thecourier thecourieronline.co.uk Lifestyle Writers battle it out over Britain’s best biscuits Page 14
Music Stormzy to headline at Glasto. Is this the time for grime? Page 24
Monday 3 December 2018 Issue 1380 Free
Sport Interview with alumnus Juan Cervantes, Muay Thai World Champion Page 37
NUSU to hold Ed Farmer memorial The independent voice of Newcastle
Est 1948
The event will be held on the 10th of December from 5.30pm outside the Students’ Union building
Louise Hall Editor
NUSU has announced it will be hosting a memorial on the 10th of December for Newcastle University Student Ed Farmer, who died after an initiation ceremony in December 2016. The memorial service will begin at 5.30pm outside the Students’ Union, where there will live music performed by students, speeches and a memorial lightshow. It has been confirmed that Ed parents will
Postcards for Students’ to remember Ed and reflect on his death will be handed out this week Image: Louise Hall
Inside today >>>
Tackling hate crime
Christmas jumper joy
Breaking down Brexit
Arty Ouseburn
Delicious winter warmer
Games of the future
NUSU launches a campaign to reduce hate crime incidents on campus News, page 3
Our writers give their views on the implications of Theresa May’s recently proposed Brexit deal Comment, page 10
Reclaim the Night: protestors take to the high street, page 5
This week’s Cooking with Hope Coke offers a toasty recipe with roasted root veg and goats cheese Lifestyle page 15
NUS: in or out?
Get informed about the NUS referendum. Ally Wilson weighs up the campaigns for and against Feature, page 22-23
Phoebe Eyles tells us where to shop for the on-trend festive jumpers of 2018 Fashion, page 18
Arts writers explore the culural hot-spots taking part in this year’s Open Studios Arts, page 30
Writers take a look at the most hotly-anticipated games set to be realised in 2019 Gaming, page 32
Juan for the win
An exclusive interview with Kickboxing and Thai Boxing coach Juan Cervantes on his recent success Sport, page 37
‘Ed was a fantastic friend to all, so this is a great way to finally celebrate his life’
Henry Richard Agricultural RFC Captain
be in attendance, and Jeremy Farmer will be making a speech in memory of his son. Raff Marioni, President of Newcastle University Students Union, will also be speaking. NUSU will be offering free hot chocolate and candles to light to those present at the half hour service, encouraging all students and staff to attend and raise awareness of Ed’s death. The memorial event will be preceded by a rugby match held in partnership with the Agricultural Society. Kick-off is to take place at 1.30pm on the afternoon of the 10th of December at Heaton Medical ground, and is open for anyone to attend. The match will see the 1st and 2nd Agricultural intramural rugby teams go head to head and is expected to have a large turnout. On the Facebook event for the match over two hundred people have already registered themselves as planning to attend. Henry Richard, third year Agri-business management student and Agricultural RFC Captain commented: ‘The day has great significance for all involved, as a close friend of Ed, through the agricultural society I was soon to be a housemate of him. He was a fantastic friend to all, so this is a great way to finally celebrate his life’ Sports and societies have been encouraged to wear their university/union branded clothing to help create a sense of university community and remembrance. NUSU also plans to distribute postcards to be filled out by students with messages of remembrance and reflection, with the hope of projecting some of the messages on the Stu-
dents Union building during the lightshow. The postcards feature a photo of Ed with a festive background, and the message on the front reads: on December 14th 2016 Ed Farmer tragically passed away after an initiation ceremony, he was a Newcastle student like all of us. Please join us outside the Students’ Union at 5.30pm on December 10th to light a candle and remember Ed. On the back there is space for students to write their own message. The postcards are intended to be handed out during lectures next week to students and should be returned to any school office or the Student Union’s reception before the memorial. The Courier spoke to NUSU’s President Raff Marioni and Athletic Union officer Maggie Elstob about the aims behind the event, and its significance. When asked why the Union was holding the memorial Raff responded: ‘I think it’s really important to hold this memorial to raise awareness about Ed’s death. A lot of people either don’t know about it because it happened two years ago, so a lot of people graduated that year. This is raising awareness to all students of Newcastle currently, not just sports and societies, about the nature of Ed’s death and getting the message across to students about staying safe. ‘We’re not trying to be the fun police and restrict people’s university experience. The message we’re trying to get across is for students to realise that actions can have serious and heart-breaking ramifications. They can cause massive harm to families, they can impact their own lives and the lives of others. It’s about getting across the message to think twice about certain things, taking care of yourself and the people around you, and being more responsible. It’s very rare that there’s an event where there’s the potential for the whole student body to come down as a community and reflect on a student of their own passing. I think this is the perfect opportunity to do that as we say a goodbye for Christmas.’ Maggie Elstob, Athletic Union Officer commented: ‘We’ve chosen to hold this event in memory of Ed Farmer, we think that it’s important that we remember Ed and send our students off for Christmas with the message to look after each other and look out for each other. ‘I’m hoping that a lot of clubs will come down wearing their kit, representing their sport. People seem to be very on board with the idea and I’ve had lots of clubs saying they are going to be there either for the rugby match or the memorial or both.’ When asked why a rugby match had been chosen as the pre-memorial event Maggie replied: ‘I think sport inherently brings people together. And Ed having been part of the Agricultural intramural team himself, I think it’s a fitting way to have a tribute to him. It’s just a nice way to bring people together and maybe hold something that could be continued in the future.’ Both officers encourage all students at Newcastle University to attend the event.
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thecourier The Courier is a weekly newspaper produced by students, for students. It’s never too late to get involved in the paper, whether you’re a writer, illustrator or photographer. Just visit thecourieronline.co.uk/about for more information. Editor Louise Hall Deputy Editor Isabel Sykes News Editors Grace Dean, Molly Greeves, Sidney Pinsett and Steven Ross Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Caitlin Disken and Alexandra Sadler Life & Style Editor Sophie Henderson Lifestyle Editors Phoebe Fielder, Holly Margerrison, and Ella Williams Fashion Editors Poppy Couling Joe Hood and Miranda Stoner Beauty Editors Laura Buckle, Susanne Norris and Nimra Rafique Travel Editors Jenny Franken and Bianca Ionci Culture Editors Alex Moore and Carys Rose Thomas Feature Editor Ally Wilson Arts Editors Rosie Mccrum, Julia McGhee Russell and Scarlett Rowland Music Editors Charlotte Boulton, Rory Ellis and Max Hobbs TV Editors Jacob Clarke, Tom Cooney and Chloe Mullins Film Editors JImmy Athey, Jack Gill and Joe Holloran Gaming Editors George Boatfield, Kelly South and Matthew Neville Puzzles Editor Helena Buchanan Sports Editors Sydney Isaacs, Rebecca Johnson and Harry Parsons Online Editors Rory Cameron, Jodie Duddy, Amanda Goh, Thomas Hardwick, The Courier NUSU King’s Walk Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QB Tel: 0191 239 3940 The Courier is printed by: Trinity Mirror Printing, Barton Road, Riverside Park Industrial Estate, Middlesbrough, TS2 1UT Established in 1948, the Courier is the fully independent student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge. The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of the Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s opinion pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of the Courier, the Students’ Union or Newcastle University.
Monday 3 December 2018
NSR show of the week: Plebcast: The Classics Podcast Sundays at 9pm
Jimmy Athey Ah Classics, the subject which is always wrongly dismissed. “Oh you must be clever to do a subject like that” a sentence many classicists hear on a regular basis, but if you listen to Plebcast you’ll realise how that simply is not true! Plebcast is the podcast which brings classics to the mainstream; having (sort of) intellectual conversations about all things ancient and wonderous while also having a giggle, with topics such as Classical Literature and film adaptations of Classics, Plebcast brings one of the most “elitist” subjects to the masses. Do not worry about your lack of knowledge about the Ancient World,
you’re in safe hands as the main goal of Plebcast is make Classics accessible and understandable to the everyday person. With huge guests such as Dan Lowes and Dr Susanna Phillippo, Plebcast has hit the ground running and is only destined to get bigger. Want to know why people choose Classics as a subject? What our favourite piece of Classical literature is? Why Tom Hardy would be perfect to play Agamemnon? Then give Plebcast a listen and enjoy the ramblings of Jimmy, Louis and their rotating guests. Who knows, you might learn something.
STU BREW beer of the week Maillot Blanc £2.50 per can Tom Nesfield The Stu Brew Beer of the Week for this week is Maillot Blanc. Maillot Blanc was originally brewed last winter for the pop-up Belgian style beer café, The Latern Rouge. Due to its massive success we’ve brought it back! This time in the beer is available to buy cans. Maillot Blanc is a dry, refreshing beer with saison yeast which introduces fruity aromas with spicy, clove-like characteristics. Having
Student Spotlight Go Volunteer do 14 days of Christmas
Isabel Sykes Deputy Editor Go Volunteer are running “14 Days of Go Volunteer Christmas” from 1 until 14 December. There will be at least 1 volunteering opportunity for students to get involved with during this two-week period before the Christmas holidays. Events kicked off on Saturday 1 December with Fareshare Tesco Food Collections, and
Newcastle’s students have the chance to give something back to the community this Christmas
the coming week has plenty of opportunities along this vein so Newcastle’s students can have the chance to give something back to the community this Christmas. In the SU on Monday and Tuesday for example, students can volunteer to help make Christmas themed Wiggly Bags for children with Hickman lines. Also on Tuesday Go Volunteer will be sorting through and packing donations from the shoe-box appeal in the History Room of the SU, where volunteers are welcome to come and help. Other activities later in the week include Christmas Post Pals, which involves sending cards and gifts to ill children, and Christmas decoration making using recycled materials. More information on the activities available during Go Volunteer’s “14 Days of Christmas” can be found on the Volunteering page of the NUSU website.
tried the first can when it was returned last Wednesday, we are really happy with the results. Students can buy a can of Maillot Blanc directly from Stu Brew for the very reasonable price of £2.50. Additionally, the beer is currently available to buy from CentrAle, Spot White and Coppers (located in Gosforth) for varying prices.
Whats on near you:
Monday
Tuesday
Volunteering Opportunity: 11am-3pm: Making Christmas Wiggly Bags. Location: The Lounge, NUSU. Student Reps: 5pm-630pm: Student Rep event, inclusive representation. Location: history Room, NUSU. Music: 7pm-11pm: CKY with Sumo Cyco & Bullets and Octane. Location: Venue, NUSU.
Volunteering Opportunity: 1pm-3pm: Shoe box appeal packing day. Location: INTO. Volunteering Opportunity: 1pm-3pm: Making Christmas Wiggly Bags. Location: INTO.
Wednesday
Arts: 1pm-5pm: GIAG Christmas wreath workshop. Location: Meet outside NUSU front entrance. Volunteering Opportunity: 1pm-4:30pm: Samaritans free training session. Contact email on NUSU website. Volunteering Opportunity: 1:15pm-2pm: Jingle Books wrapping session. Location: Kate Adie Room, NUSU. Sport: 2pm-2:45pm and 2:45pm-3:30pm: GIAG horse riding. Location: Stepney Bank Stables. Comment: 3pm-4:30pm: public speaking skills free workshop. Location: History Room, NUSU.
Friday
Travel: 7am Friday - 9pm Sunday: GIAG London and the Lion King weekend away. Location: Meet outside Hatton Gallery. Arts: 10am-6pm: Art Market. Location: Central Station. Arts: 12pm-2pm: Christmas decoration making. Location: History Room, NUSU. Societies: 12pm-1pm: TEDx Speakers competition. Location: Barbara Strang Teaching Centre, Room B.32.
Thursday
Volunteering Opportunity: 11am-3pm: Christmas Post Pals. Location: MLK Room, NUSU. Volunteering Opportunity: 11am-1pm: Jingle Books wrapping session. Location: MLK Room, NUSU. Arts: 5:30pm-8:30pm: GIAG A Christmas Carol at Northern Stage. Location: Meet outside NUSU front entrance.
Saturday
Sport: 9am: Help Our Homeless Santa Dash. Location: Exhibition Park. Gaming: 5:30pm-8:30pm: League of Legends event. Location: Game Day Events, Blezard Business Park. Music: 7pm: 11pm: Von Hertzen Brothers. Location: Venue, NUSU.
Sunday
TV: 2:30pm-4:30pm: NUTV Cinematography workshop. Location: History Room, NUSU. Sport: 4pm-6:30pm: NUFC vs Wolverhampton match. Location: St James’s Park.
news
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Monday 3 December 2018
@TheCourier_News courier.news@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/news News Editors Grace Dean, Molly Greeves, Sidney Pinsent, Steven Ross Online Editor Jodie Duddy
Study shows link between Universal Credit and suicide Joe Molander When Universal Credit (UC) was announced at the 2010 Conservative party conference, Lord David Freud – then Welfare Reform Minister – described the policy as ‘“huge”’, making ‘“once-in-many-generations changes”’. Nearly a decade on, that description has proved accurate, in that the scale of the problems created by the policy are usually only seen once in many generations. Earlier this month, research published by Gateshead Council revealed that Universal Credit has ‘“exacerbated long term health conditions and impacted so negatively on participant’s mental health that some had considered suicide”’. The policy was introduced to simplify the benefits system in the UK by combining six payments into one. The new single payments are made in arrears, meaning they are paid after claimants have applied for them: this can leave claimants in a state of financial limbo, no longer receiving benefits from the old system but not yet receiving Universal Credit payments, which are supposed to arrive five weeks after they have been applied for. According to the research – conducted by academics at Newcastle and Teesside Universities, as well as Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health – this has forced UC claimants to borrow to get through this limbo stage, with the resulting debt leaving some unable to buy food or utilities. Although the initial Universal Credit payments are meant to take five weeks to arrive, as mentioned above, the researchers found that this waiting period could actually last up to twelve
The research was conducted by academics at Newcastle and Teeside University Image: Carl Ridderstråle
weeks, averaging at about seven and a half, prolonging the time claimants spend without financial assistance from the government, opening up the possibility of more and more borrowing which significantly dents their future income. This could be written off as a teething problem, one that disappears, once the first payment finally arrives. However, the research points to wider issues with how Universal Credit has been implemented: for example, ‘“increased conditionality”’ – which ensures claimants only receive benefits if they complete such things as training and support schemes, or work preparation activities – has led to claimants having their income slashed via the wider use of sanctions, or deductions in benefits payments. The researchers are quick to point out that these sanctions disproportionately affect young, disabled and lone parent claimants, as well as their impact on ‘food insecurity’. The report is interspersed with quotes from the claimants themselves, none of which make for easy reading: one person planned to commit suicide, while the only thing stopping another claimant from doing the same was their dog. The common thread in all these accounts is the pressure claimants experience in applying for and using Universal Credit. The report paints a picture of a reform that – despite being a long time coming (there is some consensus that the benefits system has required streamlining for years) – has been handled incredibly poorly. The policy is not yet fully implemented, but if this is its infant stage, Universal Credit may be a terrible thing to witness if allowed to reach adulthood.
NUSU launches campaign to tackle hate crime
Aimee Seddon
Newcastle University’s Student Union has launched a campaign to tackle issues of hate crime incidents on campus. This comes as part of the “Changing the Culture” project, set up by Newcastle University in response to a 2016 report by Universities UK. The report examined violence against women, harassment and hate crime, and issued recommendations to UK universities. According to official government statistics, in 2017/18, there were 94,098 hate crime offences recorded by the police in England and Wales, an increase of 17% compared with the previous year. An analysis of government statistics by The Independent in June 2018 found that the number of incidents reported in Universities has increased by 60% in two years. Incidents at Russell Group Universities, including Newcastle University, were included in their report.
There were 94,098 hate crime offences recorded by the police in 2017/18, an increase of 17% from the previous year
Newcastle’s Student Union says that they hope to create a campaign to enact positive and tangible change on campus, using the experiences of Newcastle Students themselves. They define hate crime as any act that causes alarm or distress to an individual or
group, motivated by prejudice. This may be prejudice against a student’s gender, religion, nationality, class, sexuality, disability or race. Next week the Students Union is holding
“It is the job of the Students’ Union to protect our students, but also educate those who may be the perpetrators of these crimes”
actions constitute as a hate crime incident.” There will be four sessions taking place; on November 26th at 2pm, November 27th 10am, November 28th 5pm and November 29th 12 noon. The sessions will all be held in The Lounge in the Students Union. For those that cannot attend the forums, the Student Union has also posted an online form for students to highlight their own experiences at Newcastle University. The Stu-
dents Union will not respond to submissions but will use the examples to help create their campaign. Newcastle University fourth-year Grace Dean believes the NUSU is taking a step in the right direction. “As a member of the Newcastle student body, I want all my fellow students to feel safe in this city. The fact that NUSU is proactively taking steps to counter hate crime in
the city is a very positive development and I hope these campaigns are as effective as they promise to be. “Support & acceptance are key components to the NUSU ideology. I am glad they are thus taking these positive steps to drive out hate crime from the city.” The online form can be found at www. nusu.co.uk/changingtheculture.
Jack Green, NUSU’s Welfare and Equality Officer
listening forums where students can share their own experiences. The University hopes this will provide the campaign with a better perspective on the issues that Newcastle Students face, in order to create an effective campaign in response. Jack Green, Newcastle University’s Welfare Officer, explains: “Hate crimes can happen anywhere. The purpose of these forums is to find out from students about incidents that occur during their time at University, whether it was while out in Newcastle or even whilst on campus. We can then use this information to tailor: support, education and a campaign; to ensure that we can proactively tackle hate crime incidents that effect our students. A hate crime is motivated by prejudice, and as a Students’ Union it is our job to protect our students, but also to educate our students who may be the perpetrators of these crimes. Many students may not realise what that their
Many student believe that it is the university’s responsibility to stand up to hate crime Image: Flickr
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Monday 3 December 2018
Poor health linked to low productivity in North Isabel Sykes Deputy Editor
A major report commissioned by the Northern Health Science Alliance has connected poor health to poorer productivity in the
Northern regions of the UK for the first time. The report, titled Health for Wealth: Building a Healthier Northern Powerhouse for UK Productivity, found that tackling health disparities between the North and South would boost the Northern economy by £13.2bn. The report was launched at an event in
Newcastle on 20 November 2018. It was attended by the report’s lead author Clare Bambra, who is Professor of Public Health at Newcastle University. Researchers from the Universities of Liverpool, Manchester, Lancaster, York and Sheffield were also involved in compiling the report.
Data gathered from all local authorities in England, as well as national survey data, were used to assess the impact of poor health on the economy in the North. One key finding was that workers with ill health in the North are 39% more likely to lose their job than workers in the rest of England. Furthermore, if these workers with ill health do return to work, their wages are 66% lower than someone living elsewhere in England.
"Life expectancy in the North is on average two years lower than in the rest of England"
The Northern Health Science Alliance
The report stated that the UK had "deeprooted and persistent regional inequalities", and that people in the North were "consistently found" to be less healthy than those in other parts of the country. Life expectancy in the North is on average two years lower than in the rest of England, it said. To address these inequalities, the report calls for increased NHS spending in the North, to be spent on prevention services and health science research. Recommendations to the central government also include implementing an inclusive, green industrial strategy to reduce economic inequality, and improving labour market participation and job retention amongst people with health conditions in the North. Researchers found that taking steps to improve health in the North would achieve significant economic gains. Increasing the NHS budget by 10% in the Northern Powerhouse, which focuses on the "Core Cities" of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and Newcastle, will decrease economic inactiv-
Despite the North's poor health, our angel has managed to stay in shape Image: Grace Dean
ity rates by 3 percentage points, the report finds. Increasing of the proportion of people in good health in the Northern Powerhouse by 3.5% would reduce the employment gap between the Northern Powerhouse and the rest of England by 10%. Lead author of the report, Clare Bambra, emphasises the significance of this major report for not only Northern regions but the rest of the country as well: “This report demonstrates the connection between poor productivity and higher rates of ill health in the North. If you improve health in the North you will improve its productivity – potentially benefiting the whole of the UK’s economy. “For the Northern Powerhouse to reach its full potential there needs to be increased investment in place-based public health in local authorities. There needs to be increased NHS funding in the North, spent on prevention services and health science research.
"Poorer health in the North affects the entire country's economy, a healthier Northern Powerhouse will mean a healthier UK economy"
Clare Bambra, Professor of Public Health at Newcastle University
“Work needs to be done to improve labour market participation and job retention among people with a health condition in the region. Poorer health in the North affects the entire country’s economy, a healthier Northern Powerhouse will mean a healthier UK economy.”
University lyrics auction raises over £8000 for charity Grace Dean News Editor On Friday 23rd November, Newcastle University held a charity auction and music night as part of the collaborative GeNErosity Festival which celebrates 900 years of philanthropy in the North East. Approximately 150 people attended the night which was titled “Avison to Tickell: Musicians as Philanthropists for the North East”. The event was organised jointly by the Newcastle University Centre for Research on Entrepreneurship, Wealth and Philanthropy, and the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland and raised funds for the Young Musicians Fund.
The night was part of the University's GeNErosity Festival, which is the world's first ever festival of philanthropy
The evening started with a reception in the Courtyard Café, Old Library Building, where attendees could mingle and enjoy a hot buffet while viewing the auction lots for the night. The theme of the auction was the North East’s musical heritage, and thus featured a variety of handwritten lyrics. The reception was followed by the main event of the night, which featured speeches, auctions and musical interludes. This was held in the magnificent surroundings of Kings Hall in the Armstrong Building. Vice-Chancellor Chris Day opened the night with a warm welcome in which he explained the effect that philanthropy has had not just on the North East in general but also on Newcastle University, which
owes many of its most famous buildings to generous philanthropists. Through funds from donors the Foundation has been able to make hundreds of grants to local people and organisations. He explained the context of the auction night, which is part of the GeNErosity festival organised by the Newcastle University Centre for Research on Entrepreneurship, Wealth and Philanthropy. This is believed to be the world’s first philanthropy festival, running from 7th to 27th November and featuring 50 events. The Festival’s aims are to celebrate philanthropic achievements in the North East, question the role of philanthropy during a time of austerity and encourage diverse forms of philanthropy to demonstrate the joy of giving. After that, compere for the night, Northumbrian folk musician Kathryn Tickell introduced herself. In 1996 she set up the Young Musicians Fund, an endowment to help finance young people’s interest in music as well as keep the region’s culture and music alive.
Chris Day's speech Image: Grace Dean
This Fund was set up in cooperation with the Community Foundation and has raised over £100,000 for young people in the North East. Kathryn described the necessity of such a fund, saying that, “Music can do such a lot” in terms of developing self-confidence and – esteem, promoting learning and improving concentration. The auction, which featured ten lots, was carried out by Bertie Foster. The high-ticket item was a sheet of framed lyrics from the Dire Strait’s Song Brothers in Arms, handwritten by Mark Knopfler. Following an intensive bidding war, the piece was ultimately sold for £520 The night was interspersed with musical interludes. Lucian Guest, a student from Eaglescliffe Sixth Form College, was the first benefactor of the Young Musicians Fund to perform on his trumpet. Children from West Denton Primary School impressed the audience with an energetic singing and clog dancing performance which showcased their skills learnt from lessons provided by the Young Musicians Fund. The folk music group Superfolkus also performed, which is
tutored by Kathryn through the Fund. Martin Longstaff of the Lake Poets performed some of his songs rooted in the North East which discussed his heritage and the role of family. In 2012 he won the Alan Hull Award which was established in memory of the Newcastle-born founder member of Lindisfarne. The Award is granted by the Young Musicians Fund and gives £1000 each year to a composer or songwriter under 24. Martin praised the Award for not only financing his record and thus assisting his music career, but also helping his confidence. Martin donated a handwritten set of lyrics from his song By the Shipyard to the auction, which sold for £160; he hoped that through the funds raised during the evening, more children can have the same opportunities as him. Mike Tickell, Kathryn’s father, performed
The event was accompanied by traditional Northumbrian folk music Image: Jodie Duddy
up-beat and lively renditions of his own songs as well as classic Geordie folk songs such as Cushie Butterfield by George “Geordie” Ridley. Handwritten lyrics of his song Bobby Robson, a tribute to the Newcastle-born footballer, were auctioned off during the night for £180. These performances were well received by the audience who relished the opportunity to sing along. The night was incredibly well received and was a highlight of the GeNErosity Festival. Through the ticket sales, donations and auction earnings, the evening managed to raise £8760 for the Young Musicians Fund just by the interval. The hard work of the Newcastle University, the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland and Kathryn Tickell of the Young Musicians Fund was praised and celebrated in the enjoyable evening.
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“Blame Rapists, Not Victims”: Newcastle reclaims the night Molly Greeves News Editor There has been no shortage of sexual assault related discussion in the media this year, from the upskirting ban to an Irish teenager’s underwear being used in her rape trial. For many people, the public outcry surrounding these events shows progression in the way we are dealing with instances of sexual assault. However, others are still troubled by how frequent these offences still are. Among them are the people who marched down Northumberland Street on the twenty-fourth of November to protest violent crimes against women and the systems that allow them to continue.
The movement was started in 1977, but over forty years later, women still have a reason to be afraid of the dark
Started in Leeds in 1977, Reclaim the Night is a movement that demands women’s rights to be safe in public spaces. Over forty years later, women still have a reason to be afraid of the dark; in light of the #MeToo movement and many other events, many people still consider Reclaim the Night to be as necessary and relevant today as it was in its formation. After the sun had set at four o’clock, people of all genders met at Eldon Square to join “a global protest for women’s right to be free from sexual violence and abuse”. For many people, the motivation to march was to show solidarity towards victims; many marchers held up signs with slogans like “blame rapists not victims” and “the way I dress never means yes”. Several charities also turned up to show their support, including Newcastle’s Angelou Centre and Rape Crisis. Lead by Bangshees, “a well-established fe-
male samba drumming band”, the lively group marched past the Christmas fair on Northumberland Street and stopped at Northumbria University’s Sutherland building where a number of women gave speeches about violence and sexual assault. The group of speakers included Newcastle MP Catherine McKinnell, who said that it while Reclaim the Night is a “celebration” that allows women to stand in solidarity, it is also “frustrating” that “we’ve still got an awful lot more to do”. A key issue that was brought up by many speakers was the low rate of prosecution for crimes against women. Vera Baird, a Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, spoke about how prosecutions have “fallen off a cliff” in the last year. She stated that referrals to the police for domestic violence have gone up by sixteen percent, and yet, the number of prosecutions have gone down. Additionally, she claimed that “eighty-five thousand women” in England and Wales are raped per year, and yet, despite there being a 31% increase in rape crimes reported, the number of suspects prosecuted has fallen by 23% percent in the last year. “If you complain that your house has been burgled, even if there was no forced entry... they will take it as a real complaint, they will believe it and they will investigate it. It is only in rape and in sexual offence cases that you won’t be believed.” Vera went on to discuss how sexual assault complaints are the only instances where your -past will be used as evidence, for example, your school reports, your medical records, your past sexual behaviours, as well as the clothes you were wearing and your state of intoxication at the time of the assault can all be used as evidence in court. While a recent example of this is the defence lawyer in Ireland who held up a victim’s underwear in court, Vera also gave an example of a case when a woman who had claimed to be raped was deemed a liar for forging her mother’s signature to get out of swimming at school. Hearing about instances like this made the event difficult for many attendees. However,
Many women came to protest victim blaming in sexual assault cases Image: Molly Greeves many people, such as Durham University student Hannah Priory, still believe that attending these events is important. "As students, we should be more involved in campaigning. Our youth and our passion are crucial in pressuring the government, justice systems, and other institutions to deal with sexism better. "We travelled from Durham University for the march, representing our college, Van Mildert Feminist Society, but more importantly, representing everyone worldwide who has experienced sexism. Together we can change the sexist society we live in."
Northumberland Street was busy due to the Christmas fair Image: Molly Greeves
How can we stay safe? The Courier speaks to Streetwise Molly Greeves News Editor
Although we would all like to believe we are safe at university, statistics show that students are still at a high risk of sexual assault and emotional abuse. I spoke to Ellen Smith, Service Manager of Streetwise, about how we can stay safe. Could you please explain who Streetwise are and what kind of work you guys do? Streetwise is a young person’s charity based in Newcastle city centre. We work with young people aged 11-25years, providing free, confidential, information, advice, support and counselling. See our website here: www. streetwisenorth.org.uk What are the main signs that someone is in an emotionally abusive relationship? There can be many signs indicating that a relationship is abusive. Aside from the obvious physical abuse young people should look out for controlling behaviour, for example telling you or putting pressure on you not to wear certain things or hang out with certain friends. Overly jealous behaviour, constant criticisms or put downs, name calling, gaslighting (making you doubt yourself), making out everything is your fault, withholding affection, giving the silent treatment, not respecting your personal boundaries, forcing or pressurising you into sexual activity, taking money from you or not giving you access to money are also all signs of an abusive relationship. Last month saw a Newcastle University student face charges for sharing revenge porn. How can students prevent fallen a victim to revenge porn, and what advice do you have if this occurs? Revenge Porn is the sharing of private, sexual materials, either photos or videos, of another person, without their consent and with the purpose of causing embarrassment or distress. If a student is being blackmailed or threatened with ‘revenge porn’ they should
seek help, either from the university or an organisation like Streetwise. They can also report this to the police themselves as revenge porn is criminal offence. Students should be very careful with whom they share intimate images of themselves with. Once that image has left their own device, they really do not have any control over where that image might end up. In what ways can the university react in these situations? Do you believe it is the university's responsibility to get involved in these cases? The university has a responsibility to inform and educate students about the dangers of sexting and sharing intimate images. The university should operate with a zero-tolerance stance towards this and others forms of sexual harassment, and appropriate action should be taken towards perpetrators. Also making sure students know where and when they can go for help if they need it. With the rise of social media, online harassment is becoming more and more common. What do you believe can be done about this? Young people need to be made aware of the potential risks of using social media, the risks in sharing images and information about yourself. They should also be informed on to how to report online harassment and ensure they know how to block other users and set up adequate privacy settings. These issues appear to affect students in particular. Do you have any opinions on why this is? Students and more widely young people like to communicate using online platforms. The use of dating platforms (tinder, match etc) to make romantic connections is far more popular that it has ever been. Students and young people are exploring the world, friendships and relationships and need to do so as part of the transition into adulthood. The issue is more about how to do this safely, which comes down to information and education to allow informed and positive choices.
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Monday 3 December 2018
Newcastle academic contributes to report on Islamophobia in Britain
Isabel Sykes Deputy Editor Peter Hopkins, Professor of Social Geography and University Dean of Social Justice at Newcastle, has advised parliamentarians on experiences of Islamophobia in Britain.
“If we have a common understanding of what Islamophobia is, it will help to ensure tha action can be taken to address this form of racism”
Professor Peter Hopkins, Newcastle University
Professor Hopkins’ research has been published as part of a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the experiences of Muslims living in Britain. His work was submitted alongside research from other academics, including Dr Robin Finlay and Dr Kawtar Najib. The report, called ‘Islamophobia Defined’, worked on defining the term Islamophobia by taking advice from different organisations, faith leaders, academics, and politicians, as well as individual victims of hate crime. All-Party Groups are informal groups with Members from both Houses who have a common interest in an isue. The APPG on British Muslims was established in July 2017
with the aim of investigating discrimination and prejudice faced by Muslims living in Britain. As well as understanding issues faced by Muslims in the UK, the group also aims to celebrate the community’s contributions to society. The APPG has now put forward the first working definition of Islamophobia in the UK. Its report states: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” By clarifying the definition of Islamophobia as a “type of racism”, it is hoped that people will have a more coherent understanding of what it is, and therefore a more consistent appraoch to tackling it can hopefully emerge. The new definition is also intended to help accurately record levels of Islamophobic hate crime occuring in the UK. Professor Hopkins commented on the report and its implications: “I welcome the APPG’s recommended definition of Islamophobia as it clarifies that this is a form of racism. The fact that other groups, not just Muslims, experience Islamophobic abuse is also evident in this definition and clearly links with the findings of recent research. This all shows that there is now an urgent need for increased understanding of ethnic, religious and cultural differences. “One of the first steps to tackling something is to define it so that people can see for themselves the extent to which it is taking place. If we have a common understanding of what Islamophobia is, it will help to ensure that action can be taken to address this form of racism.”
The report has esablished the first ever working definition of Islamophobia Image: Newcastle
NUSU shortlisted for prestigious Guardian columnist gives award for refugee support project
Molly Greeves News Editor
Newcastle University’s Student Union is in the running for a national award for a project that helps asylum seekers and refugees in the city. The Times Higher Education Awards (THE Awards) occur annually, and Newcastle has been shortlisted in two categories: the International Impact Award and the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community. The latter will be awarded to those who have made “the most imaginative attempt to aid the wider community socially, culturally or economically”. “Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world.” This Roald Dahl quote was used as a mission statement for North East Solidarity and Teaching (N.E.S.T), a project that was undertaken to educate and empower the North East’s refugee population. Managed by Go Volunteer, the project was established in 2016 and offered free English lessons to refugees in the North East region.
This enables them, the N.E.S.T website states, “to gain necessary language qualifications required to gain employment in the UK. Boosting their confidence empowers them to integrate themselves into the local community, reducing the stigma and prejudice from existing residents.” As it has developed, the project has expanded to provide both creative and STEM classes with the aim of improving people’s futures. N.E.S.T was formed when six students travelled to Gateshead once a week to teach English to just ten refugees. Now, around one hundred refugees and asylum seekers attend the classes regularly, delivered by over three hundred Newcastle University students who have volunteered. Around £32,000 of external funding was secured in the last year to support the project. NUSU are reportedly “over the moon” to be included in the THE Awards, which, according to THE’s website, as regarded as the Oscar’s of the higher education sector. Katie Blundell, NUSU’s Volunteer Development and Employability Manager, says: “It is a tes-
tament to the dedication of our students and staff. At NUSU we pride ourselves on contributing to our students’ personal development and helping them make the most of their time at Newcastle University. N.E.S.T is an incredible example of the value and impact our students have on the local community and improving the lives of others.” The student union aren’t alone in their excitement. Ala’a Otain, one of N.E.S.T’s project managers, said: “We are really happy to have been shortlisted for the Times Higher Awards. It’s feels great that the hard work that has been put into N.E.S.T is being recognized at such a large scale. What started as a project that catered for one family and had 8 volunteers has turned into a family of over 500 individuals. We couldn’t have made it this far in the project without our volunteers and learners and for them we will forever be grateful. (I feel) grateful to be part of such a diverse, empowering and inspirational community.” To get involved with the project, you can visit www.n-e-s-t.org to volunteer.
Jodie Duddy News Editor
The project aims to help refugees and asylum seekers in the North East Image: Newcastle University Press Office
Last week Guardian columnist George Monbiot led one of the Newcastle University Insight lectures titled; ‘Out of the wreckage: a new politics for an age of crisis’ based on his book of the same name. The lecture was so popular that not only did he fill out the whole Curtis Auditorium, Newcastle’s largest lecture theatre, but it was live- streamed to another lecture theatre across the corridor which was also completely
full. Monbiot delivered the talk with absolute lucidity and conviction, and opened by identifying the interlocking crises that the world suffers from: Economic, environmental, and political as well as crises of racism and sexism. He argues that these crises arise from the individual accepting the ideology of blame that is advertised to us, and because we internalise this it creates a psychological rupture. This he believes leads to a collapse in mental health, increased levels of loneliness and alienation from society. Monbiot emphasises narrative as a successful method of influence. Statistics we find
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Monday 3 December 2018
Nature publishes research into Hult prize in Newcastle effects of pregnancy on the body Wilf Askins
Theo Turvil
New findings published in the international science journal, Nature by a collective group of researchers from Newcastle University, Wellcome Sanger Institute, and University of Cambridge reveal how new and unexpected cell states occur in the uterus and placenta during pregnancy and the genes that are utilised in those cells. The work is the so-called ‘First Human Cell Atlas of early pregnancy’ and sheds light on how the cells communicate to effectively organise themselves to modify the mother’s immune responses appropriately during the pregnancy with the unexpected and exciting outcome of furthering our understandings of tumour cells. Through the application of genomic prac-
The discovery of interactions between the mother and foetus may answer many vital questions
tices, the researchers were able to map over 70,000 individual cells from first trimester pregnancies, focusing on the intercept between the uterus and placenta. Microscopy-
based methods enabled researchers to observe the precise location of new cell states forming in the different layers of the decidua, the lining of the uterus. These sites observed are important in establishing a solid blood supply for the placenta, enabling the foetus to become and strong and healthy baby through the supply of nutrients.
This discovery is important to our understanding of what can go wrong during complications such as pre-eclampsia
These observations showed something quite remarkable. The biological building blocks of the placenta, known as trophoblast cells, ‘invade’ the decidua, causing the tissue to transform, enabling this blood flow to the foetus. They also observed the communication between cells and the mother’s immune system to coordinate the successful implantation of the placenta to the uterus. The implications of the discovery of interactions between the mother and foetus may answer many vital and previously unanswered questions in a field that has seen a limited amount of much needed research. Professor Muzlifah Haniffa, a corresponding researcher from Newcastle University noted the impor-
lecture on political crisis
George Monbiot, Guardian columnist Image: Wikimedia Commons alienating, and as humans we do not make sense of them as easily as we do a story. This leads people into becoming disillusioned by statistics and believing them to be a conspiracy. He spoke about the narrative structure that is used in every political and religious institution, which has been used pretty much since the beginning of time. The story is a simple one: There is a problem in the land. Against all odds a group of people rescue them from this problem. They are able to restore order in the land once more. This simply story structure can be inter-
changed with different groups of people and problems and it is his belief that even after the 2008 financial crash, the world is still hung up on a neoliberal narrative because we have not replaced it. Noting ‘you can’t take away someone’s story without replacing it with a new one.’ Despite it boosting the economy, continued neoliberal growth means that we crash through the planet’s finite boundaries. He acknowledges as a Zoologist, that the material economy is killing our planet. To progress we need to be satisfied with what we have and rid ourselves of the mentality that continued personal gain is desirable beyond necessity. He argues that we should strive for private sufficiency and public luxury, using the example of transport in cities. Why would you buy a car to get stuck in traffic going into the city, when you could pay for a new metro to for everyone to get to where they need quicker? He outlines what part the individual can play in undermining this crisis. He advocates working as a community so people feel a sense of belonging, he acknowledges society has become atomized, noting that ‘lonely people are drawn to fascism.’ He explains we can achieve this simply by eating together, an essential practice in companionship and to normalize community involvement. He notes that social initiatives keep people going, with goals to work to, when the individual is separate to the community they are more vulnerable to self- centred politics. Interestingly, Monbiot spoke about the techniques used by Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders of filtering his politics into the communities, thinking on a local level about the people who live there, and having it articulated from the people who know it best. The minds from this campaign went on to advise Labout Party candidate Jeremy Corbyn and helped achieve the biggest surprise in British Democratic history, the result of the 2017 General election, wherein the Conseratives lost their majority in Parliament and Labour made significant gains. Monbiot’s talk was really insightful and his politics of belonging seemed utterly convincing as a legitimate way to act to minimize the present interlocking crises. In a world of Trump and Bolsonaro, Monbiot’s new narrative comes at a desperate time for the world.
tance of this discovery in the advancement of our understanding of what happens in a normal pregnancy and what can go wrong during complications such as pre-eclampsia. Prof Ashley Moffett, a corresponding author from Cambridge University, stressed the need of future clarification of what each cell’s role is exactly in a successful pregnancy. They also shed light on the study of cancerous tumour cells due to the similar biological mechanisms they use to to evade the immune system and extract new blood supplies. This will aid further understanding of the effects of pregnancy on both mother and child.
This research sheds light on how cells communicate
Image: Pexels
In this world, there are many issues affecting people’s lives. Poverty, disease and famine are all features of both the modern and developing world. While we hope to fix these problems, a method isn’t immediately evident. In 2010, the Swedish billionaire Bertril Hult sponsored the Hult prize as a means of searching for solutions. Eight years later, the Hult prize is one of the largest entrepreneurial competitions in the world. The prize gives a team of 3-4 students the chance to pitch their startup idea to industry leading experts. The winner is given $1,000,000 in seed capital to fund their business. It goes without saying that the potential impact of this investment is enormous. Many winners of the Hult Prize have gone on to change the world with their idea. Past examples include the Aspire Food Group, which provides an affordable protein-rich food source to people in developing countries. Another winner was IMPCT, who created a website which connects investors to day-care centres in the developing world, allowing them to invest in and build affordable child care in low income and slum communities. Ex-US President Bill Clinton issued the call to action this year, by setting the goal of solving youth unemployment. This is the challenge which anyone hoping to win the prize must overcome by planning a venture which will change the lives of 10,000 youth within 10 years.
Here at Newcastle’s Entrepreneur Society, we are lucky enough to be hosting the Newcastle stage of the competition. It will take place on December 8th and 9th in King’s Gate Building. It is open to anyone studying at Newcastle University. During the event, we will provide free meals for all students attend-
Ex-US President Bill Clinton issued the call to action this year, by setting the goal of solving youth unempolyment
ing. After the event at Newcastle, the winning team will go on to the regional stage in London. If you get through that round, you’ll be on to the finals at the United Nations in New York. Whichever stage you get to, the event will be an incredible experience which will introduce competitors to the world of business and prepare them for practical challenges they may need to overcome. It is also a great place to network with other like-minded individuals. Registering is easy. You don’t have to be an expert, have a team, or even an idea. We also accept students from many different subjects, such as Business, Computer Science, Chemistry, Natural Sciences and Modern Languages. You can sign up on our Facebook page. Just go to the link facebook.com/NCLentrepre-
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student voice
Monday 3 December 2018
Interview with the editor of The Biologist magazine Orestis Katsoulis Science Editor Science Editor for The Courier, Orestis Katsoulis, interviews Tom Ireland, who is Editor of The Biologist magazine and a freelance sicence writer. What is your general day like? Some days I am out and about interviewing a high-profile scientist or science personality, visiting a new lab, or going to a talk/conference. These are the days you relish as a journalist. You’re doing your own thing, purely with the aim of finding a great story or getting some good leads for articles.
"Journalists have a fantastic time meeting interesting people, trying things that no-one else gets to try, visiting cool places, writing, and seeing their name in print”
Tom Ireland, Editor of The Biologist magazine and freelance science writer
My average day in the office or working from home is a little different. Like all desk jobs, the day starts with some internal emails and admin, then I’ll spend the early part of the day catching up with the news, seeing what is being discussed by the science community on Twitter, and taking note of anything I think we should cover in the magazine. If we’re still quite far away from the publication of the next issue, I’ll spend the day looking for potential articles, inviting people to write for us, and reading through submissions or pitches that have been sent to me. I might make some calls or Skype some scientists that are helping me with an article. If we’re closer to publication date, I’ll be writing bits and bobs, editing articles, working on the design of the
magazine with the production team, and then eventually, proofreading the almost-finished magazine, deciding on the cover and thinking of the all-important puns, headlines, and cover image. What made you investigate journalism as a potential career path? I always loved both science and English at school. I did a BSc in Biology at Cardiff University, and by the time I graduated in 2005, I was pretty sure I didn’t want to go into research. It was the breadth and variety of science that I loved, not studying the same organism for years and years. I had no idea what to do after graduating. All the graduate science jobs I could see were pretty uninspiring, and ‘science communication’ really wasn’t a recognised thing back in the mid-2000s. One day I was reading New Scientist and thought: ‘I wonder who these people are that write the articles?’ And I realised science writing would be my dream job. How did you get into journalism? I moved to London to do a post-graduate diploma in Magazine Journalism. It was a short and intense 9-week course that hammered the key skills of journalism into me: how to write precisely and concisely and keep readers’ interest. I did some work experience writing for the Big Issue and then at a doctors’ magazine. The doctors’ magazine was by no means my dream job but they gave me my first job in journalism, as a reporter. Would you recommend working in research before becoming a journalist? If so, what level do you think is appropriate? I think most science journalists have at least a Masters qualification, many have PhDs, but I am proof that you can get into it with just a good degree. Some people do science communication Masters, some do journalism courses, some continue doing research while building up writing experience on the side…others began as bloggers…there’s lots of ways to go about it. Ultimately, if you are a great writer, or have a great story, you will get published. But doing research and exploring a writing career on the side is a great way to do it as you have your research topic to write about, and if your writing career doesn’t work out or takes a long time to get off
the ground, you still have an interesting job. Have you ever had your writing squashed or binned? What was that like? Yes, and in fact the best part of my journalism training was to get used to the idea that this will happen a lot and is part of the process. Especially in the internet age, it is so hard for a publication to keep its readers interested. The internet is full of free stuff that is entertaining but recycled or poorly written or inaccurate.
“If they are paying you for an article it has to be perfect fascinating and clear”
Editors want all the articles in their magazine to stand out above all that, to be the best thing out there on a given topic. If they are paying you for an article it has to be perfect - fascinating and clear from start to finish. You have to expect to have your article rewritten, changed, queried, rejected, thrown into the bin and set on fire if it’s not perfect. What’s a journalist’s pay like? Put it this way – people don’t become journalists for the money. Journalists have a fantastic time meeting interesting people, trying things that no-one else gets to try, visiting cool places, writing, and seeing their name in print. It is not terribly paid, but you should expect to have graduate friends who earn far more than you. They will have extremely boring jobs that involve meetings and spreadsheets. Do you take interns or do you know of any worthwhile schemes that would be good to get involved with? The RSB does take interns but not specifically working on the magazine – you would be more likely to be working more broadly within the RSB’s communication and public engagement team. I really can’t recommend learned societies enough as a way of getting really varied experience, where you are likely to be involved with a bit of everything or that allows you to try other related areas like comms & press work, public engagement, science policy etc. They are charities, so they are nice places to work, and there are loads of them.
Tom gives his advice on being a freelance journalist Image: Tom Ireland
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Monday 3 December 2018
@CourierComment courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/comment Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Caitlin Disken & Alexandra Sadler Online Editor Rory Cameron
Is it breaking dawn on Brexit? In light of Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal, our writers discuss Brexit’s implications, from Northern Ireland to the economy
Edward Ingram
T
hey say that it is always darkest before the dawn. Or in the case of Brexit, wildly unpredictable. Following two years of negotiations, the EU and the UK have finally reached a legally binding withdrawal agreement, and a political declaration outlining the future relationship between the two sides. As of writing this, the two documents have been endorsed by the 27 remaining EU member states signalling the end of the negotiation process. Rather than pause for a brief moment of celebration, the Prime Minister now faces the frankly herculean task of selling her deal to Parliament. It is remarkable how many factions are so set against
Brexiteers and Remainers alike detest the deal
the Prime Minister’s deal. Brexiteers and Remainers alike detest the deal, with the former complaining that it represents a betrayal of Brexit, whilst the latter argue that the deal is worse than a clean, hard Brexit. The main sticking point of the deal is the contentious issue of the Northern Irish boarder, and the contingencies put in place to prevent a hard border. Currently, the
The 2016 vision of Brexit was never deliverable
UK is set to remain in a Customs Union with Europe until the end of the implementation period, which ends in December 2020. During this period the UK will still pay into the EU budget, and adhere to EU rules and regulations, whilst remaining under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. The EU and UK will attempt to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement which will allow the frictionless free trade of goods between the two blocs. However, virtually no one expects a free trade agreement to be successfully negotiated in this narrow time frame. Enter the Backstop! The insurance policy which would see the UK remain in the customs union should no trade deal be reached. Therefore preventing the erection of a hard border in Northern Ireland. Confused? I don’t blame you, but this last issue is what everyone is so up in arms about. Whilst the backstop makes sense as a policy to prevent a hard-Irish border, it essentially binds the UK to the EU until Brussels, and not Westminster, decides Britain is ready to leave. This is why so many Brexiteers complain that Britain will become a vasal state as it confiscates our voice within Brussels, whilst keeping us subjugated to its rules. Essentially, for the first time in British history, the British people will be subject to laws which they have absolutely no say in. As it stands roughly 90 Tory MPs, of Leave and Remain factions, have declared that they would vote down the deal, along with the DUP, Labour and virtually everyone else in Parliament. Instead of bringing Remainers and Brexiteers together the deal has antagonised everyone and pleased no one. As it stands however, the EU 27 will not reopen renegotiations, and with a clear parliamentary majority against no deal, the only two options left to MPs are Theresa May’s deal, or no Brexit (through a second referendum). Whilst students will probably be rejoicing at the prospect of a chance to overturn the 2016 result, Brexiteers are understandably
in fraught despair that their dream of a clean break from the EU is in tatters and on life support. The brutal reality however is the fact that their vision of Brexit, which they sold in 2016, was never deliverable. The Prime Minister’s deal, however terrible they believe it is, is the only deliverable form of Brexit. Quite how the Brexiteers expected to secure frictionless trade, access to the single market, and maintain a soft border in Northern Ireland, alongside freedom from the ECJ, and European rules and regulations remains incomprehensible. So what now? Despite the opposition the PM is sticking with her deal. Yet politicians, experts and journalists alike are struggling to understand how she will get it through parliamentary deadlock. Expect more drama from Westminster in the coming weeks. If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that this psychodrama will seemingly never run out of steam.
Orlagh Husband
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Mogg’s desperate attempt at a leadership challenge. In a pitiful last ditch attempt to reach an amicable deal, May met with Jean-Claude Juncker ahead of the Sunday European Leaders’ Summit. However, back at home, senior Tories are putting a new referendum on the table. This is certainly a move to make May back down, as she insists on staying put. The not so ‘strong and stable government’ is showing May to be even more of a laughing stock than she was before. She is being forced to compromise her ‘perfect’ deal to ensure that other European nations don’t threaten a veto over specific issues, such as in the case of Spain with Gibraltar. It goes to show that whether you voted leave, remain or simply abstained (which you should never do), from the country’s most divisive referendum, May has let Brexit negotiations chew her up and spit her out weaker than she was before. I couldn’t trust her and her deals as far as I could throw her, and that’s not far.
Seshadhri Subramanian
rexit is a topic that sends many folks into a blind panic, including me. Knowing that May is in charge of negotiations, not knowing where we are in the process and how it will impact on us is panicinducing. With the unmoveable force that is Theresa May, is it any surprise that the electorate, and even her own party, have no trust in her. Two long years down the line, Brexit is still a fresh topic in politics, with statistics emerging every day as to why it was a mistake to leave. These past few weeks haven’t been a walk through a wheat field for May, leaving her like a stuck record that she will indeed ‘see this through’. With her cabinet dropping like flies, a vote of no confidence remains imminent, not to mention Jacob Rees
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t a special summit, 27 of Britain’s soon-to-be ex-partners in the EU approved a deal that European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said was ‘the only deal possible.’ It was a thinly veiled directive to the House of Commons where, as Prime Minister Theresa May pointed out to her European colleagues, she does not have the votes needed. After months of negotiations with the European contingent, Prime Minister May seems more aligned in her rhetoric with them than opposed to what they propose. In some cases, she seems even more in line with the European directive than with some members of her own
party, Boris Johnson for example. This deal is not good for the United Kingdom – and I am putting that very lightly – and the Prime Minister’s fate may very well be reliant on whether the House ratifies this deal. As of now, the numbers are not in her favour, and the opposition seems to have way more strength in numbers than what one might imagine.
Theresa May does not have the votes needed to ratify the deal
Now, I don’t think the Opposition will endorse a ‘deal or no deal’ philosophy where the possibility of the UK being left in the lurch , out of the EU and with no deal on the table, is real. While I think the Prime Minister’s deal will be rejected, there is a possibility that amendments could be added and motions could be passed which would modify the deal before it is subjected to a vote again. There is some debate as to whether the deal should be discussed first and then put to vote or if the existing deal should be voted on before modifying it but the general consensus is that the Brexit deal in its current form is untenable. From a European perspective too, it is highly unlikely in my opinion that they would let Britain leave without a deal on the table because the ramifications, economically and legally do not limit themselves to the UK but instead extend to the continent. The course of action that I think is more likely is that
Britain faces an uncertain future now
of having amendments to the current Brexit deal so that it is a milder Brexit than before, which makes sense in two ways. One from a political standpoint and the second from a financial standpoint. If the current deal is rejected, which seems likely, markets are predicted to collapse (even if only for a little while) and the value of the pound is to fall. Similar to the TARP Plan in 2008 in the US for bank bailout, which was rejected first before a second version of it was accepted following financial meltdown, a mild Brexit may not be as far fetched as some might think. The other possibility, though somewhat unlikely, is that if the deal is rejected, Britain could ask for an extension to the sunset period. This would have to be approved in the House of Commons and unanimously approved by other EU member state and would allow more time to negotiate a new deal and maybe hammer out one where both parties could share the spoils. But with Britain’s seats in the European Parliament already reallocated, it could be problematic to keep the UK in the EU beyond the expected Brexit date. Another outcome I am not too excited about is that of the no-confidence motion post-rejection of the Brexit deal. But the question of if Conservative MPs would be willing to turn on their own Prime Minister and possibly allow Jeremy Corbyn to move into Downing Street is a whole other question – different from whether they will be okay with rejecting the current Brexit deal. They are definitely not going to be agreeing to the former, even if they can live with rejecting the Brexit deal. So Britain faces an uncertain future now and while this deal seems set to be rejected, there are numerous ways this love-hate relationship with the European Union could turn. One thing is for sure, the coming weeks and months will be crucial to a lot of players in this game – the Prime Minister, her Cabinet, the Opposition, and the EU to name a few. For now, the game is set Image: Max Pixel, Flickr, James Booker on YouTube,TIME on YouTube, Wikimedia Commons to continue.
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Monday 3 December 2018
War in Yemen: a crisis ignored
Our writers discuss Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, British arms, and the starvation it has caused
Joe Holloran
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he Iranian-Saudi proxy war in Yemen has been raging now for three and a half years. In that time somewhere in the region of 57-80,000 people on all sides have been killed, including a minimum of 12,000 civilians. Most of these are women and children. With the Western-backed blockade claiming even more lives questions are now being raised about what can be done to bring this calamity to an end. To many of us, the question of the UKs role in the crisis is one of basic hypocrisy. While we continue to sell weapons to a nation that drops bombs on school buses with impunity we cannot call ourselves either moral or civilized. How many lives need to be taken before the bodies of the dead outweigh the profit margins of the UK arms industry? Since the coalition blockade at the turn of the year the UN estimates that over 85,000 under six-year olds have starved to death or died of disease in the Yemen. Over the same three years the UK has made £16 billion profit on trade with Saudi Arabia.
It’s a wonder that Theresa May can ever sleep at all
Currently, the UNHRC is investigating ten separate Coalition airstrikes as possible war crimes. It is easy and cowardly for allied governments to wait for the results of these inquests when they know full well both that the Saudi’s are responsible and that in the interim time more civilians would have died due to inaction. But what action should be taken? If one thing has become clear over the last hundred years it’s that Western military intervention into the Middle East had led to
nothing but disaster. An invasion is out of the question, but perhaps the more troubling though is whose side would the UK intervene on the behalf of? We in the UK are a part of this. We have prioritised ‘special relationship’ with America and our economic tied to the Saudi’s over the lives of children. The UK must immediately pull out of the blockade and act with the UN to force through, if necessary, humanitarian aid to prevent even more lives being lost. We should also chose new allies, those with who we can unite with in organising relief efforts on the ground and act as a united voice on the international stage. While she can sugar coat it in whatever language she likes, Theresa May is not ignorant of the situation and goes to bed at night knowing where her loyalties lie. It’s a wonder that she can ever sleep at all.
Seshadhri Subramanian
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ccording to Save the Children International, approximately 85,000 children under the age of five may have starved to death in Yemen in the last three-and-a-half years as a direct consequence of the ongoing civil war in the country. This comes on the heels of a UN report that says up to 14 million people are in danger of famine in the region, the number at risk rising sharply following an aid blockade imposed on Yemen by the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition just over a year ago. War is never something that you would wish to happen in the world to anybody no matter where you are. From a humanitarian perspective, the worst among the affected would be the dependent population - those who are of advanced age, frail health or children. As
it is, in this particular case and in most countries where devastating wars are seen, these are third world countries with barely any resources. They are likely to struggle for basic resources during a period of normalcy, let alone a period of conflict. In an ideal world, the basis of prevention of the existence of such inhuman conditions would be the prevention of conflict. Unfortunately, we do not live in a world that is so black and white. But I think there must be more of an effort from conflicting parties to try and secure a peaceful resolution to issues that plague the region and understand that incessant fighting is going to help no one but the arms dealers and weapons companies supplying ammunition to both sides.
Incessant fighting helps no one but those supplying ammunition
In Yemen itself, for example, negotiations between the two conflicting sides – the Houthi rebels and the Arab coalition – have led nowhere. Instead, an effort must be made to recognise the futility of war and try to solve the issues at hand through diplomatic means. In the meantime, this allows for their citizens to recuperate and recover from the damaging effects of conflict, on an individual as well as a collective level. It gives the time and space for other countries, independent agencies and other organisations like UNICEF to help reduce the already devastating impact of poverty and hunger. The Yemen crisis is yet another unfortunate reminder of the damage caused during the search for regional dominance, political outcome, or monetary/material gain. The people at the top sometimes forget that conflict can affect the common man – and especially those who cannot survive on their own like children.
Image: Felton Davis on Flickr
NHS: of patients and patience
Our writers question the usefulness of NHS waiting times, and ask if they should be abolished Molly Greeves
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BC News have reported that many hospitals around the country are failing to meet their waiting time targets for A&E, cancer and routine operations. The percentage of targets hit nationally is as low as it’s ever been: while eighty-six percent of England’s targets were hit in 2012-13, none of them have been hit in 2017-18, with many patients having to wait longer than sixty-two days for cancer care in Newcastle. This staggering decline can only be a reflection of the lack of funding that hospitals are receiving. The headline of this article, “the hospitals that fail to treat patients on time”, seems to place the blame on the staff, as if the hard-work of the hospital staff is what we should be scrutinising. Could the increase in waiting times possibly be due to the billions of pounds worth of budget cuts by the Tory government? Oh no, the real enemy are NHS workers who spend their lives trying to care for others, despite being overworked and underpaid. Headlines like this are not only avoiding issue, they are also disrespectful and discouraging the people who are trying, against all odds, to help us.
The funding needed for the NHS to thrive just isn’t there
It’s no secret that the NHS is under a massive amount of pressure. Despite being one of the greatest things about this country, it is continually forced to let people down because the funding needed for it to thrive just isn’t there. Talk to anyone who has had to face extensive medical care in the last couple of years; many will tell you that the hos-
pital staff themselves are great, that they work incredibly hard and that they care for their patients. But there is only so much they can do when they are constantly being undervalued, when there isn’t enough money to support the ever-increasing demand for medical services. For so many of us, this isn’t “just politics”, the threats aren’t hypothetical. Some of the most vulnerable people in this country- people with cancer, mental health issues, and disabilities- are in desperate need of help, and they’re being failed. Having to wait for healthcare prolongs the suffering of many patients and can potentially cost them their lives. Yet, nothing is being done about it, because our government is made up of people who have never had to worry about healthcare being free, and frankly, are not worried on our behalf. So while you’re waiting around for months waiting to see your GP, remember that the best way we can rectify this situation is by raising money for NHS charities, and by voting against parties that don’t value our health service like we do. It’s lack of money, not the NHS staff, that’s the cause of these issues.
Susanne Norris
I
have lost count of the number of hours I’ve spent sitting around in hospital waiting rooms. That’s not an overstatement. Combine my not-so-great medical history and sitting around while parents and grandparents were sick, and the number is not even worth contemplating. However, I have also lost count of the amount of times the NHS have saved the lives of me or someone dear to me. Again, not an overstatement. Be it scans or blood tests as precautionary measures or treatment for much more serious illnesses, I can’t fault the NHS for any care I’ve ever
received. That’s why it annoys me when people complain about hospital wait times. Sure, no-one wants to spend hours in A&E for the sheer thrill of it. And, I accept it’s worrying having to wait weeks for a scan or blood test. But, if you’re waiting a while for world class treatment which – let’s admit it – you are, it seems like a small price to pay for the benefit of your health. After all, if you’re case is not considered a medical emergency, you must accept other people need to be prioritised.
If you’re waiting for world class treatment, it seems like a small price to pay
Hospitals should not be judged by the time you spend waiting to see a medical professional. Yet unfortunately, they so often are. A BBC article recently revealed one in five hospitals fails to treat patients on time. It only takes a quick glance through the comments to see people slating the NHS. People are more than happy to slate what they see as a ‘substandard’ service. I would happily challenge this, as I can’t see how free healthcare on the point of demand is in any way substandard. But unfortunately, people like something to complain about. And, in this case, it’s NHS waiting times. The fact you see experts and receive top quality care is totally forgotten about, because of the waiting times. That’s not to say the NHS is perfect. It’s not. But, blaming hospitals for long waiting times and then seeing the care as being inadequate because of those waiting times is not logical. Longer waiting times come down to an evergrowing ageing population and a lack of NHS resources. Fix the problem by voicing concerns about cuts in funding rather than blaming hospitals and the staff who work tirelessly to ensure people get cared for.
SOAPBOX
NOT MY NORTHUMBERLAND ST Carys Rose Thomas
I
am all for the “Christmas spirit”. I love the songs, the cosiness, the Secret Santas. But one thing I absolutely cannot stand is the city centres. Coming from a large family, present shopping is already a challenge – albeit one I take on with vigour. Navigating your way round the busy bustling streets on Newcastle city centre is tough enough at Christmas, but this year it appears that the powers that be decided to make said challenge that little bit tougher for us – an unpleasant early Christmas gift from them to us. The last thing Northumberland Street needs at this time of year is a big fuck off Ferris wheel blocking the middle of the street. Now when I am in town, I find myself bobbing and weaving between these tacky and unnecessary slightly underwhelming amusement rides that have been slammed slap bang in the centre of the busiest street in town. Ban the fairground I say, and let the people walk with ease.
ROAST OF THE WEEK
MIXED MESSAGES Mohi Choudhury
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Take off all my make-up ‘cause I love what’s under it” Says Little Mix in their latest music video, Strip. A wave of support for the song has draped the group with armour. And some of it is warranted; the centrality of their message espouses a rhetoric of body confidence and the ability to repel unfair superficial verbal abuse. For this, they should be applauded. Alas, the video is perhaps central to the content here, because it paints a distorted image. Despite promoting a makeup-free message, they are seen wearing makeup during the entirety of the video (even during the end, when they have “stripped”). Stop lying to your fanbase. Stop with the hypocrisy. In order to sell records, they have contradicted the morale of their idea and this can potentially make a negative impression on young girls in particular, who make up the group’s core fanbase.
TOAST OF THE WEEK
NICK(ED) OUR HEARTS
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Isabel Sykes
n Sunday 18 November, DIY SOS legend and undisputed heart-throb Nick Knowles strode boldly into the jungle in a pair of questionable white jeans, and the nation has not been the same since. Nick is hilarious, kind, charming, and if the jeans didn’t do it for you then the red speedos sure did. His calming tone and gentle sense of humour are a welcome change from the brash, larger-than-life characters this show usually attracts, and his camaraderie with fellow campmates is refreshingly genuine. Selflessly taking on the roles of both provider and cook for camp, he is constantly going without for the sake of others. Let’s face it, the fact that one of his music covers has made Vodafone’s Big Top 40 can only be a reflection of how utterly the nation has fallen in love with this admirable man. He may not have the voice of an angel, but if giving up your pillow in the jungle doesn’t deserve a crown, then what does?
life&style Blind Date
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the courier
Monday 3 December 2018
@CourierLifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle Life & Style Editor Sophie Henderson Lifestyle Editors Phoebe Fielder, Holly Margerrison, Ella Williams Online Editor Amanda Goh
Tom Letts meets Brendan Quirk
We find out how they got on. . . Brendan on Tom Tom on Brendan Did you have a good time? Despite having a tricky start with not finding each other, did you have a good chat? He’s very young but it was alright. We got pretty pissed so yeah we had a good chat. We spoke about HPV preperatio for men and encephalitis. Wow, very intellectual conversation for a first date! Were there any funny moments? When he was nervous about meeting me he pretended to wait for a bus outside the bar instead of going in and looking for me. Can you describe Brendan in three words? Bit too young... Was he dressed to impress at all? Shirt and trousers. He looked nice. If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be? Would have been better if he wasn’t pretending to wait for a bus at the bus stop outside the bar instead of coming to meet me at the beginning. What do you think he made of you? Would you introduce him to your friends? I’m pretty sure when we are sober there wouldn’t be any chemistry there so I don’t think it would get that far. I think he felt the same way. But yeah, I would. How did you end the date? We have each other on snapchat... I think. I don’t really get snapchat. I have him but I don’t know, does that mean he has me too? He paid for the taxi home. There wasn’t any chemistry really though. He’s quite a bit younger than me. I fancied him a little bit afer after all the booze though. You could cut a slightly dry Victoria sponge on his jawline. Strange eyes though. Finally, a cheesy one... If he was a festive drink, what would he be? I’m trying to think of something witty here, but I can’t. I’d say a snowball.
“You could cut a slightly dry Victoria sponge on his jawline”
“Afterwards, he treated me to a Burger King...”
So, did you manage to find each other okay? Eventually. I tried to play it cool by arriving late, but he was running later than my idea of late anyhow. It was raining so I waited at the bus stop for him to arrive. Glad you finally managed to meet! What were your first impressions? He seemed pretty angry at the whole trouble about meeting each other. Was tempted to just walk off at that point if I’m honest, but he looked decent so I thought I’d stay.
Was the conversation okay? Yeah was pretty good, just the usual stuff you talk about on dates, like measles, mumps, vaccines, with a wee splash of feminism! Intriguing... Did you go anywhere after the bar? Well we actually ended up going to Spoons instead of Lola Jeans. We then were going to this Japanese bar he suggested, but it was closed. So we ended up just going to Rev’s and continued drinking. Afterwards, he treated me to a Burger King. Classy... Sounds like you got a bit bevved! If he was an alcoholic drink, what would he be? Probably a gin based drink, because at the start I didn’t really like the drink (and I was unsure if I liked him initially) but then I realised it wasn’t the gin, it was the tonic I didn’t like. He seemed nice by the end of the night. A revelation! So, do you think you will see him again? If he’s game, could try to arrange something.
Are you unlucky in love? Email us at c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk
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the courier
life & style lifestyle NU Family Multipack! Which is the Best British Biscuit?
Monday 3 December 2018
In true festive fashion, we take out the biscuit tin and have a big old family argument about which rules supreme Jammie Dodger Custard Cream Jammie Dodgers. The classic British sandwich of shortbread and jam to accompany a brew. This lusCustard creams: an absolute classic. The original Oreo, only British kids know the effort mastering cious jam combo may not be the best for doesn’t need to be drenched in milk to remains a flawless symbol of what a harsh exterior, yet we continue dle. The Jammie Dodger will century. The variety of snazzy and custard set this biscuit tin. This work of culinary art fun into the biscuit world with dry digestives and No other biscuit can claim cameo in Doctor Who and the entire planet. The Jamremains at the heart of the world of rich teas. Be a JamDodger. -Caitlin Rawlings
dunking, however the Jammie dodger be made edible. This absolute classic it means to be British. We may have to be warm and gooey in the midnever be left to go stale in the last flavors from raspberry, berry, out against the rest of the brings colour and which is plagued bland bourbons. that they made a eventually saved mie Dodger nation. So, in a m i e
Bourbon The great British bourbon needs no
introduction. The staple of any family biscuit tin, it is loved by fussy eaters and food snobs alike, dunkers and nondunkers, and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. In its universal appeal the humble bourbon is unapologetically simple; it is biscuit, chocolate cream filling, and biscuit. For only 36p in Tesco for a family pack, this timeless classic is an instant winner. Unlike its jazzier biscuit cousins, the bourbon needs no superfluous decorations or faffy chocolate coating to be a satisfying snack. It is the sexier alterna- tive to the ever-disappointing custard cream, and pure decadence compared to the plain digestive. There is only one winner here, let’s give this bastion of biscuits the respect it deserves. -Isabel Sykes
Rich Tea
Developed in Yorkshire in the 17th cenImage: westy48 on flickr tury, the Rich Tea is an understated essential to any biscuit tin. If Yorkshire is God’s own country, then the Rich Tea is God’s own biscuit. I’m no royalist, but Prince William even chose a groom’s cake made from 1,700 Rich Tea biscuits – if it’s good enough for royalty, then it’s good enough for thee and me. Aside using a Penguin or KitKat as a straw, it is also the best biscuit to dunk (it literally has the word ‘tea’ in its name). Anyone who tries say this is something as dense as a Hobnob is clearly a novice of the dunk. If biscuits Image: wikimedia were a video game, Hobnobs would be the tutorial while Rich Teas are the final boss. Any amateur can sit about awkwardly for ten thousand years waiting for a hobnob to get soft, but it takes a true sensei in the art of the dunk to master a Rich Tea without finding a sloppy surprise in the bottom of their mug. What’s more, the Rich Tea is the healthiest of all biscuits. While many will see this as a negative, according to the percentages on the pack you can eat fifty in a day and still be within your GDA. Fifty biscuits! You’d be hard pressed to find even a fruit healthier than that… -Alex Moore
Stroopwaffel A Stroopwafel is glorious Dutch creation, consisting of a
layer of liquid sunshine sandwiched between two wafer thin waffles. Some might argue that this is not a biscuit, but if we’re being pedantic, a Jaffa cake is technically a cake, not a biscuit. Stroopwafels meet all of my criteria for a perfect biscuit. They have crunch, but won’t break your teeth, the syrup in the middle makes them beautifully sweet, and they are the perfect gift to bring back f r o m y o u r travels. As stroopwafels originate from the Image: wikipedia same place as the world-famous Gouda cheese, surely they’re just as delicious? The best way to eat a Stroopwafel (or six), is to warm said delights on the rim of a hot beverage and eat when slightly softened. As someone who loves to bake, I believe that biscuits should be so good that you can’t just eat one. Stroopwafels are syrupy delights that make it all too easy to eat half the packet before you know where you are, and if that’s not a sign of the perfect sweet treat then I don’t know what is. -Alexandra Sadler
Maryland Cookie Back in the day, Maryland cookies were the ones to beat. Everyone loves a choc-
Image: flickr
olate chip cookie and Maryland do exactly that. It’s not so fancy that you feel you can only have it when the extended family are visiting, drinking coffee in the lounge. Nor it is rubbish enough to waste as just a ‘tea-dipping’ biscuit. It’s a cheap chocolate chip cookie, exactly as it should be. Perhaps my love for Maryland stems from nostalgia. Back in school there were always a couple cool kids who would smuggle in some tuck to flog at break. One such 11-year-old entrepreneur sold a pack for a pound each. Split with a hungry friend for 50 pence each and you’ve got yourself a tasty and filling snack. You can’t beat a Maryland. -Toby Bryant
twisting the tops off the tops off the sandwich structured biscuit. Personally, these biscuits remind me of Saturdays at my grandparents, a haven in which my granddad hoarded every McVitties biscuit known to man. Contrary to popular belief, you do get some biscuit benefits whilst working at their factories. Eventually I grew out of my custard cream fad, until very recently. I spent half of second year refusing to buy any biscuit-y treats to align with my gym membership, and the other half I spent stealing them from my flat mates, sorry Rachael and Nat. There’s no hiding my love for the biscuit these days, and that’s most definitely down to my granddad. The custard cream may not be the most conventional ‘favourite’ biscuit, nonetheless, stick a pack on a plate at any informal biscuit gathering and watch them disappear swiftly. -Molly Taylor
Fox’s Golden Crunch
Fox’s golden crunch creams. A very high-end biscuit, it by no means is your average “let’s have a cuppa and a biscuit” biscuit. It’s the sort of thing you’d crack open on a Sunday afternoon when you have special guests, whose good opinion of you rests upon the contents of your cupboards. With its beautifully golden, sweet and crunchy exterior, with the promise of the silky smooth cream in the centre, it’s enough to send you right to the top of the pecking order in terms of posttea aperitifs. Present your guests with these bad boys and you’ll be the talk of the town. Bourgeois yet luxurious, these have simply got to be the best of the biscuits. Image: flickr -Ally Wilson
Shortbread With a rich, buttery taste, crumbling texture and a sprinkle of sugar– shortbread is
impossible to resist! This traditional Scottish biscuit is much thicker than the likes of hobnobs or digestives and has a satisfying crunch that you just can’t find anywhere else. It can be bought in a variety of shapes, sizes and flavours: you can have a shortbread plain buttery, filled with chocolate chips, in the shape of a dog- you name it! Another perk is that they are surprisingly easy to make (with only 3 ingredients!), making them one of the only biscuits that can be easily replicated at home. For many people, Christmas simply isn’t the same without shortbread. Alongside a Christmas film, and a good cup of tea, shortbreads make for a heavenly biscuit-eating experience. They also look amazing, frequently coming in tartan gift boxes, giving them a luxurious feel. Shortbread is the perfect festive treat and has a strong claim to be the very best bisImage: flickr cuit. -Libby Shaw
Chocolate Digestive I’m not going to lie, the chocolate digestive isn’t the most exotic biscuit.
It’s no Viennese chocolate swirl. It’s not even as fancy as a Hobnob. But, sometimes the best things in life are the simpler things. A step up from the cheap, everyday malted milk or bourbon, the chocolate digestive sits at the perfect crossroads between humble and exquisite. And, at just £1 per packet, how can you really go wrong? There’s no better feeling than getting home from a long day at uni, popping the kettle on, and seeing a freshly-stocked biscuit tin jammed full with chocolate digestives. A versatile biscuit, they instantly make everything better. Want to dip it in your cuppa? Perfect – the chocolate will melt just enough to enhance the biscuit’s already chocolatey goodness. No cuppa in sight and want to eat it straight from the packet? That’s fine too – sometimes the chocolate digestive tastes even better on its own. Above all, the chocolate digestive really just is a biscuit tin staple. We all know how disappointing it is to open a biscuit tin and see it filled with Rich Tea biscuits. But, as my housemates will testify, seeing a packet of chocolate digestives will always make me say an excited, very Yorkshire ‘ooh!’ -Caitlin Disken
Humble Hobnob Why settle for a Digestive, or worse still, a Rich Tea? Someone at
McVities clearly once wondered this too, and proceeded to drive an entire industry forward in a the pursuit of buttery, biscuity brilliance. Then, when all was said and done, it was the humble Hobnob that surfaced from the depths of their innovation. It’s an oaty, more substantial cousin to the Digestive, so bridges the gap between biscuit and flapjack. This paves the way for better flavour, yes, but also does wonders for the dunk-fac- t or. With a perfect level of absorbance, a Hobnob won’t break on you. Not like the scumbag Rich Tea festering at the bottom of your mug. Now, in a mighty pantheon of variants coated in chocolate or caramel, what reason is there to go with anything else? Oh yeah! That name... -George Boatfield
Image: wikipedia
the courier
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lifestyle life & style
Monday 3 December 2018
Please don’t kill my vibe(rator)
Gabriela Szczepanska questions why female masterbation is undiscussed in modern society
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n contemporary society it’s not uncommon to have known about masturbation from a very young age. After all, our western culture is one that is flooded with images and drenched in sexuality. TV shows, movies, books, the concept of self-pleasure is one that we’ve heard of from a young age even if we can’t exactly pin point at what moment we understood exactly what it really meant.
We are sexual beings and that is okay Depending on whether you’re male or female, your early learning experiences of masturbation will most likely be at polar opposites. I don’t think that’s a particularly controversial statement, I mean even in terms of stupid gags in movies, how many times has a guy jacking off been the punchline vs a girl? And I’m not saying that’s how we should measure masturbation knowledge and experience (because that scene in American Pie was pretty funny ) ,
but isn’t it baffling how the concept is usually ignored? Until recently you couldn’t find anything about female masturbation, perhaps only in academic writing and even that would be written from a very theoretical point of view. Even with sex education, which should at least involve the notion of masturbation, we weren’t actually learning much about sex, more like reproduction education. I can already hear a coven of priests chasing after me with pitchforks and torches for even mentioning the idea that females masturbate, but yeah, as shocking as that may be(!) it’s true. The lack of presence of the female sexual pleasure derived from masturbation can definitely be linked to the dominating ideas surrounding sex. Maybe because sex has been and still remains predominantly an act that serves to satisfy the guy, and don’t
even @ me saying that’s not true because let me tell you; I don’t know a single girl that hasn’t gone through the experience of having sex with a guy, he cums, falls asleep and she’s left there planning the quickest escape route from this waste man’s bed. Most women have even had multiple experiences like this. We place women’s sexual needs as secondary, and for that very reason women’s sexual needs are ignored and the idea that they’d want to masturbate is seen too many times as “weird” or unnatural. That needs to change. I mean, if you don’t find out what you like how are you going to know what to expect when there’s another person (or people, I’m not judging) involved? I’m here to reassure you that it’s as natural and normal as anything else, with Ann Summers and LoveHoney providing you with endless inspiration there’s no reason to forget about your self satisfaction. Women have needs just like guys, and the stigma needs to end. We’re sexual beings and that’s okay, we should be able to enjoy ourselves with no shame attached to it. If you don’t know what gets you off, how can you expect another person to know? Both LoveHoney and Ann Summers have so many different sex toys to choose from and they’ve often got deals and student discounts on their products, so why not treat yo’self? Image: @PinkBits on Instagram
This year’s Christmas Market is sleigh-ing!
Caitlyn Rawlings takes a look around this years newly unified Newcastle Christmas Market
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hristmas has officially come to town. Now that Grainger street is decked out from head to toe with fairy lights and the queue for the Fenwick’s window continues to grow down Northumberland street the countdown has begun. This year has seen the return of the infamous Newcastle Christmas Market; however, the council has put an unusual twist on the seasonal celebration. For 2018 there has been a fu-
sion between the local trader’s market and the international bazaar as the Geordie’s are seated alongside their cosmopolitan neighbours. The market opened on November 16th and will remain at the heart of the city centre till the 16th December. This year has seen an eruption in fluffy jumpers, mulled wine and gingerbread tuck neatly under Monument to fill us all with Christmas cheer as we revel in this time of year.
The wafting smells of syrups, spices and sweets will quickly entice you toward the cosy shacks lined in holly as food from Greece, Indonesia and even Yorkshire graces the streets of Newcastle. There have been two new arrivals this year as Yorkshire pudding wraps and Halloumi Fries have been drawing in customers of all ages. Alternatively, the return of the churros, crepes and exotic Indian delights have sent taste buds into overload. The cuisine remains affordable for smaller items such as pastries and chocolate treats and stays lower than £5. Although, larger meals and snacks such as Gyros or bubble wraps stretch to a slightly more expensive price yet remain under £10. As a student, you may not be able to rely on the market for an affordable treat every day of the week. However,
The wafting smells of syrups spices and sweets will quickly entice you toward the cosy shacks lined in holly
Images: @Rawvana on Instagram
it is justifiable to splash the cash on a one-off trip to the market which will save you from cooking one out of the seven nights this week. This year the market is kitted out to provide the perfect bevy for you whatever you’re poison. Whether you adore a Baileys, a hot chocolate, or maybe you’re the type to merge the two together, this market is the perfect place for you. There are rows upon rows of gins, wines and even beers this year for those of you who like a stronger drink. Those of you who prefer a caffeinated kick the quaint Coffee Express can provide you with that toasty hot chocolate you’ve been lusting for. Whether you fancy a gin or a gingerbread latte this year’s market will give you a drink worth toasting. ‘Tis the time of the year when gifting season has arrived and you have a list of presents to buy for your flatmates, course mates and your friends and family back home. Don’t be filled with dread when you realise you have to buy a secret Santa either because the market is full to the brim with quirky bits and bobs. Whether you fancy buying a personalised bauble or a cosy bobble hat there are so many weird and wonderful gifts to choose from. The countdown continues as we hand over essays and finally vacate the Robinson library. Although, before you rush home to cuddle up and watch the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special with your family you should use this time to visit the market one afternoon with your nearest and dearest from the toon.
Cooking with Hope Coke Winter Roots and Goats Cheese
Image: Hope Coke
Root vegetables are at their best this time of year, and this recipe gives the humble carrot, parsnip and beetroot a much deserved moment in the spotlight. The vegetables caramelise in the balsamic dressing as they roast, giving them a mellow sweetness that contrasts beautifully with the sharp saltiness of the goats cheese. Leave out the pine nuts and pomegranate seeds if you want, but the added colour and crunch really elevates things if you’re after something dinner party worthy. This dish is great as a side but delicious enough to take centre stage, although you might want to scale up the quantities if you’re serving it as a main. Serves 2 Ingredients: 2 large carrots 2 large parsnips 2 large beetroots 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard 2 tbsps balsamic vinegar 2 tbsps olive oil 1 tsp honey leaves from 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, or 2 tsps dried rosemary 60g soft goats cheese salt and pepper, to taste optional, to serve: a big handful of each of pine nuts, pomegranate seeds Directions: Start by preheating the oven to 220 degrees C. Cut the tops off the carrots and chop them in half across the middle so that they’re in shorter sections. Slice each half lengthways into quarters or sixths, depending how thick they are, so that you’re left with chunky batons. Repeat with the parsnips, so that the parsnip and carrot sticks are a similar size. Cut the tops and stringy bottoms off the beetroots, then cut each one in half. Place the flat cut sides down and chop each half lengthways into sixths, so that the beetroot is in chunky wedges. In a small bowl, combine the wholegrain mustard, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and honey and stir together. Transfer all the chopped vegetables to a large baking tray and pour over the balsamic mixture, sprinkle over the fresh or dried rosemary, then toss to combine until all the veg is well coated with the dressing. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, then place the baking tray in the oven to roast for 25-35 minutes, until all the veg is tender and starting to brown and crisp in places. Remove the tray from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes or so to cool slightly. Tip all the vegetables onto a serving plate or bowl and crumble over the goats cheese. Take the pine nuts, if using, and toast them in a dry frying pan over a medium heat until they’re golden brown and fragrant, then scatter the pine nuts and pomegranate seeds over the vegetables. And you’re ready to eat! Serve alongside crusty bread and a green salad for an easy weeknight supper, or eat buffet style as part of a spread alongside other dishes.
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the courier
life & style beauty Nostalgic Has beauty blogging got too big for its boots? courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Beauty Editors Susanne Norris, Nimra Rafique Laura Buckle Online Editor Molly Taylor
looks
Recall the blue eyeshadow phase? Miranda Stoner looks back on her most memorable and interesting beauty choices
Caitlin Disken looks at PR trips of beauty influencers and how the industry markets makeup
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here was a point when beauty blogging simply meant what it sounded like: uploading videos or blog posts reviewing make-up products, from everyday foundation to eyeshadow palettes. Yet, as more money has been ploughed into social media, beauty blogging has expanded and adapted into a lucrative market funded by big brands. What once meant filming a short video in your bedroom has spiralled out of control, as bloggers and brands use beauty blogging to grab more money.
Well, NARS, I’m sure we’d all be living our best life if we’d been flown out to Bora Bora on an all-expenses paid trip.
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ometimes I wish I could go back to the simplicity of my childhood, when the rising price of Freddos matched my pocket money inflation and a time before Barbie and her aesthetics became complicated. Yet I can’t help but feel happy that I did get older because whilst I will never renounce my love of a good scented lip gloss, there are some beauty products I am grateful to be able to leave in the past. Then: Lip Smacker. Now: Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm It is an understatement to say I loved Lip Smacker. Lip balm was the only beauty product I was allowed before secondary school so I had every flavour there was. Coca Cola, Fanta, Fanta grape, m&m, mint m&m, chocolate nesquik, skittles… the list goes on. My personal favourite was a coral hued shimmering strawberry and kiwi gloss which came in a sparkling pink tube. I would apply them over and over, but the problem was that when winter came, and I actually needed lip balm, they were useless as they contained absolutely nothing to moisturise the lips. Although the vast spectrum of scents doesn’t quite transfer over to the adult world of lip gloss (market researchers take note) the quality of lip balms I use now far exceed that of Lip Smacker. Vaseline is obviously a great option, but my favourite balms come from Pixi or The Body Shop as these have all the novelty of Lip Smacker combined with good quality. Then: All over Eyeshadow. Now: Transition Shades There was a time before YouTube beauty tutorials when I was convinced that eyeshadow should be smeared all the way from the lash line to the under brow. All shadows were treated as equals whether the shade in question was green, shell pink or orange. The brushes that came in the pack weren’t very effective, so I used to apply a lot of products with my fingers which meant I often looked like a small child had been let loose on my face with a paint set. Fortunately, I have since acquired a full set of Real Techniques brushes which has contributed considerably to the cleaning up of my make-up looks. One of my biggest issues when I started using makeup was that the eyeshadow palettes I owned tended to contain completely un-blendable shades; I’m talking to you Barry M ‘Paradise Passion’ palette! This was a purple, dark blue and yellow palette intended to create a tropical look- needless to say I never hit pan. Palettes I buy now tend to be more neutral colours or contain transition shades which make blending in outrageous oranges or perky purples far easier. Then: Clearasil Exfoliating Scrub. Now: The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream - When I first started getting spots, I threw everything at my face to try and make them disappear. Looking back this was an absolutely terrible idea. Obviously, it’s important to cleanse the face daily but I was exfoliating, cleansing twice, and then toning twice a day, all to the detriment if my skin. I thought moisturiser would make my skin greasy and break out, so I avoided it. This combined with zealous exfoliating dried out my skin and in winter it would crack. Eventually it got so bad that I had to seek dermatological help. I was convinced to add moisturiser to my routine and cut down exfoliation to once a week. Now I cleanse, tone and moisturise at night and just use an SPF moisturiser in the morning. Although I still get the odd blemish, with time my spots have diminished, and flaky winter skin disappeared with the exfoliator.
Monday 3 December 2018
Yet, who can blame beauty bloggers? Recently, makeup giant NARS took Aussie blogger Sammy Robinson and boyfriend Nick Wheatley, among others, out to Bora Bora for a trip, with the primary purpose of marketing its products to Sammy’s 680,000 subscribers. Vlogging the trip over two posts, Sammy makes sure to focus on the goodies NARS left for the couple: make-up products, NARS-branded scuba diving gear, and, to top it off, a sickly handwritten note telling their pair to ‘live your best life’. Well, NARS, I’m sure we’d all be living our best life if we’d been flown out to Bora Bora on an all-expenses paid trip. It’s hard not to view the videos without feeling incredibly cynical. One of the reasons beauty blogging works is the expensive nature of the make-up industry. As someone whose idea of forking out on make-up is spending fifteen
quid on foundation, if I’m ever tempted to try a more expensive product I can’t just nip down to Boots and buy it. I have to think about the quality of the product, how long it will last, and if it will suit me. How can I do that without just buying it? Well, I can have a quick Google to see if any bloggers have reviewed it, which will reassure me about how good it is. If I’m buying a new foundation, I can find a blogger with a similar skin tone to me and see what works for them. Yet, with this trend of major brands funding trips for bloggers, how can I be sure the reviews aren’t biased? With NARS not only giving Sammy Robinson free make-up, but a trip to Bora Bora as well, she’s hardly going to turn around and moan that the products aren’t good. That is where the problem lies. NARS are spending all this money on Sammy because they know she will give them a good review. And, as she describes the new NARS palette as ‘BEAUTIFUL’ on one of her many Bora Bora Instagram posts, they haven’t been disappointed. For them, the expense is simply a drop in the ocean for the level of advertising the brand gets. With a NARS mascara costing £22, the brand’s products remain inaccessible to many. That’s why it’s frustrating seeing them splash out so much money on advertising. Obviously, money is the driving force for the majority, if not all, of beauty brands, but in an ideal world it’d be nice to see them lower their prices a bit to enable more people to enjoy their products. After all, the main reason I’m willing to splash out a bit on make-up every now and again is because I enjoy wearing it. As more and more profits can be made, brands seem to have lost sight of this. And, as beauty bloggers are increasingly bribed by brands via free products, gifts and holidays, a lot of them seem to have forgotten why they started blogging in the first place: because they loved make-up and wanted to share that love with others. Call me outdated, but a return to bedroom beauty blogging would be fine by me.
Image: @janicejoostema
BDD: exploring 'Identity'
Charlotte Cooper shares exhibition 'Identity' which is shaping the body dysmorphia dialogue
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ody positivity is on the rise in 2018 and there is encouragement left right and centre for us to embrace our natural figures no matter our shape or size. It may therefore be hard to believe that body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is still at a shockingly high rate. Statistics show that one in ten people suffering from the mental health condition where people spend large amounts of time worrying about their appearance. BDD
sufferers usually concentrate on certain areas of their body which they perceive to be flawed which creates sever stress affecting their daily lives. Relationships, social interactions and work can be detrimentally affected often leading to depression, self-harm or even suicidal thoughts. Earlier this year research showed that teenagers were undergoing plastic surgery to look like the ‘filters’ used on social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram. Photoshopping, face-tuning and ‘perfecting’ apps are
Image: @zebraonegallery
readily available for anyone to use in order to achieve body ‘perfection’. Pressure from social media and society may be the culprits behind the significant rise in BDD but the latest empowering art exhibition seeks to change this. Art exhibition, Identity, held in London’s Zebra One
2.4
the percentage of the general population who are predicted to suffer from BDD. Estimates range from 1.7% to 2.4%
Gallery is challenging the stigma around BDD. Ten international artists have come together to showcase their work which examines self-perceptions shaped by environment, society and the media. One of the displays in the exhibition is from Turkish artist, Meltem Isik, who has used enlarged images of his subjects’ bodies revealing what it really feels like to live with BDD. Isik gets up close and person with images showing body dysmorphic tendencies in people of all ages, races and genders and how perception of themselves is distorted. Scientists and researchers are yet to find the cause to BDD as each experience varies in severity. Artist Leigh de Vries showcases her prosthetic moulds that display her personal experience with BDD. Leigh was born with a lazy eye which was corrected in 2014 but left her suffering from severe BDD. Her latest work shows the perception of having a large tumour weighs down one side of her face which unveils the shocking way she sees herself. Even successful celebrities such as Lady Gaga can suffer from BDD as images used in the exhibition show. Back in 2009 photographer Derrick Santini captured the US singer who openly spoke about her body confidence and struggles with anorexia and bulimia although not realising at the time she suffered from body dysmorphia. Other celebrities who have spoken out about suffering with their body image, particularly BDD, include actress Brittany Snow and actor Robert Pattinson. Identity is a powerful exhibition aiming to get people talking more openly about body dysmorphia. Both men and women alike can suffer from this mental health condition with the most common age group being from teens to young adults. BDD causes the individual to fixate on comparing themselves to others, going to extreme lengths to conceal their ‘flaws’ and even avoiding mirrors all together. By raising awareness of this mental health disorder perhaps we can combat body dysmorphia so that nobody has to ever fear walking past a mirror.
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17
beauty life & style
Monday 3 December 2018
Embracing imperfection
The face of beauty is changing. Yasmin Hailes discusses the new need for exposure of looks that change the norm, including the increasing presence of scars and vitiligo on social media
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ach and every one of us has imperfections, things we don’t like about ourselves, things we would change in a heartbeat if we could. It’s only normal to feel this way. I know this all too well, I’d never feel comfortable enough to post a picture showing my stretchmarks or cellulite, or any other part of me society has deemed as ugly. Our Instagram feeds are always plastered with pictureperfect people, airbrushed, and imperfections hidden by a filter. So is it really any wonder that we all avoid posting pictures that expose the insecure aspects of our bodies? When you dig a little deeper though, you’ll find things are more optimistic than they seem, things are changing, slowly but surely. One of the most e mp ow e r i n g moments i n
Image: @amy.deanna
recent times has to be at the wedding of Princess Eugenie, where the bride decided she wanted her dress to showcase her scoliosis scars. Now had we not been told by the media, and Eugenie herself, would any of us have realised she had a scar? Probably not. The things we are so caught up over on ourselves, are never that noticeable to other people. Not even Princesses are exempt from imperfections, we all have them, and so instead of hiding ourselves away, we should be fighting for a society where it is perfectly normal to be a little bit different. We are seeing an abundance of beauty campaigns that are encouraging body confidence. Last year major clothes supplier, ASOS, stopped airbrushing their models, and rather than being met with comments of outrage or disgust, the brand was smothered with love and support. I think this is a really vital step in changing beauty standards, big companies normalising flaws that we all share. It really is within the past few years that we are seeing these changes, it was actually only this year that the makeup brand CoverGirl published an advert with Amy Deanna, their first model with vitiligo. In the ad she says "why try to blend in when you can choose to stand out?". This is the exact question we should be asking ourselves; what makes us unique is what makes us beautiful, and that should be celebrated. Wouldn’t the world be a boring place if we all looked the same. There is no doubt in the fact that people big on social media are very influential, take Selena Gomez for example. The actress/singer had surgery for a kidney transplant, as a result of her battle with lupus, which left her with scarring. Gomez publicly showed off her scar when she wore a bikini on holiday fully knowing she would be photographed, I think that is such a positive message to send to her young followers, be proud of what you have been through. Why should scars come with negative connotations, when they show the sheer courage
of someone. Women who have had C-sections when in labour is a similar story, or people who have had battles with cancer, which has left their bodies wounded. Be proud of your scars, they show the world just what a badass you really are. More brands and more influential stars should be following suit. This is a movement that needs power from everyone, to normalise the norm, and to inspire an entire generation. When we are born we start as blank canvases, and every scar, every blemish, tells a story, so why should we cover ourselves up. Instead we should just be loving the skin that we are in.
Image: @cosmopolitanuk
Great lengths: hair extensions Beauty sub-editor and extensions enthusiast Susanne Norris discusses her hair decisions
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ast week, one of my housemates tagged me in an article saying Ariana Grande had cut her hair (I know, totally news-worthy). The comment she tagged me in read: ‘People really don’t understand what hair extensions are lol’. And – she was right – they don’t.
The comment, and even the article itself, all referred to the fact she had ‘cut’ her hair. But the thing was, her hair was never real in the first place. To set the record straight, I’m not bashing Ariana for this choice. In fact, I love the fact she’s openly discussed the fact she wears extensions. She regularly points out all over social media that her hair isn’t her own. And, as someone
I've always had fine hair that seemed to refuse to grow, so extensions were my go-to. And they served me well. It sounds tragic and cliché, but the confidence I got from long, princess locks was unreal
Image:@taylorrosehair
who wore extensions for near enough five years, I totally respect this. So – given the confusion that seems to surround hair extensions – it got me thinking about whether they’re worth it. Naturally, I want to say yes, as I don’t want to believe years of wearing them (plus an investment of thousands of pounds, not kidding) wasn’t worth it. And – for me – they really were worth the investment at the time. I’ve always had fine hair that seemed to refuse to grow, so extensions were my go-to. And, they served me well. It sounds tragic and cliché, but the confidence I got from long, princess-like locks was unreal. I felt they suited my look perfectly and felt happier I could finally have the hair I wanted given my hair never grew. Having hair extensions also helped me embrace my natural colour. When I was at school/sixth form, all my friends had fair hair. It sounds stupid now, but in the context of a school dynamic, having very dark hair made me feel like I stood
out from the crowd. And – as is the case with many school kids – all I really wanted was to fit in and look like part of the crowd. But suddenly - with my long, gorgeous hair - I felt confident enough to look different. Similarly, when I got to university, long hair was all the rage. So, I invested in yet more sets of extensions to keep up with what I considered a fashionable look. I did it for myself too, but by now I was so convinced I looked bad with short hair that I almost had to keep up with wearing extensions. This was, of course, quite problematic. Whilst having extensions made me feel confident and made me love the way I looked, it meant that I could never have a break from them as I hated my natural hair. I’m well aware of how ludicrous I sound. At the end of the day – it’s just hair – and in the iconic words of my favourite Kardashian: ‘Kim, there’s people that are dying’. But it is crazy how dependent I became on extensions
Big-up beauty brand lovin'
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ooking for a cruelty-free makeup brand that’s on trend, looks gorgeous and is actually decent value for money? Look no further – Too Faced is your answer. Although already an established brand (being founded in 1998 by Jeremy Johnson and Jerrod Blandino) Too Faced is the gift that keeps on giving for the conscientious beauty lover, and I think they deserve every bit of good press they get. Not only is the brand cruelty free, but they also have a huge range of vegan friendly products available, including their renowned Better Than Sex mascara, as well as their range of Melted liquid lipsticks. Too Faced are constantly innovating in order to introduce both ethical and exciting new products, with their Clover range being just another example. It was inspired by Jeremy and Jerrod’s pet Chihuahua, with Too Faced donating $150,000 to Best Friends Animal Society at the launch. My favourite range, however, has to be the Sweet Peach line, with my favourite product being their original 18 pan eyeshadow palette. I received this as a present on my last birthday and I have been using it pretty much constantly ever since. Featuring warm peachy tones with pinks and browns, as well as darker purple shades, it’s the perfect all round palette for both day and night looks – I’ve worn it for everything from dates, to lectures to nights out and it has not failed me once. At £39 it’s not the cheapest, but is one hundred percent worth the investment – failing that, definitely get it on your Christmas list. Another thing I love about Too Faced is how great they are at bringing out new high quality products regularly, and it’s safe to say they’ve more than delivered this festive season. Their Gingerbread Spice range was only released a few weeks ago, but has already become a massive hit. My go-to product in the range so far is definitely the longawaited eyeshadow palette. Again, featuring 18 shades, it’s the perfect palette for autumn/winter. With a range of both mattes and shimmers - as well as a strong selection of transition shades to complement the darker plummy tones - it’s becoming a strong contender for palette of the season. Like the Sweet Peach palette, it is incredibly versatile, and at £39 a worthwhile investment. If you’re looking to treat yourself on a bit more of a budget however, I would recommend trying out a liquid lipstick from the Melted range. There’s a brilliant variety of shades, ranging from dusky pinks to rich browns, one of my favourite things about this range is that there really is a colour for everyone. If you’re looking to test out a few different colours in the range I would suggest purchasing the ‘The Sweet Smell of Christmas’ set of matte liquid lipsticks. Included are four super wearable shades; two nude pink tones, a darker rose pink and a gorgeous deep red – perfect for the upcoming season of Christmas parties. Although Too Faced may be slightly pricier than many brands, the high quality and diverse range of their products by far outweighs this negative – any purchase from Too Faced is a worthwhile investment, whether it’s for yourself or as a gift for someone else, their products are a great addition to any makeup collection.
Having extensions made me feel confident but it also meant that I could never have a break from them as I hated my natural hair. to keep up with what I considered an imperative beauty standard. I’d love to say that I have short hair now because I feel more confident and happier in myself. And, to an extent, that is true. But I also like having short hair because it’s the fashionable thing to do at the moment. What it comes down to is beauty standards change. And, I really don’t think there’s any harm in trying extensions. I know I will again at some point. If they improve your confidence and give you the new look you wanted, there’s no harm in that. But I also think there’s something good about seeing more people embrace their natural hair and erasing certain beauty standards. Turns out Ariana’s statement of removing her extensions might me more important than we initially thought.
Image: @toofaced
18
life & style fashion
Looks with Seoul T
he Korean beauty scene has long been a fascination for UK audiences with the 10 Step Korean Skincare routine and sheet masks filling our Instagram feeds. However, following this year’s Spring/Summer 2019 Seoul Fashion Week it is clear that we also have a lot to learn from their fashionistas. The shows displayed a hot pot of great talent, as well as hosting some of the most stylist guests. Upcoming designers such as Seung Gun Park from Pushbutton showcased a collection inspired by the extravagance of the eighties, complete with fluorescent aerobics wear and cocktail dresses. Whilst Myoungsin Lee from Low Classic created an image of sophistication with her minimalistic feminine pieces. She aimed to evoke the idea of Asia in a European context and included elements of folklore and nature. The looks had a strong black and white theme with flashes of burnt orange and yellow. The show employed all elements to bring the theme to the viewer, even the sense of smell was stimulated by fresh wood boards stapled to the floor to add a plywood smell to the atmosphere. Some of the strongest looks, however, came from the attendees themselves whose highly covetable streetwear looks set them aside from other fashion week audiences. Each show-goer managed to create a stylish yet still personalised and individual look. From streetwear and sportswear logos to matching outfits. The show-goers were dressed in a vast array of styles. Some opted for all out unapologetic colours, whilst others chose muted tones- or a mix of both. One model opted for a grey suit with a neon yellow jumper and red bag. A strong general trend amongst the audience was a highly structured look. Jackets, coats and blazers in all nuances of the rainbow were worn. Each wearer styled this differently. One Instagrammer combined a cocktail dress with an oversize blazer to give the illusion of mile long legs and accessorized simply with a gold brooch and slim black waist belt. Others matched suit trousers and trainers. This gave the traditionally formal look a laid back element. Shoes were a strong point amongst the Seoul fashion week audience. They say that shoes can make or break an outfit but the streetwear style in Seoul was coordinated from head to toe. Everything from kitten heels to converse set foot in the hallowed halls each paired perfectly to the wearer. Knee high platform boots cropped up frequently, whether that was in conjunction with ripped skinny jeans or a short skirt was left up to the wearer. The androgyny of the looks was noticeable and this added sophistication. This was reflected through his and hers coordinated outfits and the beautiful tailoring which added a feminine touch to traditionally masculine garments. The most remarkable thing about the streetwear worn at Seoul fashion week was perhaps the ability of each individual to create their own unique and unprecedented look. No t w o outfits
Monday 3 December 2018
The Ultimate Cosy Chr
Sequined, garish or purposefully ugly, Phoebe Eyles takes a look at all of the Christmas jumpers jingli
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hristmas jumpers are a clothing item that has exploded in popularity within the past few years. With most high-street retailers selling Christmas jumpers, there is now a vast amount of choice perfect for ugly jumper parties or simply just lounging around at Christmas. The general trend this year seems to be that the jumpers are less obtrusive, with a lot of fairisle knits and subtle sequins. However, there is still an extensive selection of all types of Christmas jumpers to choose from, and I have rounded up my four favourite retailers for Christmas jumpers this year.
ASOS
ASOS have one of the largest collections of Christmas jumpers for men and women on the market. There is a great range of fairisle knit jumpers at suitable price points. This trend is arguably the most wearable as you can style it for day-to-day without looking over the top. This style of jumper could be paired with leggings or joggers for a cosy look, or with skinny jeans and heeled boots for a casual Christmas gathering.
Source: Next.co.uk
Boohoo
Source: Asda.com/George
Source: boohoo.com
If you are in the market for a Christmas jumper with a funny slogan or pun, boohoo has the greatest selection. These kind of Christmas jumpers are great to wear at a Christmas jumper themed party, as they
For The Love Of Blanc From Paris Nusrat Angela proves to us that white is not just a colour exclusively for your wedding day rather for everyday wear
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ll-black is always an easy look to pull off, but nothing speaks elegance and luxe more than the bold white. And winter and white have long held a soft corner in our hearts. From chic fur coats to cosy knitwear, from snowy satin skirts to sleek trousers, these ensembles have a way of pulling the strings at all the right places. Thus, to succumb to this obsession of all things blanc, here are a few ways to own this winter in white.
Fur coats
White fur coats are always a grand affair. They are the epitome of luxury and class. Whether you are going out with friends to the club or a formal party, a fur coat is a girl’s best friend. If looks could kill, fur coats would be at the top of the list. Their versatility makes them easy to pair up with any other piece. Just make sure the attention remains on your coat. Tone down the other pieces you wear it with. Simple pants, jumpsuits, or pencil skirts would be good for complementing the coat.
Suit Up
There is nothing more powerful than a woman in suit. The look oozes sheer confidence. And a crispy white one on top of that is sure to add a new level of chicness and sophistication to it. However, make sure to choose a suit that is well tailored and complements your figure; whether it is blazers and pleated pants, or coats with bell-bottoms. White makes the figure prominent, so it is important that your suit is well fitted. You don’t want to look like you don’t pay attention to details.
Add some bling bling Instagram: @photojaylim
the courier
c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Fashion Editors Miranda Stoner, Poppy Couling, Joe Hood Online Editor Molly Taylor
A bit of glitz goes a long way when it comes to adorning your perfect white outfit. But be careful not to go overboard with all the shine. The more the merrier does not particularly go well with this style. Simplicity is the key here. A touch of hardware on your handbag, some
Swarovski jewellery, a pair of metallic shoes or some silver embellishment on your white sweater- just add one of these at a time. The look will be rich, lustrous and hard- to-miss.
Mix it up
If you want to elevate your fashion game a notch, use different textures to add dimensions to the overall look. Cotton tops or silk shirts, along with linen pants and padded jackets. To add winter vibes to your outfit, throw in heavier fabrics like denim, fur and wool. But care must be taken so that you don’t try to wear it altogether in one outfit. The fabrics will simply get lost and the outfit will plummet down from a fashion gem to a faux pas.
Add different shades
White doesn’t have to be boring. You can always mix a dab of cream, eggshell, ivory or vanilla to breathe some soft colours into the outfit and make it interesting. The end result will still give a sober airy feel, but with more vibrancy. Perhaps with a pair of white trousers, you can opt for a vanilla knitwear and a cream camel coat. Experiment with the different shades to find the right balance. Again, don’t go off wearing all the colours you can lay your hands on at the same time.
Add contrast
Head-to-toe white is great, but a bold contrast can bring focus to the outfit. Throw in a pop of colour here and there. You could be wearing an all-white suit with a bold red fedora, or an oversized knitwear dress with a bright magenta or shiny black pair of boots. You could also add the contrast through accessories. Maybe a Persian blue clutch or the plain-old bold red lips can add so much to your white overalls. But always remember to play contrast with one item.
Fashion Editor Joe Hood reveals Art
the courier
19
fashion life & style
Monday 3 December 2018
ristmas
ling her bells this winter season
are not as garish as jumpers with 3D snowmen or built in lights! Boohoo have jumpers with classic slogans such as ‘Merry Christmas ya filthy animal’ as well as more original ideas such as ‘#elfie’. Paired with leather look leggings and heels this style of jumper is easily dressed up, but equally could be paired with jeans and trainers for something less formal. Boohoo is even selling Christmas jumpers for dogs, so if you want to treat your pup back at home Boohoo is the site to visit!
George at ASDA
Whilst most of us would not think to shop in George at ASDA, the store does have a great selection of Christmas jumpers at prices that are very affordable for students. From subtle jumpers with embellished snowflake patterns to jumpers with a Christmas tree made from pom poms, ASDA has a lot to offer. As these jumpers are so inexpensive you could buy one in a larger size and wear as a jumper dress to experiment with the Christmas jumper trend. Paired with over the knee boots, this would be a stylish twist for any Christmas jumper parties you have.
Next
Another shop not typically associated with students, Next has an extensive range of Christmas jumpers for everyone. Whilst the price point is slightly higher, if you want to treat yourself to a great quality Christmas jumper Next is the place to go. Personal favourites include a cream fluffy jumper with embellished snowflakes on it and a navy jumper with a 3D robin on it. Next has the best selection of Christmas Jumpers for men, with very subtle designs as well as completely over the top and garish jumpers, depending on what you are looking for! Overall, there is a great range of Christmas jumpers to choose from this year, with an increasing amount of designs being subtle enough that they are wearable on a day to day basis around Christmas. Although it is entirely acceptable to wear an extravagant jumper with tinsel and music playing from it, it is Christmas after all!
Not just a pretty Blondie Emily Rose Jackson tells us how one way or another Debbie Harry has had an influence on her style evolution
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ince the 1970’s Debbie Harry has paved the way for female rockstars; her striking platinum bleached hair, incredible bone structure and penchant for effortlessly cool outfits made her a punk icon overnight. Oh, and because she was and is the lead singer of World-Famous band, Blondie. Blondie’s new wave musical style was groundbreaking, and Debbie’s attire certainly tore down a few barriers as well. Debbie has been turning looks for decades, she is the first name I image search when I’m in a style rut and as soon as I do, I fall in love with fashion all over again. When I think of Debbie’s style I instantly think of that head of voluminous bleach blonde hair. She certainly made being blonde seem a lot more fun and influenced me the first time I reached for the box dye bleach (although my hair turned out to be less icy cool, more banana yellow - thank god for toner). Style-wise, I think of her fabulous statement sunglasses, from the classic pink framed oval pair worn with a matching baby pink beret -as dreamy as it sounds- to being one of the first woman to rock the classic wayfarer style. Debbie turned the casual elements of the everyday look into an ensemble worthy of its own stadium tour. Her ease in making the staple item unique inspired me to stock up on my own collection; a vintage worn leather biker jacket, the breton striped long sleeve t-shirt and of course a pair of classic blue denim jeans. But just how does she make these simple clothing pieces punk? Well, attitude is the first step. Debbie Harry wears her clothes, they never wear her. Confidence is key, and if you don’t have that confidence right away, just fake it until you make it. In the past I have stepped out the house in looks so garish that I’d best belong in a Cbeebies series, but when I’ve held my head high I’ve found that nobody questions it, and you start to believe in yourself more too. Another way to make your look more Debbie-
esque punk is with a strong makeup look, I certainly wasn’t blessed with Debbie’s sharp cheekbones but with a little bronzer applied carefully I can pretend! Debbie was a big fan of a statement eye; dark metallic shadows, thick eyeliner the lot (especially moving into the 80s, when more was certainly more!) and you can easily recreate her seductive smokey eye at home on any budget. An iconic look I just have to mention is her phenomenal leopard print midi dress (pictured). With a sweetheart neckline, ¾ sleeves and ruching all down the middle creating a sexy silhouette, this dress would sell out today in a heartbeat - find similar styles at Monki, ASOS and Topshop. This was 1979, and she wore it like a true rockstar. Although, time is pretty irrelevant when it comes to Debbie Harry’s style. Not only does she now look unbelievable for 73, but her look is timeless. Not timeless in that boring “a basic trench coat will never go out of fashion” way, instead as being one of the original fashion and musical rebels. Blondie’s music style may have morphed from their punk roots, but the punk attitude can be traced throughout the years in Debbie’s wardrobe choices as one of the coolest women alive.
Instagram: @karenxzxz
s With Love: Dior Dazzles at christmas
tistic Director Kim Jones’ highly anticipated Summer 2019 ‘Dior Homme’ collection and delves into the meaning behind the clothes
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Instagram: @iamjeffsledge
Jones wanted to take the attention away from his first debut and put all the eyes on the decades of unique designs and boundaries Christian pushed
im Jones is and has always been a big name in the fashion industry, and his first collection as artistic director for Dior proves just that. Growing up in Hammersmith, London, he always had a passion for fashion and design, graduating from Central St Martins College of Art and Design in 2002. He is best known for his start-up at Dunhill, before taking a huge and very privileged role as the creative director at Louis Vuitton. Where he served seven very successful years, arguably changing up the timeless label forever. Just before his departure from Louis Vuitton, Jone’s famously collaborated with Supreme, a very popular worldwide streetwear brand. The collection was seen as his most impressive from the seven years within the fashion house, adding to his outstanding legacy. Jones iconically departed Louis Vuitton in complete style of course, walking hand-in-hand with two of fashion’s treasures, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, in his final runway show in January 2018. Dior Menswear was established in 1946 by Christian Dior, who served as the brands director and designer for many years, before being taken over by Kris Van Assche who was the artistic director for eleven years. The announcement of Jone’s new role, taking over Assche, came merely two months after leaving Louis Vuitton, giving him less than four months to scour the archives and piece together a memorable and reputable collection. The first edgy and stylish touch Jones implemented within the fashion house was renaming ‘Dior Menswear’ to ‘Dior Homme’ – well we all know the French language is classic and sexy so why not. This was actually an ode to Christian Dior, in fact the entire collection was in respect of the original founder. Jones wanted to take the
attention away from his first debut and put all the eyes on the decades of unique designs and boundaries Christian pushed in his years of service. The Summer 2019 Homme collection was revealed in June 2018, at where other than Paris fashion week. This has always been a big event in the fashion world, but even more so for Kim who had rows and rows of highly respected designers and bloggers. However, this wasn’t his only audience, sat front row were some seriously famous faces such as; A$AP Rocky, Victoria Beckham, the icon Lenny Kravitz, and the queen of fashion herself Kate Moss – and many more of course! The collection, as I said before, is heavily inspired by previous men’s collections and Jone’s borrowed from a lot of the archives. The show notes said it was aiming to channel in its pieces a “feminine couture identity into a masculine idiom.” Personally, I think the collection achieved this, featuring a vast array of transparent vinyls, vibrant colours, florals and even beads and feathers. No, they didn’t go all Black Swan, but they were very heavy handed on the beading. Many models looking like they were either about to fall over from the weight or break the beading on the jewellery and fall on their asses! Some of Jones’ pieces included a pair of transparent high-top sneakers with the classic Dior logo printed all over the shoe, making it look like something that needed its own glass case. The collection also ranged from pink suits to sheer vests, a transparent pinstripe boiler-suit (you know the standard plumber attire) to stunning floral blazers. The biggest eye-catcher in the show, apart from Bella Hadid, was a 10-metre-high statue of Christian Dior made from his favourite flower. The statue was designed by Brian Donnelly, also known as KAWS, who collaborated with Kim on not just the statue, but a few of the pieces. KAWS’s famous bee design featured on a boiler-suit, t-shirts, trousers and jackets, adding Jones’ modern menswear touch that he brought with him from Louis Vuitton. Kim will undoubtedly be with Dior for many years to come and continue to shock and surprise the world with his beautiful designs and revolutionary concepts. The summer collection released on the 30th November 2018, so if you’ve been good this year maybe old Saint Nicholas will grace you with the gift of Dior this Christmas – or just a pair of socks and a Cadbury’s chocolate selection pack like last year.
the courier
21
travel life & style
Monday 3 December 2018 courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk
Travel Editors Jenny Franken, Bianca Ionci Online Editor Amanda Goh
Can travel mend a broken heart?
If you don't want to be on your own this Christmas, Gayatri Gopalakrishnan recommends traveling over wallowing in self-pity
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he heartbreak, waxed poetic since time immemorial. That intoxicating giddiness of falling headfirst into love, unfortunately ending with the hopeless despair of a lost love, is perhaps a feeling familiar to most of us. But, how one manoeuvres through the waves of emptiness that one is left with is a bone of contention. Although temptations might be to swear off the entire relationship scene, turn towards friends or maybe isolate oneself in the other extreme, travel is an option chosen by a fair number of people. At first sight, its attraction seems strong, escapism at its finest one could say. Not only does it provide a route for escape, the distance between what had once been, along with the allure of a mysterious, exotic place that could erase the sorrows and fill one with new experiences.
Travel can surely aid in the recovery process, which is what movies like Eat Pray Love and The Holiday have been trying to tell us
However, can travel truly be the one-size-fits-all cure for a heartbreak? Although long believed to be just a fleeting fantasy (or rather nightmare?), science tells us that a heartbreak is indeed very real. With symptoms ranging from insomnia, depression, to general weakness and in rare cases, an actual broken heart. So, whilst travel cannot necessarily mend a broken heart, it can surely aid in the recovery
process, which is what movies like Eat Pray Love and The Holiday have been trying to tell us. In my humble opinion, I would say, heed that advice, because although there is no guarantee of a happy ending with a handsome hunk, one could definitely create memories for a lifetime, like I did. Last summer, I had it all planned out. But, unfortunately, the plans never materialised, and I was left alone, heartbroken, and had nowhere to spend the summer. What began as an impulsive decision that arose out of tears and ice cream, turned out to be a solo trip spanning half of Central Europe and culminating in Paris on Bastille Day and the FIFA World Cup finale. My birthday may not have been a romantic one with a significant other bringing me flowers and chocolate, but it was a milestone in that I let go of inhibitions and did something I never thought I would - went on a solo backpacking trip and ended up in a Cold War nuclear bunker under a castle in Bratislava as the clock struck midnight. It brought with it, freedom, and the hope of a new beginning. Paris might be the city of love, but for me, it was the city of learning to love myself and to love being alone too because that is not necessarily a bad thing. Not only was I able to do something I wanted for myself, but also to enjoy doing it independently. Watching the Bastille Day parade and fireworks was on my bucket list since primary school French lessons. Whilst I may not have had anyone to kiss under the magical light shower, I met a lot of new people to cheer with, for the World Cup finale the next day. Meeting new people and striking conversations with strangers tends to be easier whilst travelling solo. Along this journey, I let go of fears, pain and negative memories. Healing shall take place, however, slowly. You will learn to love yourself, and it shall shape you to be a better, stronger person, and that is exactly how travel glues a broken heart back into shape.
72 hour fiesta & siesta
Travel Editor Jenny Franken talks about the importance of a fast weekend getaway whilst you're drowning in your studies
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short getaway is sometimes all you need. You’re feeling stressed and not even your cup of tea before bed helps you to calm your nerves? That’s when you know you need to get out of Newcastle and take the train or plane somewhere else! For my brother's 30th birthday, my family and I went to Mallorca for 72 hours - from Friday morning to Monday morning - it comes in very handy that I’m off Fridays and don’t start until noon on a Monday. My flight left Newcastle at 6 am on Friday morning and after meeting my family at the airport in Mallorca, I found myself standing on a salt plant at 12 pm. Driving through the country side on the way to our hotel past the earthy toned farmhouses and the rotating wind turbines already made me feel so relaxed. Real life felt so far away that it made me forget about the assignments I was stressing about only a few hours ago. After dropping our luggage at our hotel in Santanyi, we went to the port close by where we watched the fishing boats arriving in the harbour where they unloaded the freshly caught fish. And of course, we had fish for dinner. How could we not? Our Saturday was just as relaxing as the Friday: we hiked to the national park ‘Parc Natural de Mondrago’ where
we spent the day resting at the beach and swimming in the sea (keep in mind it was autumn!). Just to adapt ourselves to the Spanish culture, we had a ‘siesta’ and then a late ‘fiesta’ where we had typical Spanish paella for dinner (with just meat for me as I don’t like seafood). On Sunday, my brother’s birthday, we had a quiet day enjoying the hotel facilities like the spa and tennis court. This bout of physical activity made us feel a bit better about ourselves as it compensated for the hearty breakfast buffet and the tonnes of paella we ate. To wake up and hear the waves, to see the clear turquoise water and palm trees, to feel the sun rays on my skin, to eat paella and Iberico ham, to be with my family - all this recharged my batteries to power through the hectic upcoming period before Christmas break. Even though I didn’t do any work over the weekend, I’m not as stressed about it anymore. So, for all of you who have a bit of spare money from your summer job, I can only recommend going away for the weekend; even if it’s just going to York! Seeing something else than the usual will make you forget about your worries. So, always look out for cheap lastminute flights to nice places and before you realize you’ll be laying at the beach with a cocktail in one hand and a good book in the other.
Unsplash @hubert-mousseigne
St. Nicholas' Day
Emily Matthews takes a look at the list of the countries that are planning to celebrate St Nicholas' Day on December 6th
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hen it comes to Christmas, there is nothing quite like traditions. In England, the lead up to the big day consists of celebration and parties. For children, it is the long, anticipated wait for Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, to arrive down the chimney and leave presents to open on Christmas day. Father Christmas is a legendary figure, a name that derives from the myth of St. Nicholas. Some traditions however, differ to this. For many European countries, there is a celebration of Saint Nicholas, or St. Nicholas of Myra. A Christian Saint, who, amongst children, is a popular and well-beloved figure because he is known to be the bringer of gifts, or so his reputation would confirm.
If children behaved badly during the year... St. Nicholas would instead leave a stick in their boot!
Author's own
In Germany, Saint Nicholas day falls on the 6th day of every December. Whilst most family traditions vary, Germany is renowned for its celebration of Advent and has become a major part of German Christmas culture. Most Germans celebrate the month by opening a gift each day of Advent, some big and some small. St. Nicholas day in Germany can also be celebrated by children placing a shoe, or most commonly a boot, outside their bedrooms overnight for St. Nicholas to fill with sweets and gifts for
the morning. If children behaved badly during the year, it is said that St. Nicholas would instead leave a stick in their boot. Frohe Weihnachten! Similarly, in Poland, St Nicholas Day is celebrated on the 6th December. It is this night that Saint Nicholas, or Sw. Mikolaj in Polish, visits the children during the night and leaves gifts for them to open in the morning. For Poles, the day of St. Nicholas marks the beginning of the Christmas festivities and is regarded as the most exciting day for young children as they know they’ll be receiving gifts. Granted - that’s if they have been on their best behaviour all year round. St Nicholas appears in bright vestments as he is a bishop, following on from the Saint figure he represents. St. Nicholas descends from heaven with an angel assisting him to deliver the gifts on foot. An exciting and ethereal belief for children in Poland. In France, St. Nicholas Day originates from AlsaceLorraine. It is believed that St. Nicholas is a patron, said to deliver gifts to children on the 6th December. It is also celebrated with a donkey who carries a basket of treats for young children to receive on St. Nicholas Day. Whilst waiting and anticipating for the arrival of the saint, the French enjoy baking gingerbread, singing songs, creating arts and crafts and sharing stories. An old wives’ tale tells the story of the three children who went missing whilst on a walk one day. Lured into a shop by an evil butcher, the three children were eventually saved by St. Nicholas and safely returned to their families. It is said that St. Nicholas’ reputation as a ‘protector of children’ derived from this tale.
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feature
Monday 3 December 2018
Feature Editor Ally Wilson
Say ‘thank u, next’ to the NUS
Arts Editor and ‘Vote No’ campaign leader, Scarlett Rowland, and Music Editor and Marginalised Genders Officer, Charlotte Paige Boulton take us through why they think we should NOT re-enter the NUS in the forthcoming referendum
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ne of the main benefits people claim the NUS gives students is the chance to participate in liberation campaigns and provide voices for marginalised students. So, it may sound strange that I, as Marginalised Genders Officer for NUSU, am voting against re-affiliating with the NUS. I provide representation for women, trans and non-binary students; this is a huge remit, and perhaps it would be made easier with assistance from NUS. However, I do not think the current reality lines up with the potential support the NUS could give marginalised students. NUS were the first organisation to elect a Trans Officer – I think this is amazing, and that our own SU should follow suit. They also list lobbying for the government to fund women’s services and providing support for SU officers with the Prevent agenda on their website as their big wins for liberation campaigns. These are undoubtedly very important successes. But…that’s it.
predicted 3 million pounds deficit, I would not be surprised if their liberation work gets cut or loses funding. As a liberation officer at NUSU, I believe focusing on our own incredible campaigns (Trans Awareness, Inspiring Women, Shout Up, Changing The Culture, to name just a few) is currently the best way to give marginalised students a voice here in Newcastle. Yes, we do need to improve student engagement and interest in the work the SU does but I really don’t think reaffiliation with NUS will help with that. We can make real changes here at Newcastle University and we don’t need NUS to do that. Charlotte Paige Boulton
The NUS only list three successes for their liberation campaigns on their website Surely being part of a national body campaigning for change means there are more opportunities to make change happen? Yet, the NUS only list three successes for their liberation campaigns on their website, with not much information about any smaller successes within their organisa- tion or network. And, with their upcoming reforms due to a
THE Images: NUSU
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n 2016, Newcastle University Students’ Union chose to leave the NUS. At the time there were issues of anti-Semitism, a lack of transparency, and troubling internal politics. Spring forward to 2018, and once again we are facing a referendum – this time about whether we should re-join the NUS. So let’s see whether anything has really changed. On the anti-Semitism front, the president of the NUS was accused of using ‘anti-Semitic rhetoric’ and the Home Affairs Select Committee condemned her of ‘outright racism’. In early 2018, they sent out a survey which missed out Judaism, which happens to be the 5th most popular religion in the country. As recently as three months ago, people part of the NUS have been investigated for anti-Semitic comments. Clearly little has changed.
£3m
the predicted deficit the NUS faces for this year
Furthermore, current NUS president Shakira Martin believes that she has been stereotyped as an ‘angry black woman’ and is facing racism from other officers. This statement comes after claims that she has been bullying her fellow officers. It doesn’t matter which side you choose to believe. Either the NUS has an issue with racism, or an issue with bullying – that doesn’t sound much like an improvement to their internal politics. In the 70s, they worked with government to bring in the Student railcard. In the 90s, the NUS worked to stop students from paying council tax. But something incredibly important to consider is what the NUS have actually achieved over the last couple of years for students. I believe the NUS have become complacent, relying on their historic achievements: hoping that people will ignore that on their Recent Achievements section of their website there has not been an update since 2016. In recent news, it has been revealed that the NUS will be running a predicted £3 million deficit this year. In their own words this means ‘turning off some of the activity [they] deliver’ and
will be using ‘immediate measures to save money’. This means there will likely be a reduction in their outreach work which includes – conferences, liberation campaigns, and student research. These are all reasons which we would want to join the NUS – so why should we re-join when were are about to see a reduction of this work? Of course, the main reason that people are getting interested in this referendum is because of the NUS extra card, or TOTEM as it is now called. When these cards were first introduced, they were a great idea for students – who doesn’t love a bargain? However, they cost £12 for a year, and now students can used UNiDAYS, Student Beans, and even discounts organised by our own Student’s Union for free. For this vote to truly reflect the views of the student body, our Students’ Union require there to be a 5% voter turnout – which is approximately 1,200 students. So share this article, share the debate, and chat to your friends about your opinions on the NUS. Votes open on the 3rd of December, and are open until midday on the 6th of December. Scarlett Rowland
RE
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23
feature
Monday 3 December 2018
Lets be part of something bigger
What are the advantages of being part of the National Union of Students? ‘Vote Yes’ campaign leader and member of the postgraduate school rep team Emma Dawson fights the NUS’s corner as giving students national representation he NUS was founded after the First World dent unions and over 7 million students, the NUS is 1922 War by a veteran with a desire to create a able to mobilise on an unrivalled scale perhaps best
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student community united in friendship. Nearly 100 years later and the NUS has an impressive timeline of achievements. Although they may be best known for their discount card and for creating the 16-25 rail card saving students cash on train journeys home since 1974, the NUS offers students much more than discount cards. In 1960, the NUS entered a new era in which they paired their pioneering research with an appetite to campaign for the issues that mattered and they’ve never looked back.
95%
the percentage of students’ unions in the UK who are members of NUS
In the 1970s the NUS played a key role in liberation and anti-apartheid movements and was the first national organisation to pass policy in favour of gay rights. In 1978 they elected their first black president. In the eighties the NUS defeated the then government’s attempts to introduce tuition fees as well as creating representative bodies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, The NUS creating a British and Irish organisation cooperating for the benefit of students was a massive step forward; at a time when the country was locked in conflict. They also ensured students wouldn’t pay council tax and created the Tenancy Deposit Scheme to ensure students renting property would get deposits returned. The NUS is still at the forefront of student led change, making tangible improvements to student’s lives. In 2014, they introduced the postgraduate loan, fought to ensure that universities cannot use academic sanctions to recover non-academic debt, established a government sexual harassment taskforce and acted as legal experts in a court case against the home office who used a flawed English language test to deport 48,000 international students. Now representative of over 600 stu-
seen when 50,000 students, lecturers and members of the public protested against higher course fees.
The NUS is still at the forefront of studentled change, making tangible improvements to students’ lives
The press has given the NUS a hard time. Many may remember hearing that the NUS wanted to ban YikYak, represented as killjoys who didn’t care about ‘real issues’. The reality is that the NUS were concerned that the app that allows users to make anonymous posts had been used to make threats of violence against their officers and wanted to limit its use during NUS elections to protect already marginalised people- makes sense right? Many issues that we have campaigned for as a union are often the same things the NUS are campaigning for, whether it be LGBT+ and trans issues or for a more eco-friendly campus. Being part of campaigns alongside other unions only creates a bigger impact. We have passionate students and we need to put their passion on a national platform to create real change. There is no advantage to standing alone, outside an organisation which represents 95% of SUs. Our students and our ideas deserve more.
HOW TO VOTE
• All Newcastle University students are eligible to vote on this referendum • Go to www.nusu.co.uk/vote to vote • Voting opens on Monday 3rd December and closes at 12pm on Thursday 6th December • You can watch the NUS Referendum debate on NUTV’s YouTube channel
1930
NUS expands commercially with the introduction of NUS Travel, offering discounts to students travelling abroad
1974
NUS negotiated with British Rail to establish a student railcard, now the 1625 railcard
1992
Secures exemption from council tax for all full-time students
2014
Taught postgraduate loans introduced after NUS worked with a group
The NUS was founded after the first world war as part of a general desire for peace, its first president being war veteran, Ivison Macadam
1965
Endsleigh is established- the specialist student insurance company offering affordable coverage for student goods.
1983
NUS defeated the government’s attempts to introduce university tuition fees
2007
Tenancy Deposit Schemes established, protecting student housing deposits in the private rented sector
REFERENDUM
the courier
24
culture music
Monday 3 December 2018
c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Music Editors Charlotte Boulton, Rory Ellis, Max Hobbs
Hitting the wrong notes Grime’s time at Glasto: Julie Russel McGee & Abbie Rose disucss the declining inter- After Glastonbury’s first 2019 announcement, Dominic Lee est in music GCSEs and what can be done about this
Abbie Rose ess people are choosing to study music, as new
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entrants to GSCE music courses decline by 40%. As the threat of funding cuts deepen, encouraging the younger generation to participate in humanitarian subjects seems futile unless education providers start listening to their academic concerns. A logical starting point would be to improve the GCSE syllabus. The argument that to understand music as an art form, you must first learn to appreciate the tradition and history of Classical music does not seem to have the same application in the 21st century, as there is less enthusiasm to study the great composers of Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, etc. Image: Pixabay Music is forever changing, developing and adapting to societal needs, and so should our study of music, starting with the GCSE syllabus. The current GCSE syllabus is also too focused on academia, with students forced to prepare for written exams, spending hours on listening exercises and writing lengthy compositions when they may want to be full-time performers. Most arts students are devotedly creative but are
62%
of students aged 13-14 are compulsed to study music compared to the 84% that were requred in 2012/13
being involuntarily backed into an academic corner. In addition, the ‘catch-all’ classification of ‘Popular’ music is too wide and becoming outdated. There is an assumption that ‘Popular’ is everything but Classical, grouped in an umbrella term to include mainstream music produced after the 1960s. Many students signing up for the GSCE course are primarily interested in mainstream chart music and find the inclusion of the The Beatles as Popular music to not reflect their own experience. Most sixteen-year-old music students are not concerned with the study of Brit Pop revolution and The Beatles, as it is unrelatable and happened forty years prior to their generation.
Julia McGee-Russell s a music lover, the statistic that 40% less stu-
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dents are studying GCSE music is disheartening, but as a past GCSE music student, I’m not entirely surprised. If we travel back to my pre-GCSE life, I spent every single day in the music department. Afterwards, however, I went for months without deliberately listening to any music at all. It’s safe to say that for several years after my horrendously Garage band-y GCSE, playing music was effectively ruined for me. Of course, there are many different exam boards for GCSEs, with each curriculum slightly different. Nevertheless, something universal among the many boards is the split between performance and composition courseImage: Wikimnedia work, and
a theory exam. Although this sounds fair in principle, most modern musicians never have to excel in all of these areas. A first violinist in a concert hall will have to know musical theory to read the score and be able to perform, but they will never have to compose. Many famous vocalists never write their own music. An orchestral composer likely does not perform every instrument of the orchestra. A student strong in one area could likely still have a successful musical career, while the structure of GCSE music only allows them a mediocre grade. Curriculum aside, the devastating cuts to funding has led to even less free music tuition provision in schools, with some schools even charging students to take GCSE music as an extracurricular. Less funding means fewer high-quality teachers, less young graduates considering music tuition as a career, and less students reaching GCSE music age with the musical ability to choose it. If a school has no funding for its music students, it’s no wonder that while students are constantly pressed Image: Pnglmg to make themselves ‘competitive’ in the job market, music is falling to the bottom of the list. So, what can be done? First of all, there needs to be more funding into music and arts in general, especially considering how large the British music industry is economically. The structure of GCSE music also needs an overhaul, to tailor it to individuals, and provide more support in learning theory. Every great musician started as a student, and we should be doing our utmost to make sure that every student who wants to become a musician, has the support to do so.
Image: Flickr
stand out - Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ which strips back the track to further expose the emotionally resonant core, while an adaptation of U2’s ‘One’ which instead uses the lyrics from the Metallica song of the same name to tell the harrowing story of a soldier coming back from war. These tracks show Cornell’s strengths as a performer and collaborator, and are both masterclasses in genre tailoring. However, there are some tracks that are clearly absent - Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil told Rolling Stone that the nature of Chris Cornell’s death was a significant factor in avoiding songs with “lyrics, or titles that may not be appropriate in this context; that might be or those that have listened to any of Chris Cor- difficult for friends, family.” As a result, songs like ‘The nell’s work, it is always his voice that lands that Day I Tried to Live’ and ‘Like Suicide’ were left out of initial blow. Though often heard asImage: part ofFlickr the the discussion entirely. It was inevitable that a collection such as this would grungy ensemble of Soundgarden, there was a wounded tenderness to his vocal performance that spanned a arrive sooner or later. Cornell never seemed to stop punchy, intense catalogue. Now, in the new collection creating new music and experimenting with new released over a year after the death of the Seattle native, styles, meaning that there’s plenty of unreleased mathis vocal quality is brought to the forefront over three terial waiting to see the light of day. ‘When Bad Does discs that encapsulate his studio career chronologically Good’ is the previously unreleased studio track that is delivered through the collection. Recorded, mixed and and a fourth disc to showcase live performances. Following several deaths of big names in music, it was edited by Cornell before his death, the track explores Cornell that died underappreciated - his voice stands living life with mental illness. Much like ‘The Promise’, out, yes, but it was his ability to mould himself into the final track released while he was alive, it provides a numerous genres over his career that made him such fittingly hopeful look towards life. Thayil stressed that a compelling artist, whether as a solo act or in part of a despite the darker content of a lot of Cornell’s’ work, he group. This is what makes this box set so vivid, exciting wasn’t a “brooding loner” as some might have thought. “He was like a normal kid. Very funny and very fucking and poignant. goofy.” Many of the tributes following his death have been presented under one banner: Chris Cornell is the voice It was inevitable of a generation, and an artist for all time. This collecthat a collection tion, and the sublime music that it contains, pays justice to that rich legacy. such as this would
Chris Cornell Chris Cornell Collection
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arrive sooner or later
Spanning across the early, post-punk era of Soundgarden into the alt-rock tribute of Temple of the Dog, then back into Soundgarden before branching off into a solo career and the supergroup days of Audioslave - the collection is extensive. Highlights include the grunge classic ‘Black Hole Sun’ as well as ‘Hunger Strike’, the Temple of the Dog track that introduced Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder to audiences. When it comes to solo work, there are two live acoustic covers that
George Boatfield
Image: Flickr
Charles Mingus Jazz in Detroit Jazz in Detroit, the recently discovered recording of a Charles Mingus quintet gig from February 1973, offers an epic journey through, on the surface, familiar waters. However, what lies beneath is a fresh take on classic jazz standards, such as the C Jam Blues, which in this recording includes Roy Brooks’ experimental drum improvisation in conversation with Mingus’ rambling bass. In fact, rhythmically, the album doesn’t shy away from modernist and avant-garde influences, whilst still acknowledging tradition via call and response improvisation. John Stubblefield on tenor saxophone and Joe Gardner on trumpet offer smooth and virtuoso solos alongside pianist Don Pullen’s tinkling accompaniment. In ‘Orange Was the Colour of Her Dress’, ‘Then Blue Silk’ sultry, indulgent licks are rippled with upbeat drum riffs and frequent rapid tempo changes; if jazz had a heartbeat, this standard would be it palpitating. The album takes the listener back in time, with informal intermittent radio excerpts. These sonic relics bring to life the atmosphere of the recording and make this work not simply an album, but a musical artefact. Jazz in Detroit is simultaneously an exciting exploration of modernist influences - many of which were pioneered by Mingus himself - and a symbolic gesture to a time of change in jazz in the late 1960s when a focus on the avant-garde was prevalent. In some ways, this album is reflective of a conflict between the previously popular bebop and cool jazz styles of the 1940s and 50s and the more experimental music of the 1960s. Even within each piece, these influences are apparent, such as in Pithecanthropus Erectus, where complex rhythmic stunts collide with more steady, mellow interruptions from Gardner and Stubblefield. Just as it began with Pithecanthropus Erectus, the album ends with an alternate take. This album is worth listening to the whole way through as a valuable and rare insight into an important part of jazz history, and subsequently the future of jazz. Rosie McCrum
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Monday 3 December 2018
@CourierMusic thecourieronline.co.uk/music
music culture
Stormzy to take the Pyramid stage
comments on the rise of grime and his thoughts on the evolution of festivals from rock to not
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oney rules in music, just like every industry and the hottest ticket in town is now for grime artists such as Stormzy who was recently named the first headliner for Glastonbury in 2019. This marks the historic rise of grime over time, but perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised as news such as this has been a long time coming. As recently as 2016, London Grime artist Skepta won the prestigious (or not so prestigious if you ask me) Mercury Prize for his album Konnichiwa. Grime’s meteoric rise has been on a sharp incline since it first appeared on the streets of London in the early 2000’s with early pioneers such as Dizzee Rascal clearing the path into mainstream success for the likes of Stormzy and BBK (Boy Better Know). Yet still the naysayers persist that the UK’s answer to hip-hop is simply a forgettable fad that will have little significance in music history. I happen to be one of them.
Grime sells a lot of tickets and Stormzy in particular sells out tickets more than perhaps any other artist in his field
Cast your mind back to 2015, when Kanye West graced the Pyramid Stage and had to restart ‘Black Skinhead’ part way through. Rap stars just don’t work at Glastonbury, as evidenced when Ye forgot the lyrics to Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ during a cover. I may be wrong - I hope I’m wrong - Stormzy may wow the Glastonbury crowd and I will certainly be watching eagerly to see what kind of performance he delivers. Regardless, grime sells a lot of tickets and Stormzy in particular sells out tickets more than perhaps any other artist in his field. Perhaps this is why the powers that be at Worthy Farm
Imagine Dragons Origins
Anderson .Paak Oxnard
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merican rock band Imagine Dragons are easily one of the most recognisable bands in the world. Their early hits ‘Radioactive’ and ‘On Top of the World’ clearly carved out the band’s distinctive sound, with their 2017 album Evolve building upon this with fast-paced tracks ‘Thunder’ and ‘Believe’. Yet their latest release, Origins, offers a slower, more mature sound, as a band usually more rock than indie seems to have mellowed out. This mature sound is set up from the opening track, ‘Natural’. A muted opening, the song alternates between slower verses which build up to a forceful, effective chorus. The track fades into ‘Boomerang’, one of the more understated songs on the album. A song that deals with lead singer Dan Reynolds’ on-off relationship with wife Aja Volkman, it shows a softer side to Imagine Dragons not seen in their mainstream hits. At 15 songs long, Origins gives the band room to experiment with different styles. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work. ‘Bullet in a Gun’ is initially one of the strongest tracks on the album, and seems to stick to Imagine Dragons’ winning formula of pairing lead singer Dan Reynolds’ distinctive voice with a strong, catchy chorus. Yet the bridge of the song is where the band trips up, as the music fades into what can only be described as Reynolds screaming. Whilst hardcore Imagine Dragons fans might see this as a necessary departure from the song, I can only see it alienating more casual listeners. Despite a lack of cohesiveness on the album, it does contain some gems which show that Imagine Dragons aren’t focused only on churning out crowd-pleasers. Their strongest moments in the album lie with their softer songs, such as ‘Love’ and ‘Stuck’. Had more of the album had songs like these, Origins could have revealed Imagine Dragons to be the innovative artists they clearly are.
Caitlin Disken
decided on Stormzy as the first headliner, but as somewhat of a rock and roll purist I can’t help but think this is a step in the wrong direction for the world’s most famous festival. If there’s one festival I expect to stay true to its roots it is Glasto; Reading and Leeds have already sold their soul to the chart devil with acts such as Post Malone being announced. Does this spell the end of the good old British festival? Certainly not, and my prejudices against certain artists or genres shouldn’t sway the majority who will see this move as an exciting new prospect.
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Jagoda Waszkowiak
Riah Autumnalia
Number of tickets sold for Glastonbury for 2019, which sold out in 30 minutes when they went on sale in October
Grime represents something for people, for reasons that I may not identify with. Grime artists often fill their lyrics with references to inner city youth culture, which a lad from a tiny village in Staffordshire such as myself wouldn’t understand, and that’s ok. I don’t have to understand it, I just have to accept it. I’ll stop moaning now, if I’m being honest I’m salty that I missed 2017’s line-up of Radiohead, Foo Fighters and Ed Sheeran who put on electric performances. Regardless of Stormzy being confirmed as the first headliner this doesn’t mean the end of rock and roll at Worthy Farm as Led Zeppelin and Fleetwood Mac are tipped as headliners for 2019. One thing is for sure, Glastonbury 2019 is going to be very interesting - possibly the most interesting for years. Whether Grime proves to be a hit on the biggest stage is another question. While I may have wanted a more rockbased headliner I can’t deny Stormzy’s showmanship and can honestly say I’m excited for more news from Worthy Farm. Glastonbury Festival will be taking place 26-30 June 2019. The first release of tickets has sold out but there will be a ticket resale taking place in April 2019 for anyone interested in seeing Stormzy and many other incredible musicians.
Michael Bublé Love
randon Paak Anderson’s 5th album Oxnard is a homage to his hometown of Oxnard, California. .Paak’s sound ranges from hip-hop to funk. He received 2 Grammy nominations last year for Malibu. Is Oxnard as good as his breakthrough album? The album has a heavy funk theme and features artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, J. Cole, and Q-Tip with Dr. Dre, as the executive producer. The album opens with ‘The Chase’ which really sounds like a soundtrack to a chase scene. It’s a clear signal that this project is very different to his earlier material. The guest voice of Kadhja Bonet works brilliantly. Then, a transition to ‘Headlow’ immediately indicates that .Paak strives to be as diverse as possible, as ‘Headlow’ nicely combines a grungy guitar with intense percussion and even some violin in the background. ‘Tints’ featuring Kendrick Lamar shows the fun side of both artists. It would have been a song of the summer if it had been released earlier. It’s an extremely funky bop. Whereas, ‘Who R U?’ has a 90s vibe to it with beatbox and funky electronic beat as a background. It’s one of those you start to sing along to just the second time around. ‘6 Summers’ also sounds quite vintage with the perky beat and clapping percussion. This song got a lot of attention, with its political undertones: “Trump’s got a love child/And I hope that bitch is buckwild/[...] I hope she kiss señoritas and black gals”. Many said that Paak should have included a deeper social commentary, but I love it. Musicians give so many responses to the current US politics and this one is witty and simple. He doesn’t overwhelm the listener with moral reflection, instead delivers his refreshing perspective. ‘.Paak proved himself a master at combining different sounds on this record, simultaneously the album has a clear direction and structure. He succeeded to make a tribute to Oxnard from his childhood, by perfectly combining the voice of ’80s R&B and all the sounds he grew up with, from jazz to funk.
Random Review
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um’s running a bath, the candles are out, champagne… but dad’s not home. Then, softly at first, come the gentle sounds of a big band jazz instrumental and suddenly it all makes sense. Bublé’s masculine croon takes over, soaring above everything and taking your mum into a land of imagination and fantasy. This latest offering from the Buble (just in time for Christmas!) has everything you might expect from this kind of release: Slower romantic moments, upbeat double time swing numbers, ‘My Funny Valentine’ sounds like it wants to be on a James Bond soundtrack (for the dads) and ‘Love you Anymore’ sounds like it was written for One Direction (for the teens). The lyrical content of the album mainly consists of Michael Bublé confessing his undying love to the listener, pleading to your mum to ‘help me make it through the night’, telling her she was ‘unforgettable’ and reassuring her that he truly does ‘only have eyes for you’. [extra paragraph] My advice would be: don’t fall for the hype, there are several reasons why there is no need to buy this record: your mum has already bought it for herself to get (everyone) in the mood (for Christmas); all your relatives have already bought it or had it bought for them; you can listen to it on spotify for free; he’ll be on the telly and lastly it’s not that good. Just wait for next year. I am still waiting to hear his rendition of ‘all star’. A superior alternative would be one of Bradley Walsh’s swing albums. As a gift it would be more appreciated and you don’t have to worry about breaking up the family. Bradley wastes no time singing about his todger, instead opting for more wholesome topics and covering classic and recognisable tunes.
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’m not a fan of most ‘post’ rock/metal. Spotify keeps futilely shoving it in my ears, not realising I don’t have the patience to sit through a full song of post, let alone an album. So having been briefed on the niche genre this album falls under, I expected it would be a challenge to sit through Riah’s Autumnalia even once. Like a lot of the post rock/metal I was already familiar with, Autumnalia is kind of like being crushed by a wall of sound for forty minutes while not much goes on. Riffs and progressions are scrapped: it’s all about the ambience, the atmosphere. And, like, I have to really be invested in an atmosphere to enjoy that on its own. Still, I found a lot of pleasant surprises in what Riah could do. Despite the 7+ minute running time of all but one of
The biggest strength of this album is its discord
Autumnalia’s five tracks, they’re not so much individual tracks as groups of repeating themes/vignettes. Some of the vignettes are promising but don’t last long enough. Others repeat incessantly but never convince me of their necessity - as with the generic heavy riffs you’ll find on most of the tracks, but particularly on ‘Il Sogno Del Buio’ and ‘Luce’. Often the more generic passages are standardfare but played with a bit more rubato, or in a weird time signature - for example, throughout the shortest track on the album, ‘Dastin’. The result is unimpressive, especially compared to the more challenging moments on the record. The biggest strength of this album is its discord. It often feels as though there are two songs playing at once, clashing with one another - put to great effect throughout ‘Melancolia’ and ‘Il Sogno Del Buio’. The harmonic muddiness perfectly fits the muddiness of the textures, the ways in which instruments bleed into each other; guitar feedback just becomes another part of an already thick harmony. Tense melodies leap and exchange hands in ‘Melancolia’ and ‘Taedium Imperat’: each instrument becomes part of a bigger whole, as natural as an inhale or exhale. The dissonant screeches of the lead guitar and the lurching syncopated bass and drums often alternate, working more like organs of an otherworldly lifeform. Autumnalia is certainly not for me, lacking the cheese and bombast I enjoy in my metal, while also repeating a lot of clichés. But there’s a lot of craftsmanship in Riah’s aural assault, and for a post-metal fan, I can’t imagine it’d be a bad listen. Jess Taylor Weisser
Image: Youtube
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@Courier_Music
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culture TV
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c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk TV Editors: Jacob Clarke, Tom Cooney, Chloe Mullins
Monday 3 December 2018
Remembering the first British news broadcaster
Spotlight O review
Joe Holloran pays tribute to the UK's first television news broadcaster and explores his legacy
Karl Pilkington's Sick of It Available on Sky
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Image: YouTube
arl Pilkington stars opposite himself in his recent sitcom Sick of It, a series in six parts, each a nugget-sized twenty minutes. In his kitchen sink comedy, Sick of It, Pilkington stars as the two protagonists: Karl the cabby, a fictional manifestation of himself; and the negative, questioning Karl who exists in his head. Portraying two parts of the same character, especially parts that have constant dialogue and interaction with each other, sounds like a recipe for disaster and is a sure step away from the naturalism that defines Pilkington’s most recent projects. However, his performances are down to earth enough for the two selves to avoid becoming surreal. The relationship between the two parts of himself, although initially somewhat relatable, become a series of tedious complaints in the final episode when we spend a gruelling twenty minutes watching him complaining intermittently about his bowel issues. The idea behind the series does have potential: explor-
The show indulges Pilkington's own complaints about life ing the thoughts behind motivation and reaction works - as gems such as Peep Show and Scrubs show - but these shows have a wit and intellect that Sick of It lacks. Pilkington bombards us instead with two complaining versions of the same character (and too much of Pilkington’s negativity really does get you down). The script is repetitive and slow moving, with little development of character as it becomes clear Karl has no desire to change. Scenes that are clearly meant to be humorous miss the trick; when Karl yells at two women holding crying babies to “shut the fuck up” it is clear the script lacks any sort of subtlety. Sick of It’s soundtrack is the saving grace of the show, lifting the sitcom out of the gloom and giving it more energy and life; tracks from Billie Holiday and Brigitte Bardot really spice up the six episode run and the songs often satisfyingly mirror the events or emotions of the scene. For me, the best moment of the show was a scene in episode one. We see Karl’s despair as he watches his sofa go up in flames, a scene which is then intercut with scenes from his uncle’s cremation, all whilst Eddie Jones’ ‘Let’s Stop Fooling Ourselves’ plays in the background.
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n 17 November this year, Richard Baker died. His name may not be known to you but you will know his work. Baker was the first ever British news broadcaster, starting in July 1954. The former army mine-sweeper went on to present the BBC news until 1982, when he transferred to radio. The old school news presenter is often portrayed in a similar way, the monotone voice, the posh accent, and the stiff glare into the camera. All of this can be traced back to Baker. But he was also very self aware of the oddness of his job and manner, going as far as to appear three times on Monty Pythons Flying Circus. But is this legacy under threat in an age where facts are highly politicized? The phenomenon of the openly political yet well re-
We live in an era where facts are politicized. There is no more truth to a situation. Distrust in the mainstream media, peddled by Trump and the Right in general, has led to many seeking out i n f o rma-
tion online from within their bubble. Here the dominant personalities are king. So much so that their audiences believe regardless of how illogical or downright idiotic it is. TV news journalism must be careful not to replicate this style.
1976
The year Richard Baker was appointed OBE.
The TV news anchor has always been a source of both humour and scorn in the UK. Yes there are undoubtedly issues around regional accent, racial diversity, and gender pay that need to be addressed, but we should be thankful that our BBC news readers remain fairly monotone and interchangeable. The alternative is personality led news and people are far too willing to message from the medium. Like in America, they will tune in to see the partisan ranting of their favourite commentator rather than receive the actual news from a source that can be seen as largely objective. The BBC is a public institution that we should be proud of. It is also one that is constantly under threat from those who would see information distribution in the hands of those who will parrot their ideologies and disguise it as news. Still, it is perhaps a sign of the public's enduring respect and trust in TV news that even now in the era of social media and loud-mouthed online pundits that the British public still come back to the BBC every day as their main and most trusted source of information. The legacy of Richard Baker lives on.
The BBC is a public institution that we should be proud of spected news anchor is really an American one. Back in the 1960s CBS News correspondent Walter Cronkite was the man Americans turned to for the truth. This was a time when politicians were not trusted and people had grown weary of what they saw as government propaganda. Perhaps this has now come around full circle. In Cronkite, the American people saw a media personality who they trusted beyond any politician. While this level of interest and engagement with news readers is a clear positive, there are many negatives to an overtly personal form of news broadcasting.
Image: YouTube
Time to scrub up - should the surgical sitcom return? Features editor Ally Wilson discusses the possibility of Scrubs returning to our TV screens
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hen I was presented with the notion of a Scrubs reunion, my heart leapt. The thought of seeing Turk and JD’s “guy-love”, Dr Cox’s dry cynicism and Ted’s acapella group, The Blanks, back on our screens for the first time in eight years got me dusting off my box set DVDs (because for some unearthly reason Friends has made it onto Netflix but not Scrubs) and ready to watch them all from start to finish.
The ninth and final season should never have existed in the first place
But then I remembered how Scrubs ended. The ninth and final season should never have existed in the first place. After the incredibly moving final scene of the eighth season, which sees JD looking into his future, married to Elliot, looking after Turk and Carla’s children and hanging out with Dr Cox, all to the soundtrack of Peter Gabriel's ‘The Book of Love’. Why did they even attempt to continue a story which, as far as many of us were concerned, was beautifully and appropriately wrapped up? JD, and actually, most of the original cast, are barely in the season at all. Rather than being set in the intensive care ward, like every other season, it was set in the classroom, seeing Turk and Dr Cox in the roles of teachers rather than doctors. Such a drastic change in the style of the show was a rogue move for what they were fairly sure was going to be the fi-
nal season, and it saw them lose a lot of fans along the way. It is for this reason that I was relieved to find out that the reunion was in social terms only and not in any capacity preceding a re-vamp of the show, simply because I don’t trust the writers to do it well, because they didn’t last time. Instead of respecting the end of their character’s stories, they added new, inexperienced actors to play roles which were essentially replicas of earlier models, only performed with less class and innovation. The futility of season nine has rendered any future Scrubs ventures, be it a movie, a tenth season, or even a reunion sketch, completely redundant. Although it’s their life’s work and something very much to be proud of, creator Bill Lawrence needs to sit back and let JD, Elliot, Turk and Carla sit back and enjoy the lives he set out for them in the season eight finale.
The number of near-death experiences Karl pilkington has had. He claims that the most serious one was when he nearly choked to death on a Mr Freeze ice pole.
Sick of It is not escapism TV, it is not a calm retreat from the hectic mess of your day, but an exploration of the mess of someone else’s. TV doesn’t have to be profound or radically different from normal life, and representing loneliness and depression is hugely important, but Pilkington’s character is so unappealing that it is hard to sympathise with or understand him. The show indulges Pilkington’s own complaints about life without providing much insight into why he feels as he does and without suggesting there is any hope of change. Perhaps we should seek to all engage and reason with the voice inside our heads. Unlike Karl we may get to know ourselves better along the way. Rosie Bayliss
Image: YouTube
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Monday 3 December 2018
@CourierTV thecourieronline.co.uk/TV
TV culture
Netflix: Reviews I'm a Celeb New Narcos Pick ‘n’ Mix Netflix'sAvailable Available on ITV on Netflix I TV-editing guru Tom I Cooney watches How to Get Away With Murder Image: CMetalCore (Wikimedia)
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ore and more as the years have gone on has Shonda Rhimes become a television powerhouse, working as an executive producer on some of American network ABC’s biggest hitters. The Shondaland brand encompasses long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, Kerry Washington’s White House-set Scandal and the more recent How to Get Away with Murder. Having never watched any of Rhimes’ other flagship shows, my expectations going into How to Get Away with Murder were leaning heavily on its star: the brilliant Viola Davis. The actress plays university professor and defence attorney Annalise Keating as she leads a team of students – named the Keating Five – through their hands-on legal education. While this sounds like enough plot for a series in itself, the drama is ramped up even further as Keating, her aides and her students become embroiled in dark and violent crimes of their own. Whether commanding a lecture theatre, courtroom or her own home, Keating is undoubtedly the show’s driving force. Davis steals every scene in which she appears with her unmatched gravitas, absolutely justifying her Emmy win for her work in season one. There is no weak
Image: YouTube link among the Keating Five either: Alfred Enoch, Karla Souza, Aja Naomi King, Jack Falahee and Matt McGorry all deliver unique and inspired performances. You may recognise McGorry as Bennett from Netflix’s Orange is the New Black and Enoch as the Harry Potter series’ Dean Thomas, but it is in these roles that all five actors finally have their chance to shine. It is Souza as the fiery Laurel Castillo that most impressed me, with her performance surely ushering in a lengthy career for the actress. Something else that sets How to Get Away with Murder apart from many other TV series in the genre is the diversity of its cast. There are characters from a wide variety of racial backgrounds, and many who identify from across the entire spectrum of sexuality. When comparing this to shows like Suits or The Good Wife, the Rhimes-driven effort – like many of her other projects – really stands out from the crowd. One issue that I did have with the show, particularly as it progressed into its second season, was the laughable amount of twists and turns that the plot was taking. As each episode came to its often highly dramatic climax, it seemed as if there was yet another shocking character betrayal, exposé or even – you guessed it – murder. However, despite this borderline-ridiculousness, the show’s cliff-hangers certainly make it one of the most bingeable on TV.
Davis steals every scene in which she appears with her unmatched gravitas If you’re looking for a fast-paced, yet often emotional, watch to carry you through the festive period, I would certainly recommend How to Get Away with Murder. Its first three seasons are currently streaming on Netflix, and weighing up at a sizeable 15 episodes each, there’s certainly enough material to keep you busy... that is if the consistent intrigue doesn’t force you to finish the whole thing off as soon as humanly possible because, trust me, it’s easily done.
like the way this season of Narcos began. The show has changed from its previous setting in the South American country of Colombia with the Medellin and the Cali Cartels as its subjects. Narcos: Mexico tells the story of a new adventure that began with one man’s vision for a more profitable trade. Narcos: Mexico begins as a dark narrative with the introduction being “I’m going to tell you a story, but it doesn’t have a happy ending. In fact, it doesn’t have an ending at all.” And it only gets darker from there.
The show, unlike its predessors, is probably not something that is worth binge watching Unlike the Colombian iterations of the series, this season of Narcos does not carry the traction and the level of intensity that a drug cartel story should. Instead, the storyline and the way the story is told seems quite weak in comparison to the stories that were told about Escobar or the Gentlemen of Cali. In fact, the show is almost singlehandedly carried by Diego Luna, who plays the main bad guy – Miguel Felix Gallardo. Michael Peña (of Fury and American Hustle) also does a good job as the main protagonist of the show (DEA Agent Kiki Camarrena) but is largely underwhelming in comparison to Pedro Pascal (who was DEA Agent Javier Peña in the previous three seasons). Of course, it’s unfair to compare Michael and Pedro’s characters given their differing personalities but I felt
like the story didn’t adequately explore the depth of Camarrena as much as they did with Javi Peña. The one time that Michael gets to express the depth of his character is in the final episode during a conversation filled with undertones that he has with Diego Luna’s character. Otherwise he just remains a guy who is easy going on the exterior with a cool, detached, and focused-on-the-job interior. The writing this season, as I mentioned earlier, was off compared to the previous years. And this is even shown in how they paint a picture of Miguel Felix Gallardo. He is painted as a guy who thinks of the bigger picture and does not take rash decisions, yet bludgeons a person to death in a fit of rage and makes a deal with the Colombians shipping cocaine before he has everything set up. He is painted as the antithesis to Kiki Camarrena – a classic good guy trying to take down a bad guy. The narrative, on the whole, feels inconsistent and although generally good, does not live up to the high standards of its predecessors. The show is by and large carried by the actors – including the supporting cast. Special mention must be made to the characters of Don Neto (Joaquín Cosio) and Rafa (Tenoch Huerta). They both thrive on their character arcs with Huerta especially playing the impulsive, emotionally charged person and complimenting Luna very well on-screen. I also like how the show explores the changing dynamic of the relationship between Miguel Felix Gallardo and Isabella Bautista (Teresa Ruiz). Overall, the show, unlike its predecessors is probably not something that is worth binge watching – I never thought I would say that about Narcos - but it’s definitely a compelling show and worth a watch for the effort that the actors put into it – especially Diego Luna – and the finale which sets up an interesting next season.
Image: YouTube
’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! is finally back with contestants as big as Nick Knowles, John Barrowman and Anne Hegerty and trials bigger and better than last year. However, this year, I’m A Celeb has a twist as Ant and Dec, the dynamic duo that hosts the show is incomplete. Instead of Ant, who still continues his sabbatical, Dec is joined by This Morning’s star Holly Willoughby as she makes her debut in the jungle.
Image: YouTube Sadly though, despite the brilliancy of the contestants this year and the humour Harry Redknapp provides alone, it is just not the same. Ant and Dec and the chemistry and back and forth banter is one of the main reasons I and many others watch the show and, without Ant, there is a massive hole in my heart this year. It is just not the same and I hate to say it but Holly just tries too hard to be funny and unfortunately, it is just not working.
I am excited to see how the the dynamics will shift How about the trials? This year, we hit it off with a big one as we saw Emily Atack enter into a box underground that was filled with 50 snakes; the most snakes ever used on an I’m a Celeb trial. And that’s not everything. As Emily was attempting to find a star, one of the baby snakes took a bite at her, leading to Emily leaving the star and only receiving 9/10. However, still better than others in the past! The camp has finally settled in, but this won’t be lasting for long as later this week we will see Noel Edmonds enter into the jungle. As possibly one of the most extroverted and perhaps even controversial characters of the jungle, I am excited to see how the dynamics will shift. Tune into ITV every night for the next three weeks at 9pm to see a jam-packed hour of Harry Redknapp’s anecdotes, Anne Hegerty placed out of her comfort zone and the beautiful singing of John Barrowman. Lucy Lillystone
Time to clock back in to The Office Following Carell's SNL appearance, Sophie Hicks weighs up the impact of a possible return
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NL made a sketch revolving around Steve Carell’s never-ending questions about a reboot of The Office. It involved a few beloved actors from The Office demanding a reboot due to money incentives, with Carell refusing to do so. Although it was a funny sketch, it does raise the important question of if an Office reboot is needed, and if it would be any good. Personally, I have very mixed feelings on an Office reboot. If original writers were involved and the original cast were back, and if it had a compelling enough storyline, then I think it would be great. However, if people’s hearts weren’t really in it and it was purely to make money, then I think it would ruin the memories of the great show, and would fall flat in its humour. Personally, I would probably prefer if they didn’t reboot it because it would have such high expectations which would almost be impossible to satisfy. The finale to me was the perfect episode, although I was sad the show was over, I was extremely satisfied with the ending,
considering it to be the best-case scenario for a finale. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t quote and think about the show on a daily basis, and really miss the characters. If a reboot was to happen, as well as scepticism, I would be overjoyed with the prospect of ever seeing a new episode. However, my fear is that
it would be not as good (perhaps season 8-9 quality) and potentially ruining the sacred memories I have of the show. Although I miss the characters, I am satisfied knowing it ended well, if not overdue after Steve Carell’s departure from the show. Despite the contrasting opinions on the matter, many fans across the globe still demand a reboot. Whilst I think one could happen in time, I don’t see one happening any time soon, as the SNL sketch perfectly summed up the
Despite the contrasting opinions on the matter, many fans across the globe still demand a reboot danger of a reboot. Actors who commit to a reboot of a beloved show get paid extortionately, and this wealth could influence the intentions of a reboot, rather than an actual necessity to do one. If Steve Carell isn’t on board with a reboot, it’s best to not have one because I think all fans can agree the quality of The Office significantly decreased once his beloved character Michael Scott left the show.
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culture film
c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Film Editors: Jimmy Athey, Joe Holloran, Jack Gill
Monday 3rd December 2018
Harley Quinn to the rescue?
Elisabetta Pulcini discusses whether the Birds of Prey spin-off can help save the DC universe
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Image: YouTube
Wildlife (12A)
"I
have always known I would make films about family,” 12 Years A Slave Actor Paul Dano stated earlier this year. In his directorial debut, Wildlife, this is indeed what he has done. The adaptation of Richard Ford’s 1990 novel of the same name, Wildlife is the intense narrative of one family falling apart in 1960s small-town America. Set in Great Falls, Montana, the film revolves around the Brinsons, a struggling family who have moved all around the country in search of the next pay cheque. What begins as a searing look at domesticity in the sixties spirals into the already worn-out tale of cuckolded husband and straying wife. Jake Gyllenhaal’s Gerry is the archetypal all-American loser - the dad who pushes his son into football and who can’t keep a job. Carey Mulligan, as Jeanette, gives a performance not dissimilar to her Daisy in The Great Gatsby. An actress who seems to excel at playing selfish, bored people, she once again triumphs as her Jeanette subverts the mother and son relationship throughout the film.
he DC Extended Universe, officially referred to as the World of DC, has undeniably had some issues. With the shining exception of 2017’s Wonder Woman, most of their movies have either been deemed as too grim, too messy, or worst of all, simply forgettable. However, exciting new projects could bring a much needed sense of security to the francise. The recently titled Birds of Prey and the fantabulous emancipation of one Harley Quinn’ has the most appeal out of all of them. After splitting up from the Joker, insufferably played by Jared Leto in Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn, Black Canary Huntress, and Renee Montoya team up to save a little girl from Black Mask, the main villain of the story. While ensemble movies have not bode well for DC in the past, with both Justice League and Suicide Squad being less than enthusiastic achievements for the brand, this movie has some elements that might distinguish it from its predecessors. Firstly, a fantastic cast is at the forefront of this production. With Margot Robbie reprising her role as Harley Quinn, she might finally have a chance to shine as the movie’s protagonist. In fact, her joyous portrayal of the DC character was one of the only bearable parts of Suicide Squad. It is not farfetched to think that, already beloved in comic books and TV, this character could earn the same appreciation on the big screen and take the lead as one of the most interesting characters in any super hero movie of this generation. Already, the fact that she is being put at the forefront of her own movie shows that creators at DC have recognized the potential in this character, and have plans to fully flash it out. However, casting alone does not make a movie: even
The Girl In The Spiders Web (15)
I wouldn't sacrifice Wildlife's incredible cinematography for a shorter film
It is this son who is the film’s crowning glory. Ed Oxenbauld upstages both Gyllenhaal and Mulligan as Joe, the couple’s shy fourteen-year-old son, who is often more mature than his parents. His performance is understated yet effective, as the audience can only watch in despair as he is caught in the crossfire of the adults’ problems. It is Oxenbauld’s presence that ultimately saves the film’s narrative, shifting it to become a poignant look at the effect of parental problems on a teenager. At 1 hour 45 minutes long, Wildlife is by no means the longest film I’ve ever seen. However, the film’s slow pacing means that this ultimately feels a touch too long. However, I wouldn’t sacrifice Wildlife’s incredible cinematography for a shorter film. The long, lingering shots of rural Montana, including one particularly compelling shot of a wildfire mean that it’s one of the most beautiful films I’ve seen in a long time. Despite this, the film is still just good, but not great. It didn’t make me want to spend the next hour discussing it with someone, but I am glad I’ve seen it.
Caitlin Disken
Image: YouTube
/NewcastleCourierFilm @Courier_Film
with a strong cast attached to it, Justice League was mediocre at best. Moreover, the character of Harley has attracted controversies due to its portrayal of abusive relationships - her partnership with the Joker has not only been romanticized in Suicide Squad, but it lost a lot of the depth it had in the comics and even in the Batman animated series. With the astonishing success of movies like Wonder Woman and Black Panther, it is clear that audiences are starved for empowering messages, especially when targeted to historically oppressed demographics. But the Birds of Prey movie seems to be moving in the right direction. The recently released lengthy title has earned the approval of Harley co-creator Paul Dini, and makes us wonder as to the possibility of a much more nuanced analysis of toxicity in relationships. Most importantly, the all-female team working behind this movie gives hope for an updated view of this character, and really gives meaning to the word emancipated in the title, with director Cathy Yan and
writer Christina Hodson. The new Birds of Prey movie not only has a chance to revive ailing DC, but also has the opportunity to fill a hole in the current super-hero scene. With Marvel having a strong hold on typically virtuous superheroes, D C has the chance to make a mark by establishing twisted characters and powerful storylines.
Image: YouTube
Superheroes aren't on
Elisabetta Pulcini gives us a run down on the controversial comme
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s it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s definitely not a film worthy of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium legacy. Regarding the Millennium trilogy, no film will ever be as good as the books, but previous films tried. The Girl in the Spiders Web didn’t even attempt this. Claire Foy follows in the footsteps of Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara in playing Lisbeth Salander. She fits the role well and deserves praise for her acting, but it is a shame she is the only stand-alone good thing. The other actors are iffier. Stephen Merchant, although not terrible at acting, is the wrong casting for a worried Swedish computer scientist. Sylvia Hoeks could probably pull off a psychotic villain, if they hadn’t made her an antagonist more fitting of the Fast and Furious franchise. Likewise, I don’t want to underestimate the ability of Sverrir Gudnason, but the use of Blomkvist was horrific. The Girl in the Spiders Web is some kind of unexplained confusing continuation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. At the beginning Salander’s tattoo is shown repeatedly, an ostentatious reminder of the film’s roots. Then Blomkvist is introduced, a necessary companion to the complex character of Salander, but he’s quickly ignored. Erica Berger makes an appearance, yet apart from her closing a laptop, nothing is made of the turbulent relationship between the three of them. Ignoring Blomkvist’s character was a major mistake, but the directing got worse. Scandinavian and thriller go together perfectly, so that would be the expectation here. A warehouse explosion followed by a motorcycle escape over a frozen harbour shuns these expectations and throws psychological thriller out of the window. The film continues down this action route, with sniper battles, multiple car/motorcycle chases, and unnecessary explosions. All this runs from the tone they apparently wanted to set at the beginning by reminding us of the dragon tattoo. The decision to prioritise action and ignore the realistic portrayal of Swedish sexual liberalism and horrific sexual abuse that Larsson’s 80 million wanted doomed this film. Benja Townsend
tan Lee passed away on 12 November 2018. Fans, celebrities and people from all around the world were united in mourning of this charismatic, kind and influential creator. Then comes Bill Maher. The television host, known for his sarcasm and cynicism, criticized adults who ‘pretended comic books were actually sophisticated literature’, adding that the assumption everyone had back then ‘was that comics were for kids, and when you grew up you moved on to big-boy books without the pictures’. Coming from someone who works in television, and has appeared in a Marvel movie, this is a surprising statement. Dismissing and misrepresenting what an entire art form can do with such an ignorant statement is not expected of someone who has worked in the entertainment industry for years. Spanning from graphic novels such as Persepolis, to the underground comics surge of the 70s, comic books as a
Image: Youtube
medium have an incredibly rich history, which predates television, and their contribution to culture all around the world is wideranging and undeniable. Now, although Maher fails to make this clear in his blog post, from context of the Marvel creator’s death, he probably didn’t consider the whole history of this medium, but only that is guiding pop culture in America today, which is mainly super heroes.
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Monday 3rd December 2018
@Courier_Film thecourieronline.co.uk/film
Von Trier: Visionary or Shock Merchant? Joe Holloran takes a look at the career of the Danish autour, with his new film coming soon W hen is art 'art', and when is it mindlessly provocative? That's a question that's been around for as long as the film medium has existed. While it is clear that idiotic garbage like The Human Centipede or the Hostel movies only exist so people can hate on them, there are those films and directors whose works genuinely divide opinion.
Triers films which sought to make films in an artistic yet lowtech way as possible
At the top of that list is one Lars von Trier. Von Trier is the Danish director of such existential films as Dogville, Melancholia, Antichrist, and Nymphomaniac, as well as being the founder of the Dogma '95 movement, which sought to make films in an artistic yet low-tech way as possible. His films have been met with as much vitriol as they have acclaim. So with a new film on the way the question will again be asked - is he about pushing the boundaries of
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cinematic expression, or just looking to garner controversy for its own sake? Von Trier's new film (following a five year break for mental health reasons) is the horror The House That Jack Built. Staring Matt Dillon and Uma Thurman, the movie follows the highly charismatic, intelligent serial killer Jack over a twelve year period. Von Trier has stated that the films message is that "Life is evil and soulless". Despite this, the movie received a ten minute standing ovation at this year's Cannes Film Festival. So, is the film a modern masterpiece, or is it "An ordeal of unsettling gruesomeness" as one of the directors many industry critics put it? The answer to this question may all be down to how you view the man behind the camera and the sincerity of his intentions.
Lars Von Trier
The House That Jack Built is fifteenth film in a directing career going back to 1984. Image: Wikicommons
Von Trier's films and his comments about his nihilistic outlook have been the sources of controversy for nearly forty years now. In fairness to his critics, he makes himself an easy target. Take his now legendary neo-Nazi remarks at Cannes for instance; while these were meant as a joke, he still hasn't grasped that not everyone will understand or appreciate his particularly dark sense of humour. His movies provoke the same kind of reaction. Scenes of graphic violence in Dogville, of sex in Nymphomaniac, or of family tragedy in Antichrist are all to different extents difficult to watch. But they are not done out of a desire to only shock. Von Trier has a clear and single-minded philosophy in
nly just for children Bill
needed representation. With the first appearance as a character in 1966, Black Panther empowered people who were at the margins of society. While this might have not been the controversial or grandiose insight Bill prefers, it was nonetheless an important one. To have people invest this kind of energy and dedication in projects that reach millions of people around the globe was not a waste of time. To use Stan’s death to belittle his legacy and the form he worked with is simply pathetic, especially when the comments made lack so much nuance. Stan Lee represents the best the entertainment industry has to offer. He understood the platform he was working with, and used his incredible talents to inspire countless people to create, lead, and be good.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Animation Station
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each of his movies. They are his way of understanding the world. To him, reality in itself is evil - he just puts it on film. This is at the heart of both his successes and his failures. His movies work best when he uses the extreme visceral scenes as an anchor to explore existential issues from that point on. Von Trier never sets out to shock for shock's sake. Those feeling pass quickly. His intentions (weather he succeeds or fails) are to say that the shocking is not shocking at all, but rather it is a natural part of existence. Von Trier's movies, much like the man himself, are complex, challenging and sometimes unpleasant. But one thing is that they are never dull. In a cinema landscape so often dominated by the blandness of Hollywood, someone like Von Trier is the kick in the balls the industry needs. Stop taking the audiences for granted, take a risk and create something that will last in the memory long after the credits roll. For that reason alone I hope von Trier doesn't go through with his oft-touted threats of an early exit and continues to pour his pain into his camera and share it with the world.
Suspiria (18)
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(2004)
pongeBob is that one cartoon all kids watched when they got back from school, with classic characters loved by adults and children alike. Its no wonder why the charming and witty film was such a success upon its release in 2004. I believe that this film still holds up as a very good movie adaptation of a beloved children’s cartoon. The animation is sleeker and smoother than it had been in the cartoon previously and the humour is just as good as it had always been, except this time it’s on a much bigger scale as SpongeBob and Patrick are given a quest to save Bikini Bottom that will even take them to the surface world.
Classic charachters loved by adults and children alike
Whilst it certainly isn’t one of the most compelling animated films I’ve ever seen, when I was a kid, repeated viewings were necessary for such hit songs as ‘Now That We’re Men’ and a completely off the wall cover of Twisted Sister’s ‘I Wanna Rock’ called ‘Goofy Goober Rock’. I was very easily entertained.
ent made by the political commentator and comedian Bill Maher In terms of art and story form, Marvel comics have shaped the way we consume media today and there is no doubt about that. But what Bill seemed to question is the depth of comic books in understanding the human condition. Obviously, not every piece of literature needs to have something to say about the human condition to be relevant. But it could be argued that Stan Lee in particular did more than impose his opinions on others: rather, he dealt with issues he saw in the world through the means of inclusion. This is better articulated by civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton, who says about Stan that he ‘was an inclusive, die-hard person long before it became fashionable. He had a very passionate commitment about poverty, about people that were being marginalized and left out, and he had that to the end. An obvious example is Black Panther. Both as a movie and as a comic book, this story has provided much
film culture
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Image: YouTube
ew horror film from director Luca Guadagnino Suspiria is a chaotic, disturbing show full of dancing, gore, and witchcraft. A remake of David Argento’s 1977 film of the same name is packed full of detail and complexities. But Suspiria has actually been described by the director as a homage rather than a remake. I am not familiar with the original, but if you are that is something to keep in mind. In retrospect, I wish I had watched the original first just for some extra context on the themes and ideas. Visually it is stunning, but the plot is somewhat unfulfilling. It is slightly hard to follow and it includes so many subjects, ultimately making it difficult to fully understand. The setting and context in relation to the plot did not correlate the way I thought it would and I failed to see where everything links up, which made it feel somewhat disorganized. Whether this was the whole point of it is up to interpretation. The cast of mostly women along with the themes of matriarchy and empowerment were interesting but there was still a degree of ‘male gaze’ to this film. I noticed this throughout and it became less empowering and more judgmental. A high point was the performance of Tilda Swinton, portraying more than one role in the film, including one of the protagonists. Swinton was overall artistic and definitely a highlight. Dakota Johnson was a true surprise for me. I did not expect anything amazing from her, but her performance was quite compelling. Her delivery needed to be strong as she was one of our main characters and she certainly achieved that. Revisiting the visuals of the film, the cinematography was a consistent strong aesthetic, the imagery haunting and memorable. It works with subtle muted colors and makes use of interesting color symbolism. It felt almost like artwork on screen. The dance sequences were also beautiful to watch. Overall, it is a mad concoction of witches, war, violence, and dancing, which definitely tests your patience. Amy Brown
Image: YouTube
Another part of this movie that surprised me looking back was the star power behind some of the cameos and guest characters like Jeffrey Tambor, Alec Baldwin, and Scarlett Johansson, all highly decorated actors lending their voices to a kid’s cartoon and giving their all. Oh and of course we can’t forget that one particularly iconic cameo. David Hasselhoff as…David Hasselhoff, as he helps SpongeBob and Patrick get back to Bikini Bottom by… motor surfing? Yeah, this film was weird. Whilst I enjoyed the SpongeBob movie, it does leave a bittersweet feeling after another watch due to this really being the last decent outing for SpongeBob and the gang as after this, the show, whilst still humorous at times, became obsessed with gross-out humour and making SpongeBob as annoying as humanly possible. So, let’s look back on this movie with fond memories as the true conclusion to SpongeBob, ending on a high.
Jacob Clarke
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culture arts
the courier
c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Arts Editors Scarlett Rowland, Julia McGee-Russell, Rosie McCrum Online Editor Scarlett Rowland
Monday 3 December 2018
Ouseburn Open Studios This week a bunch of our tip top writers have been searching high and low in Ouseburn to discover what its studios have to offer
The Biscuit Factory
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ne of the galleries taking part in the Ouseburn Open Studios this year was the Biscuit Factory. Located on Stoddard Street, it is a prime gallery in a prime location. The Biscuit Factory hosts a wide collection of artwork from jewellery to sculptures, painting to drawings. This range was reflected in the work presented for the open studios. From the collection, one of my highlights was Ailsa Matfin’s sea glass and silver jewellery. As a firm lover of the North East coast myself, the attraction was that she had sourced the see glass from local beaches. With a range of necklaces, earrings and bracelets as well as mixed metals, her work catered to all. As with many of the artists, she was working whilst the studios were open, allowing the visitors an insight into the process. Another studio that caught my eye was that of Alan Smith Page, a fine artist working in watercolour, acrylic and mixed media. His work also reflected the natural beauty of the area, but also further afield depicting visions of Paris and Venice. Again, he was painting when I visited. Ray Campbell, also a fine artist, was using the studio space as a clearance sale. This reduced some of his paintings to as little as 20% of their original price. When speaking to him, he said about his imminent house move which prompted him to lower his prices so much. Again, he had been inspired by the local area, particularly his home of Blyth, but also other English seaside towns and villages such as Whitby and Alnmouth. The Biscuit Factory generally is a beautiful gallery. Its resident artwork changes with the seasons, making it one to revisit often.
Northern Print
Image: Helena Constantinides
36 Lime Street
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hirty-Six Lime Street exhibited the works of Bethan Maddocks and street writer Luke Winter, alongside other creative artists. Bethan Maddocks uses paper cuttings to generate art. Upon entering her studio, I was welcomed with a carved 1650’s map of Newcastle. The Medieval map reads “The Newcastle Witch Trials”. It featured etchings of women hanged for being a witch. It struck me how she seamlessly linked the violent hangings to the town and bridges altogether in one board, revealing how the trials are entrenched into the history of Newcastle. Maddocks’ efforts pay off by bringing a two-dimensional story to life with the reflection of the studio’s light bulbs. Maddocks truly encapsulates the importance of revisiting history by embedding underlying issues in her art. ‘The Book of Shad-
ows’ brings light into a better future, where we can learn from the mistakes of the past. Luke Winter writes short stories for the visitors with his typewriter spontaneously. He offers something different to mainstream literature by talking to the visitors for a while, before writing a story for them. This unique approach provides a new insight into stories that are often unheard by society. Yet, at the same time, Winter highlights commonalities with people with his public open conversations. Amie Reid and Amber Zamani-Esskeli shows that art can be accessible to everyone. Reid, with her badgemaking workshop allows everyone to converse with each other. Zamani-Esskeli’s macramé decorations and hand embroidered cards are aesthetically pleasing with her meticulous attention to detail for each product. Thirty-Six Lime Street did a praiseworthy job for bringing outstanding pieces from varying disciplines. It reminds us that art can be expressed in different ways by anyone. Carl Smith Valdez
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alking into Northern Print from the drab Sunday afternoon rain provided a pleasant contrast of brightness and vibrancy. As part of Ouseburn Open Studios, the printmaking studio and gallery opened its doors to the public to try their hand at printmaking and I went ahead and gave it go. Being a complete print novice myself I was curious as to how I was going to get involved creating artwork, but all was to be revealed. On offer was a range of printmaking techniques to get involved with, the first being a simple stamp and ink press. I’m pretty chuffed with my blue Christmas scene card creation that is far too pretty for me to actually write on and give to someone. Moving downstairs into the main studio, a silk screen printing machine allowed you to create an envelope for the aforementioned pretty card, in corresponding cornflower blue. After a few pushes and pulls from me, and some swipes from the lovely lady helping, I had my envelope outline ready for me not to post to anyone because I’m too selfish to give my creation away. One of the prints I am willing to give my friends or family the pleasure of having are some little red Christmas prints that can be cut out and stuck onto cards, envelopes or presents. All the members who helped out were so friendly and more than willing to answer any questions you had, conveying how printmaking is a very welcoming and accessible style of art. What really made the experience was how involved the artists ensured everyone was in the print making process and now I have a taste for printmaking I might just sign up for a course at Northern Print! Sophia Kypriotis
Helena Constantinides Image: Carl Smith Valdez
Image: Sophia Kypriotis
A contemporary reimagining of an age-old tale
Shakespeare veteran Ally Wilson reviews the National Theatre’s contemporary take on Macbeth at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal
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aving studied Macbeth to death at school, and watched both of the, let’s be honest, quite tragic screen adaptations, I was keen to finally see this infamous play on the stage it was written for.
The attempt to make this story contemporary came at a cost
I was not disappointed, mostly. The National Theatre’s post-apocalyptic spin on the medieval Scottish classic was an interesting one, and given the recent surge in all things zombie and sci-fi in the entertainment industry, it was a very contemporary approach. The portrayal of the witches as a panoptic ethereal presence, sitting at the top of the withering trees for most of the play was a clever touch, boldly veering away from the gothic tradition. In-keeping with the post-apocalyptic theme was the music. Its minimalistic style added a subtly sinister backing track which, for the most part, worked. However, such mellow music was not appropriate for the climactic fighting scene at the end, during which I found myself marvelling at the witches’ ability to stay up their trees, rather than the swordplay going on between Macbeth and Macduff. The setting itself offered a sparse, bleak backdrop, appropriate for the tragic events of the play, and the tilted stage was a visual reminder of the shifting balance of power throughout the story. The simplicity of the lighting was too, a testament to the minimalistic and sparse approach to the play, but the blackouts and green light signifying death redressed the balance, dramatizing the most significant moments in classy, under-played way.
The cast featured many experienced on-stage actors, alongside some familiar faces from shows like Casualty and Doctor Who. However, it was clear which of the actors were more prone to stage, and who to screen. As mentioned earlier, in a play such as Macbeth it is very important to remain expressive whilst avoiding the melodramatic and farcical. However, many of the key moments of this play veered to far the other way- Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy for example was severely underplayed. Of course, Shakespeare’s language is what he is most famous for, but there is a reason his stories were written as plays and not prose- they were designed to be performed and not simply read aloud. Having said this, Macbeth’s soliloquist after his wife’s death was performed absolutely breathtakingly- hats off to you, sir. Overall, this performance was very innovative and the balance between subtlety and drama was maintained. However, the attempt to make this story contemporary came at a cost, not least with the controversial omission of the famous lines ‘Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble’. Yes, not the most modern of concepts- three witches stirring a cauldron and speaking in rhyming couplets- but they are nonetheless one of the reasons why this play is so famous. There were moments of sheer excellence- I was welling up after the death of Macduff’s family, and we were shivering after the Macbeth’s genuinely terrifying second visit to the ‘weird sisters’, featuring some truly harrowing doll’s faces. However, some fine trimming is needed to make this performance a rounded success, not least the timing of the interval, leading to a two-and-a-half hour first half and a short forty-minute splurge at the end. A necessary first step in the contemporising of our beloved Scottish play, in need of a little fine-tuning.
Image: Instagram, @newcastletheatreroyal
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arts culture
Monday 3 December 2018
Discussing Anthony Gormley
Rory Cameron comments on the lecture given by Anthony Gormley, a controversial artist with a controversial statue on campus
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Image: Flickr Simon Cotterill
ir Antony Gormley is a name that needs no introduction. His sculptures are found across the world, from gallery exhibitions, to private collections, to the public sphere itself. Most notably in our immediate locale is the Angel of the North (1998), and the recently installed Clasp (2018)- situated between the Northern Stage and Student Union- which, in classic Gormley style, occupies space and finds itself in dialogue with the individuals around it, rather than simply dominating them. On 21st November, the celebrated artist spoke to a packedout lecture theatre, narrating the journey through his body of work, which lead up to the sculpture now found on our campus. A sculpture which has caused some controversy- with some students demanding its removal. To this, Gormley replied, “I don’t know if it’s good or strictly speaking neces-
sary… but then again, what is?” The artist explained the choice to place the piece in the centre of one of the main university pathways was to have the two embracing figures invite deconstruction, in the middle of the stream of human life which flows around them day and night. “Culture is not real culture, unless it is shared,” explained Sir Antony. The piece has notably evolved with the elements, with the grey iron turning to a rusty orange over the past few months. An apt choice perhaps, given the evolutionary and transformative nature of the university experience.
Sir Antony felt tha the brooding, silent and resistant images of sculpture offerered something which images are unable to
Speaking about his medium of choice Sir Antony felt that the brooding, silent and resistant images of sculpture offered something which images are unable to. In regards to his personal canon of work, the artist highlighted how even from some of his earliest work such as Chromosome (1984), he posed the question over what it is to be human. Over time, Gormley has continued to explore the meaning of humanity in relation to environments (such as the
Sculpture for Derry Walls, infamously attacked and damaged upon its installation at the height of the Troubles)
“We discover ourselves through our relationships with others”
and in relation to other human beings alike. Gormley moved away from making full-body casts of himself in recent years, to now rather scanning his body and working on the form from there, such as what we see in Clasp. The 1988 work Mountain and Sea, which used moulds of the artist hugging another mould of himself was made with the idea of the harbour of another body. Gormley specified that he wanted this translated into another language, of crude and geometric shapes; these hallmarks can also be seen in the sculpture we find in the centre of our campus now. The most obvious development being, the striking use of simple pixel-like building blocks for the deconstructed bodies; bodies which share a pelvis, yet one figure appears to pull back from the embrace. The centre of gravity high on the platform is unstable, and one can feel an undercurrent in danger in this uncertainty. “We discover ourselves through our relationships with others,” Gormley said, before adding “Now more than ever,
the 21st century needs a talking cure, for we have forgotten how to talk to ourselves. The notion that we are strangers to ourselves has been forgotten. “ Ultimately, the artist said that he hoped through his work one could understand the “The great consolation of being born, finding another body in which we can find a place. A body nesting in another body, taking away the idea of the erotic.” Before closing, he admitted that he expected that many people would have climbed all over the installation, and was shocked that nobody in the lecture hall had admitted to already having done so. That is, until this week, where following the consent of the great artist himself, and a battle with both Newcastle University security and Health & Safety, Fine Art student Cameron Jarvie had a small soap gnome installed atop Clasp. Indeed, the artwork continues to evolve.
All about Epilepsy: A drugs trial or a love story? Making for the Light T Comment editor Caitlin Diskin reviews performance and post-show discussion of a play about growing up with epilepsy
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uring the post-show discussion of Making for the Light, writer and director Alex Elliott said, “We see this piece as the beginning of a conversation, a stepping stone,”. The intimate setting of Newcastle’s Live Theatre, it must have been a nerve-wracking experience for Elliott as the play, co-written with Carol Clewlow, was subjected to its first ever showing. Yet there was little to worry about as the play, an exploration of life with epilepsy, triumphed in its efforts to portray the highs and lows of the condition. As someone who knew very little about epilepsy, Making for the Light proved an illuminating experience. A collaboration between Operating Theatre, Newcastle University, and the CANDO project, the play succeeded as an understated yet poignant performance. Rachel Gay and Gary Kitching, its two cast members, shone in their role of narrators. Their characters framed the performance, functioning as omniscient in the life of the unseen protagonist, Ellen. The script followed Ellen’s life from a sixteen-year-old into her twenties, intensely exploring epilepsy’s affects on this formative time of life. Making for the Light’s true success was the minimalist nature of the performance. There was no onstage action; instead, Gay and Kitching stood mostly static, narrating Ellen’s life
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via the highly effective poetic prose of the script. Its opening, in which Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting was used as an extended metaphor for an epileptic fit, was one of the most incredible examples of playwriting I’ve ever witnessed. By coupling this with the fact that the painting was broadcast via a screen to the audience, Making for the Light explored the fact that many artists with epilepsy have used the condition in their work. It risked tipping into pretentiousness by using quotes of famous artists and writers, yet ultimately avoided this as Elliot noted that all artists mentioned actually had epilepsy and used the condition as a creative force. The post-show discussion was equally as enlightening. The panel, comprised of Elliott, epilepsy consultant Dr Rhys Thomas, neural interfaces professor and investigator on CANDO Professor Andy Jackson, and Vicky McPhee, a volunteer with epilepsy, discussed everything from living with the condition to medical research on it. Discussing how the play was conceived, it was refreshing to hear Elliott note that he wants to use it to bring epilepsy into conversation. It’s a condition we see as ‘over there’, he stated, “but it isn’t, it’s here, it’s among all of us.” With this idea in mind, it will be interesting to see how the play develops before its next showing.
Arts editor Rosie McCrum Wilson interviews the director of NUTS’ latest production The Effect, a philosophical love story
he Effect is the latest Newcastle University Theatre Society play written, directed and performed by students at Northern Stage. Written by Lucy Prebble, and directed by Chloe Muggleston and Elle Money, it offers a startling angle on drug trials, provoking questions surrounding the philosophy, psychological truth and love. The story centres on a love affair between two people taking part in an intense drug trial for anti-depressants. Performed by a cast of only four students, the two hour work was moving and mind expanding. Detailed psychological ideas were interspersed with comedy and romance in a way that made sense and felt familiar whilst also forcing us to question the extent to which we can rely on our brains. I interviewed one of the directors, Chloe Muggleston, about her experience directing.
Have you directed a play before? I have been part of the theatre society since first year but this was my first time directing! As we only had a month to rehearse and source everything for the play I had to learn very quickly. What were some of the challenges you faced? In terms of the managing side the play, the main challenges were to do with timing. We were the first NUTS
How was directing the hand-job scene? Both actors were happy to give it their all, and pretty much got it spot on from the beginning. The only awkward moment was when the actress playing Connie had brought her boyfriend to rehearsals and he had to sit watching them go over this scene while we blocked it, he didn’t look too happy. What was it like watching the first performance? I was super nervous. All the actors knew their lines and all the tech had been sorted, but our first show was essentially our first proper run through. You spend so much time trying to make it perfect the first night it always going to be scary as you see how an audience will react to what you’ve created. The opening night was amazing, rather than critiquing or discussing what needed tweaking I actually watched it and just enjoyed it. Has The Effect changed your perception of the mind or psychology? The Effect is set around a pharmaceuticals drugs trial for anti-depressants but it does focus heavily on a love story. Lucy Prebble looks at the overlap between the effect of an antidepressant and the effect of love (both which increase dopamine in the body). For me, this play allows people to start to think about the effects of depression and what might have an impact. The brain is so complex that my perception of it will constantly be changing. Do you have any advice for people who want to direct? You need to love the play that you are putting on and know what outcome you are hoping for as you will be fully immersed with it until the show day. The best advice I could give to someone would be to follow your vision but mainly enjoy it and have fun.
Image: Pixabay
It risked tipping into pretentiousnss by using quotes of famous artists
show of the year so we were inevitably going to have less time to prepare. We decided from the onset that we were going to be tech heavy, including a lot of sound, lighting and AV. This was very time consuming as everything had to be gathered and edited. My co-director and I were so pleased with our actors as they constantly gave it their all and pushed to get off script as quick as possible which allowed us to really work on each scene. I think everyone will agree when I say as a director you can always work to improve on certain aspects, but our main priority was to ensure everyone was enjoying being part of The Effect and having fun!
Image: Phoebe Clothier
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culture gaming Sony to skip E3 next year
Monday 3rd December 2018
courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Gaming Editors George Boatfield, Matthew Neville & Kelly South
Pokemon: Let's Go!
James Troughton looks at Al Ridley takes a trip back to Kanto to see if Game Freak's latest is a true evolution of the series okémon: Let’s Go! is like one of those Trolli gum- £44.99 Poké Ball Plus controller. find much else here. yet another industry shift mi pizzas. It’s a cute idea, aesthetically pleasing Graphically, at least, it’s an absolute treat. Each Pokémon
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or the past 24 years, Sony has appeared annually at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). However, according to a report by Game Informer, Sony are looking for new “inventive opportunities to engage the community” as they will not be making an appearance at E3 in 2019. The company has stated they want to “innovate, think differently and experiment with new ways to delight gamers.” The company also have their own event in December called PlayStation Experience. This was also cancelled, as Chairman Shawn Layden claimed that there was not enough for Sony to show fans this year. With many anxious to find out when The Last of Us Part II will be arriving, what new games Sony has in store for fans, and when the new console will be available, the two cancellations will come as a disappointment to many gamers. Sony is not the first company to withdraw from E3; Electronic Arts has done the same in favour of their own events. Could this shift in the way big companies are interacting with consumers possibly mark the death of E3? Whilst news can be shared through social media, livestreams, and specially tailored events throughout the year, E3 places a spotlight on the gaming industry for a brief but important window. This spotlight allows for companies to gain more publicity and easier marketing Some consumers are questioning if it is a mistake for Sony to pull away from E3, or if it simply indicates a shift in the way that consumers are interacted with. It's entirely possible viewers could see a transformation into a more digital setting or a greater push for individual events in the coming years. Image: Wikimedia Commons
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and definitely inoffensive, but it’s twee, simple, and ultimately unsatisfying. The hybridisation of main series Pokémon gameplay with the mechanics of the Pokémon Go app isn’t seamless and results in significant loss to the RPG side of the equation, which becomes an awful lot less fun as a result. It can’t decide if it’s going to be a remake or an innovation and ends up neither. The big twist in Let’s Go! is the use of catching mechanics from Pokémon Go in place of traditional battles. You don’t battle wild Pokémon directly, with most combat being limited to trainer battles, and so you can’t get experience by defeating things in the wild. Instead, your active Pokémon gain experience points by capturing, just like in Go. Battles are much less prominent and consequently the battle system is majorly simplified. Abilities are gone, alongside a lot of moves, and there’s little challenge or nuance. You can blaze through the entire game without putting any thought into it.
It can't decide if it's going to be a remake or an innovation and ends up neither
Capturing Pokémon also requires the use of mandatory motion controls and they’re… awkward. In handheld mode, you have the usual problem of being required to tilt the entire Switch to aim your Pokéballs precisely using the gyros, which stops you seeing what you’re doing. However, in TV mode it’s awful: you have to huck your Joy-Cons skyward with incredible force to get your balls thrown, and good luck actually landing your mark. Why you’re unable to use a touch screen – a la Go itself – is beyond me. One wonders if these controls were shoehorned into the game to force you to buy the exorbitantly-priced
is gorgeously animated, with its own unique personality: bloodthirsty Beedrill will range ahead; Machamp will scoop you up in its muscular arms; Caterpie will often be left behind by your biped legs as it scrambles along on its caterpillar nubs. The environments are lush, as you’d come to expect from the Switch, but the maps are screaming for a new, hidef redesign.
After Sun and Moon demonstrated Game Freak could make detailed, lifelike towns and varied, vibrant routes, it’s quite jarring to go back to the strictly regimented tiles and lifeless cities of 22 years ago. Vermilion City still looks more like a pile of beach shacks than a bustling harbour. Wild Pokémon wandering around routes feel less like living creatures and more like game abstractions. As someone long since bored to tears of Pokémon Go, I suppose I was never going to like Pokémon: Let’s Go!. I came into it with an open mind, hoping that Go’s systems would work better with some actual mechanical depth behind them, but the two have been poorly balanced and marred by terrible motion controls. If you like simply catching Pokémon, more power to you, but you won’t
Image: IGDB
Most anticipated games of 2019 With 2019 now on the horizon, our writers give you our most anticipated titles set to release (hopefully) in the coming year
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Cyberpunk 2077 Jack Coles
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yberpunk 2077 might not come out in 2019 - that’s the optimist in me speaking, before I drown him in bacon fat. There is no confirmed release date (no matter what people tell you), so it could come out in 2020, 2021, or indeed 2077... but I can dream god dammit.
CDPR have promised no microtransactions
CP77 comes from CD Projekt Red, the guys behind titles like The Witcher III and… The Witcher II. There’s about 45 minutes of gameplay on YouTube and it looks very encouraging. Neither gameplay nor story seem to be sacrificed here, and there seems to be a lot of effort being put into substantial NPC interactions and quests. There are also guns and naked people if you’re worried about not having all the hedonistic bases covered. CDPR have also made promises along the lines of “no microtransactions”, which is nice; I’m still reeling from Konami trying to sell us save slots on Metal Gear Survive. So in all, it’s a firm “cool and nice” from me.
Image: YouTube
Image: YouTube
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Animal Crossing Georgina Howlett
f there’s one game that I’m looking forward to in 2019, it’s the recently announced Animal Crossing title for the Nintendo Switch. Watching September’s Nintendo Direct, I was completely unsuspecting of the fact that my beautiful boy Tom Nook was about to bless my screen to announce a new game in one of my favourite series.
I am so ready to be in Tom Nook’s eternal debt once again
It’s been five years since the last mainline Animal Crossing game - not including the Welcome Amiibo expansion for New Leaf, or the mobile title Pocket Camp - and by now, I am so ready to be in Tom Nook’s eternal debt once again. Animal Crossing games are ones that you can lose yourself in for hours, spending your time however you choose. There are just so many things to do, so many places to explore, and so many villagers to kick out of your town until you get the ones you actually like.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Alex Darbyshire
’ve been a fan of FromSoftware since I picked up Dark Souls on a whim years ago. Needless to say, main Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki knows his way around game design and worldbuilding. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is due to release worldwide on 22 March 2019 - and good lord, am I excited to see what is in store now I've wrapped up the Dark Souls trilogy. Sekiro is set in a highly fictionalised version of 16th century Japan, with the protagonist having his arm severed then returning with a prosthetic hand, a literal handful of tools, and a sword: we are to set out for revenge.
13M
The total sales of the Dark Souls trilogy as of May 2016.
The most exciting thing about this release will be learning how it departs from the previous ventures of Miyazaki’s games - no doubt the grappling, platforming and sword fighting mechanics are to be innovative and as satisfying as both Dark Souls and Bloodborne.
Image: IGDB
Image: IGDB
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The Last of Us Part II George Boatfield
he Last of Us wasn’t only my personal game of the year for 2013, it remains as the best game I have ever played. Critically acclaimed within the industry and amongst audiences, there’s no doubt that there’s a high bar for developer Naughty Dog to reach with The Last of Us Part II, arriving at some point in 2019… probably. After their stellar work on Uncharted: The Lost Legacy in 2016 and the impressive showing of Part II during Sony’s E3 2018 presentation, I remain confident that the game is on track to be something really special. The game made headlines with gay representation at the forefront of the showing; while that was great to see, it’s Naughty Dog’s overall fusion of narrative with gameplay that is what makes the series really stand out. There’s a great deal that seems to have been changed (Ellie is now the player-controlled character), refined and upgraded, both since Naughty Dog’s previous graphical efforts on the PS4, and with the gameplay that was present in the previous game. And as grim as the world of The Last of Us may be (the notorious Infected have yet to be sighted), I can’t wait to experience its PS4 manifestation.
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Monday 3rd December 2018
@Courier_Gaming thecourieronline.co.uk/gaming
gaming culture
Worthy Winter Warmers
Need something to play over winter break? our writers share with you some of their favourite games to play over the holidays
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Unravel Matthew Neville
n an industry full of greedy corporations churning out overly-serious shooters, it takes something exceptional to light a fire in my cold, dead little heart. Unravel manages to do this in spades, despite being published by the corporate manifestation of Satan’s dirty sphincter, Electronic Arts. Developed by ColdWood Interactive, Unravel exudes a sincere warmth from every aspect of its being. The visuals in particular are granular in their level of detail and pleasingly comforting in their autumnal colour palette. On top of this, the soundtrack has a lovely mysticism to it, making the whole presentation feel like a breath of fresh, cedar-scented air in a generation dominated by big, shouty, cinematic experiences. This all adds up to make Unravel the video game equivalent of a piping hot bowl of your favourite soup on a frosty winter afternoon: wholesome and familiar, an antidote for the harsh briskness of these miserable months.
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Dark Souls James Troughton
hen you think of comforting games, Dark Souls is perhaps the last that would come to mind. Notoriously difficult and punishing, FromSoftware’s cult-hit into the RPG genre is a controversial choice. However, there’s truly no better feeling than, after hours of isolation in the depths of Lordran, returning to Firelink Shrine. The peaceful and relaxing music topped with the community of fellow undead makes you feel safe in an otherwise tormenting world.
It goes from being unbelievably cruel and unrelenting to enjoyable and peaceful
Whilst it is challenging, I find myself returning to Dark Souls every couple of months. Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the mechanics, the bosses, the level design and the enemies, it goes from being unbelievably cruel and unrelenting to enjoyable and peaceful. The music is nothing short of brilliant and the presence of nature overrunning the God’s lands is a beautiful sight. What many consider to be aggravating and stressful, I look at as incredibly relaxing.
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Overcooked George Boatfield
earty food, made and shared alongside friends and family, and the panic of a dish spilt, burnt or otherwise ruined; these are staples of the Christmas season and are perfectly encapsulated in the co-op mania of Overcooked. Entirely playable on your own or in a group, this indie gem sits right alongside the Jackbox Party Packs for a group gathering full of laughs. Each player controls a chef working in a chaotic kitchen, managing the different ingredients required for upcoming orders. Kitchen hazards ranging from piles of dishes in need of cleaning, to floors that shift at random ensure that things never go as smoothly as players attempt to plan.
The staples of the holiday season are present in Overcooked
It’s a simple concept and, aside from a few performance dips depending on your platform of choice, it's perfectly executed. Though be warned: despite its wholesome exterior, the game’s swear button (resulting in text boxes of garbled characters) can often match the attempts at communication in the real world… Fun for the whole family!
Fallout Seventy-stinks? Has Todd Howard's gamble paid off, or is it just a 'nuclear waste' of time? Jacob Clarke asks
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arlier this year, the prospect of a new Fallout game so soon after Fallout 4 was only a dream for die hard fans of the series, so when a new trailer was shown over the incredible cover of ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ I was hyped to no end. Could this be this generation’s New Vegas? I naively told myself. It was only downhill from then on. A multiplayer-only survival Fallout game you say, Todd? Oh no. It was at this point I began to become sceptical of the quality of an always online version of a game from a series that is known for its immersive single player RPG storytelling. But Todd convinced me single player gameplay and quests would go unchanged, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt. So, did Bethesda’s risk pay off? No. No, it really didn’t at all.
The lack of NPC’s is achingly noticeable, and really takes the life out of the wasteland
The problems with this game start when you first leave the vault, which unlike its predecessors, which have extensive backstory sequences, takes all of 20 minutes. You are then immediately introduced to a decently made but ultimately disinteresting crafting and camp system. But I wanted to get straight into the quests and exploration. Well, it turns out that quests based on just computer terminals and notes of paper left by a character we’ve never actually met are unbelievably dull and not even slightly compelling. The lack of NPC’s in 76 is achingly noticeable, and the attempt to add RPG-type quests without them really takes any character or life out of the wasteland. Sure, there are some robots scattered around, but they don’t replace Bethesda’s usually intriguing wasteland inhabitants. Another issue is that quests, or ‘timed events’ will randomly pop up on the side of your screen, with no way to set it so this doesn’t happen. This messes with your current
quest markers and makes you disoriented and, ultimately, this pressure the game gives you to take part in these popup quests in incredibly annoying. So, what about the multiplayer aspect? Well, that’s rather lacklustre too. There will be some people scattered around your server, and for the most part they are willing to lend a hand, but there are too few players on a server for this to be a replacement for NPC’s. Whilst there is a bounty system in place to stop players trolling and killing other players, it ultimately has no real consequences and higher level players will just chase down and kill lower level players anyway. So, are there any redeeming features in this game? To Bethesda’s benefit I will say that once again the world is very well designed and looks stunning. The exploration factor is also an intriguing part of the game, allowing you to delve deeper into all kinds of new Fallout lore. But this isn’t enough for the game to be good, and it certainly isn’t enough to keep me wanting to play like every other Fallout game has done in the past. I keep coming back to Fallout 76 in the hope that, somehow, I’ve been wrong about all of this and I’ve missed something, but after half an hour of boredom, framerate issues and server disconnections, it’s hard to ignore what a mis-
fire this has been on Bethesda’s part. Let’s just hope Elder Scrolls VI can make up for what is easily the most disappointing game of the year.
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Yoshi's Island Richard Liddle
gainst the grey and gloomy backdrop of a British winter, sometimes it’s nice to just get away to somewhere more pleasant for a while. With its bright and colourful hand-drawn aesthetic and utterly charming world, Yoshi’s Island is about as good as it gets for cheering you up during the cold months. The game bursts with character, every level looking as though it’s popped out of a children’s picture book and come to life. Over twenty years on it’s still a unique and refreshing look, a madcap crayon world populated by Shy Guys, Goonies, and of course Yoshi’s adorable canine companion Poochie. As well as being just the thing to brighten up a dour day, it also happens to be a brilliant platformer, packed full of inventive puzzles, cleverly hidden collectibles and brilliant bosses. And while the pace is generally pretty laid back through most of the game, if you’re after a challenge the final and hidden worlds definitely offer it. So if you’re after something to chase away the winter blues, you could do a lot worse than packing your bags for a trip to Yoshi’s Island.
PUBG skydiving its way onto PS4
Sean Khoo prepares to make the drop into yet another port of the battle-royale giant
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layerUnknown's Battlegrounds, the popular battle royale game, is slated for release on the PS4 on 7 December this year, which means it's perfectly timed as a potential Christmas present.
50M
The ludicrous number of copies the game had sold as of June 2018
As with most recent game releases, PUBG has multiple price tags with exclusive content for each edition on offer: £25 for the ‘Looter’s Digital Edition’ or the ‘Disc Edition’, which consists of only the base game; £40 for the ‘Survivor’s Digital Edition’, which has the additional Vikendi Event Pass, 2300 G-Coins and 20000 BP (the game’s virtual currency); and finally an eye watering £50 for the ‘Champion’s Digital Edition’, which has the additional Vikendi Event Pass, 6000 G-Coins and 20000 BP. Tying in with other popular PlayStation franchises, the ‘Nathan Drake Desert Outfit’ from the Uncharted series and ‘Ellie’s Backpack’ from The Last of Us will also be available bonuses for pre-orders. The full game also requires the player to have a PlayStation Plus subscription. Image: PNGimg
@TheCourier_Gaming @TheCourierGaming Image: IGDB
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puzzles
the courier
Puzzles Supreme Overladyyyy Beyoncé, just this once Puzzle Matriarch Rihanna Puzzles Editor Obsolete Queries and Criticisms the.courier.puzzluzz@gmail.com
Crossword
Image: wikimedia
Blue Suede Clues Across
4. Main church in Venice (3, 5) 5. I can’t speak (6) 7. I want to dance with (8) 10. We have a problem (7) 12. Temple in Athens (9) 13. Take me on a trip, boy (8) 14. A building and a 3D shape (7) 16. A mean architectural style (9) 19. Don’t you for a second get to thinking you’re (13) 20. A guy who thinks he’s fine (sits on his broke ass) (5) 21. We did find love but that place was (8) 22. Parisian Modern art Gallery, le centre (8)
1. Pretty flamboyant, pole-stone 2. Film written for Whitney, the (9) 3. I left my heart in (5) 6. Top of a pillar, the main city (7) 8. After, like the Romans n stuff (12) 9. The hunchback of (5, 4) 11. We’re (literally) in(side) a bit of a pickle (7) 15. Column order, chemical (5) 17. Recording studio, Beatles album (5, 4) 18. _ _ _ _ _ Jones, Architect, purple without the D (5)
Moustaches: Groucho Marx, Brad Pitt, Che Guevara, Drake, Hulk Hogan
Sudoku (obtuse)
And who can believe it but we actually have a sudoku solution? The wonders will never cease.
As ever (however) a few apologies (which is why we have a small font- I always hate to admit to the issues) Sorry there were no word-length things for the crossword... My bad... Just tryna make you work a bit harder... Also 3 across... I suppose we could call it a double-bluff but, I mean, it wasn’t.
Across
Image: National Park Service
Down
Solutions
Name that LAKE (bonus points if you can guess where they are: country/ state/ continent/ galaxy)
Monday 3 December 2018
1. Dali 3. Bald 6. Fu Manchu 8. Walrus 10. Chaplin 13. Lampshade 14. Imperial 15. Toothbrush 17. Handlebar 18. Freestyle 19. Captain Hook 20. Gunslinger
Down
1. Dallas 2. Zappa 4. Pyramid 5. Pencil 7. Hungarian 9. SuperMario 11. Mr Moneybags 12. Poirot 16. Horseshoe
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sport
Monday 3 December 2018
It’s a knock out: a Fight Night first
Fight Night pundit, commentator and Sports Editor Rebecca Johnson provides ringside insight into the fight that left us shocked Last Thursday saw the return of the popular Fight Night back to Venue in the Student’s Union. After a delay of almost fifty minutes, Fight Night kicked off at around 8:20pm with George Armstrong and Charlie Bashall going head to head to open up the evening’s proceedings.
George’s nose was still pouring with blood but this didn’t stop him from giving all the aggression he possibly could. But one massive blow from Charlie planted George’s spark out
George was in the red corner weighing in at 176lbs and 153cm whilst Charlie was in the blue corner weighing 178lbs and 155cm. There’s an expectation that the first few fights of the night are usually there to warm up the crowd for “bigger” fights later on. This was not the case in this opening fight. As the starting bell rang, the first round saw George being the technically better boxer. He was brimming with
energy, had really good footwork but couldn’t quite find the connection to land his punches properly. Charlie, although not quite as technical as George, was able to land his punches far better, which startled George a little bit, but didn’t deter his efforts. George was getting caught quite a few times in the opening round. As seen earlier in the first round, Charlie was landing his punches and really fazing George in this second round. George soldiered on with blood absolutely pouring from his nose, his energy was starting to fade and his punches were weak. At one point Charlie had George on the ropes and was hitting powerfully, George’s fatigue showed as his guard fell and his nose streamed with blood. The third round saw a shock not only for the boxers themselves, but for the crowd too. George’s nose was still pouring with blood but this didn’t stop him from giving all the aggression he possibly could. However, one massive blow from Charlie planted George spark out, just forty seconds into this third round. There was absolutely no getting up from that punch from Charlie and George was on the floor and had to receive medical attention. Charlie won the fight by knock-out, which to my belief is the first win by knock-out in Fight Night history. This opening match was arguably one of the best fights of the night, if not the best. It set a standard for high quality and skilled boxing that followed throughout the night.
NUTV, NSR and the Courier present Fight Night live
Louise Hall Editor
Three branches of Newcastle University Students’ Union media were brought together in collaboration for their second year of live Fight Night Coverage. NUTV upped their game in the production of the livestream and graphics, providing uninterrupted content for over five hours of the evening. NSR’s Deputy Station manager Rory Ewart took up the lead anchor role for the duration of the pre and post show portions of the evening, providing insightful and informative punditary with other members of NSR and the Courier sports team. Lead commentator Angus Bolton, alongside Harry Par-
It is the second year that NUSU student media have provided extensive Fight Night coverage Image: Carson Wong
sons, NSR Station Manager and Tom Stone gave indepth observation throughout the evening, despite being splattered with blood half way through the sets. This is the second year running that all three branches of student media: NSR and NUTV and the Courier have collaborated on the live coverage of Fight Night, and the third event in total. Everyone involved considered the evening to be a significant sucess, with the livestream amassing over 2,000 views, alongside attendees on the night watching the livestream on projectors around the venue. You can rewatch all 5 hours of lives coverage on NUTV’s youtuibe channel. A big thankyou to NUTV and NSR for making this night and the leap forward in student media it represents, possible
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sport
Monday 3 December 2018
Pettitt Talks: The N’Golo Kante power of Parkrun believe his luck
Stanley Gilyead explores greed and humility in Clara Pettitt discusses her love of a Saturday morning run and explains to the financial side of football in recent years “Money, Money, Money” was cor- Club’s low-level workers also haven’t benus why we should all be a bit more pro-active with our weekend mornings IfrectAbba’s in saying “it’s always sunny in a rich efitted from the game’s increased value with CLARA PETTITT
Clara is a 3rd year Parkrun enthusiast who was the elected Athletic Union Officer in 2017/18. She competes regularly with The Newcastle Cross Country Club.
Anyone that knows me knows how much I love Parkrun. Many don’t understand when I say I’m excited to get out of bed at 8am on a Saturday morning to run 5km but for anyone that does the same they probably love Parkrun as much as me. I recently compared the invention of Parkrun to the invention of the Lightbulb, a bit extreme I know and I got a few confused looks but I hope I can explain here why it’s so great.
A pregnant lady, a man pushing his son in a wheelchair, and a blind man being accompanied by a guide all completed the 5km course that day and it was truely inspiring to see
There is simply no other sporting event that brings together such a diverse range of people for a diverse range of reasons quite like Parkrun. I was already aware of this but a few weekends ago I volunteered as a marshal and this fact really hit home. It was clear that the top 50 runners were all club athletes, looking for a nice tempo run to start their weekend, with maybe one or two trying to hit Parkrun PB’s. The following few were clearly avid runners also looking to hit PB’s. Then further
down the field you could see those who were coming just to have a chat with their friends whilst exercising at the same time and getting themselves up in the morning, with those who were new to running and their friends and family helping them out along the way. A pregnant lady, a man pushing his son in a wheelchair and a blind man being accompanied by a guide all completed the 5km course that day and it was truly inspiring to see the legacy that 13 runners going for timed run in the park 14 years ago have left with society.
14
years ago, the park run initiative began with just 13 runners arranging to meet regularly for a run
The best thing about it is, there is no pressure to do well from others, only encouragement and enthusiasm, the pressure is a much as you want to put on yourself. It isn’t a race but you still get a position, a time and a category position that all count towards your Power of 10. You can treat it like a race if you want but you really don’t have to and no one is judging you if you run 5 minutes slower than your PB. Everyone is there for one sole purpose to get active and to feel good, whether that be breaking 17 minutes or breaking 30 minutes. Not to add it is only 5km, a distance capable for a large amount of society to run, jog or walk safely. Furthermore it’s not just for runners, the amount of willing volunteers that make this event happen every week never fails to amaze me, these are people that get out of bed on a Saturday just to help others get active. Even for the volunteers, the atmosphere and energy is still there. I know many volunteers who volunteer each week because of various reasons and state how it has really enhanced their quality of life. A friend recently told me how her Grandad had achieved ‘Parkrunner of the Month’ for volunteering multiple times and how it has changed his life since he has become lonely over the years. Last Saturday Newcastle University Athletics and Cross Country Club helped out at
Parkrun. They provided all the volunteers for the event as well as pacers to try and help people get PB’s. When organising this the enthusiasm wasn’t really there, I was anxious that I was making people do something they didn’t want to do and would be annoyed at me for getting them out of bed at 8am on a Saturday. But the Power of Parkrun took over, the marshals all came up to me at the end saying how great it was, naturally runners thank you when you’re holding a gate open for you, so getting 600 thankyou’s on a Saturday morning or helping someone to run a time they’ve never ran before is a very gratifying and fulfilling experience. Everyone is so friendly, chatty, happy and fulfilled whether they have ran or volunteered, and there is not a better place to be on a Saturday morning. The amazing thing is isn’t just in Newcastle, this is widespread all over the country. Every Saturday morning hundreds of Parkrun’s are taking place each week where thousands of people are taking part and hundreds of volunteers are making it happen.
Everyone is so friendly, chatty, happy and fullfilled whether they have run or volunteered, and there is not a better place to be on a saturday morning
Starting in 2004 when 13 runners went for a timed run in Bushy Park, Teddington it has since taken place in over 20 countries. 2.9 million people are now registered Parkrun runners and over 350’000 volunteers have given back. There are Christmas Day Parkrun’s and News Day Parkrun’s. Last year I took part in the Christmas Day parkrun with all my family whilst the New Years Day Parkrun gives everyone a chance to start their New Year well.
man’s world”, Richard Scudamore should invest in some factor 50. The outgoing Premier League executive chairman has been given a £5m golden handshake in addition to his £2.5m annual salary by Premier League clubs. CEO since 1999 and Executive Chairman from 2014 Scudamore has undoubtedly benefitted the League, negotiating sponsorship and broadcasting contracts worth more than £5.5b. This influx
Footballers may not deserve their label as greedy, unworthy millionaires
of cash helped the Premier League become the most popular league worldwide, with 3 Champions League trophies returning to our shores under Scudamore’s leadership. However, gains have not been reflected in benefits for fans and low-level workers at clubs, for whom, like for Biggie Smalls, mo’ money has meant mo’ problems. Ticket prices have risen by as much as 150% since 1999, leading 4/5ths of young fans to declare prices an obstacle to them attending matches. This supports 56% of young fans in their claim that professional football is not run for them and challenges Scudamore’s r ig ht to a bonus.
only 4 teams paying the national living wage. Scudamore’s bonus could’ve paid for 2300 workers’ wages to increase to the national living wage. The £250000 each club contributed to Scudamore’s bonus, however, pales in comparison to players’ earnings. Manchester City pay £264.1m in player’s wages annually and Premier League spending in this summer’s transfer window totalled £1.24b. Fans may not have seen the money gained by clubs over the last 2 decades due to it going to players. However, footballers may not deserve their label as greedy, unworthy millionaires. Leaks have shown that Kante rejected Chelsea’s offer of avoiding taxation by being paid through an offshore account. The midfielder, who drives a reasonably priced Mini, shows not all footballers demand the wages they receive, with sources close to him insisting “he just wants a normal wage”. Who then has driven wages to increase almost sevenfold since 1999? Agents, claims West Ham co-owner David Gold, “run football”. Unlike in many professions, where agents are paid by clients, football agents are also paid by clubs, Premier League clubs spent £211m on agents last year. Agents receiving a cut of deals means they have a vested interest in upping player’s wages, they often enter negotiations with clubs their player has no interest in joining to get a better offer from their current club. The Premier League and FIFA have proposed legislation to stop clubs paying agents, decreasing their influence on the game. However it’s unlikely that clubs will pass this saving onto fans with stadiums 95% full despite high prices. The only way the financial rewards of the League’s worldwide popularity will be passed onto fans and workers will be with Premier League legislation. Whilst new Executive Chairman Susanna Dinnage has said she’ll prioritise reconnecting with fans, this is unlikely to happen given the clout of clubs and the rewards leaders like Scudamore gain from working in the interests of clubs. Dinnage has said she’ll prioritise reconnecting with fans, this is unlikely to happen given the clout of clubs and the rewards leaders like Scudamore gain from working in the interests of clubs.
Murray-filled with grins for Scottish wins Rory Ewart evaluates Scottish Rugby’s latest performance in the intezsne Autumn Internation fixture against Argentina Rory Ewart Assistant to the Sport Editors
Scotland’s 14-9 victory over Argentina will certainly not go down as a classic but does secure a solid finish to an eventful year for the thistle. Murrayfield, the home ground of Scottish rugby, set a wet and miserable backdrop for the final game of the autumn series for Scotland, in a match where the weather largely fitted the brand of rugby on the pitch. Argentina, realising that simply running at the Scottish defence was in vain, quickly developed an up and under kicking brand of rugby in the hope that they would cause handling errors from the Scots in and amongst the showery climate. This proved fruitful at first, with Stuart Hogg, Scotland’s full-back being caught exposed all too often for his liking, causing a slip of the tongue at one moment, which rather comically was picked up from the referee’s
microphone, an ill-spoken summary of a frustrating first half for the Scots. Penalty exchanges from Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw and Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez saw Scotland edge the first half to lead 6-3 at the break, with many a fan believing that this may be the first game which Scotland were not going to score a try in since June 2016. The three-point gap was quickly chalked off through Sanchez’s boot early in the second half, with Laidlaw responding once again to maintain the lead for Scotland.
A 50% win record for Scotland this autumn will be viewed by in large positively
With 15 minutes to go the game looked set to finish in uninspiring fashion, with both
sides try lines barely featuring in TV pictures throughout the game. Enter to the fray Stuart Hogg, whose brilliant bark toward Greig Laidlaw sparked a move which saw Scotland take the ball along the blindside. A simple two on one led to winger Sean Maitland crossing the Argentinian line for the opening score of the game. Bedlam ensued from the stands. Textbook game management from Scotland saw the game close out at 14-9. Victory, on this occasion, was the Scots. For many of the players inside the Scotland camp, this result would be one of severe frustration. On another occasion, had Nicolas Sanchez had his usual kicking boots on, Argentina would’ve likely had nudged over an additional 12 points. Scotland, for large parts, were succumbed to the whirlwind effect of Argentina’s game plan, who wanted a scrappy contest, and received this in large parts. A 50% win record for Scotland this autumn will be viewed by in large positively, with the two losses in games against opposition, in
South Africa and Wales, which on another day could’ve easily have been Scottish victories. Questions have been answered this autumn; young players such as Adam Hastings and Sam Skinner have now bedded themselves well into the Scotland mix. For Hastings specifically, it is clear that Finn Russell is the clear number one option at fly-half, with a couple more years under his stewardship being golden for the development of Hastings. Injuries also played a part. The breakdown was a key area where games were lost for Scotland, this can only be improved with the return of Six Nations captain John Barclay and New Zealand born giant Blade Thomson, whose injury for his club, The Scarlets, meant he was unable to transfer his impressive club form into a debut for Scotland this autumn. Both of these men are proven specialists in this field, their returns are amongst the most heavily anticipated. Scotland now break for the rest of the year,
before, as rugby writer Tom English puts “going again and again and again” through a hectic 2019 programme, which culminates in Japan for the 2019 World Cup.
Scotland have a 50% win record this autumn Image: Wikimedia Commons
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sport
Monday 3 December 2018
Catching up with the Juan and only Sports Editor Tom Hardwick interviews former Newcastle student and Muay Thai World Champion Juan Cervantes
Juan Cervantes is a Newcastle University alumnus and Muay Thai world champion, so we sat down for a chat about his time at Newcastle, his achievements thus far and his advice for current students. How and when did your passion for Muay Thai start? I started at Newcastle University in 2007 and I suddenly became a boxing fan when Ricky Hatton was in his prime and I was a bit bored of football and rugby. I wanted to start boxing but there wasn’t a club at the time. I stumbled across Thai Boxing and at first I ignored it, but I saw a film called Ong Bak, thought it looked pretty cool and came along to try it.
When did you decide to really take fighting seriously and start progressing away from just the uni club? It was quite a long transition. When I decided I wanted to take it more seriously I started training at another gym outside of the uni, not because the training here wasn’t good but that gave me a slightly higher standard of sparring partners. I decided to have one or two fights, just as something to tell the kids about, but after each fight I was never happy with my performance. I always wanted to do a bit better, I started to think about NorthEast titles, then getting to U K number one,
Thai boxing for me is the ultimate striking sport. You use hands, feet, shins, knees, elbows and you can clinch to a certain degree
So Newcastle played quite a big role in developing your interest in the sport? The uni was a huge part of that, the first year I did Muay Thai at the uni I was a complete beginner, I wasn’t the best technically but I just loved it. I never imagined I’d end up where I am now but it was a hobby that I had a real passion for.
and there
was always something more to achieve.
Do you remember your first fight and how you felt that night? I remember it well! It wasn’t the best performance at all, I trained ridiculously hard and my fitness was really good, so I thought I’d never get tired during the fight. I went in with the wrong attitude, for some reason I was obsessed with trying to knock him out with a head kick even though I haven’t got the best head kick in the world and I just about managed to scrape a points win. I wasn’t happy with the performance, and that’s why I had another fight to put it right. On November 3rd you won the WTKA World Championship in Italy, you took the fight with only two and a half weeks to prepare instead of the usual six or more, flew pretty much into your opponent’s hometown and won- were you a bit mad to take that fight, or just confident in yourself? I would have been a bit mad had I not been training hard anyway. I’d had a feeling that in order to achieve my goals, a lot of those opportunities would be last minute. There aren’t too many fights left for me in the UK at this weight category, and before this fight I wasn’t too well known abroad, so I had this feeling that something like this would come up, and you can’t turn something like this down when it does. How gruelling were those two weeks of preparation? They were intense, but nothing that I’m not used to. I’ve had 38 fights now, I’m always in good shape and never let myself get unfit, it’s gruelling but when you get an opportunity like that a lot of it is mental. When you have a fight on the horizon you are much more mentally motivated, it becomes the norm when there is that immediate threat. How similar do you feel Muay Thai is to the more popular sports of boxing/ MMA? Thai Boxing for me is the ultimate striking sport. You use all points of contact except for headbutts, you use hands, feet, shins, knees, elbows and you can clinch to a certain degree. For MMA fans it’s pretty much a stand-up v e r sion of
Cervantes is on great physical form Image: Victory promotions
MMA. A lot of MMA fans find it boring when fights go to the ground, so in that sense its more exciting than MMA. It has the potential to really take off in popularity with some of the stuff going on behind the scenes at the moment. It is a brutal sport, but for people who like these kinds of sports it is really entertaining.
Ive had 38 fights now, im always in good shape and never let myself get unfit, its gruelling but when you get an opportunuty like that a lot of it is mental
What was that world title fight like, in terms of pre-fight nerves and post-fight celebrations? I was a bit calmer than normal, sometimes when you take a fight on short notice you don’t have time to get to pent up about it. I put a lot of pressure on myself before fights, especially at home in Newcastle because you’re fighting in front of friends and family. I tried to put the fact I was fighting for a world title to the back of my mind. After I won it was surreal, I got mobbed by the crowd which has never happened before, it took me ages to get from the ring because all these Italians wanted photos, so the home crowd seemed to appreciate what I’d done. You’re fighting again on the 8th of December at Victory IV back in the North-East, you were originally moving up in weight to face Darren Anstey but have since had to change opponent to Joakim Hagg and move back down, what kinds of challenges does this pose? I’ve got to go back to dieting, and training is easier when you don’t have to cut weight because you can eat well. Dieting hard is quite difficult mentally, but if you get the cutting weight right you’ll end up stronger than your opponent. I suit between 81 and 86 kilos well, I do feel it the next day when I’m fighting at a heavier weight though, it can feel like you’ve been hit by a bus! My original opponent tore his groin in training, and I’m now fighting a Swedish guy who is a bigger scalp. So this opponent is in the same situation as you when you won your world title? Pretty much yeah, he’ll be hungry and dangerous, it’s interesting because he fought in America at the same time I was fighting in Italy so he’ll be in good shape. How do you expect the upcoming bout to go? I’ve watched a bit of him, he’s decent but nothing special. I
believe I have everything to lose by fighting him but he’s still a good name to beat, he’s fought some good guys and is a big name in Sweden, hopefully it’ll be another good international statement for me. What is it like coming back to Newcastle and coaching students who are in the same position you once were? I love it, the students have a good attitude, you don’t get the kinds of people who are deluded and think they know it all already. It is weird and nostalgic to think that I came from here as well. Last year we took some of the club to a K1 fight event, which is similar to Thai Boxing, one guy had two fights last year and I’m slowly creating a mini fighting outfit here which is satisfying, especially when you train them from scratch. I’m trying to help give them the same opportunities I’ve had, and it’s an amazing experience to have a few fights. If you can build that mental resilience through training, deal with the mental pressure of fighting and perform well, you can deal with most things that life will throw at you.
If you can build that mental resilience through training, deal with the mental pressure of fighting and perform well, you can deal with most things that life wil throw at you What advice would you have for anyone you coach, or any sportspeople at the uni looking to achieve the success that you have? Telling students to follow in my footsteps might be a bit weird, as one of the reasons I’ve made it to where I am is because I had nothing else. My degree didn’t give me a lot of job prospects, other than low salary jobs that I didn’t want to do. I’d rather be a little bit poorer and be doing something I wanted to do. If you can try to make a living whilst pursuing your passion, even though that can be a difficult decision to make, its worth it in the long run. Another piece of advice is to not have a backup plan, because when things get tough you’ll just fall back on that! You have to be all in, you have to be willing to make sacrifices, I worked as a doorman for six years, didn’t really have much of a social life but I’m lucky enough to do this for a living now. A lot of people ask me what the secret is, and it’s turning up week in week out, which doesn’t sound amazing but there is a decade of graft that has gone into this. Juan Cervantes will be fighting at Victory IV on the 8th of December at Dunston Activity Centre. Juan can be found on Facebook at Juan Cervantes, Instagram at jcervantesnk and Twitter at @johnnytheknee for updates. For information on the Muay Thai club contact club president Alex Castellon at A.Castellon@newcastle. ac.uk
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Newcastle presents Fight Night 2018
Thursday 29 November saw the return of the legendary Fight Night to Venue in the Students’ Union. Our sports writers take a look back
Rory Ewart
Newcastle University’s Student Union was well and truly taken over on Thursday night as the latest showcasing of Fight Night rolled into Venue, with carnage, alcohol and suspect choices of walkout songs being aplenty throughout. A collaborative effort from the Courier, NSR and NUTV began with the hosting of what was intended to be a 40-minute long pre-show. This, due to hefty delays from the night’s organisers, ran on for just shy of two hours. An issue which became all the more apparent when presenter Rory Ewart realised he’d used up all his talking points after the first 45 minutes!
Fight Night rolled into Venue with carnage, alcohol and suspect choices of walkout song
The fights from the first third of the evening proved to be far less brutal than the opening match between George Armstrong and Charlie Bashall. A strong overall performance from James Halfide saw him take home the spoils against Ife, who was an extremely late entry for the late withdrawal of Jack Harrison, in what was an extremely credible effort for a fighter who had a slither of the training time that his opponent had. An extremely close bout between Richard West and Callan Jack ended in the favour of the latter, whose late flurry proving to be the vital factor in the judge’s scorecards. The beginning of the second third of the evening saw the two heaviest fighters – Charles Courtney and Max Price - face off. Fitness was proving to be tested to the absolute limits for both fighters. A big right hook from Courtney mid way through the final round seemed to spell the start of the decline of Price, however, a late resurgence from him in the dying moments of the last round saw the fight go to a fourth round. Price kept his momentum up and managed to win that round to take the fight. Another four rounder was called for in the following fight between Kieran Cruise and
Callum Spooner. Cruise quite literally cruised the decider to take home the spoils in what had been an extremely close fight to call before that point. James Adams and Kaleem Youseff brought the second wave of fights to a close with another fascinating affair. Youseff proving venomous at times with his punches, particularly in the first round. However, Adams came into his zone from round two onwards and managed to quash Youseff’s best efforts in the final round with some timely defensive strategies. One of the closest fights to call, but on this occasion, Adams went home (or more likely to Swingers) the victor. The final third arrived with the classic showdown of housemate versus housemate, an occurrence that always seems to feature at least once every fight night. James Little and Tobin Mills battled the housemate war on this occasion, with Little proving to be the dominant of the pair throughout. Mills, it should be said, defending himself valiantly, but was however unable to transfer this into a solid attack. The house spoils on this occasion going to Little. Tom Kinnear and Alfie Larcombe were next to don the stage, where 6 foot 4 Larcombe had a very evident height advantage over his Welsh opponent. Nevertheless, Kinnear impressed with his technical ability throughout, managing to repel ‘Wreck it Alf’s’ clamping approach well, and landing
Boxer celebrates his win Image: Rebecca Johnson
hits where possible. Larcombe himself put in a fair share of his own hits on Kinnear, causing him to bleed from the nose in the third, however, this wasn’t enough to persuade the judges on this occasion, with Kinnear taking the victory in an extremely well executed fight, considering the odds to many were against him in the build up to the fight.
The final third arrived with the classic showdown of housemate vs housemate
The penultimate fight brought Ned Moreland and James Stansfield into action, in another action packed fight. Moreland’s height advantage proved to be more than handy in the opening segments, with Stansfield bedding himself down after a difficult opening minute to end the first round well. On this occasion, Moreland proved to be the better fighter and deserved the win, but huge credit must go to James’ end, who on another night could’ve easily made the judges have a far more difficult job if a few of his big swings had managed to land. The grand finale of Raul Binov against Farhath Reimareon ended the night in the same fashion as we had begun. A technical knockout (TKO) from Farhath capped off what was a heavily dominant fight from the second year, with Raul often looking as if he hadn’t quite turned up to the races, despite strutting his stuff confidently when entering the ring to his walkout song. A hugely successful evening once again, particular mentions must go to the Berry Brothers for organising the event, Haaris Qureshi and his TV team who put on an extremely slick coverage throughout, the Punditry and Commentary team who grasped the perfect balance of professionalism and banter to keep viewers entertained throughout the evening, Bruce Skelton, without him, there would have been no radio coverage at all, Harry Parsons who weaved his usual magic together to make sure all roles were covered in advance and finally to Louise Hall who produced for the evening in fantastic fashion.
Frisbee send the Ultimate team to London an
Ultimate Frisbee fanatics Sam Griffiths and Amy Niven disc-uss the latest: Newcastle Pies Mixed first team venture down South to Lon Last weekend saw the Newcastle Pies Mixed first team trek down to greater London for Nationals. Having qualified for Division 1 by coming 2nd in the Northern region they were surprised to find themselves seeded 20th, aka last. Despite the low expectation set by UK Ultimate, Pies went in determined to break seed and demonstrate what the North has to offer. This year’s team were graced with some new additions. Chloe O’Loughlin, a masters student who played with Leeds during her undergrad and fresh-faced fresher Emily Atkinson, who played GB under 17s have both joined the squad and have added new strength to the team. Also Newcastle Pies very own Yasmin Gill was brought into the fray after impressing whilst captaining the 2nd team at regionals. At regionals the Newcastle women had been described as ‘intimidating’ which is, partly down to the fearful captain and vice combo of Amy Niven and Kate Gibson, Newcastle’s very own GB representative. The men were also looking strong
with names such as Sam Griffiths and Captain Alex Thompson returning from years abroad in Canada and Japan, having learned secret frisbee tactics to catch other teams off guard. As well as this, the returning strength of Chris de Leewue and David Steedman from last year looked to make this a well-balanced team, despite their lack of playing time together. Newcastle alumni and now Coach Ivan Mladjenovic was also on hand, offering his expert insights to the team and providing a powerful one man sideline over the course of the weekend. The venue presented pitches that were unlike anything Pies had played on before, with the end zones being double the size which Newcastle were used to. This meant that the team had to make a series of tactical adjustments as they were unable to use a lot of the defence that they had spent the year training and their offence strategies had to be tweaked. It was clear that at this tournament, the games would be won by teams with offensive players who would utilise the extra scoring space.
The team’s first game was against Strathclyde, the eventual tournament winners. Newcastle started sluggishly against the Scottish side and even though they were missing their key player, Ian Tait, Strathclyde’s ‘match-defence’ was stronger than anything the team had come up against in the North.
Some new faces joined Pies adding strength to the Newcastle frisbee squad
Strathclyde took the win but gave the Newcastle team some valuable lessons for the next game. Next the team played Reading who sat comfortably at ninth seed. In this game the offense started to flow and gel a lot better with the weave generating lots more space
than it had against Strathclyde. Newcastle’s zone defence managed to shut down Reading’s isolation plays allowing Pies to come out as victors, proving they weren’t deserving of their 20th seed. After a long break for lunch Newcastle’s next game was against Bath. In this game Newcastle struggled to start with enough intensity which led to the team going down early with not enough time to claw the game back. This loss meant Newcastle had to win their final group game in order to break out of the bottom 8 bracket. Facing a Nottingham side which had beaten Bath earlier in the day, Pies knew they had to come out strong. Nottingham had no answer for Newcastle’s slick offensive movement, along with the ‘G-Pez’ end zone play, named after Newcastle legend George Perry. Over the course of the weekend this led to countless scores with the bouncy Alex Thompson reaping the benefits. This victory meant that Newcastle had come 3rd in the group, and were heading into Sunday as the
9th seed meaning they had a chance to cross up into the top 8.
Nottingham had no answer for Newcastle’s slick offensive movement along with the G-Pez end zone play
A 9am start was not what the doctor ordered but Newcastle arrived nice and early to prepare for the day ahead knowing that a space in the top 8 was within reach. Unfortunately the doctor did order captain Amy Niven to go to A+E after she received a disc to the eye socket in the pregame warm up, meaning Newcastle were a captain down in their most important game of the weekend. The crossover was a re-match against Manchester who had defeated
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Monday 3 December 2018
8: Feed ‘em to the Lions
Pos
University
8
Birmingham
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Sydney Isaacs Sports Editor
9
Newcastle ■
1417.5
As once well-articulated by PC Doris Thatcher in the Hot fuzz its true to say “there’s nothing like a bit of girl on girl.” In the third clash of the night, brave girls Ella ‘Hella’ West and Boos Bees showed off the results of their rigorous weeks of training with a strong fight. The contestants were almost exactly equally matched, and even weighed and measured in within a pound and a centimetre of each other.
10
Cardiff
1413
11
Stirling
1305
k at what happened on one of the most exciting Fight Nights the union has ever seen
Proving her dedication to her fitness, West dominated the fight in her final moments in the ring, which concluded the match as a draw
Contrary to popular belief, no boxers were actually fed to the lions Image: Ollie Thomas
OVERALL BUCS POSITION
The first round was strategically played on both sides, making it impossible to distinguish a potential winner. Bees impressed in the second round, delivering calculated and accurate blows to her opponent, who tried to defend herself with equal tenacity. Her brother and friend from home covered their eyes on the side-lines. With the ring of the second bell, West, the current treasurer of the Ski Club, returned to her corner where she received just the right pep talk she needed to make a fierce comeback from friend and experienced boxer Rory Shiells. In the final round it became apparent West’s two full tables of enthusiastic fans why she had been a lousy drinking buddy for the past couple months. With furious determination, West landed some forceful punches, kept her gloves up and refused to show signs of fatigue. Proving her dedication to her fitness, she dominated the fight in her final moments in the ring which concluded the match as a draw.
SURF FORECAST
20
The seed that Newcastle Pies were ranked at Nationals
The next game saw Newcastle go up against the first seed, Birmingham, with a chance to seize the top spot. The northern underdogs came out strong and took an early lead, sur-
A difficult and uninspirational game against KCL followed. The team had lost their intensity due to a long break between the games which allowed KCL to dictate the game and uncharacteristically Newcastle’s offense was
Newcastle came out as Northern underdogs to surprise a strong Birmingham squad
struggling to create any space. Along with Newcastle’s inability to force turnovers KCL were able to get the win. Next was the team’s final game against Bangor, who had claimed they could ‘wreck’ the Newcastle zone defence after having had a tip off on their playstyle from regionals. Newcastle subsequently decided to stick with their ‘match defence’ which had been working so well the whole weekend. Pies were able to shut down Bangor’s weave offense and G-Pez
M1 v Durham 2nds M2 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds W1 v Durham 1sts W2 v Durham 3rds
6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2
M1 v Nottingham 1sts 71-59 M2 v Hull 1sts 107-62 M3 v Sheffield 2nds 61-108 W1 v Nottingham Trent 1sts 86-65 W2 v York St John 1sts 113-16
FENCING
Right, I’m soggy to say it but I’ve not managed to do the in-depth research this week as I’ve been tide up with other commitments, so if you don’t wanna have foamo and feel like doing somefin a bit out of the ordinary in the next few days, you’ll have to go down and have a look yourshellf.
M1 v Durham 2nds M2 v Sheffield 1sts M3 v York 1sts
FOOTBALL
GOLF
Mix1 v UCLAN 2nds Mix2 v Durham 3rds
HOCKEY
M1 v Lancaster 1sts M2 v Leeds 4ths M3 v Teeside 1sts M4 v York 2nds W1 v Durham 3rds W2 v Leeds 3rds W3 v York 1sts W4 v Leeds Trinity 1sts
LACROSSE
M1 v Lancaster 1sts W2 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts Rory Ewart hosted the night alongside a series of “expert” pundits Image: Louise Hall
was in fine form in the endzone, confusing the Bangor defence and generating score after score. The game finished 14-7 to Newcastle meaning that they had climbed even further into the top 8 and finished the tournament in the 7th seed, 13 places higher than they had started.
G-Pez was in fine form in the endzone, confusing the Bangor defence
Newcastle succeeded in defying the expectations of both UK Ultimate and of themselves, whilst also establishing themselves as one of the top university teams in the country. The team’s efforts have paid off and Pies can now go and confidently prepare for the outdoor season that lies ahead as well as Men’s and Women’s indoor nationals which are both taking place in February.
81-135 51-135 62-135
M4 v Hull 2nds NCL WALKOVER W1 v Durham 1sts 27-135 W3 v Durham 3rds DURHAM WALKOVER M1 v Chester 1sts M2 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts M3 v York St John 8ths W1 v Teeside 1sts W2 v Leeds Beckett 3rds
ndon for the frisbee Nationals where they established themselves as one of the top uni teams in the country prising the strong Birmingham side who had been relatively unchallenged up until this point. They started to trade points with the Birmingham side and continued to look strong both on offense and defence, forcing turnovers and staying composed on the disc. The side-lines continued to fill with crowds who were excited to see the bottom seed making Birmingham side sweat and fight for the game. The game was literally David (Steedman) vs Goliath (they had a player who was 6ft5) and there was exceptional play from both sides. Birmingham had an incredible sequence in which their Goliath dived full extension, to catch a pitch length disc for a score. This play swung the momentum safely into their hands with just a couple of minutes left on the clock and Birmingham managed to take the game. Newcastle walked away with their heads held high. Both teams agreed that it was the best game they had played, they had both displayed perfect examples of how to combine spirited and intense play at such an intense tournament.
BADMINTON
BASKETBALL
nd throw themselves into nationals the team a month ago at regionals. Tensions were high and Pies were determined to show how much they had improved. Despite the captain shaped void on the pitch Newcastle rallied together and brought an intensity to their first game which had been missing the previous day. As other teams arrived for their games they got to watch the North’s top two teams compete with Newcastle edging out the victory 10-8. After this victory, a space in the top 8 was guaranteed and the Pies were starting to get altitude sickness from all the climbing they were doing.
BUCS
Pts
3-2 1-2 2-4 1-2 1-1 1-5 2.5-3.5 9-2 5-1 4-1 1-2 3-2 4-1 0-1 0-0 25-0 21-5
NETBALL W1 v Durham 1sts W2 v York St John 1sts W3 v Durham 3rds W4 v Leeds Beckett 4ths
RUGBY LEAGUE
M1 v Northumbria 1sts M2 v Huddersfield 1sts
RUGBY UNION
M1 v Loughborough 2nds M2 v Hull 1sts M3 v Liverpool 1sts M4 v Huddersfield 1sts M5 v York St John 2nds W2 v Leeds Trinity 1sts
SQUASH
M1 v Oxford 1sts M3 v Sheffield 3rds M4 v Leeds Beckett 2nds W1 v Liverpool 1sts W2 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts
TABLE TENNIS
55-60 47-24 37-40 26-39 18-72 12-28 31-12 34-14 7-26 17-19 50-0 86-0 2-3 2-1 1-2 1-3 2-2
M1 v Keele 1sts NCL WALKOVER M2 v Durham 3rds 15-2 W3 v York 2nds 1-4
TENNIS
M1 v Leeds 1sts M2 v Sheffield 2nds W1 v Strathclyde 1sts W2 v Durham 4ths
ULTIMATE
M1 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts
VOLLEYBALL
W2 v York St John 1sts
8-4 12-0 4-8 2-10 15-0
t e , t
h t
y y t
sport the courier
Monday 3 December 2018 Issue 1380 Free @Courier_Sport courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/sport Sport Editors Rebecca Johnson, Harry Parsons, Sydney Isaacs Online Editor Tom Hardwick
Basketball bounce to a brilliant 100+ victory
Inside Sport today >>>
FIGHT NIGHT We bring you an analysis of the best boxing at this year’s Fight Night Page 38-39
PETTITT TALKS Clara Pettitt writes about the brilliance of Park Run Page 36
Man sacrifices a basketball to the basket above him Image: Tom Hardwick
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Newcastle 2nds 107 Hull 1sts 62
Tom Hardwick at Newcastle Sport Centre Newcastle Basketball 2’s have managed to remain unbeaten in the league thus far this season, and they continued this run of form in imperious fashion against a lacklustre Hull 1’s side, winning by a margin of 107-62. Newcastle started the first quarter brighter than their opponents, working the width of the court well whilst Hull struggled to get points on the board. Sanchez-Corella looked particularly bright, finding his range to help establish an early lead whilst pressuring Hull into making mistakes. Hull didn’t seem able to score whatsoever in
these early stages, and Newcastle soon had a 15-1 lead that was capped by an impressive dunk from Syzmanis. Curry tried to drag Hull out of their stupor with a three-pointer,
Newcastle started the first quarter brighter than their opponents,working the width of the court well
but Taha capped off a lightning-fast offensive move that demonstrated Newcastle’s intensity. The first quarter ended 31-15 to Newcastle, yet the second quarter had a somewhat
scrappy start. Both teams were guilty of wayward shooting and avoidable passing errors, but Marshall came on and displayed the accuracy that Newcastle briefly missed. They kept Hull at arm’s length, and despite not putting in their best performance still finished the second quarter with a 49-36 advantage. The third quarter saw Newcastle return to dominance, with Casado-Serra sinking a shot from range and O’Dowd making some driving runs to score and create scoring opportunities for others. Roberts impressed, sometimes dribbling like the ball was magnetically attracted to his hands, combining well with Syzmanis to add to Newcastle’s tally. Casado-Serra was issuing instructions in English and what may have been Spanish, a tactic that, if employed to confuse the opponents, deserves some credit for ingenuity. Newcastle had a 77-48 lead by this point, and it was not a question of whether Newcastle
would win, but by how many they would win by. Estany Roura started the fourth quarter in style with a deep three-pointer, and Karatzas
5
Five wins out of five for the men’s seconds. An unbeaten run for the men’s team this BUCs season
added to his personal tally with some composed shooting to bring Newcastle closer to the 100 point mark. It was O’Dowd that eventually breached the barrier, ensuring that the final scoreline of 107-62 was an accurate reflection of Newcastle’s supremacy and securing a result that caps a superb term for the table-topping team.
THAI-BOXING SUCCESS Sports Editor Tom Hardwick interviews coach Juan Cervantes on his recent success Page 37