The Courier: 1435

Siddall - Head of Sport

Jessican McKeown - Film sub-editor

Over the last few months, students have been struggling to find accommodation; from undergraduates looking for a studio flat to international postgraduates looking for a house to live in with their family. Newcastle has become a city with a housing crisis.

Through conducting an investigation into the housing crisis, The Courier found that students often found the same struggles and were looking for many similar properties. This could be the start of the end as if everyone is looking for a studio, for example, then there will definitely not be enough studios for everyone in Newcastle. Saying this, those who answered our survey said that they were looking for a house/flat with a private landlord all in the Jesmond area, with a couple saying they would extend their searches to Sandyford.

The reasoning behind the Jesmond superiority is the fact it is a studentpopulated area and due to the convenience of shops, like Tesco, and there being a metro at either end of Osborne Road. Those who mentioned Sandyford spoke of how it is still a “student-y area”, even though there are less bars and pubs around.

Yet, what they were looking at the most were the prices. Sandyford appears cheaper than Jesmond for similar properties. Back in 2018, Prem-Lets advertised Sandyford as £65 to £75 cheaper per person, per week to help those “with a tighter budget”.

86% of survey takers have already started looking at properties with 50% already having gone to house viewings. Two participants have already gone to over five house viewings in a bid to claim a cheap but nice property, where they can spend their next academic year.

Unlike the halls that students tend to live in during first year, bills are an important factor when looking for a private house or flat. The prices listed

Our survey asked if inclusive bills packages were something that students are considering whilst they search. 57% of respondents said yes to inclusive bills, with 29% saying maybe but are considering sorting bills independently as they may find a cheaper option. The appeal of inclusive bills is the ease of them being sorted for students rather than sorting separately. The payment process is often easier as students pay their own portion separately rather than transfer the money to one person’s bank account to pay as a lump sum.

However, students are not getting a good deal through inclusive bills packages as the cap on bills is something students are not aware about. With the bills packages from the estate agents, students are paying for convenience.

Students who have no experience with estate agents do not know which are considered unreliable. The respondents of our survey are currently looking with Walton Robinson, Bricks & Mortar and Student Cribs. They are also using Uni Homes which acts a central database of all the houses and flats available rather than students looking on each estate agents’ website.

When asked which estate agents they are avoiding, one respondent claimed Bricks & Mortar showed “terrible service” in which the respondent was shown around a house with people “sleeping in the bedrooms”. Another respondent refuses to look with Walton Robinson and Pat Robson describing them as “absolute cowboys and scammers [who] refused to give a deposit back for the last tenancy” and had previous issues with maintenance issues not being dealt with promptly.

The final section of the survey conducted an investigation into people’s worries and concerns of house hunting. Within this, it was surprising to see that

only 29% have gone to NUSU’s housing advisor in the Student Advice Centre. With the crisis due to get worse before it improves, many students face the daunting prospect of having to sign for a rental property without being sure they will remain in Newcastle. One student stated that they are not wanting to sign onto a house they will not need but feel the pressure to sign in case they don’t get onto a placement year. Most students do not find out whether they have been accepted onto their placement year until the summer, leaving them with the fear that the majority of Newcastle properties, if not all, will be rented, leaving them without a house for the next academic year.

They continued: “Our accommodation service, NUSU Student Advice Centre and University Customer Service team endeavour to ensure students have a place to stay when they arrive in Newcastle.

We would advise students, particularly from overseas, not to travel unless they have secured suitable accommodation as the city has limited availability. It is important to note, Accommodation Services would urge students to accept an offer of accommodation from the University, in preference to declining an offer and then looking for an alternative, as students who did this struggled to find suitable accommodation. The Student Advice Centre in the Student Union can assist students and will refer those with immediate need, if

appropriate, for emergency temporary accommodation.”

There are plans to refurbish Castle Leazes, housing over 900 students in the next academic year. There is the fear of a knock-on effect that this refurbishment could have on the wider housing market for students in stage two and above.

Newcastle University “recognises the importance of an accommodation guarantee for all first-year students” so they are “working in partnership with the City and Northumbria University to address the current and future housing market for students in Newcastle. There are multiple factors contributing to the availability of accommodation for students in years two and above and these are being considered in full as part of [their] decision-making process.”

Meanwhile, another student is worried about the financial side of the housing crisis. They spoke of how English landlords are not doing enough to support their tenants, “it is as though they don’t care about us because we are students”. This student suggested that landlords follow in the footsteps of Scotland - Scotland has an ongoing rent freeze. This means that tenants do not have to pay their rent until they are able to afford it, they will not be chased up when they are struggling.

Project Student Housing, has been following the crisis since it started and has released the following statement: “[W]e foresaw this being an issue 18 months ago and set about thinking how we could help solve the issue. For us, it was thinking of a way to benefit both landlords and students, and work in cohesion.”

Despite the crisis, Newcastle University are “delighted to confirm that all students have been accommodated.”

A Newcastle University spokes person stated: “We work hard to support students and, along with Newcastle City Council, we are monitoring the housing situation closely.”

on estate agents’ websites are solely for rent but an inclusive bills package is often offered by estate agents.

Katie

are not getting a good deal through inclusive bills packages

Image: Katie Siddall

A note from the Editor

Hello, thank you for picking up this issue of The Courier! It’s wonderful to welcome you back after a couple of weeks off. As always, it’s a pleasure to see writers and editors come together to make this paper possible. I’d therefore like to extend another thank you to everyone involved in the production of The Courier!

During the break, I had a well-needed break; took some annual leave, and went on a trip to London to see Hamilton on the West End (an experience I will never,

ever forget - so apologies to everyone in my life who will hear about how I cried all the way through the musical for AT LEAST the next five years!).

I was also fortunate enough to take a work-related trip to London and attend a couple of award ceremonies. It was great to attend the Student Radio Awards alongside James and Castor, as well as NSR and Courier Alumni Kayleigh.

Whilst we didn’t bring any awards home, the three of these people are fantastic and it was lovely to spend quality time with them! It was equally as lovely to see familiar faces

Inside 28th November 2022

Current Affairs | News

Nightline pandemic figures are worst seen in 52 years Nightline's recent report has revealed sharp upwards trends in the use of the service| Page 5

Current Affairs | Campus Comment

How the uni's access scheme is failing me A lack of accessibility funding initiatives paired with high tuition fees and the cost of living crisis is becoming unbearable for some | Page 6

Life & Style | Relationships

The 'DILF' and 'MILF' dilemma

Exploring what these acronyms mean in the sphere of gender equality and unsolicited sexualisation | Page 13

Life & Style | Fashion & Beauty

The top three skin-vestments

A top-tier skin routine is all the rage, and for good reason, so what products and techniques should we really rely on? | Page 17

Culture | TV

Blockbuster turned out to be a bust Despite a star-studded cast and decorated directors, the show was a sell-out from start to finish, and not in a good way... | Page 23

Culture | Arts

92 Museum Directors go against climate protesters

From soup-soaked paintings to protesting chants, authorities have had enough | Page 27

from the SRA and radio industry and watch our friends over at Sunderland take home the ‘Best Station of the Year’ award! During this trip, I was also lucky enough to attend the Times High Education Awards with the University. It’s always great to see what other Universities across the country are doing to support students, and we definitely came away feeling inspired.

This break also allowed for some much-needed reflection. Making a weekly paper means that you move on to the next before you’ve really had time to process and learn from the one

you’ve just produced. I used a lot of this time to take on board feedback from the last five issues. On that note, you may see some nice new (and rather vibrant) colours in the Life & Style section!

I’ve also become very aware that during my time as Student Media Officer I’ve made myself very emotionally vulnerable. Whilst I feel as though this has made me an easy target for harsh comments, I wouldn’t

change my approach at all. I’ve been open and honest with everyone involved in Student Media and will continue to do so until I leave this role!

As we approach the countdown to Christmas, with only a couple more issues left of 2022, I’m excited to see what the next year has in store for everyone at Newcastle!

Until next time,

-- Meg Howe

THE COURIER SECTIONS

Editor-in-Chief

Meg Howe (she/her) -- mediaofficer.union@newcastle.ac.uk

Current Affairs

Senior editor: Elsa Tarring (she/her) -- e.tarring1@ncl.ac.uk

News

Hannah Gul-Khan Alice Holmes Rhys James Amana Khan Ella Winskell

Campus Comment

Alexander James Ashna Mathur Sam Norman

Opinion

Ross Bennett Jonathan Lee Science Isabel Lamb Anthony Welsh

Sport

Senior editor:

Katie Siddall (she/her/they/them) --k.e.siddall1@ncl.ac.uk

Campus Sport Liason: Castor Chan (she/her) --k.n.c.chan1@ncl.ac.uk

Tom Barlow

Arthur Ferridge Paige Rutter

Life & Style

Senior editors: Gabbi de Boer (she/her) --g.de-boer2@ncl.ac.uk Scarlett Welch (she/her) --s.welch11@ncl.ac.uk

Relationships & Blind Date

Ruby Butler Georgia Purcell

Lifestyle

Jenica Davis Zahra Hanif Molly Jackson

Fashion & Beauty

Samantha Seidu Lizzie Yockney

Travel

Jude Parkinson Elžbieta Voverytė

Food & Drink

Daisy Harrison Abigail Roch

Deputy Editor

Sophie McNally (she/her) -- s.c.mcnally2@ncl.ac.uk

Culture

Senior editors: Carly Horne (she/her) --c.a.horne2@ncl.ac.uk Rachael McCreanor (she/her) -- r.mccreanor2@ncl.ac.uk

Music

Lucy Bower Rowan Christina Driver TV

Olivia Crowley Imogen Smillie Film

Rachel Carron Mitchell Hall Jessica McKeown Arts

Louise Cusine Sarah Tunstall

Puzzles

Social Media

Head of Social Media: Autumn Keil (she/her) -- a.keil2@ncl.ac.uk

From the Archives!

1 year ago today!

Our previous Gaming section wrote about the future of Pokémon and whether it was becoming too realistic and 'adult' for its target audience.

The author questioned how far the 1990s game should be pushed to match its modern competitors, in the wake of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl releases.

xoxo

Newcastle City Council cuts ties with sister city in China

Charlotte Lee

On 2 November, Newcastle City Council followed Wakefield and Newport councils and unanimously voted to cut ties with its Chinese sister city Taiyuan, which it had been twinned with since 1985.

This separation comes after the widely documented reports of horrific human rights violations towards Uyghur Muslims. It has been recorded that over one million Uyghur Muslims living in the region of Xinjiang have been detained in "re-education camps". Here they have been subjected to counts of rape, torture, forced sterilisation and assimilation of culture. The Chinese Communist government has categorically denied these human rights violations and has denied the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights full access to the Xinjiang region to assess the situation.

Local Hong Kong group “Newcastle stands with Hong Kong '', led by past and present students of the University,

brought the motion to the city council. They did this after they co-launched the Global Detwin with China Campaign on 1 July 2022 with 18 other Hong Kong activist groups. The campaign was co-launched across 163 cities, in seven countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania.

Additionally, the campaign aims to highlight not only the Chinese government's human rights violations but their manipulation of sister city agreements. In particular it aims to illuminate their threat to foreign states national security.

Sister city agreements have been a crucial part of China’s diplomacy. However, the Detwinning Campaign aims to evidence how Chinese propaganda is infiltrating and financially controlling higher education institutes in some sister cities by the use of Confucious institutes. These Confucius institutes are backed by the Chinese government and provide funding to universities. Although, they have been barred from discussing "sensitive" topics that might reflect badly on people’s perception of China and its government. And due to the

financial security, that these institutes provide universities, academic freedom becomes restricted as certain research topics are disallowed and unfunded. The conversation around academic freedom is crucial not only across all sister cities but Newcastle especially. This is because Newcastle University's own Dr Jo Finley was sanctioned by China last year following her research and activism on the Uyghur Muslims. These sanctions pose a serious threat not only to academic freedom of speech but to Dr Finley herself who is at risk of being extradited to China when travelling abroad.

As a result of the evidence provided by “Newcastle stands with Hong Kong'' and the Global Detwin Campaign; Newcastle City Council resolved to: "express condemnation of the Chinese government’s treatments of Uyghur Muslims and to give notification that Newcastle City Council will terminate their sister city agreement with Taiyuan." They're also going to write to Newcastle MPs to urge them to lobby the UK Government to take action in relation to the treatment of Uyghur Muslims.

Students Union Council: the one with the Cost of Living Crisis

Katie Siddall - Head of Sport

able to eat properly throughout their university experience for the last few weeks.

Before all this though, Mady spokein depth - about the cost of living crisis. She spoke of how there are 100 new jobs on campus, more microwaves being placed in buildings on campus and how she hopes that university catering will

start offering cheaper food options for students who are struggling.

Mady and, Education Officer, Mack had a meeting with Nick Brown where they spoke of writing a letter to the Chancellor and hopefully gaining a student financial support package. Overall, Mady said this was a successful - and very positive meeting - that will

help students in the future.

After Mady's update, things swiftly moved onto motions. There were four motions, one of which was an ordinary motion. This motion, proposed by LGBTQ+ Officer George Wood, spoke of how George wanted to "mandate the [Sabbs] to work with the University catering service to lower food prices on

campus" - which as we previously know they are already doing.

For this motion, George was in consultation with Mack to make it the best possible motion. It passed with 93.5%, meaning that at the next student council meeting the Sabbs have to bring details of what they can do and what they are doing to bring food prices lower on campus. Elizabeth Meade, and President Mady, both spoke for this motion with Mady adding that it's an excellent idea to have a written report for next council.

On Thursday 17 November, the second student council took place. This time there was a lot of information about... the cost of living crisis.

NUSU President, Mady, was the first person to stand up. Mady gave a roundup of everything going on in the days of our Sabbs. She gave us lots of information surrounding the UCU strikes which took place last week. She also spoke about how clubs and society grants have started being sent out and how Danika and Aleena's mingle event had a good turn out - hopefully there will be another soon.

Mady spoke about more serious issues that have been going on like the rape crisis drop-ins, which have been going really well and students have been gaining a lot of support from them. She also spoke about how the pantry has helped many struggling students with being

Other notices were by Disability Officer, Lauren, and George again, who came up to raise awareness for their respective opportunities on campus.

First, Lauren spoke about how it is disability month and how there will be an online panel to celebrate neurodiversity on 29 November.

They will also be on BBC radio Nottingham to talk about their role as Disability Officer and about content creation. They said to contact them for further information about either event.

Lastly, George spoke out on behalf of the First Aid Society, which you can join for £5. St. John's Ambulance are having a recruitment run over the next few months, so if you want to get involved then get in touch with the society (who can help you through this training). You can also go to sessions to learn basic first aid - this might be helpful in your life, so it is always good to know about.

Sub-editors: Hannah Gul-Khan, Alice Holmes, Rhys James, Amana Khan

The most recent Student Council meeting discussed crucial updates within the SU, as well as the tackling of the Cost of Living Crisis

Image credit: Instagram (@newcastlesu)

Image credit: Flickr

Climate crisis module made compulsory in Barcelona

Izabela Marie Kirschnerova

Following a sevenday End Fossil protest, the University of Barcelona have imposed a mandatory climate module

The world’s first mandatory module on the climate crisis will be taught from 2024 at the University of Barcelona. The establishment acceded to the demands of activists after a seven-day End Fossil protest.

All 14 000 undergraduates and postgraduates will have to take the course regarding the social and ecological aspects of the climate crisis. The university, which was founded in 1450 and is one of the biggest universities in Spain, will also provide a training programme on climate issues for its 6 000 academic staff.

All 14 000 undergraduates and postgraduates will have to take the course

The announcement about the new module was made after a week of sit-in occupation by students from an antifossil fuel organisation called End Fossil Barcelona.

“The trigger was the student occupation, but it shows a general

cultural change. 10 or 15 years ago the university would have sent in the police,” said Federico Demaria, an economics professor at the university and one of the 200 people who supported the activists.

Decision to increase Tyne tunnel toll pushed back

Poppy Bedford

The decision to raise the toll on the Tyne Tunnel has been delayed from Thursday the 3rd of November to a later date.

Due to a lack of councillors, a decision to raise the toll on the Tyne tunnel has been delayed; the motion would change the car driver's toll from £1.90 to £2.20 and the HGV toll would go up from £3.90 to £4.40.

present at the transport meeting to make the decision binding.

A spokesperson for Transport North East said: “The Tyne and Wear Sub Committee is a relatively small committee made up of five members, as such, it has a disproportionately high quorum of four… The new date of the meeting isn’t expected to affect the implementation of items on the agenda."

The proposals were rescheduled for 15 November after it became clear that the first meeting would not be binding and it was agreed that the toll would go up by the agreed amount but not until next spring.

Philip Smith, Chief Executive of Tyne Tunnel operator TT2, said the change was needed because of rising inflation levels and the fact that the electricity bill

is expected to rise to an "astonishing" £1 million.

Despite this, he suggested that the increase be pushed back from February to May in order to avoid putting struggling residents under further financial strain over the winter.

"We fully understand that everyone and every organisation is going through massive cost increases at the moment. The deferment is the best we can do as a committee to at least try and alleviate the pressure,” he explained.

Committee chairman Carl Johnson, deputy mayor of North Tyneside, also commented that decision-makers would not be upping the toll “if we were not contractually and legally bound to.”

The students suggested names of the academics and professionals who they thought should design the structure and the content of the module. The university agreed to appoint 60% of the nominees to the committee of experts who will meet to discuss the form of the course.

The module will be worth five credits and each credit will represent at least 25 hours of study. These hours will include 15 hours of independent study and 10 hours of in-person teaching. The module is to appear on students’ timetables from the beginning of the academic year of 2024.

Despite the implementation of this new climate crisis module, the university did not comply with the activists’ other demand that it should reject funding from the oil company Repsol and other businesses profiting from fossil fuels.

In an official statement, the University of Barcelona said they are, “fully committed to working towards the eradication of the causes of the climate emergency and to mitigating its consequences”.

Motorists who pay their Tyne Tunnel toll using a pre-paid account would still get a 10% discount under the new proposed toll levels, making the cost £1.98 for cars and £3.96 for HGVs.

A vote on the proposed increase on the toll was supposed to take place on Thursday 3 November that could see drivers charged an extra 30p per trip to use the crossing.

The verdict, however, had to be put on hold after it emerged that there would not be enough councillors

Hadrian’s wall preserved for the next generation

Ella Winskell - News sub-editor

Braving the elements, farm activity, becoming a UNESCO tourism hotspot. If keeping warring northern clans out wasn’t hard enough after a near 1900 years of security, Hadrien’s Wall was starting to show signs of damage and collapse. In recent years sections of the wall were added to Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register.

That was until a Newcastle led project launched in 2019 helped to save, rebuild, and protect parts of the historic structure. The Hadrian's Wall Community Archaeology Project, or WallCAP, recruited almost 400 volunteers.

They were taught specialist skills in digital surveying, terrestrial laser scanning and were informed about the practice of conservation and geological work. They were then employed in the

lofty project of restoring and protecting the 73 mile Roman structure.

At the National Trust owned Steel Rigg site, in collaboration with historic England volunteers, the wall was covered in turf and stones to discourage walkers and tourists from climbing over the wall with specialist stonemasons repairing the deeply damaged part of the wall.

Dr Rob Collins, WallCAP project manager and Newcastle archaeology lecturer, said it was “a genuine pleasure to see that the work of WallCAP and its

hundreds of volunteers has had such a positive impact for heritage. Hadrian’s Wall is so important to the economies and wellbeing of local communities in the North East and North West, and it is vital that we look after our heritage, not only for current communities but also for future generations.”

Eight sections of the wall were removed from the ‘Heritage at Risk’ register in its annual review this year as a result of the project and the community that supported it.

Hannah Gul-Khan, Alice Holmes, Rhys James, Amana Khan & Ella Winskell

The announcement was made after a week of sit-in occupation by university students

Not enough councillors were able to attend the vote

Image credit: Instagram (@tyne_tunnels)

A Newcastle-led project has ensured the preservation of Hadrian's wall for years to come.

Nightline pandemic figures are worst seen in 52 years

Hannah Gul-Khan - News sub-editor

mental health.

The figures were released as part of the NLAW (Nightline Awareness Week), which took place two weeks ago, to celebrate Nightline’s achievements and its vision for the future. The study found the organisation responded to almost 10 000 calls, where over 400

hours of out-of-hours support were given to students struggling with their wellbeing.

The mental health of many students took a hit during the pandemic with almost 11% of calls related to stress and anxiety.

Head of Engagement and

Communication, Simon Pickles, recently described the pandemic as having a “profound impact on student life” and leading to one of the charity’s most challenging years in its 52-year history.

The organisation expressed gratitude to its employees for their tireless work

over the tumultuous past few years as they look forward to improving their services for the future.

Matthew Axbey, Acting Chair of Trustees for the Nightline Association added: “We have ambitious plans for our future and hope this coming year will be truly transformational for our charity and the wider Nightline movement.”

Nightline has just released a report which reveals a sharp spike in its use of services since the pandemic, a period which placed immense strain on student and staff wellbeing.

The charity focuses on providing emotional support to students nationwide, currently reaching 1.5 million users. It aims to emotionally support and inform students in higher and further education, one of the few charities to offer this unique service. They also intend to create a safe and nonjudgmental environment for students to share any experiences they've had that have impacted their

Newcastle University launches post-graduate support group

Georgia Purcell - Relationships sub-editor

Postgraduate students' mental health is trying to be supported through new support group initiative

Newcastle University have launched a support group specifically for postgraduate students, led by a Mental Health Concern Peer support worker. Together, the support group will work to lower the social isolation of being a postgrad student. They will do this by allowing participants to share their lived experiences of loneliness and the parts of being a postgrad student that they find are making it more difficult to live their happiest and healthiest lives.

sharing and identifying key social and accessible "hubs/assets" within the city and helpful mindfulness "tips and tricks"'. The idea that the support group runs weekly with regular visitors will in its own way encourage friendships and lower feelings of loneliness and isolation. The group also encourages its regular visitors to orchestrate the sessions to their own wants and needsfrom 'arts and crafts' to 'hosting a guest speaker on key relevant topics'.

Endeavours like this are so important to encourage communication between people who may find it more difficult

having potentially left their undergraduate university to move to Newcastle. It is also a great way to combat the natural but isolating loneliness that comes with moving to a new city, or even just finding that the social group formed during undergrad splits apart after graduation.

The support group meets every Tuesday between 1-2pm, in the Martin Luther King Room on the first floor of the Students' Union.

For further information, email clinicallead@newcastle.ac.uk.

The official description gives the topics as 'post COVID 19 effects, being new to the city, mature & international student experiences,

The disparity between student wellbeing and their access to mental health support continues to concern many, but Nightline’s dedication to specialised student support is a step towards bridging this gap.

Baker Hughes workers vote for strike action

Ella Winskell - News sub-editor

desperate. They’re struggling to make ends meet and feed their families. Four per cent won’t touch the sides.”

Other members claimed that, in the face of inflation rates reaching record highs such as 12.5 in recent months, the offer was tantamount to a "massive, real terms pay cut".

More than 200 workers at Baker Hughes reject what company spokesperson calls “competitive rates,” for the industry and “above the current national UK median,” in a ballot to take industrial action against management at the Walker site which manufactures pipelines for the oil and gas industries.

Workers at Baker Hughes rejected the Texas based energy firm’s second, and final, offer of a 4.5% pay rise and a one-off lump sum payment in favour of striking.

GMB Union organiser Micheal Hunt said "workers at Baker Hughes are

Hunt also added that the multinational company “make[s] a lot of money and have orders for many years to come. It's time they invest some of the cash into the workforce to help them through the cost of living crisis.”

A Baker Hughes’ spokesperson called the workers decision “disappointing,” saying all the consecutive ballots have drawn out significantly the implementation of a new annual pay offer, and said the company intends to “work closely with our employees to reach a conclusion that best meets the needs of all parties and allows us to manage our costs in a market that continues to be volatile.”

The dates of the strike action are yet to be announced.

Hannah Gul-Khan, Alice Holmes, Rhys James, Amana

Nightline's dedication to students is a step towards bridging this gap

The use of nightline services, which aims to provide student and staff support, has had a sharp increase since the pandemic

The support group will work to lower the social isolation of being a postgrad student

Over 200 workers to strike at Walker energy firm in "disappointing" ballot

Image credit: Nightline.org.uk

How the uni's access

is

Anonymous

In January 2020 I applied to study at Newcastle University. For the past year, I had been completing an access course at my local college. With no maintenance loan on offer, I worked 30 hours per week at a call centre alongside attending college full time in order to get by. It’s worth noting I live independently from my parents in an area of Newcastle with high levels of financial, economic, and social deprivation.

Things did get slightly easier come September 2020; I luckily received my maintenance loan and the Opportunity Scholarship. I also continued working alongside my degree to be able to replace my broken laptop, afford books, join societies and to simply participate in university life.

I’m now in my final year and proud to say I’m predicted a first. I once held foolish hopes of continuing my studies here. The tuition fees for my dream MSc course are £13 500. Another I considered and quickly ruled out was priced at £15 300. Currently, the government will loan me £11 836 for my master’s degree; a deficit of £1664 not accounting for living costs I will incur throughout the year. My savings now consumed by the rising cost of living; I’m faced with a hurdle that seems too big to jump. The university seemingly offers a 20% alumni discount for those who are partially self-funding. Upon investigation, you are directed to a webpage detailing a 2% early payment discount, only applicable if paying the cost in full and up front.

I naïvely believed my student loan would, at minimum, cover the cost of tuition fees. I also hoped the university would fulfil its “commitment to providing equality of opportunity across the entire student lifecycle” as detailed in Newcastle University’s Access and

university. Seemingly, the student lifecycle at Newcastle University ends on completion of an undergraduate degree. The Courier in 2019, Lucy Backhurst, Director of Student Recruitment, Admissions and Progress was quoted as saying “recruiting and supporting the brightest and best students, regardless of background is a priority for us”. I recognise I am one of many students as I sit here trawling the internet for charitable grants to plug the funding deficit, I’m merely a statistic in an equality report.

Newcastle University needs to recognise researching inequality is not the same as experiencing it.

What the UCU strikes mean to

Sophie McNally - Deputy Editor

To me, the UCU strikes are just part of the state of the country currently. We have reached a point wherein the treatment of workers up and down the country is getting worse, and also progressing up the class ladder - only the 1%, if that, is safe anymore.

Standing in solidarity with these workers, and those striking elsewherepostmen, railways, binmen, doctors and nurses - I believe, is placing yourself on the right side of history.

The worst part of being working class is watching the people you love around you work all their lives, destroying their bodies for a CEO who wouldn't even spit on them, and then watching them die before they can even live.

Just because you may see the people around you smile as they retire, doesn't mean everyone will, at this point, you might not either - people deserve to live a comfortable life. We need to stand together against corruption and evil, we need to avoid selfishness and fighting within ourselves, as we are no better than each other.

I can't help but be heartbroken that people care more about a few assignments, a few days without a post or a cancelled train, than the people within these services who are suffering, starving, and dying.

I don’t doubt the university’s Widening Participation Scheme has provided opportunities to many undergraduate students; the PARTNERS scheme is a good start. But access to higher education doesn’t mean fulfilling a quota, it means access to all the experiences which come with attendance of a Russell Group University including the opportunity to progress to postgraduate study, grade permitting. If this university aims to provide an environment in which all students can thrive and reach their potential, regardless of their economic background, they need to start putting their money where their mouth is.

The strikes are tiresome at best and loathsome at worst, but it isn’t my livelihood or passion that’s being threatened.

Industrial action is another glaring example of student neglect in a neverending sequence of Covid teaching and packed picket lines that’s unfortunately marred the years I’ve spent at Newcastle University.

But, the fault should absolutely never lie with those striking. University strikes are as liberating as they are limiting. It's inspiring to see lecturers and staff take a stand for themselves and vocalise the ongoing injustices they are acting against, from pensions to gender and racial pay gaps. One of the most raw and true senses of university unity is undoubtably borne from teachers and students standing shoulder-toshoulder on the picket lines — it is truly electrifying.

But having endured year after year of the same impediments to my education, strikes can feel pointless and painful. I miss crucial contact time, feel totally lost in my readings and assignments and have to undergo strict turnarounds only to see that there's been a marking boycott.

The inconvenience caused truthfully can make many students harbour resentment towards Newcastle

me

University and its employees. The tuition we pay is in no way reflective of the quality of teaching we receive, irrespective of strikes, so when strikes do happen it's tough to see past the immediate obstacle we have to our education and the commodity we've forked out for.

However, targeting or vilifying the first person, group, or organisation visible to you that's associated with your grievances is never the way forward. Those actually to blame for the damage and unfairness of university strikes are certainly not the staff we see every day in lecture halls and seminars.

HBCUs: The Free Black Uni does not promote segregation

Samantha Seidu - Fashion & Beauty sub-editor

allowed in small numbers. With all this being said, the purpose of HBCUs was to provide Black students with opportunities in education, free from racism that put a cap on their abilities.

In 2020, Britain’s first and only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) ‘Free Black University’ was founded by PhD student Melz Owusu, with aims to ‘deliver open-access online lectures exploring radical and transformational topics’. Of course, the idea of a HBCU was met with a lot of criticism, with some arguing that it promotes racism and segregation.

In late October, the universities watchdog announced that Free Black University had not been given permission to officially be a university as it ‘hadn’t proved that it met the requirements for registration’. All this brings the question of what HBCUs are for and whether they are necessary. To answer this, I will break down what a HBCU is.

HBCUs are educational institutions designed for Black people, originating from the South of the US prior to the Civil Rights Movement. Jim Crow segregation laws meant that Black students were not allowed study at universities with white students or were only

Although racism and segregation of this sort have since been outlawed and are mostly frowned upon, it would be naive to think that it has totally been eradicated. Britain also has a long history of racism, segregation and other atrocities that arose as a result of colonial rule.

Today, various studies have shown that racism in British educational institutions is still a huge problem. Black students are the least likely to get three As or more at A-level. They are most likely to get the lowest percentage accuracy when it comes to predicted grades, which affects the range of universities they can apply to. When they get to university, it has been found that Black students are least likely to get a 2:1 or a 1st class and are most likely to drop out of tertiary education altogether.

HBCUs in the US proved to be effective, as they helped to establish an African American middle class. Ultimately, it puts Black students on a level playing field which would allow them to prosper.

So this raises another question; is creating a university only for Black people racist? The short answer is no. The intent of a Black studentonly university is different to a White students-only university. Looking at the South in the US, HBCUs were created as a result of segregation and racism by White people. Fast forward to today, with statistics showing that Black students are still disadvantaged in educational institutions, what is wrong with Black people creating a space where they can thrive academically? The only reason why HBCUs are seen as racist is simply that it’s a space that is not designed for White people, in a White majority country that might be a tough pill to swallow.

All of this is indicative of the failure of the British education system as a result of systemic and institutionalised racism. A HBCU would therefore allow Black students to receive the same standard of education without racial prejudice.

Simply put, HBCUs only exist because racism exists. Whilst many universities are trying to diversify their curricula, if the root issue of institutionalised racism is not addressed, statistics will stay the same regardless of how many Black students attend university. An important step in dismantling this would be taking accountability for colonialism which planted the seed of racism, and the acknowledgement of the role colonialism played in building the institutions we know today. Until the day comes, I personally will always be supportive of HBCUs, including Free Black University, and what they stand for.

Where does the line sit between opportunity and exclusion?

Sophie McMillan

Researching inequality isn't the same as experiencing it

The widening participation scheme works wonders for some, but not everyone has the same success

The only reason HBCUs are seen as racist is that they are spaces not designed for white people

scheme

failing me

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Campus Comment

Reflections on mid-module assignments

Sophie Psaila - 1st year student

With the end of the semester fast approaching, the first round of assessments have been submitted. As a first year, it’s been quite the adjustment from A-Level work to the expectations of university assignments so it’s important to take time to reflect on the work so far.

Experiences with university assessments vary from person to person. It's fair to say that whether you’re studying humanities, sciences, or anything in between, students from all over the university have felt anxiety towards these first few hand-ins.

While it is usual to feel stress over these assessments, it is also important that you look after yourselves during this period. Here are some things you can do to help:

1. Give yourself plenty of time. Don’t leave things to the last minute, especially when you are still trying to grasp the art of essay writing at university. Start early to minimise stress.

2. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritiously, sleeping lots,

doing things you enjoy and getting outside every day. Looking after yourself will improve your well-being and quality of work at the same time.

3. Don’t forget to ask for help if you need it. If you’re overwhelmed, reach out for support. Staff can provide guidance and university support networks will offer advice as well as friends and family.

And remember, it is only the first year. This year it’s okay to be unsure and focus on learning how to write these assessments. If you make mistakes along the way, then that’s okay!

specificities of referencing and what font would be best to use. Undoubtedly, university work is stressful no matter what year you’re in, but it is definitely less daunting when you’re no longer battling that jump from the A-Level to undergraduate standard.

Purcell - 3rd year student - Relationships sub-editor

- 2nd year student - Lifestyle sub-editor

We're a few months deep into the first semester. For most of us, we have tackled the first hurdle of assignments. Like the majority of students, my enrichment week was enriched with writing essays – all of which are now thankfully out of the way.

As a second-year student, I feel more confident approaching my first bundle of assignments compared to first year: when I was still figuring out all the

However, second years face a new kind of pressure than first years. In the back of our minds, we are constantly aware that this year’s work actually goes towards our final grade. And even though the dreaded dissertation is something that we don’t have to think about until the end of second year, it is impossible not to think about it now. At the start of second year, it all quickly becomes very serious and you are reminded of what you are really at university for.

Because of this, it is also easy for second years to become debbie downers – as you can tell. However, it’s important not to get too stuck in your anxieties about the future. It’s easy to want to jump right into worrying over your essays due after Christmas, and whilst planning ahead never hurt anyone, do give yourself a break from having just completed your first assignments. Even though we are in second year, it doesn’t mean our life is now exclusively restricted to lecture halls and the library – not yet anyway!

Ozzie: the campus cure, in cat form

Ozzie, Newcastle University’s very own campus cat, is the key to any broke, stressed and seasonally depressed Newcastle student. She really is our rock.

As exciting as moving to a new city is, leaving behind your pets feels like you’re leaving a part of yourself. The feeling of thinking there’s a cat sitting under your bed for a split second before realising it’s just a fluffy slipper is worse than any heartbreak.

I woke up early especially to see her at the Phillip Robinson Library and holding her warm furry tiny body in my arms felt like I was nine years old again in my grandmother’s house cuddling our childhood cat and talking to her about my year 4 problems. I am convinced that her sheer presence has the power to solve any problem. Her calmness throughout the visit was remarkable as she just laid in our arms quietly lifting her head every now and then for a scratch behind her little ears.

She has her very own Newcastle University smartcard with a little picture of her tiny face

She is exceptional at her job as the official campus cat because I immediately felt better the minute my hand touched

her soft fur. Not to mention she has her very own Newcastle University ID card with a little picture of her tiny face; if this doesn’t make your heart melt, I don’t know what will.

Living in a busy city like Newcastle with not a whisker in site can be difficult and no amount of stuffed animals can compare to the feeling of cuddling a tiny cat with pointy ears and a cold little nose.

The feeling is indescribable.

Whether you’re a dog person or a cat person, or even a goldfish person, the feeling of a tiny companion waiting for you to come home is pure solace.

If you get time in your busy schedules, take the time to give into the cat person in you and cuddle our campus cat. Her visits are regularly posted on her Instagram account: @whiskers_of_wisdom.

Doing an English Literature degree I always feel slightly guilty when I moan about my workload - my contact hours are some of the lightest in the university, and I genuinely enjoy my degree and the work that comes along with it. Despite this, life can sometimes catch up and even though I've had three years of this suddenly I'm drowning in work and wondering how the hours in the day were ever enough - and for some reason this always happens around the first assessment week of the year. No matter how much I love the degree or how early I begin prepping, the pressure of assessment week will hit me all in one go. I become a truly different person for a week, living on black coffee and finding a new favourite study spot every day after getting utterly sick of the seat the day before.

Although I'm not one of those uber-prepared people who submit their assignments a week in advance, I also

detest leaving things until the last minute (which is perhaps why the stress kicks in the week before the deadline, not the night before). I've found through the last two years of my degree that I'd rather spend a week at a constant level of focus than bash the whole essay out in one night.

I feel like this has just become the norm for me, and although I believe there are better ways to deal with the stress of assessments, I don’t particularly mind that this is how I deal with it. In a way, I almost enjoy the drive of concentration. Plus, writing about topics you're passionate about is a definite way to make sure you make the most out of your

Reading week: enriching and exhausting

Tesco’s ready-made.

Ileft needing a break, a hug from my mum, and a visit to my local pub. Instead, I spent most of my days catching up on readings and notes after abandoning them to spend 10 hours in the library grinding out an assignment. Most of my closest friends stayed at home for uni, so feeling left out is an understatement. Although I do love Newcastle, and my new life here, I miss them all dearly. Being at home is just a reminder of that.

Although trying to balance catching up on work and seeing friends is rather difficult, it’s worth it. Even the journey home with train strikes and replacement buses. Plus, having a home-cooked meal is so much better than grabbing a

Life seemed so fast-paced; pints at night, papers in the morning, note-taking in the afternoon, netball matches in the evening. Balancing everything seems difficult, but if I can manage it at uni surely I can back home. Right?

Alas, here I am. Back at uni, with notes done, pints consumed, netball matches attended, and Tesco’s readymade meals bought. Although it’s not the same, uni does feel like a home away from home in some ways.

Despite all that, if anything the way I’m feeling after enrichment week is: homesick. I miss my friends, my local pub, and my mum’s homecooked meals. Tesco’s just doesn’t the same effect, neither does

Arwa Mahmood

Image credit: Mia Fox

Jenica Davis

Georgia

Libby Griffiths

Market Shaker

Image Credit: iStock Images

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Matt Hancock in the jungle... what a load of kangaroo bollocks

Adriana Newbury

The UK’s favourite show is back in Australia, but this year it seems to be the Matt Hancock show.

His entrance into I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! was all anyone could talk about before the show began, and once he was in the Jungle, he completed six consecutive trials voted for by the public (probably the most votes Hancock will ever receive again).

And you wouldn’t believe it, but people are actually starting to like him. When he walked in the camp he was met with hostility by the likes of Chris Moyles and Boy George, but now many camp members are accepting his attempts of his “search for forgiveness”, with many viewers finding his personality to be likeable. Yet, behind this fantastic PR move, there are profound issues with his involvement in the show.

A glaringly obvious issue is his abandonment of his constituents, as Hancock has flown to Australia for a month while parliament is in session. Hancock has ‘lost the whip’ from the Conservative Party, essentially meaning

he is expelled from the party and has to sit as an independent in the House of Commons. His constituents in West Suffolk, approximately 180 000 people, have been abandoned by the man that is supposed to be standing up for them in parliament. What if something drastic happens while he is gone?

Hancock was captured on the show explaining that “I genuinely think that because we’ve now got sort of stability that … Rishi’s great, he’ll be fine”. I’m not sure I’d call three Prime Ministers in four months ‘stability’, Matt. Considering the taxpayer funds Hancock’s salary as an MP, it’s clear that it is wildly inappropriate for Hancock to be frolicking off Down Under at the taxpayers’ expense. When the public vote for their MP, they are putting a level of trust in this person to uphold their democratic rights, standard of living and political beliefs: Hancock has completely violated this trust.

The lack of responsibility from Hancock is unbelievable; it goes without saying that it feels like a kick in the teeth to watch a man who was kissing in his office and breaking social distancing guidance whilst many people had to experience

The war on journalists

Scarlett Welch - Head of Life & Style

Journalism is a global force which, when used correctly, gives us access to what’s really happening around the world. This is something that many people in power do not like, which is why several countries seem to be waging war on journalists.

Iranian journalist and activist Niloofar Hamedi was arrested in September for writing a story which broke the news of Masha Amini’s death. Her house was subsequently raided and searched by Iranian authorities, and then placed in solitary confinement.

Several other journalists have been arrested in Iran this year amongst protests occurring there. There have also been claims that the Iranian government has threatened Iranian journalists working abroad.

only seen as a problem in other nations, it is dangerous for the British public to distance themselves from this issue.

Although there is much more freedom of press in the UK, this does not mean that journalists cannot end up in danger. Just this month, three journalists were arrested for covering a Just Stop Oil protest on the M25, despite showing police their press cards.

This sets a sinister precedent that journalists can be arrested for simply covering controversial stories. Though we are far from journalists being killed in the UK, these kinds of arrests still put free speech in danger.

The safety of journalists is a worldwide issue. Journalists constantly put themselves in danger to report events all over the world, without the threat of prison, or even death. People like Niloofar Hamedi and countless others should be protected whilst

humiliation and hurt of watching their

Hancock is at the centre of degradation on the show after being voted for several trials, with current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying he was “disappointed” at Hancock’s decision to degrade himself on national TV. I can’t say I’d be too happy with my dad for telling the nation he didn’t love my mum, and then proceed to get covered in cockroaches and rats while everyone is laughing

Is a win for Biden a win for women?

Amelie Baker

Is there still hope for women and their safety in the rightwing dystopia that is America? Or will the seemingly prophetic future of Handmaid’s Tale be fulfilled?

The US midterm elections have been an absolute shocker. In light of the Roe V Wade overturn, and the overall rise in right-wing sentiment, the elections were expected to be a storm of reda certified win for the Republicans. Instead, it appeared there was but a light drizzle of red with Republicans failing to win the majority in the Senate and only just winning over the House of Representatives with a whopping 3 seat majority - 218 Republicans to 212 Democrats.

Has the US built back better?

Since being elected as the 46th President of the United States, Biden’s main domestic policy objective can be summarised fairly simply: a mass investment in American infrastructure to recover from the pandemic.

His ‘Build Back Better’ plan aims to do just this, with a notable emphasis on a transition to green energy, a refreshing prospect for a nation that has been held back by fossil fuel lobbying for far too long. In many ways, Biden has had success over the last 2 years. He has surpassed the expectations of those on the left of US politics who had thought of him as merely a typical ‘do nothing democrat’, unprepared to commit to big spending plans that would rock the boat of the Washington establishment.

His $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill indicates a notable shift towards the party’s left wing base - turning away from at least some of the corporate interests that Democrats often prioritise. Not only this, Biden has proposed to strengthen unions, voiced his opposition to trickle down economics, and announced a federal pardon for all convictions of past cannabis possession.

Although this is mostly rhetoric (and certainly nothing revolutionary), it is clear that Biden is a tactful politician who is aware of the growing demand for socialist politics in the US, ideas which have been brought into political relevance by politicians such as Bernie Sanders. Sanders was the runnerup for the Democratic nomination twice in a row and is now the nation’s most popular politician, evidently Biden has good reasons for taking inspiration from his agenda.

Despite being more productive than expected, Biden’s efforts to Build Back Better still leave a long

way to go for American recovery from the pandemic. One of Biden's major problems is his paper-thin majority in the Senate, with the conservatively minded Democratic senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema proving to be a thorn in the Presidency’s side when attempting to deliver on his promises.

The original $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act that Biden had hoped to pass failed to gain the approval of Manchin in committee hearings, forcing a compromise with the $2.2 trillion Inflation Reduction Act being passed instead. This bill was much reduced in size and scope from its predecessor, failing to compare to historic landmark economic legislation like Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, to the disappointment of many who believe that Biden has not delivered on what he had promised.

In addition to problems outside of his control, Biden’s presidency has been tainted by faults of his own. Although he has postured himself to the left, he is fundamentally still bound to the corporate money that got him elected. This was on full display in June, when the presidency enacted the highest Medicare premium hikes in history, with the profits made from this decision going right to the private insurance companies which funded Biden’s campaign, whilst working class Americans in need of medical support must suffer the consequences.

It is for this reason that Biden’s spending increases can only go so far in aiding America’s recovery from the pandemic. If the cost of living continues to rise while the gap between the richest and the poorest in the US continues to grow in an absence of progressive taxation, the prospects for an economic recovery that will meaningfully benefit the lives of ordinary Americans remains slim.

But is this enough for Biden to push through his promised abortion laws? Laws that will save women’s lives. The US system of government is hopelessly and unnecessarily complicated, both at federal and state level - it is a war-zone of political gridlock. And, now, because the Republicans have won control of the House of Representatives back from the Democrats, that disabling gridlock will only become more pronounced. In effect, that means that the Republicans will be able to block laws and potentially even stop them from getting a vote on the House floor.

On the issue of abortion, this is undoubtedly inevitable. Abortion is no longer an issue of female rights: it is a politicised term allowing for male, and governmental, control of the female body - and, above all, an issue that appeals to Re-publican voters. It has become one of the defining issues of US politics. For Republicans to vote in favour of abortion would mean placing themselves in opposition to the rightwing electorate upon whom they rely for their democratic power. And, if there’s one thing we know about politicians, it’s that they will place their personal need for power above all else.

However, there is still a slim hope that the future of women can be saved in the US from the red dresses and white wings of Margaret Atwood’s painfully accurate dystopia. Three seats is only a very small majority, and, unlike in the UK, there is less pressure to vote along party lines - surely some Republicans could stop being hostile towards women for just one, very important vote?

There is, after all, a history of Republicans voting for actual beneficial, almost progressive legislation. Just recently, 12 Republicans voted alongside the Democrats in support of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would protect interracial marriages by requiring states to recognize legal marriages regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin”. If the right of gay and interracial marriage can be enshrined in federal law (a massive step for America), then why not abortion?

But, Republicans are Republicans, and we will have to wait until the new Congress reconvenes in January to know whether women will be legally recognised as the only people who should be in control of their own bodies. Until then, women will continue to suffer, and the US will continue to ignore it.

loved ones dying from far away. But the worst thing that Hancock has

dad publicly announce he doesn’t love

Harry Sanderson

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Elon Musk’s tumultuous takeover:

‘Twitter Blue’ scheme descends into chaos

Rowan Christina Driver - Music sub-editor

and parody accounts, including impersonations of Tony Blair, Pope Francis and even Musk himself.

Major companies Nintendo and Musk’s own Tesla were also among those parodied.

Twitter owner Elon Musk’s much debated $8 ‘Twitter Blue’ subscription scheme was halted last Friday following a flood of false accounts on the site.

Blue ticks were previously displayed only on the accounts of celebrities and notable figures verified by the social media platform. However, following Musk’s turbulent $44 billion acquisition of the company two weeks ago, it was announced that blue ticks would now be available to anyone willing to pay the monthly subscription fee.

An additional grey ‘Official’ label began to appear on some high-profile accounts, yet this disappeared just hours after its launch, causing further confusion among users.

Musk’s newest feature was quickly plagued by an influx of imposters

US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co. were forced to issue an apology after a fake account tweeted that insulin would be free.

“We apologize to those who have been served a misleading message from a fake Lilly account”, the drug manufacturing giant stated, reiterating “our official Twitter account is @LillyPad.”

Musk tweeted in response to the crisis: “Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended.” He later added that such accounts must specify

this in their name, not just in their “bio” section.

Concerns, however, have been expressed regarding the ready availability of the blue tick and its potential use for nefarious purposes, by scammers or extremists. Cybercriminals will also easily be able to use the coveted blue tick symbol to convince victims of their authenticity, experts have predicted.

Ross Bennett - Opinion sub-editor

The ‘Black Mirror’ episode “Playtest” was written as a dystopian look at what technology could become, with a video game device that kills people. One can only wonder what the writers of that episode think now that we’re living in a world much like that episode.

The creator of Oculus, Palmer Lucky, created a VR device that kills – murders, destroys, takes your life, whatever nice way of putting it – its users if they die in the game they are playing.

Lucky said he was inspired by the anime ‘Sword Art Online’ which has a similar premise to the device’s functions.

Now for the real question…what the hell kind of dystopia are we living in?!

When interviewed, Lucky stated the following: “The idea of tying your real life to your virtual avatar has always fascinated me – you instantly raise the stakes to the maximum level and force people to fundamentally rethink how they interact with the virtual world and the players inside it.”

Yes, raising the stakes to maximum level is exactly what players want. So next time you’re playing Pokemon, and your Bidoof gets annihilated by

Barry’s Atreus, you can truly experience what it’s like for your deity to vaporise you on the spot.

“Only the threat of serious consequences can make a game feel real to you and every other person in the game,” Lucky continued.

In real life there are things called ‘Extreme Sports’, now it seems that there exists ‘Extreme Gaming’.

Explaining how it worked, Lucky said: “the device is connected to three explosive charge modules that are tied to a narrow-band photosensor that can detect when the screen flashes red at a specific frequency. When an appropriate game-over screen is displayed, the charges fire, instantly destroying the brain of the user.”

But it looks like the extreme gamers are going to have to wait, as Lucky has only figured out “half that kills you”.

I for one, will now be setting all my

The ‘Twitter Blue’ scheme was launched briefly as a source of income for the company amid concerns over revenue due to declines in advertising on the site. Musk stated there had been a “massive drop in revenue” and expressed concerns over the ability of the company to survive the current financial climate.

The future of Twitter remains uncertain as the “mass exodus” of

The power of the poo: first faecal transplant

James - Campus comment sub-editor

in some astounding success stories.

At present, treatment options for intestinal infections involve use of new and expensive IV drugs or antibiotics. FMT presents an option with similar safety and effectiveness without the increase risk of cancer or other adverse effects.

Word of the week: Flange

Sam Norman - Campus Comment sub-editor

ABiome Bank in Adelaide has been given regulatory approval to conduct faecal microbiota transplants after increasing evidence in the medical literature proves its potential to treat a deadly bacterial condition.

Instinctually we think of faeces as the opposite of medicinal, but our stinky, messy, healthy stool samples actually contain the key to our functioning gut biomes.

Within poo are the trillions of microorganisms that live in our gutbiome. A gut microbiome is made up of thousands of species of bacteria, fungi and viruses among other microbes, and weighs about an astonishing 2kg in total. It regulates everything from our immunity and our metabolism to our mood.

Impressive, right?

A damaged microbiome can precipitate serious health problems, which is where reintroducing new microbes comes in. Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) works by taking faeces from a screened donor, mixing it with liquid, centrifuging and filtering it to concentrate the bacterial portion and then administering it to a sick person via a retention enema or in causal form. The therapy has resulted

The therapy is available to treat a potentially life threatening gut infection Clostridium difficile colitis (C-diff), which kills an astounding 26,000 people a year in the USA alone.

However, FMT is thought to have efficacy in treating other serious chronic issues such as autoimmune or inflammatory illness and irritable bowel syndrome and such treatments may soon be available.

Dr Sam Forster, an FMT and microbiota expert from the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, used the metaphor of our guts as an internal ecosystem, containing trillions of microorganisms as diverse and complex as a rainforest.

Modern diets and pharmaceutical drugs damage the gut biome, and infections toxify it. FMT, like rewilding, is able to regenerate natural, balanced state.

The studies are small but the results have left some in the medical establishment incredibly optimistic about this organic (and recycled) addition to treatment protocols for serious illnesses.

Get your mind out the gutter, flange is scientific bread and butter.

This noun refers to the projecting flat rim, collar, or rib of an object, that serves to strengthen, attach or maintain the position of a wheel on a rail.

With this, you’d be surprised how much impact flange has on your daily life. Ever been to Screwfix? You’ve walked past a flange. Toolstation? Flange. B&Q? You’ve definitely gone past a flange.

Flanges are all around us, but what do they actually do? Well, the answer is a crucial role. They connect pipes with each other, to valves, to fittings and other key items like strainers and pressure valves. But it doesn’t just stop there, you can also get a ‘blind flange’ where cover plates are also connected.

The bottom-line is no flanges, no infrastructure – or very risky infrastructure. So next time you walk past some piping or even a building site, stop for moment, and salute your flange.

agency expressing

As for ‘Twitter Blue’, it has since been announced that the rollout of the scheme will be postponed until 29

'Twitter Blue' scheme was launched briefly as a source of income for the company

Alexander

G'day mate, here to restore your microbiome with a life saving faecal transplant?

Image credit: NYU's Center for Social Media and Politics

New Oculus VR headset is intentionally killing people

Twitter users have been creating memes and anarchy by impersonating brands

The fake account for the pharamceutical company tweeted that insulin would be free

Image credit: AI generated from prompt "Oculus with person's head exploding"

The device takes "YOLO" to its logical conclusion You come across flanges every day

Relationships

My body and the media

Amana Khan - News Sub-Editor

changing depending on celebrity culture. However, the media does not take this into consideration and instead capitalises off it.

The media has created an idea of the ‘perfect’ body - there are multiple issues with this and how it has formed the relationship between people and their bodies, including myself.

First and foremost, there is no such thing as a ‘perfect’ body. There is always something that everyone wants to change about themselves, there is always someone that we want to emulate, so there cannot be a ‘perfect’ body when everyone’s idea of perfect is completely different.

Secondly, the media has presented this idea of a desirable body, the ‘perfect’ body, but this has always been and always will be subject to time and what certain celebrities look like. When the Kardashians got their BBLs, the media presented a slim waist, ‘thick’ thighs, and a big bum as the ideal for women, but now the Kardashian-Jenner clan have removed their BBLs, the heroine chic body type has come back into fashion. This was prominent in the 1990s, with the likes of Victoria Beckham being presented as the ideal body type by the media.

The changing nature of this portrayed 'ideal body type' proves that there is no ideal as it is ever-

The media, knowingly or not, preys on our bodily insecurities and pressurises us to force our bodies to fit into the ‘ideal’ of the decade. However, the media forgets that everyone has a different body type and none of us look the same and that is completely fine, but with media negating this and placing a pressure on us to look a certain way, we forget this, and this deteriorates our relationship with our bodies.

It is hard to look at advertisements, magazines, television, and the rest of the media, without questioning your self-worth when what is deemed as desirable does not fit how you look. Our relationships with our bodies deteriorate and the media perpetuates this because it forgets that young people, teenagers, and adults watch and listen to the media and its views, which resonate with us and makes us question our bodies.

The consequences of this can be detrimental and our bodies, the things that are meant to protect us, can suffer, whether that is though not thinking that you are good enough because of the media, or through physically hurting yourself to fit into the mould that the media prescribes for everyone.

What I take from this is that our relationship with our bodies is subject to the media because of its pervasive nature in making you question yourself and

your body. It is easy to argue that we should ignore the media, but the reality is quite the opposite. It is hard to ignore something that is so present in our current society, and it is difficult not to be harsh on ourselves and the way we look because the media does it so easily.

I believe that the only solution is for the media to recognise the detrimental effect it has on people’s self-worth and to acknowledge that all bodies are perfect, whilst representing this within the media, as this is the only way that we can try and accept the way our bodies look.

The 'DILF' and 'MILF' dilemma

Katie Siddall - Head of Sport

The term MILF originally grew in the 1980s and 90s - one of my own first encounters with the acronym was in the film American Pie. Within the film, they told teenage me that MILF stood for 'Mum I'd Like to F**k'. Following MILF was the acronym DILF, which debuted online in 2011.

After 20/30 years of just having MILF in our vocabulary, DILF entered... so does this mean that subjecting men alongside women is equality?

The idea of subjecting either gender, based on their appearance, is something that society needs to stop doing. It is not appropriate to subject one gender and not the other, but it's also not appropriate to subject either.

Let's stop being crit-ick-al

ball around the room. Yeah, that’s it for me too.

Afew dates in, and your budding romance is going well. You love to spend time with them, and can’t help but grin when they’re mentioned in conversation. No matter what they do or say, being with them makes you feel warm and fluttery inside. But all of a sudden, the honeymoon phase is over, and what’s known as the ick strikes.

You can’t bear to see their umbrella turn inside out, perhaps them being spun in a barber’s chair makes you cringe inside, or maybe you hate to see them bite the fork while eating. If this has ever happened to you, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Even if it’s only in recent years that people are starting to talk about this phenomenon, it’s long been a common occurrence in the dating world.The ick can be described as a feeling of repulsion or disgust, following an initial period of attraction, that arises when a partner does or says a certain thing.

It’s not so good when it’s involuntary though. There’s certainly something deeper going on here – what really is the ick? It’s definitely about the person, not the situation. I believe it’s a projection of what we dislike about ourselves. It’s a manifestation of the shame we feel about our own

criticism. We’ve all heard the saying where insults say more about the insulter than the insulted – it seems this can be applied to the ick too. Getting the ick is damaging in that insecurities get in the way of having a proper, fulfilling relationship. It also reinforces the ideal of perfection in a partner, when we all know that this is impossible – after all, the perfect is the enemy of the good. It’s worrying as well that it’s mostly heterosexual women experiencing icks about men – is it fair to judge men for having irrational turn offs, but not women? Some people think it masks a deeper suspicion of something being ‘off’ in a relationship, and that you should listen to your intuition, but I disagree. A genuine gut feeling is more of unease and anxiousness – you’ll recognize it.

Just because people are now subjecting males, by calling them DILFs, does not make it acceptable to call females MILFs anymore so.

Celebrities, for instance, are brought into these categories when they reach a particular ageusually around the 35-40 bench mark. Those that fill these categories are David Beckham, Jennifer Anniston, Paul Rudd and Pamela Anderson.

People do not tend to compliment them in a nice way anymore; e.g., "Jennifer is wearing a nice dress." They are referred to in more derogative manners like MILFs and DILFs... they may mean this as a compliment but is it?

Saying this, others may see MILFs and DILFs as a compliment, especially those in these categories. Someone who fits the age category may feel left out, or worse about themselves, if they are not referred to as a MILF or a DILF.

So, is it equality to call people both of these acronyms (which means leaving others out) or would it be better if society scrapped them?

I think it’s a common misconception that understandably off-putting things, like loud chewing, or being rude to waiters, are icks. True icks are such mundane and superficial things that you normally wouldn’t blink an eye at. When their legs dangle on a rollercoaster, for example. When they swim with goggles, or can’t find the end of the sellotape.

Icks do have their uses – you can try to purposely give yourself the ick to get over someone. Imagine them chasing a ping pong

Personally though, I think it’s a good thing that the concept of icks is being discussed and acknowledged in the dating world. When I look back at my previous relationships, I (unfairly) got the ick, but wasn’t aware of this. I thought something was fundamentally wrong with the relationship and our compatibility, but in hindsight, knowing about the ick, I understand that at least part of the problem was me. The ick as a phenomenon is damaging, but naming it is the first step to overcoming it, right?

So next time I get that cringey feeling about a partner or date, I’ll know to recognise it, and use this knowledge to stop being so crit-ick-al. Hopefully, after reading this, you will too.

Emma Hunter

Can the ick be controlled?

The most mundane and superficial things are enough to make you squirm

Is subjecting men alongside women equaltiy?

Maybe they aren't the compliments you think they are...

When media perpetuates perfection, how do we maintain a healthy relationship with our bodies?

It's a projection of what we dislike about ourselves

Image credit: IMDb Image credit: Pixabay

Hungover, anxious, and on the road to recovery

Ella Winskell - News sub-editor

happens to take you past your phone, grab it and put it on charge, you’ll thank yourself later. Pick up some paracetamol, the better of us would have had a packet already left out on the side, and take them with your second glass which you’re going to make sure you set down somewhere not too far from reach before crawling back into bed for an extra half an hour and accepting your situation. Don’t try to be a hero.

daunting but aesthetic green juice is actually going to do more harm than good and is probably too acidic for your stomach right now. Instead opt for toast and eggs, bland but in this case your best shot at besting any alcohol induced nausea.

Personal tip: If you’ve woken up in Leazes their breakfast is the perfect solution.

generosity saved many a morning spent there during my first year.

Now, you’re ready for the day. Or at least you’ve given yourself the best start. But remember we’re not going to be 20-somethings forever and prevention is key so I encourage you to put the routine in now, and maybe invest in an ice roller.

You wake up with your head still spinning, the roof of your mouth feeling strange and fuzzy, cracked mascara collecting in the corner of your eyes, ears still ringing from the music in - where was it we ended up at again last night? And that’s if you’ve made it to bed at all. With a fair few of these experiences under my belt, ranging from mild disorientation to being relegated to my sick bed all day, I encourage you to please put away your TikTok influenced ideals of ice rollers and green juice gentle mornings because here’s my guide to a *realistic* night out recovery.

Before anything, it’s imperative that you hydrate. You’re going to want to go to your nearest source of water and pour yourself one glass you’ll drink right there and one you’re taking with you back to your bed. If your path to hydration salvation

Once you wake up again, you're sort of hydrated, the painkillers have had time to start preventing any aches from bruises you haven’t recognised and your phone has power. But are you still nauseous? That brings us onto breakfast. (You’re going to want to have another glass of water with this too.)

After a night out we are dehydrated and our blood sugar is low. The best shout for breakfast here is something with carbs but a few healthy fats. I know it seems

Christmas: a time for happiness, joy, and consumerism

Snyder

the day, the ‘seasonal spirit’ we all have come to know and love, is a construct created by companies to make money.

Christmas traditions don't need religion

part of Christmas; wrapping presents in cute wrapping paper and signing the gift cards as from Santa for my friends and my family makes me feel warm inside. Every year, as my life and social circle grows and changes, new traditions come along. Last year it was Christmas karaoke and watching Christmas films with my friends online and this year, who knows?

We all love that time of year… Lights glistening, music in the background while you do your weekly shopping, and of course, the cheesy yet endearing sweaters. Something about Christmas is simply magical. Only, there’s one problem: It’s October.

Each year, Christmas seems to arrive earlier an earlier in stores, with decorations bombarding aisles in your local shops before you can even find Halloween pumpkins. From early October, you can find tree decorations creeping onto shelves, and by November, “Jingle bells” is bound to leave its mark ringing at Tesco’s. Whether you’re a Christmas enthusiast, who celebrates as early as possible, or Scrooge himself, one thing can’t be denied; Christmas may be more than just a holiday when it comes to the commercial world.

In the 1920s, Coca-Cola began its Christmas advertising campaign, shaping the ‘Santa Clause’ image we all know and love today. This may have been the beginning of companies realizing how useful Christmas can be in terms of earning money, but it certainly didn’t stop there. To the public, advent calendars are seen as a treat to look forward to once a year. Christmas adverts have been adapted into British culture and even Percy pigs are given Christmas hats. But what we don’t realize is that, at the end of

This year for 2022, total retail sales of Christmas items are forecast to reach 82.2 billion pounds in the UK; it’s no wonder stores are attempting to force Christmas on us so soon, when there is so much potential to create revenue. But while this may benefit companies, does it benefit us? After all, we end up spending way too much money (during a cost-ofliving crisis nonetheless) but also by December time, the excitement of Christmas is numbed because we’ve been celebrating it for three months already. After all, there are only so many Christmas films a person can watch, and if you start your ‘Love Actually’ viewing months in advance, then the festive season becomes an everyday experience rather than something to look forward to.

So, the question is: What is Christmas truly about? Is it time to spend with friends and family? Is it strictly a religious celebration? Or is it simply a commercialized holiday, created to exploit consumers?

Either way, this year I’m excited to put up the tree and make some cookies, that is, as long as it’s in December.

Christmas, as a British person, has become less about Christianity and more about festive culture. When the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, enjoying the little things and the precious time you have with your family makes the question of whether non-religious or people from other religions should celebrate Christmas futile.

Christmas time is such a special time for everyone and the little traditions and aesthetics of the holiday makes living so much more meaningful. Since I was a kid, Christmas was always made special by my mum, my aunties and my grandparents. My mum’s tradition of making us watch or Santa leaving our presents on the porch because of my grandma’s fireplace protector aren’t religiously traditional; however, for me they have so much meaning because I associate them with my wacky family and being at university makes me miss their quirky traditions. Seeing these little traditions relived

But one thing is for sure, whether you are religious or not, Christmas traditions should have some impact on you, whether the only tradition you have at Christmas time is buying a Gingerbread Latte

feel like a kid again. Gift giving is my favourite

Do you have to be religious to celebrate Christmas or is the magic open to all?

Arwa Mahmood

Had a messy night? No fear, one of our writers gives us a guide on how to rejuvenate.

The best shout for breakfast here is something with carbs but a few healthy fats.

Marina

Has the beloved, festive season become corrupted by commercialism?

Image credit: Pixabay

Image credit: Pixabay

Image credit: Unsplash

Inspirational or unattainable? The concept of a '5 to 9' routine

Jay Barber

a culture of productivity that can only lead to burnout for the average person?

The ‘5 to 9 routine’ trend on TikTok is one of many centred around ‘that girl’ aesthetic – based on productivity and perfectionism, each high quality video shows us how much more we could get done if we just put our minds to it. This iteration focuses on the ideal routine to maximise the hours surrounding your 9 to 5 job, starting from before the sun is up or from the minute you get home.

If you’ve ever stumbled across the corner of TikTok that focuses on this sort of productivity, the composition will be familiar. Seventeen-step skincare routines, meditation, planning your week down to the last second, an hour at the gym, tidying the apartment, meal-prep… the list goes on.

I’d be lying if I said that these videos aren’t addictive; there’s something captivating about watching people with their lives so seemingly puttogether. But after watching the tenth video in a row of a 20-something year old maximising every minute of the day, the question comes to mind: is this trend aiming to inspire others, or is it pushing

The habits displayed in these videos are by no means harmful. It’s well-known that activities like exercise and journalling are beneficial for mental health, and promoting them as part of a healthy lifestyle should be good for everyone. The problem appears when they show nothing except this relentless productivity – there’s not one slipup, no relaxing after a hard day at work, no time to sleep in on a Sunday. Not when you could be filming yourself doing yoga and manifesting your next promotion in your corporate girl-boss job.

The that girl aesthetic tells us that no time should be wasted. It tells viewers – most likely to be women – what they could be doing to better themselves, as if relaxation isn’t also essential to our mental health. We should also recognise that a lot of these videos are textbook examples of the ‘double shift’

Gen-Z or La-Z?

As part of ‘Gen Z’ myself, I think it’s fair to say that we have all been lectured on how lazy our generation is, whether it’s your parents complaining about how they had to walk miles to school or how they had to work three jobs at once. The growth of technology and media has certainly played a huge role, as we are thrown into a media-driven world from such a young age. This has made many young people lazy, relying on their screen for entertainment rather than getting experience in the workplace. However, research has shown that stress levels are the highest they have ever been in young people, so maybe we are just burnt out…

Academic and workplace stress is currently higher than it has ever been, particularly due to wider concerns such as the cost-of-living crisis and instability of employment.

Deloitte’s research “highlights that stress-levels among younger people in the UK are higher than the global average”, identifying that “46% of Gen Zs say they feel stressed or anxious all, or most, of the time”. There is certainly an increased pressure on this generation to progress in higher education, striving for the most intellectual or best-paid jobs … but why? Not everyone is academically driven, which comes as no surprise as the relentlessness of exams is incredibly mentally draining for students, particularly when balancing part-time work alongside them. There is a huge pressure to over-perform and overachieve, being expected to agree to extra hours at work and continuing work at home – but when do you switch off?

However, as our older relatives would say …

we’re just weak or “too soft”. There is undeniably a collective of people in our generation that lack any drive to pursue their career, relying on their family’s money and avoiding work like the plague. Myself and my friends have always been driven, working a part-time job from a young age and continuing to do so alongside our degrees; we still recognise the importance of saving money and working towards a stable future, so it is certainly unfair to call the whole generation ‘lazy’. Nevertheless, there is undeniably a larger number of young adults who have become lazy, which was highlighted when speaking to my dad: “well we used to have to work and save for years until we could afford a phone or a car. Nowadays school children are being bought them before they are even old

There is definitely a lack of motivation and drive in our generation as children grow up expecting things to be given for free, and the media has been particularly complicit in young adults demanding instant gratification or reward. But to counter this again … has this not been fuelled by societal changes out of our control?

Technology is developing and new contemporary ways of earning money are arising, so can we blame our generation for this?

I don’t think we can definitely say whether Generation Z are lazy or burnt out. There is certainly a large proportion of our generation who are lazy, enveloped in the world of social media and avoiding the workplace, yet we must consider the difficulties of growing up in a progressive, media-driven world that ultimately lacks any stability. Generation Z are trying to determine their futures whilst navigating the world through a screen and dealing with the academic pressures enforced upon them. So, if any millennials are reading this… I promise we are trying!

What I want to tell younger me

emotionally vulnerable, compassionate, and curious beings; these are qualities we should all strive to maintain. By channeling the younger version of me, I’ve learned to be kinder to my present self. I’m a very self-critical person and at times can be quite harsh, but when I remind myself that I’m still talking to that little girl, I quickly change my tune.

So, I’m sat across from my younger self – what do I say to her?

Of course, it’s easy to be selfdestructive in this scenario; my first instinct is to list all the things she shouldn’t do. I could tell her, with the glorious advantage of hindsight, what she will later look back on and cringe about. It’s natural to think about our younger selves as the lesser versions of who we are today, a draft of who we become. Yet by doing this, are we not discarding the stages of growth we’ve undergone to develop into our present selves? I’ve learned that it’s essential to nurture a relationship with every stage of myself, from childhood to the present.

Yet with more years of experience under my belt, what would I actually tell my younger self? Well, the overthinking never stops, and you still cry a lot – but that’s okay! You feel deeply but being a sensitive soul doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, you learn to love that about yourself, and others do too. Speaking of others; keep your family close, they are your rock, and Grandma is and always will be your best friend. In fact, your heart is so full of love for all your beautiful friends. Just wait and see, you meet your people at university. I really think you’d be proud of me; you push yourself slowly but surely, gaining experiences you never thought you’d be brave enough to do, and growing into the woman you always wanted to be. Stay true to yourself and quit comparing yourself to others - realistically, no one knows what they're doing!

Although this dynamic of looking inwardly often sees the older-self relaying words of wisdom to the younger, I’ve found there’s a lot to learn from little me. I’ve certainly grown shyer with age and my once wild imagination has been tamed. I think as we get older, we’re told to grow out of ourselves which oftentimes means some of our better qualities are dismissed. But why should they be? As children we are more

I’m still growing, I’ll never stop. But if there’s one thing to take away from this, it’s the importance of keeping every version of yourself close by, you never know when you might need them!

there’s something captivating about watching people with their lives so seemingly puttogether

Mia Dale

Has technology made gen-z lazy?

Image credit: Pixabay

Here's why hustle culture is distorting our views on productivity and motivation

Hope Norman

The importance of not leaving behind little you and being kind to yourself as you grow

It's essential to nurture a relationship with every stage of myself, from childhood to the present

Let's be transparent about glass skin

Castor Chan - Campus Sport Liason

Libby Griffiths

into repeating trend cycles and Gen-z's

In this ‘new age,’ it seems Gen-Z’s favourite buzzword is: aesthetics.

Aesthetics have dominated consumer culture, and how we want to be perceived by others is seemingly more important than discovering our own identities. Every decade, year, or even month we see a resurgence of trends as others subside once again.

This K-beauty trend first took off globally in 2017 and has since found itself in many makeup users’ dictionaries, from luxury fashion shoots to everyday wear. But 5 years on, how has glass skin cemented itself in our makeup routines, and is it truly a standard everyone can achieve?

So what exactly is ‘glass skin’? According to K-beauty store Peach & Lily owner and aesthetician Alicia Yoon, it’s the “idea of transparent and translucent skin.” A reason why people desire this glossy look is its connection to youth. Across the world, people have been obsessed with the idea of anti-aging for years. From magic serums and smoothing creams, to specific makeup techniques, it’s one of the biggest driving forces in the skincare industry. So when Korean makeup artist Ellie Choi dropped a photo of her crystal clear complexion - along with how she did it - no wonder we lapped it all up.

For glass skin, one of the main points is layering sources of moisture to truly get that luminous look, and this is apparently achievable for all skin types. For those with more texture on their skin, the first instinct is probably to try and get exfoliants and stripping cleansers to clear out your pores, and then a lengthy system of clay masks and thick creams. But many experts caution against frequent strong exfoliants for fear of damaging your skin barrier, actually leaving you prone to worse breakouts. A deeply hydrating routine with a gentle thorough cleanse and lightweight serums is a much healthier way to try and achieve better

If you’re looking into which trend to pick next or predict ahead of time, Mina Le’s YouTube channel is the place to surf. All her video essays provide a catalogue of aesthetics ranging from the 90s model, coquettes, and even the fetishisation of the Japanese schoolgirl.

Her videos offer a fair criticism of how consumerism is just recycling trends, and how it really isn’t ‘woke’ to accept aestheticisation as finding your identity. Instead, more a reflection of how easily capitalism manages to guilt-trip us.

Alas, I can’t help but participate. As I say in most of my articles, we live in a society, and I am definitely a product of it. How do

smoothness.

Now that we have the exact steps to recreate glass skin for ourselves, we can get started. Right? As someone with eczema, I struggle with my skin. I’ve had plenty of rough patches fighting my skin, but also rare occasions where my skin wants to work with me, so keeping consistent for a trend like this seems too good to be true. But I’ve learnt to appreciate my skin, and figure out ways to minimise flare-ups. Although blemish-free, perfect skin is still the world's ideal, I think that it is more important to do skincare that is compatible with your lifestyle, budget and schedule. We’d all love to have glass complexions and 10-step routines throughout our entire lives, but for me, concentrating on what my skin actually needs at the moment is more important to me, whether that is a thick layer of moisturiser or a break from a mountain of skincare.

As someone who exclusively wears trainers as their chosen footwear, I almost felt a responsibility to share my limited expertise. But a quick disclaimer, this is coming from a student, and not a hard-core collector! Give that one a go next. (I probably won’t.)

Personally, from a style point of view, you can never go wrong with a pair of Converse. With what seems to be unlimited colours, and now designs, choosing between the high tops, or just the trainer version, Converse are catering for the masses. My favourite pair at the minute are the classic black high tops with a twist – they have small embroidery embellishments of flowers, stars and more to give them just a pop of colour. This

genetics…), so for anyone in my position looking to grab a pair, get them one size bigger than you are. And as a student, head to Schuh for that 10% discount on everything!

If you’re searching for a more weather-proof trainer, maybe go leather. These kind do tend to need moulding to your feet to get comfy, however once you’ve worn them in, you’ll never want to take them off.

A pair that have lasted me years are my Adidas Superstars (a basic choice, I know). They are now my clubbing shoes as they are easy to wipe up after a night of sticky spillages. In a similar style, there are also the Puma Cali Dream’s with a pastel colour accent. Or keep it classic with Nike Airforce One’s – I won’t discuss the outrageous ‘Jesmond trend’ of making these pristine white trainers muddy, I’ll let you debate that yourselves…

And in the spirit of saving a little cash, as always, Primark are brilliant at creating their own cheaper versions of the current

in-trend shoe. Recently, I bought a pair that mimic the ‘vintage’ New Balance that are making the rounds once again,

makes them feel like the trustworthy staple style, but with a personal touch. Not to get too ‘TMI’ but I am unfortunately cursed with wider feet (thanks

It is more important to do skincare that's compatible with your lifestyle & budget

A look

obsession with aesthetics I wouldn't be surprised if caring about the environment ia a trend in itself

My favourite pair at the minute are the classic black high tops with a twist

In recent years, glass skin has been a popular skincare trend but how is it really achieved and is it even possible to obtain?

Aesthetics, consumerism and recycling old trends: our ever-changing fashion

I’m terrified of having to reinvent myself all over again

Fashion & Beauty

A new generation of Fenty Beauty

Erin Fazackerley

We can all agree that there is no room to exclude anyone in the beauty industry and there have been far too many instances of brands simply not allowing women to feel confident in their own skin. As a result, it took Rihanna to create a 'new generation of beauty' and carve a new path for all ethnicities.

Launching in 2017 with forty shades of foundation, and today fifty shades, Rihanna understood the struggle of not feeling included within the industry. She has also managed to ensure her consistency within Savage X Fenty and Fenty Skin, in order to align with her message of appealing to everyone, which the majority of retailers struggle with. This is why so many people worldwide can resonate with her genuine approach to beauty, which empowers consumers as they feel self-assured - they do not have to fit into the beauty standard.

Rihanna proclaims that her brand "[does] not

believe in division" and "[does] not believe in excluding anyone", so it is clear that she is the driver for the brand's authenticity and innovation, for all genders and all ethnicities. To validate these principles, Fenty Beauty's marketing techniques proved Rhianna's ambition to ensure inclusivity, elevating the brand to get everyone talking. It was launched in seventeen countries on the same day in the same hour, meaning precision was crucial to distribute content around the world, disregarding time zones.

The advertisement showcasing women of all skin tones, cultures and ethnicities authenticated Rihanna's mission to inspire everyone, especially those like herself who have traditionally hard-to-match skin tones, making it universal.

The consumer and industry reaction to the brand launch was astounding. With people

posting selfies with products, doing reviews and sharing with friends, it crashed the website and according to Fenty, "surpassed all of [their] expectations". "The Fenty Effect" is a term coined inviting and urging other beauty brands to do better and challenge the existing conditions of women's accessibility and to feel beautiful in their own skin. A phenomenon of their marketing is that the adjective 'inclusive' was never used in their marketing strategies, as the approach was to 'show and not tell'. It allows the press and audiences to define the brand themselves and generate a conversation

that is meaningful and emotional to them personally.

It is not just social media that build up their community, but they expand their networking by allowing fans to be part of their upcoming campaigns. The "Fenty Face Contest" grants beauty users the to show their admiration for the brand on TikTok and post a video of them showing off "your beautiful energy". It is yet another way Rihanna has carved her brand into the beauty world and reiterated that "make-up is there for you

There is no room in the industry

Three skin-vestments to help you achieve a routine with results!

(and this doesn't have to mean expensive!), you'll see enough of an improvement in your particular skin concern that will give you a refreshing sense of motivation and confidence.

Here are 3 skin-vestments that you may not have thought of yet, but will benefit every skin type.

1.) Sunscreen

2.) Niacinamide

Pronounced NYE-A-SIN-A-MIDE, to save you from the embarrassment I suffered when I first asked for it at Fenwick.

Call me sad, but my skincare routine is my favourite part of the day. Spending some time at the end of my manic day, where my sole purpose is to take care of myself, is the most simple yet effective form of self care in my everyday life. I'd even venture to say that it's played a huge role in how I've learned to cope with my depression, as it gives me the motivation to look after myself in more substantial ways.

This is the first piece of advice I'd give; a good skin routine should have its emphasis placed on feeling good, rather than looking good. Blemishes, redness, visible pores, dryness, wrinkles, texture, hyperpigmentation; these are all completely normal, and any face you see

You may be gazing up at the grey, November sky and thinking I must be having a laugh, but our skin can still be penetrated by UV rays on dull days, as they are not blocked by clouds. The risks include premature aging, sunburn and most importantly, skin cancer, so taking adding a minute out of your day to apply sunscreen is absolutely worth it. I'm a full face of makeup every day kind of girl, but

This ingredient has taken the beauty world by storm recently, because of its multi-tasking abilities. It can help with:

- Excess oil and blemishes

- Protecting your skin barrier

- Scarring and hyperpigmentation

Niacinamide has worked wonders in reducing

it. I use The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% and Zinc 1% (£5.60) - the brand as a whole offers all the best ingredients at all the best prices, very much dominating my skincare drawer.

3.) A skincare fridge

Yes, believe it or not, this is a thing! I like to refrigerate a lot of my skincare products, as it helps active ingredients stay in-tact and applying cold creams and serums just feels so refreshing.

I also use a lot of tools such as jade rollers, gua shas and eye masks that work so much better when cold. Applying cool temperatures to your face can do lots of good, such as reducing dark circles, decreasing puffiness, improving circulation and treating inflammation. I used

without these is either a.) highly made up or airbrushed, b.) can afford to splash hundreds of pounds on weekly facials from professional dermatologists or c.) having an exceptionally good skin day and certainly doesn't always look like that. However, if you invest in some high quality products

This is why people can resonate with her genuine approach to beauty

Rihanna is undoubtedly an icon in every sense of the word, especially when it comes to inclusivity

There is no room in the industry to be excluding

Leanna Thomson

A good skin routine should have its emphasis placed on feeling good, rather than looking good

Image credit: Instagram @fentybeauty

Image credit: Instagram @fentybeauty

Image credit: Pixabay @8926

IWhylove Madrid

Karimi Nasseri, the man who

Airport his home for 18 years

12 November 2022.

Read how Madrid captured the heart of our writer

Despite being Spain’s capital Madrid’s traditionalist, pure Spanish feel is often overlooked with millions of Brits opting for Barcelona or the sun traps of the Spanish south coast for their summer holidays. Madrileños are fiercely proud of their city and I can see why.

I fell in love with Madrid in June this year when I visited for the first time. Geographically and culturally, it is the centre of exciting possibility and unmistakable Spanish tradition. It is an entirely unpretentious city not trying to be like any other European capital, and it's working. Although the city doesn’t have a skyline littered with iconic buildings and structures there is so much more to the city than its buildings. Having said this, the grandiose architecture of 'Cibeles' and 'Sol' far from disappoint. It's a lively city, with infinite cultural, gastronomic opportunities not to mention the seemingly infinite numbers of 'terrazas' and restaurants packed with locals and tourists alike enjoying a ‘caña’ (a halfpint for us Brits) and some tapas in the open air all year round.

Art, media, tradition and innovation come together in a Spanish melting pot. The 'Reina Sofia' centre for contemporary art and 'El Prado' are established galleries home to some of the country’s best works. Newer institutions like the ‘Matadero’ exhibition centre, previously a slaughterhouse in the outskirts of the city, and 'La Casa Encendida' allow for a new exciting insight into Spain’s cultural discourse. One which has been constantly evolving and coming into its own since the end of the country’s dictatorship in 1975. 'Casa de Campo' with its cable car offering views of the Palacio Royal and the city’s cathedral and the world-famous 'Retiro' Park are noteworthy in providing green space in an otherwise bustling centre. 'El Templo de Debod', an Egyptian structure gifted to the city in Franco’s time, is now a fabulous meeting point for Madrileños to watch the sunset over the city regardless of the season. European shopping doesn’t get much greater than on Gran Via, Spain’s answer to Oxford Street not to mention the many intersecting avenues of shops

For most people, an airport is simply a transition. Somewhere you stay for a couple of hours. Somewhere out of time, out of space too; in one country but always looking to go to another one. If the waiting time is too long, we might even leave the airport and explore the nearby city. Although it offers many distractions, few can stand an airport for more than a few hours.

From 1988 to 2006, the red plastic benches in Terminal 1 of Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris became a home for the Iranian Karimi Nasseri. The suitcases, the tourists, the Duty-Free shops and reuniting families which are never more than a one-time event for the majority became his routine.

Born in 1945, his somewhat forgotten story recently resurfaced as he died of a heart attack on

Historic Heritage up North

Amelie Baker

If there’s one thing the UK is good for, it’s the plethora of historical attractions it has to offer - and Northumbria does not fail to impress.

First off is Hadrian’s Wall. Built in 122 AD by the Romans, the Wall stretches 83 miles from Wallsend (right here in Newcastle), all the way to the West coast. Bit of a long walk if you’re wanting to see the entire wall, but, if not, Wallsend is just one metro trip away!

Next up is Bamburgh Castle, the capital of the old Kingdom of Bernicia from 420 to 547 AD. It is now open to the public, with admission costing £15.50. If you don’t have that money to spare, the Castle still makes for an impressive view, especially from its neighbouring beach if you fancy a bit of cold-water surfing! Around a one hour drive from Newcastle, it is a must for the historical-attraction bucket list.

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne has to make this list. Lindisfarne has been an important centre for Christianity since the sixth century and is only accessible via a tidal road, linking it to the mainland. If you’re planning a trip here, make sure you check the weather and the tides! Just a bit further up than Bamburgh, it is also around an hours drive from Newcastle - not too far to get holy.

Durham is also well worth the visit. Durham Cathedral, opened in 1133, is an amazing piece of Norman architecture and the final resting place of the venerable Bede’s remains. Durham Castle, one of the UNESCO’s world heritage sights, is a bargain at only £4.50 entry; and just a £3.50 trainride away from Newcastle.

Newcastle is perfectly situated for those interested in historical tourism and I hope this article helps provide a few day-trip ideas!

Nasseri first arrived in Europe after fleeing political turmoil in Iran in the 1970s and settled in Belgium. He then travelled all across the continent in search of his mother but, as he never had the right documentation papers, was declined residency everywhere. Finally, he settled in Charles de Gaulle Airport. As his story acquired fame, in 1999, France offered him refugee status and a resident permit which allowed him to stay in the country indefinitely and legally.

reached a certain level of fame thanks to Steven Spielberg’s film The Terminal starring Tom Hanks loosely inspired by his life events.

In 2006, he was hospitalised and forced to leave. Since then, he has lived in shelters all across Paris until a few months ago when he decided to go back to the airport where he spent his last weeks. Mostly known as “Sir Alfred Mehran” to the airport workers and passersby, his story also

Live like a Londoner

Jessica McKeown - TV sub-editor

In enrichment week, I was very lucky to be treated to a belated twentieth birthday trip to London by my sister. Having done all the tourist-y attractions in family trips past, it was a fun experience to have a chance to explore with just my sister. My sister had told me months in advance that for my birthday she wanted to give me an experience rather than a tangible object and so I gave her the dates of reading week for this mystery trip. When she handed me the envelope, I truly had no clue what she had booked. To my amusement (and my father's disappointment) she had got us tickets to see Magic Mike Live in London.

got a good high street with everything you could need: shops, supermarket, cinema, restaurants, bars and importantly a local Wetherspoons. The Travelodge was conveniently just round the corner from Wimbledon station which has plenty of connections.

Now for the main event: Magic Mike Live. The staple show at the Hippodrome Casino, the audience was almost exclusively made up of women though I did spot several boyfriends/ husbands who had been dragged along. My sister had gotten us seats on the ground floor that turned out to be amazing placement as some of the dances began right next to us (or on my sister). I don't quite have the words to describe the experience but it's an exhilarating 90 minutes that I doubt I will ever forget. As expected, the drinks were pricier than what we are used to up here in Newcastle! Ladies, if you're looking for a girl's trip or birthday celebrations or a hen do, Magic Mike Live is well worth a consider.

For our second day we decided to explore Notting Hill and the Portobello Road market. I am ashamed to admit I am yet to watch Notting Hill (1999) but I did spot a shop referencing the film. It was peaceful walking around the colourful streets of Notting Hill, and I did spot several influencers in the wild (can't blame them it's a beautiful neighbourhood).

Portobello Road market is great for jewellery, books and unique clothing. I spotted a vendor selling copies of the earlier editions of the Harry Potter books, vendors selling unique leather jackets and one lady selling beautiful handmade cardigans that tempted me.

Portobello Road market is less intense than Camden market and is filled with hidden gems.

For just two days, we certainly managed to fit a lot in. I do advise that if traveling to London to have a back-up plan for transport, particularly if you have something planned for a particular time.

Of course, a huge thank you to my sister for an amazing weekend.

Margaux Martinez

Ellen Pinch

France offered him refugee status and a resident permit which allowed him to stay in the country indefinitely and legally

Nearly two decades of making an airport a home, the story of a man who was failed by governments, left to refuge in Paris airport.

Looking for inspiration for your next trip to the Capital, look no further then this 48 hour itinerary!

Image credit: [Twitter] @ajplus

made Charles De Gaulle

Cooking up a showstopper: my top 3 cooking shows Drink review: Choccy Milk

countries as well as the juniors series, you’ve got plenty of material to go through.

The Great British Bake Off:

I’ll admit, I’ve seen quite a number of reality and competition food shows. If the series has a good premise, a cool set and an interesting cast, it’s got me hook, line and sinker. It’s also just fun to put on with my boyfriend and debate over who we think should go home next. So here are my favourite cooking shows, all on a silver platter.

Masterchef:

If you’re writing about cooking shows, Gordon Ramsay has to be on your list. Despite not being as iconic and meme-worthy as its cousin, Hell’s Kitchen, aka “where is the lamb sauce”, Masterchef has tons of tension between actually skilled chefs and interesting challenges.

Castor Chan - Campus Sport Liaison Jemima Ajayi

And considering it has versions in different

Being in England, you can’t run away from The Great British Baking Show. Between Paul Hollywood and Noel Fielding, there is already so much personality in the show - and then you throw in the contestants. As we whittle down the twelve amateur bakers, there are moments of genius and hilarious scenes of disaster. And if that isn’t

Drink Masters:

I’m going to throw a curveball here. Drink Masters is a new mixology show with twelve bartenders competing for $100,000. It’s quite fastpaced, the cast is diverse, and it’s such a fascinating watch as they all whip up technical, yet creative drinks. Most of the mixologists really get you to root for them, and paired with some of the spectacular cocktails and effects, you should definitely at least give

Ross Bennet - Opinion sub-editor

‘Shaken Udder’s Chocolush! Milkshake’. You heard me. The distinct shapely nature of the bottle; its luscious Belgian chocolatey goodness – Belgian chocolate, the good kind – travelling down your throat. Truly no bet ter pick from the Student Union's Co-op.

Image credit: Instagram @britishbakeoff

here is one drink, one special drink which is offered within the halls of the Student Un ion’s Co-op, that stirs vigour into the hearts of men and fascination in the minds of women. One drink that is impossible to beat, one drink that makes the Co-op trip so worthwhile.Why do I describe this like so? If you have to ask that question, you've simply never tasted it - never dared to venture into your deepest, most hidden desires. It's simple: you walk into the Student Un ion's Co-op, purchase the drink, shake it with excited passion and then…then you taste it. Savour the feeling as you'll never taste some thing as spectacular as that beverage again.

Sobremesa:

Saturday: you’re charity shop hopping down Chillingham Road. However, you can’t concen trate because you’re hungry. A Tesco meal deal would suffice, but you want something exciting whilst equally affordable. That’s when you see it: a little black restaurant. There’s a lunch deal: £6.00 sandwich and a coffee. Don’t be misled by the word ‘sandwich’ - this is an independent Spanish-inspired restaurant. Therefore ‘sandwich’ means a soft baguette, saltysweet serrano ham, zesty

Saturday the 26th of November marked Small Business Day. So, if you haven’t done so already, allow me to suggest a few ways you could commemorate the occasion this weekend.

The Star and Shadow Cinema:

Friday: you’re at the independent cinema for the first time in a while. You arrive early and to your surprise, the place has completely trans formed. There are little clusters of tables and chairs, walls decorated with artsy posters and at the back, there’s a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf filled with hundreds of volumes. A sign that reads ‘The Canny Little Library’, explains that you can bor row a maximum of 3 books per month. You order a coffee from their volunteer-run café and maybe you’ll do a bit of light reading while you wait.

Warwick Street

Order

Manchego cheese, and fresh juicy to matoes. You sit outdoors, autumn sun on your face, as you tuck into your scrumptious snack.

207A Chillingham Road

Longsands Fish Bar: Sunday: the perfect day to spend ambling along the picturesque streets of Tynemouth and take in that fresh sea breeze. You exit the metro station and head towards the beach. But what’s this?

There's only one thing on your mind: Longsands' famous curry sauce

Image credit:Instagram @ longsandsfish

you don’t want a pub lunch, you want something simple yet tasty and filling. That’s when you see it: just on the corner, the navy-blue storefront. It’s a classic chippy with your usual selection of pies, cod, and sausages (vegan and non-vegan). But there’s only one thing on your mind: their famous curry sauce. Smooth, flavoursome, and just the right consistency. That on a portion of freshly fried chips and a drink for only £5.50 will do you just fine.

27 Front Street, Tynemouth

Image credit: Instagram @shakenudder Find out how to spend a weekend supporting local businesses!

This drink will make your whole body shiver with excitement

Three must-see cooking shows for all you foodies!

Image credit:Instagram @newenterprisestudios

Image credit:Instagram @sobremesa.ncl

There's tension between skilled chefs and interesting challenges

enough, GBBO also has a celebrity version where you can watch a blend of famous faces like KSI, Motsi Mabuse, Johanna Konta and James McAvoy.

Image credit:Instagram @bitesizevacay

T

Supporting small businesses in and around Newcastle...

Ticketmaster faces legal fallout after Taylor Swift fiasco

Rowan Christina Driver - Music Sub-editor

Swift herself released a statement via Instagram Stories on 18 November, after days of fans calling for her to speak out on the matter. “It goes without saying that I’m extremely protective of my fans”, she stated.

Describing the ordeal as “excruciating” to watch, Swift emphasised her infuriation at Ticketmaster, yet avoided any explicit naming of the company.

“I’m not going to make excuses for anyone because we asked them, multiple times, if they could handle this kind of demand and we were assured they could.”

he said.

“We hope to help the consumers understand their rights.”

Vigilante Legal have also created infographics and templates containing “all the laws we believe were violated by Ticketmaster’s actions”, he added.

Burger was also keen to stipulate that the fault in this case does not lie with Swift, but instead firmly with Ticketmaster.

Taking on Taylor Swift rarely ends (all too) well, and Ticketmaster have become the latest to suffer the 32-year-old singer’s wrath.

The ticketing and events giant received a tsunami of backlash following its botched handling of sales for the US leg of coveted star Swift’s upcoming ‘Eras Tour’ last week.

The tour, which comes following the release of her 10th studio album Midnights last month, will be Swift’s first since 2018.

Two days of chaotic presales saw millions of fans waiting hours in virtual queues to purchase tickets. The ticketing service then proceeded to cancel Friday’s planned general on-sale for Swift’s tour due to “insufficient remaining ticket inventory” in a move that was met with widespread criticism.

Many Swifties were left disappointed and frustrated by the repeated site crashes and wait times they experienced. Of those who did manage to make it onto the site, countless reported unfair pricing despite Swift having opted out of the ‘Dynamic Pricing’ system, as well as system errors at checkout which resulted in lost tickets.

Statements have appeared left, right and centre as the involved parties attempt to establish where the blame lies.

She then added: “It’s truly amazing that 2.4 million people got tickets, but it really pisses me off that a lot of them feel like they went through several bear attacks to get them.”

A response was issued by Ticketmaster on Saturday, 19 November, both explaining the week’s events and apologising to Swift and her fans.

Blaming “the staggering number of bot attacks as well as fans who didn’t have codes” for the “unprecedented traffic” the site was subjected to, Ticketmaster estimated just 15% of interactions experienced issues.

Swift may be protective of her fans, but this latest debacle has demonstrated just how fiercely protective they are too, of both Swift and each other. Some Swifties have even chosen to take matters into their own hands in the fight to hold Ticketmaster accountable for their shortcomings, forming the Vigilante Legal group. Jordan Burger, co-CEO of the newly formed campaign, is among those using his professional experience in law against the company.

“I personally view this as a matter of fundamental fairness and equity,” Burger told The Courier.

Burger outlined how the group, comprising professionals from law, media, cybersecurity and activism backgrounds, are aiding those affected by the “egregious” tactics used by Ticketmaster. “We are currently providing consumers with toolkits to help them file their own complaints against Ticketmaster with their state’s attorney general”,

The discourse surrounding Ticketmaster’s problematic monopoly over live events and ticketing transcends the Swift debacle and nobody, it seems, is rooting for this anti-hero.

US politicians have announced they will investigate the company over concerns regarding dominance and a “lack of competition in the ticketing industry”, said senator Amy Klobuchar. The US senate antitrust panel are reportedly scheduling a hearing to address “how consolidation in the live entertainment and ticketing industry harms customers and artists alike.”

Klobuchar added that last week’s fiasco “shows how Ticketmaster’s dominant market position means the company does not face any pressure to continually innovate and improve” yet refrained from mentioning Swift by name.

The Justice Department is also said to be looking into the legality of the monopoly preserved by the company in an investigation which predates this most recent dud.

Lyric of t h e Week

2023 Grammy nominations

The nominations for the 2023 Grammy Awards were announced on 15th November, ahead of the ceremony on 5th February next year.

Beyoncé leads this year’s list of nominations, hoping to increase her already impressive collection of Grammy Awards. As was expected, considering its critical and commercial success, Beyoncé’s latest album, Renaissance, features heavily in this year’s nominations. The genre-spanning album received eight nods for awards including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year (the latter two for its lead single, ‘Break My Soul’). With an additional nomination for ‘Be Alive’, written for the film ‘King Richard’, Beyoncé’s nine nominations place her joint top of the list of most Grammy nominations ever, alongside her husband, Jay-Z.

Also nominated in the three biggest categories of the night is Kendrick Lamar, who comes second in the nominations tally, with eight nods for his album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Lamar will face tough competition in his fourth bid to win Album of the Year, however, not only from Beyoncé, but from artists including Lizzo (Special), Harry Styles Harry’s House), and Grammy favourite Adele

). If he loses out there, though, the relatively weak competition found in the work of his fellow Best Rap Album nominees positions him as the overwhelming favourite to take his third win in that category.

Best New Artist, an established star-maker, is, as ever, one of the more interesting categories at these awards. Recent winners include the likes Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and Dua Lipa. The current list of nominees include 2021 Eurovision Winners Måneskin, Anderson .Paak-endorsed DOMi & JD Beck, and the divisive, yet undeniably fresh, British indie band Wet Leg.

As is typically the case, this year’s Grammy nominations are not without controversy, both in regard to who received nominations, and who did not. Chris Brown received a nomination for Best R&B Album (Breezy), despite an infamous domestic violence conviction in 2009, in the wake of an incident involving his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. Dave Chapelle and Louis C.K. both received nods in the Best Comedy Album category, despite the former’s recent transphobic comments, and the latter’s admittance to committing multiple acts of sexual harassment. Artists snubbed by this year’s nominations include Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, and Ed Sheeran.

The 2023 Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday 5th February 2023 in Los Angeles, and will be hosted for the third time by comedian Trevor Noah. The ceremony will be available to watch in the UK via a livestream on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and official website.

Martha Lilli Probert

Children of the 60's telling us to slow it down, guess they've watched too many hippies getting buried in the ground

Demands are mounting for the company to be held accountable after Swift's 'Eras Tour' ticket sale ended in disaster.

Image Credit:Instagram @taylornation

'No label, no backing, all Reytons' - Interview with The Reytons' Johnny Yerrell

Arthur Ferridge - Sports Sub-editor

The Reytons are one of the UK’s fastest growing indie rock exports, priding themselves on their high energy tracks and fully independent production strategy.

Fresh off the back of a hectic summer festival schedule, Reytons are back on the road with the Uninvited Tour, a precursor to the release of their second studio album What’s Rock and Roll, which will see them hit Newcastle NX on December 3, 2022. We sat down with the band’s lead singer Johnny Yerrel to chat about the new album, the tour life, and the expanding into Europe.

You've just announced your new album, What's Rock and Roll. How excited are you to be releasing it?

Yeah, we're really excited for it. We're a fully independent band, so I feel like the whole campaign is built on the idea “no label, no backing, all Reytons,” and we're just trying to prove now that we've got to this point where we really can do it ourselves, and you don't need a massive budget or loads of experience behind you to achieve these things, you've just got to have a lot of passion and work hard. We've got a lot of great supporters out there as you can see on this tour that are really backing this band, and we're just really excited to see what we can achieve 100% independently.

How do you think this album measures up to your first?

Yeah, I think so. In terms of the style and the production we try and step up the production and the quality wherever we can, but in terms of the style, you know, we enjoy what we do. We're not trying to change that. We're not trying to go travel the world and find ourselves. We're just trying to do what we enjoy, so there's not too much change in style or genre, but I feel like it's our best work yet and I'm keen to see what people think when you get to listen

to it.

Have you been happy with the reception for the singles you've released?

Yeah, definitely. 'Avalanche' follows a more predictable Reytons track, it's the first thing that we're dropping off the album, so it had to come with that energy and hype. With 'Cash in Hand and Fake IDs,' I would be keen to see the response for that one because it's not as obvious a style for us, it is a little bit different to what we usually do.

I feel like some fans aren’t quite sure about it and some have loved it, but I'd rather make music where people absolutely love it or absolutely hate it rather than have people just go "Yeah, it's alright.” We're not trying to move the goalposts, we're just trying to step up what we've done in the past. We know what the fans like, so there’ll be more stories, more catchy riffs and just stuff that you can get out there and have a good time to.

Can you tell us a bit about some of the

make this bigger?

Let’s talk a bit about the Uninvited Tour. How’s it going so far?

Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Rock City on Friday night was probably one of the best gigs we've done to date, and we’ve done quite a lot of gigs, but something has changed with the energy. I don't know what shifted but it’s a lot wilder than it has been and it was already fucking wild to start with. There's a lot of venues that I can't wait to play like The Barrowlands in Glasgow and Leeds O2 Academy, which is sort of a hometown show. These are massive rooms as well. We're playing NX in Newcastle, another big room. We leave every gig we do thinking "It can't get any bigger like this. This is great. I'm happy with this," but then it exceeds expectation every time you go back out so yeah, it’s just been wild, mate. It's a roller coaster.

Your show at the Boiler Shop back in March was electric. Are you looking forward to coming back

I really enjoyed seeing the atmosphere build. It's something different in the water up there, isn't it? I can't wait to get back at it.

Who were your support acts for this tour? We’ve got The Clause, which are a Birmingham band, we were playing O2 Institute on the same night and we all got talking. They're just a great indie band and the crowd loved them, so we got them out on tour. Then there's Lottery Winners from Wigan, great, great band, really tight but also just fucking really funny, really good entertainers, they are a genuinely tough act to follow, really tricky. They’re all hilarious, they get everyone in a good mood. If you don’t like the people you’re with, tour just isn’t possible. You do get exhausted especially with some of the nights where you're going on like four hours sleep if you're lucky and you're gonna get ratty with people and if they're not in good nature to start with, it's not gonna work. You don't have to be in each other's pockets all the time, but you're in the same building and that's enough, so you have to have a laugh and they definitely tick all the boxes for us.

What is your most memorable live show

I mean, obviously from first time we played O2 Academy in Sheffield maybe, that was something I never thought we'd get to do. It felt amazing at the time but going into festivals like TRNSMT or Victorious when you’re at opposite ends of the country and then you walk out and everyone's singing your songs back to you word for word, that's kind of mind blowing. We’ve just come back from the Netherlands, and again everyone was singing word for word, but then they can't even speak to us after because there's that language barrier. They know our songs but we can't even communicate, all we can say is thank you at the end of it. I think that's really opened my eyes this year. I think every gig we do we're just so grateful to be there. If every gig we do is the last one we ever do we'll die happy.

UK’s singles charts turns 70

The UK’s singles chart turned 70 years old this November and this milestone has stirred up conversations over its modernday relevance.

Previously “if an artist went to number one in the decades after the chart’s 1952 inception, it would guarantee them household name status,” commented Sky news. “With the new millennium came streaming and downloads and the end of big music shows such as Top Of The Pops” all diminishing the charts influence and relevance today.

The singles chart is an “unruly hodgepodge of gimmicky collaborations, TikTok spin offs and YouTube viral sensations”, wrote Neil McCormick, chief music critic for the Telegraph, as he described the chart as an “absurd anachronism” and firmly believes its “time to scrap it”.

Alex Petridis, head commentator for pop and rock music at The Guardian commented, “its grip on public imagination seems to have slackened completely…When was the last time you read a news piece about a hotly contested ‘battle’ for No 1?” he asked readers. The chart's “traditional audience of tweens and twentysomethings” have listening habits that “changed completely as a result of streaming”, explained Petridis. This means that, at 70, the singles chart “finds itself largely unloved, ignored and dismissed as irrelevant”.

Streaming was added to the singles chart in 2014 and although the way it is measured has changed, in the UK, 100 paid streams or 600 free streams more or less equal one sold copy; many feel this factor has made the chart irrelevant compared to the days when only physical record sales determined positions.

Nick Duerden wrote in The Independent that “over its lifetime, the chart has taken both the country’s cultural pulse and set its agenda” and “while the chart may be quieter now, a shadow of

its former self…who, at 70, isn’t?” Duerden added that it “lives on, a tirelessly dedicated shop window to what’s up, what’s down, and who, for the next seven days at least, is reigning supreme, top of the pops”.

Danny Corr, head of marketing at Roadrunner Records, told Vice, “The charts still inform a lot of people about what’s going on and what artists they should look out for.”

Indeed, said NME networks, while “a new generation of kids may be getting their music for free”, at the same time they are “getting into more music than ever” and the charts are “healthier now than they’ve ever been”.

While the charts have drifted from what they once were they still have a purpose as trend predictors, talent pushers and musical informants to the masses. While they aren’t used as frequently as they were and they no longer predict who the most popular artist of the day is, the charts are fighting to find their place in this modern world of streaming and constant technological advances.

Poppy Bedford

Image Credit:Instagram @thereytons

Blockbuster - not just the stores that were a flop Settle into 'sofa season' - a hygge approach to winter

Imogen Smillie - TV sub-editor

Suffering the same fate as the original stores, Netflix’s new workplace sitcom probably won’t stand the test of time. And, as cheesy as it sounds, was a complete bust! Minor spoilers ahead in case you fancy a binge.

This 10-part series is based loosely on the story of the last ever Blockbuster store. At 30 minutes an episode, yet again, we have an easily bingeable show that doesn’t take much brain power to consume – perfect background noise in my opinion. But despite its predecessors, this show just doesn’t have the same spark that other comfort comedies do.

US sitcoms are still able to sell those cheesy one liners - if you miss them, you’ve missed a speck of comedy gold peeking through an otherwise grey space.

In their new radio advert, BBC iPlayer have dubbed the winter months ‘sofa season’. But does this encourage lazy behaviour?

not only do we have the stresses of world problems taking their toll on us this winter, but the season itself also overloads us with internal struggles, which gives us good reason to be especially kind to ourselves and take time to unwind. Watching TV can help the mind switch off from the day’s tensions and let us rejuvenate; there’s a reason why some people have ‘comfort’ shows – they provide just that! Therefore, watching these shows, chilling on the sofa, and taking a moment to withdraw yourself from the struggles of the dayto-day realties of living in winter months can be extremely beneficial.

From the writers of the much beloved Brooklyn 99 and Superstore, lots of sitcom fans (including myself) had very high hopes for the next instalment of workplace chaos. Melissa Fumero (Amy Santiago in Brooklyn 99) stars as Eliza alongside series frontrunner, Randall Park ( who plays Timmy. Portraying fairly similar characters to those we’re used to, these two seem shoe-horned into creating a relationship. To me, it feels awkward and stilted that these characters, who have known each other since high school, are now forming a romantic relationship in the dingy staff room of a strip mall Blockbuster on the verge of bankruptcy. Despite the awkward, forced writing of the more emotional aspects of the show, these veterans of

Since the stores bankruptcy in the early 2010’s, watching films and television has never been the same. Now the competition for streaming sights is heating up with Disney+ and Apple TV putting Netflix in imminent danger. By releasing new originals such as Blockbuster, unfortunately Netflix have recently learnt the term 'karma' –the streaming sight is one of the main reasons Blockbuster stores shut down, and here they have created another flop in their honour, carrying on the legacy if you will. Clearly, in this modern world full of competitive streaming, Blockbuster was never meant to thrive, in any format. So despite the brilliant film references, classic snappy one liners, and in the spirit of togetherness, Blockbuster –

In a climate of miserable weather, cold & flu season, and low temperatures, it’s no secret that the winter months can be exhausting for everyone. And that’s not to mention the added pressures resting on the shoulders of students, with deadlines, living costs and housing crisis, so surely, we are all entitled to relaxing on the sofa for a few hours at the end of arduous days stuck in the library or attending lectures.

Due to the lack of sunlight in winter, our bodies suffer immensely, with a sufficient lack of vitamin D, and a drop of serotonin levels. This can cause mood changes, such as feelings of depression, or in some cases, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This lack of vitamin D, which helps keep the immune system running efficiently, makes us more vulnerable to illness. The cold weather means that we spend more time inside, in confined spaces, which have poor ventilation. Germs linger in the air, and we are more exposed to them, leading to a greater chance of catching colds & flu. Therefore,

Whilst it is, of course, important to get outside during the winter months, it is equally as necessary to take time to relax, and if that happens to take place on the sofa watching BBC iPlayer, then so be it!

Grey's Anatomy - the show that never ends...

Elžbieta Voverytė - Travel sub-editor

Let me preface this by saying that I was more than a decade late to the whole Grey’s Anatomy craze. And yet, now I’m in the same boat as every other Grey’s fan – still waiting to see how the whole story will wrap up years later. Although I haven’t been as loyal as others – I stopped watching the series back in Season 17. Since the internet was flooded with pictures of Ellen Pompeo (finally) leaving the show, I’ve decided to dig into it although I have to be honest, couldn’t bring myself to actually watch the new season that aired on Disney+ just month ago, and here’s why.

The main actors left a long time ago and frankly, I couldn’t

care less about the new storylines. I’ve had more than a dozen seasons to get used to characters I both hate and adore and the new introduction of various romantic interests for Meredith, or young interns that can’t even compare to the original MAGIC, is just making me angry.

The only reason I kept watching until Season 17 was to see Jesse Williams and Sarah Drew bring back my favorite couple back on the screen after undeserved split Shonda Rhimes so cruelly threw at Japril fans. And after they got their happily ever after, I stopped. Didn’t even finish the season because it was just so dull.

Grey's should’ve ended ages ago

Judging by the synopsis and its trailer, the final episode of Season 19 ‘Thunderstorm’ sounds like an exact replica of Season 9 ‘Perfect Storm’ - if I can remember it, having watched the series just once, the devoted fans can too. Even comparing it to the other finales, a major accident and one of their own being critically injured after their best friend at the hospital tried to reach them all morning and didn’t hear back? Yeah, been there, done that.

There’s no discussion – Grey's should’ve ended ages ago. It’s become repetitive, the characters have little to no development and most episodes

feel like a checklist for PC content. I loved how Grey’s used to acknowledge current issues in their previous seasons (e.g., the infamous ‘Silent all these years’ episode with the hallway scene), however, now, most of it feels forced.

But don’t take my word for it. Instead take US viewership numbers over the years – they started to gradually decrease after Season 10 (12.12m) and now it has dropped as low as 6.42 million in Season 18. The newest season is expected to gain even less views. While these might still feel like big numbers, they’re significantly lower in comparison (the first three seasons had around 19 million viewers).

Although I spent most of this piece arguing that Grey’s should be stopped, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a great show – in fact, the opposite. I binged the first 10 seasons during the lockdown, cried and cried at all the deaths, departures and heartwarming moments. After all, no other fandom has lost as many beloved characters in such unexpected and cruel ways as Grey’s. Even so, knowing when to end a series is just an important as the storyline itself and the directors of Grey’s Anatomy have failed at this.

Best of luck to the most persevering fans –hope the fruit of your bitter patience will be tasty. I, however, will not be joining you.

After 19 long Seasons, is it finally time to say farewell to Meredith and her anatomy?

Blockbuster was never meant to thrive

This show just doesn’t have the same spark as other comfort comedies do

Image credit: IMDB

Feeling comfy and cosy this sofa season? Well that's just lazy!

Daisy Harrison - Food & Drink Sub-Editor

Of course, it's important to get outside during the winter months

We are all entitled to relaxing on the sofa for a few hours at the end of arduous days

Image credit: IMDB

Film

Review: The Menu - Revenge is served hot in this culinary satire

Mark Mylod's film had all the ingredients for a sharp horrorcomedy, but somewhat lacked in presentation

Mark Mylod’s The Menu stars Anya Taylor-Joy (Last Night in Soho), Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel), and Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road). The film centres around Margot (Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Hoult), a couple who, along with several others, travel to the exclusive offshore restaurant of renowned chef Julian Slowik (Fiennes). However, over the course of the evening, the guests begin to discover that something twisted is occurring.

At its core, The Menu is a satire on celebrity chefs, their restaurants, and the arrogant elite who dine there. Janet McTeer plays Lillian Bloom, the pretentious food critic who first brought attention to Slowik. The film attempts to make a point about such critics, and the reputational damage they can cause to smaller restaurants, though the discussion is kept very surface-level. And sadly, this is emblematic of the movie as a whole. While The Menu attempts to address many issues, it barely scratches the surface of any of them, and frankly, left me wondering what the point was.

In fairness, Fiennes portrays Chef Slowik excellently, bringing a great deal of menace restaurant, its chef or his food. As Slowik’s offerings appear, she acts as the audience’s voice, expressing disgust – much to Tyler’s embarrassment. More than that I won’t reveal, other than to say that I

Coastal island settings have an inherent air of mystery, frequently forming the backdrop in the horror and thriller genres in both cinema

And Then There Were None , the island lends an ominous atmosphere to many scenes, particularly those set outside. The setting is also crucial to maintaining an air of tension, knowing the characters are very much trapped on the island with no clear means of escape.

The set design for the restaurant is deliberately opulent but, in a cold, sterile way; it lacks personality. This is reflected in the food which, while intricately planned and executed, is ultimately hollow and prepared without

Review: The Wonder proves a surprise treat

Pugh excels in yet another movie as she battles between the spiritual and scientific in this mysteriously troubling period drama.

as the other characters try to use her to prove their own fantasies and ideals. As we soon found out, everything is not as it seems as we delve into the bleak Irish scene of 1862 and follow English nurse Elizabeth ‘Lib’ Wright (Florence Pugh) on

The Wonder does provide an element of chilling oppression and manipulation, with the scenery of the harsh Irish setting and dulled colour palette adding to a hostile atmosphere. Although I really enjoyed the movie overall, with

experiencing different stages of grief and having their fair share of heartache. Overall, I would definitely recommend it to others due to its distinctiveness; however, it just needs a little sharpening in a couple of areas to make it a true masterpiece.

mysteries from start to finish. 3.5/5

George Lowes

Esther Arnold

Image credit: Twitter- @Lulamaybelle

Image credit: Twitter-@CinemaTweets1, @FilmUpdates

War of the Christmas films

Home Alone (1990) A Muppet's Christmas Carol (1992)

Daisy Harrison - Food & Drink Sub-Editor

Christmas films. Even the biggest Grinch has a favourite. Whether that be an oldie, like Life

Maybe even one from the genre of horror-Christmas, such as these films are all festive in their own right, I can only ever give the top spot in the hierarchy of Christmas films to Alone, closely followed by Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for a Christmas film, with Elf and Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation certainly being towards the top of my list. But anyone who knows me knows that I will defend Home Alone until the day I die. It’s got every element you ever need in a Christmas film: festive feels, comedy, nostalgia, and killer soundtrack!

Some may say that the plot of Home Alone is immature and past its

time, but I would argue that it’s got jokes to cater for all ages, and each time I watch it, I find myself clocking onto a new, beautifully curated punchline. Plus, Christmas films are meant to feel somewhat childish, as this only adds to the nostalgic, magical element of them. I truly get goose bumps Home Alone, which is something Netflix Originals such as The The Princess Switch could never achieve. If you’re struggling to get into a Christmassy mood, I strongly urge you to watch those perfect 103 minutes of cinematic genius, as you will immediately feel ready to deck the halls and jingle

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!

Rachael McCreanor - Head of Culture

To me, Christmas means one thing and one thing only – Brian Henson’s 1992 masterpiece, The Muppet Christmas Carol. After watching it approximately fifty times over my life so far, I feel like I can be considered to be a leading authority on this work of art, and therefore can confidently recommend this film to literally everyone – if you’re looking for a crowd pleaser, this is it.

The story itself is a holiday staple, you can’t move for Christmas Carol renditions haunting your screens throughout December – the severely traumatic 2009 animated version remains burnt into my brain to this day. But, out of all of the iterations to appear over the years, The Muppet’s is by far the best. It’s got it all – creepy CGI ghost children, Michael Caine, and the experience of forming an emotional attachment to a rat... what more could you possibly want?

Despite its ridiculousness, it’s also the only Christmas film that never fails to get me in the festive spirit. It’s warm, funny, and above all, simple. I’m not looking for drama in a Christmas film, I want to pretend that the world is perfect, everyone gets a happy ending and the bells really do ring out for Christmas Day. Basically,

Nativity! (2009)

Jenica Davis - Lifestyle Sub-Editor

With Christmas films creeping back onto our screens again, it is the season to sparkle and shine! Nativity hasn’t been in the game for as long as some other Christmas classics, but it is nonetheless still a staple amongst the ranks and should be at the top of everyone’s Christmas

Mr Madden, a primary school teacher, who embodies a Grinch type of loathing for Christmas, is set with the task of directing the school’s annual Nativity play – much to his dismay. However, this year he has a helper, who brings a lot of bizarre ideas to the table.

New teacher, Mr Poppy, certainly gives Will Ferrell’s Buddy from Elf a run for

his money when it comes to spreading Christmas cheer. It’s safe to say that opposites did not attract at first with Mr Madden and Mr Poppy, but from bickering to best friends, it truly is a feel-good film. Centred around school and family, Nativity is crammed with childhood nostalgia – an essential ingredient for any Christmas film. In terms of the nostalgia scale, I may be biased having grown up in England, but I believe that it’s a film perfect for the whole family.

Last but not least, if musicals float your boat, is not too far off the

Preview: John Wick: Chapter 4

McKeown - Film Sub-Editor

The long awaited first look at the fourth instalment of the 'John Wick' franchise has been released and it's filled with more famous faces and the incredible fight choreography the audience expects from the franchise.

Originally slated for a May 2021 release the same week as The Matrix: Resurrections, the other major Keanu Reeves franchise, John Wick: Chapter 4 has been in the works for longer than anticipated. The last instalment John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum came out back in May 2019 and it didn't take long for the fourth film and a spin-off Ballerina to be announced, starring Ana de Armas (No Time to Die, Blonde, Knives Out).

The trailer reintroduces us to some familiar faces such as Ian Mcshane's Winston and fellow Matrix star Laurence Fishburne's Bowery King. During the third film, Winston and the Bowery King were told to resign from the mysterious High Table due to their affiliation with John Wick. Whilst Winston is able to resume his position as manager at The Continental, Wick and the Bowery King team up to take down the High Table at the end of the film, a plot Chapter 4 will most definitely explore.

The audience is also introduced to new

characters with famous faces. In a blink-andyou'll-miss-it moment, I spotted Natalie Tena, known for her roles in the 'Harry Potter' films and Game of Thrones. It is unclear in the trailer what her role in the story will be, but she shortly appears after Winston tells Wick that his family sits at the Table. Could Tena be playing a relative of Wick? We also see Bill Skarsgård's Marquis de Gramont, who appears to be challenged by Wick. Skarsgård is best known for playing Pennywise in the 'IT' films, supernatural Hemlock Grove and most recently starred in Barbarian, released a few weeks ago. It also appears that Donnie Yen's Caine will be a major player in the film, clearly an antagonist to Wick. Yen is best known for his many martial arts roles in films and starred in 2016's Rogue One, XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017) and the live-action Mulan (2020).

As expected from the franchise, we see some incredible fight choreography even in this two-and-a-half-minute trailer, especially from Reeves and Yen. I like that they continue to use neon lights like in Parabellum particularly rather than a dull and gritty colour palette. I expect the film won't disappoint upon its release next year. But is it the end for John Wick? Evidently not as Lionsgate has already confirmed a fifth film, suggesting that Wick probably won't take down the High Table just yet.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is set to be released in March 2023

I want to feel like a child for 90 minutes and that

Image credit: Twitter-@EDCouncil

Image credit: Twitter-@DailyMuppetOTD

With the 2022 holiday season fast approaching, you are probably going to put on an iconic Christmas film. Our sub-editors share their thoughts on what the best Christmas film is. Do you agree?

Jessica

With a high kill count, the John Wick films promise more action and more famous faces in Chapter 4

92 Museum Directors speak out against climate protests

the protest then is this the right way to protest?

Museum Directors VS Climate Protesters: Right or Wrong?

The recent bout of climate protests, targeting paintings with various food items, have been hotly debated by many and have come under fire once again. The museum directors have decided to show their disapproval, heating up the controversy once more; though not to the extent that climate change is heating up our planet.

A statement signed by 100 museum directors, including those of the Louvre, Guggenheim, and the British Museum, declared how they were “deeply shaken by (the art’s) risky endangerment”. They appeared very concerned that the activists “severely underestimate the fragility of these irreplaceable objects”, whilst failing to acknowledge the environment’s fragility. However, admittedly, it would be very surprising if a museum director supported the (attempted) destruction of famous art, but, their statement does beg the question: are these “irreplaceable objects” the wrong things upon which to enact protest?

The victims of the protest have been attracting more attention than the object of the protest itself: climate change. Indeed, the museum directors’ response ignores the environment in favour of “our cultural heritage”. If the upset over these paintings overshadows the issue of

However, there has never been a ‘right’ way to protest - any protest is better than none. Indeed, the more ‘conventional’ ways of protest have been utterly exhausted by the Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, and the like. Walking with posters and chanting has not worked. Even the many

attempts to halt traffic or the underground have failed to enact the change so sorely needed.

phoneme

by Martha Lilli Probert

The Autumn Report only confirms this need for a more radical, more unique protest. Climate change was mentioned just once whilst nature restoration and agricultural reform was notably absent. The Government is taking the same response to the protests as the museum directors: ignore the root of the issues that are causing these protests, and hope that it all goes away. However, climate change is not going to disappear, and neither are the protests.

As Margaret Klein Salamon, Executive Director of the Climate Emergency Fund, stated in her response to the museum directors, “more protests are coming [...] so buckle up.” And, in light of the fragility of our environment, I have to say that the fragility of these art pieces is unlikely to take precedence - something the museum directors will have to put up with until our government takes serious action to prevent the destruction of our home.

crave is a strange word acrid c made hungrier by growling r –briefly ameliorated with elongated, yearning a –before returning to visceral v (eventide – dovetail – woven)

, -ve.

you make words I’ve heard and read a thousand times cut into me; yet, doubled over, I am still with open hands, a sunflower. sunflower: soft, supple s, free-flowing fl, wanting w, quietly resolute r.

Away from the heir, the world anticipates Prince 'Spare'

Sam Norman - Comment sub-editor

Prince Harry set to release book, "Spare" January 2023

With every passing week, the soap opera that is the British Royals spirals further, and the newest standout on their timeline of the drama is the looming release of Prince Harry’s tell-all book ‘Spare.’

From January 8th 2020 when Harry and Meghan announced they were “stepping back

as senior members” of the Royal Family, there has been an ongoing build to their next bombshell. Just over a year later, their Oprah interview aired, and secrets were let out of the bag, but there has always been a lingering feeling amongst the public that there is much more untold. Now, set just after 3 years from the scandalous interview, his book is slated to be released January 10th 2023 as reported by the New York Times. Novelist J. R. Moehringer will be working as a ghostwriter, in a deal that is sure to generate millions. Harry himself has pledged that $1.5 million of proceeds will go towards the charity Sentebale, while £300,000 towards WellChild.

The obvious reference to the British phrase “heir and a spare” suggests a clear distinct attitude

'One Off' at Live Theatre

Trigger Warnings for addiction and suicide

Ric Renton's One Off made its debut at Newcastle's Live Theatre this November, his second play of 2022. Drawing upon his own experiences as a troubled youth who wound up doing a stint in jail, One Off is a moving play that highlighted a flawed prison system.

With the entirety of the play set in Durham prison, the stage is creatively composed of three platforms and a separate room behind a transparent screen. The three platforms serve as the cells of our three inmates - Shepherd, Brown and Knox. The room behind the screen serves as the corridor that night officer Jock watches from and later the solitary cells. One thing I noted throughout the performance was the clever use of lighting particularly to switch out who was in the solitary cell and to indicate how time was passing.

The play sensitvely tackles drug addiction and suicide in prisons. In a heart-breaking moment

half-way through the play, the character of Brown, suffering from a heroin addiction, takes his own life after a stint in solitary. The character had been a bit of comic relief earlier in the play and shows how individuals get stuck in a cycle of being in and out of jail and not receiving the help they need. The prevalence of and dismissal of suicide in prisons is talked about by Renton in the description for the play:

"One Off was all the dignity afforded to those who could take no more. No names. Not even their number. One off. I am DV7786. And I write this for all the dead boys, and for night watchman Jock, who, without his invisible, persistent presence, unseen in the corridors of HMP Durham, I too may have just been another One Off."

Despite this the play is sprinkled with humourous moments between the three inmates and the night guard Jock that had the audience laughing out loud. It is very deeply rooted in the North East, filled with Geordie slang and Newcastle football chants.

It is poignant and gets the audience to see prisoners as more than a number and is well worth a watch.

towards his own place in his family. Publishers have claimed the book “takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century; two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow – and horror.”

Anticipating the release, rumours are circulating between tensions between the Sussex and Kensington Royals. Many outlets are reporting Kate’s attempted communication to Harry, worried over the damage the book could do to future King William’s reputation. Royal Biographer Angela Levin has referred to the book as a “tragedy” to even title the memoir ‘Spare’ with the implication “nobody wanted him.” Despite hesitance, there has

been much awaited excitement with Buzzfeed’s celebrity reporter Stephanie Soteriou taking to Twitter to refer to the titling of the memoir as “iconic.”

‘Spare’ is available to pre-order from all major book retailers including Amazon, Waterstones, and WH Smith, with the hardcover price £13.99.

Prince Harry will also be narrating an audiobook version.

Image credit: Goodreads

Banksy Murals in Ukraine

The British artist Banksy has confirmed to The Art Newspaper he is behind seven murals that have appeared throughout Ukraine in some of the places hit hardest by the conflict, these include the capital Kyiv, the suburb of Irpin, and the town of Borodyanka.

The artist posted three images of his mural depicting a gymnast balancing on an existing pile of rubble on his Instagram captioned ‘Borodyanka, Ukraine’. He later posted a video, showing a male hand painting some of the other murals, within which he talks to locals affected by the conflict. A woman explains in the video that one of the murals has been painted near the site of the kindergarten that her daughter attended before the breakout of war. She says to her daughter, “don’t cry, honey. We already cried so much; we don’t have

many tears left.” Borodyanka was invaded by Russian soldiers in February this year, before being liberated in April.

Another mural shows a little boy in a martial arts uniform flipping an older man onto his back. Some have made the connection between the man in this painting and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as his honorary black belt was revoked earlier this year by World Taekwondo. Despite this being a logical connection, Banksy has not commented on these speculations.

After confirming his authorship of the gymnast mural, and the other six paintings, many Ukrainians took to social media to thank the artist for his support in face of the ongoing invasion. However, this is not the first time the artists’ work has been associated with Ukraine. In March, a print of one of Banksy’s most famous pieces, CND Soldiers, was auctioned at £81,000 to raise money for a children’s hospital in Kyiv.

Amelie Baker

If the upset over these paintings overshadows the issue of the protest, is this the right way to protest?

Image credit: informed.app on Instagram

Katy Anya McEwan

Image credit: @banksy via Instagram

Jessica Mckeown - Film sub-editor

Across

1. Harry ___, Current England captain playing in the 2022 World Cup. (4)

3. Released Holiday in 1983. (7)

7. Coffee-flavoured desert. (8)

8. Joint connecting the femur to the tibia. (4)

11. Spanish island famous for its nightlife. (5)

12. 2013 sci-fi film starring Matt Damon. (7)

13. Ivy league university that was the first to offer PhDs in America. (4)

15. Slow and calm tempo. (6) 17. Punctuation, three dots. (8) 20. Egyptian god of death. (6) 22. Region in central Italy famous for its art. (7) 24. Scam. (3) 26. Fill in the blank: "Hello ____, my old friend" (8) 27. Netflix wrestling comedy-drama. (4)

Down

1. Lord who featured on WWI recruitment posters. (9)

Joke of the Week:

A cheese factory exploded in France. Da brie is everywhere!

Nonogram

Created by Rhys Mason

2. Fifth Roman emperor. (4)

3. A follower of Islam. (6)

4. A large tree which bears acorns. (3) 5. The highest point. (4) 6. A small cartoon image used in texting. (5) 9. American group that advocates the right to bear arms. (1,1,1)

10. To cover something thinly with gold. (4)

14. Side dish consisting of shredded cabbage and dressing. (8) 15. The largest continent. (4) 16. Greta ___, Highly-regarded

Swedish-American actress. (5)

18. Slang for a sandwich. (6)

19. Comics company behind Batman and Superman. (1,1)

21. Protagonist of The Matrix. (3) 22. Father ___, comedy about priests. (3)

23. Title appointed to men who have been knighted. (3)

24. Chemical symbol for Caesium. (1,1)

25. Initialism for a phrase synonymous with bad. (1,1)

George Bell

- NSR Production Manager and Courier Jester

Across

1. Harry ___, Current England captain playing in the 2022 World Cup. (4)

3. Released Holiday in 1983. (7)

7. Coffee-flavoured desert. (8)

8. Joint connecting the femur to the tibia. (4)

11. Spanish island famous for its nightlife. (5)

12. 2013 sci-fi film starring Matt Damon. (7)

13. Ivy league university that was the first to offer PhDs in America. (4)

15. Slow and calm tempo. (6) 17. Punctuation, three dots. (8) 20. Egyptian god of death. (6) 22. Region in central Italy famous for its art. (7) 24. Scam. (3) 26. Fill in the blank: "Hello ____, my old friend" (8) 27. Netflix wrestling comedy-drama. (4)

Down

1. Lord who featured on WWI recruitment posters. (9)

Joke of the Week:

A cheese factory exploded in France. Da brie is everywhere!

Nonogram

Created by Rhys Mason

2. Fifth Roman emperor. (4)

3. A follower of Islam. (6)

4. A large tree which bears acorns. (3) 5. The highest point. (4) 6. A small cartoon image used in texting. (5) 9. American group that advocates the right to bear arms. (1,1,1)

10. To cover something thinly with gold. (4)

14. Side dish consisting of shredded cabbage and dressing. (8) 15. The largest continent. (4) 16. Greta ___, Highly-regarded

Swedish-American actress. (5)

18. Slang for a sandwich. (6)

19. Comics company behind Batman and Superman. (1,1)

21. Protagonist of The Matrix. (3) 22. Father ___, comedy about priests. (3)

23. Title appointed to men who have been knighted. (3)

24. Chemical symbol for Caesium. (1,1)

25. Initialism for a phrase synonymous with bad. (1,1)

George Bell

- NSR Production Manager and Courier Jester

SPOTLIGHT:

International cricket is prioritised over the IPL A-Z SPORTING

C... is for Cycling

We spend our weekends on two wheels exploring all the countryside the North East has to offer. Across our 30 members we have a huge range of ability; from fair weather leisure rid ers to die hard fanatic racers. We strive to cater to everyone, all while maintaining a friendly supportive environment base on our common love for riding bikes.

In the last year we’ve had riders compete at time trials, crit races, road races, cyclocross races and hill climbs, with riders achieving several podium places in various categories. This impressive haul will likely increase next year as the passion for racing has only grown in recent months, hope fully we’ll be reporting some race wins this time next year.

Other than racing we have a group of people riding from Newcastle twice weekly for lei surely, chatty rides exploring the local cafés. In a couple of weeks’ time, we’ll be exploring a little further afield as we head down to the North York Moors for the first club trip of the year. There’s sure to be plenty of riding, plenty of entertainment, and plenty of socials.

The launch of the IPL and million dollar contracts that coincided with this led to players prioritising the competition over international cricket, but is the tide starting to change?

The Indian Premier League has gone through quite a few changes and challenges in the past couple of years.

Due to Covid-19's impact on the world, the IPL series had seen a shift in many procedures concerning the location and rules of the games.

A mid-season transfer was brought into the 2020 edition; the first time a mid-season transfer was introduced within the Indian Premier League.

Unfortunately, due to the virus, many players were unable to play, and new players had to be brought in to continue the

season.

The 2021 edition of the IPL also faced quite a few shortcomings involving the pandemic. There were various cases of COVID-19 forming within many bio-

United Arab Emirates, rather than in India.

The 2022 IPL was conducted from 26 March - 29th May. The champions of this edition were the Gujarat Titans. This year's tournament saw a lack in the number of players that were regulars for the league, with notable players such as Suresh Raina, Ben Stokes, Mitchell Starc, Eoin Morgan, Chris Gayle, Sam Curran, and Kyle Jamieson having opted out of the league.

Reasons why players chose not to play fluxuated between injuries and COVID-19 restrictions. Yet, a prominent reason why a handful of players had left the league this year was to focus on international games.

Moreover, Chris Woakes, Dawid Malan, and Jonny Bairstow had withdrawn to focus on England for the T20 World Cup and the Ashes, amongst Stokes and Jos Butler.

The 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup was won by England in the final against Pakistan. There were incredible performances from Stokes and Curran that allowed for the cup to be brought home to England.

The pandemic has seen a change in the usual movement of players, preferring international cricket to the IPL. Therefore showcasing

Hamilton and Alonso’s decade long feud continues in 2022

Ferridge - Sport sub-editor

D... is for Dance

Newcastle Dance Club of fers a variety of competitive and recreational training in a variety of styles! We have over 300 members this year and we have won NCL Athletics Un ion Club of the Year 20/21!

We are driven to supporting every member we have within our club, guaranteeing everyone has fun, is comfortable and is getting the most from their time with us. With weekly classes, competition teams, workshops and weekly socials - there really is something for everyone.

Each year we are so lucky to be able to travel around the UK, competing in a range of styles and abilities and bringing home many trophies to the Toon! We even host our own competition, right here on campus at the Northern Stage!

We will be having our Annual show next semester, an event where everyone in Dance Club gets involved and all families and friends are able to come and see the hard work we have put in over the year. Make sure you keep an eye out for when tickets become available if you’d like to see what we get up to!

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have been at odds for as long as they have shared the paddock. The Spaniard has seemed to resent Hamilton’s natural pace since they were

teammates back in 2007, and has once again lashed out at the 7-time World Champion in the media this week.

In an interview Alonso stated that “It is different when you win seven world titles when you have only had to fight your teammate. I think a championship has less value than when you have fewer titles, but against other drivers you have to contend with equivalent or even

better equipment.”

Hamilton responded by tweeting a photo of himself on the top step of the podium at the 2007 Indianapolis and patting the second-placed Alonso on the shoulder, paired with a patronising thumbs-up emoji in a rather plain admonishment of his ex-teammates statement.

Alonso’s bitterness towards Hamilton

has its roots in the 2007 season, in which the rookie Hamilton joined Alonso at McLaren. Alonso was in the hunt for his third consecutive title but was left stunned by Hamilton’s blistering pace. The pair came together several times that year, allowing Kimi Raikonnen to win his maiden world and leaving Alonso third in the standings and rueing missed opportunities.

England's Red Roses falter at final World Cup hurdle

McNally - Deputy Editor

Broken hearts and broken records filled the Waitakere Stadium on 12 November, as England were left rudderless with a crushing defeat against New Zealand in the World Cup final.

The match saw the Red Roses reduced to anguish, amongst a neverbefore-seen crowd of 42,579 fans, as their envied 31 Test winning streak concluded with a phantom taste of gold on their gum shields.

England roared to a 14-0 lead in just 13 minute as fullback Ellie Kildunne and hooker Amy Cokayne scored successive tries, while New Zealand's attack was wracked with nerves with fumbled turn overs and fullback Renee

Holmes missing her kick.

Minutes later Waikato winger Portia Woodman broke free down the wing, sights set on the goal line, before England's Lydia Thompson engaged in a dangerous head-on-head tackle in a pivotal match moment cited over an hour later as England's ultimate downfall.

One red card and an injury stoppage later, and England were left with just 14 players against the Black Ferns's renewed 15-strong squad with replacement winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga.

From there on in, New Zealand fired up their offensive.

An immediate try came from Holmes in the same 18th minute of matchplay as the red card announcement to see a 14-7 comeback, soon followed by Leti-I’iga's try to bring the Ferns's scoreboard up to 19-14.

Despite finding themselves a man down, the Red Roses retained the advantage with a 26-19 half-time score and notably gritty defence.

The second half brought an even fiercer rivalry to the pitch.

With wonder feats like Cokayne's 55th minute hat-trick giving England a two-point edge and relentless drives from Kiwi midfield back Stacey Fluhler.

Eventually, the numbers were equalised as New Zealand's loose forward Kennedy Simon walked off with a yellow card, giving both teams 14 players with just 15 minutes of game time left.

England still tightly gripped their two-point lead up until Leti-I’iga's second try that sealed their 31-34 loss. Despite subsequent England penalties, the Red Roses couldn't

Varsha Jayaprasad

claw black those three crucial points.

Sophie

Jake Hobbs

Sarah Castledine

Image credit: Instagram (@newcastleunicyclingclub)

Arthur

Image credit: Twitter (@SRHneedSAM)

Image credit: Twitter (@oye_nilesh)

SPOTLIGHT:

International cricket is prioritised over the IPL A-Z SPORTING

C... is for Cycling

We spend our weekends on two wheels exploring all the countryside the North East has to offer. Across our 30 members we have a huge range of ability; from fair weather leisure rid ers to die hard fanatic racers. We strive to cater to everyone, all while maintaining a friendly supportive environment base on our common love for riding bikes.

In the last year we’ve had riders compete at time trials, crit races, road races, cyclocross races and hill climbs, with riders achieving several podium places in various categories. This impressive haul will likely increase next year as the passion for racing has only grown in recent months, hope fully we’ll be reporting some race wins this time next year.

Other than racing we have a group of people riding from Newcastle twice weekly for lei surely, chatty rides exploring the local cafés. In a couple of weeks’ time, we’ll be exploring a little further afield as we head down to the North York Moors for the first club trip of the year. There’s sure to be plenty of riding, plenty of entertainment, and plenty of socials.

The launch of the IPL and million dollar contracts that coincided with this led to players prioritising the competition over international cricket, but is the tide starting to change?

The Indian Premier League has gone through quite a few changes and challenges in the past couple of years.

Due to Covid-19's impact on the world, the IPL series had seen a shift in many procedures concerning the location and rules of the games.

A mid-season transfer was brought into the 2020 edition; the first time a mid-season transfer was introduced within the Indian Premier League.

Unfortunately, due to the virus, many players were unable to play, and new players had to be brought in to continue the

season.

The 2021 edition of the IPL also faced quite a few shortcomings involving the pandemic. There were various cases of COVID-19 forming within many bio-

United Arab Emirates, rather than in India.

The 2022 IPL was conducted from 26 March - 29th May. The champions of this edition were the Gujarat Titans. This year's tournament saw a lack in the number of players that were regulars for the league, with notable players such as Suresh Raina, Ben Stokes, Mitchell Starc, Eoin Morgan, Chris Gayle, Sam Curran, and Kyle Jamieson having opted out of the league.

Reasons why players chose not to play fluxuated between injuries and COVID-19 restrictions. Yet, a prominent reason why a handful of players had left the league this year was to focus on international games.

Moreover, Chris Woakes, Dawid Malan, and Jonny Bairstow had withdrawn to focus on England for the T20 World Cup and the Ashes, amongst Stokes and Jos Butler.

The 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup was won by England in the final against Pakistan. There were incredible performances from Stokes and Curran that allowed for the cup to be brought home to England.

The pandemic has seen a change in the usual movement of players, preferring international cricket to the IPL. Therefore showcasing

Hamilton and Alonso’s decade long feud continues in 2022

Ferridge - Sport sub-editor

D... is for Dance

Newcastle Dance Club of fers a variety of competitive and recreational training in a variety of styles! We have over 300 members this year and we have won NCL Athletics Un ion Club of the Year 20/21!

We are driven to supporting every member we have within our club, guaranteeing everyone has fun, is comfortable and is getting the most from their time with us. With weekly classes, competition teams, workshops and weekly socials - there really is something for everyone.

Each year we are so lucky to be able to travel around the UK, competing in a range of styles and abilities and bringing home many trophies to the Toon! We even host our own competition, right here on campus at the Northern Stage!

We will be having our Annual show next semester, an event where everyone in Dance Club gets involved and all families and friends are able to come and see the hard work we have put in over the year. Make sure you keep an eye out for when tickets become available if you’d like to see what we get up to!

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have been at odds for as long as they have shared the paddock. The Spaniard has seemed to resent Hamilton’s natural pace since they were

teammates back in 2007, and has once again lashed out at the 7-time World Champion in the media this week.

In an interview Alonso stated that “It is different when you win seven world titles when you have only had to fight your teammate. I think a championship has less value than when you have fewer titles, but against other drivers you have to contend with equivalent or even

better equipment.”

Hamilton responded by tweeting a photo of himself on the top step of the podium at the 2007 Indianapolis and patting the second-placed Alonso on the shoulder, paired with a patronising thumbs-up emoji in a rather plain admonishment of his ex-teammates statement.

Alonso’s bitterness towards Hamilton

has its roots in the 2007 season, in which the rookie Hamilton joined Alonso at McLaren. Alonso was in the hunt for his third consecutive title but was left stunned by Hamilton’s blistering pace. The pair came together several times that year, allowing Kimi Raikonnen to win his maiden world and leaving Alonso third in the standings and rueing missed opportunities.

England's Red Roses falter at final World Cup hurdle

McNally - Deputy Editor

Broken hearts and broken records filled the Waitakere Stadium on 12 November, as England were left rudderless with a crushing defeat against New Zealand in the World Cup final.

The match saw the Red Roses reduced to anguish, amongst a neverbefore-seen crowd of 42,579 fans, as their envied 31 Test winning streak concluded with a phantom taste of gold on their gum shields.

England roared to a 14-0 lead in just 13 minute as fullback Ellie Kildunne and hooker Amy Cokayne scored successive tries, while New Zealand's attack was wracked with nerves with fumbled turn overs and fullback Renee

Holmes missing her kick.

Minutes later Waikato winger Portia Woodman broke free down the wing, sights set on the goal line, before England's Lydia Thompson engaged in a dangerous head-on-head tackle in a pivotal match moment cited over an hour later as England's ultimate downfall.

One red card and an injury stoppage later, and England were left with just 14 players against the Black Ferns's renewed 15-strong squad with replacement winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga.

From there on in, New Zealand fired up their offensive.

An immediate try came from Holmes in the same 18th minute of matchplay as the red card announcement to see a 14-7 comeback, soon followed by Leti-I’iga's try to bring the Ferns's scoreboard up to 19-14.

Despite finding themselves a man down, the Red Roses retained the advantage with a 26-19 half-time score and notably gritty defence.

The second half brought an even fiercer rivalry to the pitch.

With wonder feats like Cokayne's 55th minute hat-trick giving England a two-point edge and relentless drives from Kiwi midfield back Stacey Fluhler.

Eventually, the numbers were equalised as New Zealand's loose forward Kennedy Simon walked off with a yellow card, giving both teams 14 players with just 15 minutes of game time left.

England still tightly gripped their two-point lead up until Leti-I’iga's second try that sealed their 31-34 loss. Despite subsequent England penalties, the Red Roses couldn't

Varsha Jayaprasad

claw black those three crucial points.

Sophie

Jake Hobbs

Sarah Castledine

Image credit: Instagram (@newcastleunicyclingclub)

Arthur

Image credit: Twitter (@SRHneedSAM)

Image credit: Twitter (@oye_nilesh)

WORLD CUP 2022: will take home the

After failing to qualify for the previous tournament in 2018, Holland come into this world cup as many people’s dark horses.

After topping their group in qualify ing, the Dutch will fancy themselves in Qatar this winter. The side only lost once in their qualifying group and scored 33 goals in the ten games they played. There was much relief amongst the country’s fans when they reached the tournament, with them not featur ing at a world cup since they travelled to the tournament in Brazil in 2014.

The Dutch squad has got numer ous high-quality players, with a good mix of experience and young talent.

Memphis Depay travels to Qatar as part of the squad after scoring 12 goals in qualifying, the most of any player in their group. The likes of Matthijs De Ligt, Virgil Van Dijk and Frenkie De Jong make up the core of what should be a quality starting eleven, with young talents such as Cody Gakpo and Noa Lang hoping to impress.

The Dutch have reached three World Cup finals in 1974,1978 and 2010, but this year they will be hoping to do one better and lift the trophy for the first time. With a good, experienced manager, strong squad and weak group stage opposition there is certainly cause for optimism among Dutch fans going into this World Cup.

vengeance after what transpired in South Africa in 2010, “La Celeste” face a formidable test in Group H. Uruguay are going through what you would call a generational change at the minute. Though still capable of excep tional performances, players like Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Godín have passed their prime years. Hence, youth and the emergence of talented players such as Federico Val verde, Darwin Núñez and Rodrigo Bentancur, could be the reason behind Uruguay's success in this World Cup campaign. Although they may lack in the defensive department, the squad is definitely good enough to progress through to the latter stages, depend ing on where they finish in the group.

For Uruguay, winning the group is essential as the runners-up play the winners of Group G, which consists of World Cup favourites, Brazil. Although anything can happen, I have no doubt that would be the end of Uruguay’s World Cup and the same goes for Portu gal, therefore the battle for first place in Group G is vital to World Cup success.

Argentina

Leo McManus-Andrea

has hit for this season at the perfect time with 17 G/A in just 13 matches this sea son. This could be a fairy tale ending for Messi and Argentina with the little magician on 993 career appearances could have his 1000th game of his career in the world cup final. There may not be a better time for Argentina to win the world cup.

England

Raf Tindale

Fourteen months on from that heartbreaking evening at Wembley in the final of Euro 2020, England will be hoping to go one step further and lift the FIFA World Cup trophy, for the sec ond time in the Three Lions’ history. After a disappointing Nations League campaign this year, in which England failed to win any of their six matches, Southgate’s men are going into the tour nament on one of their worst runs of form during the manager’s tenure. With other favourites such as Argentina and Brazil being on unbeaten runs of 36 and 15 respectively, England’s dip in form could not have come at a worse time.

Uruguay, the first-ever FIFA World Cup hosts, champions and two-time victors have high hopes heading into their opening World Cup game against South Korea on Thursday. Along with the likes of a powerhouse like Portugal, Son Heung-Min's South Korea, and Ghana, a team out for

Spain

Argentina the two-time winners are looking like heavy favourites going into the world cup and are currently on a 36-game unbeaten record they will be a tough opponent to any opponent who has to face this frightening team. Argentina has a relatively straight forward group featuring Poland, Mexico and Saudi Ara bia should comfortably breeze past the opposition and potentially may even give a platform for Messi, Lautaro Martinez or Julian Alvarez to win the golden boot.

The pinnacle of Argentina’s star-stud ded attack and one of the greatest play ers of all time Lionel Messi attempting to bring the world cup back to Argenti na for the first time since 1986 after his efforts in 2014 just falling short. Messi after a rocky start to life in Paris

Spain has been a long way off their World and Euro double-winning standards but un der the ruthless Luis Enrique, they are in the best position they've been in since 2010. At the heart of his vision is a dynamic mid field trio anchored by unsung hero Sergio Bus quets, the only survivor from Spain's golden era along with Barcelona's world-class teenage trio of Gavi and Pedri dubbed the new Xavi and Iniesta. This forms the backbone of an exciting side that reached the Euro's semi-final just last year. With the exception of a Nations League loss to Swit zerland, the team has been in great form since.

France and England are the top picks from Europe but whisper it quietly, Spain is Europe's best chance of coming home with World Cup glory.

-Christian Turner-Bell

With Group B being considered one of the easier groups in the competi tion, barring a complete debacle from the Three Lions, England should march on to the knockout stages as group win ners. In this case, England would play runners up of Group A, a test South gate’s men should pass. The quarter finals could potentially see the Three Lions lining up against the 2018 cham pions in France, a matchup that would likely see Les Bleus progressing to the semi-finals. Anything less than a quar ter finals appearance should be con sidered a failure for a squad with this much talent, and it is at this point I see England bowing out of the tournament. It is without doubt England have the talent and mentality to make a deep run in the competition, and very well may do

Brazil

After their long success ful history in the competition Brazil can go all the way once again. Brazil is arguably the most talented squad in the World Cup. Looking at their technical ability, team culture and star play ers, Brazil is one of the favourites for the title. The Brazilian squad consists of some big names, such as Neymar JR, Alisson Becker, Vinicius Jr, Casemiro and football legends like Dani Alves and Thiago Silva. Everything looks set and done for Brazil as every news outlet, football expert, and the wider foot ball fan community agree that it can happen once again. The maverick Neymar is only three goals away from breaking Pele’s record for high est goalscorer of all time. This year’s team Brazil has the potential to give their nation their first title since 2002.

-Elena Photiadou

an ce

World Cup holders, France, will be looking to avoid the World Cup curse that they began in 2002. Since their world triumph in 1998, every nation who has gone onto win the World Cup have been eliminated in the group-

plausible conspiracy theory in football, the World Cup curse. What puts a repeat of the curse in some doubt, though, is that France certainly have maintained their star quality, and integrated young talent, four years on. However, the absence of their best midfield pair, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante due to injuries, has put intense pres sure on the younger players in the squad to perform. Ky lian Mbappe, Raphael Varane and Ballon D’or winner, Ka rim Benzema are born win ners and will strike fear into all teams, however the beating heart of the French side has been removed, with less proven names such as Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni making up an exciting yet inexperienced midfield. Will France fall victim to the World Cup curse once again; or will their fantastic forward men and youthful exu berance carry ‘Les Blues’ to back-to-back world glory?

Image credit: Twitter @TaZRahman7

Image credits: Twitter (@wasafifm & @brfootball)

The World Cup is the greatest spectacle in sport, and it is finally time for the latest installment in Qatar. 32 countries from five continents will battle it out for the ultimate prize as debate rages back home to determine who will win it all. We set our writers the challenge of predicting the outcome, and they've broken down the tournament, one nation at a time...

Netherlands

Jack Evans

Uruguay

Lewis Thompson

Dan Balliston

Which country spoils in Qatar?

so. However, with other tournament favourites coming into the competi tion in red-hot form, the Three Lions may have to turn their sights to Euro 2024 in their bid to bring football home.

ner Valencia. However, history tells us that defences win championships and if Ecuador can defend how they have recently, with grit and steeliness, who knows how far their fans can dream.

A wave of exciting, young tal ent has swept across Ecuador. Finally combining an exciting squad with the ever-reliable captain, Enner Va lencia. A lot of their upturn in form can be put down to their superstar midfield prospect and key man, Moises Caicedo. Off the back of a superb start to his Pre mier League career at Brighton, at the age of just twenty-one, Ecuador possess es a player who will be genuinely feared by the big boys of the competition.

After finishing 4th in the qualify ing stage, form is certainly on Ecua dor’s side as they enter the tourna ment, having taken points off Brazil and Argentina, as well as earning an impressive 4-2 win over Uruguay dur ing qualifying. There is now genuine hope of causing upsets in the knock out stages back in Ecuador and whilst Netherlands will provide a stern test in the group stage; games against Qatar and Senegal will be viewed as largely winnable, therefore allowing Ecua dor to target a potential second round tie against England. Holding Ecuador back from being in the main conver sation, though, is the lack of attacking talent barring their veteran captain, En

Rob Page’s Welsh side entered into the World Cup for the first time in 64 years, as the Dragons aim to re peat the success of the 2016 Euros.

After overcoming Scotland and the Ukraine in the play-offs in Cardiff, Wales landed themselves in Group B with the USA, Iran and England.

The last time Wales were in tourna ment group with England, they topped the group in France and so the now blended side of youth and experience will be confident of at least qualification.

This is likely to be Gareth Bale and others’ last competitive tourna ment for Wales, as they’ll look to make history as the second small est country in the competition.

The exciting talents of Brennan John son and Neco Williams will be looking to stamp their mark on the competition, as the whole world will be watching.

Whilst Wales have a variety of options to call upon in the attacking positions, assuring no suspensions or injuries in the first choice midfield and backline will be paramount in their chances of progressing through the tournament.

Belgium

Since 2014, Belgium have been blessed with the one of the best ‘golden gen erations’ ever seen and with world stars filling every position, it only seemed a matter of time before the Red Dev ils achieved glory on the world stage. However, this seemingly perfect team have suffered dramatically at the busi ness end of several tournaments. Bel gium’s last two exits have been to the eventual winners of the competition, France, and Italy, proving just how close they have come to going all the way.

Portugal

Portugal can never be taken out of the World Cup conversation, and will be coming into this tournament hop ing to compete into the late stages. The Seleção find themselves in one of the tournament’s trickier groups, having to face Ghana, South Korea, and Uruguay.

With the announcement of Sa dio Mané’s absence throwing a spanner in the works for Senegal, viewers will write them off as a team with little chance of escap ing their group without their star player. But a closer look at their squad reveals Senegal has a much stronger roster than people might initially think. Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy be tween the posts will be looking to make his country proud after win ning FIFA’s Best Goalkeeper award back in January. A centre back pairing of Kalidou Koulibaly and Abdou Diallo provides security at the back, and with attacking op tions such as Bamba Dieng, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr, there are more than enough players to bring their attack up to an exceptional level. Senegal are competing in Group A with Qatar, Netherlands and Ecuador: the easiest group in the tournament with an average FIFA ranking of 31.75. Senegal, if they were to progress, would

B team in the Round of 16, with England, Wales, USA and Iran all

As this squad of players reach thirty years of age and beyond, though, it feels like the changing of the guard is begin ning and this might just be Belgium’s last chance to win international silverware with this group of players. What they do have in their favour, though, is the form of arguably the best midfielder and goalkeeper in the world right now in Kevin de Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois. However, the threat of the once unplayable Eden Haz ard appears to have diminished, along with the hunger and world class ability of the former stars of this team. In Qatar, though, the ‘golden generation’ will have more desire than ever to bring the coveted trophy back to Belgium. They will once again be amongst the favourites.

Team captain Cristiano Ronaldo is ar riving in Qatar under a cloud. Coming off a difficult and controversial season with Manchester United, football's alltime top goalscorer will have the added pressure of finding himself a new team, as if the pressure of delivering at the World Cup wasn't enough. He will be looking to return to his former glory with Portugal, mirroring his Euro 2016 glory and making himself look appeal ing for potential new teams. His team is more than talented enough to pick up the slack, but Ronaldo will still be looking to make a splash in what will likely be his final major international tournament.

be pit against a Group

It only seems a matter of time before the Red Devils acheive glory

Adam Lovegrove

Ecuador

Dan Balliston

Wales

Tom Barlow - Sport sub-editor

Dan Balliston

Arthur Ferridge - Sport sub-editor

Newcastle University Lions thrash Durham Wolves in Baseball victory

Newcastle’s Lions and Durham’s Wolves

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to get romantic when talking about baseball and this is certainly no exception. Our story is the stuff of American box-office gold. A true underdog tale. A ragtag group of students from all over the world coming together dressed in a miss-match of sports gear to take on a committed team in full uniform. Three hours, seven innings, poor ground conditions, icy weather, and surrounded by opposition fans. Constantly on the defensive, struggling on the offensive, close to the mark from start to finish.

All we did was win a friendly game.

On 20th November, the newly formed Newcastle Lions university first baseball team made our way to Durham to play the Durham Wolves second team.

Arriving from 11:30am for a quick warmup, first pitch flew home at 12:30pm and we were first at bat.

Five-minutes in, after getting walked to first base with no hits, we had two people on bases and no outs. Tensions were mounting for our third batter as he stepped up to the plate. Number 13, Kazuma Takeuchi. Hailing from Japan to cause trouble at Durham. Ball. Ball. Strike. Foul. Ball. Full count. One bad pitch and he walks for loaded bases. One bad swing and he strikes out. Breath drawn, here comes the pitch. Swing and a hit.

no quarters. The game continues evenly matched. Neither team scoring for the second, third, or fourth innings. Top of the fifth inning and time is nearly up. This will be the last inning of the game. We step up to bat and strikeout. One. Two. Three. Swap. It wasn’t a long inning for us and we’re still on one run. We’re locked in going into the bottom of the fifth and can’t let Durham score. The next fifteen-minutes feel like fifty.

The ball drills through the mud between first and the mound. The diamond erupts in calls from both sides as Lucky 13 makes a mad dash for first. The Wolves scramble for the ball but Kazuma makes it to safety.

The shouts continue though. Number 10, Alex Parchment, is making a double play. Charging from second base he runs the gauntlet from third to home. The Wolves still don’t have the ball where it needs to be. Home. One run scored. Alexander Parchment: doctor of tomorrow, MVP of today.

Three outs later and Durham is up to bat. Stellar pitching from Number 16, Zachary Lau, ensures Durham is given

Now I start to feel jittery. This club took more time and effort for me to make than I would care to admit. Nine months of work, endless email chains, delay after delay and it all came down to one run in the mud in Wolves territory. Two Wolves on bases, first and third. Two outs. Full count. Zach’s final pitch of the day. Whatever happens next decides the game. Blink and you’d miss it. Pitch. Swing. Slap. Nothing beats

the sound of a baseball driving into the Catcher’s glove. Swing and a miss, a strikeout for the Wolves, a victory for the Lions. There was no eruptive celebration. More a general atmosphere of miffed disbelief. I don’t think either side expected that

result, though it was a nice surprise gift on my birthday after all. My last words to the team that day were typically Presidential: “Go home proud, lads. Eat a little, drink a lot, and I’ll see you at training tomorrow.” There ain’t no rest for the wicked after all. Here’s to the next game, you

View from the AU

Hannah Danks - Athletic Union Officer

It’s getting colder and darker in Newcastle and that can mean only one thing to our sports clubs, its Movember time!!!

Movember is typically one of the big dates on the Clubs calendars up and down the country at universities, and Newcastle is no different! As the leading charity on men’s health, it focuses on two key areas: mental health & suicide prevention and prostate & testicular cancer, and it is an incredible cause that our clubs fundraise for. The fundraising happens in varying ways from club to club, many students grow moustaches and lucky me gets tagged in all the various tash selfie updates on Instagram! Those who can’t or don’t want to grow a moustache, often opt for running or swimming set distances to fundraise, whilst other clubs run events, such as the cheerleading ‘bring-a-boy’ full day training event!

As I’m writing this Newcastle University have raised a whopping £15,395, smashing last years total!! The mens’ Rugby Club are sitting comfortably at the top spot on the University leaderboard with £4,450, but Rugby League, Clay Pigeon, Ski & Snowboarding, Ladies Hockey, Men’s Lacrosse, Mens’ Football, Cheerleading, Boat, Darts, Womens’ Rugby, Womens’ Lacrosse, Canoe and Water Polo are all sat in the top 20!

However, our students aren’t just donating funds towards Movember’s life-changing projects, they are simultaneously raising awareness of men’s health, removing the stigmas associated with mens’ struggles (mental and physical) and enabling a better culture in sport. For that, I am very proud of their efforts. Going forward from November, we will be continuing to encourage the clubs further to have conversations and take action around men’s health to remove the judgement around it, especially looking at how we can break down issues faced by students in our own University community!

There is still time to donate to any of the clubs individually or to Movember, generally, on the website: https://uk.movember.com/?home

Sub-editors: Tom Barlow, Arthur Ferridge

Adam Millard

women face defeat in

We’re locked in going into the bottom of the fifth and can’t let Durham score

A strikeout for the Wolves, a victory for

(Victorious Lions: (Back L-R) Zachary Lau, Ben Mooney, Rory Ellison, Dominic Davies, Adam Millard, Jason Glionna, Greg Wishart, Alexander Parchment. (Front L-R) Kazuma Takeuchi, Abe Ryosuke, James Geary, Corey Dixon, Wenzhao Zhang)

Image credit: Adam Millard