important topics that were covered in the conference. Truss promised that the UK will offload all “red tape” with the EU by the end of the year and will “take back control” from the European human rights court.
In this context, the topic of the Rwanda policy came back and Truss promised to ensure that the European courts could not overrule UK law. This brings us to the Rwanda policy, where Truss' Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, vowed to ensure that this she would follow through with the policy.
Despite the recent conference and Truss' U-turn, there remains a Tory revolt
It is important to note that despite the recent conference and Truss’ U-turn, there remains a Tory revolt. For example, backbencher Michael Gove has routinely undermined Truss’ policies.
would “build roads, rail, energy, and broadband quicker.” “anti-growth” and also labelled unions, think tanks and Brexit-deniers as those who “prefer protesting to doing” unlike her, who was on the side of “normal working people”.A rundown of the key points, takeaways and messages from the Labour Party conference
Izabela Marie Kirschnerová
Now onto the Conservative Party conference...
"I have three priorities for our economy: growth, growth and growth"
Starmer criticised the Tory Government of neglecting the working class
The UK will offload all "red tape" with the EU by the end of the year
"We're proposing a 10-year plan with the NHS to shift the focus of healthcare"
Labour committed to increasing the number of healthcare workers in the NHSImage credit: Instagram (@keirstarmer)
On1 October, hundreds of thousands of people marched in over 50 towns to protest against the Cost of Living Crisis in the UK.
Celebrating the National Day of Action, these Enough is Enough protests raised five demands, which are as follows:
1) A real pay rise
2) Slash energy bills
3) End food poverty
4) Decent homes for all
5) Tax the rich
All these demands were focused on the increased prices and the impartiality in society.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT), in a TV interview on Friday, said, “The people need to be out in the streets and demanding change from this government, and if necessary, a change of government entirely”.
London’s King's Cross Station was the centre of these protests, with around 4000 people protesting and showing their anger at the current Cost of Living Crisis.
The former Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, also had some words to say as he spoke to the large crowd in London
denouncing the new government’s plans to cut taxes for the richest and cut benefits for the impoverished in society.
“Our strength is our organisation, our strength is our unity,” Corbyn said. “So let’s stand up for what we believe in”.
at Moot Hall, was “at a loss” to understand how the inspector ruled in favour of developments in May.
Foster continued to argue that the inspector had not considered the impact the build would have on St Ann’s Church due to obstructed views and that she had failed to pay sufficient attention to concerns raised by Historic England.
Court has opened a hearing to decide whether a 14-storey block of flats can be built on one of the last undeveloped plots of land on the Quayside.
In 2021, Newcastle City Council rejected plans for the 14-storey apartment complex, but this was overturned earlier this May by a government planning inspector.
The company, Packaged Living and Robertson Property, hope to develop the Homes England-owned riverside plot with their £40m vision.
This has been met with much disapproval. Critics have branded the flats as “monolithic” and local authorities claimed they would “devastate living conditions” for residents next door.
Anjoli Foster, who represented the council at the hearing on Wednesday
Furthermore, future residents of the building would be forced to live in flats that do not meet the required minimum space standards.
Victoria Hutton, who represents
the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, responded to these concerns.
She claimed the concern was due to the “long history of failure of delivery” on this plot of land. The plot has lain vacant for decades so she claims there is “nothing unlawful” about the decision to build the flats.
In response to claims about the concern raised by Historic England, Hutton said the statutory review will continue on Thursday.
are left with less than £50 after bills have been paid.
Bournemouth University have expressed that they are committed to supporting their students through this current financial climate.
TheCost of Living Crisis is posed to hit hard this winter and, despite promised government intervention, it appears that the brunt of the struggle will be faced by lower income houses, including many students.
To try to combat this, Bournemouth University has set up their very own community kitchen for students, run and organised by their Students' Union (SUBU).
One in three students report that they are left with less than £50 after bills have been paid
Gillian Lewis, SUBU’s community projects leader has said, “University students may not be able to afford essential items as the Cost of Living soars”, which already proves to be true as supermarket prices continue to rise. One in three students report that they
The community kitchen runs off of donated items from local businesses, which includes Tesco as well as residents. It also provides free hot dinners and snacks, as well as pantry and fridge food; toiletries and sanitary products are also provided if necessary,
and this is all set up at the university's Talbot Campus.
Emma Davies, Student Opportunities Manager at Bournemouth University Student Union said, "We are incredibly grateful to the team at Tesco for their donation. These items will help to support those students who are unable to access food due to rising costs.
“Our Community Kitchen runs solely on donations. Whether you can give a little or a lot, every donation will help to feed a student in need".
This idea of helping students deal with the soaring cost of living has been
acknowledged by several institutions across the UK. The University of York, for example, are granting students outside of university accommodation up to £150 to deal with rising bills. The University of Sheffield have set up ‘food cupboards’ where local businesses donate food and goods not sold by the time the businesses close.
Jack Butler, Operations Director at Save the Student, an organisation that seeks to help students save money, has said “a lot of students are getting sucked into the situation where they can’t afford to keep themselves afloat”.
He also added that he's "never been more worried” as he references the upcoming winter and the struggles we are all set to face.
With the predictions for this winter, it’s not surprising that universities are trying to help their students as, in a recent survey, 59% said they struggle with mental health issues regarding money.
Stretched finances have long been a feature of university life and probably something we all expected to face in our time here. However, the struggle we’re facing as inflation continues to increase and bills go up, is not something we should have to struggle with as we enter and continue with our studies. Struggling to eat should not be a memory of our student life.
Poppy Bedford Bournemouth University Students' Union has set up a community kitchen to combat the effects of the Cost of Living Crisis
Struggling to eat should not be a memory of our student life
The kitchen provides free hot dinners and snacks, as well as pantry and fridge food
An insight into and break down of the Enough is Enough protestImage credit: Instagram (@eiecampaign)
Debates are underway about whether or not to build a 14-storey block of flats on the Quayside
The plot has lain vacant for decades
Alexander James - Campus Comment Sub-Editor Newcastle ranked 76th out of a total of 80 universities on the HUMEN league table
marked down as a zero. The survey has highlighted that work is needed here. The university should be tracking these metrics and making them transparent.
If you have any issues, you really have nothing to lose by reaching out to the department you pay to help you, so do if you need to.
Libby Griffithstruth. But, to avoid the embarrassment and annoyance: here’s what I wish I knew before being subjected to the deathly illness.
an organisation created to improve the quality of mental health care for men has conducted an ambitious first-of-its-kind study, in which it ranks how well the top 80 universities are looking after the mental health of their students.
The rankings are based on data from a survey of 7200 students across the UK. The study provides an average score in categories of student awareness, engagement and satisfaction with university welfare support services. Scores vary dramatically; some are concerning, some unexpected.
On the Newcastle University finances summary for students (well worth a skim) there is no mention of how the budget is allocated to mental health provisions.
Furthermore, what are the waiting times for students? How many students are there per designated mental health staff member? I couldn't find this data either.
In the 2019/2020 year, the university had 12 registered therapists and seven mental health advisors. I can’t help but recall articles in The Courier timeline detailing Newcastle’s failure to provide adequate mental health support. Complaints included the fact the service is impersonal, limited and convoluted.
HUMEN's sample size was a lower limit of only 80 student responses per university. That’s not necessarily students who’ve had to use the wellbeing support department. So we should take the league table with a pinch of salt.
The pandemic and its aftermath have presented a challenging time for students. 69% of students experience mental health concerns whilst at university. What's more, a 2018 survey found that 45% of UK students used alcohol and recreational drugs as a coping mechanism, and 34% felt that they needed professional mental health support.
If you do, please give feedback about the service, make complaints if you need to, and be proactive.
If you need support, contact the welfare services via wsc.union@newcastle.ac.uk.
Iwasnearly certain I was immune, after surviving the entire week without any sign of a runny nose or a tickly throat. I would laugh at my friend who downloaded the text-to-speech app to order her vodka lemonade, because she quite literally couldn’t speak. But I was next.
Stocking up on lemsip and paracetamol upon arrival at university will quite literally save your life. The blackcurrant flavour is my personal goto. When you feel like death has made a home in your immune system and you can’t move, you’ll thank yourself.
Next, do not mix your drinks. Don’t do it. It’s never worth it. You’ll save yourself a lot of pain.
Lastly, be a silly fresher. Everyone's going to get it, Just make sure you’re not the one starting a waterfall of coughing in your 9am
Newcastle sits at position 76 of 80 universities in the overall ranking. But the issue is that the study does not provide data on 10 of the universities' data on financial or service provision (including Newcastle), so lumps them at the bottom of the survey. The university's average score for student satisfaction was 60.3; awareness 58.0; and engagement 66.2. These scores place Newcastle in the top 15 average score, so hats off to Newcastle.
However, according to HUMEN's survey report, Newcastle did not track the data for this criteria at all, so was
That being said, the university student wellbeing website details the programmes and means of support on offer, such as help with stress, bereavement, financial issues, mental health support, counselling and suicidal concerns.
Elizabeth Gores
Lastweek, the Students' Union announced their commitment to supporting students through the current Cost of Living Crisis by launching the Cost of Living Crisis Hub. The Union-led initiative aims to support students on varying scales: free access to sexual health and hygiene products, six weeks of free access to select academic societies, continued provisions for participation bursaries and the opening of a foodbank, The Pantry.
With the ever-increasing necessity of the latter being indicative of just how severe the current situation is, what students need is dramatic action from the government, especially since the situation is only likely to worsen in the coming months.
NUSU estimates that at least a third of students are left with less than £50 per month after they've
paid rent and bills, and 68% are unable to pay for their course materials. This therefore means that the Cost of Living Crisis is on a rapid path to becoming a Cost of Learning Crisis for many.
This pressure of being unable to pay bills is tainting the ability of students to enjoy studying and take advantage of student life.
NUSU is further trying to counteract the effects of the Crisis by lobbying the university to seek additional allocated funding for student hardship, as well as the government with their support of the NUS Cost of Living Campaign, and lobbying local MPs for increased maintenace loans.
Whilst this rapid action from the Students' Union will hopefully be able to alleviate daily living pressures from those students who are most in need, the vital necessity of this action is truly
tragic. All of this shows the government's consistent neglect of students and a lack of investment in those who will be the future of the nation.
Students are poorer than ever in real terms, with the 2022/2023 maintenance loan only being increased at a rate of 2.3%.
This amount is lower than the Consumer Price Index rate of 8%, and levels of inflation are predicted to rise to 18% in January of next year.
According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, for the first time since 2003, a student who receives the maximum maintenance loan will be falling more than £1000 short of what a 22-year-old student would earn if they worked full time receiving the National Minimum Wage instead of studying.
maximum maintenance loan amount will be falling more than £1000 short of what a 22-yearold student would earn if they worked full time receiving the National Minimum Wage instead of studying.
Gradual increases in inflation paired with the government's own ineptitude will likely result in an expansion of NUSU's current commitments.
Although the campaign is a fantastic provision for all those in need, it will quickly become insignificant if the Cost of Living Crisis worsens.
Everyone's going to get it, so just have fun
Freshers Flu: What is it? And how do I avoid it?
The blackcurrant flavour lemsip is my personal go-toImage Credit: Flickr
I'm at my desk, typing away, stuffing tissues up my nose and coughing my guts up
It's a great provision, but will quickly become insignificant if the Crisis worsensImage Credit: Alexander James
45% of UK students use alcohol and recreational drugs as a coping mechanism
Newcastle doesn't reveal how their budget is allocated
The university's average score for student satisfaction was 60.3
Spoiler Alert... you're not avoiding it
already done my exercise for the day by the time I have arrived!
Equally, activities such as the 20-minute society are not an option for a Portland Green resident, because it takes longer than that to get to the location.
Content warning: Mention of homicide
Home to almost 1500 students, the Student Village of Portland Green is a bustling student community made up of five buildings, supporting both Northumbria and Newcastle University students.
Located in Shieldfield, Portland Green is ideal for Northumbria students since their walk to university is less than 10 minutes.
By contrast, the website advertises the accommodation as a 15-minute walk for a Newcastle University student. Unless you have incredibly long legs it's more like 25 at a push. Being a reasonably sporty person, I've found it frustrating having to trek for 37 minutes to reach the sports centre, and often feel as if I've
I live in Turner Court, which is unfortunate given that all buildings in the village have different amenities for the same price. We don't have a TV, dishwasher, staffed entrance or gym, whereas other buildings do. The gated entrance has been broken and key card access also does not work, creating limited security.
There are also only four people in my flat, and there is a lack of community feel - eating my meals alone can feel isolating. Being a very sociable person, I jumped at the opportunity to make friends on my course and in societies, and it's these people I want to go with
Having arrived at Newcastle University three weeks ago as a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first-year student, I have had the pleasure of experiencing Freshers' Week in its full force. And whilst it was full of the excitement I was expecting, it did have another side to it - one
rarely acknowledged by my peers.
Beneath the new dorm rooms to deco rate, the wild parties that went into the morning and the glammed-up group pictures shared on Instagram, many of us found Freshers' Week hard. I was contending with everything at once: being away from home, having to cook for myself, managing my own money, navigating my way around campus and finding friends.
Considering this, it seems naïve to me that Freshers' Week is painted out to be an easy ride. Is it not much more real istic to view it as a bumpier period of adjustment? Should we not be able to acknowledge the difficulties of our early days here, rather than write them out of the story?
Despite this, what I can say is that the ups and downs of Freshers' Week have provided some great life lessons. And after numerous conversations with my friends, I can also write with certainty that most of us were feeling exactly the same way.
So, now that we're united in our col lective cluelessness, is it not time to break down this barrier of shame that comes with feeling homesick and lonely during Freshers' Week? We all felt it, so let’s start to acknowledge it rather than sweep it under the rug.
When choosing to study in a city as lively as Newcastle, Freshers' Week
tends to come with the expectation that those seven nights will be some of the best of your life. But what do you do when it turns out to be a week of crying in your room wondering why you haven’t made friends with anyone but your flatmates?
and had always enjoyed a night out, the loneliness that I was feeling during Freshers' was unbearable.
I honestly did not believe that I would make it to October before dropping out. Yet, like everyone who has come before me, I stuck it out. I survived those seven days and eventually it has become easier. I have begun to really enjoy my life. Therefore, to any other freshers who still have not found their feet - just hold on because they aren’t wrong when they say you just have to put yourself out there! Most of the people I met in Freshers' Week I haven’t seen or spoken to since. Still, each new interaction definitely made me more confident and comfortable in my environment and made
Sometimes the reality of Freshers' isn't always what it's made out to be
Reflections on Freshers' Week 2022
Who needs a gym in their halls when the daily walk to campus feels like a workout?
The chunder-like green walls bring back memories from the night beforeImage Credit: Abi Hymas
Each new interaction has made me more confident and comfortable in myCharlotte Lee
Is it not more realistic to view freshers' as a bumpier period of adjustment?Katy Saunders
Naomi Scott
social media place too much emphasis on day-to-day human experience? The short answer is yes.
Have you ever taken a moment to stop and think: “Why can’t I just exist?”
Have you not felt the high levels of social media usage plaguing humanity, forcing us to lose sight of the true human experience and reducing our attention span at an alarming rate? Gradually, we find our existence dictated by the digital age.
An ideal existence should be one without constantly scrolling through random feeds on social media or unaccompanied by external stimulation, merely existing peacefully with one’s own thoughts and nothing more.
We should allow space and time for internal dialogue as this is essential for having a good relationship with oneself. Perhaps, we would all be more content
if we embraced this idea.
Social media has evidently saturated every corner of our lives. As a result, the human experience has become a commercial object to be judged, compared and sold.
Our attention as consumers has been dragged away from what it really is to be human, towards repetitive irrelevant information and messages, which in turn distracts us from reality.
It overloads us with information about what we should be doing, how we should be living and in succession this builds the feeling that we are not doing enough.
Sharing every aspect of your life on social media platforms such as Instagram increases feelings of inadequacy, isolation and dissatisfaction. To put it bluntly, social media can make us depressed. The normality of posting your mundane everyday activities
creates a pressure to let everyone else know what you are doing every day, but truth be told we should just be living. The human experience should be lived in the moment and when we stop to take pictures of everything, we stop enjoying it.
It is arguable that social media has impacted our behaviour to a high degree. For example, the assumptions we make about people based on how they present themselves on their digital profiles translates into how we treat our relationships with others in real life. Perhaps if the human experience weren’t commercialised, we would be far less judgemental of others.
To me, living vicariously through a screen is not living. Social media is designed in such a way to appeal to our psyche better than reality. The exchanging of messages, likes and follows allows us to feel validated and not only this but we are able to get an inside look at celebrities' engagement photos and tedious gossip.
But why does any of it matter?
Above all, spending time in the company of your own mind is a fundamental component of being human. Simply spending time thinking to yourself and being in touch with your thoughts makes us happier as people. This does not mean we should give up social media, but perhaps we can try taking some time away from it and exist in harmony with our mind.
That is what the human experience should be: one's own thoughts and nothing more.
Anonymous
Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old KurdishIranian woman who was beaten to death by morality police in Tehran three weeks ago
Herhijab had been deemed to have been worn incorrectly, in breach of the strict Islamic dress code that has been imposed on Iran’s women for the past 40 years.
This has sparked outrage in Iran and amongst the international community, with demonstrations calling for the dissolution of the Islamic Republic taking place in over 150 cities across the world. Such protests have not only highlighted the heinousness of the attack, but have also targeted the cover-up attempts by Iranian authority representatives who, despite irrefutable evidence, have continued to claim Amini’s death was the result of a sudden and unrelated fall of ill-health
Iran’s women have reached overwhelming indignation. Gender violence remains rife and the state continually demands obedience to authoritarian laws that deny its people basic human rights. What began as a feminist movement over Amini’s killing and the mandatory hijab law has quickly began to embody all suffering amongst the
Iranian people.
Most Iranians today were born after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Many have never resonated with the regime’s conservative Islamic theocracy. Despite continual widespread social unrest and international sanctions, dictatorial rule has survived through ruthless force; paranoid and obsessive over regional dominance of the Shi’ite faith in favour of the wellbeing of its own people. It is a travesty that such disregard for human rights has survived for so long behind the guise of legitimate rule. In unified response, protestors have taken to the streets across all 31 of Iran’s provinces, putting their own lives and safety at risk against the Basij, a volunteer militia and faction of the IRGC.
outside Iran. These responses have, on many occasions, featured the use of lethal force on protestors, which often include children.
This is a pivotal moment for Iran. Amnesty International reported the killing of at least 66 protestors and bystanders of an oppressed ethnic minority group in the Baluchistan region, a massacre that has since been referred to as ‘Bloody Friday.’ These protests had been staged in response to the reported rape of a 15-year-old girl by a police commander. Ten days prior, Nika Shakarami, a 16- year old girl, was murdered after participating in a protest against the mandatory hijab. She was reportedly beaten to death before her body was snatched from a morgue and buried in secret by security forces. Her family were not notified of her death until nine days later.
Numerous videos have leaked from Iran showing activists as young as schoolgirls removing their hijabs and chanting anti-regime slogans, with few risking their identities being exposed on camera out of fear of being targeted by authorities. Globally, protests outside Iranian embassies and countless posts online demand the end of the brutality and corruption of a regime that has trashed Iran’s reputation and people.
State officials have desperately tried to curb protests with denial and cover-ups. Country-wide internet ‘blackouts’ seek to prevent organised insurgence and footage of state brutality being leaked
Most recently, students at Sharif University, one of Iran’s most prestigious institutions, staged walk-outs and protests on campus, before being reportedly entrapped in the facility by security forces, beaten and shot at.
Although difficult to verify, at least 185 protest-related civilian deaths have been estimated. This number will inevitably grow as protests gain more momentum, and authorities deliver
crimes taking place, can be a mobilising force. With this comes the hope that international attention will eventually match the scale of these crimes, and the movement will be given the attention that it is due. Internet crackdowns and blatant misinformation from state media leaves a narrow outlet for international attention.
.زن. زندگی. آزادی Woman. Life. Freedom.
Through this statement, we urge everyone to take notice on this issue as Iranians face rising violence as the movement continues. Stand in solidarity by sharing on social media to help platform the hushed voice of a generation amidst ongoing
For any students affected by the protests, student wellbeing services are available at wsc.union@newcastle. ac.uk.wellbeingconsultancy@ newcastle.ac.uk.
Due to the dangers of speaking out against the Iranian Islamic Regime, the writers of this article have requested to remain anonymous. The Courier and the 2022/23 Sabbatical Officer Team, stand in solidarity with all who are fighting for justice and freedom against the government clear violation of their human
Have you ever taken a moment to stop and think: "Why can’t I just exist?"their promised harsh and imminent crackdown on further dissent. Social media, and sharing videos of similar Image credit: Instagram @MollyMaeHague
185 protest-related civilian deaths have been estimated
NASA saves the day by successfully altering the path of an asteroid
About ten months ago, NASA released a video on YouTube with the title “Is NASA Really Crashing a Spacecraft into an Asteroid?”. On 26 September of this year, believe it or not, NASA really did crash a spacecraft into an asteroid. Here's what happened.
Named DART (double asteroid redirection test), the spacecraft was about the size of a vending machine, and was propelled into an asteroid 11 million kilometres from Earth at 11:15 GMT.
Dimorphos, the target asteroid, was used as an experimental site for the world's first planetary defence test. And we passed.
Although Dimorphos was similar
in size to the Great Pyramid of Giza, it was deemed a small moonlet which orbited around a larger asteroid named Didymos, 'twin' in Greek.
While the film wasn't based on true events and boasted terrible effects and bad acting, the idea that one day the earth could face a life-threatening collision with a space rock isn’t so fictional.
The two asteroids were not a direct threat to us, but they did pass close to Earth, which is why they were chosen for the first experiment.
The first thing that came to mind when I heard about the NASA program, was the film Armageddon starring Ben Affleck and Bruce Willis. In the film, they dramatically attempt to save the world from impending doom by destroying an asteroid “the size of Texas”, with Aerosmith playing intensely in the background.
The aim of DART was not to explode Dimorphos but to disrupt its orbit around the larger asteroid Didymos, and therefore change its course. By flying at 14,000 miles per hour, DART hit Dimorphos, only changing its velocity by “a fraction of one percent”, yet that’s all that was needed to impact the motion of the celestial body and alter its course.
26 September was a groundbreaking
day, where unimaginable technology was tested for the first time, the kind
of technology the dinosaurs wish they could have had.
around 12 million base pairs, this equates to a lot more DNA than your average bacteria, by far.
in length. This tends to mean that you need to have a microscope to hand in order to see them. But not with the T. magnifica!
They are outstandingly 1cm in length, visible to the naked eye and show no signs of a potential that they will cause disease.
are just everywhere: in the air, in the water, and even in our bodies. That is why understanding the physiology of our ubiquitous neighbours is crucial.
Nearly all bacteria have a cell wall essential for their cellular stability. The main component of this cell wall is a chemical polymer called peptidoglycan. This resembles a mesh-like network that expands and shrinks according to a bacterium’s needs throughout its life cycle.
Peptidoglycan has often been labelled as the Achilles’ heel of bacteria, since disrupting peptidoglycan leads to bacterial death in most cases. Our most important arsenal against bacteria (i.e., most of our antibiotics) work by attacking peptidoglycan!
Bacteria are indeed aware of this weakness, and most can modify their peptidoglycan to prevent an attack. For scientists, the current challenge is to develop new weapons against this polymer in the face of constant bacterial evolution.
Didyou know that you can see Thiomargarita magnifica bacteria with the naked eye?
Discovered in 2009 by Olivier Gros at Universite des Antilles, T. magnifica bacteria were originally mistaken for fungi amongst rotting leaves, sunken in the mangroves of Guadeloupe. It wasn’t until recently that their unique features were finally unearthed!
Found living in a sulphur-rich environment, they survive by making their own nutrients from oxidising sulphur, and by finding a range of solids to grip onto, including leaves, branches and sadly, even bottles and plastic bags. As long as they have access to sulphur and seawater for their oxygen and CO2, they can survive.
Now, let’s talk genetics! Your average bacterium contains a circular chromosome. Within that chromosome there's DNA floating freely in its cytoplasm.
Bacteria are usually restricted by their size, the average being just 1µm - 5µm
That's about 5000 times larger than your average bacteria – which is the equivalent of meeting another human being the size of Mount Everest.
Size restrictions of bacteria are thought to be caused by their energy source, adenosine triphosphate, which is produced by the enzyme ATP Synthase. T. magnifica have this enzyme
Elongation genes were also found to be duplicated in the T. magnifica, which explains the increase in size.
Having the complex features of eukaryotic cells, such as internal membrane-bound compartments, will we have to rethink the features of prokaryotes?
T. magnifica bacteria are different. They store their genetics in membranebound vesicles called pepins. One pepin can host up to 700,000 copies of its genome. With one genome containing
Olivia Swift Jessica PredkoEverything you need to know about the world's largest known bacteria
The idea that the earth could face a life-threatening collision with a space rock isn't so fictional
Will we have to rethink the features of prokaryotes?Isil Ezman
Word of the week presents a scientific challengeImage credit:
The kind of unimaginable technology the dinosaurs wish they could've hadImage credit: NASA
Petidoglycan is labelled the Achilles' heel of bacteria
They show no signs of a potential that they will cause diseaseImage credit: Unsplash
A time of chocolate eggs, roast lamb and a quick but assured mention of Jesus’ resurrection to keep the marginally religious grandparents on side, at least for most of us in the UK. But for those in Spain, where almost 60% identify as Catholic, the celebration is something different entirely.
My relationship with Semana Santa, or Holy Week, began two months before the event itself, in the kitchen of Señora Martínez, the grandmother of the little girl I’d started babysitting. Whilst two-year-old Lola’s vocabulary was limited – the same three words would always come up: leche (milk), mocos (snot) and caca (poo) – I often stuck around after I’d finished babysitting to talk to her abuela, who gave naïve and unsuspecting me such great insight into the tradition. “Elsa, guapa,” she said with a grave look in her eyes, “just you wait until Holy Week. Trust me, you’ve never seen anything like it.”
Fast forward a month, to five and a half weeks before Easter Sunday. Heading home from the office one day, I saw what seemed to be a giant beast progressing down the road, people halted around it in amazement. Advancing as quickly as its stature would allow, I easily caught up with it, and soon noticed that the moving creature was in fact a wooden structure with sheets messily draped over it. The fabric shifted from left to right with the motion, revealing at least three dozen men huddling shoulder to shoulder underneath, each body moving in synchronisation to support the wood. When enquiring with abuela a few days later, I learned this was a practice procession before the real ones, of which there would be many in the weeks to come.
The first proper procession I saw was by accident, and took place on the Monday before Holy Week (the name of the event is somewhat misleading; Spaniards seem to cram in as many processions as they can, including before and after the official dates of the celebration). My housemates and I were watching TV at home when we suddenly heard a blast of drums coming from outside. Slightly irked at having to pause at the denouement of our action film, we went onto the balcony and watched in disbelief as a huge melancholic Virgin Mary swayed past us at eye level, enabling us to see a single painted teardrop making its way down her cheek in true iconographical style. Embellished with a magnificent crown of gold, and surrounded by shining silver candleholders, the Madonna commanded your attention, but she also made it difficult not to question the provenance of such visible wealth.
century as a sign of public humiliation to notify onlookers of their sins – different coloured fabrics denoted different types of crimes – the capirotes later gave rise to the nickname my friends and I affectionately bestowed upon the penitents: ‘pointies’. (Pointies became the source of much entertainment as we began to share the funniest/weirdest places we’d seen them. The bakery aisle of Mas, one of Spain’s biggest supermarkets, was perhaps the best, but hey, sinners have got to eat too, right?)
The nazarenos held one of three items: a large wooden cross, a thurible of incense or a metre-long candle which, whether lighted or just sitting in the sunlight, would melt onto their robes and the ground beneath them, so that at the end of the celebrations, the streets were sticky with hardened wax. Those close enough to the candles might also find themselves dowsed in the stuff, as was the case of a friend of mine, after which we spent the evening picking the red gloop out of his hair like apes picking off each other’s lice.
religious aspects were less important, soon found that the processions became more of an annoyance than a treat, especially because we didn’t know how to avoid them like the locals did. I know what you must be thinking: but what an incredible opportunity to witness so many processions so up-close, right? Right… provided you didn’t have somewhere you needed to be. With nazarenos, musicians, costaleros, other members of the church, as well as thousands of people packed into one narrow street either side of the paso, and with the strict rule of not being able to cross a procession whilst it was in action (we found out about this the hard way), it would sometimes be hours before you saw the back of your last pair of pointies. And even then, once you made it past one parade, there was always another lurking around the corner. Holy Week became a test of how well we knew the city; if we make a left here and cut out Calle Azafrán, can we bypass the procession before it gets to Calle Sierpes?
your junction of the motorway is closed, at the mere sound of a drum, whiff of incense or slight crowd of onlookers, for the rest of my time in Seville I was instilled with the uneasiness that it was about to take me another few hours to get to my destination. The frequency of processions also meant we became accustomed to them. There were many days where I’d find myself sitting at my desk and not batting an eyelid as I heard the steady approach of musicians, Jesus’ head peering into my room for a brief moment before continuing onwards. And besides, once you’ve seen one weepy Mary, you’ve kind of seen them all.
Huge crowds squeezed into our narrow street to make the sign of the cross at the paso (float) as it went by, held up by those short, stocky (and red-faced) men – known as costaleros – I’d seen a few weeks before, all of whom were hidden underneath by the velvet cape, moving left, right, left, right in time with the percussion. Soaring above the steady rhythm of the military drums was the regal highpitched tone of trumpets and cornets, supported by a collection of other brass instruments played by at least a 50-piece marching band. Preceding the paso were dozens of nazarenos, or penitents, ominous-looking figures who remained anonymous thanks to their capirotes, cone-shaped pointed hats covered with fabric that extended from their chests to a metre above their heads – the height indicating their proximity to God – with only eyeholes to reveal the individual underneath.
First employed in the 15th
Then came the official Holy Week. Surprisingly hot after weeks of rain, Semana Santa only became more magnificent. Like something out of a Miró painting, vivid red and purple fabrics worn by the Virgin stood out against the cloudless blue sky, whilst Jesus’ skeletal figure was illuminated by the reflections of sunlight on the gold beneath him.
Although the heat made the processions visually more spectacular, it also made for a difficult time for the nazarenos. Every member of the parade would walk from their church to the main streets of the city and then back again. Some churches were situated close to the centre, thus meaning a short journey time, but others lay on Seville’s outskirts, with the longest procession requiring that each participant walk for 12 hours by the time they’d finished (with a few changes in between). Temperatures were consistently reaching the mid-thirties, so being covered head to ankle (many walked barefoot, and some with chains around their feet), as well as being forbidden from eating or drinking during the procession in an act of self-flagellation, led to reports of nazarenos fainting whilst on duty.
In the same way you feel peeved when your train to work is delayed, or when
As I write this in my kitchen in the southern English countryside, some four months after Semana Santa, I’m wearing a gift my parents gave me for my birthday, which I was also fortunate enough to celebrate in Seville. Looking down at my feet, I see dozens of differently coloured penitents adorning my socks, a reminder of the happy time I spent in Seville, but mainly of that truly bizarre, dreamlike week in April.
Forme this picture evokes what it felt like being in Brazil. Black Brazilians are in the foreground when walking around the streets as they make up the majority of the population. But behind that, it's white Brazilians that have the majority of the power and wealth. In spaces that represent wealth and power, such as universities, you can be tricked into believing that only a small percentage of the population is black.
But it wasn’t only the pointies who had their work cut out for them under the southern Spanish sun. The costaleros, clad in protective headpieces, are tasked with bearing the weight of the paso, often more than 2000kg, on their neck and shoulders. To give themselves a break, every hour or two the 40 or so costaleros switch with another troupe of men (women carrying the float is a taboo subject), and this process is arguably more memorable than the statues themselves. After having slowly lowered the float to the ground, the men quickly scramble out from under the wooden structure like insects scuttling away from the underside of a rock and, as if you’d just opened an oven, you’re met with a wave of heat as the already cramped street is joined by several sweaty men.
Those of us in the city who were new to Semana Santa, and for whom the
The winner of the 2022 Max O'Connell essay competition recounts Holy Week spent as a year abroad student in Spain
The frequency of processions meant we became accustomed to themJemima Ajayi
Once you've seen one weeping Mary, you've kind of seen them all
What made you sign up for blind date?
I was looking forward to making a completely random friend and get to experience my first blind date.
What were your first impressions of your date?
She was lovely. Very friendly and quite a good conversationalist as well! We talked about a lot of random things and I really enjoyed our talks about each other's countries - from geopolitics to cuisines and cities.
How was the restaurant?
The restaurant was fabulous! Lovely atmosphere. The Latin American ambience and music was a new and delightful experience. We had the chicken quesadilla. I would definitely recommend that dish to everyone.
What did you have in common?
I found we both had an interest in each other's countries - from local and national politics, to places to visit and culture. We both love to workout and stay fit as well and it's really nice to find a common interest like that. Health is wealth after all!
Do you think you’ll see each other again?
I would love to see her again!
What made you sign up for blind date?
Blind date is such a new thing for me. So I would say the most important point that made me to sing up was curiosity. And also I wanna make some new friends from all around the world.
What were your first impressions of your date?
Well, my date Anirban is a polite and punctual man. This is my first impression of him.
How was the restaurant?
The cocktails and food that night were so good. I can't remember the name of the food we ordered. It was like a taco, very tasty. But we had to speak loudly in the noisy environment.
What did you have in common?
I think we don't have too many in common. We come from totally different country and culture. But both of us are willing to make new friends not only from our own country.
Do you think you’ll see each other again?We will definitely see each other in the future.
Flora Campbell
How much pressure do you feel to look like the 'perfect woman'?
Everyone is a little bit vain from time to time. Whether that be taking a selfie, or checking yourself out in the mirror, we all have certain periods where we’re feeling good and confident in ourselves, feeling the ‘excessive pride’ in our appearance that defines ‘vanity’.
self-confidence and a feeling of self-worth can be negatively defined as vanity, when in actual fact someone may have just put a little more effort into their appearance, or they’re simply feeling good about themselves.
The constant and unwavering pressure for women to look a certain way in society means that naturally, an obsession with appearance can occur. Social media in particular means we’re constantly reminded to have a great appearance, whilst always comparing ourselves to others. The feeling of embarrassment, however, that
many women get from putting too much effort into their looks, or spending that little bit too long getting ready, is where the complexity of this
If you’re too obsessed with how you look, you can be perceived as arrogant and shallow, on the flip side, put no effort into your appearance, and you can be made to feel inferior to others.
Social media and dating apps place so much emphasis on
appearance in relation to success that it’s difficult not to focus a lot of attention on it these days. Tinder, for example, works on the basis of photos as a first impression – meaning we’re reminded that it’s how we look that is the utmost important thing in order to meet someone.
Vanity, however, often comes attached with negative connotations – and is seen as very different to just a bit of self-love. For women in particular, this is a fine line which is often blurred, and sometimes
Coming to uni is perhaps the most exciting and nerve-wracking change to happen in life this far, and with this massive step forward comes a huge rediscovery of yourself. I don’t think I’ve ever been quite so terrified about making a good impression as I was when faced by seven new flatmates, trying to remember anything cool about myself to try and make myself interesting to these strangers. So much of uni seems to be about that: knowing who you are, what you like, and what makes you interesting, when in reality who I am and what I like seems to change every time I discover something new.
flatmates, there’s always going to be a moment you find yourself alone – whether that’s going to bed on your first night or when your flat have decided to rewatch all the Twilight films and you seriously can’t stomach another moment of dark and brooding Edward Cullen. Suddenly being on your own can be scary but simultaneously a chance to unwind and digest all the new people and experiences uni produces.
The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to arrive at uni as a completed and perfected version of yourself. It’s okay to not really know who you are or to not have found the hobby that you truly enjoy – join as many societies as you want and see where they lead you! It’s okay if you don’t get on with your flatmates immediately, and it’s okay if you walk into a lecture and don’t know anybody. Each difficult thing you do will help curate a more well-rounded idea of yourself, and there’s always potential to change and become a newer version of yourself than you were yesterday.
However, for women it is often about striking the balance of looking good, whilst making out like you haven’t made too much of an effort or are being too vain. We’ve all heard people label the girl with a little too much makeup on ‘tarty’, or give them a funny look; but perhaps if she hadn’t put any makeup on she’d be called scruffy or lazy.
The complexity of how others perceive vanity, and what is classed as ‘vain’ or ‘self-love’ means that all women have a complex relationship with how they present themselves, both physically in the real-world, and online.
Itis a well known fact that thousands of men across the world have an unhealthy obsession with the gym and bulking. Whether they go with friends or alone, men are typically socialised to be more active in childhood e.g. engage in football and other sports to fit with their gender stereotype. However, the alarming rates of men's mental health have skyrocketed over the last decade which can allow us to question whether normalising physical exercise within most boys is causing more harm than good.
According to the ONS, males account for threequarters of suicides registered in 2021. Exercising frequently has been scientifically proven to boost endorphins and levels of serotonin which can improve one's mental well-being, however, from this men can begin a toxic obsession with the gym and begin to rely on it for their happiness and boost their self-esteem. Moreover, within the gym itself, there are all different body types which can pose a further negative impact on men’s mental health. Although, one thing the majority of these people have in common is to have an ‘ideal’ body type. Likewise, for women, men also have a set of unrealistic and unattainable beauty standards. These are based solely on body types and toxic masculinity, the pressure to be an ‘alpha male’ or what is described as ‘manly’. Frequent exercise and having perfectly shaped pecs, abs and back muscles are what is expected of men based on very exaggerated aftershave ads and heavily edited images online which further boosts low self-esteem
issues. Thus, there is no surprise that there is a more current rise of eating disorders among men through binge eating disorders, which occurs from the bulking culture within the gym encouraging them to eat mass amounts in order to turn fat into muscle.
Moreover, the obsession with getting big never ends. There is a constant need to exercise and maintain that physique once you reach the level where you look like a Greek God as such. From being around people that are so-called ‘gym rats’ I’ve noticed that when they go on holiday where there’s an all-inclusive food and drink, many nights out and time to relax, they often feel an immense pressure to get back in shape once they get back into a routine at home or do intense exercise to make up for the break they had. Men may believe this is normal as everyone does it, we all let loose
Georgia Purcell - Relationships sub-editor How does uni impact your relationship with yourself?
'Vanity' has given all women a complex relationship with their looks
Self-confidence and a feeling of self-worth can be negatively defined as vanityImage: Source Pixabay Image: Source Pixabay Trigger warning: Mention of suicide, eating disor ders. Image: Source Pixabay
Fromseminars to societies to student accommodation, university can feel very much catered to extroverts. When you’re a student, the ratio of social time to alone time becomes drastically uneven, which can be very draining for us introverts.
Being an introvert doesn’t necessarily mean you are shy and awkward – it’s mostly preferring your own company from time to time. There is a lot of pressure on the social element of student life, especially during first year. The most important thing is not to harbour any guilt for not always wanting to join. Nightlife in particular is arguably romanticised and it’s simply not for everyone. Nonetheless, I do believe university is the perfect opportunity to test and push your social boundaries. Social activities aren’t exclusively nights out, but can be more relaxed such as grabbing a coffee with someone. At the end of the day, if you skip a few events or nights out, you won’t be missing out. The most important thing is not to harbour any guilt for not always wanting to join.
Stereotypically, making friends doesn’t come as naturally to introverts as it does for extroverts. Meeting up with people in your seminars outside of an academic setting is a great idea since you already have your degree in common. Clubs and
societies are further a great way to bond with people with similar interests, or even join a society that you hardly know anything about – opposites really do attract sometimes and you’ll gain a new hobby.
However, it’s crucial to find some time for yourself each day to avoid becoming extremely burnt out. The university environment can be a shock at first but it gets easier. Whilst I’m still an introvert at heart, university has definitely pulled my extroverted side to the forefront. Undoubtedly, you shouldn’t feel forced to play into an extroverted role, but your social capacity may surprise you when you’re with the right people.
One of our writers gives an insight into their own experience of trying new things.
Assomeone who has a list of new things to try, but who is also a creature of habit who finds comfort in relived experiences, I understand how difficult it is to try something new.
Trying new things, especially as a beginner and especially alone is tough, it can be embarrassing and awkward and make you never want to do it again. It’s inevitable to feel this way but it doesn’t mean you should give up or not try. Life is about embracing the mistakes and the embarrassments; how will you ever get better if you don’t try?
Life is about embracing the mistakes and embarassments; How will you ever get better if you don’t try?
Over the summer, I began my fitness journey. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I’ve been in gyms before but it’s like I was glued to the edges. I stuck to the cardio machines to avoid the embarrassment of getting something wrong. I quickly learnt that no
one was watching and no one cared. Everyone was doing their own thing, and was probably
Molly Jackson - Lifestyle sub-editorThephrase ‘fake it till you make it’ springs to mind when I think about how to navigate University life as an
combatting empty silences is draining at the best of times. Yet, I believe many would define themselves as an extrovert because they find it less awkward to just fill the silences with humour, wit and chat, even if they don’t feel like it, hence the phrase.
I think it is difficult to fully define yourself as extroverted 100% of the time.
While a lot of the people who know me would describe me as friendly and outgoing, people who I feel uncomfortable around may think differently. People assume that an extrovert doesn’t need time alone to recharge and rebalance and that they don’t allow themselves to feel judged by othersthis is definitely not the case. An extrovert who is constantly in the company of others is bound to
Over my time at Uni, I have naturally become more gregarious and, as I move into my final year, I feel more confident when it comes to speaking up, taking on leadership roles and meeting new people. As someone who has always struggled to be myself in new situations due to my battle with anxiety, I do feel that knowing who you are and feeling confident in that did help me to become more extroverted. Whilst I am still nervous when speaking up in seminars and overthink what I say to new people, I have come a long way from the girl who dreaded being picked on in a zoom call.
Bea Hepworth
Keeping organised is hard. This article offers advice to those who struggle to keep a diary by reflecting on the writer's own methods
The perfect diary is an elusive creature, spoken only about in whispers by those who pretend to have transcended the need for further organisation.
I'm here to tell you, all hope is not lost for the messier of folks among us. Personally, the use of separate and distinct diaries is key (preferably in different colours and designs). I use a teal A5 diary, which is separated into days of the week. This is where I record when and where my lectures and seminars are each week. Call me eccentric but after three years of study, I have little trust in Newcastle uni's app timetable.
and pursue everything you’ve come to University to explore. For some, this is already too much pen and paper to possibly use in this day ’n’ age. To that I would say, keep the principle the same. Separate where you organise and where you expand into further detail. Decluttered organising is the name of the game; virtual or physical.
Finally I like to use a third diary in a much less formal manner. My yellow felt A5 note book with an embroiled bumble bee on the cover ( very on brand I know ). Here is where I record things that peak my interest: thoughts, feelings and generally frustrated scribbles. This provides a space to both
at, and what you enjoy but to fully embrace life and to become the person you’ve always wanted to be, you have to overcome the fear. Join the gym, go to that class alone, meet up with that society because you will honestly never know if it will make you happy or not until you do. Gradually expose yourself to new things, try and do something new everyday even if it is as small as finding a new place to eat lunch and what you feared, because it was new, will eventually become habit.
Call me eccentric but after three years of study, I have little trust in Newcastle uni's app timetable
Doing this will begin your journey towards tackling life’s hectic schedules. In conjuncture, I like to use a different A5 notebook to take notes in during lectures. This will help you to build a base of operations where you can scout, plan, predict
can get creative by making and decorating your own mug, plate, or plant pot!
The workshop is within a chilled-out café environment, making for a fun and chilled-out activity that anyone can enjoy, plus you get to take your creation home to use forever - what's not to love?
The Baltic Art Gallery/Great North Museum
Bring-a-board night
While this is not a Newcastle-specific activity, this is an activity that I have done recently with
Ina city so renowned for its unreal nightlife, it is easy to think that Newcastle has little to offer other than blue trebs and £2 pints (these are amazing perks though!). But Newcastle is more than only an amazing night-out so whether you don’t drink, or just fancy a wholesome activity absent of hangxiety, look no further!
Dog and Scone is the ultimate self-care café where you can hang out with the cutest dogs and drink coffee - can you think of anything better?
From toy Poodles to mini-Dachshunds, there is no shortage of adorable pooches here for you to hang out with! So if you are missing your dog from home, or just fancy having a relaxing afternoon playing with these cuties, Dog and Scone is a definite must-go for any dog lover.
The Pottery Experience is the ultimate pottery painting and making café in Jesmond where you
When it comes to culture, Newcastle is bursting with unique and historic art galleries and museums to explore - plus they are free of charge!
The Baltic Centre, situated on the Quayside is a unique contemporary art gallery, with constantly changing exhibitions and a spectacular viewing point of the whole of Newcastle. The perfect place for an artsy Instagram post.
The Great North Museum is also an engaging (on-campus!) museum packed with exhibitions showcasing everything from the Hadrian's Wall to Egyptian Mummies. Why not give these a go on your next day off uni!
Grab a coffee with a friend!
One of my personal favourite things to do with my friends is to go on a coffee date. My favourite local coffee shops at the minute are Olive and Bean, Café 1901, and Ouseburn Coffee Co in Jesmond.
pizza board, culminating to make the tastiest food night ever! Pretty wholesome if you ask me.
Have a day trip to Tynemouth Beach
One of the best parts of Newcastle is that it is only a 20-minute metro ride to the coast! Grab a picnic (or a Tesco Meal Deal!) and 'chillax' at the beach - what could be a better way of relaxing after a stressful week at uni?
Take a walk in Jesmond Dene/Exhibition Park/ Leazes Park
Nothing is more relaxing than taking an autumn walk - so grab a friend and get some fresh air at one of Newcastle's many gorgeous green-spaces.
Take a trip to a pumpkin patch! - @ eastgrange
While this last one is a little further afield in Durham, this activity is perfect for getting in the Autumn mood - Pumpkin Picking!
If you are lucky enough to have a friend who can drive, why not take a trip to East Grange farm which, throughout October, has an incredible pumpkin patch! Also a blooming sunflower field in summer, this farm makes for an amazing day out.
a lot to consider when you start University, no matter whether you're moving away, commuting, or even just starting a new year. It's easy to get caught up and overwhelmed by all your new responsibilities, but we have to stress the importance of self care.
Self care means putting yourself as a priority, for the sake of both your physical and mental health. It's all well and good to spend all day working and all night partying, but you need to make sure you have healthy winding down practices to prevent burnout, and we're going to be running you through some of those.
it when you were younger, filling in details about your day in a diary. This can be a really good way to get in tune with your emotions, by identifying them and their source, you can prevent the formation of negative feelings, or relieve them if they come. You can learn what makes you feel good and document your happy memories. This inspires gratitude for all that you have, again helping you to build a positive mindset. Lastly, another rather classic suggestion is picking up a new hobby, by trying out new activities. University is an excellent place for this, with taster sessions hosted by the Student’s Union and many different societies that let you try new skills at a low cost, such as Blank Canvas, Baking, and Creative Writing, just to name a few. These are just a few suggestions to help you get started on your self care journey, but the key idea is that you need to look after yourself. It’s easy to get
Matilda DaleyThere’s plenty of societies to join and many places in and around campus to explore. From bouncing bars and clubs to galleries and cosy coffee shops; there’s something for everyone.
Thelong days of heat and sunshine are over and the new autumn term has begun. Newcastle’s trees are beginning to don their leafy amber coats and the days are slowly getting frostier. The transition to university is not easy and the shock of October drizzle and darker nights does not make it any easier. However, it is important to remember that whether you’ve moved away from home for the first time or you are a returning student, homesickness is a completely normal emotion. It can be hard at first to adjust to a new environment and routine so here are a few tips that should help you find it easier to settle in.
1. Stay busy. Not only will staying busy will help keep those negative thoughts at bay, it is a great opportunity to throw yourself into university life, exploring what Newcastle has to offer and meeting other likeminded students.
4. Keep in touch with home. Though it may bring forward tears or unwanted emotions, chatting with loved ones or friends at home should help to ease feelings of homesickness. FaceTime those who you miss or ring them and fill them in on your day/week. If you’ve got a pet at home, get someone to give you photo updates. A little bit of cuteness will be sure to put a smile on your face.
This one is almost painfully cliché, but taking a walk. While often recommended, the benefits of getting yourself out in nature are so underrated. You can take in your surroundings and appreciate the space around you so much more, gratitude being the key to a positive mindset. You can even just stroll and listen to your favourite music, just being able to spend some time with yourself without distractions.Another recommendation we have would be journaling. You may have done
2. Be honest with your emotions. Bottling up your feelings is never good. Find a friend or flatmate whom you feel comfortable with and share your thoughts or worries. Most students will be able to relate to missing home so you’ll probably find some comfort in knowing you’re not alone.
3. Have a good work/life balance. Finding a good balance between your studies and social life is important in maintaining your happiness. Though university is important, make sure to go out and enjoy yourself.
5. Look after yourself. When things are hard it is important to be kind to your mind and body. A long soak in a bubble bath or curling up with hot chocolate and an exciting film are ways that can help you to relax and unwind. Yoga and meditation are also good ways to clear your mind. Something as simple as going for a walk or run whilst listening to your favourite music can do you a world of good. Newcastle has a number of green spaces in and around the city centre and an escape into nature can be a good way to aid relaxation and rejuvenation.
Remember, it takes time to settle in and get used to your new routine. Don't be too hard on yourself and look after yourself the best that you can.
It's important to look after yourself at uni, so here are some ways to avoid burnout
You need to make sure you have healthy winding down practices to prevent burnoutImage Credit: Pixabay
Though university is important, make sure to go out and enjoy yourself.
Not a big fan of drunk nights out? Here are some alchol-free alternatives!
Feeling homesick is normal at university - here's how you can cope a bit easier
KimKardashian is known for several things, but her plethora of fashion statements always seem to scintillate above the rest. On Saturday the 24th of September, Kim debuted at Milan's Fashion Week, as she curated a runway of Dolce & Gabbana's signature looks from 1987 to 2007, expressing her creativity without any limitations.
Every piece has a unique memory behind it, which stylistically enhances Kim's natural flare, to embrace D & G's Italian roots. Kim has flourished in this journey with Stefano and Domenico, as in her Instagram caption, she writes: "I always loved the beautiful, quintessential 90s and 2000s looks… feminine, bold, they always made me feel so confident & glamorous".
backdrop, the models showcased the neutral palette of mainly grey, black and beige designer items. It reinstates the concept of the historical archives along with lingerie motivating the #CiaoKimLa Dolce Vita. The carefully considered corsetsstructured to enhance a woman's body - crystals, mesh gowns, bodysuits, lace gloves and sock boots, all strengthen the power of fashion on the runway. D&G describe Kim Kardashian as a 'contemporary diva and the ultimate muse.' as she powerfully presented their spring/ summer collection for 2023#DGSS23.
As iconic Kim ate a plate of pasta against the
Everyiconic supermodel has ‘a career defining moment’. Many of these can be seen in the rise of the ‘supermodel era’ in the 90s’ with Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Kate Moss, to name a few. Each of these models have their own iconic runway moments they are best known for, Naomi Campbell’s fall at the Vivienne Westwood collection in 1993. Despite the event being three decades old, you still find articles gossiping about that moment, it’s one of the reasons why Campbell is still considered one of the most iconic runway models to date.
Paris Fashion Week has ended, all people are talking about is Miss Bella Hadid. As a member of Gen-Z, and an avid TikTok user, my entire for-you page is entirely filled up by compilations of Bella walking a multitude of shows across Europe, for brands like Thom Browne, Givenchy, Stella McCartney, and the most talked about: Coperni. During fashion week, Bella wore a sprayon dress for Coperni. For a long time, Bella has been regarded as one of the era-defining runway models for this period. In 2016 she was named Model of the Year by Model.com, making her place in the industry after often living in her older sister, Gigi’s, shadow. After a staggering fourteen shows for Fashion Week, is more expected to come from Bella next season, or is this her peak?
Cargo pants, puffer coats, Air Forces and flares. Here's how to dress like a student
Firstthing’s first, bin the skinny jeans. No questions asked. It’s basically social suicide in Leazes, and let’s be honest, they are the least comfortable thing you could wear to a lecture. Instead, think low waisted: cargo or parachute pants, or the Jesmond uniform, a white linen trouser. You can’t take three steps around campus without seeing a pair of these - I would know, my own beloved pair were only £7 from a charity shop! Charity shops are the key to dressing as a student, especially at affordable prices. My personal favourite is the British Red Cross on Nun Street by Grainger Market; they occasionally get brand new Zara products donated there, so its definitely worth a trip.
Now let’s talk specifically Newcastle student fashion. Look like you’ve raided your Mum’s wardrobe? Great. Look like you’ve cut up your Nan’s curtains and made a blouse? Even better! A Leazes student loves an outdated-turned-chic outfit. My favourites on campus are always the oversized shirt or Dad’s old rugby top (bonus points for any holes). Reusing instead of buying new is a key part of student living, so embrace it and go on a shopping spree next time you’re home. Moving on to bags … well actually, don’t bother. The poshest students on campus seem to throw practicality to the wind and simply carry their MacBook in their hand. If you need Charity shops are the key to dressing as a student, especially at affordable prices
and there’s some great cheap ones on ASOS which are big enough to put that laptop into. Seeing that we’ve established that a Leazes
student hates practicality, it’s time to talk about shoes. I myself am a sucker for a Birkenstock sandal in the summer, but around Jesmond I’ve seen this being taken to new heights: socks and ‘stocks. Love the comfort of your Birks, but the Newcastle cold is getting to your feet? Easy fix! Whilst I am yet to try this out myself for looking like a confused
old man, inevitably I’m sure I’ll be swayed by that irresistible Jesmond tattered chic. Another up and coming shoe trend on campus is the return of the Ugg, which are so comfortable for lectures. Or there’s my particular favourites; Nike Air More Uptempo trainers, which is a statement trainer that frequents Leazes daily.
I want to end with some personal recommendations which I think are a necessity I want to end with some personal recommendations which I think are a necessity for Newcastle uni life. The first would be a thin scarf, the smaller the better. It’s perfect for those autumn days with a slight chill. Everyone in the Robbo has one, so you must have one too, or you may as well go to the Marj. Secondly, I love a gilet, an absolute essential for the Newcastle student wardrobe. Mine’s a puffer Napapijri one, but my housemates have fluffy ones which are also so cute. When I purchased my gilet, I knew that I had been truly ‘Leaze-ified’. Lastly, I would recommend some chunky knitwearperfect for the super cold of Newcastle and often seen strutting the streets of Jesmond. As much as we can be easy to mock, us Newcastle students do have our own cool & unique sense of style!
The collection has been designed with the purpose to empower and inspireImage credit: Instagram @kimkardashian Image credit: Instagram @bellahadid
As much as we can be easy to mock, us Newcastle students do have our own cool & unique sense of style!Image credit: Instagram @maya.beatrizz Image credit: Pixabay gorartser Erin Fazackerly Libby Griffiths After an absolute whirlwind of a Fashion Month, here we have some of the most iconic moments and looks! Adriana Newbury Image credit: Instagram
Here is a quick guide to the best charity & vintage shops that Newcastle has to offer
Whetheryou're looking for a cool vintage sweatshirt or a cute charity-shop coat, our guide has you covered!
Newcastle is a city bursting with unique vintage shops, so it can be hard to know where to start your new fashion adventure. If you are in search of a sick, new (but sustainable) outfit this Autumn, you're in the right place.
perfect for a post-lecture fashion fix! Their stock is constantly refreshed with brands such as Nike and Carhartt, with their cool re-worked pieces giving new life to your autumn wardrobe.
I also love their jewellery and accessories section which is packed full of funky sunglasses, resin rings and star-sign necklaces. If you are stuck for a wacky (but cool) retro Wednesday social outfit, look no further!
Packed away in the quirky corners of Newcastle’s Grainger Market, Analog is the hidden gem of Newcastle’s vintage scene.
explore, so you are bound to find something that is up your street!
While vintage shops have dominated this guide, if you are looking for a charity shop which supplies the coolest second-hand pieces, St Oswald’s in Jesmond is the place for you!
this Saturday and Sunday (15th and 16th October) and you can keep up to date with their next visits to the toon on their Instagram - @vintagevera. co.uk.
Reasonably priced while still offering some of the coolest vintage and reworked clothing in Newcastle, The Vintage Scene ranks at the top
Located just a 3-minute walk from campus, this shop is
This small (but mighty!) vintage shop is bursting with sick vintage clothing from brands such as Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger - and all at decent prices too. I personally love this place as I got a gorgeous green Calvin Klein fleece here last year, which is still one of my everyday staples!
Also, just a stone’s throw from campus, The Vintage Store on Northumberland Street is another great shout when it comes to finding unique oneoff vintage pieces.
While this is the largest vintage shop in Newcastle, the higher price point is definitely a put-off , with sweatshirts all priced at around £45 compared to around £28 in The Vintage Scene. Despite this, there is an abundance of cool stock for you to
While this charity shop is a little pricier than some others in town, taking into consideration the amount of high-end designer brands such as Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren, this is the shop to go to for a successful charity-shop haul. Plus, you will also be supporting a great cause - so it’s a win-win.
While this is not a permanent shop in Newcastle, Vintage Vera regularly has pop-up vintage kilo-sales in our SU and at The Gate, which you do not want to miss!
From sweatshirts to t-shirts, jackets to jeans, Vintage Vera always has an abundance of clothing for you to search through until your heart is content. I once found a Tommy Hilfiger shirt here, and with the kilo pricing, it was only £5. I still gloat about this amazing find! The next kilo-sale at The Gate is happening
to dig out those clothes from the back drawer that you’ve never worn and give them a second life. You might be surprised by the result.
Here are a few starting tips for achieving the perfect layered look:
know it’s past time) and go shopping for some cute lingerie.
all looked in the mirror at some point and thought that our outfit lacks something that cannot be placed no matter how hard we think about it. That one belt that goes with everything just doesn’t work and that random bag cannot fix it either. It’s simply boring. If you are struggling with a dull, lackluster outfit, layering might be the solution for you.
The term recently re-gained popularity on social media after being a constant presence in fashion for years, and has become a hot topic amongst influencers and stylists alike. Essentially, layering is a styling practice that, as the name suggests, involves wearing multiple garments over each other. The finished result is an outfit that possesses both depth and originality. Leave the days of boring outfits behind!
But what makes the perfect layered look? Obviously, the answer depends on your personal style and whether you prefer a capsule wardrobe or one full of fashion statements. Layering works for everything from a blackand-white aesthetic to dark academia and is especially fun for those who like to play with colours and patterns (check out @evelilycp and thank me later). Whatever the case, the best way to layer is to try and experiment. Be bold with it. Try on every single thing in your wardrobe if need be. This is the perfect opportunity
First rule of layering: light layers. Think t-shirts, simple long sleeves, and button-downs. Add some tights or nice socks. This will be your base for what comes next so stay away from the heavy knits and hoodies for now!
And remember that a nice bralette peeking out of a sweater still counts as a layered look, so throw out that old bra (we both
After you’ve laid your foundation comes the best part. Now, you can add as many or as few garments as you want. In my opinion, go all maximalist! Here, you can play with outerwear and heavier textures. Blazers, coats, and knitwear are your best friends.
If you’re going for an academia-inspired look, why not combine a turtleneck with a blazer in a neutral colour, a skirt, some tights, and Mary Jane’s? Alternatively, trousers, scrunched-up socks, and loafers are a classic go-to. My personal favourite – wide-leg pants, button-down, an oversized
and see where it goes. Personally, I’ve been dreaming of achieving the impossible task of combining a skirt with pants. Just don’t be afraid to get silly with this.
Finally, one rule to live by: do not ever forget the accessories. A hat, some rings, even a simple tote bag could make all the
and excellent coffee from Café Kitsune in rue de Rivoli to turn your visit into a complete picnic. I would also highly recommend visiting Musée de l’Orangerie just around the corner to see some of Monet’s finest pieces.
Market-An established artisan market offering crafts, food and fashion for reasonable prices, Quayside Market is the place to be on a Sunday. Stretching from the Swing Bridge to the Millennium Bridge, there is sure to be a seller with a deal that suits the student budget. Even in the absence of bargains, any market framed by one of Newcastle’s most iconic views is well worth a visit. Residents and tourists have frequented Quayside market for over 250 years, so it’s safe to say it has more than just the approval of Newcastle’s student population. Star & Shadow - is a volunteer-run cinema, music and radio space that sits on the border between Heaton and Shieldfield. A range of film viewings are offered on a pay as you can afford basis, so ticket prices vary according to the budget of each individual customer (free- £7). Not only is Star & Shadow budget friendly, it’s ethos has my approval as it aims for 'radical sustainability' in its pricing during the cost of living crisis.
The Souter Saunter - Just a Metro ride away is Seaburn station which acts as the start ing point of a dramatic coastal walk or the dubbed Souter Saunter that ends at the spec tacular National Trust property, Souter Light house. Unmissable in its classic dress of red and white, the lighthouse is the first in the world to be designed and built to be powered by electricity. The path is set upon grassy limestone cliffs that meet the North Sea in panoramic views that are entirely free.
Morning- Start your day with a breakfast in the Latin Quarter. Le Comptoir du Panthéon offers a classic formulated French breakfast at an excellent location for people-watching. Upon breakfast, practice the French art of the flâneur. Rue St Severin will bring you to a peaceful garden next to the famous bookstores of the city. The queues for the internet-famous Shakespeare & Co. can be daunting, which makes The Abbey Bookshop an excellent off-the-beaten-path alternative. Following this, stroll along Quai de la Tournelleand see UNESCO-protected les Bouquinistes.
Evening - head down to Pont Alexandre III for sunset. This is the perfect place to get a shimmer ing view of the city as the sun goes down and shad ows start to fall upon the Iron Lady (that is, the Eif fel Tower). After sunset, you can enjoy the hourly light show of the Eiffel or discover the hidden bars (Lavomatic, Moonshiner and Fitzgerald, to name a few). Adventurous spirits can try a night-time tour of the Paris catacombs!
Night-time activities in Paris come in an endless variety for you to pick your favourite. Be warned though, the day will likely end up in another flight
Afternoon- Make your way to the most hip dis trict of the city, Le Marais. Here, you can find the 18th- century ‘hôtel particuliers’ (mansions) which now serve as museums. Hôtel de Soubise has a wonderful garden and does not warrant a long visit. Le Marais is also where you can find some of the best food in the city, namely Chez Janou or Panozzi. L’As du Fallafel in rue des Rosiers claims to have the best falafel in all of Europe. I can’t tell you if it’s the best, but it certainly deserves its place on a 24-hour itinerary! The next stop: Tuileries Garden. You can grab tasty pastries from Bo&Mie
The queues for Shakespeare & Co. can be daunting, which makes The Abbey Bookshop an excellent alternativeIsil Ezman
24 hour itinerary of a day in Paris, uncovering some of the city's best kept secrets!Beatrix Amberly Image credits: Ollie Withers
This summer, I was lucky enough to travel to over 15 different countries and take my camera with me. Here's a selection of my favourite shots.
Looking for activities to do in and around Newcastle with friends that won't break the bank?
Here's two easy, budgetfriendly recipes that are sure to impress your housemates!
Forwhen you’re in a rush, but don’t want to blow your entire loan. Are your cooking skills still subpar? These recipes will hopefully fix that...
This curry is a great choice for vegans, meat-eaters and flavour-lovers alike. (All prices are based on Tesco).
Ingredients:
500mg can of chickpeas (60p)
One brown onion (12p)
400ml can of coconut milk (£1)
Two Patak paste pots (tikka masala, madras or korma- you choose!) (85p each from a set of £1.70)
Two garlic cloves from a bulb approximately 20p (approximately 5p, or more depending on your preference)
Roughly 70g of basmati rice from a £2.20kg bag per person (around 15p)
And/or
One naan (80p) from a pack of two (£1.60)
Plus, coriander to garnish (optional) 47p on medium heat until soft.
Method:
Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil or butter
on medium heat until soft.
Add the paste pots and stir until warm, then the coconut milk
Add the chickpeas and simmer for ten minutes, and voila!
A delicious, hearty, and vegan meal from only £1.88 per person!
This next one puts a rich and protein-full twist on the classic university dish: pesto pasta.
Prawns are also an excellent choice if you’re in a rush, as they cook quickly!
Ingredients:
Two garlic cloves from a bulb approximately 20p (approximately 5p)
Pesto, red or green (£1.10)
Half a red onion (10p from a 20p onion)
For optional, but recommended creaminess, 150ml single cream (80p)
200g of Linguine or spaghetti (approx 20p from a 60p pack)
Pack of cooked prawns (£2.70 clubcard price)
Method:
Set a pot of salted water to boil. Once boiling add pasta and simmer.
Sauté onion and garlic, plus any other veggies you may have, in another pot or wok.
Once soft, add pesto until warm, and then cream, stir until mixed.
Add a splash of that pasta water into the pesto pot, and then add pasta.
There you have a rich and tasty pasta dish for only £2.47 per serving!
Madeha Ali
Coffee is more than just a drink. It's undoubtedly a quintessential part of the student diet. With the approach of Project Waterfall’s campaign to provide coffee-growing communities with clean drinking water, sanitation and education during UK Coffee Week, what better time to discover some of the best rated places to grab a coffee in the Toon?
Whether you're looking for a quick boost before your 9am lecture, a social drink with a friend, or even just a lonesome escape from the crazy realm of University life, there is a café in Newcastle perfect for you!
Costa It would be rude not to start with the nation’s firm favourite. The company understand the importance of Project Waterfall’s campaign, making them a proud sponsor of UK Coffee Week. Using their own Costa Foundation, they have supported over 100,000 people in coffeegrowing communities to access education in countries including Vietnam, Peru and Columbia, to name a few! For all the environmentalists out there, each time you use a reusable cup in store, you get 1 free drink for every 4 that you buy. Need I say more?
With the Costa app you can get exclusive rewards, including free cake on your birthday
Café 1901
Located in the heart of the popular student area, Jesmond, Café 1901 is one of the best places you can go to if you’re searching for a coffee in a lively atmosphere. This quirky cafe’s main focus is
Tomake this cocktail/mocktail as ac cessible as possible, I opted to ignore some of the typical apple-themed in gredients, such as calvados, as they can be quite expensive and hard to find. Additionally, by using apple juice for the apple flavouring, this cocktail can be made to tally alcohol-free. The result is a light, refresh ing cocktail that is deceptively drinkable.
It should be noted I used cloudy apple juice and fresh lime juice for my recipe. Take extra care with the lime, as you may need to adjust to taste.
Ingredients:
1 part vodka (optional)
4 parts apple juice
1 part lime juice
4 parts soda water
Ice cubes
1 apple (to garnish)
Method:
1. Place some ice into each glass. Pour over the lime juice, apple juice, and vodka if using.
2. Pour over the soda water and stir to mix.
3. Cut your apple into small wedges, then make a small in
breakfast. It’s perfect for a midnight snack and after your tea if you fancy something sweet.
Pot Noodles are probably one of the most common foods when you think of a fresher’s cupboard and they’re a well-known staple for a reason; they provide a quick and (relatively) tasty snack.
Asa post-graduate student, who has had to stock their food cupboard for four years, here is a list of some of my fresher cupboard essentials. One of the most easily forgotten cupboard essentials is salt and pepper. They’re basic, but essential for cooking. If you want to step it up a notch, garlic powder and chilli flakes are also two great spices to have in your cupboard. From personal experience, they can be used in pretty much any dish to give it some flavour.
My final cupboard recommendation is pasta. A jar of sauce can be mixed in if you’re short on cash or time, but if not, you can create your own pasta dish to impress your new flatmates. The options are endless.
to create a welcoming and inclusive space for it’s community to relax and socialise. If you are a dog lover, you will be pleased to hear that this café is even canine-friendly! Throughout the year, Café 1901 hosts events and workshops so it's worth looking out for more information on their website.
Lastly, The Grand is conveniently situated directly outside of campus, making it the perfect spot to grab coffee with some friends after a lecture, or even be an alternative to the library. They have an array of vegan options, ranging from sausage rolls to cheese toasties, so it's a good place for a range of diets.
The next cupboard essential, and my personal favourite, is beans. They can be used to create one of the classic fresher meals – beans on toast. They’re a comfort food, ideal for when you’re hungover or missing home.
Cereal is another item that makes it onto my cupboard essentials list. It’s a quick and easy meal that doesn’t have to be reserved
Your guide to Newcastle's coffee sceneGrace Cook
Wondering what to stock your cupboard up with? This writer provides a list of essentials ...Image credit: caffe 1901 Jesmond Instagram
Offthe back of the final record in his Man On The Moon trilogy, Kid Cudi releases Entergalactic, an album made as a companion piece to the rapper’s new movie on Netflix. The film itself is a masterwork of animation and a joy to watch. Everything about it oozes with colour and style, and the same can be said for the album, too. After Cudi’s brief venture into the world of trap music on MOTM 3, Entergalactic sees a return to his classic “trip-hop” sound that acts both as a perfect accompaniment to the film and an homage to his earlier works.
back and arguably better than ever.
The release of ‘Body Paint’ and announcement of their seventh studio album October) has been met with excitement mixed with criticism. But who can deny that the band are continuing to push the boundaries of rock?
As mentioned before, the album pays tribute sonically to the first two MOTM records, with songs that sound as if they were taken directly from them. The album’s first song, 'New Mode', features psychedelic synths and high-pitched piano keys similar to those found on MOTM 1’s 'Sky Might Fall', creating a spacey and ethereal mood. This vibe dominates the album, whether that be through 'Can’t Shake Her’'s reverberating synths and multi-layered vocals on the hook or 'Ignite The Love'’s sombre guitar and wailing background vocals.
My favourite track would have to be 'Can’t Believe It.' The heavy 808s and distorted piano keys create a sinister vibe that Cudi flows comfortably on. The hook is simple but infectious, and the feature verse from 2 Chainz ties everything up perfectly to make a southern rap-style track that has producer Dot Da Genius’ influence all over it.
When Entergalactic shines, it shines with multicoloured brilliance
The key problem with the album stems from its reliance on the movie, as tracks are made to fit certain scenes and therefore a few feel that they are missing something. Tracks like 'Angel' feel as though they build up to some grand moment that never comes, and others like 'Livin’ My Truth', while incredibly upbeat and catchy, feel like they end too early and could have done with another verse to complete them.
I’ll be honest, at first listen, I was horrified by the new single. 'Body Paint' opens with an abstract instrumental which is soon smothered by the vocals of Alex Turner, who sounds as if he’s been wounded and using an incredibly high-pitched tone. The song’s slow tempo creates a stark contrast to indierock classics such as 'From the Ritz to the Rubble' but perfectly complements works from the 2018 album Base Hotel & Casino’
But after several listens, I’ve come to admire the track’s unusual character and assumed confidence. Paired with the single’s official
However, when Entergalactic shines, it shines with multicoloured brilliance. It is a nostalgic call-back to the beginning of Cudi’s career and, although it works best when paired with its visual companion, it still manages to stand surprisingly well on its own as another hit in Cudi’s discography.
claims to be ‘Newcastle’s new major music and club venue.’ Yet what exactly is NX, and will it truly feel any different to a night in the O2?
OIn true modern fashion, the O2 announced their page closure on Instagram back in July of this year. Before that, in May, @nxnewcastle posted a short snippet claiming to have ‘Ground-breaking Production’ coming to the city in Autumn. A big
renowned and adored for his ability to change persona between albums? So surely there’s no reason why this Sheffield lad can’t do the same. After the excitement of the band’s appearance at Reading & Leeds Fest over the summer, it was hard to stir for comments slating the band for their apparent disinterest in their older music. I wasn’t at either festival but can only assume that anyone would tire of the same melodies after performing them for over a decade. Can we blame them for wanting to start a new musical journey? Surely it’s better for a band to remain on the music scene than to disappear from it.
I can appreciate that the songs perhaps don’t have the same angst they possessed in previous albums and that this angst is what led to much of their popularity. But on closer inspection, the lyricism hasn’t changed all that much and still contains brilliant lines such as “do your time travelling through the tanning booth”. This is a comforting reminder of the ordinary nature of their lyrics, like the mecca dobbers and betting pencils in 'Fluorescent Adolescent'. The songs now have a more sensual feel to them and seem to grow alongside the audience’s musical
So if you haven’t already, go and listen to the two new singles and if anyone has tickets to their tour next year and needs a plus one, please get in touch!
floors surrounding the main stage. A wise choice by owners Electric Group, for this opens up the viewing opportunities. A more spread-out venue is guaranteed to make fans and clubbers less likely to clash into each other, allowing for a more interactive but safe night out. One of the first events held at NX was ‘Disco Wonderland,’ an ABBA themed club night taking people away from the modern music scene and back for an evening full of 70’s disco tracks. My friend and I took ourselves down to check the new venue out, and we were pleasantly surprised.
Was the production ‘ground-breaking?’ Well, it was definitely not like anything I’d experienced at
the O2. You can’t go wrong with some 70’s tracks of course, but production wise there was much attention to detail. Indoor pyrotechnics right at the chorus of ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’ combined with confetti falling from the roof…maybe not ground-breaking, but definitely close!
This is only just the start, and I can only help but wonder what is next for NX…
What does Newcastle's newest music venue have to offer?Adam Lovegrove
A more spread-out venue is guaranteed to make fans and clubbers less likely to clash into each other
A £1.75 million rebranding recently went underway in the city
Can we blame them for wanting to start a new musical journey?
Entergalactic sees a return to his classic "hip-hop" sound.
It is a nostalgic callback to the beginning of Cudi's career which manages to stand surprisingly well
From the O2 to NX
A look into the controversial new sound from Arctic Monkeys...
artist Melanie Baker’s first UK headline tour played its penultimate show at Newcastle upon Tyne’s new 140-capacity DIY music and events space The Lubber Fiend late last month - after the 24-year-old singer-songwriter had driven herself, her gear, and her girlfriend up and down the motorway to play several venues nationwide. Baker, having moved from her native Lake District to the Heaton area earlier this year, returned to her now hometown to play to the largest audience of the month-long stretch, she confessed onstage. Opening the evening were support acts Georgina Gale and Oliver Pinder, though unfortunately I only caught the end of Gale’s set after arriving late from work. Pinder’s set was noteworthy – a thoroughly enjoyable set enhanced particularly by his choice to leave the stage and perform a song within the small crowd, setting a precedent for the level of intimacy the evening was categorized by. Bonus points for me too – he is also from Wakefield.
As Baker took the stage for her headline slot, she was joined only by producer Josh Jackson on percussion and backing vocals, highlighting the small-scale and personal nature of both this set and wholistically of Baker’s music. “I’m Melanie Baker, this is Josh, together we are Melanie Baker” she joked, but there was no doubt in the room who we were there to see. With a vocal which encircled the small space, an effortless floating beauty which needed little but the simple accompaniment it received, it was a captivating performance.
The evening was steeped in an overarching intimacy
It is not often a gig can make you feel so connected in this way, whether that be to the artist, the music, or within an audience, but Baker managed it all. The evening was steeped in an overarching intimacy, conversational in tone and a simple understanding of a togetherness and the enjoyment of music shared by artist and fans. So comfortable she seemed on stage, it could well have taken place in Baker’s own home. Baker performs with an endearing amalgam of both elegance and humility.
Lyrically, Baker’s music tends to be daringly direct, with an unwavering candidness. Hearing these same lyrics live made them all the more poignant. Strikingly gifted in lyrical storytelling,
on more than one occasion this selfconfessed writer of “sad indie songs” (think Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus etc.) moved the room to tears as she sang relatable words of self-reflection and troubles – of candles burning at both ends and striving until exhaustion towards objectively unattainable ideals, at the cost of our own sanity (‘Waiting List’). “Months ago, we were fine but now we’re broken”, sang Baker to the title track of her 2020 Broken minutes ago we’d been fine, but suddenly there was barely a dry eye.
Hitting a different note in this well-balanced set, the powerful ‘What Ifs’ tackled feelings of regret with an air of country to it, while the loosely Thelma and Louise inspired ode to friendship ‘Suzie’ made a perfect ending to the main set – an upbeat crowd-pleaser met with enthusiastic sing-a-longs. The evening’s pinnacle, however, came at the eleventh hour in the form of Baker’s encore. Consisting of a single song, it was the one we all needed to hear. ‘365 Days’ left the night on a warmer note of uncomplicated romance in contrast to the complex themes the earlier pieces captured, and Baker herself was seemingly overwhelmed by the response to it as we casually chatted away afterwards, claiming it was a somewhat unprecedented popularity for a song she’d written so long ago.
This one, without a doubt, has been my gig of the year so far – in both delivery and atmosphere (not to mention the incredible merch, including the beautiful mug I am drinking from as I write, handmade by Baker’s mam!).
Melanie Baker is a name well worth keeping an eye out for in the Newcastle music scene over the coming months, I know I will.
safe to say that British singer-songwriter dodie has had a whirlwind couple of years. From releasing her debut album, Build A Problem, in May 2021, to embarking on a UK tour whilst maintaining her monthly YouTube content, all of this musical chaos has resulted in the construction of her brilliant new release, Hot Mess. The four track EP thoroughly epitomises the trials and tribulations of living life in your midtwenties, from troublesome relationships to personal vendettas.
The title track ‘Hot Mess’, released as a single earlier this month, provides a brilliant juxtaposition between being rhythmically upbeat, yet harmonically suggests a sense of foreboding. The chromaticism and use of dissonance admirably interacts with dodie’s alluring vocal melody line, accompanied by sweeping strings. By discussing the various frustrations of common insecurities, dodie introduces a touch of relatability, setting us up perfectly for the forthcoming tracks.
‘Got Weird’ certainly follows in the path of ‘Hot Mess’ through its catchy bassline and tight harmonies. With a Billie Eilish-reminiscent electronic sound and wonderfully intertwined musical styles that get your foot tapping, in my opinion this is easily the most memorable track on the EP. Listeners are now presented with a contrast from the first half of the EP, as ‘Lonely Bones’ takes the tempo down a notch. As a soft Viennese-Waltz, this song cleverly explores the like-minded views of loneliness. Dodie has an incredible talent of effortlessly jumping musically between moods to enhance the storyline, taking the listener on an epic journey.
Finally, ‘No Big Deal (I Love You)’ is a beautiful closing track for the EP. By using a soft, lullaby inspired piano melody, dodie’s deeply powerful lyricism has its moment to shine through. As she reminisces about the bitter sweet moments of a lost relationship, the sombre tone of this song is flawlessly maintained, encouraging the listener to pay close attention to the story.
Hot Mess truly represents the extraordinary nature of dodie’s music. As a delicate soundscape masterpiece, this EP reflects the reality of maturing and experiencing the many challenging, yet necessary lessons life has to bring.
By embracing new sound experimentation such as orchestral elements, whilst simultaneously delivering her signature thematic exploration, it’s definitely exciting to anticipate where dodie’s music will venture to next.
By discussing the various frustrations of common insecurities, dodie introduces a touch of reliability
Baker performs with an endearing amalgam of both elegance and humility
Lyrically, Baker's music tends to be daringly direct, with an unwavering candidnessPhoebe
Content Warning: Mass murder, cannibalism.
Netflixbrings out an American limited series starring Evan Peters as the infamous killer from Milwaukee, Jeffrey Dahmer. But are true crime masterpieces unnecessary retellings of traumatic memories? From the makers of American Horror Story and Glee, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a show that explores the life and murders of Dahmer between 1978 and 1991. Popularly known as the Milwaukee Cannibal, Dahmer committed the murder and dismemberment of seventeen men and young boys. He engaged in cannibalistic activities with his later victims. Most of his victims were individuals of colour.
raw and honest detail. The show illustrates the emotions and perspectives of some of Dahmer’s victims, their families, and Dahmer’s parents.
Whilst the show does try to amplify the voices of those who were affected by the crimes committed by Dahmer, it has also received severe backlash from various family members of the victims. The series represents a rather dramatic description of the incidents that occurred during the time and does not provide an accurate portrayal of
the events that occurred. Rita Isbell, the sister of Errol Lindsey who was one of the victims of Jeffrey Dahmer shared her views of the show with the Insider. Isbell said that she was never contacted by Netflix in regards to adapting a clip of herself onto the show. Other family members of Lindsey also exclaimed on Twitter that it was unnecessary to keep recreating the traumatic past in cinematic productions. Isbell also stated that Netflix is “just making money off of this tragedy. That’s just greed.”
Unfortunately, in an effort of invoking the emotions of the audience, this work turns into a cinematic project to tell a chilling story. Therefore, reducing the traumatic memories of many individuals into a stylistic and “well-produced” TV show. This raises the question of whether it is necessary to have the many serial killer biopics that exist to date.
There is a clear lack of empathy towards the affected when inaccurate cinematic adaptations of heinous killers are brought into the spotlight repeatedly.
time to rewatch Captain Marvel, because the Skrulls are back!
After the first release of the Secret Invasion trailer, it’s clear this series will be a little different to what we are currently used to. The usual comedy other Marvel shows – and movies – almost rely on is gone and replaced with a serious atmosphere in the old MCU fashion.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story portrays the life of Jeffrey Dahmer from depictions of his childhood memories to the methods of his murders. The show delves into the details of how Dahmer had adapted to the society around him and the relationships he had with the people in his life. The mind of the killer and the reason for Dahmer’s behavior and thoughts are discussed in
Creating content comes with a responsibility towards the audience consuming it. It is consequential to create content that brings about change than more damage to society. Dahmer –Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story attempts to create an almost realistic portrayal of the crimes of Dahmer, yet in its attempt at realism it brings a disturbing recollection of unpleasant memories for many.
year’s new releases? Well, the verdict is in...
Overthe last couple of years, Netflix has brought out some quite spectacular fantasy series. From The Witcher and more recently The Sandman, the popular streaming service has done a pretty good job of providing nail-biting, yet totally epic journeys through alternative universes and realities. When season one of Fate: The Winx Saga was released, I had high hopes for a fantastical ride through a new world that I could get lost in. In reality, the first installment, although unique in some respects, was a bit of a let-down.
Netflix’s first season of Fate: The Winx Saga brought on magic, mystery and mixed reviews with complaints about the lack of diversity of the cast and the unrealistic plot lines. The big question is: have Netflix brushed up on their script writing skills and sharpened their inclusivity for season two? Alternatively, does it present us with another 'Marmite situation' to add to the pile from this
If you haven’t already devoted your time to watch this then I’ve got to be honest - if you want fairies and magic then P. J Hogan’s Peter Pan is always going to be a solid choice. Although the idyllic landscape is perfectly chosen for the series and stylish wardrobes give vibrancy to the show, overall there is nothing to write home about.
The second series is still set within the school of Alfea, an institution for fairies and specialists for those who haven’t done their homework, focusing on a group of teens with mystical talents. With the limiting focus on the fire fairy, Bloom (Abigail Cowen) for most of season one, the perspective thankfully shifts into a more inclusive point of view for the new segment of this fantasy tale. In the new season, fairies begin to go missing in the night and along with Stella, Terra, Aisha and Musa, Bloom brings it upon herself to solve the mystery.
The second installment of this mystical whirlwind of love, war and cringe-worthy scenes shows potential within the first episode, but I’m
afraid to say that if anything, this series became too unrealistic for my liking. Yes, I know it's about a fairy high school, a highly improbable environment for our world today, but it’s the undeniably dodgy decision-making and skewed priorities of the teens that just seem completely off.
In the first season, Bloom is most definitely someone to avoid, with selfish tendencies and a lack of common sense, leaving her friends in the dark when they were all in danger. Yes, she has become a bit more empathetic in this season, but the finale ends with the same theme, with Bloom disappearing and leaving a goodbye letter on the mantelpiece. Let’s just say cliché is an understatement.
We do see a lot more depth into the members of the Winx club; however, in a measly 7 episodes, there is no chance to properly do each individual justice. A hasty coming-out story squished into the midst of the confusion and Sky’s mental health struggles brushed under the rug are subjects that should have been addressed more thoughtfully.
Ever since Captain Marvel’s solo movie in 2019, where Skrulls played a major plot role, this alien race has been slightly pushed into the background - now they are about to take the spotlight again. As the trailer hinted, they are slowly infiltrating Earth, posing as different people, taking on their faces and slowly taking over.
Right at the beginning, Maria Hill reveals Fury wasn’t present on Earth for a very long time, which only raises more
questions.
How long has Fury been gone?
What was his purpose in space? Most importantly, is it possible he has been replaced by a Skrull himself, and for how long (much like in Spiderman - No Way Home)? From what we know, Fury has a certain allyship with the Skrulls and is a part of something bigger that will hopefully be revealed in the Secret Invasion
The series seems like a breath of fresh air amongst the current shows we know and apart from a gripping storyline we can look forward to some new and returning characters. In the trailer we can see Don Cheadle as James Rhodes, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill and for the first time we will be seeing Emilia Clarke in her new role. However, given their close connection to this storyline, can we also expect an appearance of Carol Danvers or Monica Rambeau?
New relationships are explored, with us slowly warming to Beatrix through her interactions with fellow fairy, Stella. Unfortunately, she is abruptly killed off before we have become fully attached and share any sort of connection with the character.
For some reason, many important scenes were skipped with the use of random time shifts, allowing for character development to fall flat for many of the individuals. With dreary acting in most scenes, the chemistry between Bloom and Sky, helped by the relationship between Cowen and Griffin in the real world, is one of the only aspects generating any sort of emotional connection to the show. The anticipated roller coaster of emotions was not experienced, with us waiting a year and a half only for the ride to be a disappointing one.
This Disney+ miniseries features Nick Fury, the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D., as the main character and is scheduled to come out sometime in 2023, but the exact date is still unknown.
Creating content comes with a responsibility towards the audienceEsther Arnold
Can the second season be as bad as the first? Apparently so...Varsha Jayaprasad Barbora Pacherova
The series will be a little different to what we are used to
Let’s just say cliché is an understatement
It's fair to say no tears were shed and no heart rates were raisedImage credit: Instagram @dahmernetflixbr
The boss is back! Nick Fury returns in Marvel's Secret Invasion.Image credit: Imdb
Jemima Ajayi
Parker Finn takes “hiding behind a smile” to demonic dimensions in his feature film debut
As a horror fan, I’m always eager to see how a film can traumatise me in a new way. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen very often as the genre is plagued with poor writing, mediocre performances at best and plots with more holes than Swiss cheese. However, I can happily report that there were smiles all around at the screening of Smile. We follow Dr Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) who witnesses a patient violently take her own life with a sinister smile plastered to her face.
Just minutes before, the young woman had explained that she’d been seeing an entity that masks itself as people she knows, always smiling. As a therapist, Rose goes down the path of rationalising what is happening as the mind’s response to past trauma. Yet when she starts being pursued by the same malevolent being, even she cannot deny that this goes way beyond the rational and that something much more sinister is at play.
Smile, which is an adaptation of Parker’s 11-minute short Laura Hasn’t Slept (2020),
isn’t perfect but does a lot of things well. Bacon’s performance is one of them. The actress –daughter of actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick – skilfully depicts a character of relatively sound mind deteriorating into a demon-induced madness as those around her refuse to believe what’s happening to her. Although many jump scares are utilised, they are mostly realised creatively which makes them enjoyable whilst – of course –terrifying. Another element I particularly liked was the use of false realities. It’s a feature I’ve seen in other horrors, and I think it’s used quite effectively in the film to create a false sense of security and safety which is then brutally torn away. As a result, viewers are dragged into the wicked games being played on Rose, as neither we nor she can decipher what’s real and what’s an illusion.
filmmakers use the genre to explore these reallife themes – it’s why I appreciate The Babadook (2014) for its exploration of bereavement.
The main feature of the film however is its obvious social commentary on the way the system and families can treat those dealing with past traumas. Rose, at age 10, witnessed her mother overdose and carries that pain and guilt with her - the demon is drawn to this. Parker uses the maniacal smiles as both a horror device and a literalisation of the metaphor “hiding behind a smile”. Even if a bit on the nose at times, I like how
The film’s only real flaw is its lack of real originality. It doesn’t offer up a whole new way of doing things and in terms of plot, it’s very similar to Ringu (1998) and It Follows (2014). But as they say, art imitates art, and that it leans to the more generic side isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It follows a wellknown blueprint and executes it well. Overall, it’s a good watch that’ll leave audiences wary of the next person who smiles too sweetly at them.
Olivia Wilde's latest feature had a turbulent pre-release, but did the ironically anxiety inducing thriller survive
Whenwalking into the cinema to watch Don’t Worry Darling, I didn’t really know what to expect. After seeing the film, I can say in all honesty, I still don’t know what to expect or even really how to feel.
Most people will likely have seen the controversy around this film, with there being many debates online on what to make of it. Even just looking at reviews, half of the people have rated the film a 1 out of 5, warning everyone and anyone against even seeing it, on the other hand some declare it to be engaging and deep, rating it a 5/5. So, what is Don’t Worry Darling? Is it a cinematographic masterpiece with a twist? Or does it lack substance
and perhaps good acting skills? Hopefully, I can try to break it down for you.
With all the negativity that surrounds the film, particularly on social media, I thought we would start on a positive note by looking at some of the strengths. For one thing, it’s a beautiful film, particularly visually. The cinematography was amazing, and in all honesty, I would watch Don’t Worry Darling with no sound on, simply for the graphics. It was vibrant and lively, and the framing work was *Chef’s kiss*. On top of the beautiful imagery was also a well-crafted soundtrack which felt well thought out and appropriate in every sense of the word; I enjoyed how it magnified feelings of unease and eeriness, in contrast to the bright idyllic images being shown. Sound was a powerful tool for this film that had a lot of potential and I think Wilde utilized it wonderfully.
I of course can’t go on about the strengths without leaving a tribute to Pugh’s performance.
As to be expected, Florence thrived on the big screen, bringing it to life with her range and subtlety, and I am certain the film would have been catastrophic (even more so) if not for her contribution. Expressive, emotive, and engaging to watch, I think she nailed the role, and it was fun to
see how she handled her character’s growth. Bravo.
Of course, Don’t Worry Darling was not all positive, and I think it’s far from gaining any awards anytime soon. For one thing, the plot seemed a bit reused and lacked substance. In fact, the entire time I was watching, I was reminded of a similar film from the early 2000s, The Stepford Wives. For those of you who don’t know, Stepford Wives is based around a perfect seeming suburban 50’s themed town, however its later revealed that the men are attempting to control their wives (Sound familiar??). So it seems that the Stepford Wives is essentially the blueprint to Don’t Worry Darling, which would be fine, if only it was done right. Instead, the plot felt unoriginal yet also underwhelming, the entire time you’re trying to figure out what's going on, and you’re left feeling empty and disappointed with the rushed ending. Speaking of disappointments, there was a lot to be left desired with Harry Styles' acting; they definitely chose Style over substance in the casting of Jack’s character. His performance lacked depth and was overall quite basic and I don’t know whether it was having to compete with Florence (which would never work) or whether he’s just not made for acting, but one thing is sure: if there is
one direction for Harry to take, it's music and not film. Overall, I don't think that Don’t Worry Darling was the best film in the world, however, at the same time, based on all the criticisms from the internet, I did think it would be much much worse. One could say it suffered from its own success; the pressure placed on the film through publicity, stardom, and overall hype, makes it seem disappointing, but that was inevitable. Perhaps if it was shown as a small indie film, with unrecognizable actors, it may have done a lot better. It’s the type of movie that makes you feel uneasy and uncomfortable purposefully, and if you enjoy that, relish in analysing metaphors, enjoy feeling perplexed and trying to work out what the hell is going on, then I do think this film can be enjoyed. As a mainstream Hollywood film though, it may just not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Although many jump scares are utilised, they are mostly realised creatively
They chose Style over substance in the casting of Jack's characterImage credit: @DiscussingFilm on Twitter Image credit: @hsfilmography on Twitter
Katie Siddall ~ Head of Sport
directed the live-action films in the early 2000s, wanted Velma to be explicitly a part of the LGBTQ+ community in his films; however, he says that his original scripts kept getting watered down until the second film, Monsters Unleashed, saw the casting of Seth Green as Patrick Wisely - Velma's geeky, museum-curator, boyfriend.
Sinceit's debut in 1969, Scooby-Doo has become a part of every child's life. We have all grown up with the Mystery Gang; watching the will they/won't they relationship of Fred and Daphne, the food-obsessed Shaggy and Scooby-Doo... and ultimately watching the brains of the gang, Velma Dinkley, at the side of the gang.
Due to this casting, many fans thought Miss Dinkley would come out as bisexual in later productions of Scooby-Doo. Yet it has taken Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo film for writers to explicitly write her as a lesbian character, giving her a female love interest in
Other characters in the franchise that made fans rethink their theories were: What's New Scoobyand our own Shaggy Rogers in Mystery . Even when you search Velma's character, it appears that she has Shaggy's child, Frederick Rufus RogerDinkley, in the comic book series
Now after 15 different actresses have portrayed Velma, since the first-ever episode What a Night Scooby-Doo, Where ), the viral clip has surfaced into our lives and... twitter has exploded! Fans from all around the world have been commenting on how excited they are for Velma and the Scooby-Doo franchise, with one comment reaching over 100,000 likes.
Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo is on Prime Video to buy or
Ti West and A24 have just announced the third film in what is probably one of the most unexpected trilogies in recent history. First, we had X, then Pearl, and now in development, MaXXXine Mia Goth fans rejoice!
It is hard to argue that alongside other modern horror masters like Jordan Peele, Ti West is one of the most influential voices in the genre at the moment, and that was only solidified with the initial outing of this trilogy, 2022’s X
Criminally underseen mostly due to a lacklustre number of screenings in the UK, X at first glance is a generic slasher paying homage to classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and Friday the 13th (1980). But once you start watching, you realise it is all that and more. An intelligent reflection on the damage time and ageing can do while also shining a positive light on sex and sex work, been a must-see of the past year. Carrying the film was Emma (2020) actress Mia Goth in not just one, but two roles as protagonist Maxine and antagonist Pearl, with the latter using heavy makeup to appear very elderly.
So as you sat through the credits, chances are you found yourself reflecting on what was a fun little horror number, but resigned yourself to leave it just there. That is until the post-credits reveal of a trailer for Ti West’s next film: Turns out that while filming Ti West and Mia Goth were secretly filming a prequel to the slasher focused entirely on the origins of villain Pearl during 1918.
This film’s announcement was a massive surprise to many, yet very welcome after X’s critical success. Currently, the film is making waves at the festivals, having recently been shown at Toronto International Film Festival. Like X, Pearl to be getting favourable reviews, especially for Goth’s performance. Could this finally be a chance for horror to win at the Academy
Awards? Probably not, but we can hope.
In the span of hardly more than a year, we have gotten a nice duo from West with X and Pearl, making for the perfect double bill. Definitely can say that he and Goth are in need of a break. That was until of course West announced a third film in the trilogy, MaXXXine after the Toronto film screening of Pearl.
The third (and final?) film in this most unexpected trilogy, MaXXXine will follow the main character from X, Mia Goth’s Maxine as she continues her quest to stardom. It isn’t certain exactly what this film will be about but when talking to horror publication Bloody Disgusting, this is what Ti West had to say: “What I can tell you is that we’re going to catch up with Maxine. And we’re going to find out what she’s up to. The way that X is a movie that is informed by and affected by independent exploitation auteur Americana and 1970s cinema, and Pearl is perhaps affected by the Golden Age of Hollywood and the glitz and glamor of cinema, will be more about within the industry itself and the has been fasttracked in its development but may still be a good while off before we get it. Thankfully you can now on Amazon Prime will hopefully be in cinemas very soon so we will have a healthy dose of Goth and West to keep us is included with Amazon Prime Video.
Thisyear we have had many great movie releases since new films are being put out after the Covid-19 pandemic. Lots of movies were postponed and cancelled but now we are reaping the rewards of some new and exciting titles
Here are the most anticipated films (that you should watch) coming out in the next two months:
This film, adapted from Bethan Roberts’ novel, follows the story of Marion Taylor (Emma Corrin) who falls in love with policeman Tom Burgess (Harry Styles) who has a tumultuous affair with Patrick Hazelwood (David Dawson). Set in the 1950’s Brighton, when homosexuality was illegal, Tom and Patrick commit to a passionate affair in spite of Tom’s marriage and the dangers of being caught. This film is highly anticipated for Emma Corrin’s starring role following her portrayal of Lady Diana in Netflix’s show The Crown, and Harry Styles returning to the big screen after the release of Don’t Worry Darling last month. Fans of the book should be excited for the long-awaited adaptation.
My Policeman is set to release in selected cinemas 21st October and 4th November on Amazon Prime.
11th November- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Actress Letitia Wright, who plays Shuri, in a recent interview with Jimmy Fallon describes the film as “a beautiful contribution to Chadwick’s legacy”. Black Panther 2 follows the aftermath of King T’Challa’s death and the new threats that face the Wakandans. For the final instalment of MCU’s phase 4 timeline, we are expecting the returning faces of Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger and also Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross. Following Chadwick Boseman’s death his character has not been recast but he has been honoured in the movie. The trailer for the film reached 172 million views in the first 24 hours of it’s release and for the Marvel fans it is set to not disappoint.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be released in cinemas on the 11th November.
Set 10 years after the first movie Enchanted Amy Adams returns as Giselle alongside Patrick Dempsey as Robert in Disney’s magical longawaited sequel. The film begins with the characters moving out of New York to Monroeville where trouble starts to stir when local queen bee Malvina Monroe (Maya Rudolph) comes to visit them. The plot thickens when Giselle uses magic to transform her new town into a living fairy-tale and fights in a race against time to reverse the spell. Disney has brought back the iconic characters of Prince Edward and Nancy Tremaine and we will hopefully see the characters reunite onscreen after 15 years. Once again, the movie is set to be part
animation and is to have more songs than the first film. Disenchanted will be released on Disney+ on 24th November.
Avatar: The Way of Water Avatar sequels to be released. Taking place over 10 years later, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and their young family a new ancient threat from which they escape to the land of the Metkayina Clan and explore the Pandoran ocean. The action-packed teaser trailer shows adventures offshore in the Pandora seas and Jake and the Na’vi fighting against the humans. Zoe Saldana said in an interview “It’s power, it’s compelling”, she went on to say after watching the film “I was speechless… moved to tears” which hints that we should expect a tear-jerking story. After a 12-year hiatus, the Avatar has a returning cast of Sigourney Weaver as Kiri and Stephen Lang as Colonel Quaritch
Detective Benoit Blanc is back again with another mystery to solve but this time in Greece. Daniel Craig reprises his role as the detective in a new murdermystery that also stars huge names such as Ethan Hawke, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Janelle Monae, and Dave Bautista to name a few. The film begins when billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) goes on a getaway trip with his friends to his private island, but when someone shows up dead, havoc breaks loose. The 3-time nominated golden globe movie prior has set high standards for Glass Onion but with the new cast we have no doubt it will be just as thrilling and adventurous. Glass Onion will be released on Netflix on the 23rd December.
Queer fans rejoice as everyone's favourite bespectacled heroine finally comes out.
George Bell James Gunn wanted Velma to explicitly be part of the LGBTQ+ community... his original scripts kept getting watered downbut we will see new faces such as Kate Winslet and Vin Diesel. The second film of the franchise will be released on the 16th December in cinemas. Grace Boyle Image credit:
had a such warm, amazing energy that I was just so excited to work with him. So, it was mainly that, to be honest.
ST: There’s a lot of physicality in Wilde’s plays as a whole that bring out the comedic aspect of the script. Were there any challenges doing this on stage within your role as Cecily?
PC: Do you know what, being in a corset makes everything a lot harder! You can feel your ribs in your arsehole! But we had good movement
directors. We had Tino (Tinovimbanashe Sibanda) and Tonye (Tonye Scott-Obene) and they were just phenomenal, allowing us to explore being relaxed in that and finding the relaxed nature of Victorians at the time. It wasn’t difficult because we were guided in such a strong way, but the costume definitely had an impact on how we all moved.
ST: What can our readers expect from this new adaption of The Importance of Being Earnest?
Westley-Sanderson’s new staging of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest takes on an innovative perspective of queer presentation and satirical farce. Presenting with an all-black cast, Lady Bracknell in drag and a queer relationship between Miss Prism and a female Dr. Chasuble, Westley-Sanderson has not failed to recapture Wilde literature. The play remains in its era of high Victorian class giving these modernistic perspectives a great foundation to bounce from. This production really embodied what Wilde couldn’t do in his time: queer, satirical comedy and is, I have to say, my favourite adaption of this play I have seen.
I sat down with actor, Phoebe Campbell, playing Cecily Cardew, to talk about their experience working on this adaption and bringing Westley-Sanderson’s visions alight on stage.
ST: You’re currently playing Cecily Cardew in this version of The Importance of Being Earnest, what would you say attracted you to this role?
PC: In my audition, it was actually meeting Denzel. It’s a great part as it is, and I’ve seen the play before, but Denzel
The predecessor to the 2020 Netflix miniseries Self Made, On Her Own Ground tells the against-all-odds success story of Madam CJ Walker, America’s first female millionaire. Born on a plantation in Louisiana, Walker made her fortune in haircare, manufacturing and distributing a line of cosmetics designed for Black women’s hair. As her product swept the nation, Walker turned her attention to the civil rights movement, travelling the US to speak at conventions and donating massive amounts of her personal fortune to African American betterment funds. Written by Mme. Walker’s great-great-granddaughter A’Lelia Bundles, On Her Own Ground tells the unabridged history of one of America’s most influential Black women. It was named on the NY Times Notable Book list upon release in 2001 and was named 2001’s best book on Black Women’s history by the Association of Black Women Historians.
A staple of first year English coursework, Sam Selvon’s The Lonely Londoners tells a firsthand account of immigrant experience during the Windrush generation. Told through the point of view of Trinidadian immigrant Moses Aloetta, Selvon shares anecdotes of his and his
fellow immigrants’ experiences searching for work, love, and home in an alien city. Written in vernacular English, The Lonely Londoners makes important steps towards decolonizing British literature by focusing largely on the daily struggles of immigrant life and the oppression faced daily by Caribbean immigrants.
Selvon’s work is just as poignant today as when it was published and was recently included on the Big Jubilee Read list created to celebrate British literature on Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Color Purple is among the most critically acclaimed African American novels of the twentieth century.
The book follows the story of Celie, an underprivileged girl living in the Southern United States tasked with rescuing herself and her sister, Nettie, from a series of abusive relationships, finding solace along the way in religion and music. The Color Purple has been adapted into a film starring Whoopi Goldberg, which was nominated for eleven academy awards, as well as a Broadway musical. A definitive part of the African American literary canon, The Color Purple is an essential addition to your Black History Month reading list.
Honorable Mentions:
-Stamped by Ibram Kendy
-Becoming by Michelle Obama
-Black and Blue by Paul Cannoville
Image credit: Goodreads
PC: Oh, a good giggle. I mean it’s so camp, it couldn’t get camper. It’s just a load of silly people being silly on stage and if you can get on board with that there’s so much fun to be had. Because we have so much audience interaction as well, it really feels like we can do it with the audience, that’s why our performance changes so much every time we perform it because it’s feeding off what we get. Yeah, just such over the top characters that you hopefully haven’t seen before in doing black historical characters in this way.
ST: The Importance of Being Earnest is your first professional theatre debut. What would you say is your next dream role for the stage?
PC: The thing is I’m just waiting for some books to become plays. I can’t sing for shit, but I would love to be in the Lion King, like I really can’t sing. That production is stunning so maybe the Lion King. But I’d love to be at the Globe, doing Shakespeare. The writing of this (play) has been so thorough so it feels like it’s been great rehearsal for later doing Shakespeare.
Red as a restless lover. A devoted one, who has remembered the placement of every one of your freckles, moles, stretch marks. Your body as a map in their head. Camomile tea-stained, crinkled like your favourite crisps.
Yellow as the vibrant ambiance of a friend deciding to put their sanity first. Flowers on a first date. Smells of the big city. The fizz of mango sorbet on your tongue.
Orange as a curious sibling, flicking through your old records in a cardboard box. Dust in the air. Tears for fears. Kate Bush. “Remember when?” You do.
White as a wide, full moon over the ocean in the early hours of the morning. Fresh sheets and folklore. New beginnings on your own terms.
Thesnow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation” is one of those rare first lines that simply stay with you, that haunt you. And The Secret History certainly is a read that stays with you, as fans all over the world would admit - what Harry Potter was to younger readers, hidden under their covers with a flashlight, Donna Tartt’s book was to the older ones, fantasising about the continuation of their academic journey, mythologised, as much as obfuscated.
Modern classic is a title found again and again in the book’s reviews. Published thirty years ago, it found its way to the hearts and shelves of countless readers. After having been a huge success upon its release, it resurfaced in 2012, with the height of Tumblr’s popularity, in 2017, through Instagram, and then with the pandemic. Since its meteoric rise to fame, many similar novels came into the spotlight, resulting in Tartt pioneering a whole new genre and an aesthetic movement - dark academia.
If you are anything like me, however, you can’t help but wonder: okay, but why would I care? Why would I read something that gives away the twist right at the first glance? See, that’s the thing - like all the great works of art, there’s so much more to The Secret History than there seems to be at the first glance.
Donna Tartt is, arguably, exceptional in at least
one thing: her ability to weave the reader into her words. She creates the portrait of Richard Papen - an everyman, a blank canvas for you to fill in with yourself - and does it so expertly that it is barely noticeable, let alone objectionable. We are made to want what she wants us to, almost as at the fancy of her as our mentor, as the main characters are at the fancy of theirs. Suddenly, we find ourselves vying for the approval of a fictional teacher, dreaming of leaving suffocating California, and restless to release ourselves from a witness-shaped burden. This, in turn, is vital because, at its very core, The Secret History is a story about longing, about wanting things you simply cannot have. We allow ourselves the slightest exhale of relief when Bunny is killed. The tension is lifted, if only for mere moments. And just then the realisation strikes - we wanted him to die, didn’t we? The very thought should terrify us, however, at the same time, we can’t help but admire the author’s genius.
This, I think, is the phenomenon of the book: forcing us to think about the greatest of fears - the fear of getting what we want. In the words of Tartt herself: “Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it.”
credit: @THICCtorianChad
A look into Denzel Westley-Sanderson’s adaption of the Wilde classic with actor, Phoebe CampbellImage Credit: Mark Senior Michal Janica
The Secret History is a story about longing, about wanting things you simply cannot have
A selection of books by POC writers to read during this month
1. 2006 Nickelback song. (8)
5. Video calling software. (4)
7. Largest Mediterranean island. (6)
8. Republic of Ireland’s capital city. (6)
10. Goblin-like monster. (3)
11. To assist in wrongdoing. (4)
13. Political party led by Keir Starmer. (6)
14. Chemical element with the symbol Pb. (4)
17. First-year undergraduate. (7)
19. Pirate drink, rum and water. (4)
20. German for ‘I’. (3)
22. The Little Mermaid song, ____ the Sea. (5)
23. Soviet Russia’s secret police and security agency. (1,1,1)
24. See-through. (5)
25. Currency of most EU member countries. (4)
26. A curse. (3)
1. George ___, the Mercedes driver. (7)
2. 2017 Pixar film. (4)
3. ___ Swift, Shake It Off singer. (6)
4. Extreme. (7)
5. Monochrome-striped animal. (5)
6. Half bull, half man. (8)
9. Egyptian sky god. (5)
12. The Flintstones’ hometown. (7)
15. A studious intellectual. (7)
16. Desert consisting of jelly, custard and cream. (6)
17. Woodwind instrument family. (5)
18. Someone older than you. (5)
21. ____ 360, 1, Series X. (4)
October7, 2021. A day many consider to be one of the greatest in Newcastle Unit ed’s 130 year history. We are now one year on from Mike Ashley’s sale of Newcastle United to PIF, and what an incredible year it has been.
The Magpie team we know today is unrecognisable from that of last season. After finding themselves winless in the league after eight matches in 2021, the club has transcended its relegation fod der status to become a serious midfield contender and European hopeful ready to take on giants.
The club’s transformation is owed largely to its new owners’ heavy invest ment in the squad which has seen £239 million worth of new talent arrive on
Tyneside, including fan favorites Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak, as well as England internationals Kieran Trip pier and Nick Pope. The board have also looked to the future, recently securing the arrival of 18-year-old Australian hotshot Garang Kuol.
New talent was a rare treat under Mike Ashley’s regime, a theme which Amanda Stavely surely picked up on as she has quickly bought her way into the hearts of the Geordie faithful.
These new signings would of course mean little without the addition of new head coach Eddie Howe. There’s no nice way to say it, Bruce-ball rarely made for pretty viewing, but Howe’s quick build-up and flowing attacking play is enough to make any football fan drool.
As well as making the most of his new signings, Howe has also breathed new life into Newcastle’s struggling stars of Allan Saint-Maximin and Jo elinton. Largely wasted under Bruce, whose defensive emphasis rarely al lowed these attacking gems to shine, they have come into their own under Eddie Howe. Saint-Maximin had fully reestablished himself as one of the most feared dribblers in the and is back to his awe-inspiring best.
October 2021 found that while 95.9% of fans expected the team to be relegated, 94.4% felt that the board would not take the necessary steps to keep the team
Newcastle’s new leadership have made public relations a priority, regularly ap pearing at matches and working hard to please the fans however they can. The results of this are clear, as 2022 has seen St. James' Park record its high est ever average attendance.
This time last year, few Newcas tle fans could have imagined just how quickly the PIF revolution would rock the football world.
Newcastle United in 2022 is a club revitalised, once again worthy of its fanbase’s unwavering support. The years of hurt are over. Newcastle United are back where they belong.
Credit: Twitter @Brunoog97
1st October fix ture against Persebaya Surabaya ended in catas trophe as the post-match events led to the deaths of at least 131 citizens, including 35 children. Members of the home team ultras ‘Aremania’ clashed with police following a pitch invasion after the team’s loss to their bitter rivals in the Java Super East Derby.
The worst stadium disaster in Asia’s history and the second deadli est worldwide appears, like most sta dium disasters, to come across as an eerily avoidable catastrophe paired with an organisational shamble. The tragic events began as a handful of home fans invaded the pitch at the end of the game to take photos and vent frustration with players from their defeated team, not an unusual occurrence in Indonesian football.
The controversial use of tear gas by the local police on the home fans led to the urgent exit of the support ers who were merely trying to flee to safety through a small number of gates, many of which remained locked. The reports from within the stadium indicate the incorrect status of the gates played a highly signifi cant role in the disaster as ‘all
The new owners investment has seen £239 million worth of new talent at NFC
95.9% of fans expected the team to be relegated
TheTottenham striker scored in the 19th minute by nutmegging the opposition’s goalkeeper and headed over to the corner flag to celebrate his goal, where Tunisian supporters met him with a barrage of missiles, including a banana, a gesture with obvious racist connotations.
Richarlison seemingly ignored this item as it fell at his feet before he returned to his position, although Manchester United midfielder Fred kicked the banana away and stared into the Tunisian stand.
Richarlison responded to the incident in an interview with Brazilian TV network BandSports saying “I don’t know what I could have done in the heat of the moment” if he had seen it and that he hopes the fan will be identified and punished. He went on to mention the recent incident with teammate Vinicius Jr., who faced hordes of fans chanting “Vinicius is a monkey” while playing
for Real Madrid in a recent derby match against Atletico Madrid.
These two incidents stand as small parts of a much larger problem, as the world of football retains its reputation as a community of bigotry and prejudice.
Countless infamous examples can be listed, from the monkey noises directed at Raheem Sterling in Bulgaria to the abuse that Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford received after missing their penalties in the 2020 Euros Final.
a member of a Chelsea hooligan group being caught in bed with a male prostitute in the 1980s.
Richarlison took to Twitter to discuss the event, stating that “as long as they say ‘blah blah blah’ and don’t punish,” things will never change. This rings all too familiar for long-term fans, as too often have offenders got off lightly with these sorts of things, receiving shortterm bans or measly fines.
American Football is a univer sity team welcoming new mem bers, irregardless of experience. We're a close knit and inclusive team, focussing on promoting a sport that's vastly growing in the UK. We're made up mostly of people who have never played before, and consist of students from all sorts of dif ferent courses - from Business to Philosophy to Medicine. Last year, we had an undefeated regular season which resulted in a promotion to the premiership - the top division of BUCS. We also got to the national final and attended Big BUCS Wednesday, a real highlight of the year!
We train twice a week, with matches held mostly on Sunday afternoons. We have many opportunities to play away, and each game is followed by a social, as well as socials on Wednesdays. To get a taste of what American Football is about, come along to our fundraiser - more details on the Instagram @nu_raiders. For any questions or queries, email: s.graham8@newcastle.ac.uk
The discrimination isn’t limited to racism either, as homophobia also runs rife across the footballing world. The “Chelsea rent boys” chant often UK grounds seems to most as merely
Birmingham striker Troy Deeney, an ex-teammate of Richarlison's at Watford, went on to state in 2019 that a onestrike policy should be implemented for these sorts of incidents. Gestures like taking the knee can help to raise awareness, but FIFA need to put their foot down harder and tighten up their rules. Richarlison clearly shares this same sentiment, ending his tweet with “it will continue like this, happening every day and everywhere. No time bro! #RacismoNão”.
accusations have begun circulating that specific teams in last year’s world championship have breached the FIA’s set cost cap of $145 million.
The FIA is nearing the completion of its audit for 2021's team finances, and speculation has arisen over the last week that Red Bull and Aston
Ferrari and Mercedes in particular are not happy with the current state of affairs, with Ferrari urging the governing body to be especially strict, firm and open with how the matter is dealt with. A minor breach is defined by regulations as less than 5% of the budget cap, though even a “minor breach” could reportedly result in half a second per lap in performance. Mercedes are especially concerned about the results of this audit as they have had to make staff such as engineers
Nextyear you can expect a recordbreaking 24 races with the US hosting three in Austin, Miami and Las Vegas. The season kicks off in Sakhir, Bahrain on March 5, following pre-season testing between 23-25 February and concludes in Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi on November 26. Ferrari made the perfect start
Formula 1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali, said “We are excited to announce the 2023 calendar with 24 races around the world. Formula 1 has unprecedented demand to host races and it is important we get the balance right for the entire sport.” [formula1.com]
The 2023 season onwards is also expected to run six Sprint events, double the number of this current season, following discussions with the governing body FIA.
An F1 Sprint is like a mini Grand Prix with high action and intensity where the drivers are all competing for the first starting spot. This type of race is usually a 100km dash, about one third a normal Grand Prix distance, and there are no mandatory pit stops, meaning drivers can push their cars to its maximum limit in order to try and gain crucial points in both the driver’s and constructors’
circulating of F1 making room for South Africa, as contracts for other events will end after next season. Races in places like Belgian may end as they only secured a single-year contract
Exciting times are ahead but the addition of races might prove to be
The world of football retains its reputation as a community of bigotry
"As long as they say [...] don't punish, things will never change"Image credit: Twitter @FabrizioRomano Sophie McMillan - NUTV Station Manager Lewis Thompson
with toned down logos, and the iconic chevrons that match the colour of the kit.
The purpose of this design is to pay tribute to the thousands of migrant workers who have been killed or injured building the tournament’s
commemorating the worker’s loss, and to show solidarity towards human rights.
Withthe Qatar World Cup 2022 fast approaching, it is now the time of the year for competing nations to release their brand-new uniforms ahead of the tournament.
However, Hummel’s design for Denmark’s kits must be considered one of the most controversial releases of all. Kit provider Hummel did not want to display their logo on the Danish kit and be visible during this tournament, as they disapprove Qatar’s treatment towards their migrant workers for their newly constructed stadiums.
The set of three kits comes with an all-red home kit, an all-white away kit, and an all-black third kit complete
The officials from Qatar have responded to this act, as they stated they will be reviewing all the individual cases for those workers. However, this did not stop Hummel and the Danish FA from sending out their message protesting against what they have done.
The all-red home kit was thought by many fans to have been inspired by the Euro 1992 home kit. However, Hummel later stated that it must not be confused with the real idea.
On the collar of the home kit are the words “For Denmark.” On the inside of the shirt, it says “Part of something bigger” in Danish.
Similar to Denmark’s notion, Harry Kane will be wearing rainbow armbands in support of the LGBTQ+ community, as it's also
promotion in 2015.
Next steps for the club are pretty limited. While there is still time to find a buyer and the club have stated that it is “currently speaking with interested
denied.
The club also stands to lose its ‘P share,’ a share of stock in the league held by tenured clubs which assures an annual income of around £3 million. The Times report that the league could purchase this stake for almost £10 million, which would be put towards paying off the Warrior’s
The liquidation will see Worcester’s 55-man squad become free agents.
Four members of
94-104
W1 V Loughborough (A) 59-69
Dended up like the Titanic, sadly. The ship has sunk, the captains are nowhere to be seen.”
from Worcester Warriors’ head coach Steve Diamond confirmed many fans’ worst nightmares. The 2022 Premiership Cup champions have been partially liquidated by the High Court, and all players contracts have been terminated.
found itself in legal hot water related to an unpaid tax bill in the region of £15 million, according to a report in The Times.
competed in the Gallagher Premiership for several years over three stints, most recently earning
Morozov, Fergus Lee-Warner, and Ollie Lawrence have already found new homes, joining Bath Rugby on Worcester Warriors is not alone in their plight, as the Wasps RFC are reportedly days away from entering administration should they fail to find investors.
RUGBY UNION
M1 V Loughborough (A) 34-7
M2 V Manchester (A) 17-12
W1 V Derby (A) 3-1
A... is for Archery
Newcastle Uni Archery Club is a friendly, diverse sports club that caters for every ability. Whether you’ve been inspired to unleash your inner Katniss, or want to try something that’s both social and competitive, archery is definitely something for you.
The range is open four times a week with no obligation to attend every session, so you could just come along whenever you’re free! We’re not strict and you set your own rules - if you wanna be competitive, go for it! If you’re there for a chat, we’d love to speak to you too.
Experienced archers with their own kit are welcome to join us but we also provide kit for those that need it.
Some example competitions if you’d like to compete are the North of England University League and BUCS, as well as monthly postal competitions that are more relaxed.
Our members are very sociable and enjoy going to the pub or getting together for a coffee!
Follow our Instagram for up dates: @newcastlearchery
another controversial conversation in Qatar.bill in the
Rachel Carron - Film sub-editor
suffocating 19-5 for Northumbria.
The excitement this caused amongst a predominantly ‘posh’ and less so ‘poly’ crowd made it understandably hard for Northumbria players to maintain any momentum in their play.
behind schedule at Cochrane Park we squeezed the car into the back of the car park and as we drew closer to the pitch a border of students became visible.
The gates to the sideline had been closed off long ago due to the sheer number of students clinging on to their 2-pinters and chanting (mostly) anti-Northumbria sentiments.
At first glance, Northumbria, clad in all-black, looked a fierce opponent with a strong defensive line and very pacey backs threatening to breakthrough gaps in the Newcastle University side.
Yet, as the game continued it became clear that Northumbria were not to be a completely dominant side with an early try conceded. (Fun Fact: “try” supposedly comes from “try a goal”, meaning that grounding the ball only gave the attacking team the opportunity to score.) Newcastle quickly proved themselves to be a more well organised and aggressive team with some seriously strong hits on their opponents throughout.
The enthusiasm of the Newcastle side was muted ever so slightly but not for long as there was a comeback try off a lineout by ‘poly’ and a missed conversion.
The boys in blue, red and white
As the players came back onto the pitch the inexplicable drum giving rhythm to the shouts of Newcastle fans seemed to be emanating from somewhere within the crowd even louder than before.
Newcastle continued only to widen the gap in score as they scored conversions from two penalties within the space of ten minutes, with Northumbria seemingly doing all they could to resist the growing distance in score.
Their tireless efforts paid off in the form of a try scored in the corner, but with another missed conversion and another conversion scored by Newcastle, off a penalty, a mere five minutes later it seemed there was little Northumbria could do to close the gap.
The final 15 minutes were by no means less of a battle than the rest of the match but with a final try and conversion scored by a triumphant Newcastle side the lack of enthusiasm for ‘Poly’ was detectable both on and off pitch.
At full time a score of 36 – 10 left Northumbria behind but it felt like an appropriate reflection of the overall performance. Perhaps, not what Poly fans were hoping for but it was a good night at Cochrane Park, nonetheless.
StephWentworth is currently a freelance motorsport presenter, with features on F1 TrackTV, BTCC etc. She graduated last year studying Spanish, Portuguese and Latin America studies, and we chatted about her sports media journey. How was your university experience?
My first semester of first year was amazing, I still think it was one of the best times of my life. Second year started well, then COVID happened. I couldn’t go on my year abroad which was gutting, but that made me start my YouTube channel because I had to do something interesting with my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today had that all not happened and I’m grateful even though it wasn’t what I wanted. Do you have advice for people who want to start presenting?
People ask ‘how do I end up like you’, and I’d say just put it all together and put it on the internet. People can only find you if you’re there to be found. Compile your best bits and whack it online. You’ll be fine.
What should students know about going from uni to work?
I thought I’d be prepared because I was working during my final year, but no. This was the first time in sixteen years that I wasn’t studying and I don’t have a consistent 9-5 with freelance. It’s jarring to go from studying to the world of work out there on your own. Education has been my safe space since I was four and I don’t know how I’m coping yet, it’s so different. You have to hold yourself accountable and find a balance with work and looking after yourself.
What’s it like freelancing?
Freelancing is difficult. It’s slow in the beginning, you have to be persistent because it’s easy to be disheartened. There will be periods of busyness and quiet, you have to deal with the fact that sometimes there won’t be anything for you. After I left uni in June, I was doing BTCC, V10 R-League, MXGP, in the space of three weeks. Then in September, I didn’t do anything. Find something to keep you busy when you don’t have a job and don’t lose hope. As long as you are there and creating amazing content to your best ability, there will be jobs waiting for you in a month, in a year. It’s just riding out the quiet periods and knowing that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
Newcastle vs. Northumbria; Posh vs. Poly - The Big Game is on!
Newcastle continued only to widen the gap in scoreImage credit: Instagram