Issue 1427 Monday 16th May 2022
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Heartstopper: A new era of TV Popular graphic novel adaptation brings in the happiness TV | page 22
Rethinking Tequila Shunning the shots, Jude Parkinson says sipping is the way Food & Drink | page 19
Interview: Alfie Templeman
Elena Corcobado finds Alfie’s path to his debut Music | page 20
NCL Uni to implement ‘no detriment’ policy for boycott, UCU’s “last resort” Kayleigh Fraser - Campus Comment sub-editor George Boatfield - Student Media Officer
Representatives of both sides of the UCU action have brought forward additional detail regarding recent events
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ewcastle University has announced a ‘no detriment’ policy in response to the UCU’s recent steps towards taking a marking boycott. Announced on 12th May, the policy will apply to any assignments submitted from the 23rd May - the start date of the boycott. The University will be putting this policy in place as a means of mitigating the effects that the boycott may have on students. ‘No detriment’ refers specifically to the fact that students’ final marks will be calculated from their
first-semester grade average. Any marks that are reported after the boycott is over can only increase a student’s final mark. Regarding the new policy, a Newcastle University spokesperson told The Courier that they “are very aware of the worry the marking boycott will cause. Our priority is to minimise any impact on our students’ studies and assessments and this means ensuring assessed work is marked, and that students in their final year graduate this summer on schedule.” This move marks the latest action in the timeline of the UCU’s ‘Four Fights’ dispute with the University. After more than four years of back-and-fourth of action and mitigation, there is hope within the UCU that escalation to a marking boycott could finally end the UCU’s battle’s with universities. Matt Perry, the Secretary of the UCU’s Newcastle branch, described their need for a boycott as “really, really unfortunate”. He explained that they “don’t want it to happen but the people who run universities these days are so cut off from academic staff and students that the only thing they really understand is this kind of serious action.”
Image: Twitter (@NewcastleUniUCU)
Indeed, this is not the first time that the UCU has resorted to a marking boycott. Perry recalled, “I’ve been through two marking boycotts. One was 2006, and that was a national marking boycott. It was the last time we got a pay rise.” Reflecting on UK universities as a whole, Matt said, “They’ve clearly got money. They can pay themselves exorbitant salaries, you know, the [Vice Chancellors] and the people on the university executive board[s]. They’ve clearly got money. They could share that out and give us a pay rise at inflation but they haven’t done that.” Matt explained that this is something he has seen before, as pensions are evaluated every three years. “2011, 2014, 2017. We haven’t progressed to the third term where it really hurts them. What the management do is they tear up the terms of our pension and make it worse, and worse, and worse.” Perry reiterated that “it’s really unfortunate that we’re kind of put in the position where we have to use the strongest weapons in our arsenal. We don’t want to do that. From a student perspective, it looks like we don’t have any sympathy for them, but this is the last resort.” When The Courier last spoke to Matt
Perry back in February, the UCU was facing fresh scrutiny of their struggle to create change for their members, and whether the strike action was having any impact. On whether the last round of strike action, fifteen days in total, made any progress in the dispute, Perry shared that “well, they’re talking to us now. So we’re meeting with the Vice Chancellor this afternoon (11th May). In terms of the longer-running disputes, we still haven’t defined benefit pensions.” One major factor in strikes is this emphasis on staff/student solidarity. Considering this return to a marking boycott tactics, is the UCU worried about this prompting a downturn in student support? “I think it’s really important that we get the opportunity to explain things to students”, Matt said. “It’s really important that students understand the role they can play. They can put pressure on university managements to move.” Owen Lukins, a student who has previously been a vocal supporter of strike action, commented that “Student-Staff solidarity has been really important for this year’s strikes, for gaining support and even getting NUSU to back the movement.” They continued, “Whether you support the UCU or not, you have a choice: either sit and be angry, or be angry and do something about it. The marking boycott hasn’t come into effect yet, and it could be called off if enough of us make a fuss.” As summer looms, what happens after the boycott is uncertain. If this approach doesn’t work, will there be strike action in September? Matt reckons “that’s a real possibility. Our members are really determined about this. They understand how high the stakes are.” From the perspective of the University, their spokesperson ended with this: “The marking boycott is a national dispute and it is very much our hope the ongoing discussions - nationally and at a local level - will lead to a resolution that brings an end to the industrial action. In the meantime we will continue to work with our academic colleagues to ensure the impact on our students is kept to a minimum.”
Interested in art & design? Students interested in working on illustration, photography and more could have their work featured in our upcoming magazine!
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Inside 16th May 2022 Current Affairs | Comment The overturning of Roe v. Wade Neve Watson details how the abolishment of the Roe v. Wade will irreparably damage the rights of those with uteruses. Page 9
Current Affairs | Science Data Reform Bill deep dive Sub-editor Jon Deery explains how imminent changes to how our data is controlled will affect us. Page 11
Life & Style | Lifestyle Which spring flower are you? In the season of spring, use your zodiac sign to help determine what flower truly represents you! Page 14-15
Life & Style | Fashion & Beauty "Gilded Glamour" or "Out if Touch?" Met Gala drama is ripe as always, raising the question as to whether this controversial event is even worth it? Page 17
Life & Style | Travel Experiences of hiking alone as a woman Arts sub-editor Ruby Taylor explains what its like to be a female solo-hiker Page 18
Culture | Film An Interview with Sonja Wolf A discussion with the director behind the documentary The Vertical Border. Pages 25
Culture | Arts Best books to read during exam time Needing a break for assessment season? Look no further than these delightful reads to help tide you over. Page 29
What's the best thing about Switzerland? I'm not sure, but the flag is a big plus - George Bell, Courier Jester and Film sub-editor
Also, try to locate all the Georges in this issue...
A note from the Editor
W
elcome back to The Courier! After another busy week of assignments and exams, I hope you are doing
well. The UCU marking boycott, covered on our front page last week by News section sub-editor Alexander James, has surely increased the feelings of uncertainty across the student populous. Thankfully, this week’s front page from Campus Comment subeditor Kayleigh Fraser brings the good news of the Uni’s ‘no detriment policy’, as well as additional perspectives from both sides of the ‘Four Fights’ dispute. With the hopeful easing of academic
pressures, there’s a very exciting extracurricular project in the works - The Courier’s upcoming magazine! This will contain a variety of longerform content that’s presented differently from our usual newspaper style. If you’d like to be involved in making this, there are two possible routes for you. This first option is for the artists, designers and photographers out there! This week’s front cover holds a QR code that will let you express your interest in contributing graphics, illustrations & photos to the magazine - a great chance to be featured in high-quality print! Secondly, we will be holding our final Student Media Afternoon of the academic year on Wednesday 25th May at 1:30pm in the History Room. Here, we will be distributing a smaller
number of articles than usual, but they’ll all have longer word counts - 500-1000 words for most pieces. So, if you’ve been itching to write a big ‘un this year, now’s your chance! Speaking of SMAs, a big thank you to Tom Nicholson, 2014-15 Editor of the Courier, for travelling all the way up from London to talk to us about his experience as a culture journalist last Wednesday 11th May. One last thing for this week: the Media Awards is happening THIS FRIDAY. Tickets are going off sale on Wednesday at 11:59pm, so make sure to get your tickets over at nusu. co.uk/awards by then. Thanks for reading, and hope to see you at the Awards! George, Student Media Officer
THE COURIER
SECTIONS Editor
George Boatfield -- mediaofficer.union@newcastle.ac.uk
Current Affairs
Senior editor: Elizabeth Meade -- e.a.meade1@newcastle.ac.uk
News
-- courier.news@ncl.ac.uk Ruby Story-Dartford Alexander James Becca Alexander Renzo Szkwarok Daniel Wales
Campus Comment
-- courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk Kayleigh Fraser Tiyanna Mistry Amana Khan
Comment
-- courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk Humphrey Jordan Emily Kelso
Science
-- c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Erika Armanino Jon Deery
Sport
Deputy Editor
Muslim Taseer -- m.taseer1@newcastle.ac.uk
Life & Style
Senior editor: Meg Howe --m.j.howe1@ncl.ac.uk
Relationships & Blind Date
Annabel Hogg Gabbi de Boer Imogen Mole
Lifestyle
-- c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk Leanna Thomson Faye Navesey Molly Taylor
Fashion & Beauty
-- c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Imogen Clarke Lizzie Yockney Sophia Ayub
Travel
-- courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Lenka Minarovicova Alice Holmes
Food & Drink
Marcel Shamshoum Scarlett Welch
Senior Editor: Peter Bath -- p.l.bath@ncl.ac.uk -- courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Lucy Rimmer Mitchell Hall Katie Siddall Castor Chan Ethan Todd
Social Media
Head of Social Media: Sarah Lahiri -- s.a.n.lahiri1@newcastle.ac.uk Meagan Screen
Culture
Senior editors: Maud Webster --m.webster4@ncl.ac.uk Hattie Metcalfe -- h.metcalfe1@ncl.ac.uk
Music
-- c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Rowan Christina Driver Oren Brown Lucy Bower
TV
-- c2.TV@ncl.ac.uk Rachael McCreanor Rebecca Sykes Carly Horne
Film
-- c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Jess Bradbury Autumn Keil George Bell
Gaming
-- courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Michael Duckworth Joseph Caddick Haaris Qureshi Peter Lennon
Arts
-- c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Ruby Taylor Maja Mazur Tom Wrath
Puzzles
Joseph Caddick
THE
COURIER
Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: Becca Alexander, Renzo Szkwarok, Ruby Story-Dartford, Alexander James & Daniel Wales
News
3
Newcastle Uni ranked first in the UK for sustainable development
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Leo David Prajogo
imes Higher Education (THE) released the 2022 Impact Rankings last week on the 27th of April, and Newcastle University was ranked first in the United Kingdom for sustainable development. With an overall score of 96.5 out of 100, Newcastle University came eighth worldwide. The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings measures universities’ social and economic impact against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Universities’ rankings are calculated by their scores in SDG 17 (partnership for the goals) and their three highest scored SDGs. THE measures these scores through a wide variety of metrics, with the most obvious being its research publications. Other metrics include a university’s support of arts and heritage, measured through things like public access to university libraries, and ethical food sourcing policies.
"Being part of a university committed to fighting for climate justice inspires us" Other top ten universities included the University of Manchester. The UK
has the most universities in the top 100 with twenty institutions, including Northumbria University at 50th. This year, 1,406 universities submitted data to be analysed for the Impact Rankings. Newcastle University’s ranking scored 96.1 in SDG 17. Its three highest scoring SDGs were SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure) at 96.9, SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) at 91.5 and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) at 90.6. In 2021, Newcastle University was ranked third in the UK and fifteenth worldwide; it has made clear overall progress since. Unlike last year, the university submitted data for all seventeen SDGs. It was also ranked 8th in the world for SDG 11, 10th for SDG 12 and was in the top 50 for several others. This included SDG 13, climate action. Welfare and equality officer Briana Gordhan comments that “being part of a university committed to fighting for climate justice inspires us and gives us hope for what the future could be and it’s incredible to see these continued efforts publicly celebrated in this way”. Vice Chancellor Professor Chris Day says the university is “absolutely delighted to be ranked first in the UK”, calling it's performance “a testament to the hard work and commitments of all colleagues and students at Newcastle University”. Pam Smith, Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council, praised Newcastle University’s “significant role in so much of what makes our city such an attractive place to come and live”.
Image: Geograph
Newcastle bids farewell to iconic shipping container village 'STACK' Sam Norman
Popular food, drink and live music venue closes it's doors for the final time
Since launch in 2018, four years on, STACK has remained a popular staple in Newcastle City Centre. This May Bank Holiday welcomed the final few days of the social hub, with music, entertainment and masses of crowds seeing a finish on a high. Since its opening, STACK has held an incredible presence on Pilgrim Street. Expanding throughout its duration, local businesses that were already valued through the city took up stalls at the venue, with the likes of Greek cuisine seen in Grainger Market's Acropolis, and cocktail bar You Only Live Once. Whether going to try new foods, to take in the lively atmosphere, partake in some crowd karaoke, watch something on the big screen or just a quiet drink - STACK had catered for all needs.
Image: Twitter (@StackNewcastle)
The site will be replaced with a office block for HMRC workers
What comes next for the area looks to be a dramatic change. An incoming office complex, said to be £155m, is going to base thousands of government staff. This will bring in around 9,000 jobs from Longbenton and Washington to the new headquarters. Commercial Union House and Bamburgh House are also expected to be dismantled in order to make space for the new offices, despite hesitations and concerns aired from heritage organisations such as Historic England and Twentieth Century Society. All approval was given by the council, and the Art Deco façade of the 1920s Cariol House will be incorporated into Pilgrim’s Quarter, but the interior still removed.
Construction has already begun on removing the shipping containers
Construction has already begun on removing the masses of shipping containers, with scaffolding occupying Pilgrim Street. Though STACK has gone, a similar concept is returning in the ‘Centre for Life’ with the return of their enormous beer garden dubbed ‘Central Park’. Therefore, those still seeking the atmosphere of STACK may enjoy this returning environment.
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THE
COURIER
Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: Becca Alexander, Renzo Szkwarok, Ruby Story-Dartford, Alexander James & Daniel Wales
News
5
Boris Johnson visits the North East Hannah Ross
Over the bank holiday weekend, Boris Johnson visited areas of the North East to gain voter support ahead of the local elections
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is first stop was Hartlepool where he joined their MP, Jill Mortimer, on a tour around the Hartlepool power station. He spoke of how the Conservatives have pushed investment in the area and are delivering on their 'levelling up' promise. Specifically, he highlighted GE's turbine investment and how investment from Saudi Arabia and growth at Nissan in Sunderland demonstrates how his government is committed to the region. Following this, the Prime Minister visited Whitley Bay in North Tyneside where Conservative candidates are trying to gain ground on the majority Labour council. It appears that Johnson's tactics in gaining voter
Image: Number 10 via Flickr
Parliament Elžbieta Voverytė
Although drink spiking has been a longstanding issue in UK, last fall at the beginning of university year everyone witnessed a rapid increase in spiking cases
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new phenomenon in the spiking offenses – needle spiking – was also a major incentive to launch an investigation. Following these events, Home Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into drink spiking on the 9th of December. A survey, as a part of investigation was completed by more than 3000 people – victims and witnesses. Almost five months later, on the 26th of April, the results of the investigation were published. Despite the statistical data of the surveys, a large part of the information collected is not surprising and unknown to the wider public – most of the cases go unreported, mostly because victims feel indifference and lack of action from authorities, the majority of the victims are females in their early twenties, most cases of spiking occurs in nightclubs or pubs and so on. Luckily, the major improvement that is hopefully going to follow this inquiry is that Government is now considering a case for separate criminal offense for drink spiking. A more specified standalone offence of spiking would send a clear message about the severity of punishment for such crime, help police collect more accurate data to display the intensity of the issue and hopefully motivate more victims to come forward and report the incidents. The Home Office should give a written update in six months on progress
to
continue
probe
into
support need improvement though. He tweeted a photo of himself in Whitley Bay, with the caption: 'It was a fantastic day to be out campaigning in Teesside'. Twitter users were quick to point out that he was in Tyneside and not Teesside, suggesting that he did not know where he was in the North East. Deputy Labour leader, Angela Rayner, said "it's all just 'the North' to him".
"It's all just North' to him"
'the
In a region that already feels disenfranchised with Southern Tory MPs, it is paramount that Boris Johnson takes the time to learn about the area and engage with it. It would appear that this is not to be the case. Alan Campbell, MP for Tynemouth tweeted in response saying '[Boris] doesn't care where he is or what he says. He doesn't really care about who he meets or what they care about'. It seems that this was also the opinion of many voters in North Tyneside who have re-elected a new Labour council, with Labour gaining a number of wards from other parties. It is a demonstration that the Conservatives need to take the time to understand the people they are attempting to gain approval from.
drink
spiking
towards creating a separate criminal offence.
Most cases go unreported, because victims feel indifference and fear of lack of action For now, the Home Office is motivating the Government to produce a national anti-spiking communications campaign that should ‘send a clear message that there is no acceptable defence for spiking; that spiking is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison; encourage victims and venues to report incidents to the police, tell them how to go about it, reassure them they will be believed, and signpost where and how to access support; and communicate immediate and longerterm sources of support for spiking victims’.
The Home Office should give a written update in six months on progress Helena Conibear, Director of the Alcohol Education Trust, said that a change is required among “A&E, GPs, the police and any of the frontline people who first meet somebody, including door staff and anybody in the night-time economy”, to move away from victim-blaming culture, to recognising that they could be a victim of spiking.
Image: Pixabay
Sub-editors: Kayleigh Fraser, Tiyanna Mistry & Amana Khan
Monday 16th May 2022
THE
COURIER
Campus Comment The final countdown: studies, strikes & stress 6
Anna Goclawska
Further strikes impact the studies of students as they approach their finals
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n Wednesday 26th of April, UCU officially decided to escalate the pension, pay and working dispute to another 10 days of industrial action in June. Although the university's official statement is yet to confirm the form of the strike around
Image: NUSU
the 12th of May, it will most likely be a marking boycott. As for the 6th of May, it is confirmed that 44 universities will take part in a planned dispute after the university's "employers refused to withdraw cuts to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS); universities' pension scheme trustee". "The boycott will see staff refusing to complete any marking and assessment of students' work, meaning students could be left without grades with some unable to graduate"; we read not such comforting information on the UCU website. However, what will the situation entail? For the first and second-year students, even the darkest scenario of the marks being significantly delayed is not scary as the completion of each year takes place within one educational institution; however, a problem arises in the case of the incoming graduates, final year students. For some programmes, dissertation deadlines are still due. For example, for Media, Communications and Cultural Studies, it is the 13th of May. Given the 20 working days of marking and expected return of the marks on the 14th of June, if we presumably take out ten days of industrial action, it takes us to the 28th of June for the dissertation mark return. But will this be enough time for the department and the administration to write the diplomas and confirm everything before the graduation on the 14th of July?
Dr. Joanne Sayner, Senior Lecturer in Cultural and Heritage Studies, reassures students in the email that the university will do everything to allow graduations to take place as normal. Additionally, all the disruptions from this year are thought to be flagged to the exam board and taken into account during the marking process. Additionally, we should also bear in mind that the decision to participate in a marking boycott depends on individual dissertation supervisors and board of examiners' members; thus, UCU's decision is not binding. Although the students are told to carry out, as usual, the situation is heavily stress-inducing, especially in the light of three rounds of strikes in the 2021/2022 and 20 days of an overall teaching absence this semester. Whilst some modules run only for three weeks resulting in students' insufficient preparation for the assessments and poor satisfaction, students also complained about the lack of staff support regarding the dissertations and final projects. A final year Media, Communications and Cultural Studies Student complained "I couldn't get hold of my supervisor for ages! First, there was one strike session, then the other and then a month-long Easter break"; Clearly support for students has been neglected during this period. Another disgruntled student who has just handed their dissertation in has said "At this point, I don't know what I'm paying for. First COVID, then online learning crowned
Top campus study spots Emily Kelso - Comment sub-editor
U
nless you live under a rock, you'll be well aware we are headed into exam season at Newcastle. The university have even taken it upon themselves to advertise the best study spaces in their humble opinions on Ti kTok (question o n e : w h y do the
university even have a TikTok account?). I will review the suggestions made on the TikTok account and contribute a few of my own. Buckle up folks for some controversial opinions on which study spaces are hidden gems and which are more 'tourist-traps'. No article on study spaces can start w i t h o ut
the Philip Robinson Library, the old favourite. There are some beautiful seats and views to be had in the library, but such spaces tend to get taken by 10am. Most of the time, the library is heaving with people making conversation, even in the silent areas. Let's not forget the temptation that is the cafe (a danger for any student trying to save money). The Marj is a popular choice as well, though it seems counterproductive to call the Marj a library since the Marj has no books at all. I've not used the Marj often but it seems a decent space, though prone to the same problems as the Robbo: overcrowding. For those of you after a quieter library, try the Law Library! Right beside their big sibling but much quieter, and honestly it fits the vibe of a library better. Plus, its a great place to pretend you're at Harvard and becoming the next Elle Woods. Winwin in my opinion.
Newcastle go onwards to suggest the Armstrong Building cluster as a suitable workspace. Have they ever tried working there before? There are only four computers, one of which is eternally slow, and don't even bother with the printer. If you need a workspace that's close to lecture halls, try Student Central beside Chicken Shack.
It's a great place to pretend you're at Harvard and are becoming the next Elle Woods There are always spare computers to be had (although some do not work), and it is close to most buildings on campus. If you get there early enough, you can even snag one of the coveted booths! It does get noisy, but don't fear! Just down from the corridor of Student Central (on the way to the toilets) is a row of computers to work at which acts as a quiet workspace. The video goes on to list the Student Hub in the NUSU building as an ideal workspace, although I have never used it. Cafes in the Northern Stage and in the city centre are similarly listed, again I have never tried to study there. Perhaps I'll try to study there, in what is my last exam season on campus. I hope you try somewhere new this exam season and test the Law Library or Student Central.
by plenty of disruptions". As much as the postulates of the union members are more than understandable and (hopefully) supported by all the students, strikes' ability to change the attitudes of the university's administration is highly doubtful because neither prospective nor current students take into consideration the disruptions when considering their university since the same situation happens in almost every university across the country. As Newcastle University is not the only university where disruptions take place, it is likely, that the administration (once again) will not take individual responsibility resulting in a lose-lose situation for both staff and the students. Not only an agreement on pension schemes, working and pay conditions is likely not to be reached, but also students' dissatisfaction and anxiety with teaching and marking will reach their zenith. Does this mean that the staff should give up on their cause? Absolutely not! Is it confirmed that the planned disruption will not bear the fruits of an ultimate agreement? Not either! But should students' perspectives and a realistic outlook on the situation be acknowledged in the decision-making process? I strongly believe so… Note: interviewees’ names were anonymised.
Is univers Amana Khan - Campus Comment sub-editor
Has University become a toxic environment?
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he level of toxicity within university education has been long debated, with arguments against this idea of university toxicity because of this idea that younger generations have become snowflakes or need to thicken their skin or are being over dramatic. However, is this the right way to look at why students have become increasingly stressed within university or have continuously argued for universities becoming a toxic place. I would argue not.
Students seems to undervalue themselves after comparing themselves to others After being at university for almost two years, I have realised that there is a very competitive nature within university life and the increased use of social media has not hindered this but has indeed helped this competitive nature grow.
THE
COURIER
Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: Kayleigh Fraser, Tiyanna Mistry & Amana Khan
Campus Comment
7
University: has it met the mark? Kayleigh Fraser - Campus Comment sub-editor
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s I scrape through my final month here in Newcastle, I'm reminded of the rollercoaster of a journey I've been on in my three years as an undergrad. In this article, I'm going to take a look back and reflect on these wild three years.
The day I submitted my UCAS application, I wasn't even sure I'd make it to university. Back then, I was a naive, introverted and quite lost eighteen year old. I had no idea where I was going, who I wanted to be and what I wanted my life to look like. Choosing English was something I was slightly pushed into. People around me assured me it was the best option; a 'core' subject. Coming to this decision, I wasn't exactly confident, but intrigued to see where my degree would take me. Then, September came. I had three days between the family holiday and my move in date at the dreaded Turner Court (see an article from issue 1417 for more information on this...). Packing far too much of my life away into boxes and bin bags, we made the twenty-five minute journey up to Newcastle. God knows why I cried so much when it was only twenty five minutes... This is the part where you think it'll get exciting. Kayleigh let loose in Freshers. Intriguing! Alas, reader, I must
Image: Kayleigh Fraser
disappoint you with the most bleak Freshers story. I literally did nothing. I met my would be future flatmates and the current iconic Film sub-ed George Bell but that's about it. Oh! How could I forget! I was hit by a bike... Reflecting on Freshers, I'm sad that I didn't take advantage of the opportunities we had at hand. Going out, meeting people, clubbing, drinking - it all felt so impossible to me. I think my mind just put a mental block on things like that as I convinced myself it was something I could never do. Me? In a nightclub? Never. Along with strikes, assignments and regular life, University continued through February. Nothing exciting happened, really. I started my job at a bar where I currently work, signed a flat and then March happened. Ah, March 2020. The month where I transported my collection of hand sanitizers to Newcastle only to transport them back home again. If I'm honest, I think I've blocked this time out of my mind. Lockdown, late nights, walks, iced coffee, trying (and failing) the whole Chloe Ting workout trend all the while attempting to navigate my degree from my long abandoned childhood bedroom. It just was not the vibe. I had no idea what I was doing the entire time and we had zero support from lecturers. This probably explains why I did so bad in the latter half of first year as I just had zero support. Then, after a very odd summer, second year arrived. Except, I was not in the flat
I signed to live in in first year, but right back home with mum and dad. Telling the explanation for that decision would take a whole other article. Let's just say it's not a brilliant story. Once again, we were set to navigate University from our bedrooms. I spent most of my days watching old TV shows and movies as my meagre three contact hours a week meant that I really didn't have much going on. This really is the part where I became really disconnected with my degree. I started to realise that none of it was for me anymore. An option was to drop out but I couldn't face the consequences of it and knew I had to see it through. Writing for The Courier became part of my escape, too. Mostly writing for Comment, my articles covered local elections, Donald Trump and so much more. One good thing that came out of second year was that I really started to realise who I was. When you have that much time to yourself cooped up in your bedroom your brain really does get ticking. I reflected upon all the time I'd wasted, all the things I hadn't done and all of the opportunities I'd wasted. I passed my essays and left second year feeling hopeful, for the first time in a long time. The summer of freedom took over, I moved into the flat with my new housemate and started again. I started fresh. Now, finally, this is the part of the story that defies expectations. When I told myself that third year was going to be 'my year', I didn't realise how much
I'd really accomplish. I began my roles within Student Media and really started to find my rhythm. I found joy. After two years of sadness and wallowing not knowing what comes next, I changed my entire life. I have a path now, a way in to a career and I have a real belief in myself that I'm where I need to be. Writing this article today I'm not the same nineteen year old who wrote her first article for Travel, gushing about Disneyland. Now, I'm a (nearly) 22 year old who has direction, drive and so much belief that I can truly achieve what I want. Goodbye Newcastle. It's been... interesting.
Image: Kayleigh Fraser
sity a toxic environment? Rate it or Hate it: I have witnessed the competing nature between students to be the best dressed, best educated, get the best grades, and have the most friends, and this has led to this idea of increased university toxicity because students seem to undervalue themselves after comparing themselves to others who look like they are doing ‘better’ than themselves. Furthermore, when looking directly at university life there are arguments to be made that the differences in people and accommodation, for example, the idea of Park View vs Castle Leazes, rahs vs the rest of Newcastle University, has added to this competitive nature within uni life, as well as a divide between students due to the assumptions made about their lifestyle and behaviour. Not only this, there is also an assumption that students need to be
going out all the time because university is meant to be the best time of their lives and the only time they will enjoy this amount of freedom but it is hard to fulfil this when there are a multitude of other aspects of university life that students need to or want to partake, but there is a sense of FOMO that comes with missing out on going out to pub gardens or clubs. Therefore, I would not argue that students have become more superficial or need to learn to thicken their skin, but I would argue that we are living in a time where looking like you are doing better than others is what we aspire to be, and if not there seems to be a level of disappointment with ourselves and a feeling of missing out on the ‘university experience’. Not only has there been a competitive nature within university life about
needing to look like you are doing the best but there is also added stress to do the most within university, take the most extra-curricular activities to ensure that you have leverage over the rest of your peers. I would argue that this has come about because of the uncertainty of gaining a job after university, so there is added pressure on students to pursue as much as one can in order to gain a better future after university life. When looking at all of this, there is a clear level of toxicity within university life and student life has indeed gotten a lot more difficult and this does not seem like it will be dissipating anytime soon, rather I would argue that it is the job of university higher-ups to try and help its students and reduce this toxicity.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The Marjorie Robinson Library Peter Bath - Head of Sport
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he (Phil) Robbo may get all the plaudits when it comes to Newcastle Uni's pantheon of libraries, but the humble Marj is the unsung hero. As exam season hots up, so does the Phillip Robinson Library. If you're able to find a seat, you'll likely be squeezed in between other people, distracted by chatter, snacking, shuffling and noisy headphones. Not the vibe. If you're looking for somewhere else to focus without distraction, the Marjorie Robinson is your knight in red brick armour. Four floors of pure bliss and serenity. It may not be as flashy as its namesake, and it is lacking in books, but as a study space it can't be beat. With a sea of PCs, and even more desk spaces, there's no reason not to frequent the Marj. If you're after something a little more social, there are booths and spaces for communal working. The Marj unjustly has a bad reputation among some students. "It's just a buncha f*ckin' computers" moaned one disgruntled student. But in this digital age, surely this is more useful to the average student than the labyrinth of books clogging up the Robbo.
"Once you get past the betrayal that its not really a library, I guess its OK", argued comment sub-editor Emily Kelso.
"It's just a buncha f*ckin' computers" moaned one disgruntled student The real jewel in Marj's crown is its catering facilities. On the ground floor, you're spoilt for choice. A cafeteria selling a range of meals can fuel your studies, with a comfortable seating area and sofas. One area where the Marj excels beyond the Robbo is its coffee machine too. The reasonably priced, self service caffeine blows Philip Robinson's cafe out of the water, especially considering its available until closing time at 12, long after cafes have closed. Perfect for those late night revision sessions. Boiling and cold water taps also mean you can make your own drinks if you're organised enough to bring your own tea bags. One Marj user told Courier her peppermint tea was "soothing to her studies - and it's good because you can reuse peppermint tea bags."
Sub-editors: Emily Kelso & Humphrey Jordan
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Monday 16th May 2022
Comment
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For & Against: University/Union-funded newspapers For: Peter Lennon - Gaming sub-editor
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newspaper funded (at least partially) by its parent university is not exactly the ideal situation. The newspaper’s autonomy and freedom to publish exposés have the potential to be shut down by its benefactors and legitimacy questioned by its readers. It is by no means an ideal situation, but it is not without its benefits. Without funding from the university, most student newspapers would not be able to afford the software needed to put together the professional looking spreads (examples throughout). Indeed, Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft InDesign are essential tools in producing a free, quality student newspaper each and every week. And this is not even including the licensing for WordPress, hosting a website that collates all of the newspaper’s articles. It is no secret that Adobe and Microsoft programs are not cheap, with prices rising every year. Due to this, it becomes less and less likely that students will have been able to build a reputable amount of experience working on Adobe Photoshop. As such, the voluntary editor roles at student newspapers’ become entryways in not only gaining such experience, but also crafting a visually compelling portfolio
Against:
of the work to bring to future job prospects. Not having full autonomy is not ideal. But it is realistic moving forward into the world. The frustrations and bureaucracy of a workplace are staples. The sooner you can learn to reap the benefits whilst fighting from within, the better. And there’s no better place to start than at your local student newspaper.
George Bell - Film sub-editor
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Image: Flickr
efore getting into it, I s h o u l d address the elephant in the room. Yes, I’m voicing my opinion against university-funded student newspapers… in a universityfunded student paper. Hypocritical may be a word that comes to mind for sure, but current circumstances also highlight the d i s a d v a nt a g e s and where improvements can be made. Having a fraction of our student loans going into our creative endeavours with a paper is a nice idea in practice, but as soon as a price tag gets attached to amateur work, the pressure skyrockets. Not having imposing deadlines, expected content and the influence of the university (no matter how little it is)
has the risk of turning a passion project into something that might become a slog. It is no secret that university-funded papers have that extra level of quality and organisation, but is that necessarily what you want from a student paper? It should not have to be made to a professional standard, and honestly, at times, it can be endearing to see a shabby attempt of a paper out in the wild. Arguably, making a paper with PowerPoint, goodwill and chaotic intentions can result in something just as good as an office running PhotoShop and InDesign.
It is no secret that university-funded papers have that extra-level of organisation, but... Furthermore, having universityfunded papers takes away the prospect, and truth, that anyone can make a student paper if they really want. Having rival papers within a single campus breeds creativity and opportunity for diverse opinions. A university may have the finances, from us, to fund numerous papers - they won't, ultimately centralizing opinion in one place. That makes it so important to experiment, fail and create as an individual, and an independent paper is a great way of doing that.
Depp v Heard: innocent until proven guilty or a trial by social media? detailing emotional, sexual, and physical abuse, public opinion seems to be split. Shockingly (or not considering the events of the trial), there’s been reactions that Heard is over-acting and not behaving like a victim. (Generally, it's appeared that Depp has not been treated the same way during his testimony.) Regardless of the outcome, there is no right way for a victim to behave and comments regarding victimhood are dangerous. She is yet to be cross-examined and if she’s asked, ‘why didn’t you say no?’, I think people should be angry.
Rebecca Sykes TV sub-editor
A view on the media circus surrounding the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial Content warning: discussions of domestic abuse
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or good or for bad, it’s hard to escape the Depp/Heard defamation case. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the televised trial centred on one of the most famous actors of a generation and the media has picked it up like a storm. Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean) is suing his ex-wife, Amber Heard (Aquaman), for $50 million as he’s claiming the op-ed, "I spoke up against sexual violence -and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change", she published in The Washington Post in 2018 clearly alludes to him. It doesn’t specifically mention his name, though Depp is arguing Heard knowingly made false claims. Heard is countersuing him for £100 million. It’s easy to see why the trial has garnered so much attention; the trial is full of scandalous soundbites,
Does public opinion care about the verdict? Images:Wikimedia Commons
there’s an obsessive culture over celebrities, and there’s an uncertainty over the result. Sordid details emerging from the trial include Depp writing on a wall with a severed finger and Heard pooping in their bed and blaming the dogs. It’s so sensational, I’ve caught myself reading up about it and forgetting it’s a trial that is deeply affecting people’s lives. Despite not being affected by the trial, many people are picking sides; it’s likely that in some minds the case has already been decided and will the result
change their minds? Will the result of the Depp/Heard case actually matter in the court of public opinion? Depp appears to have a lot of support and respect after his testimony which gave detailed accounts of the relationship, its breakdown and alleged Heard as the abuser. There’s been fans queuing to see him entering the courtroom, and although there is supposed to be no audible or visible reaction inside the courtroom, that cannot be said for anywhere else.
Whether knowingly or not, Depp has a stan culture surrounding him on the Internet that are arguing his innocence. This is despite him losing a defamation case in 2020 where he sued The Sun over a headline calling him a “wife-beater”. Does public opinion necessarily care about the verdict? Or is it, for supporters of Depp, innocent until proven innocent without the option of guilty? Heard has recently taken the stand and, despite an emotional testimony
There’s more to comment about the trial, but it’s that very invasion of privacy and fascination with sordid details that’s the problem. As the public, we should not be judge, jury and executioner. It should be ‘innocent until proven guilty’ for Depp and Heard, but the trial is so sensationalised and dramatic that they sadly do not have that right. For good or for bad, everyone has an opinion and wants to let everyone know it.
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Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: Emily Kelso & Humphrey Jordan
Comment
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The overturning of Roe v. Wade: an end to the constitutional right to abortion? Neve Watson Content warning: discussions of abortion
Image: Flickr
An overview of the Roe v Wade ruling is given and a future without it is imagined
In the words of Rachel Green: no uterus, no opinion
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dystopian nightmare: as pictures of celebrities arriving at the Met Gala flooded social media, a draft report is leaked revealing the likely overturning of Roe v. Wade. On 22nd January 1973, the Supreme Court legalised abortion across America, arguing that a woman’s right to abortion was implicit in a clause protected by the 14th Amendment: the right to privacy. Even though abortion is legal according to current statute law, individual states have been able to apply their own laws, the notorious 'heartbeat' bills. Whilst such laws heavily restrict the right to abortion, they technically do not contradict federal law. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, individual states can ban abortion fully, with 26 states already being predicted to do so.
The fate of a woman's body is decided by others
no say over her body and force her to carry out her pregnancy and then expect her to be responsible for this child and raise it.
In 1969, Norma McCorvey – known as ‘Roe’ in the court case – was looking to terminate her pregnancy. She was referred to anti-abortion Texas attorneys Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee, and in 1970 they filed a lawsuit against district attorney, Henry Wade. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court, resulting in the nationwide legalisation of abortion.
One of the issues involved with abortion is when is the exact moment of life for the foetus? Opinions vary. Those believing that life begins at conception would argue abortion is murder. Abortions are rarely performed after the 24th week of pregnancy, as a baby born after this time frame has a chance of survival. At its core, abortion is a women’s
rights issue: the fate of a woman’s body and future is being decided by others who ignore the woman's opinions. Of course, this isn’t anything new, and has been happening for centuries. The very act of disregarding women's rights in this way, by banning abortions, also places a heavy responsibility upon women. It cannot be both ways. You cannot argue that a woman should have
I could only argue that women should be allowed abortions in cases of rape and sexual assault, but I simply think that women should be able to have abortions because they want to. There should not be extenuating circumstances in place or a list of criteria that they must fit. It is their body and their choice to do what they wish. I can see the future of America if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Pregnant people will have to travel for abortions, and abortions themselves will be even more of a taboo subject. Even though a woman might be making the correct choice for herself, and even for the foetus, she would be treated as a criminal. You can only criminalise safe abortions – “back-alley” ones would be on the rise, placing thousands of women’s lives at risk. A country that places itself so centrally on the map with regards to progress and freedom clearly does not prioritise the rights of its women. In the words of Rachel Green: No uterus, no opinion.
Bolsonaro's Decrees: Amazon rainforest and indigenous rights under fire President Bolsonaro's decrees are summarised which concern rights of Indigenous groups and the Amazon Rainforest
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razil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, is wellknown for controversial opinions and actions, notably refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine and suggesting the vaccine's side-effects turns people into crocodiles. One of his more recent courses of action has involved planning to issue two decrees to make gold mining in Indigenous territories legal. The first decree contains a programme to develop work in the Amazon forest, specifically a smallscale mining programme. The second decree would modify current policy making it easier to get access to mining zones. Bolsonaro argues that this new project will stimulate the economy and create new opportunities in a poor region few career opportunities. The new law provoked great animosity in the Brazilian public sphere as many
environmental and human rights activists gathered outside of Congress to protest against the new bill.
The Amazon Rainforest is our best chance at fighting climate change
Unfortunately, this situation isn’t new. In 2019, the Amazon forest suffered great damage as the equivalent of seven times the size of Greater London was destroyed. Deforestation hitting a 12year high under the far-right president, and it is only speeding up. Such deforestation is worrisome considering the great importance of the Amazon forest for stabilising climate: according to Earth systems scientist Michael Coe for National Geographic, the Amazon forest could be compared to a giant air conditioner that keeps cooling the planet. The
Amazon Rainforest is one of our best chances at fighting climate change, and its gradual destruction puts the whole planet in danger. The consequences could be irreversible. On the other side of the coin is the issue of the Indigenous rights being undermined by these decrees. Theoretically, Indigenous people are protected under the 1988 Brazilian Consitution, granting them recognition as well as protection of their land. In reality, it’s a completely different landscape. Lobbyists have argued only people occupying the lands at the time of the C o n s t i t u t i o n’s creation (1988) could claim their land. C ons i d e r i ng t h e Indigenous p opu l at i on has been there before the creation of Brazil itself, it is fair to say they have a legitimate claim to their land. Deforestation hitting a 12year high under the far-right president, and it is only speeding up Their claims are
left ignored, however, as reflected by the 20,000 illegal miners discovered in the Yanomami reserve back in 2021. Things have only worsened for Indigenous groups under Bolsonaro's tenure: since his election in 2019, murders against Indigenous people reached a 11-year high and there were at least 256 cases of property damage, or illegal occupation and exploitation against Indigenous territory. These statistics have only increased on past years.
Bolsonaro has declared the UkraineRussia war a "good opportunity for us" What are Bolsonaro's motives? Brazil, as one of the world’s top food producers, is in desperate need of potash, an essential component to the creation of pesticides, of which Brazil imports a quarter of from Russia. Since the Ukraine-Russia war however, Russia has stopped its shipments. Bolsonaro has since declared the war "a good opportunity for us" as it encourages Brazil to source their own potash from the Amazon. But, suspicions are that
Images: Pixabay
Killian Duvivier
the president is using the Ukrainian war pretext to rush the bill, allowing not just mining but also oil research and the construction of hydroelectric dams on these same Indigenous lands. As for now, there are already nine global mining businesses such as Brazil’s Vale, Britain’s Anglo American, or Canada’s Belo Sun that have filed applications to authorise mining on Indigenous territories (although Anglo American has claimed they have withdrawn their application). These decrees are not law - yet - as Brazil's congress needs to vote on the matter. Some suspect that the bill will not be voted on as it is an election year; Leonardo di Caprio has already encouraged the young to vote, reminding them of their importance in "driving change for a healthy planet". Clearly, Bolsonaro's environmental policies are a talking-point although their overall significance in the election can only be speculated upon until the Brazilian Presidential elections in October.
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Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: Erika Armanino & Jon Deery
Science
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How good is climate education for our children's future? Leo David Prajogo
After the launch of the Climate Ambassador Scheme, The Courier explores the importance of educating children about climate
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he Climate Ambassador Scheme was launched on Earth Day last month in response to the National Climate Education Action Plan, agreed upon at the Climate Education Summit in September 2021. Newcastle University professor Hayley Fowler is one of the experts guiding climate change education in schools. Climate education is becoming more prevalent, with the Department of Education having launched its
Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, but this poses a new question: how effective is climate education at mitigating climate change in the long run? In this day and age, with cities sinking and temperatures up to 45°C in India, no one can say that climate awareness is unimportant. It is essential; it will not do to coddle children and leave them unaware of these grim realities. It also cannot be said that children are uncaring - in 2019, on the 20th and 27th of September, students in over 150 countries led strikes that The Guardian estimates had a turnout of over six million people, young people and adults alike. I remember these strikes, led by Year Tens in my school.
What to look out for in the new Data Reform Bill Jon Deery - Science Sub-Editor
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ho reads the terms of service? Who can be bothered to sift through entire essays written in legalese just to decide whether or not to accept cookies from a Buzzfeed article about what fish they are in Finding Nemo? Likewise, who can be bothered to go through all 38 of the bills announced in the Queen’s speech this year, just to see if they accept the Government’s proposed Data Reform Bill? Not that there’s anything to see when we look closer, mind. The Bill is yet to be drafted, so we are relying for the moment on consultation documents and vague strategies. But the overall message, from Oliver Dowden (UK Culture Secretary), from the government’s various reports, and from their comments on this Bill’s main aims, is that post-Brexit Britain will be doing away with all that pesky EU “red tape”. In background notes published alongside the Queen’s speech, they called the UK’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act “highly complex and prescriptive pieces of legislation” that “create burdens on businesses”. The EU’s GDPR legislation is widely held to be a gold standard for Big Tech accountability law, establishing the “right to be forgotten”, the right to object to data collection, and other rights that are far beyond privacy rights granted by other governing bodies. The UK government wants to undo most of this in the name of Brexit freedoms. Ah, if only the referendum had gone the other way, and we’d remained in the data bastion of the EU! If only it were that simple. The truth is, the EU’s “world-leading” GDPR legislation does nothing to prevent the continuous hoovering up of our data by every social media platform, the medical monitoring of our every “smart” (surveillance) device, the anxiety-inducing workplace surveillance of modern corporate culture or any of the other algorithmic manipulation that has become integral to our lifestyles and economy. It
makes no mention of “surveillance capitalism”, the mechanism by which extortionate profits are extracted from the plundering of our most intimate information. This is about more than privacy - as dystopian and discomforting as our constant surveillance is, what should terrify us more is that algorithms now have more control over our lives and minds than even our close friends do. Even within the EU’s GDPR protections, Facebook (Meta) and other companies control our social discourse and radicalise us toward particular political opinions. But last year, the government’s Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform (TIGRR) recommended ditching the UK’s GDPR protections that give people “the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling”. If this recommendation is listened to in the Data Reform Bill’s final draft, it would lay the groundwork for a society dictated by authoritarian algorithms that cannot be reviewed or questioned. Targeting of minorities by police gets considerably worse when it becomes automated. Algorithms, trained to look for trends in data, tend to see higher arrest rates in certain areas as indications that those areas commit more crime, rather than that the police are institutionally biased. As a result, the computer sends more officers to patrol those neighbourhoods, and the police now have an excuse to increase their presence: "we're not being racist, we're just following the data. No, you can't see our algorithms". Watch out for the TIGRR recommendation in the coming parliamentary debates on the Bill. It would allow the greatest injustices of our system to become suddenly unquestionable and exponentially worse. So, look out for references to "slashing red tape" (in other words, "removing the few tiny protections we still have"), and to the TIGRR, as Parliament decides what direction it will take in its post-Brexit data policy. We are being kept track of at all times. In order to retain some power over our lives, we must reciprocate this surveillance at the very least; we must pay close attention to those who control our data.
Image: Canva
I also remember my teachers complaining that all they were succeeding in was putting themselves behind in exam preparations. As Forbes points out, “student strikes probably do not disrupt the government or fossil fuel firms”. At the end of the day, not all the students educated in climate change are going to become the world leaders who end climate change in fact, by the time today’s secondary school students are far enough in their political careers to do that, it may be too late. What good is teaching children about recycling and greener lifestyles when change needs to start from much higher up the food chain? The answer is this: plenty of good. Change is achieved by collective mass action. Change will not be achieved by
one school switching to renewables, or an after school arts club using exclusively recycled materials. Change will be achieved by the determination of millions of children around the globe fighting for their futures. It will be achieved by millions of children pushing for their cities to make greener choices. It will be achieved by millions of children taking back their futures. The best thing we can do for these children? Stick by them, no matter how disruptive children may be. Teach them about their rights and the power they hold. Give them the tools they need to find their place and make things right. While school walkouts might not disrupt the government or fossil fuel firms, one day, children will have the power to do just that. Make a world where children’s voices are listened to and amplified, not walked over.
Subcontinent heatwave: "an existential crisis" CC Lee
India and Pakistan are experiencing their highest temperatures ever, reaching 50⁰C
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ndia and Pakistan are facing the worst heatwave in their national records with average temperatures reaching 50⁰C. Not only is this devastating crops and water supply but electricity is not functioning so there is a lack of air conditioning too. People are suffering tremendously and this is a direct result of the climate crisis. The heatwave is unprecedented for this time of year, where surface level temperatures are normally 45⁰C - 50⁰C, but at the moment they are 60⁰C and will potentially exceed even that. Over one billion people are facing the effects of climate change over the subcontinent. And the residents are only expecting things to get worse. The heat has become so bad that there is a lack of electricity in cities, meaning that many can’t work during the day (where temperatures are at their highest) so people have to work during the night – providing that the temperature drops enough for the electricity to work. Many people’s refrigerators have stopped working, so food is being wasted and not being stored sufficiently. This can also have an effect if people are eating the rotting food, making them unwell and sick. Crop failure is at an all time high at the moment; many plants had ripened too early this year but subsequently died due to the heat wave. Wheat crops have declined by 50% this year which is resulting in a lack of food, but also means that farmers' income is at an all time low as well. Many fear that this will result in more shortages, following those after Russia invaded Ukraine. Pakistan’s Minister for Climate, Sherry Reham has described what’s happening as an “existential crisis", as climate emergencies are being felt throughout the North and the South of the Country. The heat is also melting the glaciers in the North of the country, meaning that many people could be hit with flood bursts. This is another devastating effect
of climate change, and will continue to impact many people in the country. The heat is also having an impact on travel issues, where coal is being prioritised and taken to power plants. Over 600 passengers were turned away from a train in order for this to happen. This is happening to try and curb the effects of the electricity shortage. Needless to say, those in India and Pakistan are suffering immensely during this heat wave. And throughout the Summer these effects of climate change are only going to worsen.
Image: Piqsels and Canva
Sub-editors: Gabbi de Boer, Annabel Hogg & Imogen Mole
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Monday 13th May 2022
Relationships
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The pressures of 'Hot Girl Summer' Kate Benson
'Hot Girl Summer' is more than just hooking up - it's about being yourself and not giving a fuck
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won’t lie, I had to check the actual definition of hot girl summer before I started writing this article. My instant thought was that it was all about dating and hook ups but actually, it’s way more than that. As Megan Thee Stallion says “To be you, just having fun. Turning up, driving the boat and not giving a damn about what nobody’s saying.”
You definitely can't just flip a switch when it gets to summer and that's that For me, it definitely hasn’t included much dating - which in my head makes me feel like I am not living the hot girl summer. Summer of 2020 I was so ready to date, have fun and do exactly what I wanted, but that didn’t exactly happen. I did have fun though, and I am being more me every day, so I think that still fits the definition. The idea is to be able to act how you want without shame, which of course we should be able to do all year round, not just summer. Now I realize this, it seems a lot more simple, and a lot less pressure. However, I can see that the pressure can still build, especially if you are finding it difficult to not give a damn about what anybody says, because THAT IS HARD!! It takes a lot of practice to even slightly
reduce the amount you care about what somebodys saying - and you definitely can’t just flip a switch when it gets to summer and that's that.
Let's stop putting pressure on ourselves, society does enough of that as it is I have had to force myself to do things including asking people out, and then sit in the shame and embarrassment I shouldn’t have to feel as I wait for a reply. I can barely dance however I want, because I can still feel everyone's eyes on me. But I think it gets easier the more you do it. Once you start to truly embrace being yourself and not worrying about what other people think, even with what clothes you wear, or how you do your hair, you start to feel a lot more free. Even if it does happen a step at a time, and by the time you have even slightly started to notice a difference, the summer is over. Lets stop putting pressure on ourselves, society does enough of that as it is. Put on 'About Damn Time' by Lizzo and do whatever makes you happy. Image: Unsplash (Blake Cheek)
The relationship with my body We get one body our whole lives, and here's to learning to love it even if it takes time
acne and headed straight for the “advanced acne” – in GP appointment terms, that’s “severe cystic acne that may or may not be chronic because only time can tell”. Regular antibiotics didn’t do much good so I was moved onto Roaccutane – if you know what this is, you know were I’m heading. For the uninitiated, Roaccutane is a strong skin antibiotic with far-ranging symptoms, often making the acne more violent before it gets better.
y relationship with my body is long one – you could say we’ve known each other our entire lives. The formative years were the honeymoon years. In my youth – unashamed – I could run around the neighbourhood in my underwear without giving it a second thought, let alone doing something mundane like going to the swimming pool with friends. Then things took a turn for the worse. Signs of puberty started to show before I left primary school and were in full swing by around thirteen. Spoilers for ahead: it was not fun. I bypassed the everyday, once in a lifetime type of
Naturally, my body didn’t take too kindly to the treatment, with my dosages having to be increased by less than a milligram each time to avoid outbursts. This continued for a few years. During this time my body self-esteem was at an all time low. I quit the rugby team (a small blessing) because it was near-impossible to get through a training session or match without bleeding. I’d stopped going swimming,
Peter Lennon - Gaming sub-editor
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I can't fix my body, but I can try to mend my mind
which had been a favourite pastime up to that point. I started to feel incredibly uncomfortable being topless in public by thirteen and avoided such situations at all costs. It got hard to even look at myself topless; what started as a conscious effort to avoid mirrors became a subconscious reflex. Even to this day I have to make a point of it. Eventually, the acne surrendered to the antibiotic, but not without leaving me with plenty of mementos. It couldn’t go quietly. It couldn’t just leave and let me get on with the rest of my life. It had to leave my shoulders with pigmented scarring and leave a small trail down the centre of my chest. I may have gotten rid of most of the acne but the top stayed on, the mirrors stayed adverted. The scars were a little going away gift for university, where they would help me avoid relationships out of fear of rejection and summer beach days. At this point, I’d love to point to how I’ve overcome my toxic relationship with my body and how I’ve completely and utterly moved on with my life. Unfortunately, it hasn't got there quite yet. But I have started to make progress in the last year
and it began with one simple thought: I can’t fix my body, but I can try to mend my mind. What steps you take from that are going to be different for everyone. For me, it meant doing things that I was still pretty uncomfortable with. It meant going to a public swimming pool topless, but doing it in the early AM when your only company are retirees. It meant going to the beach alone where I could be at peace. I’m slowly becoming more comfortable being topless around strangers in these kinds of circumstances: people really don’t care and I’m never going to see them again. The same activities would be much harder with people I know because (and I know how silly this sounds) I don’t want them to imagine me differently. I know it’s a tease to end this story as a workin-progress, but it’s the truth. There’s nearly eight billion people in the world; all logic and reason tells me I’m not the only one that has this relationship. So, to anyone going through a similar predicament, this is my way of saying that it can get better.
Image: Unsplash (Alex Block)
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COURIER
Monday 13th May 2022
Sub-editors: Gabbi de Boer, Annabel Hogg & Imogen Mole
Relationships
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The 'sneaky link' - is chivalry really dead? Anonymous
Being casual with someone isn't an excuse to treat them poorly
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t’s not uncommon for university students to engage in casual relationships, often commonly referred to as a ‘sneaky link’ or ‘friend with benefits’. A lot of the time, this ‘relationship’ doesn’t involve going on dates – most of the time it doesn’t even include going out in public. The whole idea is that it’s supposed to be entirely casual and though sometimes this doesn’t work out, when it does it can be a mutually beneficial fun situation. The sneaky link is great for a number of reasons. It’s having fun without the risk of heartbreak, you can even have one whilst having feelings for someone else. When it works as its supposed to, it’s casual bliss and can even make university just that little bit less lonely, especially if it’s someone you’re genuinely friends with.
In the midst of meaningless sex, people can forget that the other person is a human being However, in my experience – sometimes casual relationships don’t work as they’re supposed to. Sometimes, in the midst of meaningless sex and a sincere lack of feelings, people can forget that the other person is in fact, a human being. I have lost count of the amount of times I’ve been text in the early hours of the morning with some variation of the phrase ‘wanna hang?’, to which I
usually respond by saying I am in bed drinking ice water with a facemask on. Then, I get the same text again a few days later and the cycle continues, all whilst they ignore any sight of me in public.
It sucks for someone who's seen you at your most vulnerable to completely ignore you Some people might not see the issue with this, and that’s okay – maybe I’m just not cut out for casual relationships. But I think there’s a huge difference between being no strings attached and just being dickish – you can treat someone like a human being without ruining the nature of the relationship. It boils down to the fact that sex is personal, at least to me. And I’m not saying that I only want to have it with people that send me good morning texts and hold my hand in public, but only coming to me in the early hours of the morning, getting what you want and then leaving is not okay, no matter how casual it is. It really sucks to see someone in public who’s seen you at your most vulnerable for them to completely ignore you and pretend you don’t exist. The liminal space between a one night stand and a
relationship is tricky to navigate, but (and maybe I’m just naïve) it’s not impossible, and if you can’t be casual with someone without treating them like a sex object then I’m beginning to think it’s not me who’s not cut out for casual relationships, it’s you.
Image: Pixabay (Norexyart)
In love with the idea of love Imogen Mole - Relationships sub-editor
Why it's damaging to be more in love with the idea of someone than the actual person
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or as long as I can remember I’ve been in love with the idea of loving someone and being loved. I would sit and observe as my gran and grandad held hands walking round the garden after fifty years of marriage, I watched Notting Hill till my eyes stung from crying, and I am always willing to give up my time for a good ‘how we first met’ story. I’m just a sucker for love. The issue with being so in love with the idea of love is that it’s exactly that, an idea. Love has become so marketed and commodified that it can be so easy to forget all the work that actually goes into loving someone and being loved. It’s true my gran and grandad have the loveliest relationship and purest love that I know, and
I can only hope that one day I’ll be lucky enough to have something that even comes close to that, but I’m sure there has been a lot of work put into making that love, and it’s not always been holding hands in the rosy garden, and god knows Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts had their fair share of issues to work through in Notting Hill. Although it’s definitely not a bad thing to appreciate love in all of its forms, it can hinder relationships. When the focus is being in love with love and not the actual person, it’s easy to look past things that may mean you’re not compatible with each other and in
doing so create a relationship based on the idea of being in a relationship rather than actually knowing each other for all your strengths and flaws. This can mean that when the 'honeymoon period' ends, it can be a real shock when you realise that dis ag re ements have to be w o r k e d through, they're going to do things that will really annoy you and hugs have to be given when they’re ill – like an extended cut of Notting Hill where Julia
Roberts and Hugh Grant are five years into their relationship and have to work through an argument about who didn’t put the bins out last night. My point is, that real love is when you forget that you're even in love at all, it's not like the movies or the songs, it's just having a real, natural admiration for someone, for all their flaws.
Image:IMBD
Sub-editors: Molly Taylor & Leanna Thomson
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Lifestyle
Free speech or hate speech? George Bell - Film sub-editor
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s social media and the internet have grown and evolved in recent years, so have the methods in which we converse and voice our opinions. But as this development happened, the lines between free speech and hate speech have become hopelessly tangled. So what really is the difference? In order to understand how they differ and why they are confused so often, it needs to be understood what each actually is. The Cambridge Dictionary defines them as follows.
Free Speech The right to express your opinions publicly.
Hate Speech Public speech that expresses hate or encourages violence towards a person or group based on something such as race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Just from the definitions, it is clear how free speech can quickly evolve into hate speech. You can’t have the latter without the former,
Image: Unsplash
showing a slippery slope. Free speech is given a much broader definition, encapsulating everything that can be spoken in public, whereas hate speech focuses on personal prejudices against minorities. The definition of free speech focuses on the person speaking while hate speech focuses on the person being spoken to, which details the real difference between these two forms of communication. Free speech is an opinion that affects only yourself, whereas hate speech is an opinion that directly affects someone else. But now that we have an idea of how they differ, why do they get confused so often? The answer seems to reside within the hellscape that is social media. Hidden behind screens across the globe, we think our opinions are directed at no one in particular, which contradicts the reality that they are being shared with any who has an internet connection. The biggest issue with hate speech, and by extension free speech, is that while freedom of speech is an inherent right, it does not exclude a person from the repercussions those words may have. Social media has accentuated this significantly, leading many to believe they are invincible keyboard warriors, releasing transphobic, racist, or xenophobic rants from behind a supposed shield of “free speech”. Chances are, you have encountered hate speech defended as the fundamental right of free speech, when in fact it really isn’t. This is especially an issue in America with the First Amendment, leading many to believe that their hateful words are protected by law. Spending the past two years in a pandemic has often made us unable to interact with people and develop new opinions and ideas. This has taken a toll on the difference between these methods of communication, making it unsurprising how confused the two get. It is something we all need to spend time understanding and distinguishing. Next time you are hovering over the send button on that “hit” tweet, consider which groups your words will circle around and whether or not it is free speech or hate speech.
Monday 16th May 2022
THE
COURIER
Money Money in a poor studen Scarlett Welch - Food and Drink sub-editor
Handling the cost of the living crisis on a student loan
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he cost of living crisis is affecting every part of society, and it’s not easy for anyone to deal with. But on fixed maintenance loans, with the amounts set before prices have soared in the last few months, many students are struggling to cope financially. There is unfortunately no way to magically fix the challenges presented by this crisis. However, there are some ways in which you can make your student budget stretch a little further. Firstly, one of the biggest price increases in recent months has been energy costs, meaning that bills have skyrocketed for many. Living in a student house, it can be easy to accumulate a huge energy bill without even realising. It can help to have a discussion with your housemates about how you can reduce your energy usage as a house, whether that be by putting the heating on less often, making sure to switch off lights, or taking shorter showers. Whilst you shouldn’t be going
With the cost of even basic ingredients going up, it can be helpful to plan your meals in advance and save some money by bulk buying and meal prepping.
Image: nattanan23 (Pixabay)
Horoscopes : which spring flower ar Amy Jowett
ARIES (March 21st-April 19th):Daffodil Aries, you’ll be radiant and shining this month, and able to embark on a new part of your life. luck surrounds you this month bringing Happiness, rebirth and new beginnings. The only flower you could be this month is the Daffodil, a cheery and bright flower bringing nothing but joy. take a deep breath this month aires, clear your head and do what you enjoy.
GEMINI (May 21st - June 20th) : Tulip Its a hectic month for you gemini, this will keep you on your toes with twists and turns around every corner. Try to go with the flow and don’t over think too much but know that it may not be plain sailing. Much like the tulip with its verity of colours and variation this month could go either way for you.
CANCER (June 21st - July 22nd): Forget-menot TAURUS (April 20th - May 20th) : Primrose Birthday season for you taurus, people should surround you this month. much like the beloved primrose you are well loved and will feel that this month. Relationships will be important this month so keep an eye out for new ones that may crop up! its a busy month for you but a good one filled with people that mean the most.
May is a whirlwind for you cancer ! you should have some luck with your personal life, connecting with friends, meeting new ones and even having beautiful romantic moments, too! just like the beautiful forget-me-nots you’ll have plenty of good company, growing with those similar around you. with all of this positive there also comes a need for rest with you this month. try not to get burnt out no matter how much of a good time you’re having.
LEO: (July 23rd - August 22nd): Heather May might be a wild time for you, Leo, with some news coming your way that might make your head spin. You’re likely to see some big changes in your Professional life. This wild news may cause a huge change in your home, domestic or family life, and likely make you quite emotional. Just like the flower, you continue to bloom when there is little else around in season, so keep yourself at the forefront of your mind and enjoy your own presence. If you can find some time to travel, explore the world, but continue to keep yourself in mind.
VIRGO (August 23rd - September 22nd): Bearded Iris Virgo, you’re naturally able to juggle a million and one things at once. May could put this skill to the test, however, with your relationships growing even deeper; a situation you’ll experience for a long period. This gives you the chance to explore the depth of love you have while balancing all other aspects in your life. The flamboyant blooms of the bearded iris are much like your relationships this month: coming into bloom.
LIBRA (September 22nd - August 23rd): Wallflower Libra, partnerships will be the most important and changing part of your life this may. The planets will bring luck, love and harmony. Giving you happy, healthy relationships will grow to be even more joyous. Just like the bright and popular wallflower you will be loved this may. And you’re likely to see an abundance of luck in your life in love and your finances, even if one stream of money ends up fading at this time, Another could be right around the corner!
SCORPIO (October 23rd - November 21st): Pasque flower One of the most important months in your life has arrived, Scorpio, and this May you will be thrust into the spotlight bringing a turning point in your life. step into your power this month and let the past push your forward. opportunities will come your way and you should grab them with both hans and run. come out of your shell and bloom like the basque flower, be your brave bold self. Images: Unsplash & Pixabay
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Monday 16th May 2022
Money... nt's world without necessities, making a few simple changes can save you all money in the long run. Food costs have been another sharp increase recently, once again making the cost of necessities challenging for students. With the cost of even basic ingredients going up, it can be helpful to plan your meals in advance and save some money by bulk buying and meal prepping. This won’t appeal to everyone, but even having a schedule of what to cook and when can help to avoid food waste and impulse purchases which ramp up the price of your food shopping.
Over 60% of students nationwide admit to being worried about their financial situation There are other common ways of saving money not buying lunches or coffees whilst you’re out and walking rather than using public transport to name a few. Having said this, it can still sometimes seem impossible to live a normal life with the current financial situation, and this can have a huge mental impact. Handling a cost of living crisis is as much about your state of mind as it is about your spending habits. Whilst it can be daunting to talk about money, many students are in the same position, with over 60% of students nationwide admitting to being worried about their financial situation. It can be helpful to talk to friends or family about your concerns, even if it’s just for reassurance. Additionally, the university can offer financial support in some cases. Most importantly, the way to handle a cost of living crisis as a student is not to suffer in silence, but to speak out about your concerns.
Sub-editors: Molly Taylor & Leanna Thomson
Lifestyle
15
The least problematic social media apps Lyndsey Sleator
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Be Real
n a world where we only see the perfect “airbrushed” versions of life, Be Real is the private story of social media. An app which I have been totally obsessed with in the past month is BeReal, a new “social media” which gives you a notification at a random time of the day to take a picture of what you are doing exactly at that moment. Embracing the art of living in the present, I love seeing the reality of what people are actually doing. Whether you're watching Netflix in bed, working in the Robbo (there is a lot of that at the minute!), or at work, this app portrays what real-life entails: no-makeup days or typically “picture-perfect” moments like those shared on other social media such as Instagram. With exam season fully underway, it is embarrassing to admit that my friends and I look forward to when the notification will pop up, with this spontaneity and unknown aspect of the app making it the most fun social media at the minute. You can react to your friend’s upload (which always makes me laugh seeing my friend’s faces in a little bubble), and it is so chilled out that it's hard to even call it a social media! It is nothing complex, but the idea of BeReal has truly changed how social media is used, with reality slowly overtaking the toxic pressure to live a perfect life. Days in bed or days not doing anything at all should be normalised by social media, and no app does this as well as BeReal.
Molly Taylor
Peter Lennon
ow do you define social media? I would say it is any app or website where you are interacting with other people. Some may argue that Pinterest doesn't count as a form of social media, but I beg to differ. What better way to interact with others than with photos of dogs and nail art? I first discovered pinterest when I was around 13 years old, after getting tired of using Tumblr, and wanting to try something new. Since first stumbling upon pinterest, I have made countless boards, which has helped to inspire my university room as well as travel plans, easy student recipes, yoga workouts, and craft projects. What I love about pinterest is that you can categorise your interests onto boards, and share those boards with other people. For example, I am moving in with my sister after university, and I have made a Pinterest board of home decor inspiration. I then shared it with her, which enables her to add any photos she thinks suits the board. Once you've pinned a certain amount of photos, your feed comes up with other similar ones that you can add. Of course, with any website or app comes a certain amount of problems such as unattainable body standards or unhealthy diet culture, but throughout all my years on this website, I have only seen positive things. So if whether you're looking for ways to inspire your next art project, or hair inspo photos to show your hairdresser at your next appointment, look no further than Pinterest!
eddit? Unproblematic? Really? Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous, but the keyword I’m honing in on here is “least”. Reddit is undoubtedly a cesspool of scum and villainy but, unlike other social media sites, these cesspools are a lot easier to avoid. If you’re not familiar with the Reddit set-up, let me explain. It’s a lot like a large forum with many sub-forums (subreddits), which can range from a topic as large as “football” to something as niche as “Star Wars book”. These subreddit communities can make catering to a social media experience a real breeze because of their isolation from each other and the abilities of individual moderators. While larger subreddits can breed the epitome of toxic fandom, smaller and well-moderated communities are great for supporting your interests and having casual conversations with those that share them. It may take a while to sort through which subreddits are worth your time, but the end result of your personal curation is really quite a pleasure – in a lot of ways Reddit is about as problematic as you dictate it. This control over what sort of content appears on your feed is breath of fresh air compared to the likes of Twitter, where you really don’t have that much say on what appears; everything is out in the open, a bludgeoning social media skirmish waiting to happen. You can’t make social media completely unproblematic without removing the human interaction part of it. Instead, Reddit signposts the pitfalls; where you choose to go is up to you.
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R
Image: geralt (Pixabay)
to help someone re you this month? How in an abusive situation SAGITTARIUS(November 22nd - December 21st): Lily of the valley
AQUARIUS (January 20th - February 18th): Reticulate Iris
Pick up the pace sag just like lily of the valley we want to see you everywhere, use your time to leave toxic patterns behind you. work on yourself and get out and do the things you love. don’t go making hasty dicisions however, but if you wish to reconnect with someone do that late this month, put yourself first and think on it for a while.
This may is a completely new chapter for you, Aquarius. In regards to home, family or domestic concerns, this is a fresh start for you. You could also perhaps expect a promotion, victory or an award in your professional life. Just as the Reticulate Iris is delicate, we suggest you are equally as delicate with your expression of ideas. Do think carefully about how you share these with the world; this can be a much needed area of improvement for Aquarians.
CAPRICORN (December 22nd - January 19th): Grape hyacinth Libra, partnerships will be the most important and changing part of your life this may. The planets will bring luck, love and harmony. Giving you happy, healthy relationships will grow to be even more joyous. Just like the bright and popular wallflower you will be loved this may. And you’re likely to see an abundance of luck in your life in love and your finances, even if one stream of money ends up fading at this time, Another could be right around the corner!
PISCES (February 19th - March 20th): Winter Aconite Pisces, for a long time now you’ve been the centre of attention. Its time to take a bit of a step back; you’ll have this focus again later in the year, don’t worry ! Instead, now focus on how you can build your wealth! Improve your finances for the summer and then take a trip, and be the free spirited person we all know you are. Winter aconites are beautiful and understated flowers in the background but are beautiful in themselves . Try to be more like this in May, Pisces, and allow yourself some time away from the spot light.
Anonymous
W TW: Abuse
hen somebody you care about is trapped in an abusive situation, it’s hard to know what the right thing to do is. Sometimes, there may not be an easy way to help; I know this all too well. Growing up, I had the misfortune of jumping from one abusive situation to another, and so did several of my friends. We did all we could to help each other, but it was hard, and it was scary. The only reason I am alive today is because of the support of some very, very good friends. I can’t speak for all victims, but for me, the biggest thing anyone could’ve ever done for me while I was in abusive situations was this: believe me. A large part of abuse is gaslighting. A large part of abuse is telling the victim “This is okay. This is normal. This happens to everyone.” The first time someone ever told me, “That’s not okay. That’s abuse,” I cried, and I cry now when I think about it. Abuse makes you think you’ve gone mad; it fundamentally changes your perception of the world around you. It makes you lose your sense of safety, and a lot of the time, you just don’t know why. So that’s the best thing anyone has ever done for me: tell me that what was happening wasn’t okay. Tell me that I have grounds for how I feel, that I’m not wrong for being afraid. Tell me “that
person should not have done that.” Tell me that no matter what society says about forgiveness and acceptance, my abusers’ actions are not justified, and that I’m not the one who’s in the wrong for feeling upset. Trying to help somebody in an abusive situation is so incredibly complex; I can’t tell you to do this, or do that, or that the right thing to do is X. Abuse is complicated. The right thing to say varies from victim to victim. What I can tell you is to listen and to believe. Offer a safe space; make it clear that your door is open if they need somewhere to go, that your schedule will be free if they need help, that you can make excuses to pull somebody out of a situation if they need an escape. Above all, take care of yourself. You are not responsible for somebody else’s actions, and you can’t help a victim if you can’t help yourself.
Image: mvezokaramchandhay (Pixabay)
Sub-editors: Sophia Ayub, Imogen Clarke & Lizzie Yockney
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Monday 16th May 2022
Fashion & Beauty
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Crocs - love them or leave them? Imogen Smillie
Primary school vibes or comfy shoe of the summer?
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trangely, a highly debated topic in my life, Crocs have managed to creep their way back into the spotlight of everyday footwear. The massive range of colours and designs - whether that be the classic clog, or everyone's favourite slider - may be what make them so popular. But there still appears to be the opinion that they are aimed at kids. My fondest memories from childhood are putting on my bright pink Crocs in 'sport mode' and running about the rivers in the Peak District, wearing them as water shoes. Or being jealous of everyone comparing the latest Jibbitz they had added, further personalising their trendy new footwear. So why the sudden boom in popularity with adults?
now obsessed! As the weather gets warmer, being able to pair my lilac crocs with a lovely pastel spring outfit, just feels right. And this clearly isn’t an unpopular opinion, as the glamorous Grammyaward winning SZA has just signed a collaboration with the brand – bringing out two styles in support of mental health awareness.
Images: Instagram @crocs
Image: Pixabay Stock Image
So let's face it, they are the current Marmite of footwear - you either love them or hate them! So let’s face it, they are the current Marmite of footwear – you either love them or hate them! If you had asked me merely a few years ago, I would have said they are ridiculous, so maybe just give them a try. Trust me, they won’t disappoint!
My fondest memories from childhood are putting my bright pink Crocs in 'sport mode' and running about Personally, I do own a lovely lilac pair. But if I’m being completely honest, this was a reluctant purchase due to needing a comfortable sandal after having my toe bandaged up. Some may have felt this was a bad idea (I know my Dad was not too impressed when Mum then ordered a navy pair for herself), however, I am
Image: Pixabay @illiyeen
MET 2022: who understood the assignment? Jenica Davis
Which of our favourite celebrities took the theme on board?
T Image: Instagram @giakuanconsulting
he 2022 Met Gala arrived on the 2nd May, celebrating the second volume of a two-part Costume Institute exhibition. The theme of part two was “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” exploring the evolution of American fashion. Celebrities descended onto the red carpet to take on the dress code of ‘Gilded Glamour’ – an era between 1870 and 1900. With many people being underwhelmed with the response to the theme this year, there were still several striking looks that embodied the grandeur and luxury of New York in the late 19th century. Here are some of my favourite looks alongside some of the most controversial looks from the night. If there’s one person t h a t knows how to deliver a grand entrance on the r e d carpet, it's Blake Lively. Blake explained that "Instead of looking to
fashion to influence the dress, I[she] looked to New York City architecture and the classic buildings.” In a custom Versace look, Blake stood out with the theatrical colour change of her dress, transforming from bronze into blue-green, symbolising the oxidation of the Statue of Liberty. The copper bow on the skirt was unravelled to reveal a long, dramatic blue train, and her rose-hued gloves were also peeled off to reveal a matching blue pair underneath. Her seven-tier crown further mimicked the seven rays on the Statue of Liberty. Not only did Lively pay homage to Liberty, but also to the ceiling of Grand Central Station, which inspired the constellation design of her blue train, and the front of the dress was designed to emulate the architecture of the Empire State Building. women in Louisiana of the 19th century. Draped in white lace, Cynthia’s custom feathered train and statuesque headscarf certainly brought elegance to the red carpet. Stylist, Jason Bolden, explained that the inspiration of the headscarf related back to a stretch of Louisiana history “when Black women were told to cover their hair.” The practice, known For many Black attendees, designers, and stylists, interpreting the Gilded Glamour dress code meant acknowledging the truth of the Gilded Age – that it was an era of immense income inequality and post-Civil War racism. Wearing Louis Vuitton, Cynthia Erivo celebrated Black Women’s history with her angelic look, paying homage to Black women in Louisiana of the 19th century. Draped in white lace, Cynthia’s custom feathered train and statuesque headscarf certainly brought elegance to the red carpet. Stylist, Jason Bolden, explained that the inspiration of the headscarf related back to a stretch of Louisiana history “when Black women were told to cover their hair.” The practice, known as tignon law, was first instituted in the late 18th century, however its reverberations continued for generations. A look from this year which I particularly liked that I’ve not seen many talk about is Danai Gurira’s. Danai embraced the Gilded Glamour
theme with her one-shouldered, electric blue gown whilst infusing African identities into her design. Designed by Taofeek Abijako, this custom look was inspired by Festac ‘77 – a historic international arts festival hosted in Nigeria during the 70’s. Danai’s voluminous silhouette pays homage to the grand silhouettes that performers wore at that festival, however the dress also celebrates Americana with the top of the gown symbolising the wings of an eagle. The accessory of a Fly Whisk is further a nod to Danai and Abijako’s heritage as it was often used by influential people in African culture to emphasise both gestures and spoken words.
If there’s one person that knows how to deliver a grand entrance on the red carpet, it's Blake Lively Some other looks that I thought exceptionally stood out was Lizzo’s regal moment with her gold-embroidered coat by Thom Browne; Taylor Hill’s extravagant blue gown with embroidered flowers designed by Miss Sohee; Laura Harrier’s corseted, black and silver custom gown by H&M; Stormzy’s all-white three-piece suit by Burberry; Nicola Coughlan’s feathered black and pink gown by Richard Quinn; Jessie Buckley’s deconstruction of gender stereotypes with her pinstriped suit by Schiaparelli and drawn-on moustache. I also must mention Genesis Suero, the news anchor for the Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo, who stole the media’s attention with her stunning gold gown designed by Lucia Rodriguez, outshining many of the guests who attended. However, from Kylie Jenner and Nicki Minaj’s donning of baseball caps to Gigi Hadid’s giant puffer cape, there were definitely many looks that sparked a lot of debate. One look in particular that created a lot of controversy was Kim Kardashian’s.
Kim wore a vintage Jean-Louis dress that was worn by Marilyn Monroe during her birthday performance for President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in 1962. There was much controversy from the public surrounding whether it was the most ethical decision to expose this fragile dress, which is a monumental piece of history, into the open. Others found it disrespectful and rather insulting towards Marilyn Monroe’s legacy. There were even further issues when it was revealed that she lost 16 pounds in three weeks to fit into the gown, not sending the best message in terms of modern-day diet culture. Many questions have been raised as to whether Kim should have worn this look, and perhaps making a replica of this historical artefact would have been the best option in my opinion. With many spectacular designs as well as some conflicting ones, it’s certainly safe to say that the 2022 Met Gala brought some memorable looks nonetheless.
Image: Instagram @metgalaofficial
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Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: Sophia Ayub, Imogen Clarke & Lizzie Yockney
Fashion & Beauty
17
Gilded Glamour" or "Out of Touch?" Peter Lennon - Gaming Sub-Editor
This year's MET Gala has received scrutiny, but why?
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fter an absence in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a postponed event in Autumn 2021, the Met Gala has returned to its traditional spot on the annual calendar: the first Monday of May. And “tradition” is what the Met Gala has led with in its theme this year of “gilded glamour”, hoping to evoke the economic boom in late 19th Century America that has helped carry the nation to its position as the leader of the western world.
To say that the Met Gala’s exuberant display of wealth is tone death would be an understatement Despite such evocations of wealth and power, working families across the United States are struggling to make ends meet. The economy has greatly shrunk, with inflation being at its highest in forty years. Meanwhile the global gas shortage continues to spike fuel costs. To say that the Met Gala’s exuberant display of wealth is tone death would be an understatement. The price of entry for the Met Gala event has risen over the years to achieve exclusivity, as spearheaded by organizer and editor-in-chief of Vogue Anna Wintour. At this year’s event, a base ticket set back celebrities $35,000 (approximately £24,000), while a table sells for as much as
$300,000 (approximately £239,000). The Met Gala has long been dubbed a charity event, with the money raised from tickets going to the continued maintenance of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts’ Costume Institute. Although the Metropolitan Museum is a hive for invaluable pieces that serve to educate the general public, the Costume Institute is closed off for such folk. Instead, the pieces are only briefly brought out for public view due to the museum’s concerns over preserving the textiles of the pieces. The preservation of such works is undoubtedly important, both for appreciation of the world’s cultural pasts and for inspiration of moving into the future. That being said, the failing efforts of the Costume Institute to bring such appreciation and inspiration to the general public, despite the copious amount of money raised by the Met Gala, only further accentuates Anna Wintour’s aspirations for exclusivity among the wealthy elite. Symbolically, the Costume Institute has privatized a prime collection of art history.
This year's theme has been deemed "out of touch", considering the current global economic downturn
are not unheard of at the Met Gala, with U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wearing a white dress and “Tax the Rich” in red satin stitching at the 2021 event. The conversation around such statements often centre on their hypocrisy. With the elite making the statements being the same ones who have paid thousands to attend. However, the annual commentary on these “celebrity deviants” detracts from the larger institutional issues of the Met Gala. This year's theme has been deemed "out of touch", considering the current global economic downturn and worsening inflation in America. With the theme of the “gilded age”, celebrities and the wealth elite turned up in droves to celebrate America’s nostalgia complex over the nation’s notoriously poor distribution of wealth – and they all played their part beautifully.
This year, media outlets have singled out actor Riz Ahmed for his interpretation of the theme, dressing as a “chic labourer”. When asked for comment on his outfit, Ahmed stated that he was paying homage to “immigrant workers who kept the Gilded Age golden”. He was of course referencing New York's nineteenth-century galas and balls, where many pursued the "American Dream" to get rich quick. At the same time, others lived in poverty. Political statements and homages
Image: Pixabay Stock Image
Image: Instagram @yen_godden
Djerf Avenue & influencer fashion Samantha Seidu
There's been a lot of hype around Matilda Djerf 's brand on social media. So, what about a critical review?
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atilda Djerf ’s clothing brand ‘Djerf Avenue’ was created in 2019 but has seen a recent surge in popularity on TikTok. Is Djerf Avenue worth the hype? And what does it tell us about influencer fashion brands? The other day I was scrolling through TikTok to kill some time, as we all do. A bit of time into my daily TikTok scroll, I came across a ‘Djerf Avenue’ try on haul. I was drawn to the simple patterns, the neutral and pastel colours, so naturally I had to go and see what it was and what it was all about. ‘Djerf Avenue’ is a clothing brand founded by Matilda Djerf, a Swedish influencer with 2.3 Million followers on Instagram and 227,000 subscribers on YouTube. She is like your typical influencer: her content is aesthetically pleasing, she is incredibly good looking and above everything, her sense of style and clothing combinations are outstanding. When creating her brand, it's quite clear how she incorporated aspects of her own style into all of the items, whilst adding more to the neutral tones trend that has been taking over social media.
I was drawn to the simple patterns, the neutral and pastel colours
When you see the clothes and accessories on her website, everything there is minimalistic, consisting of plain, neutral colours, black and whites and soft pastels with simple patterns. The size range is also quite impressive ranging from XXS to XXL. All in all, the clothes on Djerf Avenue are really cute, and its simplicity allows for customers to style them with a lot of different things, making it versatile. One thing Djerf Avenue has that many other brands don’t is how sustainable it is. All items are ethically produced and manufactured in Portugal, and details on each of the factories are given on the website, making it a good shopping place for those that want to shop sustainably as well.
My jaw dropped when I saw that a plain white tank top cost £39 and a pair of cream trousers cost £119
original and creative, yet they will charge extortionately for something you could get cheaper elsewhere. Djerf Avenue as a whole isn’t a bad brand. Would I say it’s worth the TikTok hype? I would. Would I say it’s worth what it costs? Probably not. Is it a good sustainable option? Definitely yes! Djerf Avenue is probably a brand that isn’t aimed at the everyday consumer despite its simplicity, because of its price, but on the days where you would want to treat yourself to cute, everyday, simple clothes, I would definitely recommend it!
Although the brand overall is really simple, the one major complaint I have is the price point. On looking at the clothes, my jaw dropped when I saw that a plain white tank top cost £39 and a pair of cream trousers cost £119, just to name a few. The problem here is that although Djerf Avenue's clothes look nice, you will be quick to realise that they aren’t pieces that haven’t been done before. You could get the same plain white tank top for half the price at any other major retailer, instead of spending almost £40. This is usually my major issue when it comes to influencer high fashion brands in general: the things they put out most of the time are not always Image: Instagram @matildadjerf
Image: Pixabay @b0red
Sub-editors: Alice Holmes & Lenka Minarovicova
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Monday 16th May 2022
Travel
The UK's best castles Hannah Ross
For a country rich in history, it is unsurprising the UK has a multitude to castles to explore. This week we asked what are your favourite castles to explore.
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over Castle Dover Castle is one of my favourite castles to visit in the UK. It has the benefit of being well-maintained, meaning the structure is still very much how it was when it was first built (well when the last parts were added!). It also makes it a huge place to explore, with English Heritage putting on events throughout the day to recreate what life would have been like and the important figures who might have lived there. Whilst being founded in the 11th century, Dover Castle has been active part of history well into the Cold War. A day at Dover goes far beyond the history of the medieval keep. There is also a Roman Lighthouse, areas refitted for protection from nuclear attack, and a lengthy World War II bunker which acted as a naval headquarters. Many aspects of Dover Castle offer a very immersive experience and I heartily recommend a visit! Hever Castle Hever Castle was a bizarre but enjoyable experience,
having been converted into a tourist attraction. Whilst originally built as a defensive castle in 1270, not much remains of this as the Boleyn family added a Tudor 'keep' there and has since been owned by a number of families including William Astor who created a picturesque 'Tudor village' and extensive gardens. It certainly would not function as a defensive castle anymore. The keep itself is full of paintings of various Tudor Lords, Ladies, Kings and Queens as well as many objects from Anne Boleyn's childhood. The gardens are also worth going round as they are beautiful. There is a huge lake to walk around with some kind of pavilion built at the end to complete the perfect image – Astor took his time in the appearance of everything, to the point that the grounds and castle look like a fairy tale. Caernarfon Castle Caernarfon Castle in Wales is described as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages and it doesn’t take much to agree with that opinion for it is gigantic! Commissioned by Edward I in 1283, Caernarfon is one of several castles built in Wales to help the king control his newly conquered lands. The castle is situated by the water and has 12 towers and two separate bailey courtyards. With this in mind, it is easy to see how one can walk around the structure with the impression that 'yes, this is a proper castle!' Image source: Ian Murphy on Unsplash
Ruby Taylor - Arts sub-editor
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ummer is fast approaching and since I haven’t actually been on a proper holiday in way too long, I am currently in the process of planning and booking some summer getaways. As this is my first time organising a holiday myself (the pandemic put me back a bit), I am a little bit intimidated by the practicalities, especially whilst travelling on a student budget. My friend and I have decided to go to Berlin for a long weekend. We were drawn to its amazing art and nightlife, as well as the fact that it is one of the cheapest capital cities in Western Europe. Thanks to us both being at uni, going away before the school holidays start is a no-brainer, as it will hopefully cut down costs of flights and accommodation. As well, the city will hopefully be a little less busy with tourists. On top of this, as we are on a student budget, Skyscanner is the place we are looking for flights (a tip from travel vloggers Damon and Jo), to find the cheapest flights to and from the German capital. Another way that we’re (hopefully) going to save some cash is by scouring Airbnb, which is no hardship for me, as I am constantly scrolling through the app and making lists for future holidays. It is also important to do your research, so after a bit of googling, we settled on the borough of Mitte. Meaning ‘middle’ in English, it is in the centre of the city and is home to tourist sights like the Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, as well as lots of little cafes, restaurants, and bars. It is also home to Beach Mitte, a man-made beach with 50 volleyball courts, a high-ropes course, and a beach bar. Currently, we’re both looking for a base in Mitte on Airbnb. Another option which we
Image: Marco Verch on flickr
Image: Ruby Taylor
Have an insight into what it is to be a female solo-hiker
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ecently, I took on my first ever multiple day hiking and backpacking trip along the beautiful Northumberland Coastal Path, from Berwickupon-Tweed to Seahouses over three days. Although I had an incredible time hiking alone in the stunning landscape, my experience was definitely shaped by my being a woman walking by myself. When I first set out to write this article, I wanted to share tips and ideas to feel and stay safer as a non-male solo hiker. But if I’m being honest, this trip left me with more questions than answers. So instead, I’m going to share some of my experiences and what I have learnt so far. I am definitely not the most expert hikerthough I have camped and hiked alone many times before, this was my first multiple day trip by myself. However, I still think I learnt some invaluable things from even just this one hike. Your first question might just be, why? Why do it alone? I honestly love to hike with people, and have had some of my best memories from adventuring with my best pals and family. But
Planning a holiday on a student budget have talked about but have pretty much decided not to go for this time, are hostels. A great budgetfriendly option, hostels are a good base and are often perfect places to meet other travellers. According to travel TikToker @globethotter, the Circus Hostel in Berlin is one of the wildest party hostels in Europe. I’m definitely going to keep it in my notes for future reference! Berlin is also ideal for a student budget, as it is best to explore the city on foot, so we won’t need to spend money on public transport, and can instead spend it on food, drinks, and other experiences. I would also definitely recommend doing a bit of research into things that you can do for free, to save a little bit more money whilst also adding more experiences to your itinerary. A further key part of travelling on a student budget is being smart with your money. My budget is currently very tight, but I am going to try to save a little bit before the summer. Other than that, I’m almost definitely going to have to get a job asap to pay off my overdraft, but in my opinion, it will definitely be worth it.
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Hiking Solo: My experiences of hiking alone as a woman
Image: Ruby Taylor
Lizzie Yockney Fashion & Beauty sub-editor
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there is something so special about being alone in nature, only having to walk from A to B. I find it so meditative and joyful, and for me it’s worth the fear and risk. Not only did I choose this hike for how easily accessible by public transport it is from Newcastle, and the gorgeous scenery of the Northumberland coast, but it’s a really well signposted route and you’ll often bump into day walkers and locals. I really recommend that if its your first solo hike to go somewhere like this that you know you will feel comfortable. I wasn’t ready to wild-camp or be far away from people, so this was a great option with campsites and towns all along the route. To some extent, it’s really good to push your boundaries, but not to the point where you’re having a awful time
because you’re absolutely terrified! It’s also okay if you don’t want to be by yourself but want to hike with someone else if that would feel safer. You will have such a laugh going with someone else, and can be there to look out for one another. Another thing I noticed was that I had a lot of people coming to speak to me because they were concerned about me being a woman alone. It felt really strange because I actually mostly felt safe, but I could see how vulnerable I looked to them. Sometimes it felt really kind and I was glad someone had their eye out for me, but it also felt really frustrating sometimes. I am capable of looking after myself in that situation, and know that if I was a man by myself nobody would bat an eyelid. I think something to remember about being a non-male hiker alone is you are going to feel scared. We hear stories our whole lives about what happens when women are out in nature alone, and all of us have experience or know someone who has been victim of gendered harassment in their life. It’s really sad that we have to worry about this, and alter our behaviour to protect ourselves. For me, it is worth the risk, but I recognise that besides from me being a woman, I have a lot of privilege that means I can push away this fear and feel safe enough to go out alone. This idea of risk may be really different for me if I didn’t have this privilege. For me, it is about managing risk and fear to make the experience as safe as possible, but knowing a bit of fear is okay and good! Hiking alone is something I love to do and will hopefully continue for the rest of my life, and if you want to give it a go and feel safe to do so, it will be such a brilliant experience! If not, there are so many beautiful ways to enjoy nature that are not solo hiking, and it is wonderful to just get out there in any way you can!
Image: Ruby Taylor
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Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: Scarlett Welch & Marcel Shamshoum
Food & Drink 19 Rethinking Tequila: World Baking Day: Don't shot it, savour it Best Brownie Recipes Jude Parkinson
As tequila is becoming a classier drink, here's how to enjoy it in style
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post and is considered more ‘chic’ than other spirits. With many celebrities investing in their own tequila brands such as George Clooney and Kendall Jenner, the drink is continuingly being seen more and more in the public eye. However, many tequila lovers don’t know a mixer to pair with the spirit, gin has tonic and vodka has coke so what is tequilas perfect match? Well, a Scottish brand has the answer. Savora Drinks has created completely unique premium tequila mixers in two mouth-watering flavours, Vibrant Orange & Fiery Ginger and 2021 Great Taste Winner Zesty Lime & Sweet Agave Flavour. The brands’ purpose is to provide a sophisticated tequila long serve to those who share a passion for the spirit. The Edinburgh born brand encourages society to “rewrite your tequila story” with stockists up and down the country from restaurants to bars and bistros it’s an evergrowing success destined to become a household name when it comes to tequila. Boasting numerous awards in the food and drink sector its causing serious waves in the drinks industry, the showstopper product is a cocktail lover’s dream bound to become a fan favourite !
ften considered as a liquor to be ‘shot’, tequila is transforming its reputation from hangover to highbrow through the culture of sipping not slamming. Tequila and Mezcal were the second fastest growing spirits in 2021 with the progress set to continue tequila is definitely the new ‘IT’ drink. A serious amount of time goes into a bottle of Tequila, starting with the growth of Agave plants in Mexico to the distilling process taking roughly eight to twelve years, it’s a disservice to the spirit to shot in an instant. Which is the reason many agave farmers prefer to see the drink consumed as a long serve. But why has Tequila suddenly become so popular ? With a youthful and exuberant feel the drink has become popular with the 25-35 age bracket, it’s the perfect drink for a trendy Instagram Image: Instagram (@savora.drinks)
Tynemouth Food Festival: A feast for the North East Leanna Thomson - Lifestyle sub-editor
Think the perfect day out for foodies doesn't exist? Think again.
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ynemouth is by far my favourite place in the North East, so when I found out it was going to be lined with stalls selling my favourite thing in the world - food - of course I had to buy
a ticket! The event, which celebrated its 10th year, has the stunning backdrop of the Priory and Castle ruins. It was rather jarring to see them surrounded by the vibrant modernity of the street food stalls, with some people even perched upon them as
Image: Leanna Thomson
they enjoyed the delicacies of 23 different vendors. There were plenty of North East favourites amongst them, including Redhead's Mac 'N' Cheese, Fat Hippo, Acropolis, Scream For Pizza and Di Meo's Ice Cream to name just a handful. I had to pace the festival grounds a good few times before I knew what I wanted to eat, but I eventually decided I was craving a crispy duck wrap from Hatch76's, who formerly had their HQ at Stack before its closure. This also happened to be the longest queue at the entire festival, but with my undying commitment to my food, I endured the (40 minute!!!) wait by soaking up the rare North East sun and falling in love with all the dogs at the event. Let me tell you: it was worth it. Hatch76 have mastered that perfect balance between crispy and tender with their duck that many fall short on. Brava. The warmth of the sun was beginning to be cancelled out by the fierce coastal winds, so I got my hands on one of Canny Coffee's delightful vegan hot chocolates (with marshmallows, of course) and headed to the market tent. The variety there was just as overwhelming, with another 23 traders waiting for me there - and they were far from stingy with their free samples! I admittedly felt slightly tipsy after visiting all of alcohol stalls. They clearly know what they're doing though, as I walked away with a bottle of English Heritage's strawberry wine - possibly the nicest I've ever tasted. I'm no connoisseur (a bottle of Gallo for a fiver usually does the job for me) but it's lovely and light, with just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of what tastes like strawberry jam. I'm also a sucker for an iced coffee, so I think I sampled pretty much everything Tynemouth locals, Dancing Goat Cold Brew, had on offer - including their nitro coffee, which uses nitrogen gas to create a ridiculously smooth texture. However, their Columbian brew was the happy medium between this and their super potent Brazilian brew, so I grabbed some bottles of that. I ended the day in a way I think all days should be ended - with a huge stack of churros topped with Nutella, strawberries and whipped cream from Los Churro & Waffle Catering. Tynemouth Food Festival is the perfect day out for foodies in a blissful beachside setting, so be sure to mark next year's event in your calendar!
Daisy Harrison
In honour of World Baking Day, try these two delicious brownie recipes
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alling on May 17th, National Baking Day is upon us, and I thought it was only right that I share the two BEST brownie recipes in the history of brownie recipes – and trust me, I’ve tried and tested a lot of these in my life! In my opinion, brownies should be fudgy and absolutely oozing with chocolatey goodness. I think we can all agree that there’s nothing worse than a dry, cakey brownie… The first recipe combines all these winning factors, to create what my Grandma and Grandad named, “the best chocolate brownie they had ever had”! Ingredients (makes around 14): 250g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 250g dark chocolate, broken into pieces 4 free-range eggs 280g soft dark brown sugar 1 tsp instant coffee mixed with 2 tsp hot water and cooled (this just helps to intensify the chocolate flavour; it doesn’t make them taste of coffee!) 120g plain flour, sifted 30gcocoa powder, sifted ½ tsp salt 150g dark chocolate chips Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/ Gas 4. Line the base and sides of a 20x30x5cm/8inx12inx2in brownie tin with some baking paper so that it comes 1cm/½in above the top of the tin and lightly grease. 2. Put the butter and chocolate in a small saucepan and melt over a gentle heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture is liquid. Set aside to cool. 3. Whisk the eggs, sugar, and cooled coffee in a large mixing bowl until the mixture is light, thick, and fluffy. This should take 5 minutes with an electric hand whisk. 4. Pour in the cooled melted chocolate and whisk until the mixture no longer has any streaks in it. Then add the sifted flour, cocoa and salt and mix until you have a glossy batter. 5. Mix the chocolate chips in a bowl before mixing them into the batter until they’re well dispersed. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and level off the top. Bake for 25 minutes.
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder 1/4 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda 100g of dairy-free chocolate chips 10 Oreo cookies (or any other vegan biscuits) Method: Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius and line a 9''square baking tin with greaseproof paper. Make sure the paper overhangs the tin. This makes it easier to remove the brownie later on. 2. In a small saucepan, add in the coconut oil and chocolate, over low heat, stir, melt together then set aside. 3. Add the aquafaba into a large mixing bowl and whip up until frothy. This will take around 5 minutes on high speed if using an electric hand whisk. (This step is essential for getting a crinkle top!) 4. Add in the sugar a little at a time whilst the mixer is still whipping. After around 5 minutes with the sugar incorporating, the mixture should turn thick and glossy. Pour in the melted chocolate mixture and whip to incorporate. 5. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda. Mix until fully combined, then fold in the chocolate chips and broken up Oreo cookies. Fold together. 6. Pour the brownie batter into the lined tin and level off with an offset spatula or spoon, making sure to get into the edges of the tin. 7. Place into the middle of the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Check to see if they’re ready to come out of the oven by inserting a skewer into the middle of the brownie, if only a few moist crumbs remain on the skewer, it’s ready. 8. You’ll need to allow the brownie to cool fully before removing it from the tin and slicing. If you take it out of the tin before it’s cool, it will be very crumbly. If you can wait long enough, you should allow the brownies to cool fully in the tin, then place the tin in the fridge for an hour before slicing and serving. It binds the brownie together and makes it extra fudgy. I also always recommend that people heat up brownies in the microwave for about 10 seconds, especially if they’ve been in the fridge, as it makes them gooey. Trust me when I say these brownie recipes remain unbeaten, and I would highly recommend you try them!
The second brownie recipe is vegan, and whilst it may have some strange sounding ingredients, the end result is delicious. Even my little brother, who turns his nose up at most vegan food, absolutely loved these brownies; they have a crinkle top and are delightfully fudgy. Ingredients (makes 8-10): 80g of coconut oil 155g of dairy-free chocolate (most dark chocolate is dairy-free) 100ml of aquafaba (brine from a tin of chickpeas) 120g of caster sugar 120g of plain flour 10g of cocoa powder Image: Daisy Harrison
Sub-editors: Oren Brown, Lucy Bower & Rowan Christina Driver
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Monday 16th May 2022
Music
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Interview: Alfie Templeman Elena Corcobado
Elena Corcobado sits down over zoom with Alfie Templeman to discuss his upcoming debut album
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he emerging indie pop singersongwriter talks about his beginnings as a musician, finding his sound, and his biggest project to date. Alfie Templeman is currently on his Forever Isn’t Long Enough Tour, a ‘mini-album’ he released in 2021. It won’t be long until his next project – on May 27th he’ll be releasing his debut album Mellow Moon. This is the young artist’s first full-length record, since he started writing and producing music as a kid (yeah, he was only 7 when he started, and at the age of 10 he was making full compositions). Despite having been signed to Chess Club Records at the age of 15, and having released a considerable amount of music since, the artist has only put out short-form projects: multiple EPs and singles, as well as the formerly mentioned mini-album. I had a chat with Alfie over Zoom to discuss his career – looking at how he’s gotten to where is currently is, and what his next steps are with his debut album. We talked for just under 20 minutes and Alfie approached the interview with loads of energy and a big smile from beginning to end. We started the interview talking about his current tour, where Alfie expressed his joy due to the fact this is his first headline tour and he’s encountered, so far, a very engaged audience. “Everyone’s been singing the lyrics, word for word, not even just the choruses but the verses as well, so it’s super special”. That’s no small achievement for a 19-year-old’s first headline tour. To those of you who might not be as familiar with Alfie Templeman: don’t let his approachability and charisma fool you, the young artist is no less than a prodigy. Alfie started releasing music at the age of 13. I was interested in how he transitioned from being a kid in his room writing songs to releasing his music under a label and growing an audience. He tells me that after two or three years of releasing music, he put out a song on a Friday (known to
be the new music day of the week), and got put on the Spotify ‘Release Radar’ playlist. A guy who used to work at Chess Club heard it, liked it, contacted the label, and the rest is history. This was rather surprising to me – considering his success at his age, I would have thought he had access to either connections in the industry or professional education. It might seem like all there’s to it was a lucky strike, but random luck wouldn’t have taken Alfie Templeman to where he is. To the sceptical – Alfie is, except for the drums, a self-taught multiinstrumentalist. He is involved in every stage of music making: writing, recording, producing, and even mixing at times. Alfie has learnt music and improved his craft through trial and error and by collaborating with other people and observing how they work. By listening to the greats he figured out how to make it work from himself; “it’s totally my own style, I just came up with my own approach”. When asking about his songwriting process, he explained it totally depends on the song. It can be a particular drum pattern he likes, or perhaps lyrics that he then puts a melody to, or even just noodling on his guitar. He even claimed to randomly hear songs in his head – in those instances the voice notes app proves to be handy, something any music-maker would agree on. One of the most interesting aspects about Alfie Templeman is his hunger to make music in different styles and genres, still with an ability to adapt it to his own sound. There is a clear progress in his music, from lofi indie pop to sounding increasingly influenced by funk and disco, with his percussion and basslines becoming groovier, however still keeping a distinctive pop sentiment to the sound. Throughout time, his sound gets bigger, bolder, and brighter, especially on his EP Happiness in Liquid Form. His trajectory shows Alfie isn’t afraid of taking risks and experimenting. When asked about his desire to explore different sounds, he claimed to be inspired by a lot of different sounds out there, aiming to be able to adapt them to create something new. “I’m still figuring out my own sound, you know, and that’s why I keep changing, because I don’t think I’ve got ‘my sound’ yet, and until I’ve done that, I’m not sitting still”. Alfie described Mellow Moon as his first proper, full-length project, where he has the time to say everything he has to say and how he wants to.
It’s curious to think he didn’t take the shortcut of making Forever Isn’t Long Enough his debut album. “You know, there was a pandemic, and I wasn’t doing too much, I wasn’t experiencing enough”. Alfie is ambitious in approaching his career with humility yet confidence. This self-awareness is something totally palpable in his music and artistic development. Once the restrictions got lifted, Alfie shared that he had a great summer – one of those teenage summers where he learnt a lot about himself, opened his eyes, and realised who he loved and what he wanted to do. And he wrote a lot of songs out of it. “All of those things are contended into the album and became a part of that process, and that’s why it all gelled together the right way and why it all felt so natural”. Alfie has put out a lot of music before his debut, which has massively helped build both the conversation around his music as well as an audience. He doesn’t plan to slow down, though. He still has a lot of ideas in his head and energy to keep growing and moving. He’s mature when he speaks, something that comes with no surprise having tasted his songwriting abilities. However, Alfie is human and just getting started with his career. He’s claimed that he gets really nervous before shows, something he manages by going on walks, doing vocal warmups, and hanging out with his friends. Finally, he had some words of encouragement for independent artists that are getting started. He claimed that it takes a long time, but artists must believe in themselves, “and if you love it, it will work, you will get there”. He tells me he has listened to his first, old songs and, while they’re not the best according to him, they had a special energy that something was going to come out of it. “If you have that, and you can feel that energy, then you’ve got it. It will come to you”. It surely came to him, with his work ethic, maturity and musical and writing talent. Alfie Templeman is someone to keep an eye on and he undoubtedly has a long career ahead. I’m excited to see him grow and I am ready to be surprised by what direction he decides to take on next.
Image: Instagram (@alfietempleman)
Heartstopper's Chart Toppers: Netflix hit shines spotlight on lesser-known artists Rowan Christina Driver - Music sub-editor
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etflix’s newest hit Heartstopper was released last month, to rave reviews from both audiences and critics. “Wholesome to the point of retro,” claimed the Guardian, “like a hug in TV form.” Based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels of the same name, and adapted by Oseman herself, Heartstopper follows openly gay high-schooler Charlie (Joe Locke) and his relationship with classmate Nick (Kit Connor), the popular rugby player on whom Charlie develops a crush. Despite its title, it’s more of a heart warmer than anything else. While the blossoming romance between teens Nick and Charlie may have sparked global phenomenon, the soundtrack to the series – consisting largely of alt-pop and featuring a number of queer artists – has captured worldwide attention almost as much. A subtle embodiment of so many young adults’ current Spotify playlists, its buoyant gentleness serves to be as animating and whimsical as the onscreen graphics laced throughout while stopping short of a caricature of modern youth. Several of the tracks featured in the Netflix hit have received a remarkable boost following the series’ release in late April. The Official Charts Company announced last week that track ‘Want
Me’ by London-based singer Baby Queen, aka Bella Latham, experienced a 553% change in chart sales in comparison with the previous week, while other featured artists including Shura, Caroline Polachek and Orla Gartland experienced their biggest weeks to date.
It's more of a heart warmer than anything else Artists included in the show’s soundtrack have embraced the sudden spotlight on their music. Gartland – whose 2019 single ‘Why Am I Like This?’ featured in the final scene of episode 2 – has taken to Instagram to share a host videos of herself singing her own nakedly reflective lyrics along with the scene, and held a livestreamed guitar lesson for fans of the show to play along themselves. Meanwhile, Latham was joined onstage at London’s Electric Ballroom by the Heartstopper cast to sing the newly penned single ‘Colours of You’. With the show being viewed over 23.9 million hours (as per the Netflix system of data collection), it is no surprise so many of the
artists featured in it have been catapulted into prominence. Heartstopper provides a muchneeded mainstream platform for LGBTQ+ and modern independent artists like little else we’ve seen on our screens in recent years.
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Monday 16th May 2022
An introduction to... L Devine Paige Rutter
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roviding female empowering soundtracks and lyrics expressing the reality of growing up, rising pop sensation Olivia Devine known as L Devine is quickly on her way to making her name known. Dipping into various pop sounds, the Whitley Bay born singer has released multiple EP’s with her debut Growing Pains first being released in 2017. This EP encapsulated the realistic view of growing up as a teenager which is sure to be relatable to with songs such as the upbeat ‘School Girls’ expressing the feelings around friendships and the ups and downs. Followed by a slower ‘Panic’ relating to the fear of realising you fell in love with someone you didn’t expect. Openly queer, Olivia hasn’t shied away from expressing how grateful she is to provide a platform for queer individuals and give Image: Facebook them someone to
look up to, something she feels she didn’t have when she was younger. Her second EP Peer Pressure includes a personal track ‘Daughter’ which relates to a mother of a former girlfriend who didn’t appear to be supportive. Also featured on this EP is the titled track ‘Peer Pressure’ correlating with losing yourself in order to fit in. Devine recently released a two-part EP Near Life Experience which includes the empowering track ‘Girls Like Sex’, expressing how she wanted to change the narrative that “men talk about sex but girls only talk about feelings”. This EP also features the upbeat ‘Die on the Dancefloor’ romanticising nights out with friends and the longing for escaping reality. Alongside her music, she has also created a podcast titled ‘Growing Pains’ in which she talks to guests about their experiences of growing up and sharing coming of age stories. Olivia is next set to play Newcastle in June alongside Years and Years at the new Rock N Roll Circus.
Sub-editors: Oren Brown, Lucy Bower & Rowan Christina Driver
Music
How To Let Go Sigrid GeorgeBell - Film sub-editor
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f asked to summarise Sigrid’s latest album How To Let Go into a single word, I would have to give two: “sad” and “funky”. These contradicting words will fly around your mind across the 12 songs and 37 minutes 31 seconds of this album. The lyrics will drag you down with their melancholy content only for the backing track to pull you right back up and out of you chair into a dancing mood. It truly is an entertaining rollercoaster that I couldn’t recommend enough. ‘It Gets Dark’ begins the album and sets the tone for the rest of the songs. Perhaps leaning more towards the sad than the salutations, it is a gentle introduction to Sigrid’s work with a slow opening that pulls you in before seamless transitions between that and a more upbeat backing track. This back and forth between vibes is prevalent throughout the entire album, and not just within the individual songs. Some of the songs maintain a more sombre tone while others embrace a more excitable atmosphere.
It can be frustrating that the tone is not consistent At times it can be frustrating that the tone is not consistent with no apparent commitment to happiness or sadness. It feels like two distinctive albums fighting for supremacy. You cannot
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expect a chill, sombre time without also dealing with the reciprocal which can be exhausting. Yet despite this collision of tones, nothing ever feels messy, and if it does, that feels like a conscious decision. The two are blended extremely well to create an entertaining experience. ‘Mirror’ felt like a divergence from this theme though. It fully commits to those positive vibes in both lyrics and backing track. A dancefloor
It truly is an entertainig rollercoaster that I can't recommend enough song if there ever was one, this one is all about self-love that makes both your mouth and feet smile. My only wish was that this upbeat was the final song rather than a midpoint. Right after it, there is a sharp drop back into melancholy with ‘Last To Know’ that was just a bit too jarring. Overall though, How To Let Go is a triumph that represents the complicated highs and lows of dayt o - d a y life with a great blend of good vibes and mournful times. Read the full review online! Image: @Sigrid on Instagram
Overheated by Billie Eilish Climate activists, musicians and designers come together to fight the climate crisis. Kate Benson
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very exciting event was announced a few days ago; Overheated, which is an event over multiple days coinciding with dates of Billie Eilish’s tour. Bringing together
climate activists, musicians and designers to discuss how they can work to make a difference and fight the climate crisis. Featuring activists such as Tori Tsui and Dominique Palmer, Vanessa Nkate who have been major parts of the climate movement, it is a very exciting event for climate activism. It is so important that events like this can happen, where people with large audiences like Billie Eilish, can give space and a platform for activists to share their knowledge and collaborate with other worlds. It is set to involve discussion about sustainable fashion, plant based diets and greening practices
in the music industry. There will also be a showing of the Overheated Documentary, featuring Billie Eilish and Vivenne Westwood. Not to forget, there will be music too, with performances from Sigrid and Love Ssega, and a appearance from others such as Jack Harries and Yungblud. The music and fashion industry are a big part of harm and destruction caused within the climate crisis. For example, the fashion industry prioritises profit over people, both in fast fashion and luxury fashion. Using unsustainable practices which are causing destruction to our planet, while exploiting garment workers particularly in the Global South
(Fashions Brands' Commercial Practices Are Misaligned with Sustainability (remake.world. ) To see this big event being hosted and presented by such famous artists, gives me so much hope that we can work together to stop this destruction to our planet. This is what we need, not greenwashing from fashion brands, but actual collaboration.
Image: YouTube
Sub-editors: Carly Horne, Rachael McCreanor & Rebecca Sykes
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Monday 16th May 2022
TV
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Review: Oscar Isaac shines in Moon Knight Jess Bradbury - Film sub-editor
Moon Knight provides something different for the casual MCU viewer and entices new audiences.
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gyptian mythology, Oscar Isaac saying ‘laters gators’ and a very catchy soundtrack, there’s little not to love in Marvel’s latest series Moon Knight (2022). Spoilers below! The Marvel universe seems to be expanding at a rate that no one can quite keep up with, from releasing the latest blockbuster to creating series for already established characters it’s easy to get caught up in the rush. But Moon Knight provides something very different for audiences old and new alike. Streaming on Disney+, the series follows Steven Grant, a mild-mannered museum gift shop employee who becomes plagued by blackouts and memories of another life. All is very much not as it seems for the character, played by Oscar Isaac (Dune, Scenes from a Marriage), as he discovers that he is the alter of Marc Spector, an avatar for the Egyptian moon God, Khonshu. From the start the series hooks in the audience by working out the mystery of the two lives bleeding into each other, and it is only revealed later that the character has dissociative identity disorder.
The show beautifully portrays the wonders of Egyptian mythology and lore, so much so that at times I felt like a primary school kid learning about it all over again. But what is most gripping about the series is its central characters - Marc, Steven, Layla El-Faouly (May Calamawy) and cult leader Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke). All three actors bring something special to the roles that they play, fascinating and in the case of Hawke’s character, disgusting the audience. Each of them is able to command the screen, with Isaac and Calamawy making us care deeply for the relationship between Marc and Layla despite the series very much being set well into their time together. It becomes even more endearing when Steven is brought in and his tender relationship with Calamawy’s character blossoms, leading to some amusing interactions as the episodes progress. For me, Calamawy steals the finale of the show as her character becomes an avatar for the god Tawaret and becomes the Scarlet Scarab - I found myself cheering when she emerged in her newfound superhero costume and then again when she joined in the final fight. Hawke’s charismatic cult leader is both creepy and charming, portraying his devotion to the god Ammit with a chilling intensity. Proving more than a match for Isaac’s character, it’s hard to tell who is ultimately going to prevail until the last moments of the series. But the standout of the series for me is definitely Oscar Isaac’s portrayal of Marc and Steven. It’s hard enough to distinguish one character within a show, let alone two at the same time whilst also hinting at a third alter.
The transitions between the two are so seamless that it’s hard not to be blown away by the level of talent in this riveting performance. Marc is hardened, closed-off whilst Steven questions everything around him in a bumbling English accent it certainly feels special to see their interactions develop and their bonding together. The show tackles themes of mental health and trauma, something which could have easily been a disaster if not portrayed right. But the
show hits the nail on the head, with Isaac letting the vulnerability of the character show and a particularly heartwarming line as Marc says to Steven “you were the only real superpower I ever had”. My only complaint about the series? That at the end of it there wasn't any text saying ‘Moon Knight will return’. The ending certainly teases the chance for more and with the way that this 6-episode run glued me to the screen, I hope we see more of Moon Knight in the future.
Image: IMDb
Heartstopper - the new era of teen dramas Michael Duckworth - Gaming sub-editor
Netflix's adaptation of the popular graphic novel offers a rare happy ending in queer media
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ased on the graphic novels by writer and illustrator Alice Oseman, Heartstopper is Netflix’s latest phenomenon. Telling the story of a growing friendship and romance between two teenage boys, nerdy outcast Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and rugby star Nick Nelson (Kit Connor). The incorporation of stylistic elements from the graphic novels gives the show a unique charm, little animations show the sparks of excitement when two hands touch or the flutter of leaves when your heart skips a beat, just adding to the wholesome and uplifting atmosphere that encompasses the entire show.
All the hallmarks of a horribly embarassing teen crush show up in Heartstopper
Image: IMDb
All the hallmarks of a horribly embarrassing teen crush show up in Heartstopper, the eye contact that lasts just a little bit too long, the agonising typing and retyping of a single benign text message, overthinking ever single word of the conversation you just had, so many little details that take you back to when you were tripping over yourself trying to talk to the person you liked at school. The show also tells the unique experiences that come with being queer at school, not just the negatives like the particular cruelties that come with homophobic bullying, but also the positives, finding your clan with other queer classmates and bonding over shared experiences. In episode 3, as soon as Nick typed the letter “A” into his laptop, every single young LGBT person knew
exactly what was happening, we’d all been there. The fear and the confusion but also the excitement and joy of realising who you are is portrayed so earnestly by Connor, and his coming out in the final moments of the show was so good it even made co-star Olivia Coleman break into tears on set. Rhea Norwood as Imogen gives the most convincing performance of “clueless straight girl” ever shown on screen, the line delivery of “I’m not like homophobic… I’m an ally” gave me chills it was so accurate to girls I knew from school.
Time and time again queer characters are given tortured lives or killed off
The translation of graphic novel to screen has brought a lot of changes, many of the supporting character in the novel are given a bigger role to play in the show, the relationships between Nick and Charlie’s friends is fleshed out properly. Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) come out as couple and face some online harassment and trans character Elle (Yasmin Finney) starts to have a crush on her friend Tao (William Gao) and they start to develop their own relationship. Bright blues and yellows fill the screen as these young romances begin to blossom across the school year. It may seem obvious to say that this kind of positive LGBT representation is entirely needed and important, but it really can’t be stated enough. Time and time again queer characters are given tortured lives or are killed off for the emotional development of their straight counterparts. Stories where gay or trans characters are fully developed and complex while also just being happy and content by the shows end are next to non-existent. So I hope Nick and Charlie’s romance can be a beacon of hope for queer people who feel like a happy ending is unreachable for them.
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Monday 16h May 2022
Sub-editors: Carly Horne, Rachael McCreanor & Rebecca Sykes
How many series is too many? Emily Kelso - Comment sub-editor
Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing, so when is enough, enough?
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his may seem like the opposite of a problem for some viewers, but when is enough enough for a TV show? Fans normally can't get enough of their favourite show, but sometimes it is better to end early than to watch your favourite show die a slow and painful death (rest in peace, Supernatural (2005-2020)). It may seem like a non-committal answer, but the perfect number of series is the exact number of series first planned. I should perhaps explain myself better. A TV show is at its best when it is carefully thought out and it contains just the right number of episodes and
series. Derry Girls (2018-2022) is one such show: the TV show has become a phenomenon people are obsessed with, and yet it ends with series 3, as always planned. A coming-of-age story hardly makes sense after the protagonists grow up, does it? Things go wrong when fans can't get enough and broadcasting studios realise they have a cash cow on their hands. Another reason TV shows get unnecessarily extended is that at the end of the day, people love to meddle. Sometimes it is just best to leave well alone, for fear of ruining something that is good. There are some TV shows at risk of being ruined for me. Good Omens (2019-2022) is one. The Amazon Prime show took the world by storm with the tale of Armageddon, witches and an angel and their demon. The series is easily rewatchable and based on the book by the late Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. But series 2 has no precedent, aside from conversations between the two authors. This series will have shakier foundations given the lack of a book from which to copy and paste most of its script f r o m . W h a t
happens to a castle built on sand? It sinks. Also in the works is a TV series named Lazarus, which follows on from the BBC TV shows Life on Mars (2006-7) and Ashes to Ashes (2008-10). The shows follow two police detectives, Sam Tyler (John Simm) and Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes), as they wake up back in time after each having an accident. Both TV shows compliment each other beautifully, and their tale was told. A satisfying ending, designed from the start, was presented. B u t now we are being given Lazarus, set after a rather conclusive ending. What story can be told? Ultimately, what drives a show may also be its downfall: its fanbase and funders. We can have too much of a good thing. Best to stick to the original plan, methinks. Image: IMDb
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n Star Wars Day, May the Fourth (be with you!), the official trailer for the Disney+ series O b i - Wan Kenobi was released. The event will see the return of Ewan McGregor as the much-loved Jedi Knight, in a continuation of his story from Episodes 1-3.
After months of rumours and some strategic red herrings - we finally know who is next pilot the TARDIS
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In a surprise announcement, the identity of the next iteration of the time travelling time lord has been announced, and it is no one you would expect, it is hard to argue with how great the casting is. The next doctor will be Sex Education’s (2019-) very own Ncuti Gatwa! As the first black man to play the lead in Doctor Who, the future of Doctor Who looks to be promising with Gatwa holding the sonic screwdriver, especially after a somewhat disappointing run with Jodie Whittaker. Add into the mix the return of Russell T Davies as showrunner from the 60th anniversary in 2023, it looks as if we are on the road to an epic revival of the Sci-Fi classic.
heartbreaking to watch the master see Anakin as Darth Vader, having turned to the dark side under his Jedi training! Overall, the trailer portrays quite a dark story, perhaps due to the appearance of Darth Vader and the Grand Inquisitor – the dark side feels strong in the Star Wars franchise at this time! But hopefully, with Kumail Nanjiani joining the cast, we may have a breath of comedic relief. And fingers crossed we will see some friendly droids along the way – maybe R2D2? Anything that happens in this series, it is safe to say that the fans have been waiting long enough for the return of McGregor as Kenobi. And with the tease of Darth Vader’s theme at the end of the trailer, the 27th of May seems too far away!
We won’t know what Gatwa will bring to the role of The Doctor until the conclusion of Whittaker’s run, but given his already iconic status as Eric Effiong in Netflix’s Sex Education, whatever it is, it is certainly going to deliver. Hype and opinions are already buzzing around the 29-year-old actor, with him being shone under the spotlight at the BAFTA’s TV awards following the announcement and comments made by host Richard Ayoade. Sex Education co-stars Emma Mackie and Gillian Anderson tweeted “My Doctor” and “Congratulations to this ray of sunshine” in relation to the news, sentiments many, including myself, are already agreeing with. Given the evidence as a talented actor and the nominations and awards he has received, Gatwa is sure to deliver an interesting interpretation of one of TV's most iconic roles. Furthermore, with Gatwa's character Eric being gay, and Russell T Davies' superb show, It’s a Sin (2021), it may finally be time for a truly queer interpretation from The Doctor rather than rampant queer bating. Little more is known, but already that is enough to get people excited for the future of Doctor Who after a notable decline in popularity in recent years. should hopefully be entering the TARDIS in 2023.
Image: IMDb/Pixabay
Finally, we will see the return of Obi-Wan Kenobi. But what part of his journey will we see this time?
Approximately 10 years after the birth of Luke and Leia Skywalker, it appears that Obi-Wan is in hiding as a Jedi, due to the tragic events of Order 66. But what does this mean for the series as a whole? In the trailer, we see Obi-Wan keeping a close eye on Luke, from afar, perhaps showing his transition from the famed Obi-Wan Kenobi to the more secretive Ben Kenobi. Hopefully, this series will delve further into his relationship with Luke. However, perhaps more excitingly, Hayden Christensen is confirmed in the cast as Darth Vader. Maybe Obi-Wan will be fighting his demons and confronting his former padawan. I’m sure it will be
George Bell - Film sub-editor
Ncuti Gatwa should hopefully be entering the TARDIS in 2023
Obi-Wan Kenobi: the Disney+ empire strikes back Imogen Smillie
23 Sex Education's Ncuti Gatwa is the next Doctor
Image: IMDb
Sub-editors: George Bell, Jess Bradbury & Autumn Keil
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Monday 16th May 2022
Film
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Does Dumbledore step or Do positive memories stumble out of the closet? affect our outlook on Meg Howe - Head of Lifestyle
the digitally-created images really make the fantastic beasts just that: fantastic.
Does Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore manage to find its feet in the Harry Potter franchise?
Takes you back to much loved magical memories
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or the first time since before the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Wizarding World franchise has finally been added to. The third instalment to the Fantastic Beasts films hit cinema screens at the start of April, with The Secrets of Dumbledore. But amidst J.K. Rowling’s questionable views, and released mid-way through Johnny Depp’s court case, does this film really deserve to be given the time of day? Unlike the first two instalments, The Secrets of Dumbledore makes many small references to the Harry Potter franchise that ended in 2011, which shouldn’t be surprising with Potterverse veteran David Yates directing. We see Gellert Grindelwald (previously played by Johnny Depp, but replaced by Mads Mikkelsen), rise to power in a rather similar way to Lord Voldemort in The Order of the Phoenix. Whilst Aberforth Dumbledore had already played a key role in the first two films, we are introduced to younger versions of some much loved characters from the Wizarding World. A small clip of Minerva McGonagall’s loyal friendship with Dumbledore leads us to hope this could be explored in further films!
The film may be progressive, despite the author's probelmatic opinions
Not only is The Secrets of Dumbledore another visually pleasing, heart-warming fantasy adventure, but it might even be able to be considered progressive, despite the problematic opinions of its author. Dumbledore’s gay identity is explored further, in a respectful sort of way. Without giving too much away, Dumbledore is seen as a trustworthy and loyal individual (but I’m sure we all already knew that!), and is willing to push aside his feelings if affection in order to save the Wizarding World
Will connections to the original franchise continue? from the threat of fascist rule. It is hard to deny that for those who were obsessed with the Potter films growing up, The Secrets of Dumbledore takes us back to those much loved magical memories. I almost let out a little squeal as the camera panned over Hogwarts school and the iconic Harry Potter music began to play! Whilst any progress on the fourth film seems to be taking place, I can only hope that more connections to the original franchise continue to take me back to magical world I’ve always adored.
The CGI usage, however, can’t be considered amazing compared to other modern day films, however it must be said that it really brings the magic to life! Whilst the subject of the film has since moved away from Newt Scamander’s case of beasts,
Credit: IMDb
the
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Gabbi de Boer - Relationships Sub-Editor
case?
in turn, degrade - someone simply because we don’t want our positive feelings tarnished.
How might our memories of the actors on screen affect our opinions?
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s a celebrity, it’s widely accepted that your life will always be in the spotlight, and nothing has demonstrated this more than the trial between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. Growing up, Depp had a massive influence on many people’s lives. His iconic roles such as Jack Sparrow and the Mad Hatter shaped many of us, and it’s not a surprise that the majority of people associate him with positive memories. Maybe that’s why, then, so much depends on the outcome of this trial.
The case itself is also complex, and domestic violence isn’t something to be taken lightly. All over the internet, support for Depp has been undeniably positive, despite the impact the trial has had on his career. The case itself has been watched all over social media, with at least one courtroom clip appearing on feeds everywhere, every day. As the trial is still ongoing (and with Depp’s lawyers being the first to present evidence), support has been high due to Heard’s side not being presented yet. This, paired with his iconic status, has made him out to be the favourite. The impact on the lawsuit against Heard has been argued to barely affect her onscreen career, as shekeeps hold of her role in Aquaman 2 (rumored to be cut to 10 minutes), and many domestic abuse charities have spoken out in support of her. The evidence stacked against her has been less than positive, and with Depp’s career being much more lucrative than her own, support for her has dwindled. This therefore poses the question - have the memories of Depp’s iconic roles clouded our judgments? It’s hard to hate someone who we have thought of so fondly, and with Heard having little influence in comparison it can be easy to fall into a habit of choosing sides. The case itself is also complex, and domestic violence isn’t something to be taken lightly. Despite the jokes online, both parties have been heavily affected, and we shouldn’t simply support - and
Credit: IMDb
It is also important to remember that cases like this happen behind closed doors all over the country It is also important to remember that cases like this happen behind closed doors all over the country. Although updates saturate the media, it’s also not anyone’s place to take sides. We can still enjoy our favourite films, and love both Depp and Heard in their respective roles if we choose to, but letting this small part of their personality determine our stance on something so serious that deserves more careful consideration.
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Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: George Bell, Jess Bradbury & Autumn Keil
Film
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Interview with Sonja Wolf: Director of The Vertical Border Renzo Szwkarok - News Sub-Editor
Sonja Wolf gives us an insight into her new documentary surrounding forced migration from Central America
confines of traditional paper publishing to create a documentary with lasting impact. In this sense, the intended legacy of the project was considered from the start. Bridging the gap between film and previous research on Central America, The Vertical Border illuminates a situation that has been worsening in recent years and isn’t predicted to improve soon – we
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sat down with the director, Sonja Wolf, ahead of the university’s screening of her debut documentary The Vertical Border to discuss the issues raised in the film, artistic inspirations, and the desired impact of the project. The documentary tells the story of forced migration from Central America towards the US-Mexico border. Fleeing economic precarity, climate disaster, as well as state and criminal violence – most are in search of a liveable life. We begin our conversation discussing the motivations behind making this film, and why now.
operate illegal routes across the border. Wolf revealed how this insecurity affected filming options and locations. As the situation with the cartels could be dangerous, access to places and people proved challenging: interviews with migrants conceal their identity to protect them, and on occasion archival footage and photography is used in place of original work. Included in this archival footage is the work of Christian Poveda. His work was an inspiration to the production team, but his death in 2008 sadly highlights how dangerous filming in Central America can be. Upon the release of his highly influential documentary La Vida Loca, the Salvadorian gangs portrayed in the intimate film were not happy with their
attempts to speak up for them. Governments in Europe and the US need to face up to their role in creating environments people flee from. War and climate change are set to worsen a
A global migrant crisis already at tipping point, worsened by war and climate change
global migrant crisis already at tipping point, but the team behind The Vertical Border hope this project helps to apply pressure to governments to bring about change by allowing the film to be shown at universities and schools, as well as cinemas. The documentary is being shown May 17th, 2-4pm in Room 3.38 of the Armstrong building, and film festivals around the world. Sign up to come along using this QR code!
Hidden underneath this modesty, however is a beautifully shot and put together film Recognising film as a more accessible medium than academia (Wolf ’s Day-job), she makes clear from the start that she does not see herself as an artist, rather an academic diversifying their output. Hidden underneath this modesty, however, is a beautifully shot and put together film. Going on to state that, although others may interpret this as an artistic project, The Vertical Border was made with the intention of changing the conversation surrounding forced migration, and it should be used for “education and awareness raising”. Frustrated with the limited social impact academic research often has, Wolf deserted the
Credit: The Verticle Border, YouTube
share little hope that the Biden administration will adopt a more humane approach to migration. Repressive security policies and restrictive migration policies are impacting migrants everywhere, especially Central America. Here, these issues are compounded with the involvement of cartels taking advantage of a situation that the US and Mexican governments have manufactured. By closing safe and accessible routes, governments funnel migrants in to the arms of cartels who
depictions, later ambushing him in his car. Including this work was of great importance to Wolf, having met Poveda in El Salvador whilst completing her doctorate. Photography by Donna DeCesare also features in the film, whose critically acclaimed projects document life and oppression in Central America. Drawing parallels between the current refugee crisis and the recent Netflix film, Don’t Look Up, Wolf (rightly) believes popular public and government response has been to ignore the issues faced by migrants, and to shun anyone who
Don't Worry Darling, Florence Pugh and Harry Styles are here Imogen Smillie
The trailer for Olivia Wilde's newest thriller has been released and we can't wait to see Florence Pugh and Harry Styles together
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ant a thriller starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, directed by Olivia Wilde? Don’t Worry Darling, we’ve got you covered… A new thriller is coming to town this year, set in 1950’s California. It follows Jack and Alice, the seemingly perfect couple (Styles and Pugh), living a seemingly perfect life. The romance between the two of them is one we are all clearly envious of – I mean, it is the Harry Styles and Florence Pugh.
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told. Director, Olivia Wilde, has brought together a stellar cast (including herself, Gemma Chan, and Chris Pine among many others) to represent a classic group of friends during the 1950’s era. That being the women are the housewives while the men go to work, and then they all come together at the end of the day for a party. Now usually I would be frustrated and bored by this storyline, yet again, but something named ‘The Victory Project’ seems to be shaking up the sexist traditions of the time. With quite a confusing, yet raunchy trailer (yes we’ve all witnessed that one part with Styles and Pugh on the table…) it will be
interesting to see whether director Wilde can pull off such a seemingly dark project. Hopefully this will be a success much like her past films such as Booksmart, and with support from a such a talented cast, this is one to look out for. And film nerds, lets make sure to beat the Styles’ super-fans to cinema!
It will be interesting to see whether Wilde can pull off such a seemingly dark project
But it appears that sometimes, things can be a little too perfect, as Alice begins to suspect that not everything in their pristine town is as normal as she is being
Credit: Move Coverage, YouTube
Print: Haaris Qureshi, Peter Lennon & Michael Duckworth | Online: Joseph Caddick
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Monday 16th May 2022
Gaming
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Digimon versus Pokémon: battle of the franchises Joseph Caddick - Puzzles and Gaming sub-editor
In part one of this battle, Digimon is contested as the superior of the Japanese monster games
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or as long as most students have been alive, one war has waged on fiercely; Pokémon or Digimon? The two monster taming franchises have a long-established rivalry, largely enforced by the most rabid of Pokémon fans who feel threatened by a competitor. Although it's often called a Pokémon rip-off, Digimon was initially more similar to Tamagotchi. In order to make the jump from virtual pet games to more complex console systems, it adopted more monster raising mechanics, many of which were entirely independent of features in the Pokémon games. Where the Digimon franchise shines is the flexibility; unlike Pokémon evolution lines, the Digimon you encounter can become entirely different species that don't resemble their prior forms; one of the canon Digimon lines has a blob turn into a cat, a dog, a cat again, an angel, and finally a dragon. Non-canon lines can become even more insane, like turning an evil rabbit into a round man, a star and then platinum-coloured poo. It's always fun to see what your monsters can turn into, and this is a charm that Pokémon lacks outside of Eevee and some branched evolutions. There are also more conventional lines for those resistant to change. One of the more consistently argued strengths of
the Digimon franchise is that the stories are generally more complex than the non-existent, infantilised stories you'll see in Pokémon games. Death is a common story beat (and Digimon Survive is doubling down on this), but it's rarely done in a way that feels edgy for edgy's sake. Characters are also often less one-dimensional and have believable motivations. Although I am a huge Pokémon fan, there have been numerous times in recent years where the direction of the franchise has been...questionable, to say the least. Digimon, meanwhile, offers a more consistent quality, and certainly a lot more variety than its rival. Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth looks far better visually than most Pokémon games in recent years, and it was a PSP game that came out in 2015 with a much lower budget. Even if Digimon isn't as popular as Pokémon, that shouldn't take away from the fact that the series consistently offers quality experiences on par with some of the best monster taming games out there. If you've been feeling frustrated with Pokémon recently, give some of the new Digimon games a go. Digimon Survive is out on July 29th.
Image: Witchcraft Inc.
Rage Quit: Metroid Dread Reggie Fils-Aimé sheds light on Mother 3 localisation
Peter Lennon - Gaming sub-editor
Relentless robots, merciless boss fights, and treacherous environments. There's only one word for it: infuriating.
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eleased in October last year, Metroid Dread made a return to the 2D side-scrolling gameplay of the originals, placing a greater emphasis on stealth than combat. The stealth elements were implemented to avoid the new E.M.I. robots, who mercilessly hunt down protagonist Samus based on her movements. Metroid Dread is a tense and compelling game – and I left it to collect dust after the second boss fight. Metroid Dread is my first – and thus far, only – Metroid game. Based on its horroresque elements and glowing reviews, I thought that this would be the perfect entryway into the franchise for me. At first, everything was going well. The combat and gear were built up slowly, allowing me to adjust to the new components of Samus’ kit as the general map enemies became more varied. Even the E.M.I. robots were more exhilarating than Image: Nintendo
frustrating.
Overcoming the scorpion-like creature was incredibly satisfying
Eventually, I came to the end of the initial section Artaria where I was met with the game’s first proper boss fight: Corpius. A boss fight divided into phases, it’s a classic fight-die-learnrepeat scenario which, to be fair, is most boss fights. Overcoming the scorpion-like creature was incredibly satisfying – for one brief moment, I truly believed that I would complete the game and begin a new love affair with the series. And then I met Kraid: an upright crocodile, who vomits balls of fire while you stand helplessly on a claustrophobic platform. I wish I could say I fought the good fight. That I adapted and overcame. But this pimped-up King K. Rool was so infuriating, eating up your missile supplies and depleting your health to closeto-nothing before you even get to the second phase. I don’t doubt that I will be able to push through the Kraid boss fight if I kept at it and fully realise this new love affair. But for the moment, I rage quit.
Josh Watson - Deputy Station Manager
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ot on the tail of the addition of EarthBound Beginnings and the ‘original’ EarthBound to the Nintendo switch online (trust me, the naming is complicated), the former president of Nintendo in America has shed light on why the final chapter of the saga was never released outside of Japan. The Mother Series was a trilogy of small, relatively niche RPGs released by Nintendo during the early 90s for the NES and SNES, with the third coming out in 2006 for the GBA. It has always been a strange part of gaming and Nintendo’s history. The games themselves go against the classic power fantasy that other JRPGs fall into – very much against the grain of the titles of the time like the Final Fantasy series, instead following a group of children saving in the world. It is a strange tale to explain and is a story that works best as a game. Each entry doesn’t follow on from the last; though they do cover the same theme with a similar gameplay loop. However, what makes this collection of curiosities so interesting is there release confusion. Mother 2 was the first to be released outside of Japan, called EarthBound – it had quite a large following and, as the internet took off, knowledge of the two other games in the series spread to the western world. It was not until
2015 that the original Mother became available with a full translation outside of Japan – 25 years after the Japanese release. Reggie Fils-Aime, who was President of Nintendo of America and famous for his comedic additions to E3 with his beloved ‘My body is ready' phrase, has released ‘Disrupting the game’: an audiobook preorder bonus that includes an interview between Reggie and Game of Awards host Geoff Keighley. There was much talk of Mother 3, as Reggie is wellknown for teasing possible releases of the game on Twitter during his time at Nintendo. He talks about how he had many conversations with Satoru Iwata, CEO of Nintendo at the time and a lead contributor to the original game, about a western release. The decision had been made that there was no finical benefit from a western release after EarthBound's poor original sales in the USA. Reggie points out that the marketing for the game was strange. "This game stinks’’ was the marking slogan – no wonder it didn’t sell well. Reggie has said that the translation of EarthBound Beginnings was to test the waters and that its success was promising. However, Iwata’s death in mid2015, only a few months after Beginnings was added to the Wii U library, seemed to close that door. "If Mr Iwata had not passed away, if maybe the Wii U had done better in the marketplace, maybe the Mother 3 game would have made it at that point.’’ Sadly, it seems no official release will ever come – someone should probably tell the Onett police chief.
Image: Nintendo
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Monday 16th May 2022
Print: Haaris Qureshi, Peter Lennon , & Michael Duckworth | Online: Joseph Caddick
Gaming
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Memory Card: Ratchet and Clank (2002) Joseph Caddick - Puzzles and Gaming sub-editor
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his year marks the 20th anniversary of the Ratchet and Clank series. Over the past two decades, the two have embarked on many adventures, but it's their first one that arguably made the most impact. As you'd expect from a PS2 mascot platformer, the story is pretty straightforward. Chairman Drek is destroying planets and taking chunks of them to build a new Frankenstein planet for his species, the Blarg. The defective war robot B54296 (later given the nickname Clank) sees Drek's schemes, and immediately steals a starship and crash lands on Veldin. Here, he meets Ratchet, and the two agree to track down the hero Captain Qwark to enlist his help in stopping Drek. With some interesting twists and turns, it's a great bit of context for a platforming adventure. The anti-consumerist satire and overall humour throughout is exceptional and sticks with the series throughout the PS2 games.
pistols and rocket launchers to weirder ones like the Suck Cannon which sucks up small enemies and the Decoy Glove which flows out an inflatable decoy, there are options for every play style. Some of these, like the Taunter, are close to useless, unfortunately. Owning so many weapons make you feel tremendously
powerful. It's a feeling few other games can capture. I also think this shooting/platforming hybrid provided young gamers with a gateway into shooters, possibly shaping their tastes for the next console generation.
Other levels look fantastic too, blending natural environments with industrialised elements More than any other entry in the series, this game is primarily a platformer. There are all sorts of challenges, from obstacle courses to running through flooding sewers. Let me tell you, that sewer segment has traumatised me for many years. The challenge in these games is fantastic, and outside of a few moments later in the game, doesn't feel cheap. In addition to the platforming, what makes the series stands out is the massive arsenal at Ratchet's disposal. Ranging from standard
The art direction of this game is absolutely fantastic. When pitching the game to Sony, Insomniac showed them Metropolis as a proof of concept, and they immediately greenlit the game. It's easy to see why. Featuring cars flying in the background and buildings towering above you, it feels like a sprawling city in ways that simply were not possible on the PS1. Having first been exposed to the series via a demo featuring Metropolis and Blackwater City, I too was blown away. Other levels look fantastic too, blending natural environments with industrialised elements. The visuals hold up incredibly. It would be remiss of me to not mention how fantastic this game's soundtrack is. David Bergeaud absolutely delivered with each and every track. I would argue that the first game has the most memorable tracks in the series; Metropolis, Blackwater City and Novalis start the soundtrack off strong, and it keeps that pace throughout. Despite all the praise I have for this game, it is rough around the edges. Strafing is absent, which can make combat segments more difficult than they ought to be. This is especially true when fighting enemy hordes later in the game. Another problem with the game is that Ratchet's a douche. He spends the latter half of the game being mercilessly mean to Clank, who naively led the two into a trap around halfway through their journey. This characterisation flaw is something that many people point out as the worst part of the game, so it was imperative that it was worked on for future games. For a debut game, the first Ratchet and Clank provided so much to love, and a number of areas for improvement. Thankfully, these were all addressed in time for the second game in the series.
Image: Insomniac
Adverts in Xbox games are incoming Kefan Chen
What are the ramifications of real life, in-game ads, as Microsoft conisders its implementation?
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hile you can usally play a game from beginning to end without ever seeing an ad: Microsoft is considering introducing including ads in their Xbox gaming experience in the future. Business Insider claims that Microsoft is particularly interested in adding adverts in games, as discovered by Microsoft enthusiast journalist site Neowin. Ad agencies that can help Microsoft realise its vision are now supposedly being sought. To achieve this, games will need to be able to support ads, and so Microsoft may be encouraging developers to think about how they may include this technology into new games. According to Neowin, Microsoft is expected to test this technology in free-to-play games in order to see how well it works. It makes perfect sense; if the corporation targeted premium games, gamers may generate a commotion over being shown
adverts in products they've already paid for, whereas gamers playing free content are more likely to be receptive. Advertisements for Xbox are nothing new, according to Neowin. Ads may presently be shown on the Xbox dashboard, and gamers don't appear to mind them at the moment. However, when it comes to "advertising in games," you may be reminded of those annoying fullscreen adverts that interrupt your gaming experience. Microsoft, on the other hand, is wary about interrupting a player's immersion in their game in order to display an advertising. As a result, the business plans to include adverts within the game itself. An in-world billboard that firms may pay to have their goods shown on was used as an example in the original article, replacing fictional corporations with real ones. Therefore there's a good potential that gamers won't even know they're being promoted to. Indeed, such innovation may even enhance the sense of immersion, making it a less obtrusive type of marketing.
Image: Xbox and Wizzard
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Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: Tom Wrath, Maja Mazur & Ruby Taylor
Best books to read during exam time Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami
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t's the late 1980s and Toru Watanabe has just arrived in Germany. Upon hearing a cover of The Beatles 'Norwegian Wood', he recalls his time in Japan filled with love and loss and political discourse. The novel is, for me at least, about seizing the day. It's about dealing with regret, but also about falling in deeply and madly in love. It's about the ways in which our relationships and sexual experiences shape the people we become, but also about the point of our existence. Norwegian Wood is far from a light read, though I would recommend it to anyone in need of some escapism. Such a recommendation, however, would come with some content Image : Good warnings, particularly reads in reference to suicide, depression, homophobia and sexual assault. Make sure to consume the text mindfully. In spite of all that, I would still recommend this book wholeheartedly. Murakami's descriptions of love and loss, as well as the world around him, make Norwegian Wood the perfect book to get lost in this deadline season. - Carly Horne
The Outsider - Albert Camus
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Seagull - Johnathon Livingston
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n pitching The Outsider by Albert Camus uring deadlines season, the type of as source of relaxation, I recognise book I need to be reading is one the alignment with unorthodoxy. This that I can put down. Last year I unorthodoxy, the condition of absurdism, ended up re-reading The Hunger is itself an endeavour of the most unsettling Games, and though it was perfect proportions. Further, its depiction on escapism from the stress of assignments, I ended the backdrop of provincial rift up doing way more reading than work. compounds contention. So my pick is Johnathon Livingston Seagull by However, I do find that this book Richard Bach. Johnathon Livingston, as the title beholds great perceptual significance, suggests, is a seagull. But he is different particularly suited to this exam season, from the rest of his seagull flock. They at that. This significance is all fly just for convenience: to get from the spotlighting of sun, A to B and to fish. But Jonathon loves sky and sea in summer; to fly. He wants to do loop-the-loops it serves as source of and dives and feel the thrill of flying. solace for Camus, which The book follows him on his flying I’ll hopefully get you to journey, from being an outcast to see. having students on his own. What For sentiments such as "the starts as a bit of an odd story ends lazy afternoon sun wasn’t very with exploration of the religion hot, but the water was warm, and the meaning of living. with lazy, long low waves" are For me, this is a perfect exam dotted across the book, we see season read. It is funny and Camus present the physical world intriguing in a way that will as a sensual permanence – an make you fall in love with the aspect which cannot be done away book and this seagull, but no Image: Goodreads with. so gripping you will struggle It is here we must recognise the to put it down and work! It is tender indifference it affords – we are in short, manageable chapters embedded in nature, and it is in looking you could handle even with a busy brain, to nature, we give ourselves space to and filled with beautiful black and white images be calm. Better yet, we remind ourselves of the of seagulls in flight if you need a bit of a break opportunities this season provides, an ache we from words. Whether it is during assignments or ease with every passing day. you just need an odd but brilliant read, I would definitely recommend checking out Johnathon - Mary Chude Livingston Seagull.
Review: How We Live Now at Newcastle Contemporary Arts -
Maud Webster - Head of Culture
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n collaboration with Newcastle's new Farrell Centre, Newcastle Contemporary Arts have an illuminating exhibition highlighting the work of Matrix, a feminist design co-operative which worked on radical projects which prioritised groups marginalised by society. The exhibition has been expanded from that shown at the Barbican during 2021; it includes research and projects from academics and activists working within Newcastle and the North East. The exhibition is
housed across two lofty galleries; the first displays drawings, models, posters, plans and also two films highlighting the impressive influence of Matrix, and showcases their projects especially on Gay and Lesbian housing co-operatives, women's organisations and community groups. One film focuses on interviews with architects who worked in the practice, with their thoughts on being in the group and the work they created together, which brought a reflective dimension to accompany the rest of the archive material. In the second gallery, work from around Newcastle and the North East on themes lifted from Matrix's work which continue to be explored today. Katie Lloyd Thomas, a Lecturer in Architecture at Newcastle University commented how these featured projects "[seek] also to make
the built environment a more inclusive and just space for all and demonstrate that Matrix’s legacy lives on.” This intention clearly comes through in the thoughtful and provocative construction of the exhibition space and presentation of the projects: it invites you to participate in this desire for change of the built environment. Projects include Sally Watson and Alison Stenning's work on Children and Play on the Streets. A chalk hopscotch frame newspaper clippings about proposed (and enacted) play streets around the North East, with chalks laying at the base of their exhibit. There's also zine pamplets about Sheildfield's Dwellbeing project in a cosy corner of the gallery, and down the middle of the room sit Newcastle University academics Armelle Tardiveau and Daniel Mallo's benches constructed for a project working with the community in Fenham to create a Pocket Park contribute to an approachable sense of invitation. The exhibition is well worth a visit and you can easily spend an hour or two listening, watching, reading and even playing in t h e two gallery rooms. How the built environment should be designed for the benefit of all will always be a question for everyone who engages with the city, and it's great to see an exhibition continuing to pose these important questions, and even start to offer paths forwards. How We Live Now: Making Spaces in the North East with Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative is running at 39 High Bridge Street from 6 May until 23 July 2022, showing Thursday to Saturday 12-5pm. Image: Twitter @ @ALWCinderella
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Cinderella musical closes in West End Leah Graham
Andrew Lloyd Webber’ Cinderella will close in the West End just under a year after opening, with its final performance set for June 12th
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heerio, ciao ciao, for now…” Cinderella and Prince Sebastian sing to one another, but these words became all the more pertinent last weekend when it was announced that Cinderella will close after less than a year of performances. In a statement by Lloyd Webber, it was announced the show will unexpectedly close on June 12th, following a turbulent run. Many took to social media to criticise the decision, as the cast and crew were only made aware thirty minutes before the news was made public. Lead actress Carrie Hope Fletcher, who was not present at the theatre, stated in nowdeleted posts on Twitter that she learned the news via castmates. Summer Strallen, who had been due to join the cast, stated on an Instagram Live that she saw the news via social media despite being in a wig fitting for her role just days prior. A spokesperson for Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group asserted that all those involved with the production were made aware of the news before it was made public, though other upcoming cast members Luke Latchman and Daisy Twells maintained that they had not been notified. The reason for the show’s closure has not been given, though it was expected to continue at the Gillian Lynne theatre for at least another year whilst Broadway previews began in America. Many leading cast members were expected to depart during an upcoming cast change, with Carrie Hope Fletcher as Cinderella, Ivano Turco as Prince Sebastian and Rebecca Trehearn as The Queen all set to be recast. It is not the first time Cinderella has made headlines unfavourably. Lloyd Webber stated his intentions to open Cinderella to full capacity during Covid restrictions last year, risking arrest to do so. Later in the year, New York Post theatre critic Johnny Oleksinski slated the production, leading to Lloyd Webber criticising the cast over a call from his holiday home minutes before they were due to go on stage. Previews for the Broadway production of Cinderella are expected to begin in February 2023.
Sub-editor: Joseph Caddick
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Monday 16th May 2022
Puzzles
Across
1. Roald ___, children’s author. (4) 3. Water-bearer star sign. (8) 7. Entertaining gymnast. (7) 8. Mythological many-headed aquatic serpent. (5) 9. Chemical symbol for iron. (1,1) 10. Remove from office. (4) 11. Male bovine. (2) 12. ___ Charles, footballer for the England women’s national team. (5) 14. Iowa’s state code. (1,1) 15. Removed ice from window. (6) 16. Luxury car manufacturer. (4) 17. 2016 Disney film. (5) 19. Jordan ___, directed 2017’s Get Out. (5) 21. Surname of poet who wrote The Raven. (3) 22. Bright, bulbous, spring-flowering plant. (5) 24. Small Japanese tree. (6) 25. Plastic construction set. (4) 26. Soft, creamy type of sweet. (5) 27. Island from Arthurian legend. (6)
Down
1. Valuable carbon allotrope. (7) 2. First place to be attacked an atomic bomb. (9) 3. 2014 Nicki Minaj song. (8) 4. Greek goddess of wisdom and war. (6) 5. Country whose capital is New Delhi. (5) 6. Lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses. (5) 13. Most common value. (4) 14. Small island. (4) 16. Hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics. (7) 17. Recurring theme in an artistic work. (5) 18. State fruit of New York. (5) 20. Vegetable that makes you cry. (5) 23. Young boy. (3) 24. Long, feathery scarf. (3)
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Crossword
Codeword:
Wordsearch - Shapes
Last Issue's Answers
Codeword: Banishment
Arrow Cube Heart Octagon Prism Sphere Trapezium
Circle Cuboid Hexagon Oval Rectangle Square Triangle
Crescent Cylinder Kite Pentagon Rhombus Star
Word Wheel: Asparagus
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COURIER
Monday 16th May
Sub-editor: Joseph Caddick
Puzzles
31
Instructions
Nonogram
Colour in the cells in the grid according to the numbers on the sides of the grid to reveal a picture. The individual numbers in each row/column are separated by spaces of 1 or more squares.
Notes
Difficulty: Hard
Word Wheel Sudoku 16 May 2022
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Create as many words as you can of 3 letters or more from the wheel. Each letter can only be used once and you must use the one in the middle of the wheel. Try to find the 9 letter word that uses all the letters. Goal: 25 words
Sub-editors: Castor Chan, Katie Siddall, Ethan Todd, Lucy Rimmer & Mitchell Hall
32
Monday 16th May 2022
Sport
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Liverpool reach Champions League final Joseph Caddick - Puzzles and Gaming sub-editor
The Reds beat Villareal to set up a final against Real Madrid
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iverpool faced Villarreal in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal, this time at El Madrigal. With a 2-0 lead from the first leg, it was theirs to lose. With a valiant effort from the opposing side, Liverpool won 5-2 on aggregate. The first half of the game proved to be nail-biting for Liverpool fans. Villarreal swiftly scored two goals in 41 minutes, wiping Liverpool's lead. The first of these goals was scored by Boulaye Dia
followed by ex-Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin, who scored with a header for their second goal. With an excellent showing from Villarreal in the first half, it was up to Liverpool to restore their lead in the second half of the match. In the 62nd minute Fabinho scored, his first goal for the Champions League.
At the end of the match, Liverpool fans were ecstatic
From this first goal, Liverpool hit their stride. They capitalised on this newfound momentum, with Luis Diaz scoring a header. This evened the score for this match, thereby ensuring Liverpool restored their two-point average.
Liverpool didn't stop there! Sadio Mane scored the team's third and final goal of the match. As far as goals go, it was on the easier side, as Villarreal's goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli left the goal as good as open, and Mane capitalised on this by ensuring the ball was set to hit its target. Airborne fans were reportedly described as dancing in the aisles of aeroplanes on a flight returning from Spain from the team's previous win against Villarreal. Having defeated Villarreal, Liverpool advance to the final of the Champions League, which is being held in Paris. To this date, no English side has won the
Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season. If Liverpool are able to pull this off, they'll be making history.
To this date, no English side has won the Quadruple Image: Twitter (@LFC)
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The latest on the battle for promotion into the Mitchell Hall - Sports sub-editor
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n Sunday 8th and Monday 9th May, the play offs for four League One teams took place to earn a spot in the final at Wembley. Wycombe Wanderers, MK Dons, Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday battled it out over two legs. Wycombe prevailed after their clash with MK dons after a resilient performance to clinch their place against Sunderland. A frantic, end-to-end first leg saw Wycombe
take the lead through defender Ryan Tafazolli, who rose highest to glance home a header from Jacobson’s corner. Wycombe continued to threaten, with Vokes having a goal chalked off for a close offside decision after a low drive was parried towards him. The Don’s electric youngster Scott Twine threatened from range with an audacious free kick that flew just over the bar. A few minutes later and the Dons were dealt a dramatic blow as Josh McEachran got himself his second yellow card inside 10 minutes. Down to 10 men for the last 20 minutes Wycombe smelled blood in the water, relentlessly attacking the Dons’ defence, including a spectacular effort from McCarthy that beat keeper Jamie
Cumming but agonisingly struck the underside of the bar and ricocheted away. The Dons had to crack under pressure, and in the 82nd minute, Vokes played a ball out to McCleary before running into the box and meeting the cross. The unorthodox one-two led to a venomous header into the right side of the net, giving Wycombe a significant advantage going into the second leg. The Dons threatened early through a headed corner that looped onto the crossbar, but would be more successful at the next time of asking, with Tottenham loanee Troy Parrott heading over the keeper at the back post. Scott Twine had multiple chances from free kicks around the edge of the box but couldn’t seem to dial in his efforts and
rarely challenged the keeper.
Scott Twine had multiple free kicks but rarely challenged the keeper
It was a miracle Wycombe didn’t concede another, as chance after chance went begging wide of the post or deflected off the keeper and out. Parrott found himself through on goal only to be denied by fantastic defending, a sliding challenge nicking the ball away
from him and out for a corner. There was a small controversy involving a blocked shot in the penalty area, with Dons players believing it to be a handball, the referee was unphased by their appeals. Wycombe held on valiantly until the final whistle, cementing their place in the final.
Image: Twitter (@BarnsleyFC)
Mitrović sets Championship goal record Arthur Ferridge
Aleksandar Mitrović has enjoyed a historic season bagging 43 goals
Image: Twitter (@@FootyAccums)
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ulham FC’s Aleksandar Mitrović has enjoyed a historic season in the Championship this year, bagging 43 league goals in as many appearances, including three hat tricks and nine braces.
The Serbian striker sealed the record in the final home game of Fulham’s season, scoring twice in the late stages of an emphatic 7-0 home win which saw the West London club seal their third Championship victory and promotion back to the Premier League. The record for most goals in the Championship was previously held by Brentford’s Ivan Toney, who claimed the crown on the final day of the 2020/21 season with 31 goals, powering Brentford back to the top flight for the first time since World War 2. Mitrović, however, looked at Toney’s numbers and laughed, surpassing his tally after only 30 matches, 15 appearances fewer than the Brentford target man. Mitrović is a classic Championship player, known for turning up in the second tier while often faltering in the top flight, a habit he will aim to break in the 2022/23 season. Mitrović has also surpassed Guy Whittinghams record for most goals in a second flight season. Set before the Championship rebrand in 2004, the Portsmouth striker’s record of 42 goals has stood since 1993 and looked to be out of reach before Mitrović stole it in
Their comprehensive victory over Luton was a hallmark of the season
the 92nd minute of the penultimate game of the season. In a post-match interview, Mitrović stated that “I don’t try and think about the record but when you get close everybody starts talking so of course I wanted to break it… it was special." Fulham have been on dominant form for the majority of the season, winning 27 of their 45 matches and finishing 5 points clear of second placed Bournemouth with almost double their goal difference. Their comprehensive victory over Luton was a hallmark of the season, their results including two other 7-0 victories away to Blackburn Rovers and Reading. They also managed to put six past both Bristol and Birmingham and scored five against Swansea in March. The Cottagers will return to the Premier League for the fourth time, further establishing their reputation as the definitive yo-yo team after having been relegated four times since 2013. Norwich FC lead this coveted leaderboard, with 5
Premiership relegations to their name. Their previous stint in the top flight lasted only one joyless season, which saw the Lilywhites finish 18th with only five wins and 28 points to their name, despite heavy investment in the squad. Fulham fans will hope for a reversal of fortunes, however, and will be buoyed by their dominant Championship campaign. Image: Instagram (@championship_central)
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Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: Castor Chan, Katie Siddall, Ethan Todd, Lucy Rimmer & Mitchell Hall
Sport 33 NUFC women make historic St. James' debut Paige Rutter
NUFC Women break attendance record for women's football
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or the first time in their history the Newcastle United Women’s team graced St James Park with an outstanding amount of home support. The East Stand was planned to be opened first but due to the
overwhelming support the Gallowgate and most of the Leazes Stand ended up needing to be opened.
Support was also provided from famous faces including Ant & Dec The ladies played in front of a crowd of 22,134 with kick-off having to be delayed by 15 minutes due to the
number of supporters arriving. Amongst those supporting were Eddie Howe and Amanda Staveley who hasn’t hidden how she wants to boost the NUFC women’s team. Support was also provided from some famous faces including Ant and Dec who tweeted their praise and Alan Shearer who provided a video beforehand wishing them the best on this historic day. The well-known ‘Wor Flags’ provided a display for the women with flags being waved all around the stadium and a banner noting ‘Howay The Lasses’. Due to play Barnsley Women, a quick
change led the women to play against Alnwick Town Ladies. By half-time the women were up 2-0 with goals from Katie Barker, who provided an Alan Shearer like celebration, and Brooke Cochrane from the penalty spot. The goals didn’t stop there with the third goal being scored two minutes into the second half by Georgia Gibson. A final goal was also added on this historic day with another penalty awarded to Newcastle and Beth Guy converting. Although the three points were secured with the match ending 4-0,
the team missed out on promotion from the FA Women’s National League Division One North due to Liverpool Feds securing the title. The team manager Becky Langley was full of praise when speaking to NUFC TV about the support stating, “I just can’t thank the people of Newcastle enough for coming out and support the girls”. First forming in 1989, this was the first time the ladies were able to play in their home stadium and will likely be a match they will never forget. Image: Twitter (@NUFCWomen)
e Championship: League One play-off semi-finals Katie Siddall - Sports sub-editor
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riday 6th saw a 19:45 kick off at the Stadium of Light betweeen Sunderland FC and Sheffield Wednesday. After a gruelling first 45 minutes, Ross Stewart put away a clean ball in the first minute of injury time. This goal was the only one of the first leg and was down to Wednesday's Image: Twitter (@SkyBetLeagueOne)
lapse in concentration. Coming from a Wednesday corner, Stewart received the ball and with Sam Hutchinson on his tail he outran him to go 1-on-1 with keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell. PeacockFarrell came out of his goal, took a touch but unfortunately left it open for Stewart to go around and take a touch into the bottom right of the net. The Stadium of Light lit up on Friday, just as Hillsborough did when Lee Gregory scored to equalise on aggregate. During the second leg, Wednesday had a momentous amount of opportunities taking to half time still behind at 0-1. Sunderland were starting to lag in hope as Hillsborough's fans were singing and cheering their players onward. The singing started to die down as
the minutes ticked on; however, they were up in praise again as striker Lee Gregory tripped over Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson in the 74th minute to equalise.
Hillsborough's fans were singing and cheering their players onward
Captain Barry Bannan told players to keep their calm and not make mistakes as they set up for the whistle after Gregory's goal. Bannan needs to take credit for his team, especially as
he received Wednesday's Player of the Season! With the spirit of the goal and fans behind them, Wednesday took a few more opportunities but so did Sunderland. Wednesday had started a fire for Sunderland and the black cats came back with a bang. There were a few bangs within the second leg of the match. Wednesday player Sam Hutchinson was almost stretchered off as Sunderland's Lynden Gooch headed the back of his head instead of the ball. After a pause in play, Liam Palmer was subbed on for a dizzy Hutchinson. But back to the goal... in the 3rd minute of injury time, within the total of 10 minutes, Patrick Roberts put away
a messy ball to bring the second leg equal but the aggregate to 1-2. The Sunderland fans picked up their voices and cheered their team to the play-off final. Though Sheffield Wednesday will not be seen in the final at Wembley, they will be seen in League One against rival club Barnsley FC (who have just come down from the Championship, after finishing at the bottom of the league).
"Unbelievable" Kamara to leave Sky Katie Siddall -Sports Sub-editor
After 24 years, Kammy will retire from Sky Sports
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he 2021-2022 season holds a lot of memories: Sean Dyche getting sacked, Everton in the relegation battle, Bournemouth returning to the Premier League and, personally, Sheffield Wednesday gaining a spot in the play-offs. However, none of this comes close to the news that Chris 'Kammy' Kamara is leaving Sky Sports after 24 years. There have only been highlights in Kammy's career at Sky Sports, even if they are slightly unconventional! We will always remember the mistakes he made - but they aren't remotely labelled as mistakes in our minds. Kammy has stolen our hearts many times on national television and we only wish he could carry on. His retirement comes shortly after his diagnosis of a speech apraxia disorder following a thyroid condition. Before his diagnosis, Kammy gave fans and viewers a scare whilst slurring words on screen. He was first diagnosed back in March and has since decided it is time to lay down the microphone and headset at football stadiums across the country. Kammy's legacy at Sky Sports,
on Soccer Saturday, Soccer AM and and Goals on Sunday will forever be remembered across the generations maybe even more than his career as a footballer. He frequently starts banter on our screens with Jeff Stelling, who he frequently names Carly, and occasionally Jeff starts the banter with Kammy. The most infamous clip of the pair is during a match between Portsmouth and Blackburn when Jeff turned to Kammy when Portsmouth's Vanden Borre was sent off after a second bookable offence. Kammy, confused, did not realise Vanden Borre had been sent off but instead thought he had merely been substituted! Along with a lot of laughter, Kammy was able to smoothly play it off and was able to carry the viewers through the game which he had supposedly been watching. Along with many other similar scenarios, Kammy and Jeff have become on-screen brothers and their relationship blossoms in front of cameras as well as behind. Kammy caught our attention on Twitter with Jeff after announcing his retirement - obviously Unbelievable Jeff is as gutted as we are with the news.
Kamara has stood, literally, in many situations with a Image: Twitter (@sportbible)
camera on him as he pundits... these include moments where he is too involved with watching the football to report, where he miscommunicates and where he just doesn't know! Any other pundit would have (probably) been fired but not our Kammy, who keeps viewers enthralled in every programme he is on.
Image: Twitter (@slabtowin)
Soccer Saturday will miss Kammy's involvement, excitement, enthusiasm and, of course, his coinage of the term "Unbelievable Jeff!" Hopefully, we will see him in many, many tweets to come with football updates and with any luck he won't stop using his many, many iconic phrases.
Sub-editors: Castor Chan, Katie Siddall, Ethan Todd, Lucy Rimmer & Mitchell Hall
Monday 16th May 2022
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Sport Chadwick's championship charge: 'They're no Who to look out for in W Series? the reality 34
Castor Chan - Sports sub-editor
The 2022 season is shaping up to be exciting, with new rookies, tracks and broadcast deals.
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s F1 took its first look at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix, the allwomen's championship embarked on its seasonopening double header. There was dominance but also impressive surprises this weekend, and there is much to look forward to in the next round in Spain. Two-time champion Jamie Chadwick continued her incredible form from last season, claiming her third and fourth consecutive wins for Jenner Racing (adding to the previous year’s last races). Despite fans’ concerns over the new team, particularly over Caitlyn Jenner’s involvement as team principal, Chadwick effortlessly silenced those with a lights-to-flag win from pole on Sunday. 17 year-old American teammate Chloe Chambers also had a decent weekend, ending up as the highest placed rookie that weekend. Highlights from the incident-strewn Saturday included a last-lap overtake
on Emma Kimiläinen for the lead, who then unfortunately collided with third-placed Marta Garcia. The Finn fell to last, while Garcia had her maiden podium place stripped with a 10-second penalty. This meant that fellow Brit Jessica Hawkins was promoted to second, and Sirin Racing’s Beitske Visser rounded up the podium. The two other drivers who did not finish the race were Fabienne Wohlwend for CortDAO, and Scuderia W’s Abbie Eaton. Sunday was a much smoother race, where Chadwick cruised to victory from pole position in front of a close battle between Nerea Marti and Kimiläinen. The latter then came into contact with Alice Powell, who managed to recover to take third while Kimiläinen dropped to fifth. Powell’s long time protege, 19 year old Abbi Pulling, claimed the fastest lap of the race and managed to climb from ninth to sixth for the Racing X team.
Chadwick, Powell and Kimiläinen. (They all claimed upwards of 100 points each while Marti had 61) While there is no doubt that Powell will certainly be looking to recover from her Round 1 disappointment, I do hope that Marti continues this excellent form. Beyond the frontrunners, young stars like Pulling and Chambers will also be the ones to keep an eye on this season. Fellow rookies in the W Series Academy team Bianca Bustamante and Juju Noda were unable
to make an impact, but Chambers has made a good start for Jenner Racing, especially against a teammate like Chadwick. Then Pulling, who only ran four races but took seventh last season, starts her first year as a full-time driver instead of reserve. The Briton has a bright future ahead of her, having just been signed to the Alpine Affiliate program, and I cannot wait to see how the rest of her season pans out.
Pulling has a bright future and I cannot wait to see how her season pans out The next round of the W Series is set to be held at the Circuit de BarcelonaCatalunya on the 20th and 21st of May. Coverage of qualifying and the race will be available through Sky Sports after their multiyear broadcast partnership.
Chadwick cruised to victory from pole position Amongst the drivers with experience, I think Marti is off to a very good start to this year’s championship. Finishing in fourth last year as a rookie, she was best of the rest after powerhouses
Image: Twitter (@womeninmsportbr)
Porsche and Audi announce intent to join F1 grid in 2026
Arthur Ferridge
Can the German manufacturers secure a spot in the pinnacle of single-seater racing?
V
olkswagen CEO Herbert Diess announced on May 2 that both Audi and Porsche will be joining the Formula One cohort in 2026, saying that the German group had “run out of arguments” to not join the sport. The announcement comes after months of rumor and speculation, as both VW brands were linked with Red Bull, McLaren, Aston Martin, Williams, and Alfa Romeo. Diess spoke on behalf of the VW board, going on to say that VW expects increased marketability, brand
awareness will lead to profits which will outweigh the money invested in joining F1. Timing was important in the decision to join the sport, as engine regulations are set to be overhauled before the 2026 season, introducing a greater reliance on hybrid energy and synthetic fuels. Audi and Porsche will look to take advantage of the new regulations to jump to the front of the pack. "You can't catch up… when you join a new team: you need five or 10 years to be among the front-runners. In other words, you can only get on board if you have a major rule change. That means you can decide now to do Formula 1 or then probably not again for 10 years.” Porsche and Audi are both deeply rooted in motorsport heritage, so the decision to partake in the pinnacle of motorsport is unsurprising. Audi competed in Formula 1’s inaugural season in 1950, and Porsche entered a factory team in 1957, winning the Constructors Championship after only
four years of competition. Beyond Formula 1, both brands have competed in touring cars as well as the World Endurance Championship, with the Porsche 919 Hybrid often hailed as one of the fastest race cars of all time.
"That means you can decide now to do Formula 1 or then probably not again for 10 years." The role that Porsche and Audi will undertake in Formula One remains unclear. It is unlikely that either brand will enter a works team, the more likely prospect being that both brands offer facilities and consultation with a preexisting partnered team. Porsche have been heavily linked with Red Bull, the rumour mill hinting that
the German brand will look to serve as an engine provider. Porsche have also pledged to reduce their activity in other racing series in order to focus on their Formula 1 efforts. Audi have been linked with several teams, most closely with McLaren, however, both groups have strongly denied these claims. The arrival of two German manufacturers could have sweeping effects for Formula One. VW will likely look to place German drivers into their partnered teams and will look to build their brand in Germany. This could also increase the likelihood of a return of the German Grand Prix to the F1 calendar. The event has not been held for several years due to a lack of interest and funding from German motorsport governing bodies, but the addition of Porsche and Audi may see the return of fan favourite circuits such as Hockenheimring and the Nürburgring.
Image: Twitter (@PorscheFormuleE)
and chee Lucy Bower - Music sub-editor
A first-hand account of what cheer means
P
om poms, hair bows, and cheesy smiles. The word cheerleading often holds connotations of the ‘dumb’ pretty girls who cheer the real sport on from the sidelines. However, this harmful stereotype has suppressed the real, core values of the sport. When I attended my first cheerleading session way back at the age of 10 years old I was blown away. All of the expectations of this sport were thrown down the drain as the coaches ran vigorous workouts and scolded anyone who dared to ask where the poms were. That’s because real cheerleading involves skill way beyond a pretty smile. From tumbling, to jumping, to throwing real people around in the air, the world of cheer is one unlike any other. It combines the stamina of athletics with the performance of gymnastics, and is bloody difficult. For the successful squads, training takes place multiple times a week as routines get polished and stunts get mastered. When stunts don’t work, the consequences can be brutal.
For me, cheer was empowering... and I truly believe it created who I am today And just like any sport, cheerleading values sportsmanship. Your squad are people you can trust. For me, cheer was empowering. I grew up surrounded by older girls to look up to, and truly believe it created who I am today. Not everyone can say they learnt to trust a group of people to throw them around the air. Alongside the physical demands, cheer provides a support system that helps so many adolescent teenagers trying to navigate their way around the world. It certainly goes beyond the sport. So the next time you think about cheerleading, don’t dismiss it as a hobby for the weak. The real cheerleaders don’t deserve that. Image: Twitter (@UKCheerleading)
THE
COURIER
Monday 16th May 2022
Sub-editors: Castor Chan, Katie Siddall, Ethan Todd, Lucy Rimmer & Mitchell Hall
Sport 35 ot sports': Mino Raiola: Football agent dies at 54
y of ballet erleading Castor Chan - Sports sub-editor o many people, ballerinas are graceful dancers wrapped in sparkling costumes, and looking from the audience, you’re thinking, ‘surely I can do that too.’ Well, yes and no. I will acknowledge that a huge part of ballet is the performance, and that obviously includes the expression and emoting on stage. But another often overlooked aspect - by design really - is that it’s meant to look easy. You are trained to go on stage with a smile painted on your face, and that lasts until the curtain drops. So much work goes into drilling each dance into their muscle memory until it is picture perfect every time, and the effort put in long before any performance comes to fruition is a long long road. From someone who danced ballet for 13 years, I had nowhere near the level of skill and talent professional company ballerinas possess. Considering how injury prone the industry is, there is a huge amount of strength needed to properly support the body through strenuous, repetitive choreography. Dancers go through conditioning classes, gym sessions, and countless hours just to ensure they can safely go en pointe. Royal Ballet principal dancer Steven McRae snapped his Achilles tendon, and went through two years of therapy to dance again. And this brings us to the mental aspect of ballet. But the not so great side is much more present, the never ending need for perfectionism, frustration when teachers are picking apart every mistake, and the pressure to have the perfect body even if it isn’t physically even possible for many. The discipline and mental strength that professionals have to reach and stay at the top is incredibly admirable.
T
the effort before any performance is a long road
But at the best of times, dance makes me feel like the best version of myself. Interpreting the music is probably my favourite part, and the moment I nail a part of the choreography I’ve been struggling over is incomparable. Even though it can bring me down, it still doesn’t take over my love for dance and the feeling it gives me.
Adam Tibke
A look back on the life of one of the football world's most prolific men
O
n the 30th of April 2022, world-renowned football agent Carmine ‘Mino’ Raiola passed away at the age of 54 after a short battle with a “serious illness.” After numerous false reports circulated in the days preceding Raiola’s death, claiming that the agent had already died, his family released a statement on the 30th: “In infinite sorrow we share the passing of the most caring and amazing football agent there ever was.” They continued, writing “Mino fought until the end with the same strength he put on negotiation tables to defend our players. As usual, Mino made us proud and never realised it.” Born in 1967 in Nocera Inferiore in Southern Italy, Mino Raiola’s family would move to Haarlem in the Netherlands just one year later. Despite being an avid footballer from a young age, it was clear that his skills lay off the pitch. A shrewd businessman, Raiola negotiated deals for his family’s pizzeria and made his first fortune at just 19 by selling a branch of McDonald’s to a local property developer. His transition to football came when he assumed the position of technical director of his local team, HFC Haarlem. Eventually leaving the role, Raiola joined the sports agency ‘Sports Promotions,’ where he was influential in such transfers as Dennis Bergkamp’s move to Inter Milan in 1993. A couple of years later, following a falling out
with Sports Promotions’ founder, Raiola formed his own agency and signed Pavel Nedvěd, orchestrating the Czech international’s move from Sparta Prague to Lazio after an impressive display at Euro ’96. However, it was after instigating Nedvěd’s transfer to Juventus in 2003 that Raiola’s reputation would really start to grow. Yet it was in 2001 when the agent would meet the player who would make him a household name. Arriving at a lavish Amsterdam restaurant in shorts and a T-shirt, Raiola met a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the two instantly hit it off. Raiola would say of their meeting “I realised straight away that he was an arrogant bastard – in other words, just like me.” Over the years, Raiola would see his portfolio of players increase to include the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Matthijs de Ligt, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Erling Haaland. For an indication how much his players relied on him, Mario Balotelli once phoned the agent to inform him his house was on fire, with Raiola subsequently suggesting that he call the fire brigade instead. Undoubtedly the transfer that brought Raiola the most notoriety is that of Paul Pogba’s. The Frenchman found his way into Raiola’s books when he was a youngster rising through Manchester United’s academy. Raiola demanded an improved contract for Pogba but was met with obstinate resistance from Sir Alex Ferguson. The impasse resulted in Pogba moving to Juventus before returning to United in 2016 for a then worldrecord fee of £89 million, with Raiola reportedly earning around £41 million in fees and commission from all three parties involved.
With this money, Raiola bought Al Capone’s Miami villa, supplementing his perceived image as – as one Dutch journalist put it - a mafioso, whose also often been likened to a character from the Sopranos. Indisputably a controversial figure in modern football, many believed that Raiola was a paragon of everything that was wrong with today’s game: a man who typified the greed that permeates the sport. He had twice been involved in disciplinary hearings for transfer irregularities and, in 2019, was briefly banned from acting as an agent representative for three months by FIFA; however, Raiola appealed the ban and it was overturned. Ne v e r t h e l e s s , Mino Raiola was as talented and charismatic as he was brash. Fluent
we witnessed the Red Bulls and Ferraris top the timesheets once again. This guaranteed some action between the
luck he suffered from in his previous races, finishing off the podium places whilst Alex Albon finished in the points for Williams for the second race in a row. The Miami GP did not fail in entertainment quality. Though the race itself may not have been the most exciting, the atmosphere and experience certainly proved to be. However, many fans began to profess their disappointment, saying that the spotlight was taken away from the racing itself to promote more of the entertainment surrounding the weekend. Though the race finished with excitement, one of the weekend's biggest talking points was the paddock’s features. Yes, there were many famous faces on the grid walk, a Gondola
in seven languages, he was a hardball negotiator who always wanted what was best for his players. He was not blind to his criticisms either, acknowledging them, saying "My players don't call me a parasite, and that's who I work for. I only care what my players call me." Raiola was incredibly loyal to those on his books, considering them not just clients, but family, and he always wanted to do the best for his family. His presence on the game will surely be missed.
Image: Twitter (@Tngtweets1)
F1 (Hard) Rocks new Miami circuit, Verstappen beats Ferrari duo Rosie McCallum
The pinnacle of motorsports has arrived in Miami for the first time – but did it live up to expectations?
F
ormula 1’s first visit to Florida was certainly a spectacle. The inaugural Miami Grand Prix saw the rise of Max Verstappen, the return of the Ferrari pair’s dominance and the threatening straight-line speed of the Red Bulls. The brand-new street circuit was shaping up to be an exciting new addition to the calendar. With the increasing awareness of Formula 1 in the United States, this GP brought in an abundance of new fans. With Miami already being well-known for racing, the crowds were packed out and spirits were high. Being built around the famous Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium, the venue completely catered to the F1 experience. Everything leading up to the Miami Grand Prix set up for a thrilling weekend of racing – or did it? Qualifying showed some promise as
the crowds were packed out and spirits were high top two constructors in the Miami heat. The race on Sunday saw Verstappen snatch the lead from polesitter Charles Leclerc, closing the gap for the championship title to only 19 points. The race remained quiet for quite some time until lap 41. On lap 41 of the 57, a collision between Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris brought out the safety car and saw the end to Norris’ race. Mercedes driver George Russell took full advantage of the safety car, stopping to swap for new medium compound tyres to claim his second P5 of the season ahead of his teammate, Lewis Hamilton. Carlos Sainz finally dodged t h e b a d
that you could ride over the track and even a mermaid that appeared in the beach club – but nothing created as much conversation as the fake marina. The marina was designed to pay homage to the iconic Monaco harbour; however, it simply became a meme instead. (look it up – I can guarantee a giggle!) As a whole, the weekend in Florida looked a success – gaining more fans than ever before and growing F1 as a sport further in the US. The promise is there for future Miami races, b u t can we please avoid NFL helmets on the podium?
Image: Twitter (@SkySportF1)
THE
COURIER
Monday 16h May 2022
Sub-editors: Castor Chan, Katie Siddall, Ethan Todd, Lucy Rimmer & Mitchell Hall
Sport
36
Newcastle University Athletics and Cross Country Club take on BUCS Outdoors
Image: NUAXC
Jake Bradford
NUAXC report on their trip to the BUCS outdoors competition
A
fter two years NUAXC have made their return to BUCS outdoors boasting an impressive 16-person team. Fuelled by a Premier Inn breakfast the team was in high spirits and was looking to retain our unofficial title as loudest supporters from the BUCS indoors. A special shoutout to Jake, and Jonathon who all came down to support the team despite not competing. Day One started with Newcastle inspired face paint and the 100m. Freshers Achim and Adain led the team with impressive performances that
would set the tone for the weekend. The women`s heats were next with Jagoda and Alicia stepping up to the challenge. They continued the success by both achieving personal bests of 13.44 and 13.78 seconds, respectively. Then we eagerly sat whilst the 400m hurdles were set up and athletics captain Melissa raced at her first BUCS. Meanwhile, Nathan was cruising through the high jump heats to reach qualification height for the final.
Sustained by a competitive spirit to beat our rivals Northumbria
Next up was the 800m, with Harriet competing at her first BUCS and showing that a sprint finish is the
Newcastle staple in every event. Antonia finished her 800m heat just one second off her PB, sustained by a competitive spirit to beat our rivals Northumbria in the same heat. Dan hit another PB in his 800m by six seconds, continuing his impressive performances this season and showing that it is never too late to start athletics because who doesn`t love an underdog! The last event of the day saw a quartet of incredible performances in the 400m. James narrowly missed the semi-final qualifiers with his PB time of 52.31, and Vice-President JC put in an electric sprint finish to come sixth in his heat. Athletics captain Asha flew through the 400m placing fourth overall going into the semi-finals and Hannah finished only one second off her PB at her first ever BUCS. Day Two arrived and was met with immediate success in the field events. Nathan achieved a PB in pole vault of
3.70m earning him 13th overall in the event. Adding to this was Adain scoring a 22cm PB in long jump against a -2.0 m/s headwind. The 400m semi-finals were next and Asha comfortably placed second against her Loughborough rival from BUCS indoors to qualify for the final. The hurdles were set up again, but this time for the 100m. Alicia took off on the track to achieve a two second PB of 19.63. Onto the 200m, we had another spectacular quartet of sprinters. Emma and Lauren both overcame the BUCS pressure and put on a performance our supporters could sing to, with Lauren even getting a PB. Achim returned to the track refreshed and Seb debuted in the 200m with both fighting for times only 0.03 seconds apart. Then it was time for arguably the most fun part of track meets, the relays. Both our men`s and women`s 4x100m teams placed fifth in their heats, an exciting
prospect for the season ahead. Our 4x400m teams fought valiantly against some tough opponents in their heats with immense support from all NUAXC present. Day Three offered a day of finals for us. Nathan and Asha were feeling great going into their high jump and 400m final after their makeshift ice baths the night before. Nathan impressed with a 1.94m jump which placed him sixth, scoring three points for Newcastle men`s team. Lastly, Asha powered through her 400m to also place sixth with a new PB of 56.11 causing multiple members to lose their voice from cheering. This gave our women`s team four points and ended our BUCS outdoor journey on a colossal high ready to face the last challenge of the five-hour bus journey home.
INSIDE SPORT THIS WEEK
Aleksandar Mitrović How the Fulham FC striker beat the record for Championship goals Page 32
Miami Grand Prix NUFC Women
Overwhelming home support broke attendance records Page 33
How a fake marina took over the F1 weekend
Page 35