The Courier 1203

Page 1

‘A tragic waste of life to be taken this early’ Myles Robinson, 1986-2009 News, page 4

THE

C OU R IE R THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF NEWCASTLE STUDENTS

Issue 1203 Monday 1 February 2010 www.thecourieronline.co.uk

EST 1948

FREE

Professor accused of child porn offences involve separately a live cat and a live squid. In his latest appearance the court heard that the allegations against Kehoe involve a total of 232 indecent photographs of children. The ages of the children involved are not known. The defence applied for the case to be referred for trial to Newcastle Crown Court, and this was agreed by the magistrates. The case will now be heard by a MXGJH $ GDWH IRU WKLV ZLOO EH À [HG when Kehoe returns to the Bedlington court on March 23 in eight weeks time. Kehoe has been released on unconditional bail. .HKRH À UVW DSSHDUHG EHIRUH 6RXWK East Northumberland Magistrates on January 5, when the court heard that Kehoe was due to be adjudicating university exams in Leicester on January 14 and 15. Originally from Ireland, Kehoe ZDV DOVR D ELRORJLFDO VDIHW\ RIÀ FHU DW Newcastle University and has contributed to multiple academic publications relating to microbiology. A spokesperson for the University said: “The University is keeping this matter under review pending the legal proceedings.”

Newcastle University professor Michael Kehoe, 56, is facing charges of possessing indecent photographs of a child

A helping hand for Haiti

Posh equals privilege

The choice is yours

Nick Hewer reveals all

Relegation woe for Royals

Former Newcastle University history student, Julia Haydon, campaigns to raise funds to improve medical care in earthquake torn Haiti News, page 8

Privately educated pupils are still in the majority at leading universities. Is banning them the way to true equality or is freedom of choice more important? Comment, page 11

See how David Leslie and Katherine Bannon got on when they stepped out to Scalini’s in Jesmond for The Courier’s ¿ UVW YHU\ RZQ %OLQG 'DWH Life & Style, page 18

Sir Alan Sugar’s sidekick Nick Hewer speaks to The Courier about all things Apprentice and how he will cope without colleague Margaret Mountford Culture, page 34

1HZFDVWOH¶V PHQ¶V KRFNH\ ¿ UVW WHDP VOLS out of BUCS Northern Conference 1A IRU WKH ¿ UVW WLPH LQ WHQ \HDUV DIWHU KHDUWEUHDNLQJ GHIHDW LQ 6KHI¿ HOG Sport, page 44

Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer Fran Infante Deputy Editor A Newcastle lecturer has appeared in court facing allegations relating to child pornography. Michael Kehoe, a professor in Microbiology in the Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, appeared at South East Northumberland Magistrates Court in Bedlington last Tuesday for the second time on the charges. Mr Kehoe, of Morpeth, Northumberland, was defended by Steven Graham of Ward Hadaway SoliciWRUV +H VSRNH RQO\ WR FRQÀ UP KLV name, age and address and did not enter a plea of either guilt or innoFHQFH +LV GHIHQFH FRQÀ UPHG WKDW he understood the charges. The 56-year-old faces one count of possessing indecent photographs of a child, and four of making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs RI D FKLOG $OO À YH DOOHJDWLRQV FDUU\ D maximum sentence of six months. He is also charged with three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images portraying an act of intercourse or oral sex with a dead or alive animal which carries a maximum sentence of 12 months. Two of these images are alleged to

Inside today >>>

2

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

The magic of a cuppa

The Union Society, King’s Walk, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QB. Tel: 0191 239 3940

Comment No platform for the BNP

News Editors: Simon Murphy and Jessica Tully - courier.news@ncl.ac.uk

> News, page 6

Was the Union Council wrong not to adopt a no platform policy? Page 10

Life & Style Brazil in perspective Larisa Brown looks at the struggle between rich and poor communities in South America’s largest country Page 16-17

Culture <RX¡UH Ă€ UHG Interview with Sir Alan Sugar’s righthand man, Nick Hewer Page 34

Sport $ &KHHN\ GUDZ Southern Fairies record impressive draw against Intra Mural table toppers Cheeky Ladies Page 41 True colours: Shearer said the black and white hat made up for the red and white stripes as he became an honorary graduate of Newcastle University last term Meetings Timetable: Monday Sport - 11am, Committee Room A News - 12pm, Committee Room C Comment - 12pm, Committee Room C Photos - 2pm, Committee Room B Tuesday Life & Style - 12pm, Committee Room A Wednesday Film - 12pm, Committee Room A TV & Radio - 12pm, Committee Room A Music - 1pm, Committee Room A Thursday Arts - 12pm, Committee Room A Editorial Team: ‡ (GLWRU 'DYLG &RYHUGDOH ‡ 'HSXW\ (GLWRU )UDQ ,QIDQWH ‡ 1HZV (GLWRUV -HVVLFD 7XOO\ DQG 6LPRQ Murphy ‡ &RPPHQW (GLWRUV &DUROLQH $UJ\URSXOR Palmer and Nicholas Fidler ‡ /LIH 6W\OH (GLWRUV /DULVD %URZQ $OH[ Felton and Ashley Fryer ‡ &XOWXUH (GLWRU $OLFH 9LQFHQW ‡ $UWV (GLWRU 6WHSKDQLH )HUUDR ‡ )LOP (GLWRU )UDQFHV .URRQ ‡ 0XVLF (GLWRUV 0DUN &RUFRUDQ /HWWLFH DQG Chris Mandle ‡ 79 5DGLR (GLWRU $LPHH 3KLOLSVRQ ‡ 3X]]OHV (GLWRUV 6X]L 0RRUH DQG 1HG Walker ‡ 6SRUWV (GLWRUV 3DXO &KULVWLDQ -DPLH *DYLQ DQG 7RP -DPHV ‡ 'HVLJQ (GLWRU 9LFWRULD %HOO ‡ 2QOLQH (GLWRUV *RUGRQ %UXFH -HVVLFD Monson and Laura Walker ‡ 3URRI (GLWRUV 5XWK $OVDQFDN &ODLUH Childs, Kath Harmer, Lucy Houlden, Anna Kenolty, Charlotte Loftus, Emma Peasgood and Claire Russell

The Courier is printed by: Harmsworth Printing Limited, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby, DE1 2DW. Tel: 01332 253013. Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent Student Newspaper of the Union Society at the University of Newcastle-UponTyne. 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 Union Society or the University of Newcastleupon-Tyne.

Shear delight as Geordie hero receives degree Jessica Tully News Editor Sporting legend Alan Shearer became an honorary Newcastle graduate last term as part of the inauguration ceremony for new University Chancellor Sir Liam Donaldson. ,Q D VLJKW 1HZFDVWOH IRRWEDOO VXS porters thought they would never see, Shearer donned a red and white robe as he was awarded the title of Doctor of Civil Law. Asked about wearing the colours of Sunderland, Shearer joked: “At

least the black and white hat makes up for the red and white stripes. 7KH\ WROG PH LW ZDV WKH YHU\ Ă€ UVW thing Sir Bobby Robson said as well about the red and white stripes.â€? The former Newcastle United striker and BBC TV football pundit followed in the footsteps of Sir Bobby Robson, who received the same accolade in 2003. ´, DP LQ JRRG FRPSDQ\ DQG LW IHHOV good to follow in Sir Bobby’s stepsâ€? he said. Speaking exclusively to The Cou-

rier 6KHDUHU VDLG ´,W¡V D YHU\ JUHDW KRQRXU IRU PH VHHLQJ DV , DP IURP WKH FLW\ , ZDV OXFN\ HQRXJK WR JHW an honorary degree from Northumbria University a few years ago, and this one means every bit as much.â€? Also honoured on the day were Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund, former govHUQPHQW PLQLVWHU /RUG 'DU]L RI Denham and BBC medical correspondent Fergus Walsh. 6LU /LDP VDLG ´, KDG WKH RSSRUWX nity to choose four graduates that

represent different facets of my interests, which are medicine, international health, public communication and sport. “Newcastle United are my team. Alan Shearer is more than just a local legend; he’s probably one of the greatest footballers of all time.� Past recipients of honorary Newcastle University degrees include Sir %RE *HOGRI 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU *RUGRQ %URZQ DQG MRXUQDOLVW and former Newcastle undergraduDWH .DWH $GLH

Prospective MP quits race after blog blunder Simon Murphy News Editor The Liberal Democrats’ Parliamentary candidate for Newcastle East has been forced to resign after being exposed for abusing political opponents on an online blog. &RXQFLOORU *UHJ 6WRQH D IRUPHU Newcastle University student, had initially apologised after being unmasked using a pseudonym to write offensive comments about MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions. Mr Stone suggested Foreign Secretary David Miliband looked like KH ZDV RQ GUXJV DQG PRFNHG -DFTXL Smith’s cleavage, while Labour MP Sharon Hodgson was described as the “thickest MP in the House.â€? 2WKHU VOXUV OHIW E\ 0U 6WRQH RQ WKH *XLGR )DZNHV LPSOLHG +D]HO %OHDUV was “on Botoxâ€? and described ConVHUYDWLYH 03 $QQH 0F,QWRVK DV ´D depressed woman in blue.â€? Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg intervened to force Councillor Stone to apologise, but after mounting pressure from Labour

and Conservative he has withdrawn his candidacy. Mr Stone, who was interviewed by The Courier LQ 1RYHPEHU VDLG ´, took the decision to stand aside as , UHFRJQLVHG WKDW , KDG PDGH D PLV take in taking part in some rather stupid commentary under a userQDPH RQ WKH *XLGR )DZNHV SROLWLFDO gossip site. ´0\ FRPPHQWV IRU ZKLFK , KDYH apologised, were not intended to be deliberately malicious but were in hindsight regrettable. “Unfortunately the Labour MP [Nick Brown], afraid of losing his seat, had been ‘digging for dirt’ on PH DQG , DP DGYLVHG WKDW KLV WD[ payer-funded researchers had been WUDZOLQJ WKURXJK *RRJOH WR WU\ WR Ă€ QG DQ\ SRVWLQJV ZKLFK FRXOG EH used against me. “To my mind, this level of deliberDWH VSLWHIXOQHVV RXWZHLJKV ZKDW , accept were ungenerous comments on my part.â€? Labour MP Nick Brown, who currently holds the Newcastle East seat,

said: “There is no place in the great city of Newcastle for behaviour like this. What he did was despicable and took place over a long period of WLPH LQ D FRZDUGO\ ZD\ ,I KH LVQ¡W Ă€ W WR EH D SDUOLDPHQWDU\ FDQGLGDWH WKHQ KH LVQ¡W Ă€ W WR EH D FRXQFLOORU and he should stand down. Greg Stone described Sharon Hodgson as “the thickest MP in the Houseâ€? ´,I VRPHWKLQJ OLNH WKLV KDSSHQHG in the Labour Party or indeed the Conservative Party the perpetrator would have been thrown out straight away, yet in the Lib Dems he is supported by their leadership and allowed to stand for re-election in the council elections in May.â€? Conservative candidate and former Newcastle University student Dominic Llewellyn said: “Far from engaging people in a positive vision of how he wants to change this

FRXQWU\ IRU WKH EHWWHU *UHJ 6WRQH¡V comments were lewd at times and outrageously rude at others. “They are the type of comments which turn people off politics and they do not represent the values which voters want - and need - their politicians to stand for. This is why it was right for him to resign as the Lib Dem’s Parliamentary candidate in Newcastle East.â€? $OLVRQ 2UODQGL &KDLU RI 1HZFDV tle University’s Labour Society, said: ´*UHJ 6WRQH¡V FRPPHQWV VKRFNHG and appalled me. Whilst claiming to be a party of honesty and openness, it is precisely comments like these that fuel cynicism in politics. “The sexist comments put into TXHVWLRQ WKH /LE 'HP¡V VXSSRVHG FRPPLWPHQW WR HTXDOLW\ DQG IDLU ness. “Perhaps Mr Stone should consider his position as a Councillor as , GRXEW WKDW VWXGHQWV OLYLQJ ZLWKLQ his ward will want to be represented by someone associated with such offensive remarks.â€?

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

3

News

Students all ears as new Facebook group takes University by storm D. RAWCLIFFE

Charlie Oven It is an understandable human inclination to wonder who may be overhearing your conversations. There is WKH W\SLFDO FOLFKp WKDW RIWHQ GHĂ€QHV the student experience as ‘the best \HDUV RI \RXU OLIH ¡ +RZHYHU WDONLQJ about the hedonistic excesses from the previous night may be heard by an audience of secret listeners. The comedy behind eavesdropping has been publicised by a Facebook group titled ‘Overheard at Newcastle University’. Its aim is to celebrate the observational humour of what it calls ‘snippets of conversations that are too good to be true.’ Such overheard conversations range from views on the credit crunch to the perils of eating an excessive number of chocolate pots. Talking to The Courier, group IRXQGHU +DQQDK /\RQV IHOW WKH FRQcept, taken from Queen’s University Belfast, was “hilarious.â€? She said: “I thought ‘Newcastle could do as good a job.â€? According to a survey by the Milk Round Online Network, nearly every student and graduate has a FaceERRN SURĂ€OH VRPH With over 3,600 members, the ‘Overheard at Newcastle University’ group is rapidly generating the attention of Newcastle students using the social networking site. 5HĂ HFWLQJ RQ WKH OHYHOV RI UHVSRQVH JURXS RIĂ€FHU 2OLYHU 6DYRU\ FRPmented: “Within a few days of the group’s creation membership numbers multiplied.â€? With the recent January exam season, a packed library of students has provided fertile ground for eavesdropping. Nevertheless, the library has not been the only setting for overheard conversations. Contributors to the Facebook group have commented on drunken chat up lines in clubs to general toilet humour. With this in mind, the eclectic nature of overheard conversations and their diverse settings arguably captures the wider context of student living. Critics may argue comic humour on the basis of eavesdropping is en-

Heard it on the grapevine: new Facebook group ‘Overheard at Newcastle University’ has been a major hit with thousands of students couraging what would otherwise be considered bad social etiquette. Furthermore, documenting people’s conversations raises the issue of invasion of privacy. Nevertheless, in defence of the group, a recurrent theme behind the covered conversations is that the overheard subjects are typically anonymous. Rather than primarily focusing on eavesdropping, it can be argued the group is showing a humorous and JHQXLQH UHĂ HFWLRQ RI WKH VWXGHQW lifestyle. Frown upon it, but eavesdropping is a guilty pleasure for many a person. Intentional or unintentional it can be considered an unavoidable habit exercised by many. With this in mind, the Facebook group arguably seems to celebrate the comedic element behind human norms.

Quotes of the group ‡ *LUO Âľ, UHDOO\ OLNH \RXU VKLUWÂľ *LUO Âľ, GLGQ¡W WKLQN LW VXLWHG PH but it is Jack Wills so I bought it anyway!â€? ‡ $W WKH OLEUDU\ ´,¡P RQO\ XVLQJ her for her womb!â€? ‡ *X\ ´0DWH WKRVH 7HVFRV chocolate pots are s#*t, I had a stomach ache after I ate some.â€? *X\ ´2QO\ LI \RX DWH ORDGV DW once, how many did you eat?â€? *X\ ´ Âľ ‡ *X\ RQ WKH SKRQH DW WKH FRPSXWHU ´+H\ 'DG \DK , JRW \RXU

Controversy over Union Council BNP decision Nicholas Fidler Unite Against Fascism (UAF) have hit out at the Newcastle Students’ Union Council’s decision not to adopt a ‘no-platform for the BNP’ policy. This followed a debate in the Union concerning the formal position the Union Society should take towards the BNP and other groups deemed threatening to student welfare. The debate adjourned with a clear majority advocating a ‘no-platform’ position. This was subsequently disregarded by the Union Council on the grounds that “the amount of students voting was not representative.� Newcastle’s Union Society is reportedly one of only a few higher education institutions not to embrace a ‘no-platform’ policy, breaking away from the trend set by the NUS. Second year Politics student and UAF member Jonathan Pickering told The Courier: “The Union have disregarded the decision the student body arrived at during the ‘no-

platform’ debate. The BNP are an anti-democratic organisation which threaten the black, disabled, gay and lesbian communities. They are hijacking democracy in order to destroy democracy.â€? UAF plan to put a motion to the Union Council demanding the institution of the ‘no-platform’ policy and have launched a petition accordingly. Last term saw the UAF gather outside the Union Building to protest against the Council’s initial decision. Similarly, a UAF Facebook group has been launched. The Council defended their decision. A spokesperson for Union Council told The Courier: “Excluding any opinion would be perceived as taking a discriminatory stance. “We don’t have a right as a Union to say people cannot believe in things, and to say that they cannot stand in elections.â€? 7RP 'HODPHUH WKLUG \HDU +LVWRU\ and Archaeology student and Ethics DQG (QYLURQPHQW 2IĂ€FHU DW WKH 6WXdents’ Union was present at Union Council when it was decided not to

adopt a ‘no-platform’ policy. +H VDLG ´%DQQLQJ DQ LQGLYLGXDO RU group from speaking in the Union, even if widely disapproved of, is arguably discriminatory in itself and could set a dangerous precedent.â€? James O’Sullivan, Convenor of Debates, told The Courier: “One of the key foundations of the Students’ Union is to ‘protect and promote the interest of societies, their welfare, development and well-being’. “While there is no denying that the BNP is an undemocratic, derogatory organisation, for an impartial institution such as the Union to exclude select students from its processes, could potentially undermine the whole point of the Union and could damage the Union’s credibility. “For the Students’ Union to pass a ‘no-platform’ policy would directly undermine the University’s approach to equality for diversity and bring its reputation on the matter into disrepute.â€? The next Union Council meeting will take place in the Students’ Union at 5pm on Thursday 4 February. Comment, page 10

e-mail about the handles for the new shotguns, let’s go with the RDN ÀQLVK¾

Woman in the bank: “Do you know your account number?â€? *LUO ´1R EXW , NQRZ P\ QDPHÂľ

‡ 0HGLFDO VWXGHQW EHLQJ UHIXVHG entry by bouncer: “If your children ever get cancer I won’t treat them...�

‡ %RXQFHU ´<RX¡UH QRW FRPLQJ in here you’re too drunk, look at you, you can’t even walkâ€? “I’ve broken my fucking ankle mateâ€? Bouncer: “Oh, sorryâ€?

‡ 5DK UHFOXVH LQ RXU Ă DW RQ WKH SKRQH RYHUKHDUG WKURXJK WKH Ă€UH door: “Oh mummy I’m surrounded by poverty!â€? ‡ *LUO LQ 1DWZHVW EDQN ´, FDQ¡W Ă€QG P\ FDUG DQG , KDYH IRUJRWWHQ my pinâ€?

‡ 2Q WKH WUDLQ DERXW WR JHW RII walked past these two guys and heard, “I thought she was just enjoying it, I didn’t know she had epilepsy.�

University experts call for action to curb rickets cases Verity Cunningham Newcastle University scientists have proposed the addition of Vitamin D to common foods following a recent increase in the number of rickets diagnoses in the UK. Professor Simon Pearce and Dr. Tim Cheetham are petitioning for a change in public health policy, believing that the addition of the vitamin derived from yeast would successfully prevent more occurrences. It has been suggested that the increase in this “entirely preventable conditionâ€? is a result of “kids staying indoors and playing on their computers, instead of enjoying the fresh air,â€? Professor Pearce expounded. The main source of Vitamin D is through skin exposure to sunlight, though it is present in a few foods, VXFK DV RLO\ Ă€VK +RZHYHU VRPH groups of people are more at risk of D 9LWDPLQ ' GHĂ€FLHQF\ Vitamin D would be added to foodstuffs such as milk by dairies, which

has been common practice in some countries for years, with substantial VXFFHVV DJDLQVW GHĂ€FLHQFLHV Rickets is the most common result RI D VHYHUH 9LWDPLQ ' GHĂ€FLHQF\ in children. The vitamin is vital for bone formation; without it, the bones soften and often bend. 9LWDPLQ ' GHĂ€FLHQF\ KDV DOVR EHHQ linked to cancer, autoimmune diseases, type two diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Cheetham explained that half a century ago: “many children would have been given regular doses of cod liver oil.â€? Since this practice died out, levels of Vitamin D have been slowly worsening. More than 20 new cases a year of rickets are diagnosed in Newcastle alone. In the UK, 50% RI DGXOWV KDYH D 9LWDPLQ ' GHĂ€ciency during the winter and spring months, due to low levels of light. On average, one in six adults will KDYH D VHYHUH GHĂ€FLHQF\ WKRXJK WKHUH DUH PRUH VHYHUH GHĂ€FLHQFLHV LQ the north than the south.

4

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

News

Friends mourn tragic loss of former Newcastle student Myles Robinson Jessica Tully News Editor Tributes have been pouring in for recent Newcastle graduate Myles Robinson, who tragically died during a skiing holiday over the Christmas period. In the early hours of Tuesday December 22, Myles disappeared from Swiss ski resort Wengen, where he was on holiday with his parents, Michael and Sarah, and his sister, Cara. His girlfriend, Newcastle student 6RSKLH +HUUDO ZDV GXH WR Ă \ RXW to meet the family on New Year’s Day. The Robinson family contacted the local Swiss police on the Tuesday morning after Myles, 23, failed to return home after a night out with local friends. A search and rescue team involving a sniffer dog, visual helicopter and a Swiss Army helicopter with infra-red heat seeking camera was launched in the desperate hope to Ă€QG 0\OHV The following morning, Myles’ disappearance was released to local Swiss radio and the British media began covering the story. A Facebook group was set up at home in Britain and tributes and messages of hope began pouring in. On Monday 28, Myles’ body was found by a team of searchers at the bottom of a 330-foot cliff near WenJHQ 3ROLFH FRQĂ€UPHG WKDW QR VXVSLcious details were found on his body and all the injuries were consistent with a fall. On New Year’s Day the Robinson family returned to their home in Wandsworth, London, with Myles’ body. Myles graduated from Newcastle University last year, with a degree in Maths and Economics. He was a keen sportsman and was due to start a new job with investment company Partners Capital early this year. Thousands of tributes on Myles’ Facebook page, many from Newcastle students past and present, bear testimony to his popularity and friendliness. One Newcastle graduate writes: “I ZLOO UHPHPEHU WKH Ă€YH D VLGH IRRWball, the endless FIFA sessions in Leazes, and monumental drinking sessions on Osborne Road. “A tragic waste of life to be taken this early, yet one can safely say you lived life to the full. Your parents should be very proud. Rest in peace big man.â€? James Irvine-Fortescue was a close friend of Myles. They met in Castle /HD]HV DQG SOD\HG Ă€YH D VLGH IRRWball together. He told The Courier: “Myles was D VHOĂ HVV SHUVRQ ZKR JDYH WLPH WR everyone, even those who didn’t deserve it.

Greatly missed: Myles Robinson in his robes at his graduation ceremony from Newcastle University last summer “He always seemed to be in a good mood with an infectious smile and energy which often lifted those around him, whilst they pitted in their own university lifestyle. “He was a get up and go kind of

person, playing numerous sports at University whilst seeming to make time to see everyone and make new friends wherever he went. “For those lucky enough to have met Myles, we can all learn from

him to not dwell on life’s problems but to be happy, and to enjoy ourselves. He will be sorely missed by everyone, but never forgotten.� Myles taught football to children in Ghana during his gap year, in-

spiring his family to set up a trust in his name. The Myles Robinson Memorial Trust will help to facilitate young British people to travel overseas and teach underprivileged children the EHQHĂ€WV RI OHDUQLQJ D VSRUW DQG WR give their lives a clear direction. 7KH LQYHVWPHQW Ă€UP 3DUWQHUV &DSital, who Myles was set to join, collaborated in setting up the charity. An avid sportsman, Myles was a member of the Water Polo club at Newcastle and the team have already held club drinks in his name. The Players’ Player of the Year trophy has been dedicated to him and the team are running the Great North Run in his name to help raise money for his charity. Club member Martyn Stott said: “Myles was one of the most genuine guys I know. “From starting together as freshers through to Myles’ graduation and his frequent visits to the beloved Toon he was always the one who made every night out a one to remember. “Myles was enthusiastic in getting everyone involved and putting effort into everything. So many memories that will live on but can never be re-lived. Rest in peace Rodders.â€? A Memorial Service to remember the life of Myles will be held on Saturday February 6th at 11.30am at The Charterhouse Memorial Chapel in Surrey. Donations and tributes to The Myles Robinson Memorial Trust can be found on www.mylesrobinson.co.uk Speaking to The Courier, Cara Robinson, Myles’ sister commented: “From this awful tragedy, we are trying to put our energies into creatLQJ D Ă€WWLQJ OHJDF\ IRU 0\OHV D VRQ and brother we will forever miss. “We are so grateful for all the support and would encourage anyone who wants to help or has been touched by Myles’ story to please donate to his Memorial Trust.â€? Dr Bartosz Gebka, Myles’ personal tutor, told The Courier: “The news about the sudden death of Myles 5RELQVRQ Ă€OOHG PH ZLWK JUHDW VDGness. “I always found him to be a cheerful and friendly person, devoted to his family and friends, while at the same time enjoying his studies. Myles was also a responsible person, who was committed to his study. “He was a popular member of the student community who always helped other students and will be missed by both his friends and members of staff. “I’m sure I’ll be speaking for all of us when I say that Myles has gone too soon and will be missed. The thoughts of all Business School staff are with Myles’ family and friends.â€?

Lecturer knighted in New Year Honours for contribution to stem cell research Emma Craig The head of the Newcastle University’s Institute for Human Genetics has been knighted as part of the New Year honours. Professor John Burn was awarded the accolade for his services to medicine. The Institute for Human Genetics has previously been credited with WKH FUHDWLRQ RI WKH ÀUVW SDUW KXPDQ part-animal hybrid embryos in the past and also more recently with the

growth of sperm from human stem cells. The Institute was recently ranked third for research behind Oxford and Cambridge. Having received his medical degree from Newcastle University, Professor Burn went on to gain a Ă€UVW FODVV KRQRXUV GHJUHH LQ KXman genetics before becoming the UHJLRQ¡V Ă€UVW FRQVXOWDQW FOLQLFDO JHneticist in 1984. He then went on to set up the Centre for Life which was opened in

2000. His work has involved the discovery of a new hereditary genetic disease called neuroferritinopathy. Newcastle lecturer John Burns has been knighted for his services to medicine The discovery was regarded as VLJQLĂ€FDQW EHFDXVH LW LV D SRWHQWLDOO\ treatable condition.

%XUQ ZDV LQĂ XHQWLDO LQ WKH GLVcovery that taking folic acid during SUHJQDQF\ FDQ SUHYHQW VSLQD ELĂ€GD and he has also been involved in research aimed at preventing hereditary cancers. Professor Burn said: “I’ve worked with a lot of very impressive people and I tend to get put out front and get a lot of credit for what they’ve done. But we’ve built the Centre for Life and we’ve got a big research institute where we’ve done lots of good stuff.

“If anything it’s an accolade for all of us, for the North East and for the region. “It’s not just politicians and rear admirals and footballers who get these things. It’s nice to bring one home.� Other staff recognized in the Honours List include Professor Janet Walker (Institute of Health and Society) who received an OBE for public service and Professor Michael Goodfellow (School of Biology) who was awarded an MBE.

6

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

News

Drink more cups of tea, say Newcastle researchers Samantha Hockney A traditional cup of tea is packed with compounds which can vastly improve attention span, according to scientists at Newcastle University. The recent study, published in the international journal Appetite, showed that drinking just one cup of tea can improve mental attention and reaction times. The discovery follows on from

previous research which found that drinking regular cups of either green or black tea inhibits the activity of certain enzymes in the brain associated with the debilitating Alzheimer’s disease. In the latest study, experts at Newcastle found that a combination of two tea compounds, l-theanine and caffeine, aided both visual and hearing attention span. The report found that a combination of 97mg of l-theanine and 40mg

caffeine, amounts similar to what is found in a regular cup of tea, is all that is needed to boost mental attention. Almost 30 participants aged 1845 were monitored after ten and 60 minutes of drinking either the compound-containing drink or a placebo. The results showed those who had the drink containing l-theanine and caffeine had faster reaction times and more correct responses on an

inter-sensory attention test to those who drank the placebo. The study, sponsored by the Lipton Institute of Tea, is one of many recent reports in which scientists are attempting to prove claims that drinking tea has numerous cogniWLYH EHQHĂ€WV DQG DFFXPXODWLQJ HYLdence to do so. The authors of the study concluded: “Taken together with the previous studies, we conclude that a high dose of l-theanine combined

with caffeine, at the level of a single cup of tea, can help to improve attention.â€? Dr Catherine Hood of the Tea Advisory Panel said: “Caffeinated drinks have been unfairly demonised.â€? She added: “Black tea in particular contains polyphenols, which are a family of natural plant antioxidants. 7KH\ KDYH PDQ\ EHQHĂ€FLDO HIIHFWV RI biochemical processes in the body.â€? J. WHITTAKER

Chancellor steps down DV &KLHI 0HGLFDO 2IÀFHU Bethany Sissons Newcastle University’s Chancellor announced over the Christmas period that he will be retiring from his SRVLWLRQ DV &KLHI 0HGLFDO 2IÀFHU IRU England in May. Sir Liam Donaldson, 60, has held WKH 0HGLFDO 2IÀFHU IRU (QJODQG SRVW since 1998 and is the UK’s chief advisor on health issues. In his resignation letter, Donaldson communicated the pride he has taken in his post, managing to embed reforms in the health service. Donaldson has been involved in many successful campaigns, which have impacted on the health and lives of the UK public. Recently, he championed the smoking ban in the workplace and oversaw the response to the swine à X SDQGHPLF Despite proposing retirement in 0D\ WKH 0HGLFDO 2IÀFHU VWDWHG WKDW LI VZLQH à X EHFDPH ZRUVH WKHQ KH would continue to hold his position past May in order to lead the government response. One of Donaldson’s greatest achievements included restoring SXEOLF FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH 005 YDFcine. Fears were raised about the safety of the vaccine but Donaldson worked to prevent public panic. Since 1998, Donaldson has taken charge of the creation of the Health Protection Agency, which has made England smoke-free and formed new laws on the use of stem cells, tissue and organs.

The Alder Hey scandal of 1999, where a report revealed that over 104,000 organs, body parts and entire bodies of foetuses and still-born babies had been stored in 210 NHS facilities, rightly caused moral outrage. In response, Donaldson supervised a new law on informed consent and a review of the coroners’ system. He supported the idea that there should be a minimum price on alcohol in an attempt to control binge and excessive drinking. Donaldson disagreed with Gordan Brown, who saw his 50p price proposal as unfair. Brown argues that setting a minimum price unnecessarily punishes sensible drinkers. Despite this clash, Donaldson has been described extremely positively by Gordan Brown. Brown recognised his “extraordinary contribution to the nation’s health� and said that “his leadership and action will have saved many, many lives.� For Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, Donaldson: “has brought courage and foresight to the role of improving the nation’s health.� Burnham called Donaldson’s smoking ban proposal “bold and oncecontroversial� but emphasises the positive difference he has managed to make. Sir Liam Donaldson was knighted in 2002 for his exceptional contribution to the UK health service. His achievements will be remembered when he retires in May.

Edinburgh University freezes VAT at 15% Oxford University bans Spotify usage sible despite the increase in VAT, in Katy Covell

The Edinburgh University Student Association (EUSA) has pledged to freeze the VAT level at the curUHQW UDWKHU WKDQ UHWXUQLQJ WR LWV SUHYLRXV OHYHO RI LW ZDV DQnounced last week. 7KH UHGXFWLRQ RQ QRQ IRRG items was introduced in 2009 to spur on the economy following the recent downturn in international DQG GRPHVWLF Ă€QDQFLDO FOLPDWHV James Wallace, Vice President of Services explained: “Bar Prices will remain the same for as long as pos-

a continued effort to ensure value is provided to students.â€? Mr Wallace was quick to assure students that the continued loss in JURVV SURĂ€W ZLOO EH QRW EH VXEVLdized by cutting back on other university services. He wrote on Twitter: “We hope the turnover will increase as we offer value for money. “Despite the reduction prices last semester, EUSA bars saw a continXHG LQFUHDVH LQ SURĂ€WV GXH WR WKH larger number of students using the facilities.â€?

Student life requires part-time work A recent survey by the technology ÀUP 2O\PSXV KDV IRXQG WKDW of university students regularly miss lectures because of job commitments, and a poll of more than 1,000 VWXGHQWV IRXQG WKDW KDYH IDOOHQ behind on assignments after putting WKHLU HPSOR\PHQW ÀUVW Students are being forced to take RQ SDUW WLPH ZRUN WR ÀQDQFLDOO\ support themselves through their university career, but as a result are

skipping lectures and other learning events. Johnny Rich, Editor of the online university guide Push.co.uk recently commented on the struggle VWXGHQWV Ă€QG WKHPVHOYHV LQ DV WKH\ try to negotiate university life on limited funds. He said: “The more students have to earn from part-time work, the less OLNHO\ WKH\ DUH WR Ă€QG D KDSS\ EDOance.â€?

Oxford University Computing ServLFHV 28&6 KDYH FRPH XQGHU Ă€UH after taking the decision to add the digital music program Spotify to the University’s proscribed list of services. The university has cited network GLIĂ€FXOWLHV DQG EDQGZLGWK SURElems as the reasons behind the ban, claiming that the vast number of students using Spotify was affecting the internet speed for students doing academic work. A University spokeswoman explained: “The University provides free internet access for students because it’s an educational resource. “If they want to use it recreationally that’s no problem unless it uses so much bandwidth that it slows the network down.â€? Some disgruntled music students have hit back, arguing that the ban will actually serve to hamper their studies as Spotify holds the most comprehensive collection of music in one place. The ban only covers computers using University internet connections in colleges and communal libraries; it does not affect students in private houses.

Fines for universities who recruit too many students The university admissions body UCAS recently revealed that 2009 saw a record number of students (481,854) taking up university placHV ZLWK WKH PRVW VLJQLÀFDQW LQFUHDVH RI FRPLQJ IURP DSSOLFDQWV OLYing in Britain’s most disadvantaged area. However, whilst ministers have

openly welcomed the rise, Peter Mandelson, in his annual grant letter to the Higher Education Funding council for England, warned that XQLYHUVLWLHV ZRXOG EH ÀQHG … for every student they took on this autumn above the limit set out by the government. The Conservatives’ Universi-

ties Spokesman David Willetts has criticised the government’s decision, saying: “It is a bit rich of the government and HEFCE to trumpet the success of record student numEHUV DQG WKHQ Ă€QH XQLYHUVLWLHV IRU being bold enough to carry out government policy to increase student numbers.â€?

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

7

News

8

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

News

Ex-Newcastle student lends a helping hand to the Haiti earthquake appeal

Haiti helper: Newcastle graduate Julia Haydon with local children while volunteering for Christian charity the Haiti Hospital Appeal, which strives to improve healthcare in the earthquake stricken country Sophie McCoid

also needs to be completed quickly, so that it can work to its full ability, and help the thousands that need its services so badly.” Julia believes the hospital is worth investing money into as it will “provide a sustainable, long term solution to the problem; it will not be merely taken down in two weeks.” Julia said the conditions before the earthquake were bleak and the need for aid is now greater still. She said: “People have to travel for many miles to receive medical attention and when they get there, they have

Julia Haydon graduated from Newcastle University in July 2008 and embarked on a trip that would change her life. After raising the cash to travel to Haiti, Julia, 22, spent three months volunteering for the Christian charity the Haiti Hospital Appeal, which strives to improve healthcare in the country. While volunteering in Haiti, Julia realised she wanted to go into speech and language therapy having spent a lot of time with two deaf and mute teenage street boys, helping them to try and communicate Expected death toll of the earthquake with each other. Julia was also actively involved in that devastated Haiti on January 12 the building of a hospital in the Cap Haitian region, but since the earth- to pay to be seen. quake hit on January 12 building “The hospital project is now even work has halted. more vital, as it is used for the refuYet it is still being used as an over- gees who have travelled north from ÁRZ KRVSLWDO IRU WKH RYHUFURZGHG the earthquake and for people who main Justinian hospital in Cap Hai- DUH EHLQJ ÁRZQ LQ IURP 3RUW $X tian. Prince who need urgent medical atJulia, who studied History, said: tention.” ´2XU XQÀQLVKHG ZDUGV DUH QRZ Married couple Carwyn Hill and being prepared for action. We’ve Reninca Hill, who are close friends bought mattresses, cleaned beds, with Julia, are still living and workDQG JRW WKH ZDUG DV ÀQLVKHG DV SRV- ing in Haiti. They delivered aid to sible with what we have. Port Au Prince shortly after the dis“Resources are in dire need, spe- aster occurred. cialist doctors are urgently required, 'HVFULELQJ WKH KRUULÀF VFHQHV RFas are drugs such as antibiotics. curring on the streets Reninca, “The building work on the hospital 29, said: “Piled along many of the

200,000

streets lay the rotting bodies of victims from the earthquake. Most were covered in old, dirty sheets. The city stank of death. “We were moving through the city in an ambulance. Women, children and men of all ages would stare through our window pleading even for one small bit of food.” These harrowing scenes are sadly a daily occurrence now in Port Au Prince, as the country tries desperately to overcome this disaster. Save the Children volunteers in the North East are also helping to raise money for the Haiti disaster, from supermarket collections to local business events and concerts. Save the Children fundraising executive for the North of England, Paul Grundy, said: “The support in the region has been overwhelming and we would like to thank everyone who has been involved in fundraising. “We encourage people to continue as every penny raised will enable us to get aid to the people who need it most.” Save the Children are giving children living in the camps safe places to play. They are also setting up systems to locate and reunite lost children with their family. Despite the efforts that are being made, charities are keen to stress the effects of this earthquake will be long term, and help will still

Hospital appeal: Julia is campaigning to raise funds to improve medical care be required for many months. To donate to the Haiti Hospital Appeal visit: www.haitihospitalap-

peal.org or to donate to Save the Children visit: www.savethechildren.org.uk/haiti

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

9

News

Police warn students of increased risk of burglaries in the new year R.YEH

Annabel Robertson Northumbria Police has warned Newcastle students that they are even more at risk of being burgled in the New Year than before Christmas, and one in three students will be a victim of crime at some point during their degree. A study conducted last year found that the number of burglaries of student properties increased by 54% from December to January. There have been a number of stories circulating the student community since the start of term, and perhaps the most alarming is of one Newcastle University student who ZDONHG LQWR KHU NLWFKHQ WR ÀQG KHUself face to face with an intruder. 3ROLFH KDYH FRQÀUPHG WKDW WKH post Christmas period is particularly attractive to burglaries due to brand new and often very expensive

The Careers Service provides information and advice on developing your VNLOOV ÂżQGLQJ D SDUW WLPH MRE ZRUN H[perience, supporting business start-up DQG ZKHQ WKH WLPH FRPHV H[SORULQJ graduate opportunities.

Vacancies brought to you by the Careers Service:

The percentage by which burglaries of student properties increased

ordinator for Safe Newcastle, has offered advice to help prevent this happening. She commented: “Keep your doors locked. Keep your valuable items away from the windows. Don’t advertise your items by leaving empty boxes next to your bin. This tells burglars exactly what you have in your house.�

The Police have also displayed posters of the most sought-after items in the Union and throughout the halls of residence, which show how much these presents have cost parents, with a hope to make students fully appreciate the value of these possessions and the importance of looking after them.

Old age cheating methods die hard D. RAWCLIFFE

Katherine Bannon With i-Phones and Blackberrys becoming as intrinsic a part of the student lifestyle as beans on toast and sleeping in past midday, it is strange this reliance on hi-tech contraptions LV \HW WR ÀOWHU LQWR WHFKQLTXHV RI cheating in examinations. A recent study established that, despite the tap of a screen opening communication links to thousands of people, the seemingly outdated and unoriginal method of students writing answers on arms still proves to be the most popular. Despite the threat of immediate exclusion should a student be caught cheating in exams or other areas of degree assessment, this risk is still not enough to deter people from using unlawful means to achieve higher grades. Statistics acquired by the Freedom RI ,QIRUPDWLRQ $FW KDYH YHULÀHG that dozens of students have been caught cheating in examinations in Universities across the country. The University of Teeside in Middlesborough has been named and shamed as the worst campus for cheating after catching 17 students in the act last year. Following sharp on its heels is Middlesex University with 15, whilst Kingston detected ten, ShefÀHOG VHYHQ DQG 8QLYHUVLW\ &ROOHJH London six. Writing notes on limbs, etched inside pencil cases, hidden in toilets

ZZZ QFO DF XN FDUHHUV YDFVRQOLQH

For more details about these and other YDFDQFLHV LQFOXGLQJ GHWDLOV RI KRZ WR DSSO\ YLVLW WKHLU ZHEVLWH DW ZZZ QFO ac.uk/careers.

54 Christmas presents including iPods, cameras, mobile phones, games consoles, laptops and jewellery. These items are always popular products with burglars as they are small, and therefore easy to move and conceal, and one of each could be found in almost any given student bedroom. Police also commented that many of these burglaries would be easily prevented if students were more careful with their belongings, and took the security of their houses more seriously. Chief Inspector Ged Noble told The Courier: “It’s no secret that the vast majority of burglaries that take place across Newcastle happen because windows and doors have been left unlocked.� Fay Paterson, Student Liaison Co-

Vacancies

Getting ahead: notes on limbs is one of the most stated cases of cheating and – in one case – inscribed upon the tissue of a student with the snifà HV KDYH EHHQ WKH PRVW SUHGRPLnantly stated cases. Meanwhile, faking illness is also becoming a customary method to improved grades, using stand-ins in examinations and even alleging the death of a relative. However, some schemes have moved beyond a student’s decision singularly affecting their own results. One student at Chester University went to the extent of stealing another student’s memory stick and claiming their colleague’s work as their own. This research has been brought

into sharp relief after a poll last year with 1000 students from Cambridge University revealed that almost one in two students admitted to cheating. Their Oxbridge counterparts were not far behind either, as Oxford students have been named among those to purchase essays from the internet. The vast amount of information online has opened wide the opportunity for plagiarism, and it should not come as any surprise. By making their notes and essays readily available on certain websites, Britain’s most gifted students are able to make thousands of pounds.

Job Title: Inbound Customer Sales Advisor Employer: Barclays plc Business: Corporate, retail & international banking Closing date: 15/02/2010 Salary: £15,200 pro rata + commisVLRQ EHQH¿WV Basic job description: There are currently permanent part time opportunities for Inbound Customer Sales Advisors, at Barclays Contact Centre LQ 6XQGHUODQG WR ZRUN D URWDWLQJ VKLIW SDWWHUQ EHWZHHQ 0RQGD\ 6DWXUGD\ KRXUV SHU GD\ GD\V SHU ZHHN EHWZHHQ DP DQG SP $V D 6DOHV and Service Advisor at one of contact FHQWUHV \RXU MRE LV WR JDLQ DQ LQVLJKW into each person’s lifestyle, so you FDQ RIIHU WKHP WKH SHUIHFW ¿QDQFLDO products to suit their needs. Person requirements: You’ll have to use all your strong inter-personal skills to discover all about the person, their OLIH DQG ZKDWœV EHVW IRU WKHP ZKHQ LW comes to our large range of products. From savings and current accounts WR FUHGLW FDUGV DQG LQVXUDQFH ZHœOO look for you to have a good eye for a VDOHV RSSRUWXQLW\ DQG NQRZ ZKHQ WR refer a customer to one of our product Specialists. Location: 6XQGHUODQG 'R[IRUG 3DUN Job Title: Outbound Communications Agents Employer: 7KH /DERXU 3DUW\ Business: 3ROLWLFV Salary: £7.26 per hour Basic job description: The Labour 3DUW\ KDYH D QXPEHU RI RSSRUWXQLWLHV IRU SDUW WLPH HYHQLQJ DQG ZHHNHQG ZRUN ZLWKLQ WKH 1DWLRQDO &RPPXQLFDWLRQV &HQWUH EDVHG DW RXU 1RUWK +HDG 2I¿FH LQ 1HZFDVWOH XSRQ 7\QH <RXU GXWLHV ZLOO LQFOXGH XQGHUWDNLQJ outbound telephone communications WR PHHW 3DUW\ REMHFWLYHV WR VSHFL¿HG WDUJHWV DQG GHDGOLQHV UHFRUGing information and processing data DFFXUDWHO\ DFWLQJ DV PHQWRUV WR DQG DVVLVWLQJ ZLWK WKH EULH¿QJ DQG WUDLQLQJ RI QHZ 2XWERXQG &RPPXQLFDWLRQV $JHQWV DQG SURYLGLQJ IXO¿OPHQW DQG FOHULFDO VXSSRUW ZKHUH UHTXLUHG 7KH SRVW KROGHU ZLOO EH H[SHFWHG WR DGRSW D ÀH[LEOH DWWLWXGH WR KLV KHU ZRUN DQG WR WKH ZRUN RI WKH GHSDUWPHQW 7KLV SRVW LV IRU D PLQLPXP RI KRXUV SHU ZHHN 3HUVRQ UHTXLUHPHQWV $SSOLFDQWV should be proud of their interpersonal and communication skills and thrive ZKHQ ZRUNLQJ LQ D WDUJHWHG DQG FKDOlenging environment. Applicants must KDYH DQ H[FHOOHQW WHOHSKRQH PDQner, enthusiasm and commitment to SURYLGLQJ D TXDOLW\ VHUYLFH WR PHPEHUV and supporters, dedication, and atWHQWLRQ WR GHWDLO 6RPH NQRZOHGJH RI

WKH /DERXU 3DUW\ ZRXOG EH GHVLUDEOH WKRXJK QRW HVVHQWLDO DV IXOO WUDLQLQJ ZLOO EH RIIHUHG ([SHULHQFH RI SURIHVVLRQDO telephone communications and of ZRUNLQJ LQ D QRQ SURÂżW RUJDQLVDWLRQ ZRXOG EH GHVLUDEOH Location: 5HJHQW &HQWUH 1HZFDVWOH XSRQ 7\QH 1( 3: Job Title: Breakfast Waiter/Waitress Employer: Close House Hotel Business: 4 Star Hotel Salary: ÂŁ5.05 per hour aged 22 or under, ÂŁ5.80 per hour aged over 22 Basic job description: Close House have a goal to become one of the UHJLRQÂśV ÂżUVW FKRLFH DV D YHQXH IRU DQ\ kind of celebration, conference, golf or GLQLQJ H[SHULHQFH 7R UHDOLVH RXU DPELWLRQV ZH QHHG WR UHFUXLW IXUWKHU VWDII to complement a highly professional and committed team. We are currently looking for a part time Breakfast Waiter/Waitress. Duties include meeting guests in a friendly and courteous manner, serving breakfast and lunch, tidying and cleaning the restaurant and VHWWLQJ XS WDEOHV 7KH KRXUV RI ZRUN DUH DP SP RU DP SP KRXU VKLIW ZLWK ò KRXU XQSDLG EUHDN DQG WKH ZRUNLQJ KRXUV DUH Ă€H[LEOH 3HUVRQ UHTXLUHPHQWV ,I \RX KDYH the drive, ambition and passion for TXDOLW\ ZKLFK LV QHFHVVDU\ WR PDNH an impact on our business and help us deliver the best possible service to our customers, then a great career opSRUWXQLW\ DZDLWV \RX DW &ORVH +RXVH Applicants must have good communication skills and good customer VHUYLFH VNLOOV 3UHYLRXV H[SHULHQFH LQ a similar role is preferable though full WUDLQLQJ ZLOO EH JLYHQ $SSOLFDQWV PXVW KDYH DFFHVV WR WKHLU RZQ WUDQVSRUW GXH to the location of the hotel. Location: +HGGRQ RQ WKH :DOO 1HZFDVWOH 8SRQ 7\QH 1( +7 3OHDVH QRWH WKDW DV WKLV YDFDQF\ LV DSSUR[LPDWHO\ PLOHV ZHVW RI 1HZFDVWOH University, and not readily accessible E\ SXEOLF WUDQVSRUW \RXU RZQ WUDQVSRUW is essential. Job Title: )HPDOH 3HUVRQDO $VVLVWDQW '2 '3 Employer: 'LVDELOLW\ 1RUWK Business: Charitable training information and advice on all disability issues Closing date: 05/02/2010 Salary: ÂŁ8.50 per hour Basic job description: Disability 1RUWK LV D 5HJLVWHUHG &KDULW\ ZKLFK aims to promote inclusion, independence and choice for disabled people. A 3HUVRQDO $VVLVWDQW LV UHTXLUHG WR VXSport a mature, independent, dynamic, 9LVXDOO\ ,PSDLUHG ODG\ ZKR LV D FRPmitted Christian. This vacancy is most suitable for an enthusiastic and lively SHUVRQ WR DVVLVW ZLWK YDULRXV DFWLYLWLHV VXFK DV DWWHQGLQJ KHU ORFDO 3HQWHFRVtal Church meetings, shopping and days out. This is a permanent contract WR ZRUN XS WR KRXUV SHU ZHHN 3HUVRQ UHTXLUHPHQWV 7KLV SRVW LV VXEMHFW WR &5% FKHFNV Location: 1HZFDVWOH XSRQ 7\QH

Jackson back at Crown Court Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer Former Newcastle University lecturer Trevor Jackson last month pleaded guilty to making indecent images of a child. Jackson, 46, who pleaded guilty to sex with an underage girl in November last year, returned to Newcastle Crown Court on January 11, to face charges of child pornography. The former Biomedicine lecturer pleaded guilty to two charges of making indecent photographs of a child in April last year. Jackson also admitted three charges of possession of indecent photographs of a child from June last year.

As reported in The Courier, Jackson previously admitted to travelling to -HUVH\ ÀYH WLPHV EHWZHHQ 6HSWHPEHU 2005 and February 2006 to engage in sex acts with an underage girl. The thirteen year old was groomed by Jackson over the internet, and the charges included two counts of full sexual intercourse with the girl once she had turned 14. ,W ZDV FRQÀUPHG DW WKH HDUOLHU hearing that the girl is not the child in the photographs in question. Jackson will be sentenced on February 5, for both the pornography and child sex offences. He was released on conditional bail.

10

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Should graduates with thirds be allowed to teach? Comment Editors: Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer and Nicholas Fidler - courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk

> Comment, page 13 G. FRASER

Whose Students’ Union? Rowan Rheingans

On the 3 December 2009, our Union rejected the NUS ‘No Platform Policy’ on organisations including the BNP. The BNP is now free to organise and recruit on campus, spreading its racist ideas in the student community. At the same meeting, the Union Council banned organisations promoting beauty pageants. Our student union should be embarrassed by such hypocrisy, for not listening to the members of the student body and ashamed for not standing up for students’ welfare and rights to freedom from harm on campus. 7KH UHMHFWHG SROLF\ QDPHV Ă€ YH groups – the BNP, Combat 18, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK and the National Front.

If students who are politically engaged attend debates, only to have it ignored by those who are our elected representatives, is it any wonder we are increasingly ‘apathetic’ to student politics? These groups threaten the welfare and freedom of all students (especially those in ethnic and sexual PLQRULW\ JURXSV WR OLYH ZLWKRXW facing racism or sexual discrimination on campus. In places where the BNP camSDLJQV DFWLYHO\ IRU DQ ÂśDOO ZKLWH %ULWDLQ¡ UDFLVW DWWDFNV KDYH LQ creased dramatically. We should KDYH EHHQ EUDYHU DQG HQGRUVHG WKH ‘No Platform Policy’ for the following reasons. Firstly, calling for ‘No Platform’ is not the same as calling for an end to freedom of speech. Our union exists to protect all our rights and liberties on campus, and allowing groups such as the BNP (who would directly threaten the

freedom of expression for many students such as the gay or black student communities) on campus goes against this. The argument that this policy would be the start of a ‘slippery VORSH¡ RI FHQVRUVKLS LV Ă DZHG 7KH 186 LV YHU\ VSHFLĂ€ F DERXW Ă€ YH groups which are racist and homophobic. The majority of student unions which accept the policy take a clear DQG SURJUHVVLYH VWDQFH DJDLQVW these ideas which threaten all of our freedoms and go against the YDOXHV RI RXU HGXFDWLRQDO LQVWLWX tion. Our union prides itself on being democratic; the BNP is the opposite. Our union is elected to UHSUHVHQW RXU YLHZV RQ PDWWHUV directly affecting us, not to take the QHR OLEHUDO VWDQFH RI SUHVHUYLQJ RQH kind of freedom at the cost of all others. Secondly, banning beauty pageants on campus but not the BNP seems hypocritical. Misogynistic DQG VH[LVW LGHDV VKRXOG QRW EH JLYHQ space on our campus and, in this YHLQ RXU XQLRQ ZLOO QR ORQJHU DOORZ beauty pageants to take place. ,W VKRXOG KDYH RQ WKH VDPH grounds, taken action against groups like the BNP who also discriminate against minority groups DQG WKUHDWHQ WKH GLYHUVLW\ RI RXU student body. 7KLUGO\ 1HZFDVWOH VWXGHQWV YRWHG for the ‘No Platform Policy’. In D GHEDWH KHOG LQ 1RYHPEHU RYHU VWXGHQWV YRWHG WKH PDMRULW\ LQ IDYRXU RI WKH Âś1R 3ODWIRUP¡ SROLF\ 2XU XQLRQ GLVPLVVHG WKLV YRLFH FDOOLQJ LW ÂśXQUHSUHVHQWDWLYH¡ 2I FRXUVH LW ZDV XQUHSUHVHQWDWLYH EXW QR OHVV UHSUHVHQWDWLYH RI VWXGHQW opinion than those few students ZLWK D YRWH DW XQLRQ FRXQFLO If students who are politically engaged attend debates, only to KDYH LW LJQRUHG E\ WKRVH ZKR DUH RXU HOHFWHG UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV LV LW any wonder we are increasingly ‘apathetic’ to student politics? So, what now? Our student union is undemocratic and unrepresenta-

Despite repeated anti-BNP displays, the Union has refused to adopt a ‘No Platform Policy’ at a Union Council meeting WLYH :H FDQ HLWKHU GLVHQJDJH FRP pletely, or try to make changes. Following the experience of my Ă€ UVW XQLRQ FRXQFLO PHHWLQJ KHOG monthly and open to anyone) to disengage seems the easiest option. But our union will continue to make decisions on our behalf. We should challenge it to do its job; to UHSUHVHQW XV Ă€ JKW IRU RXU ULJKWV and challenge any organisation

which threatens them. The BNP is a racist, undemocratic organisation and we cannot chalOHQJH WKHP HIIHFWLYHO\ IURP D VWDQFH of disunity. We need to engage with student politics locally and nationally. There are student groups across the country mobilising against the BNP and against tuition fees, course cuts etc.

These are not separate struggles; WKH\ DOO FDOO IRU RXU XQLYHUVLWLHV WR be run in the real interests of students, lecturers and staff. This change will not happen if ZH OHDYH RXU VWXGHQW XQLRQ WR À JKW ZKLFKHYHU EDWWOH LW VHHV À W The next Union Council meeting will take place on Thursday 4 February at 5pm in the Retreat Room of the Union.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous: sex, prescription drugs and rock and roll Nicholas Kershaw

&HOHEULWLHV DUH IDEOHG WR OLYH OLIH WR the full, if not to excess. Our culture worships them when they succeed and slams them when they fall short of our lofty expectations. We demand that they dress a certain way, that their actions set a good example to our young, that WKH\ SUHVHQW WKHPVHOYHV LQ DQ DF ceptable manner. The pressure we place upon the rich and famous to be all that we want them to be is nothing new, it has occurred through many generations. Some deal with the strain with amazing and admirable strength. Others struggle under the barrage of attention that their life attracts. Those who struggle come in two types - those who publicly selfdestruct (Lindsay Lohan) and those who hide their troubles, keeping

them away from our prying eyes (Tiger Woods). ,W LV WKRVH WKDW VXIIHU SULYDWHO\ who are setting a terrifying precedent with their drug use. They are not addicted to street drugs; their issues lie in a desperate need for prescription drugs. ,Q WKH SDVW WZR \HDUV ZH KDYH seen the death of the astonishingly talented Heath Ledger, the beautiful Brittany Murphy and the greatest performer the world has HYHU NQRZQ 0LFKDHO -DFNVRQ DOO RI ZKRP KDYH IDOOHQ SUH\ WR GUXJV ZKLFK WKHLU GRFWRU SURYLGHG WKHP These drugs are prescribed by doctors to heal ailments; this LQVSLUHV FRQĂ€ GHQFH DV WKH\ DUH UHFHLYHG IURP VXFK D WUXVWZRUWK\ source. It is easy to see how something that eases the pain of an illness can be transferred to be a means of numbing ones troubled mind. It is also easy to see how successful people are susceptible to making the terrifyingly quick transition from moderate drug use to a deadly

addiction. It takes a focused, single-minded, dedicated, determined and perhaps REVHVVLYH FKDUDFWHU WR UHDFK WKH WRS of any profession; a type of character susceptible to addiction.

Prescription drugs can be as strong as any drug you may find in the backstreets of Newcastle. They must be taken seriously. When the top of your chosen SURIHVVLRQ DOVR OHDYHV \RX RSHQ WR an irrepressible amount of public scrutiny, a lethal combination is concocted. It could all start innocently enough; a sore throat, perhaps it VWRSV \RX SHUIRUPLQJ WR WKH OHYHO you desire, or maybe it’s just an unwanted distraction from your work. You go to your doctor who prescribes you some painkillers. These not only ease the pain in your

throat but they relax your mind, maybe they help you sleep better WKDQ \RX KDYH VOHSW LQ D ORQJ WLPH On returning to the doctor, he sees that his prescription has helped so he offers the same again. Naturally you accept, and so it escalates. 7KDW DIRUHPHQWLRQHG REVHVVLYH nature means that anything that undermines your attempts to reach the top must be dealt with, and if this is as easy as taking a few pills your doctor told you would help, then all for the good. Prescription drugs can be as VWURQJ DV DQ\ GUXJ \RX PD\ À QG LQ the backstreets of Newcastle. They FDQ EH DV DGGLFWLYH DV QLFRWLQH They must be taken seriously. I am not just talking about celebrities; I am talking about any one of XV (YHU\RQH FDQ EH VXIIRFDWHG E\ the deathly grip of addiction. The life of a celebrity is not worth more than any others, but their deaths should act as a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and a warning of how cripplingly dangerous any sort of addiction can be.

-DGH *RRG\¡V Ă€ JKW ZLWK FHUYL cal cancer raised awareness to the GHDGO\ GLVHDVH DQG KDV KHOSHG VDYH WKH OLYHV RI VR PDQ\ \RXQJ ZRPHQ I truly hope the same can be said RI WKH OLYHV RI 0XUSK\ /HGJHU DQG -DFNVRQ LQ WKHLU Ă€ JKW DJDLQVW DGGLF tion. We should stop looking at addictions as something that is distant, that will not affect us. People all around us are seeking an outlet for their internal pain and all too many RI WKHP DUH Ă€ QGLQJ LW LQ PHGLFLQH that can be purchased at a high street chemist. You do not plan to become an addict, it is not a conscious thought process, it just happens. $ UHDO GDQJHU ZLWK WKH KHDY\ XVH of prescription drugs is that it can be more easily explained away by a user than any illegal drug. For this reason, it is crucial that DV D VRFLHW\ DQG DV LQGLYLGXDOV ZH are acutely aware of the dangers of prescription drug addiction lest we lose any more young people to its indiscriminate attack.

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

11

Comment

Should private schooling be prohibited? YES Katherine Bannon

Equal educational opportunities should be available for all. I’m not demanding that we board up the gates of Eton, pull up their playLQJ Ă€ HOGV IRU IHUWLOL]HU DQG PDNH cushion covers from their tailcoats. But the best education, and hence the best prospects within later life, should not be determined by how much money your parents have in WKHLU EDFN SRFNHW The percentage of privately educated children in the UK is a mere 7%, yet it is these children WKDW WDNH XS RYHU KDOI RI WKH SODFHV at Oxbridge and come to dominate nearly three quarters of the country’s high status professions. Anirudh Mandagere (privately educated, naturally) passionately opposes a ban, claiming public schools give state schools a paradigm to strive toward; surveying the lower orders from a pedestal which declares ‘we’re superior to you’ and so causes the Government to improve the standard of state education. Therefore he believes the obliteration of private schools would induce a decline in the standard of teaching all over the country and simply lead to parents sending their children to schools abroad, completely sidestepping the vital point that it is not about closing down, but opening up. Mandagere declares that not allowing parents the opportunity to send their child to a private school is the same as not allowing them to buy an expensive car they can afford.

A similar argument has been advanced by philosopher Stephen Law, whose blog has hosted a debate on the abolition of private schools for nearly a year. His argument parallels ‘banning FDNH EHFDXVH QRW HYHU\RQH FDQ DI ford it’. But this isn’t about commodities; it is about fairness and social justice, choice and prospects. After DOO FDNH LVQ¡W JRRG IRU \RX Privately schooled children don’t just get a leg up; they get carried over obstacles state school children can’t even see over the top of. Access to the best education means access to the best opportunities. And if those that send little Imogen and Alistar toddling off to boarding school in boater and waistcoat aren’t inclined to agree WKHQ WKH\ QHHG WR WKLQN DERXW ZK\ they’re writing such big cheques. University places aren’t available to the highest bidders, so why is primary and secondary teaching of the highest level up for auction? 7KLQN RI WKH HPEOHPV RI %ULWLVK ness that have been produced through private education: Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie; George OrZHOO DQG 3HUF\ 6KHOOH\ 7KHQ WKLQN of probability. The more children an education such as offered by Eton is available to, the more chance there is of Ă€ QGLQJ VRPH GLDPRQGV ZLWKLQ WKH rough. Therefore, more people to PDNH WKLV QDWLRQ JUHDW But then we have the get out of jail free card: bursaries and scholarships. The home page of Eton’s website declares it provides a distinctive HGXFDWLRQ ZKLFK LW DLPV ÂśWR PDNH accessible to any talented boy’, but have we ever seen any real statistics regarding this facade of equality? This country came under Labour with the tag line ‘education, education, education’. And that should mean for everyone.

NO Fran Infante

The concept of banning private schools is ludicrous: “I can’t buy an expensive car, so let’s ban Ferraris. I can only buy Tesco value, so \RX JXHVVHG LW 0DUNV 6SHQFHU¡V you’re out.â€?It’s no more than a senseless pursuit of idealistic egalitarianism that simply doesn’t exist. Most unfortunate about this whole argument is its susceptibility WR EHLQJ KLMDFNHG E\ WKRVH ZLWK D political agenda. Gordon Brown’s DWWDFN RQ 7RU\ SROLFLHV DV GUHDPW XS ´RQ WKH SOD\LQJ Ă€ HOGV RI (WRQÂľ had nothing to do with its merits as an educational establishment; it was pure class warfare veiled in a thin mist of nonsensical education strategies. /LNH LW RU QRW QRW HYHU\RQH ZKR is privately educated is a Royal, a Rah or an heir to a dynasty. Such D SHUFHSWLRQ LV ZURQJ DQG IUDQNO\ offensive. 0DQ\ SDUHQWV VDYH DQG VDFULĂ€ FH to be able to give their children the best possible start in life. 0DQ\ FKLOGUHQ WKHPVHOYHV ZRUN hard, sitting extra exams at an early age to win scholarships to better schools. And let’s pause for a moment and DVN ZK\ WKH\ GR WKLV EHFDXVH LQ many areas state education is just not good enough. Concerned parents are driven toward private education because they cannot accept with good conVFLHQFH WKH Ă XFWXDWLQJ VWDQGDUGV which the postcode lottery has inĂ LFWHG RQ D JHQHUDWLRQ RI VWXGHQWV or the impact that these inadequacies may have on their children’s

future. 3DUHQWV DUH IUHH WR PDNH PDQ\ choices about how to raise their offspring. Individuals can have as many children as they want regardless of their ability to provide for them or their desire to care for them. If bad parents can choose how to parent their offspring, then why shouldn’t good parents be given the same right? Comparably, banning private hospitals is not suggested because it would only increase the pressure on an already over-subscribed public service. So why is there any difference with education? It is an unfortunate attribute of a FDSLWDOLVW IUHH PDUNHW WKDW VRPH ZLOO be wealthy and others will be poor. What the abolitionists are advocating is nothing short of communism. If everything should be shared out equally amongst everyone, what each person ends up with is actually very little. It wasn’t exactly a sweeping success for the Soviet Union. /HW¡V EH KRQHVW Ă LQJLQJ RSHQ WKH doors of all the private schools in the land and as one unwise journalLVW FKLOGLVKO\ VXJJHVWHG ´OLNH WKH French once stormed the Bastilleâ€? is surely only going to dilute the opportunities rather than expand them. 7KLV LV VWDUWLQJ WR VRXQG OLNH D KLV tory lesson but does anyone recall the fallout of the French Revolution? The slogan may have read equality, liberty and fraternity but the reality was violence, uproar and anarchy; not something I for one am GHVSHUDWHO\ NHHQ WR VHH XQOHDVKHG on our already faltering education system. The freedom of choice is long contested, whether the choice be marriage, abortion or death, that choice is valued above all else. So who is ever going to agree to it beLQJ WDNHQ DZD\" C. ARGYROPULO

Opening the gates of opportunity: only 7% of all pupils are privately educated, but they still account for over half of all students attending Oxbridge.

Don’t get even, get angry James Stubbs Columnist So what was the biggest thing about the last decade? That’s easy – apart from ipods, widespread mobile phone use, George Bush DQG WKH OLNH SUREDEO\ TXLWH D ORW RI VWXII DFWXDOO\ ² , UHFNRQ LW¡V WKH expansion of the internet into our daily lives. Imagine not being to able to upload tired old photos of the same nights out or construct simulated IDUPV RQ )DFHERRN RU ZKLWWOH DZD\ your student loan on comedy used items off eBay. It would be awful. I would miss Youtube the most; so integral to my daily routine has it become that without it‌ I’m not sure. I can only WKLQN LQ ² PLQXWH VHJPHQWV WKHVH days. Awful‌ , UHFHQWO\ WRRN WR DFWXDOO\ FUHDWLQJ D SURĂ€ OH VR WKDW , FRXOG UDWH YLGHRV P\VHOI DQG RQ RFFDVLRQ WDNH SDUW in the ridiculous rants that happen in the comments box underneath them. One man from somewhere in Iowa called me names that common decency prevents me from repeating here. I called him names. People insult others’ families, or suggest that they do horrendous things to themselves and their friends that they support. None of these people have ever met, and I have never met any of WKHP 7KLV LV DPD]LQJ :KDW , Ă€ QG LQFUHGLEOH LV WKH capacity for all these users to be quite so horrible to one another, or just odd. /RRNLQJ DW YLGHRV RI IXQQ\ FDWV one person replied to a post that said he missed his own pets by ZULWLQJ ´6R GR , , VWXFN PLQH LQ WKH IUHH]HU DIWHU , WRUFKHG WKHP Âľ That guy had a few thumbs down. Youtubers beware. The best (and worst) thing about this phenomenon is that you can be as crude, UXGH DQG GLVJXVWLQJ DV \RX OLNH without ever fearing the consequences - one of the many evolutions of our don’t-care culture. So when does this go wrong? A friend of mine died over the holidays after falling down a cliff in 6ZLW]HUODQG DQG RQ D SDJH RQOLQH where people paid tribute to him and his family, a woman decided to launch a tirade of abuse at what she assumed was the result of depraved ELQJH GULQNLQJ Another man called him a stupid twat, or something to that effect. A little harsh, considering the family would be reading comments DERXW KLP WR NHHS WKHLU VSLULWV XS The worst thing is, this then turns into an argument about respect and dignity and the whole thing snowballs away from its original intent. Mind you, I have seen the same thing happening in comments XQGHU YLGHRV DERXW PXVLF Ă€ OPV and Scalextric. I suppose it’s all subjective. So while it’s hilarious that the other day someone on the other side RI WKH ZRUOG WROG P\ Ă DWPDWH WKDW KH ZDV JD\ DQG ZDV JRLQJ WR NLOO KLP EHFDXVH KH EHDW KLP DW 7HNNHQ 6, it’s also oddly disconcerting that it’s possible to communicate that. Either way, ranting at someone who can’t physically get at you is just too good. ,¡P JHWWLQJ EDFN WR WKDW GLVFRXUVH RQ WKH EHVW EUHDG DGYHUW RI And I’m always right.

12

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Comment

Tarring Britain with the same broken brush C. ARGYROPULO

Jack Stevenson

Last year, on April 4, in a town just south-west of Doncaster, two boys were brutally attacked. They were just eleven and nine years old and yet had sustained KRUULÀF LQMXULHV 3HUKDSV WKHVH boys had been attacked by a man, but surely not other children? But that was the case. Another two young boys, aged only ten and eleven themselves, had tortured their victims just for the thrill of it. Recently the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, which have come to be known as the Edlington atWDFNV ZHUH VHQWHQFHG WR ÀYH \HDUV in jail despite their young ages; their names were not released by the authorities. The judge said that they would only be released when it was certain that they would not be harmful to society. This raises certain questions in itself. Society has already been harmed by this crime, and many others comparable to it, so is it fair to say that there is something wrong with these isles; that British society is broken? What exactly can we take from these isolated events when we want to characterise the whole nation? Recently, David Cameron said that Britain is broken as it stands. 3HUKDSV QRW VXUSULVLQJO\ JLYHQ

David Cameron has described British society as ‘broken’, and its repair a priority if the Conservatives come to power the proximity of the next general election, it is his opinion that our society needs mending. If we are to characterise a broken society through a high number of awful crimes then things aren’t looking good. Only last year there were many well publicised atrocities commitWHG %DE\ 3 ZDV IRXQG GHDG LQ

2007, having been abused terribly by non-other than his own mother and her boyfriend, who was also found guilty of raping a two year old girl. In 2008, two French students living in London were reported to have been stabbed more than 240 times. The worst of it is that these cases are some of the few that are

Yes, we can still believe in Obama Craig Johnson

It feels like yesterday that Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV RI America. In fact, it was just over a year ago. It seemed impossible that America, a country of such tradition and conservative values, could elect a black man from Chicago to lead its people, yet they did it. $PHULFDQV Ă RFNHG RXW RQWR the streets of Washington to see Obama declare his service to his country. The Democrats won 60 of the 100 seats in the Senate, which removed the Republicans right to lengthy delays of any bill, and many believed that Obama would not only change America, but also change the world. $PHULFD ZRXOG Ă€QDOO\ KDYH IDLU healthcare, banks would not be DEOH WR JHW DZD\ ZLWK YDVW SURĂ€WV at the expense of the taxpayer like they had done under the Clinton and Bush administrations, and the USA would actually be popular throughout the world. There was hope. There was expectation. Twelve months on, and everything has changed; 18 points down in recent polls compared with this time last year, and mixed results in local council elections and a continual slump in the economy have led to doubts throughout America. However, the biggest shock came last week, when Republican Scott Brown won the US Senate seat in Massachusetts left vacant by Democrat Edward Kennedy’s death. 6HQLRU 5HSXEOLFDQ Ă€JXUH 0LWW Romney said: “This is really a referendum on the Barack Obama agenda and I think a way of working in Washington, which is kind

of an arrogant approach to politics in this country.â€? The Democrats have now lost WKHLU Ă€OLEXVWHU SURRI VHDW PDMRUity in the Senate, which means that the Republicans can now effectively talk out Obama’s plans for healthcare reform. The result was a huge blow for Obama on his anniversary, and many are now not only doubting his ability to bring about change, but strongly disbelieving it. Their doubts are understandable, given the apparent empty promises so far. He would close Guantanamo Bay. It is still open. He would open communications with Iran about their nuclear programme. They GLGQ¡W OLVWHQ ,VUDHO DQG 3DOHVWLQH is still ongoing with no sign of an end, and let’s not even talk about

Our expectations of Obama were too high a year ago. Given the circumstances he was never going to be able to hit the ground running, unlike his enemies Copenhagen. However, let’s not suddenly assume that all of these problems are the fault of Obama. He received the presidency at a terrible time. When he came to power, Guantanamo Bay held some people who were suspicious of some of the most shameful crimes known to man. To move them to somewhere else was always going to be an unwanted task. The economy he inherited was one of the worst seen in recent times, and other economies around the world are hardly fairing much better. The problems in Iran, and Israel DQG 3DOHVWLQH ZLOO VLPSO\ WDNH

time. Healthcare reform will be much harder to implement now that he doesn’t have the 20 seat majority in the Senate, however his recent announcement on breaking up the banks will win favour with many Americans, and many people around the world, where his popularity is still incredibly high. Like it was unthinkable to us that America would ever elect a black man to the White House, it is similarly unthinkable that they are now turning against him so soon. Our expectations of Obama were too high a year ago. Given the circumstances, he was never going to be able to hit the ground running, unlike his enemies, who immediately cried “socialism� anytime healthcare reform was mentioned. His policies, which endeared the American public, had been ignored, opposed and rejected when proposed by other Democrats for generations, and it will take time to beat those who wish to harm his presidency. 3UHVLGHQW 2EDPD LV D JUHDW PDQ but he is not a magician. To maintain his status as a great reformer DQG D WUDQV IRUPDWLYH 3UHVLGHQW KH will require the will of the people. If America’s expectations of Obama were too high, then they’re expectations of themselves were surely too low. He was elected to deliver change, and the people will have to help KLP GHOLYHU LW 3URYLGLQJ KH LV UH elected at the end of 2012, he will have another seven years to implement the change he promised, and it is my fervent belief that he can, and will, do this. It seemed impossible that a black man would be elected to the White House, yet it happened. Change for the future for America looks impossible now. Let’s assess the situation in another year’s time.

heavily publicised and remain in people’s minds, there are many more. So are we to say yes, Britain is broken? There are millions of people who live in this country, it is not fair to say that the whole of VRFLHW\ LV LQ QHHG RI D À[ There are almost certainly pockets in inner cities, and maybe else-

where around Britain that harbour broken communities perhaps, but society for me is certainly too broad a term. Most of us here at Newcastle would probably say that society works well; we live in our bubble. We’ve got our student ghettos and our favourite bars; most of us love our lives, just as the generations who have passed through before us have. It’s probably similar for university students all over the country. These communities work well socially, with people tending to interact in a friendly way with other locals. 3HUKDSV LW ZRUNV ZHOO EHFDXVH we’ve all got a reason to keep goLQJ DQ DLP WR ÀQLVK RXU GHJUHH we know what we’re doing (perhaps regardless of whether we are doing it well or not) and this takes off a lot of worry, a lot of responsibility. Then there is that other thing that lots of students get thrice a year – a loan. Living with no money, no decent job prospects, poor education and the added pressures of responsibility sounds hard, and people in this situation need help. Throw in a few more ingredients; lack of caring, of ambition and of any respect; and the community needs help. Certain people, like the mother of %DE\ 3 DQG SHUKDSV HYHQ WKH WZR young boys who tortured for fun, will always exist; but they have not broken Britain, and they won’t.

Google, google, gone Nicholas Fidler Comment Editor Something’s brewing in China. Their economy managed a thumping 8.7% growth on average last year, hitting 11% in the fourth quarter; testament to their riding of the economic storm. Rapid development in high value electronics has put them on track to overtake Japan as the world’s second largest economy. All this compared to Britain’s measly 0.1% growth in the last quarter which pulled us out of recession by literally the smallest possible margin and will have The Economist creaming its metaphorical jeans. Meanwhile, the information giant Google are considering cutting China loose from their portfolio, and have declared their unwillingness to continue to censor google. cn, amid rows over increased state censorship and cyber attacks against human and political rights activists both inside China and across Europe and North America. This, I feel, adds up to a rather elegant demonstration of how economic capitalisation will always be accompanied by political liberalisation. Ever since China abandoned all the socialist, “let’s all live in collectives�, Great Leap Forward rubbish, in which millions were killed through famine, and embraced capitalism in 1978, it has slowly but surely gained unstoppable economic momentum. Although a Communist dictatorship can often achieve results quickly, it is no match for the sustained growth and increasing living standards provided by capitalist market forces. What hasn’t been quite as unstoppable, but in time I hope will

triumph, is the advent of basic human rights and civil liberties. When any society puts itself before the members of which it is ultimately comprised, it can only result in suffering, exploitation, and misery. This is because it is simply impossible to have any meaningful human rights if the state can override them whenever it pleases. Rights are secured by virtue of being human and not by belonging to any one state or another. “Sorry, we’re having the Olympics here, looks like we’re going to bulldoze your house tomorrow�...imagine that in the west; The Guardian’s head would literally explode. It is no coincidence that each and every member of the G8 adheres to roughly the same model of liberal democratic politics and market led capitalist economics; capitalism equals freedom. China, if it is to continue on this line of growth, will sooner or later come to the realisation that it can no longer strangle the rights of its people if it expects them to work willingly and effectively. Slave labour may have built the pyramids, but it’s never achieved anything hi-tech. As soon as the USSR gave capitalism a go, the whole Soviet system crumbled because it was premised entirely on state repression and a curtailment of freedom. Bought any North Korean products reFHQWO\" 3UREDEO\ QRW Google’s potential abdication of China serves as one small step on a road littered with obstacles that will ultimately lead to greater human rights in China. That no longer is a western corporation willing to be complicit in state repression can only be a good thing, let’s hope the pressure on China keeps mounting.

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

13

Comment

Banks behaving badly Simon Childs

The Conservatives have said they will prevent applicants with third class degrees from becoming teachers

Those with thirds... GHĂ€QLWHO\ FDQ¡W WHDFK Laura Heads

Whether David Cameron shocked us or made us nod in agreement, his statement on education and the exclusion of those with third class degrees becoming teachers undoubtedly sent shock waves up and down the country. His highly contested comments have some authenticity however; using the example of Finnish schools it is possible to see the merits in only allowing those who achieve the top grades to teach. Teaching is elitist in Finland; only 10-12% of people DUH DFWXDOO\ DFFHSWHG RQ WR WKH ÀYH year masters teaching course. As a result, students in Finland are consistently near the top in reading, science and maths and are some of the most motivated pupils across Europe, engaging in hands on learning and a freedom to ask questions whenever. It’s hard to argue that this isn’t the type of teaching that we want

in our country, that attracting the top class achievers to teaching isn’t something that sounds appealing, but if this came in, the snobbery surrounding the profession may transfer into the classroom creating a horde of child snobs who constantly look down on those who underachieve. ,W LV GLIÀFXOW QRW WR EHFRPH HOLWLVW yourself when looking at this argument, not to become caught up in the ideal picture and the statistics that are produced to help support the claim. What David Cameron has ceased to consider however, is that the education system in the UK is vastly different to that in Finland; students want to learn and want to achieve in Finland from an early age, whereas in the UK many pupils see school as a chore and a place where they do not want to be. This screams out the need for teachers who are able to understand and deal with these problems, not QHFHVVDULO\ WKH KLJKHVW TXDOLÀHG %\ denying a person a place to teach because of their degree level, but who is perhaps more apt to deal

with these kinds of students over RQH WKDW KDV D KLJKHU TXDOLÀFDWLRQ strikes me as absurd. It isn’t necessarily the highest TXDOLÀHG WKDW PDNH WKH EHVW WHDFKers; it’s the ones who can motivate the students to want to learn and who can deal with the different types of students sat before them. Anyone is capable of being a good teacher; it is not completely deterPLQHG E\ WKHLU TXDOLÀFDWLRQV DQG the outcome of their university degree. What happens to those who do not perform well in exams themselves but can motivate children to learn, those who never truly got on with the education system but understand where children who are facing the same problems they did are coming from and can help to overcome these barriers? Surely this is more appealing to us than having top class teachers hired over someone who gained a third? It strikes me that Mr Cameron failed to take this into account when laying down his Eton view, and really doesn’t know the education system as well as he thinks he does.

Bankers’ behaviour is “monstrousâ€?, wrote London Mayor Boris Johnson in The Telegraph, it “beggars beliefâ€?. What heinous crime could the banks have committed this time, to make even Boris Johnson, the man described by the BBC as the last politician in the country who will stick up for the bankers, to criticise them? Perhaps the greedy swines have been caught making money out of climate FKDQJH 0D\EH WKH\¡UH Ă€OOLQJ WKHLU pockets with investments in war. Surely they’ve not been supporting a tyrannical dictatorship to make a quick buck? Well, all of those things and more are true, but Boris’ scorn, in common with nearly everyone else’s, was actually directed at the size of the bankers’ bonuses. While we’re quick to criticise rich bankers for being rich (and not footballers, lawyers etc.), most of us are failing to get angry (and the media are failing to report) a far more sinister side to the banking industry. ,¡P QRW VD\LQJ WKDW LW¡V Ă€QH WKDW some people earn more money than they could possibly dream of ever spending for screwing up banks while so many toil away on minimum wage; it’s not. And that Goldman Sachs is to cap its bonuses at a ‘mere’ million pounds speaks volumes. But earning lots of money is certainly not the worst thing bankers have ever done. No matter what bank your money is kept in, the chances are they’re doing things with it on your behalf which stinks. Research by pressure group ‘War on Want’ shows that HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and Barclays all have money tied up in the arms trade, so when you see the Israeli army slaughtering Palestinians, or a ‘smart’ bomb missing its target and hitting innocent civilians, those banks are complicit. And the companies they invest in don’t just produce normal weapons, but cluster bombs and weapons which use depleted uranium which really ought to be banned. 1RW FRQWHQW ZLWK SURĂ€WLQJ IURP war, banks are also making a tidy sum by investing in climate change. The worst offender on that score is RBS, which is involved in what has been described as the biggest environmental crime on the planet. RBS funds companies

that extract oil from Canadian tar sands; a way of extracting oil (which we should try to leave in the ground anyway) which produces four times as much C02 than normal drilling. The list goes on. Every bad thing that happens in the world needs to be paid for, and banks are happy to loan you money, whether you’re Robert Mugabe (Barclays) or the Burmese junta (RBS). If I haven’t mentioned the bank you use yet, that might be because many of the high street names are owned by other banks. For instance, NatWest, the one with that gives you a railcard with your student account, is owned by gun toting, mother earth raping RBS. So what can you do? Well short of hiding your money in a porcelain pig under the bed, banks such as the Cooperative and Triodos offer an alternative for people who care what happens to their money. I’m avoiding describing them as ‘ethical’ banks for two reasons. Firstly, I don’t really see investing in things like fair-trade companies and not in things like war and climate change as ‘ethical’, but rather as common sense and not completely unethical. Secondly, it makes customers of these banks sound like stupid hippies. Even these banks aren’t completely innocent, for instance the Cooperative has lent money to Glaxosmithkline which is guilty of various unethical practices, but at least they have some standards. Nevertheless, not unethical banks are certainly preferable to most banks. If banks like the Co-op became much more popular, it might pressure the other banks to sharpen up their acts. But even if this were to happen, there would still be billions to be made from screwing people and the planet. That’s not going to change so long as we have an economy based on the anti-values of greed and perVRQDO SURĂ€W RYHU FRPPRQ JRRG People often complain about poor customer service from their bank; maybe you went 7p overdrawn and were charged a ÂŁ60 fee, or a routine ÂŁ1.50/minute phone call results in several rounds of “press one to proceed to another list of options which will eventually lead to a 25 minute wait after which your call will be inexplicably terminated – your custom is important to usâ€?. But what do people expect when they’re dealing with people who hold basic humanity in such utter contempt?

Man cannot live by Hillary Clinton alone Katy Covell

:KHQ DQ HFRQRPLFDOO\ DIà XHQW country is hit by a natural disaster the immediate physical destruction and loss of life will always be VKRFNLQJ EXW ZLWK WKH ÀQDQFLDO ability to quickly provide manpower, aid and medical supplies - both internally and through acquiring help from abroad - the devastation can be kept to a minimum. But when Haiti - the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere - was struck by an earthquake on Tuesday January 10th, WKH ODFN RI LQWHUQDO ÀQDQFLDO PHDQV and stable social structure meant that thousands of people were left

injured and dying without aid or shelter, and with no reassurance that help would be on its way. The immense 7.0 magnitude Earthquake ripped through the capital city Port-au-Prince destroying not only homes and businesses but also Parliament buildings and the presidential palace. With the capital in a state of disarray, the shell-shocked government was forced to give the United States control over its main airport so that international aid could be received, but with the control tower lost in the tremor landing planes KDV SURYHG LQWHQVHO\ GLIĂ€FXOW US Air force Colonel Buck Elton told The Telegraph last week, “There’s only so much concrete [‌] It’s a constant puzzle of trying to move aircraft in and out.â€? Other reports revealed that at

one point, the runways became so packed with aid aircraft that many had to wait to be unloaded and the airport was forced to close to new arrivals for eight hours. Meanwhile, all around the capital homeless and injured Haitians roam the ruined streets looking for help and shelter with anger now turning into violence. Machete wielding gangs can EH VHHQ ORRWLQJ DQG ÀJKWLQJ IRU supplies, whilst other frustrated survivors have begun building roadblocks out of bodies in protest at the aid delays. Knowing all this then, there is something decidedly unpleasant about the idea of Hillary Clinton arriving by private jet whilst not far away bodies are being heaped on top of each other as even more are dragged free from the rubble.

Clinton was indeed asked by Haitian President Rene Preval to visit the crippled state and during her visit pledged the United States’ invaluable dedication to helping the Haitian nation not only during this, the immediate aftermath but also to the long-term recovery and reconstruction of the country. But whilst there can be no doubt that her trip has raised awareness about the terrible situation in Haiti, what use is publicising the need for aid when it cannot be delivered? Emila Casella of the World Food Programme explained, “The physical destruction is so great that physically getting from point A to B with the supplies is not an easy task. Pictures can get out instantly‌and that’s important because the world needs to know. But getting physically tons and

tons of equipment and food and water is not as instant as Twitter or Skype or 24-hour television news.� There have been suggestions that Clinton’s own arrival may have disrupted the landing of aid-carrying aircraft which must prompt the question: in a situation such as this, at what point does working to UDLVH DZDUHQHVV FHDVH WR EH EHQHÀcial to the relief effort and instead becomes an obstacle? Forward planning for how Haiti will be rebuilt is of course essential, but surely the immediate focus should be on saving lives and Mrs Clinton’s jet will have taken up the space where another plane carrying life-sustaining supplies could have landed. Coverage of the Haiti earthquake disaster, page 8

14

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

The battle in Brazil > Life, page 16-17

Life & Style Editors: Larisa Brown, Alex Felton and Ashley Fryer - courier.life@ncl.ac.uk

fashion

Fashion weak: falling off the catwalk? From Milan to New York, Lauren Girling sees whether the glitz of the catwalk still shines as bright

Body suit, River Island, £20 Bracelet, Le Beado, £10 Shoes, New Look, £25

what’s hot

It’s astonishing to think that over nine days in New York, there are some 264 fashion shows over a variety of venues and locations. Some fashionistas may think that this is the stuff dreams are made of but this is nothing other than the fashion week. With 152 fashion weeks a year in VXFK IDU Á XQJ FRUQHUV RI WKH JOREH as Rio de Janeiro and Fiji, and of course the world-renowned ones in London, Paris, Milan and New York, one would think that fashion weeks are not only omnipresent in society but a necessary part of contemporary culture... surely? Some fashion critics argue that in this recession-phobic age with greater reliance on technology, the time-honoured tradition of the fashion week isn’t as sacrosanct as it seems, with many designers favouring online retailing as a platform for sales of their prêt-a-porter lines. Websites such as net-a-porter and P\ ZDUGUREH VHHP WR EH Á RXULVK ing at present so does this serve as a sign of the times? This is an argument for the cessation of such costly and exclusive events such as fashion weeks and a movement towards more welcoming launches of collections online,

Stilettos Always a winner

Little black dress Sexy and sleek, you just can’t go wrong

enabling anyone to view the designs if they wish to do so. This comes instead of fashion week exclusives, where the enjoyment is ironically reserved for the uber-cool, sunglasses-wearing, stony-faced celebrities of the front row. However, it is exactly this desire to be like our favourite celebrities that drives us to follow designer brands in such a manner. Famous books of the trade such as Elle and Vogue publish their unique “fashion week” supplements which are almost as sizable as the magazine itself to showcase the trends straight off the catwalk and also showing which celebrities were at which shows, wearing what brands. It seems to be that the survival of designer fashion is contingent upon imitation. Mere mortals like you or I may strive to stay ahead of the trends by taking note of what is on the catwalk but fundamentally, the fashion week is now crucial because of the promotion that celebrities who attend certain shows brings. We all saw with Burberry’s return to London Fashion Week in September 2009 how the front row was awash with the likes of Emma Watson, Victoria Beckham and Anna Wintour – all icons of 21st century popular culture who are frequently emulated. As a consequence, we are bound to see the high street littered with stone-coloured trenches, thereby the fashion week leaving a lasting mark upon the masses. It is important to consider the inÁ XHQFH RI FRPPXQLFDWLRQ LQ WKH

what’s not Hair extensions You can tell they are fake so just don’t go there

success of the fashion week. Fashion blogs such as stylebubble. com and the emergence of Twitter as a means of tracking what is a must-have this season could in future years make the fashion week devoid of meaning, reducing it to nothing more than a game played by dolls in dressing up clothes. However, one could argue that communications and online development do not have a negative effect on the importance of the fashion week but rather make information on the shows more readily available to greater volumes of people and make otherwise blighted fashion voices heard. It is apparent that the ultimate strength of the fashion week is what it actually means. A fashion week has an indescribable buzz about it, exciting the Oasis shop assistant and the Chanel Creative Director alike. Granted, the real “power” in fashion rests with the few who get the chance to go to these shows in these little white marquees. One only has to recall the unforgettable scene in “The Devil Wears Prada”, where Miranda Priestly deVFULEHV KRZ IDVKLRQ ´À OWHUV GRZQµ from catwalk to bargain basement, to realise that fashion affects everyone whether they like it or not. Rather than viewing it as a force for division, it can draw all social and economic strata together under the common bond of a love for clothes, fashion and the artistry that is inherent and undeniable in design.

Katie Price’s equestrian clothing line Unless you’re going horse riding, please just don’t go there

Chanel-esqe quilted bags

Statement necklaces Ideal for making a SODLQ RXWÀ W ORRN WKDW bit more special

The Boyfriend Jacket Look like you haven’t made an effort by slinging on your man’s jacket. Casual but hot

‘Muggs’- Man Uggs When the lads say they want to be inside Sienna Miller, they didn’t mean these puppies Jessica Gibson

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

15

Fashion Life & Style

Dress, Reef, £25

Bra, H&M, £9.99 Leggings, H&M, £7.99 Jacket, Best Vintage, £25

Bra, H&M, £9.99 Thongs, H&M, £3.99

Shirt, Top Shop, £28

Dress, Miss Selfridge, £20

Model: Kate Smith www.adriancrook.co.uk Fashion Photograhers: Adrian Crook and Ian Austen

16

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Life & Style Life

life

Prosperity vs. poverty: Brazil in perspective Life & Style editor Larisa Brown takes to the slums of the samba nation to report on the tussle between rich and poor Brazilian criminals abducting victims for short periods of time in order to receive a quick pay off at an ATM machine, also known DV ´TXLFNQDSSLQJÂľ ZDV RXU Ă€UVW early warning sign of the danger of being a tourist in Brazil. Shortly after arriving at a hostel in Sao Paulo, we were told residents had, just a couple of hours before, been held at gun point outside the hostel, forced into a car, and driven to the nearest ATM. Episodes like this explain why you can only get a limited amount of money out at a cash machine after

10pm, something that would later cause us immense problems when we attempted to get a last minute QLJKW WLPH Ă LJKW PLOHV DFURVV the country. ,I \RX¡YH VHHQ WKH Ă€OP ´&LW\ RI Godâ€? then your impression of Rio de Janeiro probably isn’t too far off the mark. A study published in Brazil recently concluded that more young people below the age of 18 are killed by guns each year in Rio than in many areas of the world formally at war. Having been told the levels of violence are comparable to a war

zone we decided, whilst avoiding the favelas (slums), to stay in one of the more crime ridden districts of Rio- Lapa. Living up to its reputation of being party central, with the streets crowded with people dancing until about 7am, was not the only thing Lapa lived up to. Nineteenth century looting, as epitomized in Oliver Twist, was certainly comparable to the modern day gang warfare that took centre stage in this bustling district. Lapa had its very own ‘Fagin’ with an ensemble of roughly twenty

children between the ages of four DQG Ă€IWHHQ DOO VHQW RXW WR GLVSHUVH amongst the tourists. After being accosted by children who proceeded to root around in my pockets and after shouting at them several times, only to receive both physical and verbal abuse, a friend stepped in and scared the children away. Ten minutes later they came back with a mass following and the proposed ‘leader’ had with him a contraption devised to poke people’s eyes out. So far I have not painted a very pretty picture of Brazil, doing this fascinating country an extreme injustice. Whilst Rio is one of the world’s most modern cities, there are high numbers of people living in the slums. With a deepening divide between the rich and the poor, is it surprising that cities such as these are as they are? One thing I realised during my travelling around Brazil is that violence and theft only seemed commonplace where deep divisions of wealth had become embedded in society, while places that were relatively untouched by Western impositions seemed to be fairly peaceful.

It seemed to me that the real injustice in the country, like many others in the world, was the inequality that has arisen from the effects of modernisation, rather than the nature of poverty itself Many of the people I met whilst travelling in places outside of the main cities, untouched by the comPHUFLDO FDSLWDOLVW DVSHFWV RI WKH Ă€UVW world, were, whilst living extremely primitively, not necessarily poor. Of course, the term ‘poor’ used here is subjective as it depends upon a personal interpretation of what it actually means to be poor. 7R RQH SDUWLFXODUO\ LQĂ XHQWLDO man I met, a Buddhist named JosĂŠ who owns a trekking company in the jungle, being poor didn’t mean not having a television or a mobile SKRQH LW PHDQW EHLQJ XQIXOĂ€OOHG with life, discontent and constantly wanting more. The nearest village to JosÊ’s house was two hours away by jeep and, in this small community of about two hundred inhabitants, everyone knew each other by name. Much to our surprise, they even knew the name of each others pets. In such a small and close community, law and order weren’t a concern, as families habitually looked after each other and no one was considered poor compared to the others.

On the other hand, the streets of Sao Paulo were crowded with homeless people who, unable to properly support themselves in a modernised and industrial city, were more easily characterised as being poor - poor in terms of both economic and social wellbeing. 7KH LQà X[ RI ZHDOWK\ WRXULVWV into the popular cities compared to those barely able to survive could not have provided a more compelling picture. When I thought about the wad of money that I kept tucked in my bra, or the brand new camera that was safely accounted for on my insurance, I considered for a moment the children that were roaming the streets, rummaging in people’s pockets. I came to the conclusion, why the hell not? Living in shacks made out of little more than cardboard and piled

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

17

Life

Life & Style

The Penny Pincher Lesson Ten: Going out Rowan Taylor Columnist

With exams and coursework done and sealed, I will forgive you for needing a self-indulgent outlet. Our generation has really nailed the idea of going out; we tend to permanently reside in a place called ‘out’. More often than not it’s ‘out out’ and not just ‘out’. Students are already hypersensitive to the cost of nights out, so these tips aren’t about ‘where is the cheapest’ or ‘which pint is cheapest’, but more a realistic set RI QRWHV WR KHOS \RX IXOĂ€O \RXU duty to go out at minimum pain to the wallet. After all we are in the city that serves trebles cheaper than singles. ‡ ,W VHHPV EL]DUUH WR RXU QHLJKbours on the continent, but is something us Brits have got into a regular habit of: drinking before going out. ‡ 5HDVVHVV KRZ PXFK PRQH\ you actually spend on a night out and put it into context. Instead of frittering away ÂŁ30 on a largely forgettable drunk night, you could have a meal at a top restaurant. ‡ 'RQ¡W WDNH WRR PXFK PRQH\ out with you and you won’t spend too much money. Sounds simple doesn’t it... ‡ 1RUWK (DVW OLVWLQJV PDJD]LQHV The Crack and Narc do their best to plan your social schedule. Both are free and available from shops, bars and cafes about town. You may choose to ignore the grungemetal-punk-night recommendation, and scan instead for the free club nights and gigs. ‡ <RX FDQ RIWHQ JHW IUHH HQWU\ to club nights by scribbling on its Facebook Event. If you add the event’s creator as a friend, they should invite you each week, alORZLQJ \RX WR EH RQH RI WKH Ă€UVW WR touch the wall. ‡ ,I WKH PXVLF LV JRRG WU\ DEsorbing the electric atmosphere sober rather than having the alcohol force it onto you. Cost to you and your morning after health: nothing. ‡ 6DYH WKH WD[L KRPH LI \RX VWLOO have some life left in you. The walk home from a club can be the funniest and most memorable section of the night. It sobers you up as well. ‡ $V IRU WDNHDZD\V ZKLFK DUH sometimes obligatory, the latenight Greggs opposite Central Station is king. dangerously high on top of each other, whilst surrounded by the latest car advertisements on huge billboards, it is no wonder that crime against tourists is a serious problem in Brazilian cities. What modernisation has partly brought to the people of these places is higher aspirations that are not at all achievable. Comparatively, I visited a ‘hippy village’ just outside a place called Salvador in the North of Brazil. The strong Afro-Brazilian culture and vibe for samba, especially on the beaches, was far removed from the industrial city of Sao Paulo. To visit this hippy village you had to walk a good few miles off the beaten path, and its inhabitants were more or less counted for on both of my hands. From the few hours spent there, I got the impression that the inhabit-

DQWV VXUYLYHG RII WKH ÀVK IURP WKH river and the minimal amount of money they made from tourist revenue.

The levels of violence are comparable to a warzone Their houses were made out of the natural resources of the area, and their bowls and spoons out of coconut shells. I must admit, their way of life came as a total shock to me as I had never experienced such a simple way of life before. However, I had also never experienced such kindness before. As soon as we arrived, a man came out of his hut dressed solely in a small cloth and invited us into his

house to see what it was like. Genuinely wanting nothing in return, he proceeded to tell us, in very basic English, all about the food he obtained from the river and how he wanted to cook us a meal with the ÀQHVW ÀVK KH FRXOG ÀQG I’m not sure you could expect that type of welcoming behaviour anywhere in England. Despite having what I would consider the bare minimum for survival, KH ZDV FOHDUO\ VDWLVÀHG DQG FRQWHQW with his way of life. In many respects, he seemed a whole lot happier than most people in Britain who are supposedly blessHG ZLWK WKH EHQHÀWV RI FDSLWDOLVP It seemed to me that the real injustice in the country, as with many others in the world, was the inequality that has arisen from the effects of modernisation, rather than the nature of poverty itself.

The concept of poverty isn’t as clear-cut as one may tend to assume, as whilst Brazil may be considered to be one of the most dangerous and poorest countries in the world, many people living outside of the main cities, who were living extremely simply, were some of the most content people I have ever met. Despite the copious UK government safety warnings about visiting the country, I have never been as touched as I was by the kindness that I encountered throughout my experience in Brazil, nor the happiness that I saw from such a simple way of living. It seems the push for modernisation and imposition of capitalism in many of these developing countries can often take a more negative role, making the already rich richer at the expense of the world’s poor.

Next week Lesson 11: Health Deals of the Week: 1. Cadbury’s Creme Egg 6-pack: £1.34 @ Tesco 2. 13.5 tog duvet: £4.80 single, £6 double @ Sainsbury’s 3. Tickets for a West End Show: £10-15 @ getintolondontheatre. co.uk Top seats for top shows are being sold cheaply if you book before 12th February. For example Stomp for £15 instead of £47.50, Chicago for £15 instead of £45, and Grease for £25 instead of £55. The site works through .

18

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Life & Style Sex & Relationships

sex & relationships Sexposed Jessica Gibson on the reality of student life Drunken pulls, shameful mornings and lots and lots of casual sex. Are these the fundamentals of university life which the prospectus forgets to mention? Programmes like Skins, which started again last week, set a sexual student stereotype for the general public. This means we real students are all assumed to be nymphomaniacs, but do we all lead the sexy Skins lifestyle? Everyone knows a guy that sleeps with a different girl every night, and a girl that is known as the ‘village bicycle’. There is no doubt that these people commonly exist in our lectures and down our street, as well as on our TV screens. Maybe the crazy sex lives of VWXGHQWV LQ WKH PHGLD DUH LQĂ X encing the students of today. Perhaps they set the standard of what is expected to be normal, so the students of today act accordingly. This creates a knock on domino effect. The more students consider casual sex to be normal, the more students will begin to do it: A perfect example of the good old vicious circle. According to Oxford University, the more nookie you get, the worse you will do in university! The survey of more than 850 students by Oxford University’s student newspaper Cherwell revealed that students who do not have sex more than once a month DUH PRVW OLNHO\ WR JHW D Ă€ UVW LQ their degree. Students who claimed to have a more active sex life are more likely to attain a 2:1 or 2:2 in their degree. So maybe that’s an incentive to have less sex (or work harder!). Surprisingly enough, there are statistics to prove that a student’s FKRLFH RI FRXUVH DOVR LQĂ XHQFHV their level of promiscuity at university. In Oxford’s survey, historians were found to be more sexually active than any other undergraduate, closely followed by students studying politics, philosophy, economics and English Literature. According to the Journal of Sexual Medicine, students studying medicine are the most sexually dysfunctional, which suggests they are also the most sexually inactive. Male medical students reported a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction (roughly 30%) compared with normative data (estimated at 7% among men 18-29 years old). It is not only male medics who supposedly have problems in the bedroom department. 42% of the female medical students reported interference in their sexual life from “excessive tiredness,â€? and more than one third blamed interference on a “lack of sexual partnerâ€? or “psychological stress.â€? It is likely that those of us having all the sex are the most talked about, so it seems like everyone is up to mischief. Nobody would be gossiping about the girl that had a cosy night with her favourite teddy DQG D FKLFN Ă LFN

blind date Katherine Bannon & David Leslie She said: You’d think a girl with an already severely diminished supply of digQLW\ ZRXOG EH ZLOOLQJ WR Ă€ JKW ÂśWLO WKH death to retain its remaining scraps. If only. Instead, when presented with the proposition of a blind date I had to resist the urge to reply to the email in capital letters. ‘YES! PICK ME, PICK ME!’ But we had a time, and a place. Stage one to potential Mr. Right FRPSOHWH 5HOLHI +H GHĂ€ QLWHO\ wasn’t ginger. Neither was he badlooking. In fact, he was pretty good looking, well groomed and holding a box of chocolates. Just the way I like ‘em. Ah, but he was a rugby boy. I’ve never been too keen on those; they immediately evoke mental images of gay chicken taken to extreme levels and hairy arses. 'HVSLWH P\ DWWHPSWV DW UHĂ€ QHG restaurant etiquette I used my knife and fork like a toddler in mittens and was getting enough tomato sauce on my face to rival a three year old let loose in McDonalds. So, when he popped his last forkful into his mouth and I was still faced with what resembled half an LQĂ DWHG FKLFNHQ SDVW\ LQ IURQW RI PH I was in a bit of a pickle. Carry on eating, giving him the opportunity to mentally note my atrocious eating habits or bow out graciously and run the risk of him thinking I was one of ‘those’ girls; the ones who scrape excess butter from their bread and brand red meat as evil incarnate. The parting? A kiss on the check. You never know though, I might Ă€ QG WKH FRXUDJH WR DGG KLP RQ )D cebook.

Email courier. life@ncl.ac.uk if you would like to go on your very own Blind Date He said: Blind dates had always seemed to PH D SDWKHWLF ODVW UHVRUW WKH À QDO straw to clutch at for the lonely and WKH GHVSHUDWH )RU LQVWDQFH KRZ many respectable people to did you see on Cilla Black’s iconic show?

Or on ITV’s re-invention ‘Take me Out’? My date wasn’t set on making it easy, calling me the ‘unlucky guy’ who would be taking her on a date. Was this a case of self deprecating humour, or a girl who is horribly self aware? All in all it was shaping up to be a WHUULEOH QLJKW UHDOLVLQJ )UDQFHVFD¡V was closed on a Sunday, we had to re-locate to Scalinis. And, having forgotten to go to WKH Ă RULVW WR SLFN XS WKH UHG URVH IRU LGHQWLĂ€ FDWLRQ SXUSRVHV , VWRRG waiting for my date holding a box of Cadbury’s ‘Roses’. Oh my days. I am sorry to report however, that

the date passed relatively without incident. Kat and I had a lot in common and therefore the conversation Ă RZHG TXLWH VHDPOHVVO\ WKURXJKRXW dinner. We even addressed how each other intended to write up the whole experience, and she seemed quite taken with the idea of one of us writing a brutal account of the other. So in the vain attempt to cover all bases, I will conclude this article twice. Once to say that she was a very nice, interesting and funny girl; the other to say, and I steal this phrase from my hairdresser, that I would UDWKHU OLFN WKH Ă RRU RI DQ DEDWWRLU than see her again.

him, why not embrace his actions and follow suit by starting to take a she-wee funnel to lectures – you’ll save time by never missing out on important information due to a loo-break. Mark my words, I am sure that some day soon will see the suited men of the city taking pooper scoopers with them to their desks, thus eliminating the crucial minutes that a Code Brown toilet trip could consume.

whiffy substances on them? Nothing too edible, as this may lead to even more serious problems, but PD\EH WU\ VRPH À VK SDVWH 2U alternatively you cultivate a garden of thick nipple hair‌make it nice and long for dramatic effect. Bingo!

ask seĂąora rosa

Seùora Rosa is back from watching Avatar for the third time in the IMAX. You can tweet with her or catch her on e-mail at courier.life@ ncl.ac.uk Seùora, I am fed up. When I signed up to live in my house there was 6 girls - all happy, free and single. Now each and every housemate except me has acquired a boyfriend. I can’t watch the tv without being witness to snuggling and in some worrying cases, foreplay. What can I do??

Guuurl, quite frankly I’m jealous of you; what would I give to trade my nights in with Senor Jose trying to feel me up on the sofa for your situation?! Now go out there and enjoy your wild single life‌do things that crazy singles are meant to do – turn your body into a walking bric a brac stall of piercings and WDWWRRV FODVV LW XS E\ Ă DVKLQJ IRU free drinks‌ Trust me, these things don’t work as well when you’re older . As for the TV, make sure that you man the remote at all times, and that gory VODVKHU Ă€ OPV DQG GRFXPHQWDULHV on menstruation never leave your screen. Unless they possess some very bizarre fetishes, your housemates PD\ Ă€ QG WKHVH D WDG KDUGHU WR snuggle up to. SeĂąora, One of my housemates recently confessed that he pees in the shower to ‘save time.’ I can’t lie - I am completely disgusted! How can I tell him that I am repulsed by this behaviour without seeming uptight ? Help! Move with the times! This is a modern day man we’re talking about here! In a world where time is precious, I think that your housemate is actually being quite ingenious. Rather than saying anything to

SeĂąora, I have a new girlfriend as of last week - yay! BUT: every time we have sex together she thinks it’s kinky and fun to twist my nipples really hard every time she orgasms. I don’t know how to tell her that it really hurts and I’m afraid that she’ll end it suddenly. What is the solution to nipplegate? Hmmm, you could always introduce some lube into the bedroom, under the pretence of wishing to add some spice to your playtime, whilst really rubbing it all over your nipples. Thus, in her moment of passion, VKH ZRQ¡W EH DEOH WR JHW D Ă€ UP JULS on your bullets, simply sliding off! If she grows suspicious to this plan however, you could try deterring her from wanting to touch your nipples altogether. Why not try rubbing some highly

SeĂąora, The other night I woke up in bed hearing a rustling and as I turned over, I saw my man munching away on a cold Chicken & Bacon lattice? Like a rabbit caught in the headlights he hurled the offendLQJ SDVW\ WR WKH Ă RRU DQG SOHDGHG innocence. Is it okay for anyone to sneak snacks in bed or does it simply take the biscuit? Of course this is acceptable – think KRZ WKLV EHQHĂ€ WV \RX ² PLGQLJKW munching means that he’s keeping up his stamina, so that he’s ready to go at it hammer and tongs with you by morning! It does depend, however, on what kind of food we’re talking about KHUH IUXLW LV Ă€ QH IUHVK DQG QLFH DQG healthy. Meat is okay as it shows KLV PDQO\ VLGH EXW WKLQJV OLNH Ă€ VK FDQ EH D ELW LII\ ² D Ă€ VK\ EHGURRP LV never ideal. Also, make sure that he’s not trying anything similar to the behaviour seen in American Pie‌ if anything warm or gooey makes it into the bedroom then I think you have reason to be a little freaked out.

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

19

Health & Beauty

Life & Style

health & beauty View Askew

6SUHDGLQJ OLNH the plague

Game Addiction Kathy Jackman Columnist

Swollen testicles, enlarged face and high fever, Rosie Tallent reveals why it is better to be vaccined against mumps before it is too late Most of us have experienced it, and those lucky few who haven’t have certainly heard of the plague that is IUHVKHU¡V Ă X And when thousands of students are arriving at halls at the beginning of autumn, riddled with whoknows-what and exchanging bacteria like there’s no tomorrow, it’s hardly surprising that the vast majority end up coughing and spluttering all over their brand-new bed VKHHWV But hopefully, with a healthy(ish) diet, a reasonable amount of sleep and a bit of stress-relief in your chosen form, you should be able to live the fresher’s dream without too PXFK LQWHUUXSWLRQ But what about illnesses that go beyond this inconvenient blip in your social schedule? There are more serious infections striking down students not only in WKHLU Ă€ UVW \HDU DQG WKHVH RIWHQ UH quire serious medical attention very TXLFNO\ Unexpectedly, mumps is one of the most common viruses affectLQJ VWXGHQWV WRGD\ :LWK FRQ Ă€ UPHG FDVHV LQ (QJODQG DQG :DOHV EHWZHHQ -DQXDU\ DQG $SULO LW is shocking that 55% of older teenagers are unaware that mumps can cause permanent deafness, viral PHQLQJLWLV DQG LQĂ DPPDWLRQ RI WKH RYDULHV DQG WHVWLFOHV 7KDW¡V ULJKW RI PDOH FDVHV IHD tured an infection of the testicles, FDXVLQJ VZHOOLQJ SDLQ DQG VRUHQHVV 2XFK Other unappealing symptoms include fever, swelling of the face and QHFN DQG UXQQ\ QRVH DQG H\HV And whilst this is a look bound to get you noticed on a night out, it will take at least one trip to the doctor to sort out and carries an incubation SHULRG RI EHWZHHQ DQG GD\V

That’s a fair amount of TV box sets WR JHW WKURXJK $QG DV PRUH WKDQ 1 in 5 older teenagers do not know if they have been vaccinated with MMR, with almost a quarter claiming that they would choose not to be due to a fear of needles, it really is impossible to know what you may EH VKDULQJ D à DW ZLWK DW DQ\ SRLQW GXULQJ \RXU WLPH DW XQL Another brutal attack on your immune system may come in the form RI PHQLQJLWLV This can be viral or, in more serious cases, bacterial and suspected sufferers should seek urgent mediFDO DGYLFH Characterised by fever, vomiting,

drowsiness and confusion, stiffness of the neck and dislike of bright light, this can develop rapidly and FDXVHV LQĂ DPPDWLRQ RI WKH EUDLQ OLQLQJ A speckled skin rash that does not fade under pressure is a major indicator of meningitis, but if this develops a bruise-like appearance septicaemia may be the culprit, and severe illness and unconsciousness PD\ IROORZ Although a vaccination programme in the UK in recent years means that many students will be immune to meningitis C, strain B bacterium are also a common cause of the illness so this should never be

UXOHG RXW DV D SRVVLELOLW\ Those demonstrating the above symptoms should receive urgent PHGLFDO DWWHQWLRQ These are not the only fun-killers determined to put a stop to your social, romantic and, of course, acaGHPLF VFKHGXOH Glandular fever, aptly named ‘the kissing disease’, can take up to a year to fully recover from, not to mention WKH UHFHQW VZLQH Ă X RXWEUHDN ZKLFK WRRN RXW KDOI RI P\ Ă DW ODVW WHUP As always, prevention is better than cure, so try to eat a vegetable once in a while, invest in a decent scarf and maybe even get a good QLJKW¡V VOHHS

product placement Lip balms :LWK &KULVWPDV ORQJ EHKLQG XV EXW winter still in the air, most of us are still battling the effects of the cold QRUWKHUQ ZHDWKHU 'LVWUHVVHG KDLU GU\ VNLQ DQ XQ shakeable rosy glow the moment you go outside - none of these compare to one of the true demons that ZLQWHU EULQJV FKDSSHG OLSV It’s an awful feeling having lips that feel like sandpaper, but hope is QRW ORVW 'ULQN PRUH ZDWHU UHK\GUDWH WKRVH withered little things into something SOXPS DQG NLVVDEOH ([IROLDWH \RX FDQ UXE VRPH FDVWHU sugar and olive oil into your lips DQG UXE DZD\ DQ\ GHDG VNLQ Alternatively you can use and old WRRWKEUXVK WR VFUXE DZD\ DQ\ à DNH\ ELWV $QG ZKHQ DOO RI WKDW LV GRQH \RX QHHG WR WXUQ WR OLS EDOP Ashley Fryer Life & Style Editor

1

2

Best for dry lips Carmex £2.49 per pot Carmex wins every time for it’s tingly DQG VPRRWK IHHO 7KLV powerful, medicated salve soothes and KHDOV GU\ OLSV 3OXV the inventor lived to EH VR LW LV FOHDUO\ good stuff!

Best for everyday use Softlips ÂŁ1.79

4

3

%HVW IRU D TXLFN À [ Blistex from £2.09

5 Best for men Nivea for Men Lip Care ÂŁ2.01 Best for maintaining softnessVaseline Rosy Lips ÂŁ1.79

:HOO &KULVWPDV KDV SDVVHG DQG VR KDV WKH XQSOHDVDQWQHVV RI H[DPV Urgh, exams, damn dirty word, no? It’s the sort of word that hangs over your head like an accusing FORXG RI LJQRUDQFH ([DPV PHDQ revision, and revision means extreme mental anguish, complete with screaming, gibbering, weeping uncontrollably and possibly smashing one’s head against a wall XQWLO FRQVFLRXVQHVV LV ORVW 2U LV that just me? (LWKHU ZD\ WKH UHYLVLRQ SURFHVV FDQ EH D VWUDQJH DQG ZLOIXO EHDVW I always go into it with the best intentions in mind, determination gripping my heart like a vice as I grapple with the mountains RI ERRNV DQG QRWHV WKDW Ă€ OO HYHU\ VTXDUH LQFK RI WKH Ă RRU LQ P\ URRP 6RPHWLPHV , FDQ HYHQ KHDU the Rocky theme tune going round P\ KHDG WKH GULYH LV WKDW VWURQJ But, as is often the way of men’s best laid plans, it’s not long before HYHU\WKLQJ VWDUWV WR JR WLWV XS $Q KRXU RU WZR ODWHU WKDW Ă€ HU\ VPXJ ness has swiftly left me, my brain now reduced to a pile of detritus wheezing pathetically in the corner RI P\ PLQG ,W¡V EH\RQG GHSUHVV LQJ Of course, at this particular point , EHFRPH YXOQHUDEOH WR GLVWUDFWLRQ The soft, alluring call of my Play6WDWLRQ ZKLFK KDV EHHQ QLJJOLQJ at me throughout my work, suddenly becomes unbearably seducWLYH ,Q IDFW LW¡V OLWHUDOO\ LPSRVVLEOH WR UHVLVW 7KH QHZ JDPHV , JRW IRU Christmas, too, are begging, pleading with me to play them, desperDWHO\ FUDYLQJ P\ DWWHQWLRQ ´&RPH RQ QRZ Âľ LW VD\V ´'RQ¡W you see that all this is futile nonsense? You could be slaying a GUDJRQ RU Ă€ JKWLQJ D GHPRQ KRDUG right now, that’s way more fun WKDQ UHDGLQJ DERXW V\QWD[ <RX can do that later, there’s always later‌â€? You can probably see where this LV JRLQJ /LNH WKH ZHDN ZLOOHG spineless fool I am, I always conFHGH WR LWV GHPDQGV 0DQ\ KRXUV later I’ll be hunched over the controller, my hollow, unblinking eyes staring at the pixels on the screen as I mutter under my breath, “Five more minutes and then I’ll get EDFN WR ZRUN -XVW Ă€ YH PRUH PLQ XWHV WKDW FDQ¡W GR DQ\ KDUP Âľ :KDW EORRG\ ODUNV Ă€ YH PLQXWHV LV QHYHU Ă€ YH PLQXWHV ZKHQ LW comes to gaming, as anyone who owns a console (or an obsessive personality) may be able to tell \RX /DGLHV DQG *HQWOHPHQ LW¡V WKH PDQWUD RI DQ DGGLFW However, I don’t really see a ZD\ RXW RI VXFK D YLFLRXV F\FOH , know not everyone is into gaming, but there’s always something to distract you from the honest and decent work you promised yourVHOI \RX¡G GR PD\EH ZDWFKLQJ Ă€ OPV UHDGLQJ D ERRN RU VKRSSLQJ ZLWK IULHQGV Hell, sometimes I’ll even clean my room, I’m that desperate WR DYRLG ZRUN 'LVWUDFWLRQ LV D universal issue, one that plagues students around the globe, tempting us away from the righteous, if interminably dull, path of reviVLRQ ,W¡V MXVW D VDG IDFW RI OLIH WKDW playing a video game will always be a more attractive prospect, no matter how hard I want to believe RWKHUZLVH

20

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Life & Style Food & Drink

food & drink reviews D. RAWCLIFFE

'DUD] Jesmond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pFRU RI WKH UHVWDXUDQW LV ODFNLQJ WKH ZDUPWK DQG LQWLPDF\ WKDW RQH FDQ H[SHFW HOVH ZKHUH LQ WKH QHDUE\ YLFLQLW\ DQ\ LQ LWLDO LPSUHVVLRQ JHWV RYHUORRNHG E\ WKH DIIRUGDEOH DQG DSSHWL]LQJ PHQX 'DUD] KDV WR RIIHU $ SDUWLFXODUO\ DSSHDOLQJ FKDUDF WHULVWLF RI WKH PHQX LV WKH ZHDOWK RI

2OGÀ HOGV Dean Street , VLPSO\ FDQQRW VWUHVV WKLV HQRXJK \RX KDYH WR JR WR 2OGÀ HOGV 7KLV SODFH LV D JHP \HW VWUDQJHO\ OLWWOH NQRZQ E\ VWXGHQWV <RX·OO À QG 2OGÀ HOGV GRZQ 'HDQ 6WUHHW LQ D OLVWHG EXLOGLQJ ERDVWLQJ JRUJHRXV RULJLQDO IHDWXUHV MXVW PLQ XWHV IURP WKH 4XD\VLGH 0RQXPHQW DQG WKH VWDWLRQ ,W·V WKH \RXQJHU VLEOLQJ RI 2OGÀ HOGV 'XUKDP DQG ERWK EUDQFKHV DSSHDU WR EH WKULYLQJ 1R ZRQGHU ZKHQ \RX FRQVLGHU ZKDW·V RQ RIIHU VLPSOH ZHOO FRRNHG ORFDO VHDVRQDO IRRG D EHDXWLIXO VHW WLQJ JUHDW VWDII DQG EHVW RI DOO D ELW RI D EDUJDLQ , ZHQW RQ D UDWKHU JUH\ 7XHVGD\ HYHQLQJ KDYLQJ PHW P\ IULHQG 9LFN\ IURP KHU (GLQEXUJK WUDLQ 6WHSSLQJ WKURXJK WKH GRRU WKH À UVW WKLQJ ZH QRWLFHG ZDV KRZ EXV\ WKH SODFH ZDV ² QRW VRPHWKLQJ \RX DQWLFLSDWH RQ D GXOO ZHHN QLJKW LQ WKH PLGGOH RI D UHFHVVLRQ +RZ HYHU WKHVH FXVWRPHUV FOHDUO\ NQRZ D WKLQJ RU WZR DERXW 2OGÀ HOGV , VXVSHFW OLNH XV WKH\·G DOO MRLQHG WKH ´*RRG )RRG FOXEµ 6LJQ XS RQOLQH DQG \RX JHW D

&KHI·V VSHFLDOLWLHV PDNLQJ 'DUD]·V PHQX XQLTXH IURP D VXE VWDQGDUG ,QGLDQ UHVWDXUDQW 2YHUZKHOPHG E\ WKH DEXQGDQFH RI FKRLFH P\ GLQLQJ FRPSDQLRQ DQG , RSWHG WR VKDUH D FRXSOH RI VWDUWHUV WKDW ZHQW GRZQ D WUHDW 7KH VSHFLDO GXFN À OOHG SDQFDNH DQG VWURQJO\ VSLFHG FKLFNHQ SDNRUD ZHUH SHUIHFWO\ Á DYRXUVRPH DQG VXF FHHGHG LQ VHGXFLQJ WKH WDVWH EXGV UHDG\ IRU WKH PDLQ GLVKHV 0\ FRPSDQLRQ WKRURXJKO\ HQ MR\HG KLV FKLFNHQ PDNKDQL D WLNND FRRNHG ZLWK \RJKXUW DQG PLOG KHUEV À QGLQJ WKH GLVK VXLWHG KLV GLVOLNH IRU RYHUO\ VSLFHG GLVKHV ZLWKRXW ODFNLQJ WKH NLFN QHHGHG WR WLFNOH KLV SDOHWWH , RQ WKH RWKHU KDQG RSWHG IRU WKH FKLFNHQ ELU\DQL D SHUVRQDO IDYRXU LWH RI PLQH 'DUD] GLG QRW GLVDSSRLQW 3OHQW\ RI YHJHWDEOHV DQG IDEXORXVO\ FRRNHG FKLFNHQ PHDQW WKLV RIWHQ KHDY\ GLVK VDWLVÀ HG P\ DSSHWLWH WR WKH SRLQW RI SHUIHFWLRQ 3HUKDSV ZKDW À WWLQJO\ URXQGHG RII D ORYHO\ HYHQLQJ ZDV WKH IDQWDV WLF VHUYLFH ZH HQFRXQWHUHG IURP DOO WKH PHPEHUV RI VWDII LQFOXGLQJ WKH ZDUP IDUHZHOO ZH UHFHLYHG ZKHQ OHDYLQJ WKH IDPLO\ UHVWDXUDQW :LWK D SRVVLEOH UHÀ W LQ WKH 1HZ <HDU 'DUD] ,QGLDQ UHVWDXUDQW OHDYHV OLWWOH WR EH GHVLUHG Larisa Brown Life & Style Editor

YRXFKHU IRU \RXU À UVW YLVLW DQG WKHQ RII WKH ELOO HYHU\ WLPH WKHUHDI WHU <RX·OO DOVR UHFHLYH VSHFLDO RIIHUV E\ H PDLO HYHU\ PRQWK MXVW DV ZHOO DV ZLWK D PRQWKO\ FKDQJH LQ WKH PHQX \RX QHHG DQ H[FXVH WR WU\ RXW WKH ODWHVW RIIHULQJV 1RW RQO\ WKDW EXW E\ DUULYLQJ EH IRUH SP \RX FDQ WDNH DGYDQWDJH RI WKH À [HG SULFH OXQFK DQG HDUO\ HYHQLQJ PHQX +HQFH WKH FURZGV ZH IRXQG WKHUH DW , KDG EHHQ WR 2OGÀ HOGV EHIRUH DQG NQHZ WKH SRUWLRQ VL]HV , ZDV OHWWLQJ P\VHOI LQ IRU :H ZHQW IRU WZR FRXUVHV HDFK D YHU\ UHDVRQDEOH WKRXJK RQ D SDUWLFXODUO\ KXQJU\ GD\ ZH PLJKW KDYH VWUXJJOHG RQ IRU WKUHH DW 9LFN\·V À VK SLH ORRNHG WUDGLWLRQDO DQG KHDUW\ DQG ZDV MXVW ZKDW VKH·G EHHQ GUHDPLQJ RI DOO GD\ ,W FDPH ZLWK JUHDW ELJ FKXQN\ FKLSV SURSHUO\ FRRNHG DQG YHU\ ZHOFRPH 6KH GLG OHDYH WKH SHDV EXW VKH KDV LVVXHV ZLWK WKHP DQ\ZD\ D ELW JUHHQ WRR SHD OLNH VR WKDW·V QR IDXOW RI WKH 2OGÀ HOGV· FKHIV $Q\ZD\ WKH YHUGLFW ZDV ´GHOLVKµ , DOVR ZHQW IRU À VK RUGHULQJ WKH VDOPRQ ZLWK EURDG EHDQV SRWDWRHV DQG FUDE EXWWHU 7KH À OOHW ZDV YHU\ JHQHURXV VHD VRQHG MXVW ULJKW DQG WKH EXWWHU FRP ELQHG DOO WKH FRPSRQHQWV RI WKH GLVK SHUIHFWO\

$ VLGH RUGHU RI URDVW FDUURWV ZDV XQQHFHVVDU\ EXW WDVW\ DQG RQO\ H[WUD 3XGGLQJV ZHUH VWLFN\ WRIIHH IRU 9LF H[TXLVLWH DQG HOHJDQWO\ VHUYHG D FXW DERYH WKH SXE YHUVLRQV DQG EXWWHUVFRWFK LFH FUHDP ZLWK KRPH PDGH VKRUWEUHDG IRU PH , ZDV VOLJKWO\ MHDORXV RI WKH UXP EDED RQ WKH QH[W WDEOH EXW LW PLJKW KDYH GHIHDWHG PH DQ\ZD\ ,·OO VDYH WKDW IRU QH[W WLPH 7KH PHQX DOVR RIIHUV ORFDO DOHV DQG %ULWLVK FKHHVHV URXQGLQJ RII D YHU\ ZHOO FRQFHLYHG VLPSOH FROOHFWLRQ RI FODVVLFV 2QH RI WKH QLFHVW WRXFKHV KHUH LV WKH LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ VRXUFLQJ EHDXWL IXOO\ SURGXFHG SRVWHUV RQ WKH ZDOOV DQG Á \HUV RQ WKH WDEOHV JLYH D SRWWHG KLVWRU\ RI WKH ORFDO VXSSOLHUV DQG WKHUH·V PRUH RQ WKH ZHEVLWH LI \RX·UH D UHDO IDQ 2QO\ WZR PLQRU JULSHV ² QRW NHHQ RQ WKH WDFN\ VDXFH ERWWOHV RQ WKH WD EOHV GRHVQ·W ZRUN ZLWK WKH HOHJDQW GLVKHV ZRRG SDQHOOLQJ DQG UHVWRUHG À UHSODFH DQG DV LW ZDV VR IXOO WKH VHUYLFH ZDV VOLJKWO\ VORZ %XW WKHVH DUH GHVSHUDWH DWWHPSWV WR À QG D FRPSODLQW 2Q EDODQFH 2OGÀ HOGV LV VWXQQLQJ DQG ZLOO NHHS \RX FRPLQJ EDFN IRU PRUH Kay McArdle

food tips An apple a day Due to their nutritional and KHDOWK EHQHÀ WV LW·V UHFRPPHQG HG WKDW IUXLW DQG YHJHWDEOHV IRUP WKH EDVLV RI \RXU GLHW ZLWK D PLQ LPXP LQWDNH RI À YH SRUWLRQV HDFK GD\ DERXW D WKLUG RI \RXU GDLO\ IRRG FRQVXPSWLRQ 2I FRXUVH LW LV HDVLHU VDLG WKHQ GRQH ZLWK PDQ\ RI XV UHVRUWLQJ WR HDWLQJ PLFURZDYH PHDOV DQG SL]]D UDWKHU WKDQ SXWWLQJ LQ WKH HIIRUW WR HDW KHDOWKLO\ 6XSULVLQJO\ HDWLQJ KHDOWKLO\ DQG RQ D EXGJHW FDQ EH GRQH IDLU O\ HDVLO\ 5HDVRQV WR HDW À YH SRUWLRQV RI IUXLW DQG YHJHWDEOHV D GD\ +LJK À EUH FRQWHQW ZKLFK KHOSV NHHS \RX IXOOHU IRU ORQJHU DQG FDQ UHGXFH FKROHVWHURO DQG FRQWURO EORRG VXJDU OHYHOV &RQWDLQ HVVHQWLDO YLWDPLQV DQG PLQHUDOV ZKLFK FDQ DFW DV DQWLR[LGDQWV SURWHFWLQJ WKH ERG\ IURP IUHH UDGLFDOV WKDW ZLOO LQ WXUQ SURWHFW DJDLQVW FDQFHU /RZ LQ ¶EDG· IDW VR FDQ EH XVHG DV D UHSODFHPHQW IRU RWKHU VQDFNV LQ D ZHLJKW UHGXFLQJ GLHW 6RPH IUXLWV DQG YHJHWDEOHV DUH KLJK LQ

¶JRRG· IDW ZKLFK FDQ KHOS WR UH GXFH FKROHVWHURO 7KHVH LQFOXGH 2OLYH RLO DYRFDGR DQG SXPSNLQ VHHGV ,W KDV EHHQ VKRZQ WKDW WKHUH LV D GLUHFW FRUUHODWLRQ EHWZHHQ LQ FUHDVHG IUXLW DQG YHJHWDEOHV DQG GHFUHDVHG LQFLGHQFH RI &RURQDU\ +HDUW 'LVHDVH :KDW LV D SRUWLRQ" SLHFH RI DYHUDJH VL]HG IUXLW H J DSSOH RUDQJH SHDFK VOLFH RI D ODUJH IUXLW H J PHO RQ JUDSHIUXLW SLQHDSSOH J YHJHWDEOHV H J FDUURWV SHDV $ JODVV RI IUXLW MXLFH URXJKO\ PO

WDEOHVSRRQ GULHG IUXLW H J UDLVRQV VXOWDQDV J RI WLQQHG IUXLW H J WLQQHG DSULFRWV SHDUV 5HFLSH ,GHD 1DWXUDO \RJKXUW ZLWK WEVS EOXHEHUULHV DQG D EDQDQD RQ WRDVW VHUYLQJV Henrietta Hearth

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

21

Behind The Apprentice with Nick Hewer Culture Editor: Alice Vincent - courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk

> TV & Radio, page 34

Who’s going to be this year’s Lady Gaga? Culture’s editorial team make their predictions for 2010 Chris Mandle Music Editor

Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor Television is as predictable as it is unpredictable these days; 2010 will contain as many smart, witty and interesting programmes as it will unbearable Z-list celebrity dross. %XW +L 'HĂ€ QLWLRQ FRXOG WDNH XV anywhere. The obvious future union of This Morning’s Holly ‘that-white-dress’ Willoughby and Phillip ‘I’ve got the EHVW MRE LQ WKH ZRUOG¡ 6FKRĂ€ HOG LW¡V an accident waiting to happen. The sexual tension on The One Show is nothing compared to two hours of ZDWFKLQJ 6FKRĂ€ HOG WU\LQJ WR LJQRUH his co-presenter’s bulging bosoms and twinkling eyes. Come Dine with Me is also set to take an exciting swinger twist as the diners are invited to stay the whole night, leading to a series of desperate pulling attempts to win over the other contestants and the Â… SUL]H 7KH Ă€ QDO FRQFOXGHV with the merging of dinner and sleepover in a compelling yet grotesque edible chocolate paint episode. With Jeremy Kyle launching a US show, is it beyond hope to want Jerry Springer to make a comeback in defence? Or better still, he could appear on Jeremy Kyle USA on a show entitled ‘You Stole My Show – and now I want revenge’ or ‘I slept with Jeremy Kyle’s wife – DNA special’. And, of course, there will also be a plethora of new reality TV shows including How to Look Good Naked While Dancing On Ice In The Jungle and Wife Swap Shipwrecked Wipeout Special. Get out your Sky+ now before you miss out!

After last year’s femme-fatales blasting their way through turgid ego-indie and dominating the charts, we enter the new decade with a sense of uncertainty. Indeed, with third album ‘Plastic Beach’ dripping with dubby minimalism and trip-hop samples, perhaps Gorillaz will wear the crown and giggle with toothless grins. If 2009 capitalised on its shameless, sugary pop, then 2010 may dip its toe into dark and turbulent mood swings. Early listens of MIA’s hotlyanticipated album tells tales of catapulting-space-voyages arching into murky, moody waters. Ellie Goulding will most likely harvest success from her soon-tobe-released debut Lights, but I for one am feeling slightly sickly after DQ RYHU LQGXOJHQFH LQ VXFK Ă€ ]]\ VSDUNOLQJ PXVLF DNLQ WR VWXIĂ€ QJ my face with Pick ‘N’ Mix. Has the Starsmith-produced album come a little too late? My unsung heroes of late, Local Natives, are also set to have a great year ahead of them, with ‘Airplanes’ blowing up Fleet Foxes in a torpedo of emotive angst and ‘Sun Hands’ raucous tribe-chants. Comparisons to Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend are completely MXVWLĂ€ HG EXW WKH\ GR VRPHWKLQJ IDU more ambitious, something truly wonderful at their live shows. Predicts: melancholy, returns for Gorillaz and MIA and going mad for Local Natives

Predicts: sexual tension, Jezza K USA takeover and reality TV hypershows

Stephanie Ferrao Arts Editor In welcoming Damien Hirst’s iconic exhibition Pharmacy to the BALTIC, Newcastle celebrated the end of the decade by showing that the North East has become a major player in the national arts scene. We’re only one month into 2010 and already Geordie play ‘The Pitmen Painters’ has reached a groundbreaking deal to be transferred from its roots at the Live Theatre to the bright lights of Broadway! Arts Council initiatives like ‘A Night Less Ordinary’ (which offer free theatre tickets to students) ZLOO GHĂ€ QLWHO\ EH ZRUWK WDNLQJ XS as the Theatre Royal, Live Theatre and Northern Stage have cracking Spring/Summer line-ups. With the biennial AV festival coming up in March, we’re promised a jam-packed quirky mix of electronic and performance art. Equally, with more new creative spaces opening up, Newcastle has never had so much to offer to the humble student. Predicts:performance art and extra space

Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor Will Jerry Springer make a comeback in response to Jeremy Kyle taking his show to the US?

Alice Vincent Culture Editor There’s a certain pressure on the start of a new decade. Is it going to follow in the footsteps of the previous ten years, or will 2010 announce itself a kicking and screaming annum of modernity? My predictions sit, somewhat tediously, on the fence in between these. Whilst there are going to be some surprise successes - who, in 2009, would have expected NME’s new editor, Krissi Murrison, to announce she’d love to put Lady Gaga on the cover? - 2010’s musical crowd-pleasers are going to be a development of what we’ve seen in the last few months. The ‘dumbing down’ of electro will be everywhere. Not just a few remixes in Tiger Tiger, but that atrocious bonding of genres, ‘house indie’, is going to get huge. Underground, drone, noise and synths are going to be making more weird nonsense to get fuzzed out to. Expect summer’s hit to be retroey with jangling guitars - Paolo

Nutini’s going to have a good year - closely rivalled by a trashy ballad from Kesha. Avatar’s success and bleak economic conditions suggests fantasy and 3D are going to make 2010 the futuristic era it really sounds. Similarly, TV is going to take off in 2010 as more people stay in. Expect more political drama - think British West Wing - and a whole new obsession with American suburbia as Desperate Housewives looks set to have its best year yet and the whole world fall in love with Glee. A UK reality TV programme is bound to follow. With two set-to-be pioneering books on feminism being released this year, arts is going to be as girlĂ€ OOHG DV PXVLF ZDV ODVW \HDU I see a backlash against ‘liberating’ pole-dancing-esque activities, as Kirsty Allsop spawns more copycats in the pursuit of the home arts. Where shabby ‘austerity’ chic started last year, it’s set to explode this year. Get your needles out. 3UHGLFWV PDLQVWUHDP HOHFWUR VFL Ă€ DQG knitting

Gordon Bruce Online Editor I don’t want to get overexcited and greet you with gross hyperbole, but 2010 will be the best year yet for Online. This year sees a dramatic thrust forward, with a new crack team of online-only editors working tirelessly to get the content you want online. They’ll be consuming gallons of coffee as they upload story after story, with content unique to online as well as the week’s top stories. With exciting bands passing through our glorious city this year, new video content, acoustic sessions and interviews are on the cards. Furthermore, we will have our committed team blogging themselves to death for you, including the environmental musings of Taz Burwaiss and the avant-garde musical escapades of Joe Barton. :H¡UH WUXO\ VDFULĂ€ FLQJ RXUVHOYHV for you beautiful readers, so get online and spread word.

,Q Ă€ OP H[SHFW WKH 2VFDUV WR EH won by either a) a piece of overlysentimental crap involving capital punishment, Nazis, polar bears or preferably all three, b) an average work from a revered director they inexplicably failed to award during their artistic peak three decades ago, or c) (yuck) Avatar. In literature, Katie Price’s newest effort turns out to have been ghostwritten by the ghost of Franz Kafka, explaining both its focus on the dehumanising effects of bureaucracy as opposed to sex, bleached hair, sex, tanning salons and then some more sex just in case, and the fact that it’s not got a bloody ending. In music meanwhile, the advent of ‘tech-house’n’western-step-core’ marks the point where no more sub-genres can be created. During said craze, it also becomes abundantly clear that the combination of Stetsons and hoodies is the worst look of all time, and that it’s frankly impossible to shake one’s booty to something that sounds like John Wayne’s head imploding at the bottom of the ocean. Predicts: NaziPolarBears, Kafka phantoms and western revival

ally genuine and nice.â€? The gig might even be an opportunity to see the debuting of Beth’s latest stage-costume. As all good conversations should, it doesn’t take long for us to start discussing American Apparel - who have also done their part for Haiti by shipping 20,000 garments over there. “I might start wearing a onesie on stage,â€? she announces, “although I used to wear my pyjamas to the pub so I suppose it’s not all that different.â€? As the gig’s clearly going to be sold out, there’s still a way for people to get LQYROYHG 5DIĂ H WLFNHWV IRU DQ LQFUHDVing list of prizes are on sale from The Cluny, Head of Steam and Tilleys. So far, there are tickets for sold-out gigs, meals, drinks, rare and signed music merchandise and even an iPod. There really isn’t a better way to help out.

The Refreshers Fair this year will be featuring over 45 clubs and societies over a two-day period, giving all students a second chance to sign up to the wide range of activities that are on offer.

15.00, free

Basement, 11.00 -

Refreshers Fair

union

Tyneside’s monthly live music event sees Sunderland’s critically acclaimed troubadour Lucas Renney enter The Polite Room. The English teacher turned singer-songwriter is inspired by William Blake alongside the Sun, the sky and other traditional lyric themes, which come through with beautiful results. Expect simple, contemporary local folk music, and a intimate opportunity to hear his debut album, Strange Glory.

The Polite Room, Tyneside Cinema, 19.30, ÂŁ3

Lucas Renney

music

Have you got a picture that epitomises Newcastle for you? It might be your favourite city view or a picture that shows your best night out with your friends. Whatever it is, The Courier wants to see it. Send your photos along with a short description of why the photo shows ‘My Newcastle’ to editor.union@ncl.ac.uk. The best photo of the year will be chosen to be the front cover of the 2010/11 Alternative Prospectus. Above: the O2 Academy by Geo Hartshorn, ‘My Newcastle’ winner in 2008.

my newcastle

“It’s so refreshing to see things happening for it,â€? Beth Jeans Houghton says of the last-minute organisation of the Haiti Fundraiser this Friday. Beth, originally from Heaton, is looking forward to returning to her roots to play the gig. “It’s nice because me and the band live so far away when I’m in London, and it’ll be a good opportunity to practise before we start the tour with Stornoway the next day.â€? A laid back approach, perhaps, but the aforementioned tour has been hotly anticipated - combining two of 2010’s hottest folk acts. If folk can be hot, that is. When we speak, Beth is taking a break from a studio in Bermondsey. Her debut breaks later this year, something that is clearly “a lot of work, but really exciting.â€? If Radio One Introducing’s Huw Stephens is anyone to go by, the album will mean Beth’s appearances at the summer festivals (Bestival, amongst others, is on the cards) will be well attended. Friday’s Haiti fundraiser, then, is an excellent opportunity to make yourself one of those smugsters who can claim you “saw her in a tiny gig aaages ago.â€? The Cluny is actually holding quite a showcase to Geordie-musicians-donegood, what with headliners Field Music returning for a good cause. 6XUSULVLQJO\ LW¡V JRLQJ WR EH WKH Ă€UVW time the Sunderland band and Beth play together. She’s looking forward to it, as “it’s really nice to get support from a local band - Field Music are re-

The Cluny, Friday

Haiti Fundraiser

monday

02 Academy, 19.00, adv. tickets

Sunshine Underground

music

Get your needles at the ready, as Tyneside’s fortnightly knitting club returns for 2010. All abilities welcome.

Tyneside Cinema, 19.00, free

.QLWWLQJ &OXE

arts

The Cluny, 20.00, ÂŁ7

+DPHO

music

The Tyneside Cinema announces the winner of the Valentine’s issue of its nowIDPRXV ÀOP SROO Find out today which romantic classic is going to get the good people of Newcastle cinematically loved-up later in the month. Bitter love-cynics need not apply.

Tyneside Cinema

North East’s Favourite 5RPDQWLF ÀOP announced

film

ITV2, 21.00 Full preview, page 32

The Vampire Diaries

tv

tuesday

the guide: 1 february to 7 february

highlighted

Culture

22

Newcastle City Hall, 19.30, sold out

JLS

music

Head of Steam, 20.00, ÂŁ4

0DGH %\ 0RQNV %LOO\ %ORRGD[H $QJOR )RUP The Farriers

music

Pile on the eyeliner and get ready for angst. With All Time Low, The Blackout, Young Guns and My Passion.

O2 Academy, doors at 18.30, adv. tickets

.HUUDQJ 5HOHQWOHVV Tour 2010

music

Missed what happened at the Copenhagen climate conference? A screenLQJ RI ÀOP WDNHQ IURP WKH PRELOLVDWLRQV LQ 'HQPDUN VKRXOG ÀOO \RX LQ

Star & Shadow Cinema, 19.30, ÂŁ3/4

Where Next after Copenhagen?

film

Tyneside Cinema, 20.00, free Full preview, page 26

The Learning 5HYROXWLRQ

film

wednesday

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

Come and reinvent your free time and shed those post-Christmas pounds. Lishi is a cutely-named ancient Chinese art of exercise, balance and well-being. It also relieves stress, develops your VHOI FRQÀGHQFH DQG SK\VLFDO ÀWQHVV promotes a healthy lifestyle and is exhilarating fun! Email Emily at adc.union@ncl.ac.uk if you fancy giving it a go.

Basement, 18.00, free

*LYH LW D *R /LVKL

union

What better to banish those winter blues? A new series of uplifting, vibrant DQG HFOHFWLF ZHHNO\ ÀOP VFUHHQLQJV curated by PRMT VIBES originator Richard Macfarlane and Kuba Ryniewicz. Tonight’s screening, Weekend at Bernies, is bound to set things off with a bang. Buy a drink, have a seat and indulge in cinematic sunshine.

Tyneside Cinema Bar, 21.00, free

9,7$0,1 & :HLUG 7URSLFDO )LOP 6HDVRQ ODXQFK

film

The Chillingham Arms, ÂŁ20.30, ÂŁ5

1XPE &RPHG\

arts

The scenester party of the year returns with yet another incredible line-up. The Maccabees’ headline slot FHUWLÀHV WKHLU VXFFHVV WKLV \HDU ZKLOVW London wonderkinds Bombay Bicycle Club are a very pleasant addition. As large as their name, the Big Pink will be entertaining the crowd, giving The Drums a tough opening pitch. All in all, a fab excuse to see some of the best bands of 2009. If you want a front-row position, start queuing up early with the school kids.

O2 Academy, doors at 19.00, adv. tickets

Shockwaves NME $ZDUGV 7RXU

music

Venue, 20.00, ÂŁ4

6WDWHV RI (PRWLRQ 3RODU Chord, Dischord

music

Live Theatre, 20.00, ÂŁ4/6

$ 1RUWKHUQ 2G\VVH\ E\ 6KHODJK 6WHSKHQVRQ

arts

thursday

Narrative fun at Byker’s nicest venue.

Star & Shadow Cinema, 19.30, ÂŁ4/6

$ ELW RI &UDFN VWRU\ WHOOLQJ QLJKW

arts

Reggae all the way with Pangea sound system.

WHQ downstairs, 10.30, price tbc

%RE 0DUOH\¡V %LUWKGD\ &HOHEUDWLRQ

clubbing

theCUT, 21.00, ÂŁ6/8

&/((5 0DUN +HQQLQJ

clubbing

Global Cafe, 20.00, free

Christian Union $FRXVWLF 1LJKW

music

The Cluny, 19.00, ÂŁ8 adv. tickets See highlighted

+DLWL )XQGUDLVHU )LHOG Music, Beth Jeans Houghton

music

Digital, 22.00, ÂŁ11 adv. tickets

SUBPRIME vs. 7XUEXOHQFH 1RLVLD 6NHSWD 7RGGOD 7 (PHOND\ 3KRELD Dynamix

clubbing

Digital, 19.30, ÂŁ8 adv. tickets

Mike Snow

music

One of the few bands to actually survive 2006’s Nu Rave, um, ‘episode’, These New Puritans are set to storm 2010. With new album HIDDEN clearly being anything but, what with 9/10 reviews from NME amongst other critical acclaim, this gig is going to be rammed, despite the extreme quantity of musical activity this evening.

The Other Rooms, 21.30, ÂŁ6

These New Puritans at -XNHER[

music

friday

23

,I \RX ZRXOG OLNH \RXU HYHQW WR EH SXEOLVKHG LQ œWKH JXLGH¡ SOHDVH HPDLO courier. FXOWXUH#QFO DF XN

Art for boys? The American artist looks at criminality, pride and shame through art created by varying interview processes.

19.30, ÂŁ4/6

The BALTIC,

Jordan Baseman The Most 3RZHUIXO Weapon in WKH :RUOG

arts

Simon Boccanegra Giuseppe Verdi, live from the Metropolitan Opera House, New York.

Tyneside Cinema, doors at 18.00, ÂŁ18/20

2SHUD /LYH YLD 6DWHOOLWH

film

Basement, Union, 23.00, ÂŁ10+bf adv. tickets

The Seismic Event

clubbing

O2 Academy, doors at 18.00, adv. tickets

Me vs. Hero

music

Cosmic Ballroom, 23.30, price tbc

'DGD $OH[ &HOOHU &HFLOOH )UHDN 1 &KLF $QWKHD &HFLOOH 3KRQLFD

clubbing

saturday

Indulge in a new approach to Sunday nightlife with curfew as it rocks up at the Telegraph again tonight, providing the best reason to get off the sofa to see out the weekend. Cult DJs My Girlfriend and Untitled will be spinning their favourite tunes, inspired by February’s theme of 7UDVK\ 5RPDQFH :LWK PXVLFDO LQà Xences as diverse as Shakespeare’s Sister, F*ck Buttons, and Elvis - it is trashy romance, after all - you can expect an interesting night. The curfew girls will be handing out Milk Tray and Mills and Boon novels a-plenty to set the tone, too. Find it all upstairs at The Telegraph, behind Central Station, complete with the best smoking balcony in town.

The Telegraph, Orchard St. 20.00 -1.00, ÂŁ2

curfew

clubbing

This cutesy market has become somewhat of an institution for all fans of vintage, second-hand, hand made arts, crafts, clothing and accessories. It returns to the Star and Shadow this Sunday with even more stalls for LWV ÀUVW PDUNHW RI Stalls include: - Pet Lamb Patisserie are offering their yummy yum sweets and cakey things - Mai Twynm from Lime St studios is showing off handmade bags - Artist Yvette Hawkins will be there with her beautiful and unique book sculptures - New designer Joanne Bason with her latest collection of handmade retro style clothing amongst many more.

Star and Shadow Cinema 11.00 - 16.00, free

Make and Mend Market

arts

sunday

Listings by Alice Vincent - courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk

Culture

24

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Arts

arts theatre

P.KOLNIK

Guns, gals and all that jazz Rachel Flint previews Broadway hit Chicago The Theatre Royal Newcastle is preparing itself for a jail break this February as the cast of Broadway’s hit musical Chicago storms centre stage. Starring Wet Wet Wet’s frontman Marti Pellow as lawyer Billy Flynn, alongside EastEnders actress Emma Barton as Roxie Hart, the show boasts a star studded cast, who have provided an endless array of vocal and theatrical talent throughout the National UK Tour. Having received rave reviews across the country, the show visits Newcastle at last to transport the North East into the deceitful world of the American Justice System, alongside murderess and famemongerer, Roxie Hart. Based on the 1926 book by Maurine Dallas Watkins, this Kander and Ebb musical tells the story of a nightclub singer Roxie Hart who murders her lover Fred Casley, shooting him in a moment of jealousy. The story follows her conviction to

the death-row cells of Cook County Jail, where she awaits trail for murder, following her as she meets her inmates; a group of passion-fuelled murderesses who have killed their adulterous husbands and lovers, and are awaiting execution for their crimes. Amongst them is the infamous Velma Kelly, a seductive, enticing, glamorous murderess who craves fame and will do just about anything to stay in the limelight. The underworld story unravels in a whirlwind of crime, deceit and deception, with the murderess pair playing against each other for the representation of the gorgeously lawyer Billy Flynn, and eventually working together in an attempt to achieve their freedom and, more importantly, fame. This intricate narrative of corruption, crime, greed, murder and showbiz is predicted to be a stunning spectacle. This show boasts the perfect mix of an intriguing storyline with seductive choreography, skimpy costumes and well-known, infectiously

catchy songs, such as ‘All that Jazz’ and ‘Razzle Dazzle’, woven together to make an overall extraordinary theatre experience for everyone. Prepare to follow Roxie Hart into a world of crime and corruption behind the bars of an all-female American jail. Meet the infamous murderess inmates, and witness them performing their seductive tango between life and death row. Watch the media battle between two fame-hungry murderesses and their sophisticated lawyer in this spectacular performance, which comes to our doorstep in just a few weeks’ time. To miss this contemporary classic Broadway hit would almost be a crime against culture, so get yourself to the Theatre Royal for what will undoubtedly be an extraordinary night of entertainment. Chicago dazzles the Theatre Royal 1HZFDVWOH IRU Ă€YH GD\V IURP WKH WK )HEUXDU\ Razzle Dazzle: Emma Barton as Roxie Hart in Chicago

interview

‘It’s a seriously sexy show’ $UWV (GLWRU Stephanie Ferrao speaks to Wet Wet Wet frontman and star of Chicago Marti Pellow to talk all things musical We hear you’ve just got back from LA. What have you been up to? I’ve out in Brentwood, Los Angeles working on a musical called The 1LJKWPDUH $OOH\, but that was just for one show, so I was literally only there for a couple of weeks. Tell me about playing the lead role in the Witches of Eastwick! It must have been pretty full-on... 7KDW Ă€QLVKHG WKLV VXPPHU DIWHU UXQning for about eight months! When you sign up for these kinds of things, \RX WKLQN LW VRXQGV Ă€QH EXW ZKHQ you’re doing eight shows a week it can be a bit of a challenge. Even near the end though, we were all really enthusiastic and passionate about the show; I had a really great cast surrounding me! And now you’re heading-up the cast again in Chicago! Yeah, the producers asked me if I could do a six month run and I said it was perfect because it was just the right amount of time for me. I’ve played this part a few times now and I think the last time I did LW ZDV DERXW Ă€YH \HDUV DJR VR LW¡V TXLWH GLIĂ€FXOW WR VXVWDLQ \RXUVHOI in the same role for that amount of time.

For Chicago, do you prefer acting in the big West End nights or touring the country? I think the productions that are good can actually be better than the West End in regional theatres. Audiences round the country are really appreciative and very up for having a good time, and I think that people are very aware of how accessible shows like Chicago are. They come along and have a blast! Then again, I enjoy working on Broadway and doing the West End just as I do playing for audiences in Newcastle. What appeal do you think the show has for students? It’s one of those shows that are really popular with younger people, whether they’re studying it for Drama or going to the theatre. I guess it SUREDEO\ KHOSV WKDW LW¡V D Ă€OP WRR The music in the show is so wonderful too, and the choreography in Ann Rankin’s interpretation of it is just so good to watch and is a great challenge to take on. There’s a huge sensuality to the movement – it’s a seriously sexy show. Do you like musical theatre yourself? I love it, that’s why I’m involved with Arts! What’s your favourite musical? It’d have to be The Sound of Music. Hold on, the interview’s suddenly been turned around here! What’s the best production that you’ve worked on? 7KDW¡V D GLIĂ€FXOW RQH \RX NQRZ because I like them all for different reasons. It’d probably have to be

Chess; that was a good one, a great challenge for me to play the part of the Arbiter. Tim Rice phoned me up and asked me to do that, and I wasn’t initially sure if it was right for me, but he convinced me. He’s quite persuasive! I’m a singer/songwriter, and I never studied musical theatre or anything, and it sort of came to me and I never really saw it coming. It’s nice that at this time in my career I can evolve and try these different things and most importantly, have an audience who can afford me the luxury to do it! With your theatrical commitments, do you get any time to sing these days? <HDK ,Q IDFW , KDYH MXVW Ă€QLVKHG a new album that comes out next year. I constantly tour, you know - if I’m not on this tiny wee island of the United Kingdom, I’m touring somewhere else in Europe or America. I’m out and about all the time! Here in Newcastle, we have a lot of Scottish students. Do you ever get much time to head back to Scotland? Well, I think you’ve got to make time. When I was growing up, I spent all my time trying to get out of Scotland, and now I spend all my time trying to get back in! My famLO\¡V WKHUH VR , GHĂ€QLWHO\ GR PDNH time to go back. Well thanks for chatting to The Courier and best of luck with the show. M: It was a pleasure, and I hope you enjoy Chicago!

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

25

Arts Culture Arts Editor: Stephanie Ferrao - courier.culture-arts@ncl.ac.uk

theatre

Scottish Ballet put in a cracking performance The Nutcracker hits the stage in Newcastle, writes Josie Vallely Artistic director Ashley Page breathes new life into the ballet production of E.T.A. Hoffman’s story, The Nutcracker. Taking the traditional German fairy tale as it was originally written, Page explores the deeper, more sinister aspect of a Christmas family favourite. The Scottish Ballet’s Nutcracker is a far cry from the glittery Angelina Ballerina scenes that a ballet production might initially conjure up. A rich, quirky, creative masterpiece, The Nutcracker is sure to be the perfect stage-based remedy to the dark days of Febuary. The Nutcracker follows the story of Dr and Frau Stahlbaum- a couple so self absorbed that they fail to realise that their home is being invaded by hoards of mice. Daughter Marie (for which Tomami Sato is perfectly casted,) is lost in a dream world of Mouse Queens, true love and a Nutcracker Prince, to escape from the incessant torment from her evil mistress and antagonistic younger brother. Marie eventually learns the story of

why the Nutcracker Prince looks the way he does, confesses her undying love for him, and lifts the curse that was placed upon him by the Mouse Queen. Underlying the plot are Freudian themes involving a slightly overenthusiastic unmarried grandfatherthe toymaker. So far, so Nutcracker, but what is that make this production stand above the rest? The production of The Nutcracker promises to be as much a visual spectacle as a ballet. The costumes traditionally German in style, are altered to present a much quirkier and modern edge to the show. While adhering genuinely to the plot of Hoffman’s story, the ballet offers a storytelling through the medium of dance. But don’t worry, we’re promised that The Nutcracker retains all of its decadence. Haute couture velvet tailcoats to rich silk kimonos, crude spiky VQRZà DNH WXWXV WR HODERUDWH PRXVH costumes, the creativity and originality will not disappoint! As should be expected, with show-stealing choreography, The Nutcracker combines dancing from WKH SRLQWH ZRUN RI WKH VQRZà DNHV with powerful and heavily technical pas-de-deux from dancers Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari.

The fairytale comes to life in The Nutcracker at the Theatre Royal Page has excited critics by combining traditional classical 19th century EDOOHW ZLWK WKH ULS URDULQJ Ă DSSHU dance of the twenties. Incredible precision and perfect partnering are sure to create a haunting, aweinspiring spectacle.

To top it all off, the dark, surreal illustrations of Max Ernst- of the 'DGD DUW PRYHPHQW KDYH LQĂ XHQFHG the production and combined with the atmospheric lighting and subtly sublime orchestra, promise an unearthly, dreamlike landscape.

art

The Great British Art Debate at Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, continues to excite us in a series of shows which dispute the importance of British art. This month, contemporary artist /XNH &DXOĂ€HOG¡V SRUWUDLWV RI KHDY\ metal devotees are exhibited alongside a karaoke booth in Rebel Nation. It invites us to listen to the music, sing some songs and discover how British art has associations with prevalent culture today, including conventionally unorthodox genres of music and populace. &DXOĂ€HOG¡V Rebel Nation depicts often featureless teenagers clad in death metal t-shirts. 0XFK RI &DXOĂ€HOG¡V SKRWRJUDSKLF traits can be derived from genres RI KHDY\ PHWDO DQG WKH KRUURU Ă€OP observed in his requisition and adaptation of motifs within medieval devotional art. Staged as if observed from below, the adolescents appear to have surfaced out from the fathoms of hell, perceiving us with derision. Any visitor to this exhibition can create their own web of cultural UHIHUHQFH IURP &DXOĂ€HOG¡V LPDJHU\ from the metal scene, to juvenile disturbance, degenerative symbolism and, undeniably, iconography. &DXOĂ€HOG¡V PRGHOV DUH KRZHYHU anything but the angst-ridden teenagers, casually sporting their almost

The Nutcracker is on at the Theatre Royal from 3 - 6 February 2010

Happy snapping

Collision of Sound and Vision in karaoke exhibition Natalie Crick on the Laing’s latest addition

Page proffers a masterpiece: a haunting yet wholly accessible take on a traditional favourite.

arrogant devotion, that we assume them to be. &DXOĂ€HOG¡V SDLQWLQJV GLYXOJH WKH sovereignty of expression, that is, how innate our conceptions of distinct genres are, and how they can be media-manipulated. &DXOĂ€HOG GHPRQVWUDWHV KRZ WK Century painter John Martin has LQĂ XHQFHG PRGHUQ GD\ PXVLF DQG art. As Julie Milne, curator of the Laing Art Gallery, states: “John Martin was a locally-born, 19th Century artist whose apocalyptic paintings gained him huge popularity in his OLIHWLPH DQG KDYH JRQH RQ WR LQĂ XHQFH Ă€OP PDNHUV GHVLJQHUV DQG DUWists to the present day. In this exhibition we are looking DW KLV LQĂ XHQFH RQ SRSXODU FXOWXUH and everyone is welcome to come along and have a go in our karaoke booth!â€? Rebel Nation is a component of the Great British Art Debate at the Laing Art Gallery, an array of exhibitions and spectacles inquiring into KRZ DUW LQĂ XHQFHV WKH OLYHV RI %ULWish people today. The efforts of local artist John Martin are examined, whose expressive views and prophetic works captivated 19th Century audiences, enFRXUDJLQJ GHVLJQHUV Ă€OP PDNHUV musicians and artists over the years to react to historic change while we, the viewing public, look on. As Julie Milne elaborates: â€?The Laing holds the single most important collection of Martin’s work in the world and we want to highlight

¾/LJKWQLQJ 6WULNHV 7ZLFHœ E\ /XNH &DXO¿HOG 5HEHO 1DWLRQ DW WKH /DLQJ *DOOHU\ how the work of this artist from the 1RUWK (DVW KDV JRQH RQ WR LQà XHQFH everything from art and design to ÀOP DQG PXVLF ZRUOGZLGH ¾ So join the Rebel Nation this month at the Laing to get involved in the Great British Art Debate and an-

WLFLSDWH KRZ WKH PHGLD LQĂ XHQFHG \RXWK FDQ LQĂ XHQFH D QHZ DJH LQ history. Rebel Nation will be available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 35pm, until 7 March

Fancy yourself as an aspiring photographer of the natural elements? Have an eye for discovering raw and imaginative images or capturing ones alike of the world’s PRVW LQĂ XHQWLDO DQG VWDJJHULQJ architecture? Then this could be the way forward for you to win the chance of landing yourself a photographic commission worth ÂŁ1000 or ÂŁ750 worth of camera equipment vouchers with the 2nd and 3rd prizes being only marginally less. It’s simple. If you think that you are a photographer capable of capturing striking images that UHĂ HFW KRZ WKH EXLOW HQYLURQPHQW and nature can shame our world then read on‌ Following the huge success of its competition last year, focusing on the theme of ‘Bricks and Mortals’, ADP architects and associates have decided to run the competition again this year with the fresh, new theme and brief being: Architecture Naturally. With last year’s theme centred on people and the built environment in which they lived in, this year’s theme has been designed to focus on architecture within the natural world. The competition is open to anyone with the closing date being 31st March 2010. You have free reign to enter whatever powerful and innovative image you feel best captures the demands of the photo brief. For more information on the competition visit its website at www.adparchitects.co.uk Daisy Wallis

26

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Film

Film features

Why the backlash against Pandora? Just jealousy, or is Cameron’s outer space spectacular really unworthy of the hype, asks Pete Duggan When Titanic was released in 1997 WKH ÀOP RSHQHG WR KXJH FULWLFDO DSSURYDO EURNH DOO ER[ RIÀFH UHFRUGV going and was rewarded with wide VFDOH GRPLQDWLRQ RI WKH DZDUGV VHDson. 7KHQ VRPH SHRSOH WXUQHG RQ WKH ÀOP DQG GHFLGHG LW ZDVQ·W WKDW JRRG DIWHU DOO WKH\ SRSXODWHG WKLV YLHZ LQWR WKH PDLQVWUHDP DQG LW KDV VWXFN LQ PDQ\ SHRSOH·V PLQGV HYHU VLQFH In 2009 Avatar KDV IROORZHG DQ DOPRVW OLNH IRU OLNH SDWK ZLWKLQ WKH ZHHN LW ZLOO KDYH EURNHQ WKH PRVW DPD]LQJ RI Titanic’s UHFRUGV LWV DOO WLPH ZRUOGZLGH JURVV DQG LV DW SUHVHQW RGGV RQ IDYRXULWH IRU WKH EHVW SLFWXUH DZDUG DW QH[W PRQWK·V Oscars. Nonetheless the backlash has beJXQ EXW ZK\" :KDW PDNHV VXFFHVVIXO ÀOPV OLNH WKLV VR RSHQ WR TXLFN UHYLVLRQ RI SRSXODU RSLQLRQ DQG ZK\ has Avatar EHHQ VWXQJ VR TXLFNO\" :HOO WR XQGHUVWDQG WKLV SURSHUO\ LW PLJKW EH ZRUWK ORRNLQJ PRUH LQ GHSWK DW ZKDW $YDWDU KDV DFKLHYHG LQ VXFK D VPDOO WLPH 2Q UHOHDVH WKH ÀOP TXLFNO\ VHW DERXW PDNLQJ ORWV RI PRQH\ DQG PDQDJHG WR DYRLG WKH XVXDO VWHHS ZHHN WR ZHHN SHUFHQWDJH GURSV PRVW EORFNEXVWHUV VXIIHU ,Q IDFW WKH ÀOP·V UHOHDVH TXLWH FORVHO\ IROORZHG WKH 7LWDQLF SDWWHUQ RI D TXLFN OHYHOOLQJ RXW RI ER[ RIÀFH ÀJXUHV DQG ZHHNV DIWHU UHOHDVH LV VWLOO PDNLQJ PLOOLRQ SOXV HDFK ZHHNHQG ,WV IRUHLJQ ER[ RIÀFH KDV IROORZHG WKH VDPH URXWH DQG Avatar LV DV RI ZULWLQJ OHVV WKDQ PLOOLRQ DZD\ IURP EHDWLQJ Titanic WR WKH WRS

JURVVLQJ ZRUOGZLGH ÀOP RI DOO WLPH 8OWLPDWHO\ LW ZLOO SUREDEO\ HQG XS ZLWK D JURVV RI RYHU WZR ELOOLRQ GROODUV D PLQG EORZLQJ ÀJXUH DQG WKLV LV SHUKDSV WKH ÀUVW H[SODQDWLRQ IRU the backlash. (TXDOO\ IURP D FULWLFDO VWDQGSRLQW LW KDV KDG KXJH VXFFHVV 0RVW FULWLFV JDYH LW JRRG UHYLHZV DQG LW KDV ZRQ D KRVW RI DZDUGV DFURVV WKH JOREH ,

JXDUDQWHH QRZ LW ZLOO JHW D QRPLQDWLRQ IRU EHVW SLFWXUH DW WKH 2VFDUV DQG KDV RQ WKH EDFN RI WKH UHFHQW *OREHV ZLQ D PRUH WKDQ RSWLPLVWLF VKRW DW SLFNLQJ XS FORVH WR HLJKW RU QLQH DZDUGV FRPH 0DUFK WK 5HJDUGOHVV RI ZKHWKHU LW GRHV RU QRW WKH ÀOP KDV VWLOO GHÀHG SUHGLFWLRQV WKDW SHRSOH ZRXOG VLPSO\ QRW FRQQHFW ZLWK ¶EOXH DOLHQV· 7KH ÀOP

7DNLQJ FLQHPD WR WKH ,0$;

7DONLQJ ¶ERXW D UHYROXWLRQ Ben Schwartz on the Learning Revolution at Tyneside

Adam Williams on the Metro Centre’s new venture 0LG 'HFHPEHU VDZ WKH RSHQLQJ RI WKH 1RUWK (DVW·V YHU\ ÀUVW ,0$; FLQHPD DV WKH QHZ 2GHRQ DW WKH 0HWUR&HQWUH RSHQHG LWV GRRUV IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH 2IIHULQJ WZHOYH EUDQG QHZ GLJLWDO VFUHHQV LW ZLOO SURYLGH DQ H[FLWLQJ DOWHUQDWLYH WR (PSLUH LQ the city centre. 7KH VSHFLDO IHDWXUH WKH ,0$; ERDVWV LV QDPHO\ D KXJH VFUHHQ WKH 1HZFDVWOH ,0$; LV D VL[W\ IRRW VFUHHQ DSSRVH WR 0DQFKHVWHU·V VHYHQW\ IHHW EXW WR FRPSHQVDWH KDV WKH DGGHG WHFKQRORJ\ RI EHLQJ D GLJLWDO VFUHHQ WR EHVW FDSWXUH ' IRRWDJH 7KH LPPHUVLYH H[SHULHQFH WKLV FUHDWHV LV FHUWDLQO\ VRPHWKLQJ VSHFWDFXODU WR SXW LW LQWR SHUVSHFWLYH WKH VFUHHQ LV URXJKO\ WZLFH DV WDOO DV D QRUPDO VFUHHQ 7KH UHVSRQVH IURP FLQHPDJRHUV in the area has been incredible with VRPH VFUHHQLQJV RI -DPHV &DPHURQ·V Avatar VWLOO VHOOLQJ RXW RYHU D PRQWK DIWHU LWV LQLWLDO UHOHDVH $V SDUW RI WKH QHZ 4XEH GHYHORS-

VXIIHUHG PXFK ULGLFXOH EHIRUH UHOHDVH EXW KDV QHYHUWKHOHVV VWUXFN D FKRUG ZLWK DXGLHQFHV DQG VHTXHOV DUH QRZ YHU\ OLNHO\ &DPHURQ KDV SURYHG KLPVHOI DJDLQ DV RQH RI WKH IHZ GLUHFWRUV DOLYH ZKR FDQ FUHDWH D WUXH PRYLH H[SHULHQFH WKDW SHRSOH HQMR\ DQG KDV FDSLWDOLVHG RQ ' LQ D ZD\ RWKHUV FRXOGQ·W 'HVSLWH DOO WKLV PDQ\ SHRSOH KDYH

ELJ SUREOHPV ZLWK WKH ÀOP 6RPH KDYH FULWLFLVHG WKH SORW FDOOHG LW RYHUO\ SUHGLFWDEOH DQG WKH FKDUDFWHUV DW WLPHV GRZQULJKW FULQJ\ 2WKHUV KDYH WDNHQ VKRWV DW WKH GLDORJXH DQG TXHVWLRQ ZK\ D ELJ GXPE DFWLRQ ÀOP LV JHWWLQJ DZDUGV RYHU VD\ WKH &RHQV· A Serious Man. 0DQ\ DUJXH WKDW D ÀOP OLNH $YDWDU VR ZHOO ÀQDQFHG DQG IRUFHG LQWR WKH SXEOLF VSKHUH GRHVQ·W DOORZ IRU DQ\ RWKHU UHDO RSWLRQ DOO RWKHU ÀOPV JHW FURZGHG RXW DQG LJQRUHG %XW OHW·V EH KRQHVW KHUH WKH ÀOP ZDV QRPLQDWHG IRU D EHVW VFUHHQSOD\ award by the screenwriters associaWLRQ VR LW FDQ·W UHDOO\ EH WKDW EDG LW·V won awards decided by both critics DQG JHQHUDO ÀOP IDQV VR SHRSOH PXVW KDYH HQMR\HG WKH VWRU\ DQG LI ZH ORRN DW ODVW \HDU·V ZLQQHU Slumdog Millionaire LW·V QR PRUH SUHGLFWDEOH WKDQ FRXQWOHVV RWKHU 2VFDU ZLQQHUV ,W LV WUXH WKDW WKH ÀOP LV VR ELJ DQG so well backed that it was always goLQJ WR PDNH D ORW RI PRQH\ EXW WKH KDUG ZRUN DQG HIIRUW SXW LQWR D ÀOP that took nearly 20 years to bring to IUXLWLRQ KDV WR EH DGPLUHG -DPHV &DPHURQ PD\ QRW H[DFWO\ EH NHHSLQJ TXLHW DERXW KDYLQJ JURVVHG RYHU WKUHH ELOOLRQ IURP WZR ÀOPV EXW FRPSDUHG WR VRPH GLUHFWRUV VXFK DV 0LFKDHO %D\ KH VWLOOV ORRNV OLNH WKH 9DQ *RJK RI WKH ÀOP ZRUOG +LV DELOLW\ WR PDQXIDFWXUH DQ HQWLUH ZRUOG IURP QRWKLQJ DQG UHLQYHQW ÀOP WHFKQRORJ\ LV DVWRXQGLQJ 7KH SUREOHP ZLWK D ORW RI WKH QD\ VD\HUV KRZHYHU LV WKDW WKH\ KDYH VLPSO\ EHHQ SURYHG ZURQJ PDQ\ H[SHFWHG Avatar WR IDLO DQG EH RQH RI WKH ELJJHVW ÁRSV RI DOO WLPH MXVW OLNH they did with Titanic DQG LQ WKH ÀOP EXVLQHVV WKH RQH WKLQJ SHRSOH FDQQRW VWDQG LV WR EH SURYHG ZURQJ +DG WKH ÀOP IDLOHG WKH\ ZRXOG KDYH VLPSO\ VDLG ¶, WROG \RX VR· DQG PRYHG RQ EXW LW GLGQ·W DQG WKH\ FDQ·W

PHQW DW WKH PDOO LW HYHQ RIIHUV D EDU VHUYLFH GXULQJ WKH ÀOP D IDFLOLW\ RQO\ FXUUHQWO\ SURYLGHG DW WKH 7\QHVLGH &LQHPD DQG QRW DW WKH PDMRU chains. :LWK WKH SUHYLRXV QHDUHVW ,0$; VFUHHQ EHLQJ QHDUO\ PLOHV DZD\ LQ %UDGIRUG WKHUH ZLOO EH D VLJQLÀFDQW DUHD WR GUDZ YLVLWRUV IURP DQG theatre bosses are banking on both ,0$; DQG ' WHFKQRORJ\ LQ WKHLU RQJRLQJ ÀJKW ZLWK SLUDF\ $ SRWHQWLDO VWXPEOLQJ EORFN FRXOG EH WKH ODFN RI ÀOPV DFWXDOO\ UHOHDVHG LQ WKH ,0$; IRUPDW WKLV \HDU RQO\ QLQH PDMRU WLWOHV DUH VHW WR EH UHOHDVHG WKH ODUJH PDMRULW\ EHLQJ EHLQJ HLWKHU NLGV ÀOPV RU FRPLF ERRN IUDQFKLVHV

7KH RQO\ H[FHSWLRQ LV &KULVWRSKHU 1RODQ·V QHZ DFWLRQ WKULOOHU Inception 1RODQ LV D NQRZQ IDQ RI WKH ,0$; WHFKQRORJ\ DIWHU VKRRWLQJ VHYHUDO VFHQHV RI The Dark Knight in WKLV ZD\ $W WKH WLPH KH FRPPHQWHG WKDW KH FRXOG ´VKRRW WKH HQWLUH WKLQJ this way”. ,W·OO EH LQWHUHVWLQJ WR VHH KRZ WKH QHZ FLQHPD IDUHV RQFH WKH LQLWLDO EX]] RI ERWK $YDWDU DQG WKH ,0$; H[SHULHQFH ZHDUV RII ,0$; FLQHPDV LQ ERWK %RXUQHPRXWK DQG %ULJKWRQ KDYH ERWK FORVHG LQ UHFHQW \HDUV IROORZLQJ SRRU SDWURQDJH DQG ZLWK SULFHV DV KLJK DV ÀIWHHQ SRXQGV D WLFNHW LW FRXOG EH FRQVLGHUHG D QRYHOW\ UDWKHU WKDQ D UHJXODU RSWLRQ IRU ÀOP IDQV

7\QHVLGH &LQHPD KDV DOZD\V EHHQ RQH RI WKH FRROHU SODFHV WR JR VHH ÀOPV DQG HDJHU WR SUHVHUYH WKLV UHSXWDWLRQ WKH\ QRZ RIIHU QRW RQO\ WKH FKDQFH WR VHH PRYLHV EXW DOVR D FKDQFH WR OHDUQ KRZ WR PDNH WKHP 3HUKDSV RI PRUH LQWHUHVW WR ÀOP EXIIV LV WKH EHJLQQHUV· ÀOPPDNLQJ FRXUVH GHVLJQHG WR WHDFK WKRVH ZLWK QR H[SHULHQFH WKH EDVLFV RI VKRUW ÀOPPDNLQJ RYHU D SHULRG RI WZR days. &ODVVHV FRYHU SUHSDULQJ WR VKRRW WKH ¶ODQJXDJH RI ÀOP· ZKLFK LV SUHVXPDEO\ D FXVK\ WHUP IRU WKHRU\ ZRUN FDPHUD ZRUN DQG HGLWLQJ DOO RI ZKLFK LV WDXJKW LQ WKH FLQHPD·V RZQ VWXGLRV ,Q DGGLWLRQ DOO HTXLSPHQW UHTXLUHG IRU WKH FRXUVH LV SURYLGHG LQFOXGLQJ FDPHUDV VRXQG NLWV DQG L0DFV ZLWK )LQDO &XW 3UR IRU HGLWLQJ 7KH FRXUVH LV UXQ E\ (OOLH /DQG D VHQLRU OHFWXUHU LQ DQLPDWLRQ DQG GHVLJQ DW 1RUWKXPEULD 8QLYHUVLW\ DQG DQ DZDUG ZLQQLQJ VKRUW ÀOPPDNHU VR WKH WHDFKLQJ ZRXOG VHHP WR EH RI D SUHWW\ KLJK VWDQGDUG

:LWK DOO WKLV VWDFNHG LQ LWV IDYRXU \RX ZRXOG DVVXPH WKDW LW ZRXOG EH H[SHQVLYH ² DGPLWWHGO\ DW HLJKW\ TXLG LW LVQ·W H[DFWO\ FKHDS +RZHYHU LI \RX ZDQW WR JHW LQWR ÀOPPDNLQJ WKLV LV QRW D EDG SODFH WR VWDUW DQG HLJKW\ SRXQGV VHYHQW\ SRXQGV ZLWK 186 SDOHV LQ FRPSDULVRQ WR WKH WKRXVDQGV WKDW FDQ EH VSHQW RQ FRXUVHV DW SURSHU ÀOP schools. ,I \RXU DPELWLRQ LV WR JHW LQWR RQH RI WKHVH VFKRROV WR OHDUQ WKH FUDIW SURIHVVLRQDOO\ WKLV FRXUVH ZRXOG SURYLGH \RX ZLWK WKH NLQG RI H[SHULHQFH WKH\ ZRXOG EH ORRNLQJ IRU \RX WR KDYH ² \RXU &9 IUDQNO\ FDQ QHYHU KDYH WRR PXFK VWXII RQ LW )DLOLQJ WKDW WKH FRXUVH ZRXOG SURYLGH \RX ZLWK WKH EDVLFV QHFHVVDU\ WR IXUWKHU \RXU RZQ H[SHULHQFH DQG SHUKDSV DOORZ \RX WR WDNH PRUH DGYDQFHG VKRUW FRXUVHV DW WKH 7\QHVLGH or elsewhere. 6HULRXV &9 SDFNLQJ DQG H[SHULHQFH JDUQHULQJ DVLGH ,·P DOVR WROG WKH FRXUVH LV SUHWW\ IXQ 7KH ¶6OLQJVKRW ² )LOPPDNLQJ IRU %HJLQQHUV &RXUVH· UXQV $0 ² 30 RQ WK VW )HEUXDU\ )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ WKLV DQG DQ\ RI WKH RWKHU FRXUVHV DQG IRU ERRNLQJ FDOO WKH %R[ 2IÀFH RQ

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

27

Film Culture Film Editor: Frances Kroon - courier.culture-film@ncl.ac.uk

reviews Up in the Air 'LUHFWRU -DVRQ 5HLWPDQ &DVW *HRUJH &ORRQH\ 9HUD )DUPLJD $QQD +HQGULFNV 5XQWLPH PLQV

Up In The Air is the fourth feature À OP IURP WKH HYHU LPSURYLQJ ZULW HU GLUHFWRU -DVRQ 5HLWPDQ DQG VWDUV HYHU\ KRXVHZLIH·V IDYRXULWH *HRUJH &ORRQH\ DV D FRUSRUDWH GRZQVL]HU VHQW RXW DURXQG WKH FRXQWU\ WR À UH WKH SHRSOH WKHLU ERVVHV GRQ·W KDYH WKH JXWV WR 7KH À OP LV SDUW URPDQWLF FRPHG\ DQG SDUW VRFLDO FRPPHQWDU\ EXW XO WLPDWHO\ ZRUNV EHVW DV D VPDUW DQG KHDUWIHOW ORRN DW WKH SKLORVRSK\ RI D PDQ ZKR EHOLHYHV HPRWLRQDO LQ YROYHPHQW LV D EDG LGHD HYHQ LI WKDW

PHDQV OLYLQJ D OLIH ¶XS LQ WKH DLU· DQG DORQH 7KH À OP RSHQV ZLWK D VHULRXV RI LQ WHUYLHZV ZLWK SHRSOH LQ WKH SURFHVV RI EHLQJ OHW JR IURP WKH VKRFNHG WR WKH ELWWHUO\ DQJU\ (DFK SHUVRQ ORRNV GHHS LQWR WKH FDPHUD DQG IRUFHV XV WR DVN ZKR LV GRLQJ WKLV WKRURXJKO\ DZIXO MRE $V ZH EHJLQ WR NQRZ *HRUJH &ORRQH\·V FKDUDFWHU 5\DQ %LQJKDP KRZHYHU ZH TXLFNO\ EHJLQ WR OHDUQ WKDW KLV MRE LVQ·W UHDOO\ WKH ELJ LVVXH LW·V KLP %LQJKDP OLYHV WR Á \ IURP SODFH WR SODFH QHYHU IRUJLQJ UHDO KX PDQ UHODWLRQVKLSV +H·V HVVHQWLDOO\ GHUDQJHG EXW ZH ORYH KLP FDXVH KH·V VWLOO JRW WKH FKHHN\ SOD\IXO &ORRQH\ DW WKH KHDUW RI KLP 7KHQ WZR HTXDOO\ LPSRUWDQW EXW WKRURXJKO\ GLIIHUHQW ZRPHQ 1DWDOLH $QQD +HQGULFNV DQG $OH[ 9HUD )DUPLJD DUH WKUXVW LQWR KLV ZRUOG DQG KH EHJLQV WR ORVH FRQÀ GHQFH LQ KLV HYHU VR LVRODWHG OLIH VW\OH

%RWK ZRPHQ SUHVHQW KLP ZLWK WKH XOWLPDWH TXHVWLRQ ZKDW GR \RX ZDQW IURP OLIH" ZKLFK IRUFHV %LQJKDP WR PDNH D FKRLFH 8S XQWLO WKLV SRLQW WKH PRYLH ZRUNV SHUIHFWO\ ZHOO SOD\LQJ RII WKH LQFUHGLEOH FKHP LVWU\ EHWZHHQ DOO WKUHH OHDGV DQG WKH ZRUOG WKH\ OLYH LQ DIWHU WKLV SRLQW LW NLFNV LQWR DQRWKHU JHDU VPDVKLQJ ERWK ZKDW ZH WKRXJKW ZDV FRPLQJ DQG ZKDW ZLOO KDSSHQ WR WKH FKDUDF WHUV &ORRQH\ LV IDQWDVWLF IDU UHPRYHG IURP WKH 277 2FHDQ·V À OPV +H·V SOD\LQJ D VXEWOH FKDUDFWHU À WWLQJ WR KLV EULOOLDQW DELOLW\ DQG FDUULHV WKH À OP ZLWK WKH SRLVH DQG H[SHUWLVH RI D %UDQGR RU *UDQW +H LV LQ WKLV ZULWHU·V RSLQLRQ WKH FORVHVW WR D WUD GLWLRQDO À OP LFRQ DURXQG )DUPLJD LV VXSHUE DQG +HQGULFNV HTXDOO\ LPSUHVVLYH WKHLU FKHPLVWU\ ZLWK &ORRQH\ DQG WKH À OP·V SOD\IXO EXW VHULRXV WRQH PDNH LW LQFUHGLEO\ HDV\ WR VLW WKURXJK HYHQ DW WKH UXQQLQJ WLPH

7KH UHDO EUHDNWKURXJK WKRXJK LV 5HLWPDQ KLV GLUHFWLRQ DQG VKDUS XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKLV EOHDN EXW HQ JDJLQJ FRPHG\ PDNH LW D UHDO WUHDW DQG DW RQO\ KLV IRXUWK À OP LW LV JUHDW WR WKLQN ZKDW KH FRXOG DFKLHYH LQ WKH IXWXUH

Pete Duggan

Daybreakers

:LWKRXW VR PXFK DV D WKRXJKW , ZHQW WR P\ YLHZLQJ RI Daybreakers OLVWHQLQJ WR ¶6DOHP·V /RW· RQ DXGLR ERRN +HDULQJ .LQJ·V LQWURGXFWRU\ GLVFRXUVH RQ Dracula DQG EHLQJ LP PHUVHG LQ YDPSLUH À FWLRQ , IRXQG P\VHOI H[FLWHG WKH UHDVRQ EHLQJ , ZDV RQ P\ ZD\ WR D YDPSLUH À OP $QG ZKDW D YDPSLUH À OP LW LV

6WLFNLQJ FORVH WR WKH URRWV RI YDP SLUH ORUH WKH *HUPDQ 6SLHULJ EURWK HUV ZKR GLUHFWHG WKH ]RPELH WKULOO HU 8QGHDG FUDIW D IXQ VSRRN\ WDOH RI D ZRUOG RYHUUXQ E\ ¶QRVIHUDWX · 8VLQJ KXPDQV DV EORRG IDUPV WKH QLJKW FUDZOHUV OLYH FRPIRUWDEO\ LQ WKHLU VXQ VKLHOGHG KRPHV GULYLQJ VXQ VKLHOGHG FDUV DQG WUDYHUVLQJ WKH QHWZRUNHG 6XEZDONV GXULQJ WKRVH ORQJ GDQJHURXV KRXUV ZKLOH WKH ZRUOG LV XOWUDYLROHW /LNH ,·YH DOUHDG\ PHQWLRQHG WKH À OP VWLFNV WR WKH P\WKRORJ\ 5LJKW IURP WKH RXWVHW 'D\EUHDNHUV VHHNV WR FKDOOHQJH SRSXODU YDPSLUH Á XII E\ SXWWLQJ DQ XQGHDG JLUO LQ WKH VXQ DQG ZDWFKLQJ WKH À UHZRUNV 6SHDNLQJ RI À UHZRUNV YDPSLUHV DSSDUHQWO\ H[SORGH ZKHQ VWDEEHG WKURXJK WKH KHDUW :KR NQHZ" )RU WKH YDPSLUHV WKLQJV DUHQ·W

SHUIHFW ,Q WKH 6SLHULJV· VXUSULVLQJO\ EHOLHYDEOH G\VWRSLD KXPDQ EORRG VXSSO\ LV UXQQLQJ LWV FRXUVH :LWK RXW KXPDQ EORRG YDPSLUHV DOO RYHU DUH WXUQLQJ LQWR KRUULÀ F EDW K\EULGV FDOOHG ¶VXE VLGHUV· 7KXV LW·V XS WR KHPDWRORJLVW (G ZDUG 'DOWRQ (WKDQ +DZNH WR À QG D UHDVRQDEOH VXEVWLWXWH :KDW KH À QGV LQVWHDG LV D JURXS RI KXPDQV OHG E\ /LRQHO ¶(OYLV· &RUPDF :LO OHP 'DIRH ZKR DUH SXWWLQJ LQ WKHLU ELG IRU VXUYLYDO 1DWXUDOO\ WKLV UHDOO\ EXJV WKH KHOO RXW RI &KDUOHV %URPOH\ 6DP 1HLOO &(2 RI WKH %URPOH\ 0DUNV FRUSR UDWLRQ ZKR LV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH KXPDQ EORRG VXSSO\ $W WKLV SRLQW GUDZLQJ SDUDOOHOV EHWZHHQ WKH EORRG VKRUWDJH DQG RXU RZQ GHSOHWLQJ RLO UHVHUYHV LV XQDYRLGDEOH 6WLOO LQVWHDG RI IRFXVLQJ RQ WKHLU

UDWKHU ZLWW\ DOOHJRU\ WKH 6SLHULJV WXUQ WKH À OP LQ WKH GLUHFWLRQ RI FRQ VSLUDF\ WKULOOHU DQG MXVW ZKHQ LW ZDV JHWWLQJ JRRG DQG VSRRN\ $OO ULJKW VR WKH SORW LV SUHWW\ ZHDN HVSHFLDOO\ ZKHQ DOO WKRVH SHVN\ TXHVWLRQV VWDUW SRSSLQJ LQWR \RXU KHDG IRU LQVWDQFH ZK\ GRQ·W WKH\ MXVW ZDLW XQWLO WKH KXPDQV PDNH PRUH EORRG" 6WLOO LW·V D IXQ PRYLH WKDW ZLOO DS SHDO WR KRUURU DQG VFL À JHQUH IDQV DOLNH RU DQ\RQH ZDQWLQJ DQ HVFDSH IURP DOO WKH IUDQFKLVH À OPV DQG VKRGG\ UHPDNHV

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

XQIDPLOLDU ZLWK WKH ERRN DOO RWKHU FRSLHV KDYLQJ EHHQ GHVWUR\HG WKLUW\ \HDUV SUHYLRXVO\ DIWHU D ZDU ZKLFK GHVWUR\HG WKH UHVW RI WKH SRSXOD WLRQ :KLOVW LW·V IDLUO\ REYLRXV IURP WKH RXWVHW WKDW WKH ERRN LV WKH ELEOH LWV LPSRUWDQFH LV VRPHZKDW XQGHUVWDW HG DQG LW LV QHYHU UHDOO\ H[SODLQHG ZK\ WKH ELEOH LV VXFK D SRWHQW ¶ZHDSRQ· DV &DUQHJLH GHVFULEHV LW 7KH PHVVDJH WKH À OP WULHV WR GH OLYHU LV FOHDU WKH ELEOH LV D IRUFH IRU JRRG 2WKHU WKDQ WKLV WKHUH LV QR H[ SDQVLRQ RQ ZK\ WKH ELEOH LV SDUWLFX ODUO\ LPSRUWDQW DQG WKH VLPSOH PHV VDJH VHHPV VRPHZKDW SDWURQLVLQJ 0RVW RI ZKDW OLWWOH H[SODQDWLRQ

WKH À OP FRQWDLQV FRPHV LQ WKH IRUP RI (OL LPSDUWLQJ KLV NQRZOHGJH WR UXQDZD\ 6RODUD .XQLV +RZHYHU WKLV VHHPV WR EH WKH RQO\ IXQFWLRQ RI .XQLV ZKR ZKLOVW GHOLYHULQJ D FDSDEOH SHUIRUPDQFH DGGV QRWKLQJ RWKHU WKDQ DQ DWWUDFWLYH ZRPDQ LQ DPRQJVW WKH JUL]]OHG PHQ DQG EOHDN ODQGVFDSHV 7KH ODQGVFDSHV SOD\ DV PXFK D SDUW LQ VHWWLQJ WKH PRRG DV WKH DF WRUV DQG DUH VXLWDEO\ GHVRODWH %XW WKLV VFDUUHG ODQGVFDSH KDV OLWWOH LP SDFW DIWHU WKH ERPEDUGPHQW RI VLPL ODU HQYLURQPHQWV LQ UHFHQW À OPV $FWLQJ ZLVH :DVKLQJWRQ GHOLYHUV D VWDQGDUG SHUIRUPDQFH DQG 2OG PDQ EULQJV &DUQHJLH WR OLIH SHUIHFW

O\ EXW LV OHW GRZQ E\ WKH IDFW WKDW WKH ZULWHUV IDLO WR HVWDEOLVK &DUQHJLH DV D VHULRXV YLOODLQ :KLOVW The Book Of Eli GHOLYHUV D ORW RI LPSUHVVLYH DFWLRQ VHTXHQFHV LW IDLOV WR LPSUHVV RQ D GHHSHU OHYHO DQG ZKDW PHVVDJH WKHUH LV EHFRPHV ORVW LQ WKH SORW KROHV ,I \RX QHHG D VOLFH RI G\VWRSLDQ À OP WR KHOS \RX WKURXJK -DQXDU\ JR VHH WKH IDU VX SHULRU The Road

Brothers

*UDFH 1DWDOLH 3RUWPDQ DQG EH FRPLQJ D VXUURJDWH IDWKHU IRU KLV WZR GDXJKWHUV +RZHYHU 6DP LV HYHQWXDOO\ IRXQG DOLYH DQG UHWXUQV KRPH D FKDQJHG PDQ WR D FKDQJHG IDPLO\ :KDW PD\ LQLWLDOO\ VHHP WR EH D VLPSOH ¶EURWKHUV ZLWK GLIIHUHQFHV· À OP LV UHYHDOHG WR EH D GUDPD DERXW IDPLO\ DV D ZKROH DQG WKH YDULRXV LV VXHV WKDW FDQ WHDU LW DSDUW RU EULQJ LW WRJHWKHU ² SDUHQWKRRG ZDU LQÀ GHO LW\ 7KH SORW ZKLOVW LQWULJXLQJ LV SUH GLFWDEOH WKURXJKRXW LW EHFRPHV FOHDU YHU\ HDUO\ ZKDW·V JRLQJ WR KDSSHQ EXW UHDOO\ LW·V WKH FKDUDFWHUV WKDW PDNH WKLV WKH À OP WKDW LW LV :LWK D VPDOO FDVW \RX IHHO \RX JHW WR NQRZ HDFK PHPEHU RI WKH IDPLO\ LQWLPDWHO\ DQG DV WKHLU UHODWLRQVKLSV VKLIW \RX À QG \RXUVHOI HPSDWKLVLQJ ZLWK HDFK VLGH 1R FKDUDFWHU HYHQ

WKH FKLOGUHQ DSSHDUV RQH GLPHQ VLRQDO (DFK RI WKH VWDUV SXWV LQ SHUIHFW SHUIRUPDQFHV 7KH À UVW KDOI EHORQJV WR 3RUWPDQ DQG *\OOHQKDO ZKR EULO OLDQWO\ FDSWXUH WKH GDLO\ OLIH RI D ZDU ZLGRZ DQG WKH UHFNOHVV \RXWK FRPLQJ WR WHUPV ZLWK EHFRPLQJ D UHVSRQVLEOH DGXOW 7KH VHFRQG KDOI KRZHYHU LV DOO 0DJXLUH·V ZLWK D VFDULO\ UHDOLVWLF SRUWUD\DO RI WKH WRUPHQWHG VROGLHU UHDFWLQJ WR WKH VHGDWH OLIH KH·V UH WXUQHG WR DQG UHIXVLQJ WR VKDUH WKH H[SHULHQFHV KH·V JRQH WKURXJK 'LUHFWRU -LP 6KHULGDQ KDV PDGH HYHU\ VFHQH FRXQW WDNLQJ RXW DOO EXW WKH PRVW HVVHQWLDO EDFNJURXQG PX VLF ZLWK WKH SRLQW RI IRFXVLQJ WKH DXGLHQFH RQ HYHU\ ZRUG VSRNHQ 7KLV LV QRW D SHUIHFW À OP QRU LV LW D SDUWLFXODUO\ KDSS\ RQH EXW LW VHWV RXW WR SUHVHQW DQ XQSOHDVDQW VLWXD

WLRQ LQ PHWLFXORXV GHWDLO DQG LQ WKDW UHVSHFW LW·V YHU\ VXFFHVVIXO 7KH VPDOO FDVW FUHDWHV DQ LVRODWHG IHHOLQJ DV \RX·UH ORRNLQJ VLPSO\ DW RQH IDPLO\ DQG WKH HYHQWV WKDW VXUURXQG WKHP ² QRW WKHLU FRPPX QLW\ RU WKH ZDU LQ $IJKDQLVWDQ DV D ZKROH VLPSO\ WZR KRXVHKROGV DQG VHYHQ SHRSOH ,Q WKLV UHVSHFW WKH WLWOH EHFRPHV D PLVQRPHU WKLV LV QRW D À OP DERXW EURWKHUV LW·V DERXW PRWKHUV IDWKHUV GDXJKWHUV VRQV VLVWHUV DQG EURWK HUV DQG LW GRFXPHQWV WKH FKDQJHV LQ WKRVH UHODWLRQVKLSV ZRQGHUIXOO\

'LUHFWRU 7KH 6SLHULJ %URWKHUV &DVW (WKDQ +DZNH 6DP 1HLOO :LOOHP 'DIRH 5XQWLPH PLQXWHV

The Book of Eli 'LUHFWRU 7KH +XJKHV %URWKHUV 6WDUULQJ 'HQ]HO :DVKLQJWRQ *DU\ 2OGPDQ 0LOD .XQLV 5XQWLPH 0LQXWHV

)ROORZLQJ KRW RQ WKH KHHOV RI WKH UHFHQW SOHWKRUD RI SRVW DSRFDO\SWLF À OPV FRPHV WKH ODWHVW RIIHULQJ IURP WKH +XJKHV EURWKHUV :DVKLQJWRQ SOD\V WKH P\VWHUL

'LUHFWRU -LP 6KHULGDQ &DVW 7REH\ 0DJXLUH -DNH *\OOHQKDO 1DWDOLH 3RUWPDQ 5XQWLPH PLQV

%DVHG RQ WKH 'DQLVK À OP RI WKH VDPH QDPH Brothers LV WKH VWRU\ RI WZR VLEOLQJV 6DP 7REH\ 0DJXLUH D PDULQH DERXW WR OHDYH RQ D WRXU RI GXW\ WR $IJKDQLVWDQ DQG 7RPP\ -DNH *\OOHQKDO ZKR KDV MXVW EHHQ UHOHDVHG IURP SULVRQ :KHQ 6DP JRHV PLVVLQJ LQ DFWLRQ 7RPP\ EHJLQV WR EHFRPH D SDUW RI 6DP·V IDPLO\ FRPIRUWLQJ KLV ZLIH

Jonathan David Lim

Thomas Ward

Joe Skrebels

28

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Music

First verdict on Feeder’s new side-project Renegades >>> thecourieronline.co.uk/music

music interview

Are you ready for the talk with Hot Chip? Drummer Felix Martin speaks to Christopher Hay ahead of Hot Chip’s eagerly awaited new record One Life Stand Hot Chip are back. And judging by their new single and album, One Life Stand, their habit of crafting perfect nuggets of quirky electropop shows no sign of waning. But beneath the trademark singalong chorus and catchy hook, can a new, more tender side to the band can be detected? Felix Martin, the band’s multi-instrumentalist, agrees that the single is different to the band’s previous offerings. ´7KLV RQH¡V GHĂ€QLWHO\ D ORYH VRQJ ,W¡V WKH Ă€UVW WLPH ZH¡YH GRQH D VLQgle that’s got that message to it, because before that we’ve released Over and Over and Ready For The Floor, which have been a lot more abstract. I mean, every album we’ve done have had love songs on them because that’s what inspires us. But this is the clearest one we’ve done.â€? So is this softer sound symptomatic of their fourth studio album, released at the beginning of next month? “Yeah, there’s more of a focus on songwriting and that side of the music rather than the more dancey side,â€? Felix admits. ´,W¡V GHĂ€QLWHO\ D KRXVH LQĂ XHQFHG record in some ways, but the songs are quite short and folky‌pop songs really. The arrangement is a lot more traditional than what’s gone before, with a lot of piano and quite a lot of live drums and guitar, as well as the electronic sounds.â€? Hot Chip are famed for their euphoric live shows. Exceptional DJs as well as musicians, the band adapt and remix their tracks to send crowds into sweaty nu-rave raptures of energy. Felix reassures us that despite the new album’s more measured feel, the band’s gigs will remain just as animated: “We’ll be playing a lot of new songs, but if you’ve been to a Hot Chip live show, it’s not gonna be radically different to before.â€? Judge for yourselves – Hot Chip are playing at the O2 Academy in Newcastle on February 18th. Are they excited to be coming up? “We’ve always had a wicked time whenever we’ve played there to be

honest. We’ve had some really fun shows there and massively enthusiastic crowds – they just get really into it, which makes it much more fun for us. We’re expecting a really good atmosphere in Newcastle!â€? Such is the band’s passion for playing live that Felix names a festival performance as the highlight of his time with the band. “I think it’s got to be playing at Glastonbury in 2008 when Wiley came and joined us on stage. It was a special moment, and at a festival that I just love and have been going to many years.â€? And a low-light? “I’m trying to think of an appropriate one. It’s hard, I can just think of plenty of times when I thought I was having a nervous breakdown‌â€? 0DQXIDFWXUHG SRSVWDUV Ă RRGHG the charts in 2009, and Hot Chip’s

return brings some much-needed credibility back to the British music scene. “People are always going to buy shit music, because they’re told to by people who want to make money.

“If you’re a musician and you’re complaining about XFactor then you just need to get off your arse and make some good music� When music just becomes a product, it’s just like buying sausages – that’s a problem,� Felix acknowledges. Is that a veiled comment on Simon

&RZHOO¡V LQĂ XHQFH" ´1R QRW UHDOO\ The X-Factor’s just a talent show. I watch it sometimes because it’s quite funny, but you can’t really take it too seriously. You know, if you’re a musician and you’re complaining about X-Factor then you just need to get off your arse and make some good music.â€? It turns out X-Factor isn’t the only reality TV show on Felix’s radar – he’s also a closet fan of this year’s Celebrity Big Brother. So with musical pioneers like Sisqo, Basshunter and Dane Bowers on the show, is a Hot Chip collaboration with any of the housemates on the cards? “Maybe Katia, the Russian girl! ‘Cos she’s pretty‌â€? Surely the groundbreaking europop of Basshunter would be a more obvious choice? “Yeah‌I’m gonna stick

with the Russian. I think I can safely say that I’m not musically inspired by Basshunter!� Apart from teaming up with Ronnie Wood’s ex-girlfriend, what are Hot Chip’s New Year’s resolutions? “To get real chart success and radio success with our singles.� Surprisingly, Ready For The Floor is the band’s only top-ten hit to date. “I think if we manage to have a really popular album then that’d be really cool, because we’re quite an unlikely group to achieve that kind of success. And we’d enjoy every minute of it.� For the sake of the British music industry, we wish them the best of luck. Hot Chip’s new album One Night Stand is released on February 1st. They play the O2 Academy Newcastle on Thursday 18th February.

LQ DOO LQGXVWULHV EH LW PXVLF ÀOP or even knitting – but for many, a nomination is nothing more than a throwaway ego-boost to fuel their agent’s inbox. It would also be fair to say that critical acclaim aside, double-platinum selling records do deserve some level of recognition in light of lining supermarket shelves nationwide. An award, however, is contrary to a sales chart. Many genuine musical pioneers are being neglected from the likes of the Brits simply to draw in the masses and settle seminal pub debates in order WR FRQÀUP VXFFHVV QRW FUHDWH LW Whilst the likes of Lily Allen’s lat-

est offering may be accomplished efforts, why should she be awarded for ‘playing it safe’ whilst suits don’t so much as bat an eyelid towards our creative talents from all genres, be they Animal Kingdom, The xx or even Grammatics. There is some compromise with the likes of Doves, Bat for Lashes and Lady Gaga striking up nominations, yet their recognition comes hand in hand with increased commercial awareness. In the perfect hypothetical situation, the powers that be would EULQJ RXU Ă€QHVW \RXQJ WDOHQW WR WKH centrefold, but at the end of the day, it is still The Brit Awards.

the debate Do The Brits award the best? Polly Randall When you consider the list of nominations for the Brits you may be led to believe that the only musical output of the last twelve months has been from the mouths of Lady Gaga, Florence and the Machine and Pixie Lott. Hmm. While these without a doubt (but more than likely with annoyance) have been massively popular acts, their overshadowing dominance in these awards would give the impression of belittling many other, equally worthy, artists. The nods to bands like Friendly Fires, Doves and Animal Collective

are always a pleasing thing to see, but often come across as a courtesy effort on the part of the organisers, almost as if the nomination is to do these bands a favour as there is little to no chance of them actually winning.

There are some things in life which cannot be fully comprehended, and The Brit $ZDUGV GHĂ€QLWHO\ VHHPV WR be one of them This year, aside from the general

humour normally created from the list of the best singles of the year, there is a collection of the best albums of the last 30 years – hello Travis, Dido, and Keane. There are some things in life which cannot be fully comprehended, and when faced with that list, The Brit Awards GHÀQLWHO\ VHHPV WR EH RQH RI WKHP Perhaps instead of constantly reminiscing on the efforts of the past, a ELW RI FRQWHPSRUDU\ VLJQLÀFDQFH would be better. Stuart Edwards It’s fair to say that there’s one or two too many quality based awards

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

29

Music

Interview with ex-Arab strap man Malcolm Middleton >>> thecourieronline.co.uk/music

Culture

Music Editors: Mark Corcoran-Lettice and Chris Mandle - courier.culture-music@ncl.ac.uk

gigs Future of the Left The Cluny, 16 January

There are gigs that you know will resonate with you long after it’s all over. Whether it’s the atmosphere or the band, you can feel that you’ll be going over those few hours for days. Future of the Left play those gigs. The reason for that is energy, and if there’s one thing that characterises Andy Falkous it’s his energy. Two songs in, he was drenched in sweat and swigging beer so that he could keep screaming his nonsequiturs at us whilst Jack kept their powerful drum sound rolling and Kelson ripped his bass to shreds. The audience lapped it up, mosh

Anais Mitchell and Erin McKeown Cluny 2, 22 January

5XQQLQJ GRZQ %\NHU %ULGJH À IWHHQ minutes late, I was not expecting much from the dubiously adver-

Midlake

The Cluny, 22 January The Texan seven-piece came bounding onto the stage to a rapturous applause, and while many bands

pits forming every time the tempo was stepped up (Small Bones Small Bodies and Land of my Formers were explosive) and chanting lyrics back like (dark, hilarious) nursery rhymes. The band refuses to stop entertaining, even when the songs are over. 7KHLU À QDO VRQJ OLYH IDYRXULWH &ORDN WKH 'DJJHU ZDV H[WHQGHG WR D À IWHHQ minute session of feedback as Falco slowly deconstructed the drums and scattered them, while Kelson played the Inspector Gadget theme tune, as if oblivious to the mayhem around him. I think this is the secret that Future of the Left don’t want to let us in on – beyond all the fury, they just want people to enjoy themselves. Well, if that is the case, then mission accomplished. Joe Skrebels

tised ‘wee folk gig’ that had been sold to me. 5XVKLQJ LQWR &OXQ\ ZDV TXLWH a shock: a packed seated theatre awaited for a far more relaxed intimate show than I’d intended. Anais Mitchell’s vocals greeted me, soothing the crowd with her seductive American tone. Her distinctive childlike voice is mesmerising and instantly memorable. From her Ă€ UVW VRQJ WR WKH ODVW , ZDV FDSWLYDWHG

and utterly under her spell - a true Mitchell convert. Believing her to be almost impossible to follow, Erin McKeown then took to the stage. Performing the end of Mitchell’s set together the two dazzled the crowd with their perfect harmonies while each holding onto their wonderfully unique voices and giving the audience a wonderfully rare opportunity to see such talented

artists working together like sisters. Erin McKeown’s smile could have relaxed the stoniest of hearts as she performed a taste of her new album. &KDWWLQJ DZD\ WR WKH FURZG 0F. eown’s lyrics breathed life to the room and encouraged everyone to sing along, giving the performance the feel of an evening with a close friend. This was folk music at its best. The

crowd was captivated by the two of them and in such a venue the audience was able to request songs and heckle affectionately with the artists. One of the best gigs I’ve been to in a long time, the atmosphere made for a special night and certainly makes PH HDJHU WR VWXPEOH LQWR WKH &OXQ\ more often on a Friday evening.

wouldn’t dare start their set with three tracks from an album that hasn’t yet been released, Midlake aren’t just any band. Specialising in heavenly AmeriFDQD ZLWK FOHDU LQà XHQFHV IURP WKH likes of Neil Young, their more recent tracks have a clear English Folk LQà XHQFH RQ VRPH RFFDVLRQV )DLU SRUW &RQYHQWLRQ HVTXH

Tracks debuted from their forthcoming album The Courage of Others captured the crowd’s attention throughout a period of the set where a band with lesser material may have lost their way, and the title track and The Horn were true standouts. The band soon began to play tracks from their critically acclaimed 2005

album The Trials of Van Occupanther, with title track and fan favourite Roscoe being especially well received. It is hard to describe in words the beauty of Roscoe: the keyboard, Ă XWHV HOHFWULF DQG DFRXVWLF JXLWDUV and drums amalgamate to create possibly one of the most beautiful pieces of music you will ever hear. Encoring with two more Van Occu-

panther favourites, Young Bride and %UDQFKHV WKH VROG RXW &OXQ\ FURZG showed their obvious appreciation DIWHU ZKDW KDG EHHQ D Ă DZOHVV QLQH ty minutes.

L. TEGGERT

interview Entering the wild world of Vivian Girls Music Editor Mark Corcoran-Lettice catches up with the American act “You know, Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys has got one of the most interesting Wikipedia pages of all time.â€? “It was all recorded on eight-track – actually, wait, it was a four-track – and all the instruments were recorded live as an ensemble‌â€? Most interviews you do don’t tend to stray into in-depth discussions of how other people’s records were recorded. You may get, at most, a brief UXQ GRZQ RI LQĂ XHQFHV ZKLFK IRU the record, include The Vipers, The Shangri-Las and Nirvana – make of that what you will), but rarely this kind of passion and knowledge. So no, the Vivian Girls aren’t like every other American band adored by the internet elite. Mixing clasVLF JLUO SRS PHORGUDPD ZLWK Ă€ HU\ punk thrills, they became online sensations with the release of 2008’s self-titled debut album, and consolidated their success with last year’s superb follow-up Everything Goes

Wrong. Just prior to their recent gig at The &OXQ\ WKHLU Ă€ UVW WLPH LQ 1HZFDVWOH which you’ll doubtlessly be relieved to know got a ‘thumbs up’ from the band), we got to talk with their voFDOLVW DQG JXLWDULVW &DVVLH 5DPRQH about their sound and the trials and tribulations of being in a punk band LQ WKH WZHQW\ Ă€ UVW FHQWXU\ First on the list then: along with other recent sensations like Wavves and Times New Viking, they’ve been lumped into something known DV ÂśOR Ă€ ¡ $Q\ WKRXJKWV" ´, WKLQN LW GRHV H[LVW Âľ &DVVLH H[ SODLQV ´EXW QR RQH ZLWKLQ WKH ÂśOR Ă€ ¡ scene actually considers themselves OR Ă€ , ZRXOGQ¡W UHDOO\ VD\ ZH¡UH OR Ă€ ZH UHFRUG DOO RXU VWXII LQ D VWXGLR and I think what a lot of people call OR Ă€ LV MXVW D VWXGLR DHVWKHWLF DQG D ORW RI RWKHU EDQGV WKDW JHW FDOOHG OR Ă€ would probably say the same thing. “We’re friends with several bands who make music who’ve been placed in this scene, but I wouldn’t lump us all into the same category, we’re just friends with other people who are creative and make their own music.â€? Glad to have that cleared up. But what about the bloggers and writHUV ZKR VWDUWHG WKLV P\WK RI WKH OR Ă€

Olivia Mason

Michael Cahill

Vivian Girls

The Cluny, 21 January

VFHQH" +HUH &DVVLH LV XQGHUVWDQG ably) more tentative. “It’s helped us, because if it wasn’t for people writing about us on blogs, then a lot of people wouldn’t have heard us. “But before the internet, this concept of over-hype didn’t really exist, whereas now you get a lot of people writing about you on the internet, and suddenly you’re over-hyped, when really it’s just a few people who liked your music deciding to write about it on their site.â€? :KDW &DVVLH GRHV ZDQW WR WDON about though is where the band’s headed now. “The material we’re working on currently doesn’t really sound like Everything Goes Wrong or WKH Ă€ UVW DOEXP “Right now, I think the sound we’re working towards is like a

church choir, meets Neil Young and &UD]\ +RUVH ² ZH¡UH JRLQJ LQ D YHU\ heavy, choral-led direction,â€? before claiming that “people have called us harmony-heavy before, but they’ve not heard just where we’re going with the vocals now. The harmony’s really getting pushed.â€? Before a third album though, there’s a seven-inch out on their own label Wild World later this month, which includes ‘the newest crazy addition’ to the Vivian Girls family, their remarkable take on He’s Gone E\ 7KH &KDQWHOV DQG \HW PRUH WRXU ing for the hard-working trio. For those of you who missed out on them, there’s sure to be many PRUH FKDQFHV WR FDWFK ZKDW &DVVLH calls their “old and new, fast and slow, hard and softâ€? live show.

Some of the more unkind corners of the blog community have accused them of snobbishness and insincerity, but as soon as they stepped on stage, the Vivian Girls exuded an undeniable passion and enthusiasm. The rhythm section of drummer Ali Koehler and bassist Katy Kickball manically raced each other through their set-list, while the more laconLF &DVVLH 5DPRQH GHDOW RXW URXJK but tender tales of heartbreak and angst. Divided up largely between material from their two albums, anthems OLNH &DQ¡W *HW 2YHU <RX DQG FDOO ing-card Tell The World earned the band some well-deserved cheers, while new songs saw them add a new complexity and intricacy to their sound while still maintaining the immediate pop buzz of their best work. It was the unique, acapella cover of 7KH &KDQWHOV FODVVLF +H¡V *RQH WKDW DSSHDUHG Ă€ YH VRQJV LQ WKDW OLQJHUHG in the memory though, with the band huddled together to deliver the ballad with beauty, gusto and reverence. In moments like these, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched to place the Vivian Girls in the same lineage. Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor

30

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Music

Interview with KitKat Battle of the Bands finalists Purple Shards >>> thecourieronline.co.uk/music

music )\IH 'DQJHUÀ HOG Fly Yellow Moon

albums

singles 3DWULFN :ROI 'DPDULV (YHU\ERG\·V IDYRXULWH Á DP ER\DQW FURVV GUHVVLQJ GDUOLQJ 3DWULFN :ROI GRHVQ·W IDLO WR LP SUHVV LQ KLV ODWHVW HIIRUW 7KH sweeping strings, piping orJDQV DQG HXSKRULF FKDQWLQJ DUH enough to wash away any post H[DP RU FRXUVHZRUN UHODWHG GRRP DQG JORRP DQG ¶ULVH XS · Tom Richards

Guillemots, the playful pop pioneers RI ZKRP )\IH 'DQJHUÀ HOG ZDV WKH front-man, appear for now to have gone the way of so many a slightly OHIW À HOG LQGLH EDQG EHIRUH WKHP DQG VORZO\ IDGHG LQWR REVFXULW\ So, if nothing else then, the arULYDO RI WKLV GHEXW VROR DOEXP ZDV D QLFH UHPLQGHU RI D TXLFNO\ IRUJRW WHQ EDQG $IWHU DOO ZKR HOVH KDG IRUJRWWHQ WKDW LW·V EHHQ IRXU \HDUV VLQFH 7UDLQV WR %UD]LO DQG 0DGH 8S /RYHVRQJ VFUDSHG WKHLU ZD\ LQWR WKH FRQVFLRXVQHVV RI WKH PRUH DOWHUQDWLYH PLQGHG SRS IDQ" 7KLV DOEXP FRXOG KDYH WXUQHG RXW WR EH DQ DYHUDJH DIIDLU IXOO RI TXDLQW VRQJV FRQFHUQLQJ PDWWHUV RI WKH KHDUW VDYH IRU RQH DVSHFW ² WKH HQG OHVVO\ HQGHDULQJ TXDOLW\ RI 'DQJHU À HOG·V YRFDOV 1HYHU RQ WKH PRUH VWULSSHG EDFN VRQJV OLNH /LYH :LUH DQG 'RQ·W EH 6K\ GR WKH O\ULFV FRPH DFURVV DV FRQWULWH ,QVWHDG WKH\ ZKLVSHU sweet gentle nothings in your ear ZLWK DQ DIIHFW WR PRUH WKDQ PDWFK PDQ\ PRUH SRSXODU DFWV &HUWDLQO\ LW·G EH IRROLVK WR LJQRUH KRZ PRYLQJ WKLV DOEXP FDQ EH DW WLPHV ,I WKH DOEXP ZDV VROHO\ PDGH XS RI VLPSOLVWLF FUHDWLRQV VXFK DV WKHVH WKHQ LW ZRXOG EH D ZLQQHU %XW LW·V

RQ WUDFNV OLNH $Q\ 'LUHFWLRQ DQG Faster than the Setting Sun that the DOEXP IDOOV EDFN WR WKH VOLJKWO\ PRUH DYHUDJH OHYHO , DW À UVW SHVVLPLVWL FDOO\ H[SHFWHG 7KH O\ULFV GR OLWWOH WR H[FLWH DQG XQIRUWXQDWHO\ WKHUH·V QR VHQVH RI SURJUHVVLRQ IURP WUDFNV SURGXFHG ZKHQ LQ WKH *XLOOHPRWV 2Q WKH DOPRVW 0RUULVVH\ OLNH 6R %UDQG 1HZ WKH DOEXP UHDFKHV D TXHHU VWDWH RI GLVFRQWLQXLW\ ² VRXQG LQJ OLNH LW ZDV PDGH E\ D GLIIHUHQW DUWLVW HQWLUHO\ LW VHWV WKH LQFRQVLVWHQW WRQH RI WKH UHFRUG Really, this is the main issue with Fly Yellow Moon ,W GRHVQ·W SOD\ DV DQ DOEXP UDWKHU D FROOHFWLRQ RI XQ FRQQHFWHG WUDFNV VR SLFN RXW WKH KLJK SRLQWV OLNH %DUULFDGH DQG LJ QRUH PXFK RI WKH UHVW :LWK WKH *XLOOHPRWV FXUUHQWO\ ZRUNLQJ RQ D WKLUG VWXGLR DOEXP DIWHU WKH FRPPHUFLDO DQG FULWLFDO PLVÀ UH RI Red LW UHPDLQV WR EH VHHQ whether Fly Yellow Moon ZLOO EH )\IH 'DQJHUÀ HOG·V RQO\ VROR H[FXU VLRQ (LWKHU ZD\ LW·V D VRPHWLPHV LQWHUHVWLQJ EXW RIWHQ PLOGO\ IUXVWUDW ing listen from an artist with more to RIIHU WKDQ WKLV

Esmée Denters Outta Here

7KH ,UUHSUHVVLEOHV Mirror Mirror

Pantha Du Prince Black Noise

7KH 0DU\ 2QHWWHV Islands

$V ZHOO DV EHLQJ RQH RI WKH ZRUOG·V PRVW ZHOO UHJDUGHG QLJKWFOXEV IDE ULF·V DOVR EHFRPH RQH RI GDQFH PX VLF·V PRVW LQÁ XHQWLDO ODEHOV ZLWK its monthly fabric DQG fabric.live DJ FRPSLODWLRQV TXLFNO\ JDLQLQJ WKH VDPH QRWRULHW\ )RU WKH À IWLHWK LQ VWDOPHQW WKH\·YH WXUQHG WR RQH RI GXEVWHS·V FXUUHQW KRW SURSHUWLHV 0DUW\Q :KLOH GHHS EDVV JURRYHV UXQ WKURXJK WKH FRPSLODWLRQ WKRXJK 0DUW\Q·V PL[ SURYHV WR EH D EURDG PLQGHG DIIDLU .LFNLQJ RII ZLWK +XGVRQ 0RKDZNH·V GHOLULRXVO\ VLOO\ -R\ )DQWDVWLF 0DUW\Q QHYHU VWLFNV WR RQH VRXQG RU PRRG IRU ORQJ DGHSW O\ PRYLQJ IURP WKH OLNHV RI =RPE\·V PHQDFLQJ /LWWOH 0LVV 1DXJKW\ WR GDQFHÁ RRU VKDNLQJ SHUFXVVLRQ MDPV OLNH 8QFOH %DNRQJR·V $IDU 7KLV HFOHFWLFLVP SURYHV WR EH ERWK WKH FRPSLODWLRQ·V JUHDWHVW DVVHW DQG LWV ELJJHVW Á DZ LQ QRW VWLFNLQJ WR RQH VFHQH H[FOXVLYHO\ 0DUW\Q FUHDWHV DQ DFFHVVLEOH PL[ WKDW SURYLGHV DQ RYHU YLHZ RI FXUUHQW GDQFH WUHQGV EXW WKLV VFRSH VWRSV LW IURP VFDOLQJ WKH same heights as some of the more UHYHUHG HQWULHV LQ WKH IDEULF VHULHV OLNH 5LFDUGR 9LOODORERV· VXSHUE HQ WLUHO\ VHOI SURGXFHG PLQLPDO KRXVH PDVWHUSLHFH fabric 36 IDEULF ·V D JUHDW PL[ EXW SHUKDSV QRW WKH PLOH VWRQH LW FRXOG KDYH EHHQ

(VPpH 'HQWHUV LV WKH 'XWFK SUR WpJpH RI -XVWLQ 7LPEHUODNH ZKR ZDV GLVFRYHUHG GXH WR KHU SRSXODULW\ RQ <RX7XEH VR KHU GHEXW DOEXP Outta Here KDG D ORW WR OLYH XS WR 7KH DOEXP LV D FRPSLODWLRQ RI RULJ LQDO VRQJV DOO FR ZULWWHQ E\ 'HQWHUV LW LV D PL[WXUH RI VORZ EDOODGV DQG XSEHDW WUDFNV DQG 7LPEHUODNH·V LQ Á XHQFH LV REYLRXV WKURXJKRXW LW $OWKRXJK VRPH RI WKH VRQJV GLVSOD\ WKDW VKH KDV FRQVLGHUDEOH YRFDO WDO HQW WKH O\ULFV GRQ·W VKRZ PXFK RULJLQDOLW\ DQG WKH VRQJV FRXOG HDV LO\ EH PLVWDNHQ IRU QXPHURXV RWKHU IHPDOH DUWLVWV 7KH WUDFN &DVDQRYD D GXHW ZLWK -XVWLQ 7LPEHUODNH LV GLVDSSRLQWLQJ DQG YHUJHV RQ FKHHV\ 7LPEHUODNH LV IHDWXUHG FRQWLQXRXVO\ WKURXJKRXW WKH DOEXP EXW LW LV TXHVWLRQDEOH DV WR ZKHWKHU WKLV LV MXVW IRU SXEOLFLW\ SXUSRVHV 7KH DOEXP FRQWDLQV VRPH WUDFNV WKDW DUH OLNHO\ WR GR ZHOO LQ WKH FOXEV DQG DOULJKW LQ WKH FKDUWV KRZ HYHU WKHUH LV OLWWOH H[FLWLQJ DERXW LW 7KH VHFRQG DOEXP ZRQ·W EH ZDLWHG RQ ZLWK PXFK DQWLFLSDWLRQ DQG WKLV LV XQOLNHO\ WR PDNH PXFK RI D PDUN RQ WKH PXVLF LQGXVWU\ 2YHUDOO WKH DOEXP KDV VRPH VRQJV WKDW À W ZHOO LQWR WKH SRS 5Q% JHQUH KRZHYHU DOO WRJHWKHU LW ODFNV VRPH WKLQJ VSHFWDFXODU

$ OHDG VLQJHU ZLWK D GL]]\LQJ YRFDO UDQJH QRW GLVVLPLODU WR .DWH %XVK EDFNHG XS E\ D WHQ SLHFH RUFKHVWUD 7KH ,UUHSUHVVLEOHV FHUWDLQO\ JUDE \RXU DWWHQWLRQ DQG ZLWK -DPLH 0F 'HUPRWW·V GHFODUDWLRQ RI ¶0\ IULHQG -R ZDV D FUD]\ ELWFK· RSHQLQJ WKH DO EXP WKH LQWHUHVW RQO\ GHHSHQV 7KH EDQG KDYH FRLQHG D PHOORZ DQG LQRIIHQVLYH VRXQG KRZHYHU DQG PDQ\ VRQJV RQ WKH DOEXP VHHP WR H[KLELW VLJQV RI ZULWHUV EORFN DV SDUWLFXODU OLQHV RU SKUDVHV DUH FOXQJ WR DQG UHSHDWHG DQG UHSHDWHG 7KH VWDQG RXW WUDFN LV XQGRXEWHG O\ $QYLO ZKLFK UHLQV 0F'HUPRWW·V VRDULQJ YRFDOV LQ EDODQFLQJ WKHP ZLWK FKRLU OLNH EDFNLQJ YRFDOV DQG a galloping rhythm, whilst highlighting the range of instruments XVHG VRPHWKLQJ ZKLFK RWKHU VRQJV VLPSO\ IDLO WR GR 3DVW WUDFN IRXU WKRXJK WKH DOEXP GULIWV LQWR PHGL RFULW\ ZLWK WUDFNV FRPLQJ DQG JRLQJ LQ D EOXU RI PHODQFKRO\ GHYRLG RI D GLYLGLQJ OLQH EHJLQQLQJ RU HQG 0F'HUPRWW·V VRQJV DUH UHSRUWHGO\ ¶FRQIHVVLRQDO VWRULHV RI ORYH DQJHU OXVW DQG ORVV· ZHOO RND\ -DPLH EXW , FDQ·W KHOS ZLVKLQJ IRU HYHU\RQH·V VDNH WKDW \RX KDG VRPHWKLQJ RI D KDSSLHU OLIH 0\ )ULHQG -R $QYLO DQG 1XFOHDU 6NLHV DUH DOO ZHOO ZRUWK D OLVWHQ EXW XQIRUWXQDWHO\ WKH UHVW SDVVHV PH E\

$ ORW RI WHFKQR LV VHDUFKLQJ IRU WKH KHGRQLVW LQVLGH \RX %XW +HGULN :HEHU DND 3DQWKD 'X 3ULQFH KH·V D GLIIHUHQW FKDUDFWHU )RU D VWDUW EODFN QRLVH LV DFFRUG LQJ WR :LNLSHGLD ¶QRLVH ZLWK D Iǃ VSHFWUXP ZKHUH ǃ ! · 7UDQVODWHG for normal humans, this means QRLVH RXWVLGH RI KXPDQ KHDULQJ :K\ QDPH D GDQFH DOEXP DIWHU VL OHQFH" 0DQ\ RI WKH VRXQGV ZHUH FUHDWHG IURP LPSURYLVHG À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·W PXVLF WR PRYH WR EXW LW·V WHFKQR PDGH E\ VRPHRQH LQ ORYH ZLWK QDWXUH GDQFH WKDW VKRXOG EH QDUUDWHG E\ 'DYLG $WWHQERURXJK DQG WKLV LV ZKDW JLYHV LW VXFK D EHDX WLIXO VSDUN RI RULJLQDOLW\

$ FROOHFWLRQ RI VRQJV ZKLFK ZRXOGQ·W VRXQG RXW RI SODFH LI WKH\ DSSHDUHG LQ 7KH %UHDNIDVW &OXE RU 3UHWW\ LQ 3LQN ,VODQGV LV SRVLWLYHO\ GULSSLQJ ZLWK V QRVWDOJLD 7KHUH·V QRWKLQJ ZURQJ ZLWK D ELW RI QRVWDOJLD EXW ZKHQ D UHFRUG VRXQGV OLNH LW FRXOG KDYH EHHQ UHFRUGHG DV D WULEXWH WR 7KH &XUH ZHOO ZKHUH·V WKH RULJLQDOLW\" Islands VRRQ EHFRPH D FKDOOHQJH QRW WR FRPSDUH HYHU\ VRQJ WR D &XUH WUDFN 3X]]OHV RSHQV ZLWK /XOODE\·V V\QWKV RQO\ VSHG XS D OLWWOH 2QFH , :DV 3UHWW\ LV -XVW /LNH +HDYHQ ZLWK D VOLJKW WZHDN RI WKH DUUDQJHPHQW DQG VRPH IUHVK O\ULFV :K\ WKHUH·V D VPDWWHU RI 3LFWXUHV RI <RX DQG D VSULQNOLQJ RI /RYH 6RQJ 6LQJHU 3KLOLS HYHQ KDV WKH VDPH QRQFKD ODQW VZRRQ WKDW·V FKDUDFWHULVWLF RI 0U 6PLWK ,W·V D UHDO VKDPH WKDW Islands fails WR VKDNH RII LWV WLHV WR 7KH &XUH DV ZKHQ HDFK WUDFN LV OLVWHQHG WR LQGL YLGXDOO\ LW FDQ EH DSSUHFLDWHG IRU EHLQJ D QLFH GUHDP\ VOLFH RI V\QWK SRS &U\ )RU /RYH IRU H[DPSOH KDV D IUDJLOH URPDQWLFLVP DERXW LW VSL UDOOLQJ GHOLFDWHO\ EHWZHHQ KRRNV ,I RQO\ 7KH 0DU\ 2QHWWHV KDGQ·W UHOLHG VR PXFK XSRQ D ERUURZHG VW\OH ,VODQGV ZRXOG EH D PXFK PRUH H[FLWLQJ SURVSHFW

Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor

Sally Priddle

Matthew Blackwell

Gordon Bruce Culture Online Editor

Linsey Teggert

Various Artists fabric 50: Martyn

Polly Randall

3ODVWLFLQHV %LWFK Shamelessly throwaway, this is WKH NLQG RI VRQJ PDGH E\ WKRVH JHHN\ JLUOV DW VFKRRO ZKR JRW DPD]LQJO\ KRW DQG FRRO DW QLQH WHHQ ZKLOVW WKH SRSXODU NLGV PDGH DFFLGHQWDO EDELHV %LWFK LV QHLWKHU SDUWLFXODUO\ LQYHQWLYH QRU FOHYHU EXW LW·V JRLQJ WR EH ULSSLQJ XS GDQFH Á RRUV MXVW DV LWV FUHDWRUV ULS XS KHDUWV Alice Vincent 7KH 6PDVKLQJ 3XPSNLQV :LGRZ :DNH 0\ 0LQG 7KH VHFRQG VRQJ IURP Teargarden by Kaleidoscope VHHV WKH 3XPSNLQV H[SHULPHQW ZLWK FDWFK\ NH\ERDUG PHORGLHV DQG O\ULFDO KRRNV 6RPH PD\ KDYH EHHQ GLVDSSRLQWHG E\ WKH ODFNLQJ JXLWDU KHDY\ EDVHG QDWXUH RI WKH À UVW UHOHDVH 6RQJ IRU D 6RQ EXW :LGRZ :DNH 0\ 0LQG RSHQV XS D ZRUOG RI SRWHQ WLDO IRU &RUJDQ Stuart Edwards

32

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture TV & Radio

tv & radio soaps

tv highlights Billie and the Real Bell Bare All

Coronation Street

11pm Monday, ITV2 (repeat)

Ciaran McCarthy played by Keith Duffy makes a return to WeathHUÀHOG DV 3HWHU DQG /HDQQH EXPS into him in a restaurant out of town. Becky reveals she is pregnant but makes Clare swear she won’t tell anybody. Will she keep it? Elsewhere, Janice gets a sexy new lodger.

Some would say that this television arrangement has all the elements of 21st century entertainment. The discussion of sex, opportunism, money and voyeurism is delivered by two young women looking to develop their careers and gain understanding; albeit in very different ways. The dramatised, hyper-glitz Belle du Jour of the books and television series meets the real, unabashed version in a revealing interview that sees former Newcastle University research scientist Dr. Brooke Magnanti, who recently revealed herself to be the author of ‘The Secret Diaries of a Call Girl’ books, spill all to Billie Piper. Her life as a working call girl, in-

cluding a period where she worked in Newcastle, promises to be a divisive account of where the sex industry lies in the acceptance of the everyday public. Seemingly Piper has made her stance very clear, and the interview includes her defending her decision to perform the role in a controversially glamorous fashion. On a lighter note however, the average viewer’s love of naughtiness ZLOO EH VDWLVÀHG ZLWK WDOHV RI EL]DUUH client fetishes and embarrassing situations and requests. Students can take note: Magnanti was crippled with debt from her desire to become a research scientist and get a PhD. Maybe there’s room for a male version? If I could make it look as good as Billie Piper did, I’d give it a go.

The Truth About Tanning

The Vampire Diaries

Pick of the week

Eastenders Syed may be telling Christian that he’s happily married, but when Amira turns up at the Masala Queen in her undies to seduce him, why is he in such a hurry to get her clothes back on? Syed’s loss is Danny’s gain as later he and Amira share a cheeky kiss! Stacey’s pregnancy is all over the Vic as Becca makes sure nobody misses out on the gossip. Meanwhile, are Ronnie and Jack back on???

Hollyoaks

Nile Amos

9pm Tuesday, ITV2

Tower Block of Commons

Secrets of Egypt 8pm Wednesday, Five

9pm Monday, C4

9pm Thursday, BBC3

Hannah is shocked to see her ex, Jamie, chatting with Suzanne, and orders him to stay away from her and her family.Rhys also warns him to stay away but in a slightly more physical way. But will Hannah change her mind when she receives a romantic voice message from Jamie? Meanwhile Ravi decides to distract himself from Relish and his aneurysm by starting up a boxing club in the local council hall.

Emmerdale Natasha refused to give up on Mark but when the police turn up explaining they’ve found a body, she expects the worse. Hannah storms out of the house during a family dinner when the talk turns to school and she can’t handle it. But why does Victoria arrive home from school later in the week with a scratched face and bleeding ear?

Neighbours Probably best known as ‘the grumpy ginger one’ from Girls Aloud, Nicola Roberts is going on a ‘personal journey’ to explore the tanning phenomenon that is sweeping across the U.K. As part of BBC3’s Dangerous Pleasures season, the show will be investigating how far people go in their quest for ‘beauty’. Nicola will be meeting self confessed ‘tanorexics’- mainly young women in their twenties who use VXQEHGV IRXU RU ÀYH WLPHV SHU ZHHN in a bid to understand the appeal of tanning. Roberts will also be meeting dermatologists and cancer experts who will undoubtedly list the consequences of sunbeds. It may not be Cheryl, but Nicola certainly has a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ about her, a ‘something kinda ooooh’, if you will. Helen Atkinson

Now that vampires are all the rage, we can expect to see something interesting in this new critically acclaimed series. The story is centred around teenager Elena and her brother Jeremy, who’ve come to live with their Aunt in Mystic Falls after their parents die. It starts off with the makings of a normal teen drama but there’s something mysterious about the new student Stefan Salvatore and (OHQD ÀQGV KHUVHOI LPPHGLDWHO\ drawn to him. As she gets to know him, she’s unaware he’s hiding a deadly secret: yes, he’s an Edward Cullen! But if you think this sounds familiar, be prepared for an enthralling surprise, as Stefan’s evil older brother Damon returns to town and Stefan ÀQGV KH·V QRW WKH RQO\ RQH DIWHU (OHna’s affections! Lynsey Fawcett

With a general election fast approaching, MPs are desperate for votes and ‘Tower Block of Commons’ is their attempt to regain popularity with individuals. 7KH VHULHV· ÀUVW HSLVRGH VKRZV WKH experience of the Liberal Democrat MP, Mark Oaten, spending a week living in a council house in Barking and Dagenham. The individuals that Mark Oaten meets have become disenchanted with mainstream politicians and so have turned to the BNP. Oaten spends his time attempting to understand people’s concerns and why they feel the BNP is the only way forward in politics. This programme is guaranteed to be a great watch for anybody who is interested in politics or for those disenchanted with mainstream politicians. Clementine Manning

ad of the week Get your skates on with Evian Adverts for bottled water are never that thrilling; do you really want volcanicity? Do you even know what that is? No, but do you want to be able to roller skate round the park like the Evian babies? Yes, yes you do. , ÀUVW GLVFRYHUHG WKH )UHQFK YHUsion of this advert on YouTube a few months ago and I loved it. So you can imagine my excitement

when I turned on the TV last week to see babies roller skating round a city park. Evian are running a ‘Live Young’ campaign across television and the Internet, and you can’t get much younger than a baby. Who wouldn’t want to be able WR EDFN ÁLS DQG VRPHUVDXOW ZLWK D ghettoblaster in the background? Clearly water is the best way to

achieve these abilities. Everybody knows that we need two litres of water a day to be healthy, and this advert stops trying to tell us this well-known fact and just shows us how much fun we can have if we drink lots of water (especially Evian) and invest in a pair of roller skates. Clementine Manning

The latest instalment in FIVE’s Secrets of Egypt series chronicles the life of Egypt’s longest reigning pharaoh, Ramesses II. This period is viewed as a golden age in Egypt as it was the dominant power in the middle-east and the prosperity ushered in by Ramesses’ campaigns meant he could fund vast building projects such as the great hall at Karnak and the world famous temple of Abu Simbel. The latest archaeological research and state of the art CGI graphics are used to demonstrate how great architectural feats such as this were accomplished. For lovers of history or those of you with a general interest in the rich cultural heritage that Egypt has left the world, this documentary is great viewing. Imran Javed

The Ramsay kids are on the run and who’s trying to help them? None other than their Uncle Paul Robinson. He feels guilty about neglecting the kids when they needed him. But when his efforts to bring them home fail, he is driven to drastic measures and cuts off their money.

Home and Away The culprit behind the people VPXJJOLQJ LV ÀQDOO\ RXWHG LQ D VHULHV RI ÁDVKEDFNV VKRZLQJ YLHZHUV who has been involved right from the beginning. Elsewhere, Martha is trapped in the boot of Derrick’s car. Little does her kidnapper know there’s a surprise waiting for him on the backseat. Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor

the vote Fifth Gear vs. Top Gear Email courier.culture-tv@ncl.ac.uk with your vote now

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

33

TV & Radio Culture TV & Radio Editor: Aimee Philipson - courier.culture-tv@ncl.ac.uk

Cross dressers and Mad Men

catch-up tv Glee

Joe Mellor Columnist

9pm Monday, E4, repeated 5.35pm Sunday, C4. Catch up on 4OD If Fame's your thing and you like the 'High School losers trying to make it to the Top' storyline which runs through American TV shows and movies, then you should love Glee. , KDYH WR DGPLW , HQMR\HG WKH À UVW episode. It was no Inbetweeners but it had all the obscure humour of Napoleon Dynamite – and I didn't need WR EH KHDYLO\ XQGHU WKH LQà XHQFH WR appreciate it! Not having gone to an American High School myself, I can't really relate – thank God - to the stereotypical jocks, geeks, cheerleaders and now, 'Gleeks ' but that doesn’t seem to matter. All of the characters are over-exaggerated – sounds bad on paper, I know, but on screen it actually seems to work.

It might appear to be just a bundle of teenage angst and drama relayed to the audience through the medium of song and dance – and I guess it is. The plot's not amazing, but it carries the characters who are hilariRXV 3HUVRQDOO\ , WKLQN LW GHÀ QLWHO\ deserves more kudos than to be labelled a 'Satire of High School Musical' like many Gleek-haters have rated it. The cast are extremely talented DQG DW WKH HQG RI WKH À UVW HSLVRGH they pull off a cracking rendition of Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing'; even if you don't bother watching the programme on 4OD it's well worth a trip to YouTube. Jessica Bean

radio highlights Mark Thomas – The Manifesto 6.30-7pm Thursday, BBC R4 Comedian-activist Mark Thomas returns with four more editions of the show in which the audience suggests policies to make the world a better place.

Opposing Obama 8-8.30pm Monday, BBC World Service Author and journalist Gary Younge tells the story of the other side of the Obama phenomenon, meeting people who think his presidency is nothing but bad news.

what I listen to when

...I’m cooking

I am one of those people who cannot IXQFWLRQ ZLWKRXW FRQVWDQW ÂśWXQH DJH¡ as I so deplorably put it. Hence when I’m in the kitchen, cooking away, I have to have the radio on. While one of my housemates feels constantly compelled to change to Galaxy FM (she knows who she is), I choose ever-reliable Radio One, the

home of Zane Lowe and his quality playlists. Zane’s show goes out MondayThursday 7-9pm, the perfect time IRU FRRNLQJ ,¡P DOZD\V ÂśRQ ERDUG¡ and love the Kiwi’s enthusiastic style of presenting and evident love for all genres of music. Zane showcases the very best new music - from rap to rock to jazz to electro, anything goes. Some of my housemates cannot stand Zane, however we all agree that the music he plays is always excellent. I have discovered many a new band thanks to him, and although he may no longer be the most credLEOH '- , ORYH ÂśWKH /RZH¡ In particular, I love Thursday QLJKWV DQG WKH Âś=DQH YV 7KH 3HRSOH¡ feature, whereby Lowe and members of the public go head to head LQ D ELG WR SOD\ WKH EHVW ÂśIXWXUH DQ WKHP¡ ÂśNDUDRNH WXQH¡ HWF \RX JHW the picture. Furthermore, the show often gets exclusive interviews with some of the most celebrated musicians in the world, a perfect reason to tune in. So next time you’re cooking up a curry (or warming up a pot noodle, let’s be realistic here), why not have a listen to this gem of a radio programme? <RX¡OO EH ÂśRQ ERDUG¡ EHIRUH \RX know it. Helen Atkinson

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 7-8.30pm Wednesday, BBC R2 Mike Harding presents highlights of WKH %%& 5DGLR )RON $ZDUGV show from The Brewery in London.

Desert Island Discs 11.15am Sunday, BBC R4 This week’s castaway is stylist and presenter Gok Wan. Gok talks to Kirsty Young about his life, his favourite music and how he would cope on BBC Radio 4’s mythical island.

nsr Back on your airwaves After a lengthy break, Newcastle Student Radio makes its return this week from 10am, once again providing you with the soundtrack to your time at Newcastle University. With students’ demanding schedules, there’s been a fair bit of chopping and changing with some exciting new shows alongside favourites from last semester. Amongst these is an improved coverage of student news and sports, with three weekly sport shows, both previewing and reviewing the weekends’ action and providing increased in-depth analysis on University sports. Furthermore from a musical standpoint there will be continued speFLDOLVW VKRZV IURP SP RQZDUGV each weekday helping you discover new music with something for everyone. Operated solely by students, the station continues to be broadcast both online and in the Union’s Global CafÊ throughout the day, with over 100 members ensuring you are kept up to date with the latest music, news, sports and entertainment. If you’re yet to visit our website be sure to log on to see our brand new schedule, gallery and hear the best of our interviews and live sessions from last semester. Over the next term, working alongside The Courier and NUTV, there will be plenty more added to this to feast your ears and eyes on, in what promises to be another busy time for NSR. Added to this, a new club night is

in the pipeline to provide another outlet for you to hear great new music and we’ll be showcasing more local acts across the term too. So please do listen in and support UDGLR WKDW¡V FDWHUHG VSHFLĂ€ FDOO\ IRU you, the students of Newcastle. Christian Allen Improved student sport coverage: Monday 11-12am - “Kick Off’ Preview show letting listeners know what is coming up this week with Sport. Dedicated to University sport. Wednesday 6-8pm - ‘Cross-Country’ 7KH GD\¡V UHVXOWV OLYH DV WKH Ă€ QDO whistles are blown up and down the country. Includes interviews. Friday 6-7.30 - ‘90MINUTES’ Gavin Callaghan covers professional sport. Watch this space for a full NSR schedule coming in a future issue of The Courier and check out the Culture Listings for upcoming NSRLive events!

When I was a little boy I wanted to be a ballerina, but by a cruel twist of fate I was born a man, well more of a dandy, but a male of the species all the same. This troubled me until about a month ago; now I want to be a 1960’s advertising executive. , ERXJKW P\VHOI WKH Ă€ UVW WZR VHULHV of Mad Men – a drama series set in a 1960’s New York advertising company - for Christmas (pity me...please), and have decided that I want to live in an age where adultery is just a bit of a giggle and refusing to drink bourbon before midday singles you out as a sissy or, God forbid, a closet homosexual. Think Life on Mars but without the pesky time traveller John Simm. Anyway the third series arrived last week - catch up on BBC iPlayer. The show was recently voted the fourth best ever series ahead of shows like The Wire, so it’s worth a glance. 2ND\ WKDW PLJKW QRW Ă RDW \RXU boat, but Celebrity Big Brother &KDQQHO QLJKWO\ Ă RDWV HYHU\ RQH¡V LW¡V D Ă RDWLQJ Ă RWLOOD RI IXQ 7KHUH LV WKH Ă RXULVKLQJ ÂśEUR PDQFH¡ EHWZHHQ $OH[ ÂśFDJH Ă€ JKWHU aspiring ballerina’ Reid and Vinny Âś*HRUGLH FU\ EDE\ EDOO IRQGOHU DQG overacting mute’ Jones. I did feel for poor little Dane Bowers. It is like he is Vinny’s and Alex’s little brother and he just wants to be one of the lads. I stress the word did feel sorry for Dane. Until I went for a bit of an internet search about Dane’s courtship with Jordan and came across an intriguLQJ WLWOH Âś-RUGDQ KHHOHG E\ $QRWKHU Level’. I thought it was a reference to Jordan’s horse riding prowess and her WUXVW\ VWHHG Âś$QRWKHU /HYHO¡ :KDW I saw was a whole lot seedier and more to the point unhygienic. The professional god-botherer and least successful of the Baldwin dynasty, Stephen, threatened Big Brother with god’s wrath because he couldn’t ring his daughter on her birthday. I’m not a religious man but I’m not sure if God would part the Red Sea for that one. If he does then please note I got overcharged in the 6SDU WKLV PRUQLQJ ,ÂśYH MXVW FKHFNHG my receipt and it says I was served today by Sandra. Go on Big Fella do your worst. I also thought it was a tad unfair when Big Brother brought in the football manager Barry Fry to berate the housemates. During Vinny’s chequered football career, he would have heard this type of rant everyday. I think we need to level the SOD\LQJ Ă€ HOG WRWDOO\ LJQRUH WKH pun). Lady Sovereign should have brought in some of her hoodie mates and happy slap the lot of them. Basshunter should bring in a throng of E’d up clubbers to bore each housemate to tears with their chemically enhanced affection. Heidi Fleiss could have brought in......let’s leave it there. )LQDOO\ LI ,ÂśG EURNHQ XS D \HDU marriage between a famous rock star and his ex-model wife I would show a bit of humility. Instead, .DWLD KDV Ă RXQFHG DURXQG EUHDNLQJ ZLQG DQG Ă LUWLQJ ZLWK WKH 9LNLQJ invader. But maybe I’m just old fashioned. I am a 1960’s advertising executive after all.

34

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture TV & Radio

tv & radio interview

‘I’d caution anyone doing a Media Studies degree’ Culture Editor Alice Vincent and Nick Hewer discuss the next series of The Apprentice, today’s graduate opportunities and Kazakhstan Over the last half a decade, The Apprentice has risen from BBC experiment to the column-fodder of Heat magazine, creating as many dreams as hare-brained plans. Similarly, Sir Alan Sugar and his aides, Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford have had their professional lives transformed into those of household names. Nick popped over to my family home one frosty afternoon for a cup of tea, and, looking rather more relaxed than in the board room in long snow-proof boots, allowed me to quiz him on varying aspects of his ascent to fame. What started out as ‘a bit of fun’,

albeit stemmed in Sugar’s desire to demonstrate the fun side of business – “he’s very proud of his programmeâ€? - has now become BBC’s intellectual answer to reality TV. The sixth series of The Apprentice is currently in production, although, as I learn, the screening is something that nobody seems to know. “It’s all predicated on the electionâ€?, Nick sighs. It turns out that Sugar’s role as a government adviVRU KROGV VLJQLĂ€FDQFH HQRXJK IRU the Conservative party to argue that the programme will affect the election. “It strikes me as nonsense,â€? Nick says, “thanks Jeremy Hunt, for screwing up the viewing habits of

the nation.â€? It’ll probably hit our screens in the summer, alongside the new Young Apprentice, a version of the show involving school kids, of whom the team were ‘rather proud’. The educational basis of the show remains a top priority amongst the production team, having stemmed out of Alan Sugar’s university visits. This series will also see the debut of Margaret’s replacement, Karren Brady, the business woman who broke records by becoming managing director of Birmingham City football club at just 23. Nick, too, is waiting to see just how she’ll cope. “Karren’s business analysis is much better than mine or Margaret’s, but whether she has the whiplash is still to be seen.â€? When I question the extent to which the editors have control, Nick quickly snubs such accusations. “It’s a very truthful programme, I’ve always thought the editing very honest – those guys are geniuses. Not only do they inject the wit and the timing, but to hold it together as a programme is amazing. There is no script for anybody.â€? With the presentation of The Apprentice as a programme to aid youngsters into business, I wonder what Nick thinks of the current obsession with interning and free work placements for graduates, as well as the ever-increasing amount of the latter. He’s had experience of such situations - “everybody wants to get on the production team. Most of the DVVLVWDQWV DQG UXQQHUV KDYH Ă€UVW class honours degrees.â€? When I reveal the reality of the situation - that graduates don’t really expect to get paid work upon leaving university any more – he is shocked, to say the least. Should an Apprentice-style interviewing process be introduced considering the current levels of overapplication? “What it shows is the worst and the best in people. Once they’re through that door they’re in a very special world where all their training is stripped away and they’re out of their comfort zone, where someone they will never rate will beat them because they’ve got talent. “The lesson is that while you can be super educated there is always room for the savant – the raw JHQLXV LQGHĂ€QDEOH DELOLW\ WR VHH through a problem. The scarcest thing of all is talent.â€? Despite this, Nick maintains that a university education is important, even if not a golden ticket to success. “Anybody who has an opportunity on the academic front should take it. If only because it’s fun, you make great friends, you leave more educated than when you went in and it suggests to an employer that you have a brain.

“It gets you over the threshold. You need a good degree now. You’ve got to have some good ideas, though. A degree doesn’t mean you’ve got talent or creativity. I’d caution anyone doing a media studies course thinking it’ll take them straight to The Times.â€? A particularly over-subscribed area of the job market is PR, as those desirous of entering it know. +DYLQJ VWDUWHG RXW LQ VXFK D Ă€HOG Nick is amazed at its current popularity. “It’s nuts. It wasn’t something I was particularly proud of. In the old days it was like admitting you were a burglar, or lived a life of crime. “It appealed to me because I had a rather misplaced belief that it was a rather altruistic pursuit, but it can be deeply cynical, and is, frequently. Having said that, it treated me very well, and I hope I’ve treated it very well.â€? Now elevated to the dizzy heights of 46 Nick Hewer-loving Facebook JURXS VRPHWKLQJ KH Ă€QGV ÂśYHU\ odd’ (although loves the ‘terribly funny’ Cassette Boy’s remix of Alan Sugar’s boardroom mixes), Nick’s celebrity status has resulted in a means to indulge in his love of travel for charitable causes. Most notably, participating in Children In Need’s Around the World in 80 Days programme, in which he and ex-Apprentice Saira Kahn had a more than traumatic adventure from Turkey to Kazakhstan. “Because it was at the time of the election, Iran wouldn’t let us in, then the Uzbeks wouldn’t let us in, the bastards, so we ended up going straight to Kazakhstan.â€? The episode makes for brilliant viewing, not least of all seeing Nick described as an ‘old man, who is very ill’ by Saira in an attempt to get on a free ferry, or, on seeing the arguably disgusting accommodation on an entirely different ferry, hearing Nick announce that ‘he was still alive’, despite staying in far worse accommodation in his time. The desire for travel continues. He muses on the undecided location of his next adventure, after claiming that ‘he has no purpose in his life’. Maybe he should consider running for Prime Minister; a fair few Facebook groups seem to think it’s a good option.

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

35

Puzzles Culture

puzzles

7KH À UVW SHUVRQ WR FRPH WR The Courier RIÀ FH ZLWK D FRPSOHWHG Crossword wins a free beer and burger at The Hancock.

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Scruffy (Colloquial) (5) 3. Over the top (11) 8. The US dropped an atomic bomb on this Japanese city in 1945 (9) 11. End a relationship (5-2) 12. Natural phenomenon caused by the refractive dispersion of sunlight in raindrops (7) 14. Self esteem (3) 15. Fictional characters in the Transformers universe; someone who expels air angrily (6) 17. Ancient region on west coast of Asia Minor (5) 19. Measure of quality of gold (5) 20. Measurement around the middle of something (5) 21. Short for Eleanor (5) 22. Male duck; famous explorer (5) 23. American rock band; ----- Welles (American À OP GLUHFWRU

24. Circular part of a vehicle (5) 25. Vegetable that can help you to see in the dark (6) 28. Unit of electrical resistance denoted by this V\PERO ĆĄ

30. Readable (7) 32. Create a feeling of being able to do things (7) 33. Working with minimum wasted effort (9) 7RZQ LQ &XPEULD WKDW VXIIHUHG VHYHUH Ă RRGLQJ before Christmas (11) 35. Wild card (5)

1. Item of clothing (1-5) 2. Relating to the ownership of land; Army unit (11) 4. Swedish band (4) 5. ‘------ Q’ Musical with puppets (6) 6. Part of the body that links the leg and the foot (5) 7. Excellent quality (Colloquial) (8) 9. Caption displayed at the bottom of the screen that translates the dialogue of a foreign ODQJXDJH Ă€ OP

10. All Saints day (3-10) 13. Someone who has no place of residence or who is lost (8) 16. Temporary goodbye (8) 18. TV series starring Wentworth Miller (6-5) 5HODWLQJ WR WKH VFLHQWLĂ€ F VWXG\ RI WKH RULJLQ KLVWRU\ DQG VWUXFWXUH RI WKH HDUWK

22. Person possessed by an evil spirit (8) 26. Want to do in the future (6) 27. Improve (6) 29. Art of sound (5) 31. Appear to be (4)

picture phrase puzzle 8VH WKH SLFWXUHV WR FRPH XS ZLWK D SKUDVH WKLQJ SODFH RU QDPH 7U\ WR À QG WKH FRPPRQ WKHPH.

wordtrail Track the names of shops found in Newcastle through the grid. You should use all of the letters in the grid but only once.

ned’s number cruncher Keep you brain in shape by trying to complete these sums as fast as you can without using a calulator. EASY

40

-20

á5

+8

Halve it

-11

x9

x3

-14

á4

Double it

-3

4/7 of this

+5

-7

x5

+10

Square root

-11

Cube this

x3

+3 =

MEDIUM

30

Square root

=

5/8 of 75% of this this

=

HARD

50

anagrams Unscramble the anagrams to reveal some Famous Names.

sudoku

&

1. DILDO VAGINA 2. BIG MELONS 3. SHUT IT NOW HONEY 4. ONLY I CAN THRILL 5. IM A JERK BUT LISTEN 6. FINE IN TORN JEANS 7. SLIP IT A HORN 8. GO GET BEERS 9. O HE BUGGERS 10. A PLAIN RASH

answers 7KH REMHFWLYH LV WR À OO WKH JULG VR WKDW HDFK FROXPQ HDFK URZ DQG HDFK RI WKH QLQH ð boxes contains the numbers 1-9 one time each. For the completed puzzle check the next edition of The Courier.

If you have any ideas for puzzles you’d like to see in The Courier then email courier.puzzles@ ncl.ac.uk

Picture Phrase Puzzle: Piccadilly, Bakerloo, 0HWURSROLWDQ -XELOHH +DPPHUVPLWK &LW\ 9LFWRULD Common Theme - London Underground Lines. Wordtrail: 7RSVKRS 1HZ /RRN 5LYHU ,VODQG $OO 6DLQWV 2IÀ FH Superdrug. Anagrams: 'DYLG *LQROD 0HO *LEVRQ :KLWQH\ +RXVWRQ +LODU\ &OLQWRQ -XVWLQ 7LPEHUODNH 3DULV +LOWRQ *HURJH %HVW *HRUJH %XVK Sarah Palin. Ned’s Number Cruncher:

crossword

Puzzles Editors: Ned Walker and Suzi Moore - courier.puzzles@ncl.ac.uk

36

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Stan Calvert countdown Hurricanes feel The number of Team the Loko-motion Newcastle wins in last

27

year’s Stan Calvert Cup

> Intra Mural Football, page 40-41

Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Gavin Tom James courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Sports Paul Christian, JamieJamie Gavin Tomand James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk SportsEditors: Editors: Paul Christian, Jamieand Gavin and Tom James -- courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk

days to go

Team Newcastle in good condition Sports Editor Paul Christian talks to Julie Twaddle about her role as the University’s Strength and Conditioning Coach Julie Twaddle has been Newcastle University’s Strength and Conditioning coach since the start of September. And I have a confession to make. I knew very little about her role before this interview. As I arrived at the Sports Centre Julie was in comfortable conversation with an athlete. Then another. By the end of our chat I realise why. Not only is she a former professional athlete, accomplished coach and tireless worker, but Julie is easy to talk to; a voice of experience and NQRZOHGJH LQ KHU Ă€ HOG North East born and bred, she balances her time between NE1 and Gateshead Stadium where she works for the English Institute of Sport. I left the Sports Centre feeling foolish but enlightened. Here’s how it went. Hi Julie, tell me a bit about your role as Strength and Conditioning Coach Strength and Conditioning Coach is one piece of a larger puzzle. I try to make the athletes slightly more robust, stronger and try to prevent them from being injured so that they’re able to maintain more time on the pitch or whatever playing Ă€ HOG WKH\ FRPSHWH LQ So it can encompass gym work, ZHLJKWV Ă H[LELOLW\ ZRUN FRQGLWLRQ ing. It just depends on what that athlete or team need. What athletes do you work with? I work with mostly First Teams, so men’s Rugby, women’s Lacrosse, women’s Hockey, women’s Rugby, Rowing (just started this week) and Netball. Is it a change from your role at the English Institute of Sport (EIS)? With the EIS, I’m working with individual athletes while here at the University a lot of it is team management, so I’m working with much bigger groups. It’s just that transition from individual-based stuff to mass groups that I’ve had to deal with really. You can get a little more quality with the individual work while it can be TXLWH GLIĂ€ FXOW ZLWK ODUJHU JURXSV How have you found the transition? When I was doing my Masters at University, I did similar stuff working as a Grad Assistant so the transition was quite smooth to be honest. You just have to be a bit louder, PRUH FRQĂ€ GHQW WR SURMHFW \RXU YRLFH across a gym that’s male dominated. It doesn’t make much of a difference to me. Describe a typical session with one of the First Teams (Rugby) Depends on what phase of training ZH¡UH ORRNLQJ DW 7KH Ă€ UVW KDOI RI WKH year we looked at more strength development whereas now we’re focusing on explosive power work. We will have threads of everything running all-year long. For example prehab type stuff will continue

throughout the year but we’ll just slightly manipulate the reps to get what we need out of it at that particular time of the season. What sort of prep work or research do you do for training? I base a lot of my training on the coaching eye, things I see from week to week that might need improving. Because I work with large groups, it’s more about trying to pick exercises that I can get the most from without having to spend too much time working on technical development. So the more experienced lifters like the men’s rugby team aren’t too bad and it’s easier to progress, while with more inexperienced teams I have to spend a bit more time on the technical elements. It all depend on the athletes that are involved and the demands of the sport and what I see when I’m coaching on a day-to-day basis. Do you watch the teams play and decide what needs working on? I try to get out on a Wednesday, just to see what’s going on, to support the teams and see how they perform in their arena. Also for them to get that buy-in factor i.e. they get the chance to see that I’m actually interested in what they do. I can tell them what to do in the gym, but if I haven’t seen them play they might say “what the hell does she know.â€? It’s good for them to see me wandering round. I’ve got a general understanding of most sports and for the most part I am just trying to develop the students as athletes rather than have a lot of VSHFLĂ€ FV WR WKH VSRUW 'R \RX VHH \RXUVHOI DV D Ă€ JXUH WKDW student athletes can approach with problems? 7KHUH¡V WKDW Ă€ QH OLQH RI EHLQJ WRR friendly but I think it’s nice to have that interest in what they do. They see that and feel comfortable talking to me. I’d like to think I’m an approachable type of person. Any questions they may have is always an open door for me. Especially with injured players who often get pushed to one side. I like to make sure that they always have something to do and don’t feel excluded. Back to the EIS. Explain your role there. It’s the same position that I hold here – strength and conditioning. But it focuses on working with individual athletes. The main sport I work on is women’s football from senior level all the way through to u17’s. I do the same with the women’s rugby squad. I also work with disabled athletes. Within that role, I support the England women’s Rugby A squad. So I’ll travel to camps for games and tournaments. What’s that like? It’s really good. We play with the

senior team who play in the Six Nations and we curtain-raise for them on most match-days. We travel a lot and are going to Spain and Italy this year. They’re long old days though, up from 7 in the morning monitoring players, doing prehab sessions, warm-ups, cool-downs. In between that doing gym sessions for injured players. Then in the evenings recovery stuff such as pool work, ice baths, meeting after meeting after meeting. No time to relax but it’s well worth it. What do you do to relax? In my spare time, I play football (laughs). I play for Whitley Bay at the moment, but I played at a higher level when I was younger. I went to the USA and played there for a bit. Then I came back and played in the women’s Premiership. +RZ GLG \RX Ă€ QG SOD\LQJ LQ WKH States? In terms of technical ability, it was never something I had a problem with. It was more the mental and physical side of things. If I hadn’t have had the experience, I probably would never have went into the profession I’m in now. My whole mindset to training changed. We used to run in the heat three times a day. First thing in the morning, speed sessions in the afternoon. We wouldn’t get the ball out until the evening. It was a bit old school. And your career in the Premiership? My career lasted six years in the Premier League. I played full back for Sunderland and Doncaster Belles. I played for Newcastle too in Division One before joining Whitley Bay. It’s more recreational now; all my friends are there and I really enjoy it. I enjoyed my time in the Premiership. The travelling was a bit tiring though. What Newcastle teams have benHĂ€ WHG PRVW IURP WKH WUDLQLQJ" Physically, the netball team have really progressed this year. It’s quite a small, tight-knitted group and so their work-ethic is really good. There’s a willingness to learn, and they are growing as athletes. <RX FDQ VHH IURP WKH Ă€ UVW JDPH RI the season until the last one before Chrstmas how much stronger they are. They can compete with the likes of Northumbria and even Leeds. To hear the girls saying ‘I’m feeling so much stronger’ or ‘I didn’t get knocked off the ball’ are the type of things that make me think I’m doing something that’s working. Thanks Julie. Any dirt on Denis, Fraser or Nick Beale? Fraser seems to be the joker in the RIĂ€ FH :H KDYH D OLWWOH )ULGD\ FRI fee group (location unknown) and watch the world go by. It’s good fun.

Team Newcastle’s latest recruit, Julie Twaddle, is a former professional footballer with Sunderland, who are currently top of the Premier League

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

37

Sport

Six Nations D-Day for beleaguered Johnson As the Six Nations gets ready for kick off on Saturday, Jonathan Taylor looks at England’s chances Having now been in the hot-seat of English Rugby for 18 months, few would dispute that Martin Johnson’s managerial future hinges upon the upcoming RBS Six Nations Championships. Failure to perform on Europe’s ELJJHVW VWDJH ZLOO LQĂ LFW D IDWDO EORZ to England’s reputation amongst the rugby elite, and more importantly, to the team’s 2011 World Cup credentials. This Saturday sees the return of weekly international rugby to the BBC, with England set to lock horns with Ireland, France, Wales, Scotland and Italy for the Six Nations crown. With the World Cup in the forefront of everybody’s minds, all see this year’s Championship as vital preparation on the road to New =HDODQG DQG SRWHQWLDOO\ WKH Ă€ UVW step towards securing sporting immortality. Above anything, this year’s Six Nations will effectively show how far Johnson’s England has developed over the last 18 months. After a dire autumn series, the English hierarchy controversially spoke of the ‘giant strides’ made by the team under Johnson’s tenure, claiming that the team remain generally unscathed upon their World Cup mission. However, I feel such talk of English progression is premature. With the World Cup only a year away, I Ă€ QG LW DVWRQLVKLQJ WKDW -RKQVRQ KDV yet not only to discover his strongest starting 15, but more importantly, install the same swagger and FRQĂ€ GHQFH LQWR WKH VLGH RI ZKLFK WKH heroes of 2003 possessed in abundance. England’s main weapon remains the strength and experience in their forward pack, with the likes of Lewis Moody and Simon Shaw Ă€ QGLQJ WKHLU GRPHVWLF IRUP DW WKH perfect time. To have a chance of winning this year’s Six Nations, Johnson must select a pack that is capable of dominating games from the offset, grinding the opposition down through relentless scrummaging. The main worry, however, is the sheer lack of creativity within a

Ready for battle: Chris Cusiter, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Ryan Jones, Brian O’Driscoll, Steve Borthwick and Dimitri Szarzewski pose with the Six Nations trophy EDFN OLQH WKDW LV VWUXJJOLQJ WR À QG LWV direction. Jonny Wilkinson remains pivotal to the English gameplan, but if injuries come back to haunt KLP (QJODQG ZLOO XQGRXEWHGO\ À QG themselves toothless in attack. It is also absolutely essential that Johnson uses this year’s Six Nations WR À QDOO\ GHWHUPLQH KLV :RUOG &XS centre partnership. In order to have a chance of success in New Zealand, England must show continuity over the upcoming months in terms of selection to allow the players valuable game-time to familiarize themselves with eachother; a tactic successfully used by Clive Woodward prior to the 2003 tournament. After a hugely impressive Six Nations campaign last year, Riki )OXWH\ À WQHVV SHUPLWWLQJ LV DOPRVW a guaranteed starter at inside centre, whilst Mathew Tait or Dan Hipkiss appear the favourites to be given the

outside centre jersey. Johnson, however, must make his decision, and more importantly, stick with it, as this is not the time in a World Cup schedule to be showing managerial inconsistency. The virtue of continuity in terms of team selection has never been more evident that in the current Irish team, who are seeking to win backto-back Six Nations championships. After defeating every team in last year’s tournament, Ireland are deservedly deemed strong favourites for this year’s competition, aided by the dazzling form of skipper Brian O’Driscoll for European Champions, Leinster. The only contentious decision for Irish coach Declan Kidney upon choosing his team to kick-off this year’s Six Nations against Italy at Croke Park is whether to opt for the in-form Jonny Sexton or the experienced Ronan O’Gara as his pre-

ferred number ten. Martin Johnson can only dream of such a selection dilemma. Wales’ preparations for this year’s tournament have been disrupted through the injuries to both Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel, meaning that Gareth Cooper is likely to be given the scrum-half role for their opening game at Twickenham. Despite being considered outsiders for this year’s championship, however, with an exciting back-line including Lions duo Jamie Roberts and Shane Williams, Wales may well prove a dark horse in this year’s competition. Scotland open their Six Nations account on Sunday when they enWHUWDLQ )UDQFH DW 0XUUD\À HOG VHHN LQJ WR VHFXUH WKHLU À UVW RSHQLQJ GD\ victory since 2006. Scrum-half Chris Cusiter is likely to named as captain in the absence of the injured Mike Blair, whilst the newly-recalled Dan

Parks is competing with Phil GodPDQ DQG &KULV 3DWHUVRQ IRU WKH à \ half position. The next six weeks of rugby threatens to be one of the most exciting for all of the home nations, and one that will fundamentally determine the future of England boss Martin Johnson. If Johnson and his team strike gold, England will emerge from this year’s Six Nations as genuine contenders for the Webb Ellis trophy in New Zealand next summer, and ZLOO FRQÀ UP WKH H[FLWLQJ HYROXWLRQ of a new team, with aspirations to follow the footsteps of Woodward’s 2003 world-beaters. However, if England fail to impress their critics, Johnson’s position may become increasingly untenable ahead of a gruelling pre-World Cup schedule, and further make the triumphs of 2003 seem a distant memory.

Stan Calvert Cup 2010: spectate to accumulate Paul Christian Sports Editor So exam fever has temporarily subsided, and we no longer have to spend our lives in the silent circus that is the Robinson Library. Which means no more obsequious doorholding. No more check-shirted, North-Faced numpties, roaming around in their socks (put your shoes on). No more cheery, happy groups of chums invading a corner and calling it ‘our spot’. No more brooding ‘I’m a top reviser, me’ types hiding in their hoodies. No more soul-ripping ‘stop and chat’ with the nameless face you always see but have nothing to say to...except maybe ‘bloody exams... I’d rather be at the pub drinking all

the beer.’ No more irritating coughers, sneezers, sniffers and breathers. It’s over. For now. That said, I’m sure lads appreciate the effort girls make to look good even at the library. Thanks girls. It doesn’t go unnoticed. Honestly. But enough of that. February looms, and with it, the pinnacle of Newcastle University’s sports calendar – the Stan Calvert Cup. )RU WKH À UVW WLPH LQ LWV \HDU KLV tory, the tournament will be contested on a Sunday - the 28th to be exact – and the whiff of competition is beginning to pervade the air. Newcomers might be unaware of this spectacle which sees Team Newcastle take on Team Northumbria in 22 sporting events at various venues throughout the region. The

ULYDOU\ LV À HUFH DQG WKH SHUIRUPDQFH levels high. Now, if like me, you’ve never competed in the coveted cup, don’t let the day pass you by. There’s a lot to be said for the 1500 students, in more than 60 teams, battling it out against those biffs across St Mary’s Place. Indeed, from fencer to footballer, an athlete nailing their respective skill with panache triggers that pang of approval in the gut, that gush of adrenaline, that fresh feeling. Basically, it’s dead good. Then dejection takes over as you pull another tin out of your blue bag. However, the art of spectation is UHÀ QHG WKH NH\ FRPSRQHQW RI WKH event. There are a variety of sports to watch; skiing, squash, even

mountain biking. Teams buzz off the support and it’s a good chance to witness the hidden pleasures of minority sports as well as the ecstasies of mainstream. Stan Calvert is ingrained in the recent history of Newcastle University. You mightn’t know we’ve won nine out of sixteen contests including the last two. You mightn’t know Stan Calvert ZDV WKH XQLYHUVLW\¡V Ă€ UVW 'LUHFWRU of Sport; or that Fraser Kennedy knows every score of every game on the day. What you will know is the occasion; possibly someone competing and, if you’ve been before, the enjoyable, often intense atmosphere experienced at the day’s death – the men’s Rugby Union match-up. Ex-

pect thrills and chants aplenty. Plus about four streakers. So, while Stan Calvert attests to our sporting ethos and allows athletes to showcase their irrefutable talent, it’s also an opportunity for the rest of us to get behind the teams; the individuals and the University in general. It’s a bit like that race at Thunder Road in Grease. We’re Danny Zuko and they’re the ugly looking bloke with acne. Games will take place throughout the North East, from Gateshead Stadium to Bullocksteads by the airport, and even our very own Cochrane Park. Tickets cost £4 for the rugby match XQGHU WKH à RRGOLJKWV DW *DWHVKHDG and will sell out quick. The Courier will be covering all things Stan Calvert in the forthcoming weeks.

38

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Sport

Four-goal Leazes cruise past Villa H. NEUENDORF

Intra Mural Football Cup

Castle Leazes Roman Villa

4 0

Jonathan Taylor at Close House Despite matching their opponents for much of the game, fourth division side Roman Villa were knocked out of the cup last week at the hands RI D VWURQJ /HD]HV RXWĂ€W Inspired by the recent giant-killing form of Leeds United, Villa were looking to claim a huge scalp at Close House by eliminating last \HDU¡V 'LYLVLRQ 2QH FKDPSLRQV Such an upset failed to materialize however, with Leazes comfortably HGJLQJ D KDUG IRXJKW DIIDLU The game began in a laboured manner, with both sides struggling to shake off the Christmas rust and DGDSW WR WKH GDPS FRQGLWLRQV 9LOOD to their credit, were matching their opponents every stride, and came close to taking an early lead when winger Ed Hamilton almost conQHFWHG WR DQ H[FHOOHQW FURVV Ă€HOG EDOO After the cautious start however, the game began to open up midZD\ LQWR WKH Ă€UVW KDOI ZLWK /HD]HV strike partners ‘Crouchy’ and David Hamilton combining on a number RI RFFDVLRQV After 20 minutes, the strikers alPRVW JDYH WKH Ă€UVW GLYLVLRQ RXWĂ€W the lead, after a clever exchange saw +DPLOWRQ VWULNH QDUURZO\ ZLGH If the Villa warning bells had not started ringing by then, they cerWDLQO\ ZHUH Ă€YH PLQXWHV ODWHU ZLWK ‘Crouchy’ coming within inches of breaking the deadlock, rattling the ZRRGZRUN IURP D FRUQHU This let-off had a positive effect on Villa however, who began to grow LQ FRQĂ€GHQFH DQG VWDWXUH WKURXJKRXW D FORVHO\ FRQWHVWHG Ă€UVW KDOI with their dreams of a cup upset YHU\ PXFK VWLOO LQWDFW Leazes took the lead against the UXQ RI SOD\ Ă€YH PLQXWHV EHIRUH half-time however, with the everindustrious Hamilton linking with ‘Crouchy’ once more, who effortlessly placed the ball past the helpless Villa keeper after a teasing ball IURP WKH ULJKW $ WLJKW Ă€UVW KDOI HQGHG LQ GUDPDWLF fashion soon after, when Roman Villa were awarded a penalty after good trickery from striker Niall 2¡+DQORQ To the dismay of the Villa spectaWRUV KRZHYHU PLGĂ€HOGHU 5RE *UDG\ missed the spot-kick, allowing Leazes to take a slender advantage into

5RPDQ KROLGD\ &DVWOH /HD]HVÂś YLFWRU\ VHHV WKHP SURJUHVV WR WKH TXDUWHU ÂżQDO RI WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ WKH\ ZRQ ODVW \HDU OHDYLQJ 9LOOD WR FRQFHQWUDWH RQ WKH OHDJXH WKH EUHDN Despite narrowly trailing, Roman Villa had every reason to be proud ZLWK WKHLU JULWW\ Ă€UVW KDOI GLVSOD\ having matched the division one FKDPSLRQV LQ HYHU\ GHSDUWPHQW The second half began in a devastating manner for the fourth diYLVLRQ RXWĂ€W KRZHYHU ZLWK /HD]HV GRXEOLQJ WKH OHDG ZLWKLQ RQO\ Ă€YH PLQXWHV RI WKH UHVWDUW On this occasion, ‘Crouchy’ turned architect for his side, with a superb ball across the box allowing a simSOH Ă€QLVK IRU WKH /HD]HV FHQWUDO PLGĂ€HOGHU

To the credit of the under-dogs, they did not allow the setback to hinder their commitment and heart, as they continued to play the game ZLWK WKHLU KHDGV KHOG KLJK On a number of occasions Villa stretched the Leazes defence, but lacked the clinical edge of which /HD]HV SRVVHVVHG LQ DEXQGDQFH Leazes’ grasp on the game tightened throughout the second period, as they forced a couple of superb VDYHV E\ 9LOOD NHHSHU 6HDQ ,ELVRQ ,ELVRQ Ă€UVWO\ GHQLHG Âś&URXFK\¡ ZLWK DQ H[FHOOHQW UHĂ H[ VDYH IURP close range, and Hamilton soon af-

WHU However, Ibison’s resistance was ÀQDOO\ EURNHQ LQ WKH ÀQDO PLQXWHV with Leazes adding two late goals to rub salt into Villa’s wounds, and JLYH WKH ÀUVW GLYLVLRQ RXWÀW D URXWLQH &XS YLFWRU\ The scoreline was somewhat harsh on a Roman Villa side who have every reason to be pleased with their performance, having frustrated their superior opponents for the PDMRULW\ RI WKH PDWFK After the game, Villa captain Nick Linsey praised the attitude of his players, and highlighted the penalty

PLVV DW WKH HQG RI WKH Ă€UVW KDOI DV WKH WXUQLQJ SRLQW WR WKH WLH “The lads played brilliantly for much of the game, and have to be commended for their effort and KHDUW VKRZQ RXW WKHUH WRGD\ 7KH penalty miss was without doubt a turning point, and on another day, we might have pulled off a big VKRFNÂľ With Roman Villa’s cup run coming to an abrupt end, all attentions now must now turn to their league performance, and their quest of FOLPELQJ 'LYLVLRQ )RXU

Garnett go clear thanks to Kilvington winner Intra Mural Football Division One

Garnett Dyslexic

2 1

Dan Robinson at Cochrane Park Dyslexic’s title dreams were left up in the air after a despairing 2-1 defeat to their main championship rivals in a hard-fought match at CoFKUDQH 3DUN Both sides went into the game knowing that a victory was the minimum required to keep their title challenge on track, but Dyslexic ZHUH GHUDLOHG DV *DUQHWW FDPH RXW RQ WRS LQ D WHQVH VHFRQG KDOI EDWWOH The match started slowly, with each team displaying both a resilient rearguard and reluctance to WDNH WRR PDQ\ ULVNV $Q XQIRUJLYLQJ

surface meant that little football was played on the ground, with Dyslexic’s greatest threat coming in the air from Adam Conchie’s long throws DQG FRUQHUV +RZHYHU WKH\ IRXQG *DUQHWW GLIĂ€FXOW WR EUHDN GRZQ DV $UWKXU Okonkwo ensured the Dyslexic forwards were left frustrated for long periods with a dominant and comSRVHG GHIHQVLYH GLVSOD\ 6LPLODUO\ *DUQHWW ZHUH NHSW DW ED\ on many occasions in the Dyslexic area, as the outstanding Johnny ‘Torres’ Windle turned in yet anothHU WRS SHUIRUPDQFH DW FHQWUH KDOI *DUQHWW WKRXJKW WKH\ KDG EURNHQ the deadlock just past the half hour mark as Fergus Fairmichael rose KLJKHVW WR PHHW D FRUQHU +RZHYHU Dyslexic breathed a massive sigh of relief as his header was cleared off the line by Salisu Mohammad with

DQ RYHUKHDG NLFN (GGLH *UHHQ FDPH FORVHVW IRU '\Vlexic, after making room for himself RQ WKH HGJH RI WKH SHQDOW\ DUHD ÀUing a dipping shot which ended on the wrong side of the crossbar leavLQJ WKH NHHSHU EHDWHQ Dyslexic appeared to gain momentum from this as they took the game WR *DUQHWW EXW ZLWK WKH KDOI WLPH whistle arriving shortly after, the EDODQFH RI SOD\ ZDV WR VRRQ FKDQJH *DUQHWW FDPH RXW DIWHU WKH LQWHUval with a greater purpose than their opponents, enjoying most of the possession and driving forward IURP WKH PLGÀHOG WR FDXVH SUREOHPV IRU WKH '\VOH[LF GHIHQFH They were soon rewarded for their efforts, and a lack of Dyslexic concentration allowed Fairmichael to run through the middle beyond the back four, before calmly slipping the

EDOO SDVW &UDZIRUG WR WDNH WKH OHDG With Dyslexic failing to take a grip on the game, this could have led to a rampage, but, to their credit they raised the tempo once more in an atWHPSW WR FODZ WKHLU ZD\ EDFN Dyslexic’s best chance thus far fell to Andy Matthews from an Al Walker cross, but he struggled to keep his header down and it sailed RYHU WR UHSULHYH *DUQHWW However, the lead did not last PXFK ORQJHU $ &RQFKLH IUHH NLFN from the half way line caused mayKHP LQ WKH *DUQHWW ER[ DV WKH\ IDLOHG WR FOHDU WKHLU OLQHV 'DQL 6KHvill pounced on a loose ball to drill an unstoppable volley beyond the NHHSHU DQG LQWR WKH IDU FRUQHU Dyslexic had the woodwork to thank as a 15-yard volley from Kilvington cannoned off the crossbar, and this gracious luck may have led

them to believe it could be their day DIWHU DOO But it wasn’t to be, as a defensive mix-up 10 minutes from time saw Dyslexic fail to clear from a routine WKURZ LQ :LWK D JRDOPRXWK VFUDPble ensuing, Kilvington couldn’t believe his luck as he took full advantage of the mistake to capitalise and VWDE WKH EDOO LQWR WKH HPSW\ QHW The game did not end without controversy, however, as Laurence Jackson was brought down to mass DSSHDOV IRU D SHQDOW\ 7KH UHIHUHH waved play on to their anguish of '\VOH[LF SOD\HUV $V WKH ÀQDO ZKLVWOH EOHZ ERWK sides held their heads high after what had been a colossal and evenO\ IRXJKW FRQWHVW EXW LW ZDV *DUQHWW who came away with three vital points and that was all that matWHUHG WR HDFK WHDP

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

39

Sport A. BARKER

Powerful Edinburgh hit nine past sorry Royals Women’s Lacrosse

Newcastle 1sts Edinburgh 1sts

2 9

Lucy Handley

Cooking on Scottish gas: Edinburgh were too strong for the Royals

Newcastle went down 9-2 to a strong Edinburgh side at a gloomy Cochrane Park in their last home game of the season. The game was delayed by 20 minutes due to the late arrival of the Umpires, and this meant for a premature end to the contest when SRRU OLJKWLQJ VWRSSHG SOD\ LQ WKH À nal quarter. Despite the score-line, Newcastle played well from the offset, with JRRG PLGÀ HOG WUDQVLWLRQV IURP 9HU ity Davis and Zoe Abbott. Passing was consistent, and there were several runs made into the shooting area. $QQLH &ROYLQ VFRUHG WKH À UVW JRDO of the match after driving around WKH SRVW EHIRUH À ULQJ D VWURQJ OHIW handed shot past the goalkeeper. Edinburgh followed suit, and soon scored two goals in quick succession, leaving the Royals behind. The away side had strong attacks that continued to put pressure on the Newcastle defence throughout the match. Defenders Emily Gibson and Olivia Sharpe played particularly well, clearing many attacking balls thrown their way.

The Edinburgh team showed their IUXVWUDWLRQ GXULQJ WKH À UVW KDOI ZLWK bad verbal behaviour; as a result they were given a Green Card, and the team as a whole were given a formal warning. This did not deter Newcastle’s À JKWLQJ VSLULW KRZHYHU DQG WKH 5R\DOV VFRUHG RQFH PRUH LQ WKH À UVW half. Captain Lucie Ryder looked to have scored another goal, but unfortunately it hit the back of the net seconds after the whistle had been blown for half time. The ball had still been in play, but Time had been called and the goal was therefore ruled out. This left the half time the score at 4-2 to Edinburgh. Both teams were struggling with WKHLU SRRU OHYHO RI À WQHVV UHVXOWLQJ from a seven-week stint without play, and they were forced to use rolling subs to keep the tempo of the game energetic. In the second half, Helen Hodgkin scored, with the ball being brought in by Katie Cos. After a quick off-load, Hodgkin completed a practiced move and quick-sticked the ball in. Edinburgh’s skilled wing defence was quick off the centre draws, and she was able to beat Newcastle players on numerous occasions. This possession led to aggressive attacks, and a number of these re-

sulted in goals to the away team. The Royals’ defence were unable to defend Edinburgh’s strong driving attacks, and as they began to tire, the goal difference grew so that by the third quarter, the score was 9-2. Both teams fought hard through the match, with some hard struggles for the ground balls and centres. Once the goal difference appeared in the second half, Newcastle struggled to overcome it. They had some unlucky misses but did not give up. The game was À QLVKHG SUHPDWXUHO\ EHFDXVH RI the light, and perhaps if it had persisted for a little longer, the home side would have been able to put up PRUH RI D À JKW

Inside today <<<

Newcastle University lecturer knighted News, page 4

Trevor Jackson back in court for further charges News, page 9

40

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Sport

Fairies magic halts Ladies winning run H. NEUENDORF

Intra Mural Rugby Union

Southern Fairies Cheeky Ladies

14 14

Graham Matthews at Close House 6RXWKHUQ )DLULHV ÀQDOO\ SXW DQ HQG WR &KHHN\ /DGLHV· SHUFHQW UHFRUG LQ D WRS TXDOLW\ JDPH EHWZHHQ WKH WRS WZR WHDPV LQ WKH OHDJXH $IWHU ZLQQLQJ DOO VHYHQ RI WKHLU JDPHV VR IDU WKLV VHDVRQ &KHHN\ /DGLHV ZHUH FOHDU IDYRXULWHV EXW 6RXWKHUQ )DLULHV ZHUH QRW WR EH XQGHUHVWLPDWHG KDYLQJ WKHPVHOYHV RQO\ ORVW RQFH ,W·V EHHQ MXVW RYHU WZR PRQWKV VLQFH WKH )DLULHV ODVW SOD\HG LQ WKH OHDJXH 7KLV GLGQ·W VHHP WR DIIHFW WKHP DQG ZLWKLQ WZR PLQXWHV DQ XSVHW ZDV RQ WKH FDUGV DV -RQW\ 0DUVK VFRUHG WKH RSHQLQJ WU\ 7KH EDOO ZDV FKLSSHG LQWR WKH IDU ULJKW FRUQHU DQG 0DUVK SRXQFHG RQ WKH ORRVH EDOO 5LFKDUG 'DYLHV WKHQ FDOPO\ FRQYHUWHG IURP D QDUURZ DQJOH )DLULHV KDG WKH FKDQFH WR H[WHQG WKHLU OHDG ZKHQ D SHQDOW\ ZDV JLYHQ MXVW LQVLGH WKH /DGLHV· KDOI 'DYH 6PLWK VWHSSHG XS EXW UXHIXOO\ ZDWFKHG KLV HIIRUW SLQJ RII WKH SRVW &KHHN\ /DGLHV VHHPHG WR VWHS XS LQ WKH VHFRQG KDOI DQG ZHUH DZDUGHG D SHQDOW\ HDUO\ RQ RQO\ IRU WKHLU ULJKW ZLQJHU WR KLW LW ZLGH 7HQ PLQXWHV ODWHU DQG WKH JDPH

ZDV HTXDO DV WKH &KHHN\ /DGLHV FDSWDLQ 0XQFKLH 7XUQHU ZHQW RYHU WKH )DLULHV WU\ OLQH IROORZLQJ WHQ PLQXWHV RI SUHVVXUH 7KH FRQYHUVLRQ ZDV VFRUHG DQG &KHHN\ /DGLHV ZHUH RQ OHYHO WHUPV 0RPHQWV ODWHU :LOO (QJODQGHU VFRUHG RQ KLV ELUWKGD\ WR JLYH WKH /DGLHV WKH OHDG $IWHU VRPH JRRG SDVVLQJ PRYHPHQW WKH EDOO IHOO WR (QJODQGHU ZKR VKUXJJHG RII RQH RSSRQHQW EHIRUH VSLQQLQJ URXQG DQRWKHU WR VFRUH D ZHOO ZRUNHG WU\ $JDLQ WKH ODGLHV FRQYHUWHG ,W ORRNHG OLNH &KHHN\ /DGLHV ZHUH PDUFKLQJ RQ WR DQ HLJKWK FRQVHFXWLYH ZLQ EXW 6RXWKHUQ )DLULHV NHSW WKHLU KHDGV XS 7KHLU KDUG ZRUN SDLG RII ZLWK 'DYH 6PLWK GLYLQJ EHWZHHQ WKH SRVWV WR VFRUH WKH )DLULHV VHFRQG WU\ RI WKH PDWFK 6PLWK WKHQ VFRUHG WKH FRQYHUVLRQ WR PDNH LW DOO VTXDUH DQG VHW XS DQ LQWHQVH ÀQLVK &KHHN\ /DGLHV FRXOG KDYH DUJXDEO\ ZRQ LW DV WKH\ ZHUH DZDUGHG WZR SHQDOWLHV LQ WKH ODVW WZHQW\ PLQXWHV EXW ERWK RI WKHVH ZHUH NLFNHG ZLGH DOORZLQJ WKH SRLQWV WR EH VKDUHG IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ D &KHHN\ /DGLHV JDPH WKLV VHDVRQ &KHHN\ /DGLHV DUH VHW WR JR RQ D ORQJ ZHHNHQG WRXU LQ 0DODJD DQG 0DUDEHOOD VWDUWLQJ RQ -DQXDU\ ZKHUH WKH\·OO EH SOD\LQJ WKH *LEUDOWDU QDWLRQDO WHDP ZKLFK MXVW VKRZV WKH KHLJKWV ,QWUD 0XUDO UXJE\ FDQ UHDFK

Homans pounces to give Hurricanes narrow cup win Intra Mural Football Cup

Hurricanes Lokomotiv

3 2

Robert Logan at Cochrane Park +XUULFDQFHV IHQGHG RII D VWURQJ WKUHDW IURP IHOORZ 'LYLVLRQ 2QH RXWÀW /RNRPRWLY ODVW :HGQHVGD\ WR SURJUHVV LQWR WKH QH[W URXQG RI WKH ,QWUD 0XUDO &XS UXQQLQJ RXW YLFWRUV LQ DQ HQWHUWDLQLQJ JDPH DW &RFKUDQH 3DUN $OWKRXJK WKH +XUULFDQHV IDFHG QXPHURXV VSHOOV RI SUHVVXUH IURP WKHLU RSSRQHQWV WKH\ PDQDJHG WR WDNH WKHLU FKDQFHV DQG PDNH WKH PRVW RXW RI VRPH IRUWXLWRXV GHFLVLRQV ,W ZDV /RNRPRWLY ZKR SUREDEO\ KDG WKH PDMRULW\ RI SRVVHVVLRQ DQG FKDQFHV GXULQJ WKH PDWFK KRZHYHU WKHLU GHIHQFH ORRNHG YXOQHUDEOH DQG WKHLU VWULNHUV FRXOG QRW ÀQG D FOLQLFDO HGJH 7KH PDLQ WXUQLQJ SRLQW RI WKH JDPH FDPH MXVW DIWHU KDOI WLPH ZKHQ WKH +XUULFDQHV ZHUH DZDUGHG D FRQWURYHUVLDO WKURZ LQ 7KHUH ZHUH REMHFWLRQV DJDLQVW WKH UHIHUHH·V GHFLVLRQ ZKLFK ZHUH SUREDEO\ MXVWLÀHG EXW WKH EDOO ZDV HYHQWXDOO\ WKURZQ LQ WR 1LFN *LEE\ ZKR VORWWHG KRPH IURP FORVH UDQJH 7KLV OHYHOOHG WKH VFRULQJ DW EHIRUH &KLV +RPDQV FRPSOHWHG WKH WXUQDURXQG DQG JUDEEHG D ODWH ZLQQHU IRU KLV VLGH 7KH FRQWURYHUV\ FDPH DIWHU D SXOVDWLQJ ÀUVW PLQXWHV +XUULFDQHV WRRN WKH OHDG WKHLU ÀUVW FRPLQJ LQVLGH WHQ PLQXWHV ZKHQ D WKURZ LQ IURP WKH ULJKW FRUQHU ZDV PHW E\

RQH RI WKH /RNRPRWLY FHQWUH EDFNV ZKR PDQDJHG WR ÀQG WKH EDFN RI KLV RZQ QHW +XUULFDQHV ORRNHG WR H[WHQG WKHLU OHDG DQG WKH\ FRQWLQXHG WR WKUHDWHQ RQ WKH FRXQWHU DWWDFN 7KHLU IRUZDUG ZDV LQ WKH FOHDU VRRQ DIWHU DQG OHIW ZLWK RQO\ WKH NHHSHU WR EHDW EXW KH ZDV HYHQWXDOO\ WKZDUWHG E\ D GLVWLQFW ODFN RI FRPSRVXUH /RNPRWLY SXVKHG IRU DQ HTXDOLVHU DQG VHYHUDO RSSRUWXQLWLHV ZHQW DVWUD\ ZLWK +XUULFDQHV· JRDONHHSHU DOHUW WR DQ\ SURVSHFWLYH WKUHDW +RZHYHU WKHLU LPSUHVVLYH FDSWDLQ 3DUNLQVRQ SURYLGHG /RNRPRWLY ZLWK D ZD\ EDFN LQWR WKH JDPH DQG KH WXUQHG WKH FXS WLH RQ LWV KHDG VFRULQJ WZLFH HLWKHU VLGH RI KDOI WLPH 7KH PLGÀHOGHU·V EUDFH FDPH FRXUWHV\ RI WZR LPSUHVVLYH VWULNHV 7KH ÀUVW ZDV D YROOH\ LQVLGH WKH SHQDOW\ DUHD DQG LW UHTXLUHG SUHFLVLRQ DQG DELOLW\ DV WKH EDOO ULFRFKHWHG XS LQ WKH DLU 7KH VHFRQG ZDV HTXDOO\ LPSUHVVLYH DV KH WXUQHG KLV PDQ RQ WKH HGJH RI WKH ER[ JLYLQJ KLV VLGH D MXVWLÀHG OHDG 7KHQ FDPH WKH FRQWURYHUVLDO LQFLGHQW RQ ZKLFK WKH JDPH WXUQHG DQG *LEE\·V JRDO SXW KLV VLGH EDFN RQ WKH IURQW IRRW 7KH FOLQFKHU HYHQWXDOO\ DUULYHG ZKHQ GHIHQFH DQG JRDONHHSHU ZHUH XQDEOH WR FOHDU WKH EDOO RQ VHYHUDO RFFDVLRQV DOORZLQJ +RPDQV WR VHL]H WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ DQG SXW KLV WHDP LQWR WKH QH[W URXQG RI WKH FXS 7KH +XUULFDQHV ZLOO QRZ IDFH 3ROLWLF 7KLVWOH IRU D SODFH LQ WKH ODVW IRXU ZKR ZHQW WKURXJK ZLWK D ZLQ RYHU $)& +\GUR

7DEOH WRSSHUV &KHHN\ /DGLHV GURSSHG WKHLU ¿UVW SRLQWV RI WKH FDPSDLJQ DJDLQVW VHFRQG SODFHG RXW¿W 6RXWKHUQ )DLULHV

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

41

Sport A. BARKER

&RQVRODWLRQ 'LYLVLRQ 7KUHH RXWÂżW ,QWHU &LW\ SXW XS D VSLULWHG SHUIRUPDQFH RQ WKH * VXUIDFH DW /RQJEHQWRQ EXW LW ZDVQÂśW HQRXJK WR ERRN D SODFH LQ WKH TXDUWHU ÂżQDOV ZLWK &UD\ROD WDNLQJ WKH JDPH

Cup joy for Crayola thanks to Watts brace Intra Mural Football Cup

Crayola Inter City

4 1

Colin Henrys at Longbenton Struggling Crayola eased passed a battling Inter City side to book their SODFH LQ WKH TXDUWHU ÀQDOV RI WKH FXS with a 4-1 win. A Chris Watts brace and one goal each for Hugo Trower and Alex Watham were enough to brush aside their Division Three opponents, who had just a Dan Hayden strike to show for their efforts. The game started with Crayola completely dominating the openLQJ H[FKDQJHV 7KHLU à RZLQJ SDVV-

ing game regularly unhinged the Inter City defence, and they nearly went ahead on ten minutes when Oliver Hallstrom tackled a City defender on the edge of the box and fed Watham, only for the striker to drag his cross behind his onrushing team-mates. It appeared only a matter of time before the deadlock would be broken, and it arrived in spectacular fashion as Watts received a fantasWLF FURVV ÀHOG SDVV DQG H[TXLVLWHO\ lobbed the ball over the Inter City goalkeeper and into the back of the net. With their lower-league opposition still struggling to get into the game, Crayola created several chances to double their lead. Hallstrom scuffed a long-range shot which was saved

comfortably, and then moments later Watts headed onto the crossbar from a long-range free-kick. :KHQ WKH VHFRQG JRDO Ă€QDOO\ DUrived however, it was completely against the run of play. Sensing an opportunity to capitalise on their opponents wasted chances, Simon Sharma, described by his teammates as ‘different class’, began to create havoc. First Sharma’s through-ball found Alyn Gardner only for Inter’s shot to be charged down. Sharma’s corner was then volleyed back into the box by Nick Stott, only for Gardner to shoot over from the penalty spot. Stott was the provider again as 6KDUPD¡V Ă€UVW WRXFK GHQLHG KLP with the goalmouth gaping just moments later.

He was to rue that miss though, as Trower‘s good individual run and FOLQLFDO Ă€QLVK SXW &UD\ROD WZR XS after Hallstrom had put him in the clear with defence-splitting pass. Inter hit back immediately; Gardner’s cross found Hayden unmarked LQ WKH DUHD DQG KLV Ă€QLVK LQWR WKH top corner allowed City to sniff an upset once more, half-time arriving with the Reds just 2-1 down. But this was as good as it got for Inter. Watts scored his second of the game from a free-kick just after halftime, the ball evading everyone and nestling into the corner of the net. Watts could, and probably should, have completed his hat-trick from just yards out soon after. While City did test Crayola ‘keeper 0DUN 7KRPSVRQ 5R\GV DV Ă€UVW KH

clawed a long-range shot away and then tipped Lewis Mayne’s longrange effort wide - Crayola’s place in the next round never looked in doubt. Inter’s spirited performance was indeed to prove in vain as Watham scored just minutes before full-time to make it 4-1. 7KH VFRUH OLQH FRUUHFWO\ UHà HFWHG Crayola’s dominance, and, despite a battling performance from Inter City, the margin of victory could easily have been much more. With twelve goals scored in their ÀUVW WZR PDWFKHV D SODFH LQ WKH TXDUWHU ÀQDOV LV FHUWDLQO\ QR OHVV than what Crayola deserve, and they look a good outside bet to go on and lift the cup.

Smith try seals last-gasp win for Medics Intra Mural Rugby Union

Medics Armstrong

17 14

Dominic Pollard at Close House Medics came from behind to snatch victory in what was a thrilling encounter at Close House. It was an evenly contested match which, despite being hampered by penalties and errors on both sides, proved to be an extremely entertaining affair. The game was slow to get going and it soon became evident that neither side had played for over a month because of the winter break. Signs of rust were clear as the whole match was plagued by handling errors and penalties. Even though the Medics perhaps enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, it was Armstrong who took the lead as they capitalised on their ÀUVW WKUHDWHQLQJ VSHOO RI SRVVHVVLRQ Centre Johnny Quinn ran in a well worked move and Jack Samler con-

verted to give Armstrong a 7-0 lead. Medics again enjoyed the greater possession and territory but failed to make it pay. They looked dangerous with the backs while the forwards dominated at the line-out throughout. It appeared as though despite being the more dominant team, the Medics were going to continue to squander their opportunities as the second half began in much the same YHLQ DV WKH ÀUVW However, when the Armstrong prop was handed a yellow card for persistent penalties at the break GRZQ WKH 0HGLFV ZHUH ÀQDOO\ DEOH to capitalise. Medic scrum-half David Winterford scampered over the line for WKHLU ÀUVW WU\ VKRXWV RI FHOHEUDWLRQ from the try scorer quickly changed to cries of pain as cramp struck. He was just one of many players to suffer from cramp in the second KDOI DV D ODFN RI ÀWQHVV DIWHU WKH ORQJ break became evident. Leo Smith was unable to convert and the game remained at 7-5. The Armstrong side replied in-

stantly however. They regained possession from the restart in their opponents 22 and several phases later Johnny Quinn ran over his second try. Jack Samler again converted to

give his side a 14-5 lead. This was followed by periods of non threatening possession for both sides. But as the game seemed to be petering out a decisive break from H. NEUENDORF

+RVSLWDO SDVV 0HGLFV EHDW $UPVWURQJ LQ D WKULOOLQJ HQFRXQWHU DW &ORVH +RXVH

0HGLF Ă DQNHU 0DUN :LOFR[ VHW XS 5LFKDUG 1RUWK ZKR Ă€QLVKHG ZHOO WR FUHDWH D WHQVH Ă€QLVK 7KH FRQYHUVLRQ struck the upright leaving the game poised at 14-10. 7KH 0HGLFV WKHQ SXVKHG IRU D Ă€QDO try and they were not to be disappointed. 6RPH VXSHUE Ă RZLQJ UXJE\ VDZ Tom Stricklin make a great break from within his own half before passing to Leo Smith who ran in WKH ZHOO ZRUNHG PRYH LQ WKH Ă€QDO moments of the game. Stricklin converted to make the score 17-14. Armstrong were left with no time to reply and that proved to be the Ă€QDO VFRUH Having lead for much of the game and been subjected to some questionable refereeing decisions the Armstrong side will have every right to feel somewhat aggrieved. However this should not take anything away from a very impressive 0HGLF Ă€JKW EDFN Stand-in Medic Captain Richard North said it was “a great team effortâ€? and made a special mention of the contribution of the front row.

42

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Sport

Hockey girls set for playoffs after emphatic win Women’s Hockey

Newcastle 1sts Liverpool JM 1sts

8 1

Katherine Bannon at Longbenton It was plain sailing for Newcastle on their home turf yesterday as they breezed to an 8-1 victory over fellow Northerners John Moores Unversity, securing top spot in the Northern Conference league and a place in the play-offs for potential promotion to the Northern Premiership division. Newcastle Ladies 1sts have grown from strength to strength throughout the University year, dominating both their BUCS and Saturday Leagues. Despite the loss of a number of key players from the previous season, a talented and devoted intake RI IUHVKHUV Ă€OOHG WKH HPSW\ VSDFHV seamlessly, enhancing the all round standard of the squad. Their performance away at Liverpool University prior to the Christmas break was hailed ‘the best game of hockey I’ve seen from a Ladies side in ten years’ by Directing Coach Mick Christopher, whilst encouraging comments from oppositions have made them further realise their potential. However, a narrow loss at the weekend was a bad enough omen SULRU WR WKHLU YLWDO Ă€QDO %8&6 JDPH without the injury it also entailed. One of the clubs most valued players and vice Captain Rebecca Smith had the ball introduced to her jaw

by the opposition during open play. Despite remaining on the pitch for WKH UHVW RI WKH Ă€UVW KDOI DQG KHU LQsistence that a hospital trip was unnecessary, the verdict given after an X-ray didn’t quite correspond with her terminator-esque pain threshold. She’d broken it in two places, is out for the rest of the season and is to take pleasure in a liquid diet for the next six weeks. Good job she likes smoothies. It made the pressure for a win greater than ever and nerves set in early, yet they needn’t have worried. Snow had caused the John Moores to postpone examinations, forcing them to produce a severely handicapped side. This was the opportunity the royals had been waiting for, and they intended to make the most of it. )UHVKHU -HQQD :DWWV ZDV Ă€UVW WR get her name on the score sheet before ten minutes was on the clock, as sharp passing within the twentyĂ€YH OHG WR WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ IRU WKH VLON\ VNLOOHG DWWDFNLQJ PLGĂ€HOGHU WR place it on the back board. It was inevitable that top goal scorer Amy Askew was not going to stay quiet for long, a crisp top of the ‘D’ strike found the spot with ease. +RZHYHU DSSDUHQWO\ QRW VDWLVĂ€HG that it displayed enough style she quickly followed it with her trade mark reverse stick hit, slotting it between the ‘keeper’s legs with a deadly pace. Attacker Tutu Osifodunrin never stopped believing, using her characteristic dink to make the score 4-0. However, the pressure from

her personal array of supporters on the sideline proved too much, as alWKRXJK VKH PDQDJHG WKH PRUH GLIĂ€cult work of eliminating the ‘keeper a narrowly angled shot skimmed the far post. The Newcastle defence was solid, leaving John Moores’ forwards, despite displaying quick stick skills and a punishing speed, severely frustrated at the support that was neither offered nor available. The UROH XVXDOO\ Ă€OOHG E\ WKH DEVHQW 6PLWK ZDV VWHSSHG LQWR ZLWK Ă DLU by both Jessica Cowley and Alice Hogg. With the second half came the rain, and more goals. Luckily Watts’ ability on the pitch doesn’t mirror her skill at opening a bottle of champagne; otherwise she might not have found the net another two times to give herself a hat trick. Meanwhile a dominating run down the middle of the pitch by Askew and well-placed slip found Kat Bannon available within the D to smash it into an open goal. It was also not much longer before Askew made her personal tally three as well, making the score a well-deserved 8-0. Unfortunately, a short corner given WR WKH RSSRVLWLRQ LQ WKH ODVW Ă€YH SUHvented ‘keeper Emma Peters from UHWDLQLQJ D FOHDQ VKHHW DV WKH Ă€UVW time strike ricocheted into the top of the net from a defender’s stick. Yet it was still more than enough. With the goal difference created by this game the potential for other teams within the league to even snap at their heels is mere fantasy.

Reach out and I’ll be there: Quigley provided the defensive base for victory

Quigley inspires victory Netball

Newcastle 1sts Edinburgh 1sts

47 39

Kathryn Jones Newcastle continued their impressive BUCS season with a solid win over Edinburgh at the University Sports Centre. 7KH\ OHG IURP VWDUW WR ÀQLVK DQG despite a determined performance from the visitors the Royals always ORRNHG OLNH WKH VWURQJHU RXWÀW With only one team in action this week, the netball club was out in IRUFH WR VXSSRUW WKH ÀUVW WHDP LQ their last BUCS Premier League match of the season. The match got off to a slightly rocky start with Newcastle taking a while to settle in and start playing their own game. Before long the home side got into their stride, and there were some great sweeping runs from Kat Hurrell at Goal Attack to leave Roanne Minshull in space at Goal Shooter.

However, a focussed Edinburgh were resolute, and after losing convincingly in the last encounter between these two teams, they responded strongly to the Royals’ pressure. They adapted well to the high ball that was being sent into the circle and started to pick it off. Once this started happening, the Newcastle girls let their heads drop temporarily, and started losing possession through silly mistakes. Despite this the girls were always ahead throughout the match and as soon as Edinburgh came close to catching up, Newcastle pulled RXW VRPH JUHDW à RZLQJ FHQWUH FRXUW SOD\ WR UHDIÀUP WKHLU OHDG These moments of class netball were often started with a great interception from player of the match Rochelle Quigley at GK who had a solid match, making many interceptions. Despite much grit and determination from Edinburgh and a few WHQVH PRPHQWV WKH 1HZFDVWOH ÀUVW team came out on top winning the game 47-39.

THE COURIER Monday 1 February 2010

43

Sport A. BARKER

7RXFKLQJ GLVWDQFH 1HZFDVWOH FDPH ZLWKLQ D FRQYHUWHG WU\ RI RYHUWXUQLQJ D SRLQW GHÂżFLW IURP WKH ÂżUVW KDOI DJDLQVW %LUPLQJKDP EXW GHIHDW QRZ OHDYHV WKHP VWDULQJ UHOHJDWLRQ LQ WKH IDFH

1LJKWPDUH ÀUVW KDOI OHDYHV 5R\DOV IHHOLQJ WKH EOXHV Men’s Rugby Union

Newcastle 2nds Birmingham 1sts

13 19

Tom James Sports Editor at Cochrane Park To say Newcastle second strings game last Wednesday was a game of two halfs would not only be factually correct but would sum up the match completely. Playing at a blustery Cochrane park all the points came at one end RI WKH ÀHOG EXW LW ZDV %LUPLQJKDP who made the most of the conditions when they favoured them as they scored nineteen unanswered SRLQWV LQ WKH ÀUVW KDOI Newcastle came back strongly in

the second half and had reduced the GHÀFLW WR VL[ SRLQWV DW WKH ÀQDO ZKLVtle but they could not complete the comeback and were left to blame a ten minute spell when they concedHG WZR WULHV ODWH LQ WKH ÀUVW KDOI IRU their defeat. 3OD\LQJ LQWR WKH ZLQG LQ WKH ÀUVW half meant that damage limitation would be key if Newcastle were to give themselves a chance in the secRQG EXW RQ ÀYH PLQXWHV %LUPLQJKDP VFRUHG WKH ÀUVW RI WKHLU WKUHH ÀUVW KDOI WULHV It was all too easy for the visitors as their forwards set up a ruck on ÀYH PHWUHV DQG WKH\ GURYH RYHU WKH whitewash to make it 5-0. The Royals responded well and for the next twenty minutes the game was even. Newcastle played

some excellent rugby at times as the forwards gained quick ball at the breakdown but time and time again a handling error stopped the momentum and they had to start again. The Royals continued with their inconsistency but looked the more likely to score, then against the run of play Birmingham scored a second try. After utilising a spare man on the wing a kick forward into the 22 completely deceived the Newcastle full back, leaving the Birmingham forward to touch down under the posts. Despite being 12-0 down the Royals would have taken that going into half time and it looked as though this would be the case as Birming-

Newcastle run into Durham wall Women’s Rugby Union

Durham 1sts Newcastle 1sts

7 0

Ellie Robinson Newcastle slipped to a narrow defeat against Durham last Wednesday. It was always going to be a tough À[WXUH DV WKH KRPH VLGH DUH FXUrently top of the league, and yet to concede this season. The Royals on the other hand had to beat their rivals to secure a place in the top half of the league. From the start, Durham showed that they were not afraid to match Newcastle in the physical stakes. Although fairly well matched in contact at the breakdown, with strong tackles and counter-rucking from both sides, Newcastle quickly realised that when it came to mauls the physicality of Durham left them at a big disadvantage. There was frequent turnover ball

for both teams, won for the Royals as a result of strong rucking from forwards Sophie Rogers and Helen Martin. However, with 20 minutes RQ WKH FORFN 'XUKDP Ă€QDOO\ EURNH through the Newcastle defence. Winger Phoebe Lebrecht came close to preventing the try with a fantastic cover tackle but unfortunately the Durham player was just in reach of the line and placed the ball for a try, which was easily converted. Although on the back foot, Newcastle knew they had more to bring to the game, and kept up the work rate. Strong runs from Katie Morris made the Royals good ground, and tired the Durham defence. 'XUKDP¡V ODFN RI Ă€WQHVV ZDV EHginning to show and several more phases of crashing forwards balls led by Kate Ridley saw the Royals moving in the right direction, but not as fast as they would have liked. With Cessie Green calling for the ball at Fly Half, Newcastle were able to move the ball out to the backs

who, despite the challenging conditions, made it out for a break on the wing just before half time. The second half started much the VDPH DV WKH ÀUVW EXW DV WLPH EHJDQ WR run out the Newcastle girls stepped their game up to a new level. The last twenty minutes saw them develop on their kicking game, with Captain Hannah Bassirat valiantly ignoring the pain of a broken foot to kick the team out of trouble on a number of occasions. And it was the strong supporting runs on these plays which saw Newcastle camped in Durham’s 22, frustratingly close to the try line. As they tired, discipline slipped and a succession of high tackles led to several penalties, which the Royals were just unable to capitalise on. Although a disappointing result, the performance was far from it. With Stan Calvert now on the horizon, Newcastle’s focus for the next IHZ JDPHV ZLOO EH WDNLQJ WR WKH ÀJKW to the opposition from the kick off.

ham were reduced to 14 men as a result of illegal rucking. Newcastle could not capitalise on their numerical advantage and it was Birmingham who scored again at the death. Somewhat unbelievably Birmingham had a man over on the wing as the ball was passed DFURVV WKH ÀHOG IURP D OLQH RXW DQG he went over in the corner. A superb conversion followed and the Royals were now nineteen points behind and had a mountain to climb in the second half. The Royals started the second half strongly and two penalties from the impressive Hadley bought them within two converted tries of D IDPRXV ZLQ 7KH ÀUVW RI WKHVH UHquired tries came with just over ten minutes remaining.

1HZFDVWOH ZRQ D VFUXP RQ ÀYH metres after their number eight had almost gone over. Some quick recyFOLQJ VDZ WKH EDOO ÀQG à \ KDOI /HVlie on space and he picked his gap to break the defence and stretch to score. Hadley’s left boot made sure of the sundries and the Royals had a sniff of a win. Birmingham managed to frustrate the Royals for most of the remainder of the match but one more chance fell the way of Newcastle. A move DFURVV WKH ÀHOG DOPRVW VDZ WKHP JR in at the corner but they just ran out of space. Failure to win a line out from their own throw then handed possession EDFN WR %LUPLQJKDP DQG WKH ÀQDO whistle signalled the end of another miserable day for the second team.

Seconds thumped by Met Women’s Rugby Union

Newcastle 2nds Leeds Met 2nds

0 71

Madeleine Robinson Newcastle suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of an experienced Leeds side last week. 7KH ÀUVW KDOI VDZ WKH WDOHQWHG Leeds forwards battling past the Newcastle defence and make it to the try line. A mixture of good short passes and powerful running tested the Newcastle defence. Some good advice from the coach caused the Newcastle side to improve their game with very strong scrums and successful rucking, which allowed them to hold their own in the game. After a motivational half-time chat, Newcastle picked up their spirits and continued the way they ended WKH ÀUVW KDOI Leeds conceded several penalties which were thoroughly taken ad-

vantage of by the number 8 Hannah Todd. A mixture of kicking and forward play kept the team in the opposition’s half. An unlucky interception allowed Leeds to move the ball the full length of the pitch from one metre from their own try-line. The brand new scrum half Hannah 0F6KDQH LQ KHU YHU\ Ă€UVW UXJE\ match, proved her worth with good tackling, good passing and good judgment of the game, which led her to receive ‘back of the match’ from both the Leeds team and the Newcastle team. ‘Forward of the match’ Sam Ireland equally impressed both teams with her strength and determination throughout the whole game, offering good advice as well as leading by example. The game ended without Newcastle scoring, but with positives from the match, and gave them the determination to win their cup game against York next week.

44

Monday 1 February 2010 THE COURIER

Jonathan Taylor previews the 2010 Six Nations Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Jamie Jamie Gavin and Tomand James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Gavin Tom James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk

> Sport, page 37

/DGLHV DQG )DLULHV VKDUH VSRLOV LQ WRS RI WKH WDEOH WKULOOHU

0DWFK UHSRUW SDJH A. WILSON

On the run: in a high quality encounter at Close House, Southern Fairies put in an impressive display to draw 14-14 with Cheeky Ladies and end the Ladies’ winning run of seven consecutive games

6KHIÀ HOG GHIHDW UHOHJDWHV 5R\DOV Men’s Hockey

6KHIÀ HOG VWV 1HZFDVWOH VWV

4 2

Charley Wright 'HIHDW LQ 6KHIÀ HOG VDZ 1HZFDVWOH UHOHJDWHG ZLWK RQH JDPH VWLOO WR SOD\ LQ %8&6 &RQIHUHQFH $ 7KH UHVXOW VLJQDOOHG WKH HQG RI D WHQ \HDU VWD\ LQ WKH VHFRQG KLJKHVW WLHU RI 8QLYHUVLW\ FRPSHWLWLRQ DQG WKH QHZV ZDV FRQÀ UPHG DIWHU UHO HJDWLRQ ULYDOV /HHGV 0HW VHFXUHG D YLWDO SRLQW DW KRPH WR 'XUKDP QGV WR NHHS WKH <RUNVKLUH VLGH XS 7KH 5R\DOV DUH QRZ UHOHJDWHG LQWR %8&6 % DORQJ ZLWK /LYHUSRRO OHDY LQJ D MXELODQW 6KHIÀ HOG WR FHOHEUDWH WKHLU VDIHW\ RQ WKH À QDO ZKLVWOH )URP WKH À UVW ZKLVWOH LW ZDV FOHDU WKDW ERWK WHDPV ZHUH IHHOLQJ WKH

SUHVVXUH RI WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW JDPH RI WKH VHDVRQ ZLWK SDVVHV EHLQJ PLVSODFHG DQG À UVW WRXFKHV VSUD\LQJ HYHU\ZKHUH RII PDQ\ SOD\ HUV VWLFNV ,W ZDV WKH KRPH VLGH ZKR JRW RQ WRS RI WKHLU DQ[LHW\ À UVW WDNLQJ FRQ WURO RI SRVVHVVLRQ IRU WKH PDMRULW\ RI WKH À UVW WHQ PLQXWHV ,W VRRQ SDLG GLYLGHQGV ZKHQ D FRXQWHU DWWDFN GRZQ WKH ULJKW ZLQJ HQGHG ZLWK D FOLQLFDO UHYHUVH VWLFN À QLVK IURP 6KHIÀ HOG·V FHQWUDO PLGÀ HOGHU $V VRRQ DV EDOO KLW EDFNERDUG 1HZ FDVWOH ZRNH XS DQG UHDOLVHG KRZ LPSRUWDQW WKH JDPH ZDV 7KH DZD\ VLGH VHWWOHG GRZQ LQWR D UK\WKP DQG VWDUWHG WR SOD\ WKH KRFNH\ WKDW KDV EHHQ VHHQ RYHU WKH GXUDWLRQ RI WKH %8&6 VHDVRQ 7HQ PLQXWHV IURP WKH KDOI WLPH ZKLVWOH WKHLU FRQVLVWHQW SUHVVXUH DQG VOLFN SDVVLQJ SDLG RII ZKHQ 2O

OLH )UDVHU SRXQFHG RQ D ZHDN SDVV EHWZHHQ WKH 6KHIÀ HOG GHIHQGHUV URXQGLQJ RQH SOD\HU EHIRUH VKRRW LQJ RQ WKH DQJOH +LV VKRW ZDV WRR TXLFN IRU WKH GH IHQGHU·V UHDFWLRQV EHDWLQJ KLV VWLFN DQG À QGLQJ WKH VLGH RI KLV IRRW ULJKW LQ IURQW RI JRDO IRU D SHQDOW\ VWURNH 0LNH 6HGFROH VWHSSHG XS LQ IURQW RI WKH FURZG WR WDNH WKH VWULNH À QG LQJ WKH LQQHU VLGH QHWWLQJ WR HTXDOLVH IRU WKH 5R\DOV 1HZFDVWOH FRQWLQXHG WR SUHVV DQG ZRQ D SHQDOW\ FRUQHU EHIRUH KDOI WLPH EXW 6HGFROH·V SRZHUIXO GUDJ Á LFN FRXOGQ·W À QG D ZD\ SDVW WKH 6KHIÀ HOG NHHSHU $IWHU WKH EUHDN 1HZFDVWOH VWUXJ JOHG WR PDWFK 6KHIÀ HOG·V H[SDQVLYH SDVVLQJ JDPH 7KH KRPH VLGH WRRN DGYDQWDJH E\ VSUHDGLQJ WKH SOD\ ZLGH VWUHWFKLQJ WKH 1HZFDVWOH GH IHQFH DQG PLGÀ HOG HYHQWXDOO\ VFRU

LQJ WKHLU VHFRQG UHYHUVH VWLFN VWULNH SDVW WKH GHVSHUDWH (G &UDFNQHOO LQ JRDO :LWK MXVW PLQXWHV WR JR DQG D IXWXUH LQ &RQIHUHQFH % VWDULQJ WKHP LQ WKH IDFH 1HZFDVWOH SXVKHG IRU DQ HTXDOLVHU EXW ZLWK QR MR\ 6RRQ D 6KHIÀ HOG EUHDNDZD\ KDP PHUHG WKH UHOHJDWLRQ QDLO IXUWKHU LQWR 1HZFDVWOH·V KHDUW ZKHQ D VXEOLPH VROR HIIRUW IURP WKH KRPH IRUZDUG SXW WZR JRDOV EHWZHHQ WKH VLGHV DQG PDGH LW 7KLV OHG WKH DZD\ VLGH WR SXVK KDUGHU DQG KLJKHU RQFH DJDLQ OHDYLQJ WKHP H[SRVHG LQ GHIHQFH $ WKUHH RQ RQH 6KHIÀ HOG FRXQWHU IRXQG &UDFNQHOO LQ WURXEOH ZLWK WKH WZR \DUG WDS LQ IRU WKH IRUZDUG WR PDNH UHOHJDWLRQ DOPRVW D IRUJRQH FRQFOXVLRQ 'HVSLWH WKHLU WKUHH JRDO GHÀ FLW WKH 5R\DOV SXVKHG RQ VHDUFKLQJ IRU D

JOLPPHU RI KRSH DQG GHVSHUDWH FKDQFHV FDPH DQG ZHQW ZLWK )UDVHU PLVVLQJ WZR RSSRUWXQLWLHV LQ IURQW RI JRDO %XW ZLWK WLPH UXQQLQJ RXW WKH 5R\ DOV IRXQG WKHLU JOLPPHU D GHÁ HFWHG WDS LQ IRU UHWXUQLQJ IRUZDUG )UHGGLH $OOHQ RQ WKH OLQH WR PDNH LW +RZHYHU IRU WKH DZD\ VLGH WKH KRSH VDGO\ FDPH WRR ODWH DQG ZLWK WLPH UXQQLQJ RXW 1HZFDVWOH FDPSHG LQ WKH 6KHIÀ HOG KDOI WR QR DYDLO :KHQ WKH À QDO ZKLVWOH FDPH WKHUH ZDV LQLWLDO XQFHUWDLQW\ RYHU WKH 5R\DOV IXWXUH ZLWK 1HZFDVWOH GHV SHUDWHO\ KRSLQJ IRU D 'XUKDP ZLQ LQ WKH RWKHU JDPH RI WKH GD\ WR JLYH WKHP D FKDQFH RI VXUYLYDO +RZHYHU WKH UHVXOW GLGQ·W JR 1HZFDVWOH·V ZD\ ZLWK /HHGV 0HW VFUDSLQJ D GUDZ DW KRPH WR NHHS WKHP XS DQG FRQVHTXHQWO\ UHOHJDW LQJ WKH 5R\DOV

Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.