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Technician to tackle the “impossible” technician to undertake trek Sir •Lab Ranulph Fiennes calls “impossible” European Space Agency to chart •progress for Mars mission research By Susie Beever News Editor A University lab technician is set to say goodbye to home comforts this January, as he aims to become the first person on the planet to trek 4,000 miles to the North Pole solo. Tim Williamson, who works in the Medical School, gave an extended talk at the Hancock Museum last week describing his plans to take on what has been described by famed mountainDescribing the eer Sir Ranulph Fiennes as an “imterrain, Wilfeat. liamson said: possible” The trek will be“There are gin on 13 January, when the 26-yearearthquakes old will journey and volcanic across the unforactivity every- giving landscape day in this part of central Iceland, a test that will last of the island, up to 80 days durit’s pretty scary ing which time he will be following stuff” volcanic ridges. Tim told The Courier: “I’ll be trying to summit 15 volcanoes. I worked out the other day that I’ll be climbing twice the height of Everest.”
Williamson added that: “There are earthquakes and volcanic activity every day in this part of the island, it’s pretty scary stuff.” The hike across the North Pole will follow shortly afterwards, and will span across a grand total of 2,200 miles, taking up to 100 days in temperatures of up to -60 degrees. Williamson plans to document the trip through updates on Twitter via a solar powered smartphone linked to a satellite. 1,000 photographs are to be taken and posted on the social networking site, as well as 30 hours of footage to be filmed on camera. “The idea is to make it the most documented expedition that’s ever taken place. This technology exists but a lot of people don’t make full use of it.” Williamson explained: “Instead of the internet, I’ll be using satellites. I’ll send a message or a photo, beam it off to the satellite, which will send it back down so everyone will be able to see it.” “If you step back from the camera you just get the environment, which is why we do this sort of stuff. The best way to document it is to show what you see and what really does happen, not talk about it.” continued on page 2
Williamson’s solo journey will be chronicled on Twitter throughout using a specially designed smartphone linking him to a satellite Photo: Tim Williamson
Newcastle beats poly in Student Beans sex league tables By Aine Stott Online News Editor
In two recent Student Beans surveys Newcastle University has dramatically altered its rankings from 2011. Student Beans, a website dedicated to all things student, have released the results of two University Leagues. They procured information from 4656 students situated around the UK on the subjects of sex and drinking. Newcastle University ranked no.13 in
the Sex League, with each student having an average number of 4.72 sexual partners since beginning their studies. This beat 88 other Universities in Britain, including North East neighbours Northumbria University, who boasted 4.17 in 27th place. It also sees a dramatic rise in position from last year when Newcastle were situated 22nd. James Kolokotroni, a third year Chemistry student at Newcastle University, talked to The Courier about the
results: “I’m not surprised. Compared to my hometown of Liverpool it’s a lot easier to pull girls in Newcastle. The time I find to be most effective is between 1 and 3 am. I’ve personally enjoyed a lot of late night loving since being here.” One female Combined Honours student admitted: “Yes it is easier to go home with someone in Newcastle, maybe it’s the trebles.” However, Newcastle has strikingly sunk in the rankings of the Student
Beans Drinking League. This year Newcastle Uni fell to 37th place with an average of 18.7 units of alcohol being consumed by students each week. This sees a transformation of last year’s numbers. In 2011, Newcastle was awarded ninth place due to each student’s weekly alcohol intake being an average of 21.2 units. Alan Scholey, General Manager of Newcastle treble bar Madisons, spoke to The Courier about the change he has
noticed regarding student drinking. “More and more students recently are choosing to get slightly merry rather than completely plastered. People seem to have a better night out when they don’t over-do it on the Jaeger bombs.” He added: “What with the pressures of Uni work and the stress of achieving top notch degree results, I think students are choosing to have the odd night out every few weeks rather than getting mortal every couple of nights.”
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TRANS AWARENESS
LGBT society shows support for student currently transitioning
HAVE YOUR SAY
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COMMENT
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SHEILA’S WHEELS Should we end biased insurance for women?
OBSTRUCTED RIGHTS Are we not still governed by superstition?
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FANTASTIC FOUR The low-down on the unrivalled
INTRA MURAL
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News Editors: George Sandeman, Susie Beever and Anna Templeton Online News Editor: Aine Stott courier.news@ncl.ac.uk | @TheCourier_News
“Human beings aren’t designed to live in order to eat and make money, they’re designed to eat and make money in order to live” continued from page 1 The trek is being sponsored by a London business called Chilli Sauce Co. who have agreed to cover the full cost of the trip. “They’re not doing it for advertisement purposes, they just want to see if it can be done.” Williamson is set to undergo harsh tests of mental capability that no human has ever experienced before. Speaking on the plan to trek solo, he said: “I don’t get lonely that easily. I find it quite freeing to just get out there and experience it all.” “I’ll be in the Arctic for the first six weeks in pitch black darkness. There’ll be no sunlight at all. I’m going to have to take plenty of Vitamin D tablets.”
hypothermia, because I’ve been hypothermic before and it’s really horrible. “When I was out in the Yukon, I sat down at one point because I was shivering when suddenly I stopped shivering. It just feels like you want to go to sleep, but if you go to sleep you’re dead. It’s a sign your body’s shutting down and there’s no way you’re going to wake up. It’s pretty scary.” The Courier asked Williamson whether braving Newcastle’s winter weather was adequate preparation for the trek. “Is the Newcastle experience cold enough to prepare you for the North Pole? Maybe. When I first came up here I was freezing, but I’ve gotten used to it by now.” The explorer added: “Polar bears are
LAB TECHNICIAN ON A MISSION Tim went to the Yukon in northern Canada to prepare himself for the -60 temperatures Image: Tim Williamson
“Polar bears are an obvious threat. Climate change has hit them really hard so they’re now hungrier than ever. The best way of deterring them apparently is by using foul language and swearing at them.” The former biomedical student will also be closely monitored by a psychological team from the European Space Agency. “I’ll be answering psychological questions, and they’ll be able to map out how my reasoning skills will be affected as I go along. I’ll be given envelopes which I’ll open once a week and answer. “Psychologists back here will be able to analyse it and work out whether my mind is deteriorating or not. The ESA want to analyse these results, because when you send someone to Mars, you’re going to want them to be healthy.” “Psychologists are interested to see how individuals are affected under extremes of physical ability and being alone for a long period of time.” Williamson has previous experience of arctic conditions when he embarked on an expedition in the Yukon region of northern Canada in February of this year. “The thing I’m worried about most is
also an obvious threat. Climate change has hit them really hard so they’re now hungrier than ever! “Their aggression has gone up so I’m going to have to carry deterrents. I spoke to a guy who went trekking around the top of Canada, where there are a lot of polar bears. “He said foul language works really well, so the best way is swearing at them.” Williamson hopes to begin the trek at 13:13 EDT on January 13th from Resolute Bay in Canada. He commented on his feelings on the trek saying: “I’m more excited than nervous.” “I keep remembering what Sir Edmund Hillary said in reply to those who didn’t see the point now the North and South Poles have already been conquered. ‘Human beings aren’t designed to live in order to eat and make money, they’re designed to eat and make money in order to live.’”
IT lecturer loses Library ebook scare By George Sandeman News Editor
Computer science lecturer Peter Andras has lost in his bid to become Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner. With turnout less than 20%, Andras took 13,916 votes which placed him last behind UKIP candidate Alistair Baxter who collected 18,876 votes. Conserva-
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tive candidate Phil Butler came second with 45,845 votes whilst Labour’s Vera Baird, former MP for Redcar, won with 101,170 votes. The £65,000 job will see Ms Baird responsible for agreeing budgets, setting strategic priorities as well as overseeing the region’s chief constables. Turnout nationwide was less than 20%, questioning the election’s validity.
By George Sandeman News Editor
With students tapping away furiously at their keyboards in the Robinson Library last week, there was a hairy moment as ebook access ran into difficulties. The library’s John Williams explained: “Access to e-journals via the “FindIt” button had become inaccessible at
Editor Ben Travis News Editors George Sandeman, Susie Beever and Anna Templeton Online News Editor Aine Stott Comment Editors Georgie Moule and Laura Wotton Online Comment Editor Jennifer Evans Features Editor Tom Nicholson Listings Editor Sally Priddle Lifestyle Editors Emily Rae, Catherine Davison and Ellie Cropper Online Lifestyle Editors Rosie Devonshire Colette Hunter Fashion Editors Elissa Hudson and Lizzie Hampson Online Fashion Editor Sally Greenwood Beauty Editor Annie Morgan Online Beauty Editor Amy Macauley Arts Editors Lisa Bernhardt and Millie Walton Online Arts Editor Grace Harvey Film Editors Hayley Hamilton and Sam Hopkins Online Film Editor Chris Binding TV Editor Chris Taylor Online TV Editor Ben Parkin Music Editors Chris Haywood and Sam Summers Online Music Editor Sophie Coletta Sports Editors Ralph Blackburn, Nick Gabriel and Lucy Williams Online Sports Editors Freddie Caldwell and Jack Gelsthorpe Copy Editors Harriet Andrews, Helen Battrick, Georgina Grant, Rachel Horrocks, Maddie McNeill, Charley Monteith, Leanne Penning, Amy Preston, Tom Rhodes, Gemma Thompson, Jessica Timms, Chris Smith, Matty Aston
around 5pm and we managed to restore access at around 7pm. “The problem was due to a serverrelated problem with our external software provider. We will be discussing it with them in due course to make sure we can avoid any repeats of this in the future, as although such interruptions are rare, the Library takes them very seriously indeed.”
The Courier is printed by: Print and Digital Associates, Fernleigh House, 10 Uttoxeter Road, Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, DE3 0DA. Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge. The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of The Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s opinion pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of The Courier, the Students’ Union or Newcastle University.
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Monday 19 November 2012
National success for Newcastle’s Seven Stories By Holly Callis Seven Stories, Newcastle’s renowned children’s book centre is to be renamed the National Centre for Children’s Books. Seven Stories is the only museum in the UK which specialises in children’s literature, and the centre’s collection not only includes 30,000 finished pieces of work, but also manuscripts and original illustrations from famous children’s writers such as Enid Blyton and Pillip Pullman. The collection contains literature from the 1930s to contemporary writers and has the work of over 100 authors.
School of English Literature, Languages and Linguistics in the University. Dr Lucy Pearson, a University lecturer in children’s literature, said that often children’s literature is overlooked in importance, but Seven Stories “being recognised as a national institution really demonstrates how massively they have contributed to changing that culture to help recognise that this is a really crucial part of our cultural heritage.” Dr Pearson went on to explain that “it is an achievement for Newcastle too because we’ve worked closely with Seven Stories. Professor Kim Reynolds and Professor Matthew Grenby are on the steering committee; they’ve advised over the years and worked with the or-
Jacqueline Wilson said how the museum has built an “outstanding archive of children’s literature”
STORYTIME Seven Stories is the only museum in the North with ‘National’ in its title
Rare baby otters born in Jesmond Dene By Cathy Bundy For the first time in recent history, baby otters have been born in the Jesmond Dene along a secluded bank of the Ouseburn river. Special cameras have been used to catch footage of the cubs, who first left their den in May after two months of being nurtured by their parents. Otters were only reintroduced to the region in 2000 in response to a national decline. Wildlife volunteers have known about the unlikely newborns since their birth in February, but their existence has been kept under wraps until now to avoid disturbance to the family during this most crucial time. Ouseburn park ranger, Michael Hancock explained: “Many people are surprised that this urban stretch of the Ouseburn can support otters, let alone a breeding population, but a lot of work has been done in recent years by rangers and volunteers to improve the habitat for them.” Otters in the UK have been brought back from the point of near extinction with the new pups in Jesmond Dene a sign of their recovery in the local area
and further afield. Britain’s fifth national otter survey in 2011 confirmed that in the last decade or so, otters have made an extraordinary comeback from almost no recorded sightings in the early 1990s.
The comeback of the otter is due to the substantial effort put in by wildlife volunteers and the Ouseburn park rangers over the past years. Volunteer ranger Yvonne Shannon, describes some of the work that has
This is the first time in recent history that otters have bred in Jesmond Dene and only the third time along the entire Ouseburn river. Kevin O’Hara, Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s wetland officer, said that: “They only returned to the river in around 2000 after many decades of absence and you’d have to go back a long way to find such regular breeding occurrences.” Northumberland Wildlife Trust has been collaborating with The Jesmond Dene Volunteer Rangers’ Nature Project to improve biodiversity and create more suitable habitats for wildlife, including otters.
been going on: “As well as regularly clearing rubbish and debris from the river and removing invasive plants, such as Japanese knotweed, we have helped in building several otter holts so they have a safe place to rest. “The new ponds, developed as part of the Nature Area Project, will also increase the amount of food available to them, as well as benefiting other wildlife.” If the otter population continues to progress as it has been, it is hoped that sightings of these endangered creatures in the Ouseburn area will soon become a regular occurrence.
Children’s author and patron of the museum, Jacqueline Wilson, said the museum had built an “outstanding archive of children’s literature” and commented on the “excellent, comprehensive and creative work” of the centre. She was “delighted” by the Arts Council’s decision to award to centre a National title. The aim of the museum is to bring to life children’s literature, and the museum does this through interactive displays including drama performances and music. The centre has a core team of staff, but relies heavily on volunteers to help run the exhibitions. This prestigious new name makes Seven Stories the only museum in the North East to have National status, and this status may help to increase Newcastle’s prestige as a cultural city. The new title is also exciting for the
ganisation. Seven Stories have in turn also worked closely with us to make our teaching more interesting, including letting students to work with the archives.” The next collaboration between the University and Seven Stories will be the Brian Alderson Lecture Series, the second of which will take place on the 5 December in the Robinson Library. Kate Edwards, Chief Executive of Seven Stories said of the new title, “We will work hard to meet the expectations and responsibilities that National status brings us.” “The title does not automatically bring new funds, so support from our friends to help us to save, celebrate and share our literary heritage for children with children and families today, and for future generations, will be important in the years to come.”
The unlikely newborn otter pups were born in February but their existence was kept under wraps until now to avoid disturbance to the family
OTTERLY ADORABLE Otter pups, like this one, have been born in Jesmond Dene for the first time in living memory, a significant victory for volunteers Photo: Loutron Glouton
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POLE DANCERS HAVE GOT TALENT
Newcastle’s Pole Dancing society won a talent show organised by Medsin to raise money for Tyneside Rape Crisis and the refurbishment of the Paediatrics Unit of the Komfo Anokye teaching hospital in Ghana. Mellissa Whipp, President of the Pole Dancing society said: “It was an absolutely amazing night. The Musical Medics were fabulous, as were Comedy Soc, so we were surprised to win but couldn’t have been happier. It was great to showcase what we do and get such a great response - a really fabulous night.”
Monday 19 November 2012
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Monday 19 November 2012
Trying to make your body your own By George Sandeman News Editor
ASSUME NOTHING A transgender pride gathering in Mexico City displays the unique blue and white flag Image: ismael villafranco
Transgender Awareness week is hitting campus this week as the LGBT society looks to support students currently transitioning at university. Peff Soulsby, trans officer of the LGBT society said: “Transgender people are often seen as the butt of a joke, putting a man in a dress on TV is seen as funny.” The society’s awareness week coincides with the international Transgender Day of Remembrance which seeks to commemorate the individuals subject to violence, and even murdered, each year. Transwomen in particular are subject to violence. These individuals were assigned male at birth but transitioned to become a woman later in life. An important distinction to be made is between sex and gender. The former is determined by physical anatomy whilst gender is an identity issue. Soulsby explained why the term ‘transitioning’ was a far more accurate description of what students are going through: “The problem with old terms like ‘sex change’ and ‘sex swap’ is that it makes it sound as though you’ve popped down to the corner shop and picked up a gender then walked out as man or a woman.” The transitioning process takes years with individuals having to adjust both physically and mentally. “You have to spend a lot of time adjusting the way you interact with people, both your friends and family, be-
fore you can even consider the physical treatment and adjustments.” With few people in the public sphere openly transgender, perhaps the most notable is Lana Wachowski. As Laurence Wachowski, she co-directed the critically acclaimed film triloThe Transgen- gy of The Matrix. The soap show der Day of curRemembrance Hollyoaks features a seeks to com- rently character going memorate indi- through transividuals subject tion played by a heterosexual acto violence tor. Soulsby also sought to highlight the particular difficulties of coming out as trans. “When you come out as gay your family can, to some extent, ignore it, but you can’t do that if you come out as trans. All the baby photos and the way you dressed as child, as well as the name change, it changes everything.” Aiden Whitehead, co-President of LGBT, and Soulsby also shed light on individuals who have completed their transition. “Most people who have completed transition will refer to themselves as a man or woman with trans history. However, that really shouldn’t matter. They are man or woman now, it shouldn’t make a difference. It’s like saying I have a blue-haired history.” The Courier also spoke to Aillee, a 29-year-old who had transitioned earlier on in life with part of that time spent
at the University. She described how from a “really, really young age I always felt very different. As I grew up I was always experimenting with my look and the way I dressed.” The former music student only started the formal process of transitioning once she started seeing a counsellour at the age of 22 and in 2006, at the age of 24, she started the physical transition. She was also asked if, during her time at university, events such as Freshers’ Week proved particularly difficult. “For me, not so much. I made a conscious decision to throw myself head first into it.” Aillee was particularly keen to emphasise the difficulty the transgendered community has in finding work due to the prejudices of employers. She explained many were forced to become sex workers in order to afford the transitional treatments. Such desperate circumstances are also part of the wider cycle of violence experienced by transgendered people. Soulsby explained that transwomen in particular were subject to violence and ridicule. Aillee recalled one of several violent experiences. “Three years ago I was on a night out in Birmingham, hadn’t been there before and a group of men beat me up and sexually assaulted me.” “It has totally ruined my confidence with relationships. It’s so difficult to trust anyone or get close to anyone because it just takes me back there.” For more info on Transgender Awareness Week, contact the LGBT society.
Cosmetic surgeon appeals against 12-month suspension by tribunal for botched boob job By James Ruddy Suspended cosmetic surgeon, Dr Ashish Dutta has launched an appeal against his 12 month suspension by the Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal service. Dr Dutta, 48, was suspended after being accused of inappropriately advising his patient, incorrectly inserting implants and failing to refer her to another qualified surgeon for a second opinion. It is claimed, Dr Dutta, who is also
“post-op nightmare” to correct the procedure. 11 allegations in total were brought against Dr Dutta, who has been suspended but not struck off; these include failing to warn his patient of the risks of the type of implants, and inappropriately advising his patient to have further implants. The tribunal who suspended Dr Dutta branded his actions guilty of “serious professional misconduct” In relation to his suspension, Dr Dutta has said “This is my governing body and
Dr Dutta was suspended after being accused of inappropriately advising his patient, incorrectly inserting the implant and failing to seek a second opinion suspected of not being a qualified cosmetic surgeon, wrongly advised his patient, Andrea Scott, 32, leading to her cosmetic surgery going badly wrong. Mrs Scott paid more than £4,500 for an operation to even out her breasts in January 2010 at the Aesthetic Beauty Center in Newcastle. It is claimed that after the operation, the stitches in her left breast burst open , and the implants began sagging from the wound. Mrs Scott has subsequently had 4 more operations over the course of an 18 month period to correct the mistake, a period she herself has described as
I must accept their ruling.” However, it has been revealed that Dr Dutta has launched an appeal against his suspension, with his legal team lodging papers with the high court, challenging the tribunals’ decision Dr Dutta, who has performed more than 140 breast augmentations in his career has apologised, saying: “I’m really sorry that this has happened”, This incident is very regrettable for me and for the patient. I couldn’t have envisaged or predicted this.” The high court has yet to respond to Dr Duttas appeal.
WHAT A TIT
Newcastle surgeon is battling his 12-month suspension against allegations of an operation leading to a “post-op nightmare” Image: Best In Plastics
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BBC3’s Free Speech comes to Newcastle By Anna Templeton News Editor BBC Three’s live debate show, Free Speech, is to host a Body Beautiful Special in Newcastle on Tuesday, 27 November at 8pm. As part of the BBC Three’s Body Beautiful Season, Jake Humphrey will chair the programme from the University of Northumbria.
In the last of this year’s run of the interactive debate show, the panel will debate issues raised throughout the season of Body Beautiful. This has included programmes such as ‘Dying for Clear Skin’, ‘I Want to Change My Body’, ‘I Hate My Body: Skinny Boys and Muscle Men’, and ‘Transsexual Beauty Queen’. With a special VT from Olympic Weightlifter Zoe Smith, we will hear
Shows this season have included ‘Dying for Clear Skin’, ‘I Want to Change My Body’, ‘I Hate My Body: Skinny Boys and Muscle Men’, and ‘Transsexual Beauty Queen’
The programme aims to explore a whole range of issues raised throughout the season, and a panel of four will take questions from the studio audience of 18-25 year-olds. Free Speech is a live debate show, promoting a democratic response where opinions really matter. The Free Speech Power Bar will show what the audience at home thinks of the panelists. The support of panelists works via twitter: to support a panelist #Yes plus their name, and to disagree #No plus their name. Episodes from this year have focused on issues such as the US election, immigration, debt, higher education and the Olympics.
what she thinks about the criticism she faced for not conforming to a standard body image. BBC Three regular Sam Naz returns as the Social Media Jockey, speaking up for the web responses and online comments. To apply to be part of the audience for this exciting event, go online for more details or contact the union to request a form.
To get involved, visit: bbc.co.uk/freespeech facebook.com/bbcfreespeech @bbcfreespeech #freespeech
SPEAK UP
Get your voice heard by applying to be part of the audience for the live debate about issues raised in the Body Beautiful season
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Monday 19 November 2012
Domestic abuse charity finds new 50 shades 50 Shades of Grey: erotic romance novel or a glorification of sexual violence towards women? The book by E.L. James has become the fastest selling novel ever, credited with rejuvenating the romantic lives of women with its graphic descriptions of submission and bondage. However, a domestic abuse charity decided to burn copies of the book in demonstration against the novel’s
saying that the book is part of a dangerous trend that has completely sexualised women, making them feel obligated to take part in that culture. However, after further thought the charity chose a more eco-friendly method to spread its message, choosing to cut up and recycle the donated novels. Although these books will be turned into something environmentally friendly, the charity states the ideas represented on the books will still continue. Phillipson reiterated the fact that, whilst cuts are being made to pro-
themes of sadism and masochism along with violent sexual practices. The charity, ‘Wearside Women in Need’ based in South Shields, originally chose to burn the book, but will now turn 50 Shades of Grey into compost and toilet paper this week as culmination of a campaign launched on August 23 called ‘Fifty Shades of Abuse’. The charities director, Clair Phillipson called the book “disgusting” and “vile”, saying that it “normalises abuse, degrades women and encourages sexual violence”. The charity was originally planning to burn copies of the novel on 5 November in protest, asking women to donate their copies. Phillipson states that by burning the books a message would be projected
grammes for women experiencing domestic abuse, local authorities are spending money buying multiple copies of this novel for libraries. She argues that the money would be better spent on the outreach and refuge programmes, instead of a book glorifying it. The novel’s publishers, Random House, defended the novel in a brief statement saying: “The sex scenes in the book are entirely consensual and the woman involved is a willing participant”. Indeed the charity itself admitted that many women passionately defended the novel and its content, a fact made startlingly clear when only twenty-four novels were donated to the charity to be destroyed.
By Sophie Hunter
Charity director Clair Phillipson said the book: “Normalises abuse, degrades women and encourages sexual violence.”
WELL KINKY?
Wearside Women in Need will cut up and recycle multiple copies of the best-selling novel Image: The Rocketeer
‘No Going Home’: Ed Sheeran launches campaign to help young homeless people By James Titley Ed Sheeran has helped launch a new campaign for the homeless charity Crisis. The singer-songwriter was in the North East to promote ‘No Going Home’, a campaign which aims to defend housing benefits for young people across the country. The 21 year old was at Crisis Skylight Newcastle, taking part in a guitar workshop with some of the charity’s homeless, and vulnerably housed clients.
benefits in the UK - 21,430 are from the North East. The Prime Minister has argued that instead of claiming housing benefits, under- 25s should move back in with their parents. According to Crisis this view is incredibly short sighted, arguing that tens of thousands of young people will be made homeless. Last year Crisis reported that 10,000 people were accepted as homeless based on the fact their parents would not or could not house them. Moreover they have highlighted that
‘No Going Home’ has been launched because of government plans to scrap housing benefits for under-25s. Sheeran has been a long term supporter of Crisis, and has promoted previous campaigns such as ‘Crisis at Christmas’ and ‘No One Turned Away’. Sheeran has also stated that his breakthrough hit, ‘The A Team’, was actually inspired by a homeless woman he met Over a third whilst volunteering of homeless for the charity at the people are age of 18. aged 16-24 ‘No Going Home’ has been launched because of government plans to scrap housing benefits for under 25s. Currently there are 385,000 people under the age of 25 claiming housing
already over a third of homeless people are aged 16-24. According to the charity these measures will only go on to harm the most vulnerable, pointing out that many claimants have children, are sick, disabled, or have suffered from violence and abuse. Sheeran himself expressed dismay at the proposed cuts: “I know a lot of people are struggling to find work and pay rent. I find it quite shocking that the government would consider a cut that might leave tens of thousands of them homeless”.
THE A TEAM Ed Sheeran has helped launch a campaign with the homeless charity Crisis to help find housing benefits for young people across the country
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Monday 19 November 2012
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Post-graduate partnership in Singapore By Joe Wood Newcastle University is to go into collaboration with the government in a new scholarship scheme, intended to produce the future generation of engineers and designers. The Industrial Post-graduate Programme has been agreed between New-
ability. EDB will provide a maximum of 200 students, over the next five years, full scholarship. This includes tuition fees, certain expenses and up to four years’ salary. Newcastle University is rare in being one of a few non-Singaporean universities considered of efficient standard to launch this IPP with the EDB.
The purpose of the programme is to create a well of postgraduates is to create a well of postgraduates with the necessary skills for roles in industry.
castle’s Singapore division (NUIS) and Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB). The purpose of the programme is to create a well of postgraduates with the necessary skills for roles in industry. To do this, the scheme will provide training in a corporate (R&D) enNewcastle is vironment. rare in being To find practical work experione of a few has become non-Singapore- ence an increasingly an universities important isconsidered sue for students looking towards being up to their future; the standard initiative behind this scheme exemplifies the University’s approach to finding graduates employ-
The Dean of Singapore and Chief Executive of NUIS, Professor Ehsan Mesbahi explained that: “By launching these PhD scholarships in 2012, Newcastle University is strengthening its academic presence in Singapore”. They went on to say that these measures result in “a globally effective Civic University.” This outward-looking approach from Newcastle University indicates the need and benefits of working within a globalmarket environment, providing students with a wider-range of prospects after their degrees. What’s your opinion? Response to articles can be left at:
www.thecourieronline.co.uk
POST-GRAD PARTNERSHIP The University is continuing so strengthen it’s partnerships abroad after opening a medical school in Malaysia last year.
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Monday 19 November 2012
A grave mistake: cemetery mix-up By Alix Pickles Following an independent investigation commissioned by Northumberland County Council upsetting errors have come to light regarding two cemeteries in Berwick-upon-Tweed. The report was commissioned after the council discovered errors immediately after taking over the management of the cemeteries from Berwick borough council in 2009. A host of errors have been found dating from before 2009 and include misplaced burial plots and memorials, deeds issued incorrectly and unregistered burials at North Road and Tweedmouth cemeteries. This means that mourners could have
Job Title: Male Personal Assistant Employer: Disability North Closing date: 16.11.2012 Salary: £8.00 per hour Basic job description: A Male Personal Assistant is required to work 7 hours per week supporting a young man who has mental health needs. You will support him to develop skills and routines around daily living tasks such as shopping, food preparation and cleaning his flat. The aim is for him to be able to manage these tasks independently in the future. You will also be required to accompany him to the gym and train with him or attend other sporting interests, such as swimming or playing pool. Person requirements: Knowledge and experience of working with people with mental health needs, good interpersonal skills and an understanding of the need to maintain boundaries would be an advantage. You will need to be reliable, trustworthy and flexible. Driving license and access to a car is also required. Location: Newcastle upon Tyne. Job Title: Jewellery Sales Representative Employer: Eva London Closing date: 28.11.2012 Salary: £7.00 per hour Basic job description: We are recruiting sociable and organised sales reps to attend graduation events promoting unique jewellery to graduates and their guests. You will need to set up the stand, sell the jewellery and report back on sales at the end of the day. In particular we are looking for someone who is available on the 4th, 5th, and 6th of December to work at the University of Newcastle graduation ceremonies. We also have events throughout the year so please get in touch if this is of interest. Person requirements: We are looking for people with enthusiasm, motivation and great interpersonal skills that can multitask and are comfortable working independently in a busy environment. Location: Newcastle upon Tyne. Job Title: Kitchen Staff Employer: J.D. Wetherspoons Closing date: 17.11.2012 Salary: £6.19 per hour + bonus Basic job description: Kitchen Staff are required to work 16 hours per week at The Five Swans in Newcastle. As a member of our kitchen team, you will be responsible for ensuring all food and associated products are prepared, cooked, served and presented to our high standards. Person requirements: With excellent customer service skills, you should be professional and well presented - able to communicate clearly with people at all levels. You should be a self-motivated team player able to work unsupervised in a busy environment. Conversational English is essential and you’ll have to be confident, friendly and reliable to
been visiting the wrong graves for years. It is thought that around 30 families in the local area have been affected A host of by one of the four errors including categories of mistakes. misplaced The council has burial plots said that a small mean that number of cases may require a mourners more detailed incould have vestigation. been visiting Roger Styring, the wrong deputy leader of graves for years Northumberland County Council has said that they are taking a sensitive approach to dealing with the families affected and rectifying the errors as soon
succeed with us. Location: Newcastle upon Tyne. Job Title: Sales Advisor Employer: Karen Millen Closing date: 15.11.2012 Salary: National Minimum Wage Basic job description: A Sales Advisor is required to work 8 hours per week at the Karen Millen store in the Metrocentre, Gateshead. A big part of your role will be getting to know your customers, building relationships & offering expert stylist advice which fits perfectly with each customer’s individual needs. Hours are mainly weekends & evenings, however applicants must be flexible. Person requirements: This role is suited to somebody with previous retail experience who really cares about excellent sales service & possesses a love of luxury fashion. You will be a team player working to achieve exceptional personalised customer service, have a real interest in people & have superb communication skills to demonstrate your genuine passion for the Karen Millen brand. Location: Gateshead. Job Title: Sales Advisor Employer: Mint Velvet – House of Fraser Closing date: 16.11.2012 Salary: National Minimum Wage Basic job description: A Sales Advisor is required to work 8 hours per week at the Mint Velvet concession within House of Fraser, Metrocentre. Duties will include stock replenishment, liaising with customers to create sales & meet targets, cash handling & merchandising. You will be working evenings and weekends. Person requirements: Previous retail experience essential, along with excellent customer service & communication skills, and the ability to work within a team. Location: Gateshead. Job Title: Newcastle Work Experience - Data Development Testing Employer: Gavurin Ltd Closing date: 18.11.12 Salary: £600 bursary upon completion of placement Basic job description: Gavurin Ltd develop online geographic intelligence software. Gavurin Ltd handle highly sensitive data and have a series of secure testing procedures associated with data input. They would like them formalised in their development environment and the results associated with an SQL Server database. Additionally, an attractive front end (GUI) requires development to allow those with appropriate access to test data. Person requirements: This project will suit a stage 3 computing science student. Core
as possible. He said “We understand that this could be extremely upsetting for people affected by this and we’re sorry for the distress caused.” The council is also working with the British Red Cross to set up help lines so that anyone affected has the full support and guidance they need while the work is carried out. Judi Evans, from the British Red Cross has said “All calls will be dealt with by trained staff and volunteers from the local area and will be handled with the utmost care and sensitivity.” Two members of staff have been dismissed for gross misconduct and all procedures at the cemeteries are being reviewed.
skills include: Fundamental appreciation of object oriented development and testing with the ability to turn complex and technical information into plain English - a high level of English language is required. Core personal attributes include: Analytical, lateral thinking, tenacious in tackling problems, self disciplined, organised, deadline driven, team player, but comfortable working alone. Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Job Title: Newcastle Work Experience - Multimedia Resource Developer Employer: e-Quality Learning Closing date: 18.11.2012 Salary: £600 bursary upon completion of placement Basic job description: e-Quality Learning provides software training on assistive technology products to help individuals of all ages overcome the challenges of dyslexia, visual impairments and other disabilities. This exciting and developing role will see you assist our current Developer with the planning and production of a range of multimedia resources. You will be writing scripts, organising voice overs, creating screen recordings along with a number of other creative tasks. Person requirements: You must have excellent communication skills and a passion for technology. Experience using Adobe Creative Suite 5 or higher on an Apple computer is essential. You must possess excellent written English skills and be able to write clear instructions. Location: South Tyneside. Job Title: Newcastle Work Experience - Feedback Research Employer: Newcastle University Closing date: 18.11.2012 Salary: £600 bursary upon completion of placement Basic job description: This placement is based within the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE). The undergraduate student body has flagged “feedback” as an area in which we under-perform, and it is a matter of priority in the School that the experience of the student body in this area is addressed and corrected. Using our recent NSS scores as a basis, we would like the placement student to organise and hold focus groups, conducting market research with our current students on key issues surrounding feedback. Person requirements: The placement is primarily about engagement and facilitating productive discussions so the successful candidate should be confident with excellent communication skills. The ability to interpret your findings and offer a professional presentation is also required. Location: Newcastle upon Tyne.
Professor Students warns over create online ‘smart drugs’ University University of Cambridge
Imperial College London
Professors have spoken out against the use of performance enhancing drugs with several demanding urgent action to be taken. One even suggested the introduction of drug testing during the exam period to prevent some students from gaining unfair advantages. A survey of Cambridge students recently revealed t h a t 10% of students admit to having used so-called ‘ s m a r t drugs’ that increase shortterm memory and enhance alertness. Among the drugs mentioned most often were Modafinil, used to treat sleep disorders, and Ritalin, usually prescribed to sufferers of ADHD.
The Open Academy (theopenacademy.com) is an online platform offering free-of-charge courses from 20 of the World’s top universities founded by student entrepreneurs. It currently covers a range of topics including Arts, Sciences, Law, Medicine and the Humanities. Users can participate in cours es by topacademics and highprofile lecturers, among them Tony Blair and Salman Khan. The students, who met at Imperial College, are hopping on the bandwaggon of free online education. Just recently, MIT and Harvard have created an online resource aiming to educate ‘1 billion people around the world’.
Student wins £60,000 deal on BBC Dragon’s Den
Nobel Laureate becomes University Chancellor
Manchester University
Glasgow Caledonian University
Harrison Woods, 22, a third year geography student and entrepreneur has received a combined £60,000 investment from two of the Dragons in return for a 40% stake in the business. His company Primal Parking is an online marketplace where users can let and rent private parking spaces. To date, the bu s i n e s s connects 10,000 users a n d 7,500 registe re d parki n g spaces. With the help of this inv e s t m e nt , Harrison hopes to expand the business to markets overseas and become the Go Compare of the parking space world’ in the near future.
The Prof Muhammad Yunus has been officially made Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) last week. Yunus won a Nobel Peace Prize for establishing Grameen Bank in 2006. The bank works in microfinance and helps to alleviate poverty in the third world by giving out small loans to entrepreneurs too poor to be considered by the mainstream lenders. Its concept has been copied throughout the world. Yunus’ appointment comes as no surprise as he already has a strong relationship with GCU and the region launching a local charity aimed at those living in poverty, the Grameen Scotland foundation, just last year.
Images: Wikimedia Commons
Sabine Kucher
The Courier
.11
Monday 19 November 2012
Comment
Comment Editors: Georgina Moule and Laura Wotton Online Comment Editor: Jennifer Evans thecourieronline.co.uk/comment courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Comment
GENDER DILEMMA Is the reform punishing competent male drivers?
Should car insurance premiums be equalised?
Illustration: Rosie Glasse
LYDIA CARROLL
YES I
t’s fair to say that car insurance isn’t exactly fair to anyone. It doesn’t have to be - it’s made obligatory by law, so insurers are free to charge high premiums to all as they see fit in the name of profiteering. But the prescience of the gender gap issue has led the ECJ in Luxembourg to rule that using gender as a factor in pricing insurance works against the progression of equal treatment between men and women; and thus has been ultimately damned as “constituting discrimination”. In short, the ruling means that if a man and a woman of the same age own cars of equal value, and similar mileage, then they will pay an equal insurance premium for it. Clearly, it is far fairer that people are treated and charged as individuals, rather than genders. Statistics are used to make sweeping generalisations about the driving ability of all men and all women and these are then reflected heavily in the gender specific pricing. What we end up with is an unrefined and careless industry which uses an out-dated, blanket system as a way of calculating risk; that doesn’t see its customers as individuals.
Thus, the system has been punishing competent male drivers - and been much more generous to the minority of women who are lunatics on the road since time immemorial (well, since the invention of car insurance, at least). It’s easy to see why the disparity between male and female premiums has been referred to as the ‘testosterone tax’, as it makes assumptions about the ability of male drivers based on the ‘aggressive reckless young man’ stereotype.
“People should be treated as individuals rather than genders” In insurance, safer drivers will always end up footing the bill for reckless drivers – this is how the industry works - yet this should have no gender bias. This kind of ruling is necessary if we want to create equality across all levels areas for both men and women. Obviously, it may prove unpopular with women, as for once in this particular instance it is men who actually stand to gain the most. I’m also curious about the ramifications for ‘women only’ insurers industry - companies like Diamond, who must by now be downing triples of whiskey and clearing their desks, be-
cause there is no longer a viable reason for their gender exclusiveness. But surely the precept of equality involves making compromises so the opposite gender will not have to suffer? The sooner (or from the 21st of December, to be precise) we see motorists as neither ‘male’ nor ‘female’ but rather as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ drivers, then all the better and the fairer.
VICTORIA ARMSTRONG
NO A
llow me to begin by stating that I am a feminist through and through: a whole-hearted supporter of gender equality. However, this does not mean I support the ECJ’s decision last year that insurance companies must follow gender equality rulings. Contrary to some views, this is not a case where women want gender equality except where it disadvantages them; this ruling has, to quote an AA spokesperson, “abandoned fairness in favour of equality”. It is absurd to start illegalizing insurance companies discriminating when calculating policies. Unless we want a single price for all, discrimination is
key. If we are going to start calling insurance companies sexist, then we also need to start accusing them of age discrimination, car-based discrimination, criminal discrimination (for those with points on their license) and so forth. Were these companies discriminating against men simply because they are men (controlled as they supposedly are by testosterone and the need for speed), that would be sexist. But they are not. Some argue you cannot control your gender, but equally you cannot control
“It is illogical
to argue that gender is immaterial”
age and that is not contended as prejudicial. It is illogical to argue that gender is immaterial; in the same way it would be illogical to argue penalty points were not a rational factor to consider. It is clearly unfair to say that all men are more likely to cause an accident or be a greater risk and thus claim but it is true of the majority. Young males are ten times more likely to be injured or killed in an accident than a driver aged 35 or older. Thus, it is necessary to allow insurance companies to make these generalizations in order
for them to calculate a reasonable price specific to the individual for their services. Supporters of this ruling point out that whilst females are disadvantaged in motoring insurance (and life insurance), they are benefiting from potentially higher pension incomes. However, I reiterate that this is not simply about the EU directive being inconsiderate to females, but that is inherently unjust and unfair. This directive is more symbolic than functional and whilst the point it makes is admirable, in current times we are past needing such symbols and focus should instead lie with what is realistic and practical. Male and female insurance rates will not suddenly equalize half-way. The Association of British Insurers believes that whilst male insurance premiums will fall by 10%, female premiums will rise by 25%, despite them not posing a risk large enough to justify this higher price. This is a blatant and needless sacrifice of equity for equality’s sake. However, one potential answer exists: telematics. Some insurance companies should soon offer to calculate your premium using your driving patterns, e.g. how hard you accelerate, monitored by a device in your car. Your premium is then designed accordingly. A key fault with this Directive is the simple injustice of preventing insurance companies from tailoring policies to individuals for their benefit and this would suitably allow some fairness back into the calculation of premiums. We can only hope it becomes popular sooner rather than later.
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Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
BBC: British Broadcasting Conundrum As the Newsnight controversy at the BBC continues, Jake Unsworth discusses the implications for journalists and journalism at large
JAKE UNSWORTH
T
he BBC is currently trying to weather one of the greatest storms in its long and proud history. Newsnight, in an effort to deflect from the Savile controversy had luckily stumbled on a source who linked a once prominent ‘senior tory politician from the Thatcher government’ with a paedophile ring. This was a story too good to investigate thoroughly. It meant the BBC could assume the battle against paedophiles; exactly what it had been accused of not doing when it was found it had cancelled a Newsnight special on Savile one year ago. Whilst Lord McAlpine was not named in the Newsnight piece, his name had been deliberately leaked and the association was made on that social (justice) network; twitter. Last year it was found that the News
of the World, and probably most of Fleet Street, had been involved in illegal practices such as phone hacking, harassment and just plain lying. There have been calls from the Hacked Off Campaign, fronted by Hugh Grant and Steve Coogan alongside illiberal-liberals, to control the press using a legally backed public body which would pursue news in the public interest, rather than ‘prurient’ or scandalous news.
“The BBC has sacrificed its integrity” They evidently believe they know better what the ‘public interest’ is than you or me – the absolute epitome of the
patriarchal approach to government that the Guardian was once very good at articulating against. They pointed to the BBC as an example of a regulated institution which, with programmes such as Panorama, Newsnight and the Daily Politics, continued to hold politicians to account. Well that font of journalistic excellence, so in tune with the il-liberals, regulated to high heaven by Ofcom and its own internal management structures; the BBC, has now fallen foul of its very own ‘shoddy journalism’. Only this goes further than exposing Hugh Grant’s sexual misdemeanours; they have accused an innocent man of paedophilia. More than that the accusation was based on the testimony of an individual who may not have even been shown a picture of the man he accused the news piece put together by an investigative journalist contractor, whose reputation resides in the gutter. So eager were the BBC to connect the old liberal enemy – the Thatcher regime – with paedophilia, that they appear to have plumbed the very same depths of nauseating journalism that the BBC described in such high-minded contempt last year when the hacking scandal
CRISIS Newsnight
has been at the centre of the crisis at the BBC
broke. The BBC has sacrificed its integrity and accused an innocent man of one of the greatest crimes in our society. This tells us that the regulation of journalism doesn’t work for the very thing it’s being designed to do. Never mind the fact that it potentially censors the press, preventing investigation of corruption and effectively holding the government to account, it actually doesn’t even prevent immoral, shameful and nasty journalism. Regulation essentially neuters jour-
nalism of its potential to break the really important stuff, to hold our cheating and lying politicians to account. It has been proposed that through the sheer cleverness of the il-liberals, they would be able to create a system without the rubbish about Hugh Grant’s sex-life, but with expenses-scandal levels of accountability. If the BBC is the realisation of their great system – all it proves is that they’re not as clever as they think. We should refuse to suffer their highmindedness no more.
Religion obstructs rights... again GEORGE SANDEMAN
S
avita Halappanavar spent three days in agony whilst enduring a miscarriage. Throughout those three days, the 31-year-old dentist was repeatedly denied an abortion because medical staff told her: “This is a Catholic country.” The continual denial of human rights – because of supposed truths and their imposition on non-believers – is surely one of the greatest tragedies of our time. A time endowed with reason and logic granted to us from our Age of Enlightenment forebears who fought to free us from the shackles of superstition and intolerance. The rights of man (and woman) are not based on the apparent words of some scientifically unverified supernatural entity but founded in the furnace of compassion and civility. The point is bigger than abortion and religion but, to deal with the matter at hand, I believe the conclusion is simple. The first line of the first article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” A foetus is, by definition, not born and therefore has no rights. This remains the case until the definition is revised but until then protecting the rights of human beings now is the central issue. Savita’s rights as a human being were denied to her because of the forced assertion of a set of beliefs upon her that she, as a Hindu, did not share. On hearing the news, The Times of India ran online the headline: “Ireland Murders Pregnant Indian Dentist.” The late author and famed polemic Christopher Hitchens once described organised religion as: “Violent, irration-
al, intolerant, allied to racism, tribalism, and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children”. ‘Hitch’, along with contemporaries Richard Dawkins and A.C. Grayling, have a pretty uncompromising view regarding the religion issue but I believe the most prized offering from the Age of Enlightenment is liberty of thought. To be free to believe whatever you want to believe and to think whatever you want to think, and that includes practicing religion. It continues to be an important guide for many people’s lives but that’s precisely what it is, a guide.
The continual denial of human rights is surely one of the greatest tragedies of our time It should have no right to govern the lives of non-believers, even if the UK’s state religion is Christianity. However, it doesn’t take Nate Silver to figure out that it really is in name only. Are most young people singing hymns on a Sunday morning or are they curled up on the sofa nursing a monumental hangover watching Man V Food. Back to the central argument, Hitchens had this to say about the modern day enlightenment and the need to ensure human rights for all: “It will not need to depend, like its predecessors, on the heroic breakthroughs of a few gifted and exceptionally courageous people. It is within the compass of the average person.”
The Courier
comment.13
Monday 19 November 2012
Making a list, checking it twice? After Philip Schofield handed David Cameron a list of alleged paedophiles within the Conservative party, Simon Harwood discusses the ongoing controversy
LYDIA CARROLL
ON THE BLOG
#6 - Public Harassment: Street me nice
CONTROVERSY Philip Schofield was criticised
for handing David Cameron a list of alleged Tory paedophiles on live TV
SIMON HARWOOD
T
hey’re everywhere, these paedophiles. They’re in BBC dressing rooms, in Parliament. They’re in care homes, in your kitchen; they’re even infiltrating your dreams and corrupting your childhood memories. The way things are going, your name is probably bouncing around social networks as a suspected paedo as you read this. In which case it’s too late. Look around you. Notice the shifty looks, the shielding of children by passers-by. No one will ever look at you the same way. Fear not, however. Surely those friendly people in the media will come to the rescue, before we’re overrun by child molesters and sexual deviants? ITV and Phillip Schofield tried last week, although in this case, ‘tried’ means strapping subtlety to a nailbomb and detonating it on daytime TV. On This Morning, a show watched mainly by mothers and people on the dole, Phil took the law into his own hands, sanctimoniously brandishing a list of suspected paedophiles he’d gleaned off the internet in front of the Prime Minister’s face like a sociopath with pepper spray. I don’t know about you, but I’m lost
amidst this mess of conspiracy and finger-pointing. Catching Those Bloody Paedos has captured the nation’s imagination. It will be fun, for some, until we become so sensitive that sexual vigilantism and ritual castration become potential solutions. I’m amazed at the naivety of Schofield and the show’s producers. Did no one with half a neuron stop and think: “You know what, it might not be the best idea to dump another bunch of names on the public bonfire, maybe we should leave it to the Police, perhaps?”.
“Schofield might have been desperately trying to escape his rather tame reputation” The Prime Minister, to his credit, handled the situation incredibly well. In a cheap attempt to put him on the spot, Cameron brought a welcome calmness,
warning against the dangers of a “witchhunt”, possibly against homosexual people. This will probably be forgotten, however, as politicians clamber over each other to brand a Tory as anti-gay (they choose to ignore Cameron’s action on same-sex marriage). Schofield might have been desperately trying to escape his rather tame reputation (having spent a large part of his career in conversation with a stuffed gopher on children’s television), whilst reinventing himself as a crusader in what
“It’s not hard to understand the dangers of groupthink, trial by Twitter and home sleuths” will come to be known as the Great War On Paedos. It will be similar to Mao’s Great Leap Forward only less will die and our jails will be stuffed with castrated perverts
frothing at the mouth. In an age where a rumour can reach millions faster than you can say Gary Glitter, Schofield and ITV showed a colossal lack of judgement. The only thing they succeeded in doing was feeding the overwhelmingly repulsive and hysterical mob thirsty for paedophile blood. Hearsay and rumour will do nothing for any actual victims, but instead turn any actual investigation into a circus and potentially ruin the careers of the falsely accused. Convincing yourself of your righteousness whilst cleansing the nation of indecency might make you feel fantastic, but it doesn’t get us anywhere. It’s not hard to understand the dangers of groupthink, trial by Twitter and home sleuths. The Police have a purpose, funnily enough. If any crimes have actually been committed, they will be investigated. On the other hand, if you’d like Britain to resemble a dystopian episode of Jeremy Kyle, go ahead.
Got an opinion you want to share? Come along to our meetings: Mondays 3pm in the History Room on Level 1 of the Students’ Union
When you talk to men about street harassment, they start to look both alarmed and a little incredulous. They can’t seem to believe that, in order to attract all this free attention, women don’t have to be standing over a venting grill with their skirts thrown over their heads, a la Marilyn Monroe, and shouting “AHOY, SAILOR!” at every slightly ropey looking man walking by. Because you see, I don’t think that all this lady-bothering has much to do with attractiveness or dress; I was once leered when I was walking home from uni sopping with rainwater and wearing a ski jacket. And even if abuse was only directed at attractive or more provocatively dressed women, this is still unfair. To avoid being harassed, you should try to make yourself look as unattractive as possible before leaving the house? I also think that it’s telling that the harassment seems to stop completely when you’re with a male friend or a boyfriend, but not with other female friends. What does this mean? That women are only safe from abuse in public when they’ve got another man around, to protect them? Nor do I want to hear it defended with all that ‘it’s just an honest attempt to proposition an attractive woman you see in public’ bull. I have never, ever heard a couple fondly reminisce about how they met this way. “Oh, how did I meet Ryan? Well, I was just walking out of Poundstretcher carrying a washing bowl when he started following me down the road yelling, ‘Hey, sexy! I said hey! I’m fucking talking to you’. I knew it was meant to be”. A woman is very, very unlikely to ever respond to a catcaller in the way they would wish, simply because when it happens, it scares the ever loving piss out of us. How are we supposed to discern between the ones who are all talk, and those who are more physically dangerous? Obviously, the reason most of the men I’ve spoken to about it look so surprised is because they would never act this way themselves. However, for the tiny minority that is ruining it for everyone, I have a few suggestions for you about getting over your problem with harassing women. No, really. Don’t thank me. 1. Like most four year olds, you’re clearly aware that ‘all attention is good attention’, and the look of terror, loathing, or laughter, or even the middle finger you’ll get is better than watching her just pass you by. But shouting at her won’t resolve your intimacy issues. Get some professional help. 2. When you see a girl coming out of the Metro station with a perfectly normal expression on her face, please do not demand that she “give us a smile, pet”. You haven’t got any teeth, mate. She’s not about to take that advice from you. 3. Nor do we want to be aggressively shouted down for ignoring your requests. As in, “Hey! Hey! I’m talking to you! WELL, FUCK YOU THEN!” We are in a hurry and you are, frankly, terrifying. 4. And finally, for the nicer, more respectful men who would never dream of all this abuse, a word of advice. Should your girlfriend, or your friend, or anyone, come banging into the house in a rage because they’ve been catcalled, never tell her: ‘well I would be really, really flattered if women in the street made sexual comments about me’. She will hit you with a shoe.
The Courier
comment.15
Monday 19 November 2012
So what’s in a name? As foreign names become more and more common in the UK, Anya Goncharova discusses whether immigrants should Anglicise their names.
ANYA GONCHAROVA
H
earing your name mispronounced is not the most horrible experience when you have to go through it once but having to go through it many times a day can start getting on your nerves. For all those that have names which are a bit more on an authentic side or for all those that are simply not British it can become very frustrating having to correct others on what you actually like to be called. So, a trend came in place where many simply choose to change their names from Ksenia to Katie or from Huyung Sup Lim to William. It’s a matter of practicality, most people would say. Using a ‘fake’ name to order a pizza because you don’t want to play Chinese whispers with every employee of the company is certainly understandable. However, does adopting an Anglicized name even remotely bring you closer to those around you is a real dilemma. On
one hand, it certainly would make your life easier as worrying about legal documents getting misspelt would end and your friends would be less inclined to twist your name into a silly nickname. On the other hand, it takes away something that was once given to you and probably has a lot of meaning. In most cases, you will miss people calling you your actual name and maybe even not respond when people will address you with your new name. It’s a part of you and your personal-
“It’s a matter of practicality, most people would say” ity; your name is your identity. It’s only reasonable that you have it and it does not change depending on where you go or where you move. If someone coming
from a different country has no problems pronouncing names like Jack, Sarah, Hannah and Charlie, why can’t everyone just try to be as concerned with pronouncing other names correctly that don’t fall into the ‘popular name’ category. A lot of people are stereotyped by their names as someone with a more ethnic name will come off as more foreign. That doesn’t however mean that it’s a good idea to change your name to something that others will feel is more fitting in the country where you are residing. Stereotypes like that shouldn’t even be a problem in the modern world where there is simply too much moving around from country to country. Also, if you think about it, it is now extremely popular to name your newborn with a rare name! Through personal experience with my very complicated last name, I know that it is tempting to simply ask people to call you something else. Nevertheless, over time it gets easier as you start to realize that if you are putting effort into pronouncing everyone’s names right, they should have time to learn how to say yours.
ALTERNATE IDENTITY Kanak Asha Huq, born to Bangladeshi parents, adopted the name ‘Konnie’ when working in the UK. Image: Jonathan Shalit (Wikimedia)
Sowing seeds of destruction PUBLIC SCANDAL
After a man was arrested for posting a picture of a burning poppy on Facebook, Harriet Sale questions if this is an assault on free speech
Should there be limits to our freedom of expression? Image: Andrew Dunn (Wikimedia)
HARRIET SALE
O
n Remembrance Sunday a 19 year-old man from Canterbury was arrested for posting a photograph of a burning poppy, with an equally offensive caption, on Facebook. Whilst the Crown Prosecution Service is currently making guidelines on when to prosecute those who misuse social media websites, under the ‘Malicious Communications Act 1988’ it is a crime to send or post anything ‘indecent or grossly offensive, or which conveys a threat…[where] there is an intent to cause distress or anxiety to the recipient.’ However civil liberties groups feel that it is a restriction on the freedom of expression have criticized the arrest. Campaign groups emphasize that ‘it is not illegal to offend people and, however idiotic or insensitive the picture may have been it is certainly not worthy of arrest.’ It is pretty impossible to argue that this man’s action was not crude and offensive considering the significance of the date, but has the reaction against it enlightened us to a new criminal code? Are social media sites being excessively policed? Are we closer than we think to Orwell’s totalitarian state of society? Indeed this is not the first arrest of this kind, there have been numerous incidents in recent months of foul mouthed comments on social media sites such as comments on Twitter to
a footballer fighting for his life and to diver Tom Daley about dishonouring his late father in his Olympic performance. The arrests over these cases show that it is a crime to be publicly offensive. And whilst some stand up and argue that we have lost the freedom of expression, others mourn that this is what our society has come to. It is not the social media’s fault for enabling wider public communication, or the fault of those implementing acts against the offenders. The fact that we now have to have laws against such behaviour illustrates that we have lost the fundamental characteristic of respect. People had equally inappropriate thoughts in the past and publicly anti– social behaviour was justly dealt with, often in a much stricter physical way. There is no new code of conduct; just because there is a new means of expressing ideas (be it to a much larger audience) does not mean that we should lose the primary manners of a functioning society. It is not illegal to offend people but there is a very fine line when it comes to being intently offensive. Recently Matthew Woods posted a hateful remark about missing child April Jones. Instantaneous to his comment, angered people had identified the offender and were sending round a picture and the (possible) address of the offender. Whilst Woods served time for his comment, no one was incriminated for redistributing equally offensive threats against him or potentially initiating a disturbance at his house. Neither were there implications for the press who printed Woods words for the world to see. Through the media and social media, I think we’ve lost sight of where the crime is here…
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Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
The Courier
Monday 19 November 2012
Thousands of students are preparing to march down in London on Wednesday 21 November as #Demo2012 finally arrives. In the years since the last NUS national student demonstration, the trebling of fees has come into effect, thousands of international students have been let down by London Metropolitan University, and graduate unemployment has continued to rise. Despite Nick Clegg’s sincere but inconsequential apology video, change is yet to be made. It’s time to remind the government that we’re still here, and these problems haven’t gone away.
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18.features
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
Pure Love at first sight
They were the most visceral live experience the UK hardcore scene had witnessed in years, mainly due to the on-stage exploits of their wiry, tattoo-ed, fiery-headed frontman. So when Frank Carter announced his departure from Gallows, speculation on his musical future was rife. Enter Pure Love, armed with classic rock’n’roll riffs, anthemic choruses... and, of course, a wiry, tattoo-ed, fieryheaded frontman
“Gallows is Frank, and Frank is Gallows” as the old adage went, and to an extent, held true. For some, Frank Carter is the most important musical personality this country has produced since the Gallagher brothers, and his notorious departure from hardcore punk heroes Gallows was met with not a little acrimony amongst the band’s loyal fan base. The swift announcement of a new project, Pure Love, intrigued music lovers as to what musical direction the acerbic front man would go in next. It’s safe to say, this new venture, alongside Jim Carroll (formerly of The Hope Conspiracy and The Suicide File) on guitar, is something of a departure from what we might have come to expect but, having sat down with the band mates last week, it is clear that Pure Love is anything but a one-man show. Whilst Jim reclines on a tatty Cluny sofa, Frank looks less at ease; perhaps wary of being caught off guard by a question about that split from Gallows. Put it this way – Frank carries the look of someone you would hardly take home to your mother; after all, many people’s memory of Frank extends no
further than seeing pictures of him bloodied and drenched in sweat, perhaps photographed during one of Gallows’ calmer sets. He remains as vitriolic as ever too (note that this interview had to be written up, and is barely broadcast-able in its original form), but as our conversation settles down, it becomes clear that there is a new-found optimism about his outlook which we have rarely seen from him before. It’s all about “attitude” according to Frank. Barely five minutes into my allotted interview time with the two guys, he stops me insistently mid-question:“Everything about this band – no matter what questions you’ve got to come next – is ten times easier, quicker and more fun than anything I’ve done in the past…there’s never been animosity, there’s never been any bullshit.” So what’s changed? “I’ve got nothing to be miserable about any more” explains a newly-wed Frank. “And more importantly, you are what you project… if you project good vibes then everyone around you has a good time; if you’re a miserable c**t, everyone around you is a miserable c**t.” If there’s one thing I love about Frank, it’s his heart-warming use of the English language. He may have grown up in the ‘new towns’ outside
London, but everything about the man screams working-class Londoner. Although we are yet to hear the majority of the band’s completed work (the album Anthems is due for release in February), Pure Love have already notched up a string of impressive live performances, including a “milestone” show at Reading Festival. It has already become clear that the two
lot of the music we grew up listening to was British-born and so that all just had this natural influence in what we were doing, you know? It’s music we’ve been listening to for years and years and years…so when we started talking about this we were both like, ‘I wanna do something a little bit more straight-up rock’ and as soon as we both said that we were both like ‘fuck yeah’.”
“I’ve got nothing to be miserable about anymore... If you project good vibes then everyone around you has a good time” have set about carving their own path in the musical landscape, specialising in a good time, hookladen rock ‘n’ roll, the like of which has sadly been missing for years. I put it to the guys that the likes of ‘Bury My Bones’ and ‘Handsome Devils Club’ have a very ‘British’ feel to them, something which Frank concurs with heartily: “My favourite bands all come from here, this country you know…and the same with Jimmy. A
The change in direction has revealed Frank to be a commanding singer; no longer just an irate punk vocalist performing through gritted teeth. All well and good, but how has this all gone down with the crowds on tour, some of which might have been expecting to hear something a little closer in sound to former favourites, Gallows? “We’ve had a better reception on this tour than any show I’ve ever played to be honest,” says Frank.
The Courier
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Monday 19 November 2012
This can’t have been an easy feat given the aforementioned lack of songs released to the public so far, so how have they managed it? “What we want is the reaction of a band that has been touring for ten years and has five albums… and we don’t have an album yet but, we’re having that reaction by the end of our set… everybody’s there and they’re like ‘okay, this is what they’re all about’ and then by the middle of the set they hear the songs they know and by that point they’re pumped and ready to get involved and by the end of the set they’re just like ‘fuck, that was amazing, that was like the best show I’ve ever seen.” I’m starting to realise that it’s that touch of arrogance, that willingness to just say what
comes into his head that makes Frank what he is. So I wonder how he’ll handle my final question. I’m intrigued to know whether two musicians, formerly members of bands that could be said to hold the most ‘punk rock’ of ethics, now dream of playing stadiums and headlining major festivals. The answer is a resounding “fuck yeah!” Lesser men might have ducked the question but not these two: “This band should 100% play massive festivals,” claims Frank. Indeed, those dreams have always been there, according to Jim, but have “resurfaced” since the formation of Pure Love, portraying an awareness of the change in sound which has brought this about. So, by now, you might have realised that both guitarist and singer have an impenetrable confidence in what they’re doing; for the first time in ages, it feels like the pressure is off: “When I’m on tour” declares Frank, “I just wanna have a fucking good time… and so far, we have had so much fucking fun on this tour.” That evening, Pure Love played to a healthysized crowd at The Cluny, following impressive support from their friends in The Social Club and Scholars. They were, simply put, awesome. Given Gallows’
understated-yet-extraordinary influence, Frank, alongside his new buddy Jim, might have been forgiven for taking it easy second time around; not a chance. Spending most of the set wading amongst the crowd, there was no blood spilled this time, only smiles and high-fives all round. Beginning, as promised, with some of the band’s lesser-known tracks, a good-natured crowd offers a positive yet restrained response to which Frank, clearly miffed, demands ‘100 per cent’ more. The first notes of set crowd-pleaser, ‘Bury My Bones’ changes all, as Frank whips up a frenzy amongst his loyal following, who are clearly out in force tonight. Frequently mobbed by an elated audience, the set ends in the best way possible: with singer and band re-locating to the floor for a rendition of ‘Riot Song.’ It’s rare to hear Frank leading his audience in a chorus of ‘woah-oh’s’ but the rarity of the occasion only adds to its glory. Whilst Gallows never quite delivered on their early promise, the UK music scene is a different place as a result of their influence and you wouldn’t bet against Pure Love going one step further: this is the sound of a band destined to be filling stadiums sometime soon. Chris Smith
20.fashion
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
Fashion Editors: Elissa Hudson and Lizzie Hampson Online Fashion Editor: Sally Greenwood
Course: Modern Languages (German and Chinese) Year: 1
Course: Ancient History and Archaeology Year: 2
Shoes: £6, Primark Jeans: £25, River Island Coat: £75, River Island Bag: £25, River Island Glasses: Free, Specsavers Jumper: £12, Primark
Shoes: £55, Nike Dress: £38, American Apparel Coat: £10, Charity Shop Jumper: £10, H&M
Total Cost of Outfit: £143
Why it Works: Tabitha has hit the nail on the head when it comes to her unique blend of style and colour. The autumnal colours are blended extremely well together. She has shown that she likes to mix it up with her magenta shoes, which are a big hit – who doesn’t love a colour pop? If you want to try and replicate this look why not add a chunky necklace, an in-season accessory?
Total Cost of Outfit: £113
Why it works: Duffle jackets are really in at this time of year. Sam manages to match this jacket excellently with a well-chosen, dark pair of skinny jeans, finishing with a contrasting blue pair of plimsolls. Sam Says... “I choose my style to be in line with my personality. I like the things I’m comfortable in. As long as you’re comfortable with yourself, your natural style will always show through. I like my clothes to be convenient and practical for being at Uni all day.” Jacob Marshall and Katharine Foster
Tabitha Dodds
Laura Nicholson
Campus fashion
Tabitha Says... “Today I chose my outfit because it’s warm and perfectly suits my personalised (Minnie) mouse-chic style, whilst still maintaining a casual vibe.”
Five fashion sins of the 1990s
Butterfly clips, body glitter and all things neon. Hazel Parnell takes us back to our youth and reminisces about some of the best fashion sins of the nineties. Chokers
Tasselled trousers
I begin my reflection with Chokers. Those ones you used to get free in magazines, the really nice plastic ones. I had two, one in blue and one in pink. The blue one matched my delightful primary school jumper and I decided to wear it for my year six school photo, I looked a treat. It’s safe to say that photo is now locked away in a cupboard so that no suspecting friends can photograph it and put it on Facebook. Chokers were not forgiving for anybody, but especially not for those with short fat necks and a tendency to develop a double chin in pictures.
Hopefully any girls reading this once shopped in Tammy Girl, and if so, you’ll remember those really baggy trousers with chains and tassels attached to them. They came in every colour, the neon ones were particularly popular and the more pairs you owned, the better. You were even cooler if yours had a phrase emblazoned on the bum confirming that you were a “ska8er girl”. These were definitely another key item during the ‘Mosher’ phase. Why did anyone ever think these were acceptable? I remember having a full on tantrum in Tammy Girl as my mother wouldn’t buy me a pair, little did I know how right she was.
Fishnet tops
Skirts over trousers
Do you remember those delightful fishnet tops? Luckily this was a trend I didn’t buy into, as they were slightly pornographic for children if you didn’t wear anything underneath, and nobody needs a reason to invite the Jimmy Savile’s of the world in. S Club 7 were prone to wearing them in fluorescent colours with bare tummys and baggy trousers. They looked sensational. If this is a trend you feel you’ve missed out on then note that they sell fishnet dresses in seedy bondage shops. Nice.
I’ve saved the most obscure for last; skirts over trousers. Why, just why? Maybe it was a particularly cold year, but I still don’t think that’s an excuse for fashion houses enforcing this trend on people. It looked a bit like you had got dressed in the dark, or just have a confused notion of gender: shall I wear a skirt, or shall I wear trousers? Well, it’s a bit cold outside, so I’ll just wear both. JUST WEAR TIGHTS YOU FREAK. Apologies for the capitalisation but it’s a subject I feel strongly about.
Sweatbands
Ever worn a sweatband on your wrist when you aren’t playing tennis? All of us who were part of that ‘Mosher/Goth’ phase in year five and six probably wore one at some point. Some really cool people might have even worn one on each wrist. This trend wasn’t just exclusive to those past ‘Moshers’ though, those of us who went through that Chav phase might have also worn one, albeit a brightly coloured one, obviously.
The Courier
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Monday 19 November 2012
thecourieronline.co.uk/fashion c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Fashion
Cosying up for Christmas
Beauty Editor Annie Morgan gives us a guide on how to style those infamous Christmas jumpers this season
George, £14
Fashion Blog of the Week www.wishwishwish.net
Primark, £14
Animal Print
Party
Animal print jumpers are popular all year round but particularly so as the colder months come into full swing. The more obvious choices of animal jumpers this time of year would be the Christmas oriented ones, such as reindeers and penguins. However, there are plenty of different options on offer, such as snow bunnies or the more recognizable leopard print. If leopard print does not seem festive enough for you, think snow leopards! You can get these from any high street shop at the moment; just make sure to keep your bottom-half more simple and plain in order make your top the centre of attention.
November/December is party season, so make sure to wrap up warm this winter in embellished and metallic jumpers to fit the party mood. Embellished shoulders make any jumper immediately seem more dressed up and are strongly resonant of the party season. However, if you are a bit worried about getting caught or the embellishments falling off, a metallic jumper is always a safe bet and looks lovely with any outfit. Studs are really popular at the moment, so if you cannot keep away from them, go for flat studs if you want more of a girly rather than grungy look.
22 year old Carrie writes wishwishwish.net, the ultimate girly fashion blog. On wishwishwish, you’ll mainly find amazing photography documenting her personal style, along with the odd lifestyle post or ‘how to’ hair tutorial. Alongside writing her blog, Carrie works at ASOS.com and has even created the ‘paper-baby’ of her blog, a beautfiully illustrated magazine entitled Wish. Follow Carrie on Twitter: @wishwishwish Elissa Hudson
Online Boutique of the Week www.virgoslounge.com
Urban Outfitters, £72
House of Fraser, £65
Classic
Alpine Print
Ever since Bridget Jones’ Diary, funny Christmas jumpers have actually become almost fashionable, albeit in an ironic way. However, if you don’t like your attire to cause sniggers, you can find festive-themed sweaters that do not make the world cringe. An elegant, simple snowflake or a reindeer on the front of your jumper will put you in the holiday mood without the embarrassment caused by a Santa’s face with a red pom-pom for a nose. You can also go a bit less ‘in your face’ with a few penguins or just a pretty red and green knit jumper.
Alpine (sometimes referred to as Nordic jumpers) emulate the ski season, nothing screams winter, snow and hot chocolate more than one of these cozy jumpers. They look great paired with a pair of simple jeans or with leggings and a warm hat so you are ready to face the cold winds. These jumpers are timeless, so it is worth investing in a good quality one as you will be able to wear it for years to come. They come in a variety of colours but if you want to go for the classic type, go for black, blue or a festive red.
Virgoslounge.com sells vintage style clothing with a modern twist. Pretty much every item they sell is lust-worthy, so it’s a big bonus that everything is reasonably priced; think Topshop prices without the disappointment of seeing five other girls in that new dress you just bought. If you can’t get enough of bold colours, prints and embellished pieces this season, then check out the statement dresses and detailed separates in the Virgoslounge.com autumn/winter collection. With Christmas just around the corner, this online boutique is the perfect place to pick up a unique outfit that is guaranteed to help you stand out from the crowd this festive season. Heather Ratcliffe
The Courier
beauty.23
Monday 19 November 2012
Beauty Editor: Annie Morgan Online Beauty Editor: Amy Macauley
Do’s and Don’ts: Nineties Beauty
All trends are circular and the good ones always make a comeback. At the moment, when you look around it seems like we are back in the nineties for a second. From neon nails to brown lipstick, are the nineties a ‘do’ or always a ‘don’t’?
Don’t: Harsh black eyeliner
Amongst teens and preteens in the nineties, black eyeliner on the waterline and blue, purple and other obnoxious eyeshadow colours seemed like a great idea. Although all it did for us was make our eyes appear pea-sized, which is definitely not the best look.
Do: Neon
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Holy grail product!
It should be easy to find the perfect foundation for you, however it can end up being a stressful task, especially when there are so many different options. Rachel Spedding shares her favourite foundation
Tip of the Week
Ever wondered how to create bigger looking lips and eyes? Hayley Durrant discusses why highlighting is one of the best-kept beauty tips
Product: No7 Instant Radiance Foundation Price Tag: £12.50 Cheaper Alternative: (New) Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation (£6.99) Choosing the right foundation is a long and expensive process. All we ask is for a product that will make our skin look as incredible as the photo-shopped beauties in our favourite magazines. As a (alarmingly) pale skinned girl, I have struggled for years to find a foundation that blends into my skin without leaving an orange border between my face and neck. With a No7 voucher I purchased the ‘Instant Radiance Foundation’ in ‘Calico’ (one of the lightest shades available) and I love the finish and coverage of the product. Described as a ‘radiance boost’ for ‘tired, stressed skin’ (could there be a more appropriate product for student life?), I would highly recommend the foundation to anyone looking for medium to full coverage, with a matte finish and still a healthy glow. The packaging is compact and light, meaning it can be easily carried around in a over-flowing handbag or stuffed into a clutch for a night out. The dispenser also means less mess and the right amount of product with every pump. As the foundation is being used, the plastic bottom moves further up the tube so you know exactly how much you have left before needing to reinvest! Though £12.50 may seem a little pricier than most foundations in Xtras, more often than not Boots have 3 for 2 offers or No7 vouchers available for their customers. Now that I have found it, I will be sticking with this foundation, so head to the No7 stand and end your search for the perfect foundation.
NEW! If you struggle to find a foundation that matches your particular skin colour and skin type, No7 Foundation Match Made Service is a new, free, quick and easy way to find the perfect foundation for your skin. A ground-breaking handheld device is used to help you find the right shade and the right formula of foundation for your skin within a matter of minutes, so head down to Boots if you are in the market for a new foundation and want the perfect match.
Highlighting is when you use a product, either cream or powder based, which contains light reflecting particles to make parts of your face or body appear more voluminous. The lips are one area of the face that women are always trying to make appear larger with the use of make-up. Whilst lining the lips is important to achieve a fuller lip, many do not realise how much a touch of shimmer can drastically change the apparent size of your lips. To instantly make your lips look larger, apply your preferred highlighter to your Cupid’s bow and drag down along the centre of your lips, then carefully apply a small fine line of highlighter along the bottom of your lower lip. It may not look like a drastic difference in your bathroom, but once outside it will be more noticeable due to the lighting. So, don’t go overboard or you will end up looking like you have been eating glitter. Highlighting can be used to create bigger and brighter eyes, simply take your highlighter and dab it in the corner of your inner eye, this technique is a favourite of celebrity make-up artists.
The Body Shop Product Reviews Neon was big back in the nineties, usually in the form of sportswear, however neon is back in a more discreet way nowadays. Usually just a pop of it here and there is enough to add a little something to any outfit or make up look.
Don’t: Harsh lip liner
The Body Shop was founded in Brighton in 1976 and is now at the forefront of the beauty industry due to their high quality products and ethos. As a company whose values largely involve social justice, the environment, animal welfare as well as self-esteem, the Beauty team were delighted to receive three full-size products from The Body Shop to review. Emma Graveling, Georgina Moule and Elizabeth Hampson gave them a go Raspberry Lip Gloss
I’m not a big lip gloss fan and I think the last time I wore it was when I was about eleven, so I was quite apprehensive about trying it for the first time in ten years. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. It was nowhere near as sticky as I remember lip gloss being, and it was quite moisturising. The colour was also really nice, a really pretty subtle pink. It had a really nice raspberry scent, although the taste didn’t quite match up. I wore it on a night out, and got an actual compliment on my super shiny lips. I was a bit disappointed with how often I had to reapply it though although that might just be what all lip glosses are like, but it was really easy to put on (even without a mirror and after a few too many trebles…) and went on nice and smoothly. Consider me a lip gloss convert. Georgina Moule Lip liner is great for making lips appear neat and for making lipstick stay on longer, however in the nineties it was used in a bit of a different way. People would often use it to line the outside of their lips and leave everything in between the lines a lighter colour or colour-free. But why?!
Do: Brown lipstick
The Sparkler in Enchanting Gold
Admittedly I was dubious about this product, I fell immediately in love with the beautiful vintage style bottle it came in and it seemed to embody everything pretty and girly, but body glitter? I hadn’t worn glitter since the late nineties and I felt a little bit out of my beauty depth. How wrong I was! I decided to try to use it a different way on a series of three nights. I brushed it along my décolletage first and was surprised at how fine and light the powder was, it softens the skin, leaving a subtle gold shimmer which manages to catch the light perfectly. Feeling more adventurous I carefully spritzed some in my hair, being very dark I was worried that it wouldn’t quite work but again I was extremely happy with the results, it left my hair looking impossibly shiny and lifted. Finally I added some to a light gold cream eye shadow, I found this actually stayed on my eyes longer into the night than a normal glitter eye shadow would and with the added bonus of being able to control how much glitter you add! All in all, this product is a world away from the sticky, garish glitter of the nineties and I would definitely recommend for any girl who likes a bit of sparkle! Elizabeth Hampson
Body Butter in Vineyard Peach
Brown lipstick can sometimes look outdated but when worn properly, it makes a nice change from bolder lip colours without the boring quality of a nude lipstick, and it can look rather sophisticated. Use a brown with a tiny amount of pink in it to keep your make up looking modern. Annie Morgan
I have always been a fan of the Body Butter moisturisers by The Body Shop, and the release of their new scented product ‘Vineyard Peach’ is just as fantastic as the rest of their range. The product smells incredibly fruity so it would be perfect for the spring and summer months. The texture is very thick and creamy, and absorbs really quickly into the skin. It is non-greasy too, so you’re not left feeling sticky. They also advertise 24 hour moisture for dry skin and it doesn’t fail to deliver, I applied it after my morning shower and my skin still felt ‘peachy’ soft by bed-time, even on dry areas such as the knees and elbows. It functions as a great hand moisturiser too, although it must be said the tub is a little on the large side to carry around in your handbag! The Body Shop are huge supporters of fair trade and strongly object to the use of animal testing, so if you’re concerned about the ethical origin of the products you buy, this one is ideal. The Body Butter costs £13 for a 200ml tub which is a little pricey, but with Christmas coming up I’ll definitely be sticking it on my list to Santa. Emma Graveling
24.listings19-25November
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
Listings Editor: Sally Priddle
Monday Interfaith Week Begins: 1-2pm Venue, Students’ Union
This is the opening event for Interfaith week, which aims to highlight the importance of different nationalities across the world and in Newcastle University itself. Each day will see representatives from different faiths (who are too small to have an entire week to themselves) each of them will talk on their holy day. Each day a speaker will give a 5 minute introduction to their faith and then a 5 minute presentation of what they do on their holy day, or when they gather together. So this is your chance to be enlightened and learn more about different faiths from across the world and how they effect people’s everyday lives and rituals. Monday’s talk: Ismaili with Dr Ali Aldibbiat Ismailis have been meeting on Newcastle campus for about 30 years Admissions to all talks are free
NUTs presents Fiddler On The Roof
Tuesday Interfaith Week: Baha’i
with Fariba Hedayati of Newcastle Baha’i community
1-2pm Venue, Students’ Union
Bone Marrow: Everyday Hero launch 7pm As You Like It
The launch night of the Marrow “Everyday Hero” Campaign, find out who student branch of Anthony Nolan are; find out what being a donor for Bone Marrow donation really means. The register that provides life saving transplants for people with blood-borne cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma. This is a night of sophisticated fun and heroic happenings so go along and show support for the brave people battling blood cancers! Tickets are £3 including guest list entry to Perdu
7pm, 19th-21st Newcastle College
NUTs season starts with the classic Fiddler On The Roof. The story goes in the little village of Anatevka, Tevye, a poor dairyman, tries to instill in his five daughters the traditions of his tight-knit Jewish community in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Rich in historical and ethnic detail, Fiddler On The Roof has touched audiences around the world with its humor, warmth and honesty. It’s universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness. Student tickets £7 and will be sold outside
Acoustic Circus 9pm Tyneside Bar
Brought to you by Simma Singer, Acoustic Circus has been putting songwriters on various platforms for over a decade and you can always expect the very best songwriters and wordsmiths from the North East and beyond. Tickets from £5 available on the door
Chris Moyles Live
7pm O2 Academy
Chris Moyles will be celebrating the end of an era by embarking on a UK tour this November. Chris Moyles Live is a music and comedy show incorporating audience participation, making each night different from the next and surprises are around every corner. Tickets £20 available from O2 academy’s website or box office.
Ava Vidal Goes Dutch 7pm The Stand Comedy Club
Following a sell out west end run earlier in the year, the star of BBC2’s Mock The Week and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow on BBC1 returns with a brand new show that questions the ideas of community and responsibility. How much should we share? And would the world be a better place if we were all self-sufficient and just took care of ourselves? Tickets £10 from the stand’s website or box office
Wednesday Interfaith Week:
An interfaith “trialogue” with students of Jewish, Christian & Muslim faiths. A conversation between student members of the three Abrahamic faiths
1-2.30pm Venue, Students’ Union
Ersatz
7.30pm, 20th-24th People’s Theatre
Something has gone wrong with Sheila Cartmell. Suspended from the school where she works for attacking a pupil, she has begun “writing” letters that can never be read. Sheila has realised that behind the life she has found herself living, there is the life she ought to have lived. Family ties begin to unravel, minds begin to examine themselves and grief slowly realises it can only be relieved by revenge. Tickets £11 available from the People’s Theatre website or box office
Thursday
Interfaith Week:
Sikh with Sohan Singh The Sikhs have a joint society with the Hindus
1-2pm Venue, Students’ Union
Pigeon Detectives 7pm Venue, Students’ Union
Back from doing the festival circuit this summer, the indie rock band from West Yorkshire are ready to show you why they shot to success. Tickets £13.50 available from online ticket providers
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Monday 19 November 2012
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Friday
Interfaith Week:
Paganism with Lily Oak of Pagan Federation Northumbria. The Pagan Society recently formed on campus
1-2pm History Room, Students’ Union
Jack Dee
7pm, 23-24 Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre
Jack Dee returns to his first love and is back on the road again this autumn with a brand new highly anticipated live stand-up show. After a six year absence from live comedy tours, the host of long running Radio 4 show ‘I’m Sorry I haven’t a Clue’ and star of ‘Lead Balloon’ is back, once again agonizing over the slightest of annoyances and misdemeanours of everyday life. Tickets from £19 available from Mill Volvo’s website or box office.
Something for the weekend Coffee &Crafts Saturday 24 November, 11am-1pm Students’ Union
Open to all students and there families. To book your free space email adc. union@ncl.ac.uk
Big Time Boxing
Saturday 24 November, 3pm O2 Academy
It’s boxing: there is drink, half naked ladies, fighting and general awesome manliness. Tickets from £39.50 available from O2 Academy website and box office.
Not in Newcastle...
With the Metro going to Sunderland, trains to Durham only £5 return with a Railcard and special weekend deals on trains and buses to Scotland there really is no excuse for your weekend or evening activities to be limited to the Toon. Expand your horizons and find out what the whole of the North East and beyond has to offer.
Th e Royal Mile If you are visiting one part of Edinburgh this road is it, home to some of the most famous and historic parts of the city; including Parliament Square and ending at the Castle With some fantastic restaurants, bars and possibly most importantly the whiskey heritage centre. There are also various tours that go up the road including the greenyonders, the witchery tours and the aptly named auld reekie tours. If you want to experience as much of Edinburgh’s culture as possible in a small space of time, this road provides you with the opportunity. To find out more about this wonderful place and how much there is to do visit: www.edinburgh-royalmile. com
Radio show of the week: Super Fresh Bad Boys The coolest show on NSR, no doubt about it. Featuring vintage hip-hop, smooth blues and a healthy does of slightly indie alternative sounds. Tune in on Tuesday nights for the funniest features around that include Let’s Get Fact Up, Doofus of the Week and Sample the Delights, which is a must-listen for all music lovers out there.
When do you tune in? Tuesdays between 10pm and midnight
Something free: The Christmas Light Switch-On Thursday 22 November, 5.30pm Grey’s Monument
Paralympic gold medallist and world record swimmer Josef Craig will be sprinkling gold dust on Newcastle’s city centre next month when he switches on the city’s Christmas lights along Grainger Street, Nun Street, Nelson Street, Newgate Street, Neville Street, Dean Street and the Quayside.
Something to look forward to: Gladrags Fashion Takeover 27 November , 7.30pm Students’ Union
Join RAG for their first event of the year: an exclusive fashion show in support of Teenage Cancer Trust in memory of the young people who have lost their battle with cancer. Whether you are looking for wardrobe inspiration, interested in the beautiful models or just want a good night for a good cause then come along and support RAG! Tickets are £10 and available from the Union’s reception
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26.lifestyle
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
Lifestyle Editors: Em Rae, Catherine Davison and Ellie Cropper Online Editors: Rosie Devonshire and Colette Hunter
Top 5:
Things to do instead of going out
Gourmet takes on classics
Get all your housemates to put in a couple of quid, head to Tesco and pick out some interesting ingredients you can never justify buying for just yourself (i.e. fancy cheese). How about making a bacon, rocket and cream cheese ciabbata, it’s a slightly healthier and more exciting take on the classic bacon buttie. Why not make enough mac and cheese to feed a small nation? Have it for tea, have it the next day and then crack the rest in some freezer bags and forget it ever happened.
Visits to “quirky” pubs
Totes over happy hour on Ozzy road? There’s much more to Newcastle than Jesmond and the Toon. Head to The Cumberland Arms in Byker and make a Geordie bezzie for life over a game of scrabble and pint or 6 of pale ale. Head to hidden gems such as The Forth and The Head of Steam, where you’re much less likely to trip over someone called Hugo.
Scouting the reduced section
After sitting in the house all day pretending to work, wait until the clock strikes 6.50pm and head down to Tesco/ Waitrose reduced aisle. Treat yourself to a 25p Jamaican ginger cake and already stale bread rolls, which, at 15p, you can’t afford not to. If you’re lucky and ruthless you might manage to get a crusty Egg Mayo sandwich for lunch the next day. The phrase ‘you snooze you lose’ has never been more poignant as by 7.05pm you’ll be lucky to get a bag of brown rocket.
Library
As we all know, the library is not only a place of study, but also a social hotspot. Even if you’ve finished your exams, go get a table near the entrance: you can scout for talent, plug in your lappy, smart phone and hair straightners – and you don’t even have to worry ‘cause it’s absolutely FREE. Arrive in heavy granddad-esque knitwear, and then change into a bikini because this shit is hot. Just sit back and wait for the muggy, panic ridden air to wash over you and give you a hot flush. Oh look, there’s that guy you pulled in Perdu pretending to do his economics homework.
Cheese and Wine
Grainger market is a minefield. I’m talking Pineapple Wensleydale, Bucks Fizz Stilton, Sticky Toffee Cheddar and Black Bomber. Also at less than 3 quid a pop you can afford to get Tesco’s cheapest bottle or carton of red. Sit around with your friends, sample your cheeses and don’t feel guilty about using a colander as a bread basket. When everyone’s eaten their own body weight in cheese, just walk away and leave the cheese board and bread crumbs chillin’ so Ronald the Rat can help himself. Ellyn Bramley and Ellie Cropper
How to: Have a cheap date in the Toon Option 1: Tyneside Cinema
Option 2: Ice Skating
Option 3: Comedy Club
Your student loan is forever dwindling. Your kitchen cupboard is about as inspiring as a 9am lecture. You can’t remember the last time you felt romance that wasn’t fuelled by Tolstoy spirit. Sound familiar? If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to tash on with the hottie next door, check out The Tyneside Cinema, situated in the heart of the city centre. Originally designed as Newcastle’s News Centre in 1937, The Tyneside Cinema is a wonderfully traditional way to view brand new releases and old school classics, guaranteed to provide that warm cosy feeling inside. Student discount applies every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – but if
you’re really strapped for cash, free guided tours take place four times a week (your date doesn’t need to know you didn’t pay!) Whether you’re looking to excite your sweetheart with Skyfall, or make them melt with It’s a Wonderful Life, there’s something to suit even the most obscure tastes. Let’s face it, who doesn’t love a bit of hugging and a-kissing on the back row?! Call to book on 0845 217 9909, or pop in to the box office on Pilgrim Street, Newcastle.
Winter is fast approaching, so why not embrace the dropping temperatures and take your date to an ice-skating rink? You don’t have to be an Olympic skater to have a good time on the ice – in fact your inexperience could work to your advantage as it gives you an excuse to hold your dates hand ‘for support.’ Falling flat on your bum could prove to be quite the ice breaker (excuse the pun), for the embarrassment is sure to get your date laughing and from there conversation is sure to flow... There’s something undeniably romantic about skating when the festive season is approaching: the dark, cold
nights make huddling together for body-warmth an absolute necessity and the Christmas lights combined with well-known tunes can always be relied upon to create an enjoyable atmosphere. The Life Centre is opening their rink from the 10th November to the 24th February and will be open seven days a week! The price for a student is £6.95 for one hour, which makes this a very cheap yet cheerful dating idea.
It’s only been in Newcastle a year, but The Stand is one of the best places to go for comedy on any night of the week. Red Raw on Wednesdays gives you ten acts for only £2. That’s 20p per act! Nowhere else has a punchline-to-penny ratio that good. Although it’s technically an open Mic type night with plenty of local acts trying their stuff out for the first time,
the quality is still high, and it’s often headlined by somebody you’ve seen on TV once or twice. Plus, there’s a nice bistro upstairs if you’ve got a little more cash to spare. Call to book on 0844 693 3336, or head to their website http://www.thestand.co.uk/.
Eleanor Moore
Tara-Theodora Fenttiman
Rebecca Price
Vox pop: Do students know how much they’re spending? Cath lives in denial Course: 1st Year Maths ek? £80 How much do you spend a we Food? £50 Going out? £20 Other? Chocolate e Budgeting tips? Share deals lik atfl a h ‘buy one get one free’ wit mate. What do you splurge on? Clothes, when I know I shouldn’t! I use my card and pretend it’s not real money.
Bargain of the Week Waitrose soups, on offer at the moment 2 for £3.50 in store. These are huge and each one is easily a full meal / a starter between two. Coming in a range of interesting flavours, they are fantastic value for money. Christy Clemence
Phil’s a big spe n
der on a night
Course: 3rd Yea neering and Bu r Chemical Engisiness Management How much do you spend a week? £80 Food? £25-£30 Going out? £5 0-£60 Budgeting tips? budget I don’t When I’m on a splurge on any extras. Biggest drain on money: ALCOHOL
out
Rosie takes it one day at a time Course: 1st Year Sociology How much do you spend a week? £80ish Food? £20 Going out? £40 Budgeting tips? I try to know how much I’ve got in my bank account. Then I count how many days there are until Christmas and divide my bank balance by that number to work out how much I’m allowed per day. Katie Smith
The Courier
sex&relationshipslifestyle.27
Monday 19 November 2012
thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Life
Blind Date
Jennifer Evans, 3rd year English Literature, meets Ross Towers, 2nd year Chemical Engineering Jennifer on Ross
Ross on Jennifer What’s your usual type? Normally I’d go for brunettes. I like girls who are down to earth, laid back, and can make me laugh. I’m fairly flexible other than that though.
What’s your usual type? At the risk of sounding cliché tall, dark and handsome. Preferably a rugby player. Preferably Sonny Bill Williams.
First impressions? I was quietly content that she was a brunette. We were both wandering around a packed SPY bar having no idea who we were supposed to meet. Even though we do completely different courses we had some things in common elsewhere. I liked the fact she was into sport, it’s all I ever talk about to be honest!
First impressions? Thank god, he’s taller than me. He texted saying I’m the one in the purple hoody and there was another guy at the bar in a purple hoody who was about 5ft 4, think I would have left right then if that was actually him!
Would they have caught your eye if they were walking down the street? I think I’d have given her a second glance actually; I liked her dress sense when I first met her so I think I’d notice that if I saw her walking down the street. What was the weirdest thing you talked about? We talked about what object would we use to replace a lost arm. I think I suggested a baseball bat and Jen came up with tongs. I can’t really remember how the conversation took such a detour but even so it was weirdly funny! Any awkward moments? Unfortunately for Jen and I, my mates found it funny to follow me to SPY bar without me realising. They thought it would be hilarious to sit at the table next to us and shout vulgar words across to us! I made the swift decision to change seats and thankfully they didn’t follow us. Did anyone dominate the conversation? No I wouldn’t have said so. We both had a lot of things to share and the conversation flowed pretty well I think. I am fairly quiet at times so Jen may have taken over without me even realising. Halfway through the date, would you have ‘No likey, no lightey’-ed by now? I’d have been slightly tempted to turn the light off when Jen told me she was terrified of dogs because there is a fair few back at home on our farm. She also went on to say that she’s allergic to practically any farm animal so I don’t think she’d have been making too many appearances to my place! What was their most attractive physical feature? Probably her eyes. Even though her hair was nice too! What was their worst personality trait? Definitely her Yorkshire accent. Nah, I joke I didn’t really notice any trait that bothered me too much! Do you think they fancied you? That’s a tough one actually. We were only at the bar for a couple of hours so it’s hard to say really. Even if she didn’t I think she enjoyed the date…well I hope so anyway! Were you tempted to lean in for a kiss? It was in the back of my mind, but I wanted to avoid taking the risk of making a complete clown of myself on the first date; especially when it was going fairly well.
Would they have caught your eye if they were walking down the street? I wouldn’t say he’s the kind of guy that would make me stop in my tracks no. What was the weirdest thing you talked about? Greek mythology, somehow we got from Lord of the Rings to discussing whether Achilles was gay or not. Any awkward moments? When he said he’d rather be watching X Factor, cheers. And when his mates shouted he’s got chlamydia and then he’s a virgin- pretty sure that’s medically impossible! Oh and when I said ‘Thanks for a nice earring’, two nights out in a row had evidently taken their toll. Did anyone dominate the conversation? No, we both didn’t shut up all evening. Halfway through the date, would you have ‘No likey, no lightey’-ed by now? I would have to say no, as in I wouldn’t have turned my light off. What was their most attractive physical feature? Definitely his eyes. What was their worst personality trait? I feel really horrible for saying this but his love of animals. To any other girl this would probably be endearing but I am allergic to pretty much every animal and petrified of dogs. Sense this would be very problematic as he lives on a farm. Do you think they fancied you? Well he did ask me if I’d like to go get a coffee some other time at the end of the date, so I think so. Were you tempted to lean in for a kiss? Unfortunately no. He seemed like a really nice guy but I just didn’t fancy him. Would your parents approve? Definitely, he used to be a long distance runner so he’d definitely get along with my dad, the preference for football over rugby might be problematic though.
Would your parents approve? Yeah definitely! My dad would love the fact she’s into sport and well, as for my mum, she likes to be picky but I think they’d like Jen a lot.
Marks out of 10? 7/10
Marks out of 10? I’d say 8.
Snog, marry or avoid? I’d say marry as he seemed like a nice guy.
Snog, marry or avoid? On reflection, I found her dead easy to talk to as well as being attractive so I’ll go with snog.
Unlucky in love? The Courier is here to help! Send your details to c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk
Jonathan Lipfriend
Lost in translation
#1 - Body language never lies
Sitting on a crowded train reading a copy of Heat would make most men feel pretty uncomfortable. I am no exception. However, surreptitiously flicking through the pages of an abandoned copy to pass the time (my laptop wouldn’t play the episodes of Suits I had downloaded), I noticed a general theme emerging. All of the content seemed to be either unintelligible to the average man, relating to celebrities whom I am reasonably certain are made up, or concerning the apparently difficult and delicate art of understanding the male psyche. How a multi-million pound industry can be based on these principles puzzles me immensely. Possibly my favourite example was on page 55 (not that page numbers are relevant in a copy of Heat). Here a ‘body language expert’ gave an in-depth analysis of a piggy-back ride involving some model and a bloke off Strictly. I merely thought, aww, that’s nice, a quasi-celebrity couple having a laugh. Oh no. I learned from Heat’s professional that if we look at how she is holding his neck and the fact that, at the precise second the photo was taken, he was not clasping her leg, we can see that actually there may be trouble in paradise. I don’t want to seem too cynical but my first thought was that their expert might be ever so slightly mental. However, as I was hiding the copy of Heat from the ticket inspector and assuring myself that none of the girls I knew could ever over-analyse a simple situation to this extent, I remembered all those arguments, discussions and crazy moments my girlfriend had generated which made less sense to me than Heat’s fashion section on page 82. Body language is a classic case. Ladies, imagine you are on a night out and despite your best hinting and signalling, the guy you’re after is still dancing with his mates. Now, think back to this article and remember: subtle hints do not work. Even what appears (to you at least) to be a blindingly obvious hint will probably fall way short of the limits of a drunken man’s understanding. Smiling at a guy across a crowded dance floor may have worked in those cheesy 90’s rom-coms but it won’t work in Sinners or Basement. I am not saying that all fault lies with girls for over-analysing. That would be unfair. Most guys (me included) are completely oblivious to any sort of hint or sign. This must be maddening, especially when the hints seem more obvious than Nicki Minaj’s plastic surgery. Unfortunately, just because I’m aware I can’t pick up subtle hints doesn’t mean I will be able to in future. Add to this the slim chance of either sex changing their ways and you understand the scale of the issue. So, do I think this article will change anything? Not really. I think the best I can hope for is a few more girls pulling in Sinners and a few more guys knowing why they are sleeping on the sofa.
28.lifestyle
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_life
Naked Bakin’
Diary of a Party Girl
Apple Crumble Sometimes looks don’t matter and you don’t want anything fussy or fanciful, but instead something simple and filling that sends warmth to your heart. Served with custard or ice cream, the homely apple crumble is a dessert that meets everyone’s needs, no matter what they are. Although some of you may be reminded of Sunday roasts at home with your parents and others may be reminded of school dinners, I promise that this recipe offers you so much more than those memories; a new level of sticky, saucy loveliness that simple satisfies. This recipe maximises the joys that can be found in apple crumble, by doubling the amount of crumbliness and trebling the amount of sauce. One important factor of this recipe is that the apples retain their shape and texture as well as being smothered with caramelised sauce, because there is nothing worse than a soggy mess that you have to disguise with a bucket load of custard - although my house and I are fans of the philosophy ‘the wetter the better’, so lots of custard is a winning situation. I hope I have sufficiently whet your appetite; now let’s get down and dirty with a classic. Get ready to crumble! You will need: A large bowl A midsized dish you can put in the oven For the crumble: 240g plain flour 120g caster sugar 120g butter (make sure you take it out of the fridge beforehand as it needs to be as malleable as possible) For the fruity goodness: A bag of apples (normally around 700g) 100g butter 100g Demerara sugar (golden caster sugar works just as well) 1 tsp of mixed spice 1. Heat the oven to 190C/ 170C/ Gas mark 5. Tip the flour and sugar into a large bowl (sieving isn’t really necessary in this situation). Chop the room temperature butter into cubes and add it to the flour/ sugar mixture; rub it in with your fingertips until it makes a light breadcrumb texture. Sprinkle over a baking sheet and bake for around 20 minutes.
#4 - Vanity Lavinia Eastwood After approximately two months of being in second year and living in a mixed 8-man house, the differences between girls’ and boys’ approaches to going out is becoming clear. The amount of time the four girls spend getting ready appears to baffle the men of the house- hold. The boys like to make out that all they need is twenty minutes to shower and whack in some hair wax in order to transform into some kind of demi-god, and maybe this is the case for some. However I refuse to believe that men are less bothered about their appearance than us girls, especially as we are living in the land that spawned ‘Geordie Shore’. Since moving up to Newcastle, I regularly find myself envious of the glowing tans, pristine hair and groomed eyebrows that surround me, despite the majority of them belonging to men. Is this what is normal now? Are we supposed to be okay with this? I’m not so sure. A few evenings ago, I was outside having a cigarette with a few people and waiting for a taxi into town. Suddenly, one of the girls I was with pointed up into the top window of the opposite house where we could quite clearly see a guy standing in
Restaurant Review The Brasserie at The Sage
front of his mirror, checking over his outfit for the upcoming night out. Excellent viewing, as you may imagine, but only to be made about five million times funnier when he lifted up his arms and began tensing his muscles. Hello ladies! This man was on the prowl tonight, and he wasn’t about to be stopped by the fact that his top was designed for a seven year old girl. I’m not saying there’s no place for a little vanity in the male species, and have no leg to stand on when it comes to criticising spending hours getting ready (though if I did, be in no doubt that it would be of the uber-exfoliated, smooth and tanned variety). I am willing to put up my hands and admit I have been that girl sitting on a pile of clothes crying about having nothing to wear, and having a minor meltdown over a piece of hair that Just Won’t Straighten. But does it really matter? What is it about Newcastle that means we can’t resist spending two hours making ourselves beautiful, just to go out and ruin it all faster than you can say, “Six Jagerbombs please”? If boys stopped pretending that they aren’t partial to the odd spritz of hairspray/ fake tan/ guyliner (we’ve seen your eyes in the day-time,
Opening times: Daily: 12pm to 4pm and 5pm - 10pm The Sage, St. Mary’s Square Gateshead NE8 2JR
2. Whilst the crumble is cooking, peel and cut the apples into mid-sized pieces. Melt the butter and sugar together in a medium saucepan over a low heat, until it makes a caramel mixture after about 4 minutes - stir constantly so it doesn’t burn to the bottom. Add the apples and mixed spice to the caramel mixture and cook for around 8 minutes until the apples are slightly soft but not too much. Take off the heat and allow the apples to cook for another 2 minutes in the warmth. The caramel will thicken slightly. 3. Put the apple mixture into the ovenproof dish and sprinkle the crumble over the top, then bake in the oven for 10 minutes. 4. Serve with custard, ice cream or cream to make the dessert your own.
Although I have never been one to be bothered by the atmosphere when I am eating, or company really - I am a ‘it’s me and the food’ kind of girl when you combine a view of the quayside at night with live jazz, even I could appreciate and enjoy the pretty unbeatable set up for a my meal. Jazz at The Brasserie at the Sage is a Friday night special which offers 3 courses for £15 or 2 for £12; I know what you are thinking, fantastic value already. This is a perfect setting for a date, a celebration or for those weekends when you fancy loving yourself rather than destroying yourself in Sinners. I started with a tomato and goat’s cheese tart with balsamic dressing, which was beautiful; the flavours really complimented each other and although the portion size was generous it wasn’t too much, which can occasionally happen when goat’s cheese is in dishes. Served with a side salad and
balsamic dressing, it was the perfect start to a meal as it whet your appetite without making you feel like the next course would be a struggle. For the main course - alongside a bottle of house white wine - my friend and I both had pan-fried coley with crushed new potatoes, cabbage and a seafood sauce; one of the best seafood dishes I have ever tasted. The fish was beautifully cooked and really fresh and was perfectly paired with the sauce, which was creamy but flavoursome. We had considered getting sides of vegetables or the almost painfully tempting homemade chips, which we saw come out of the kitchen looking phenomenal, but in the end, despite the portion size not being massive, we were both contentedly full afterwards - although of course we had room for dessert. It is fair to say the pudding was the crowning glory of the meal, and I am not just saying that because
remember, and they are definitely not that dark and mysterious) and girls realised that half an hour into your Victoria 22 visit, that hair drama just will not matter anymore, maybe we could all get on with turning ourselves into the messes we all know and love. It’s dark, we’re all drunk and anyway, I’d be far more worried about the bright lights of the 24 hour McDonalds where we will all inevitably end up.
Illustrations: Francesca Ede and Daisy Billowes
“One of the best seafood dishes I have ever tasted” I have a sweet tooth. I had a banana crème brulee which was absolutely brilliant, fruity and creamy with a perfect caramel top - need I say more? Oh yes, it was served with shortbread biscuits - utterly wonderful. I politely let my friend try my pudding but it was offered with total bitterness, as it was one of those too-good-to-share things. My friend had sticky toffee pudding which was lovely and ridiculously large, which in any desert situation is the best possible scenario. Her desert was served with lashings of caramel sauce and ice cream, and through the ‘mmmm’s and ‘this is sooo good’s that were sophisticatedly mumbled whilst she ate, I got the message that she really enjoyed it. The music was a wonderful addition to the evening without being too loud that we couldn’t hear our conversation, and the staff were really attentive, polite and happy to help which to me is essential to a good meal out. The Jazz at the Brasserie offer only continues until the 21st December so for any winter special occasions coming up this is the perfect place. It comes with a lip-smackingly good seal of approval. Sally Priddle
The Courier
lifestyle.29
Monday 19 November 2012
Lifestyle Editors: Em Rae, Catherine Davison and Ellie Cropper Online Editors: Rosie Devonshire and Colette Hunter
Linguistics Society dip into Salsa in a swap with the Latin and Ballroom Society
A society swap with the Latin and Ballroom Society? Yes they said. Salsa dancing? Yes they said. All of the Linguistics Society committee? Yes they said. It would appear however that the thought of wiggling those hips and getting down and dancey was a bit much for some. The brave two left to face the music were Katie (2nd Year Linguistics with French), and Peter (MA Linguistics, European Languages). One of us a first timer, and one of us with a sneaky bit of experience with his snake-hips having lived in Colombia for two years; both however equally excited and keen to get stuck in. First came the basic steps, which were reasonably easy for a beginner - and maybe a bit too easy for others! With such a big turnout those of us with two left feet may have stood on a few toes but that’s all part of the fun… apparently. Especially kind was the attempt to recreate an authentic Latin American climate - it turns out you get super-sweaty in a room filled with people doing salsa. After getting the basic steps down, it came to being partnered up; now, Peter was doing well at this point. As one of only 5 guys in the room, he was in high demand! Katie on the other hand (at an annoyingly tall 6 foot) was finding it hard to find somebody to match her level. The Latin and Ballroom committee got stuck in to even out numbers and we casually swapped partners every couple of minutes, much like at a swingers party (so we’ve been told...) Katie managed to style out the momentary solo moments by drawing on her folk dancing roots - watch this space for Manx-salsa catching on! This chopping and changing was great for getting to know everyone, and after the initial awkwardness of holding a sweaty stranger’s hands, it was easy to get into having a really good time! When we were danced out we had a well-deserved break and a chance to get to know everyone better after which everyone was invited to stay for the next hour; a chance which Peter obviously jumped at. Katie slopped off quietly! All in all, a society swap with the Latin and Ball-
room Society could have been disastrous, but was definitely one of the best we could have done. It was great fun and we met some great people - not least the committee who were always on hand to give much needed, if not necessarily deserved, praise. We are both planning on going back next Tuesday night, and bringing friends along too; we might even manage to drag the rest of the LingSoc committee along! Thanks Latin and Ballroom and hope to see you soon! Hasta luego! Katie Entwisle and Peter Browning
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever Salsa danced? If I bump into someone from the Latin and Ballroom Society on a night out then we always have a cheeky salsa dance in the middle of the dancefloor. What else does the society have to offer? Salsa classes are on a Tuesday; 8pm Beginners 9pm Intermediate. They also hold Ballroom classes where they teach a variety of dances on a Thursday at the same times.
Fancy trying something new and promoting your own society in the process? Get involved with Society Swap! Email us at c2.lifestyle@ newcastle.ac.uk or tweet us @Courier_Life.
Em Rae, regular member of the Latin and Ballroom Society, discusses how they did... How do you think Katie did for her first attempt at Salsa? She was a bit nervous beforehand but the class was really relaxed and she very quickly picked up the core basic step that Salsa dancing stems from. Peter’s done a bit of dancing in Columbia before, was he a natural? Peter was full of confidence right from the beginning of the lesson and was shimmying away in no time. He knew some of the moves from his time spent teaching in Columbia, where apparently in nightclubs this is how people dance. Kind of hard to imagine in the clubs of Newcastle… As society member and regular dancer yourself, have you ever used your moves to impress a guy? Unfortunately I think my Salsa dancing abilities
Hottie of the Week Andrew Smith-Harwick Interviewed by Ellyn Bramley and Ellie Cropper
would send a guy running in the wrong direction.
Course: Accounting and Finance, st 3 Single or Taken: Single What’s your best feature? My hairy chest. My signature look is just a tuft of hair poking out of the top of a slightly buttoned down shirt. People like love stroking it. What’s your best chat-up line? I don’t need them; look at me! What’s your fitness regime? Interpretive dance and going crazy in CCTV. What do you look for in a potential date? A good sense of style and banter with a capital ‘B’. Most unattractive moment? Lying in my own sick outside The Den after playing chin the bin, best button down ruined. What’s your perfect date? A romantic meal for 2 at Maccies followed by a night out at Digital getting my groove on, then another Maccies – or a donner kebab… your choice.
Trending Topics of the week #RemembranceSunday A top trend on Twitter as we take pride in remembering those who sacrificed their today for our tomorrow. #BeiberandSelena As usual, the ‘Beliebers’ take over as news breaks that Justin and Selena split last week. Sources say the break up was due to their ‘crazy schedules’ and speculation that something is going on between Barbara Palvin (a Victoria’s Secret model) and Beiber after various tweets between the two.
With Louisa HarringtonSmythe 10 Nov It was Freddie’s 24th birthday at the weekend (old right, but it’s cool cos he took 3 gap yahs and really made a difference) so the whole gang went to his country house in Alnmouth. It was sick. His parents have got this amazing quaint 10-bed house on the beach. Such a shame it wasn’t his 21st because then we could have gone abroad. We went to the South of France for George’s big 2-1 last summer and borrowed his dad’s friend’s yacht and sailed along the Cote d’Azure. So just a quiet weekend, turns out you can’t shoot everywhere so the boys were livid. The wild boar head above the fireplace in the drawing room was just teasing them about all the shooting fun we could have had if we’d have gone to Norfolk - pheasant galore. On Saturday we went to this cute pub, but they didn’t have a happy hour, which was unnerving. I asked the bar guy where the button was because it was 5 so should have started. So had to pay full price, which was absolutely fine. In the evening we set up a fire on the beach and all wore our biggest Abercrombie hoodies and bobble hats. It was even colder than Jesmond. Love those nights when we all just sit round listening to Ben Howard and lapping up our own self-importance. We just feed off each other, you know? 11 Nov Well it’s Sunday night and it’s back to the old stomping ground. Absolutely exhausted but managed to drop my stuff back at MHR102 (Manor House Road) in time for spinning. Got the Raleigh out: vintage green, standard. Cycled to the gym, had a great work out but came out to find some cruel bahstard had stolen my custom made wicker basket with my initials printed on the front. I rung Daddy immediately and he said to not even worry and he’d sort it. I was so upset I rung Henry to come pick me up. He was in Blanc but he’d do anything for me. He’s taking me skiing in the first week of January, I always get so depressed after Christmas so it helps to get away from it all.
#Obama After the news that Obama had been re-elected for a second term the support on Twitter rocketed, making #Obama the trending topic of the week.
13 Nov Back to uni after a fun yet somewhat traumatic weekend. Grabbed my History of Art notes and a notepad, which I usually put in the front of my bike basket, but couldn’t today because someone had stolen it last night - did I mention that? So just had to carry them in my hand. I would get a bag but I wouldn’t want it to ruin my posture. It’s j u s t not my thing. Had one lecture then went for lunch with Hettie. Decided on Pret, where else? I got a salad and a sparkling mineral water, but I was still so upset I couldn’t bring myself to eat it. Hettie was so supportive and said that some people just can’t afford their own wicker.
TWEET OF THE WEEK: Elizabeth Windsor @Queen_UK ‘The DoE just text Mitt Romney: “Loser”. No reply.’
Ellie Cropper, Ellyn Bramley and Frances Allenby
#TheCocaColaAdvert Too early or the mark that Christmas is coming? Either way, year after year everyone loves the Coca Cola advert, with the excitement of Christmas beginning to spread. #VictoriasSecret The V.S fashion show having taken place this week, everyone on Twitter has something to say about it. Including performances from stars such as Rihanna and Justin Bieber, the show seems once again to have been a smash success.
Jess Belton
Illustrations: Francesca Ede
30.arts
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
Arts Editors: Lisa Bernhardt and Millie Walton Online Arts Editors: Grace Harvey
Print Versus Popcorn
Leading lady: Claire Wild Arts Editor Millie Walton talks to opera singer Claire Wild about Don Giovanni, rehearsing and the gangnam style
C
This week, our columist Shaun Thomas discusses whether the transition of Harper Lee’s American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird from print to screen was a success
B
oth the film and the book are well celebrated; the book received the Pulitzer Prize and the film was nominated for eight Oscars, winning three. However, they both deal with the story in unique ways. The action takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, and follows Jean Louise Finch, or ‘Scout’, and her brother, Jem, and friend Dill, over the course of three years. Their father, Atticus (Gregory Peck), is the lawyer defending Tom Robinson, a black man charged of raping a white woman. The biggest difference between the novel and the film is the point of emphasis. In the film, the children’s sub-plots are placed in the background, and the trial of Tom, and how Atticus’ family copes, is the key focus. This allows Peck to shine as an actor and the added time given to the trial adds depth to the issue of race. Atticus is approached to defend Robbins at the very beginning of the film, meaning that, from the onset, Robbins and Atticus are identified as the heroes, and Bob Ewell, father of the alleged raped girl, the villain.
laire Wild’s operatic repertoire is enviable to anyone on stage, having played some of the most sort after roles in the business, but her feet have stayed firmly planted to the ground: ‘It’s just such a privilege to be able to do what you love as a job: acting, singing, meeting new people. I couldn’t ask for more.’ Maybe it’s her refusal to live up to the melodramatic ‘leading lady’ stereotype that makes her so popular amongst the opera big wigs or perhaps it’s just pure talent. Whatever the reason, Claire has done it again, landing the role of Zerlina in Opera North’s newest production of Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’. As one of Mozart’s best-loved operas it offers a rare mix of comedy, powerful drama and stunning music, following the story of the philandering eponymous hero to his inevitable downfall. And yes, it is sung in Italian – the language of love (with English subtitles for the nonmultilingual members of the audience). Aside from the language, I am curious to know whether Opera North have something new to offer or are rigidly faithful to Mozart’s enduring classic. She explains that ‘it stays true to the story, but it’s defi-
nitely not traditional. For starters it’s set in three different time periods. It’s fresh and unexpected. I, for one, have never seen a Mozart production like this before’. Way to build the suspense Claire! Straying into unknown territory can be risky and especially where Mozart is concerned – it’s sure to start a controversy amongst the opera traditionalists, but Claire is not to be swayed. ‘The tour has been fantastic so far. We’ve had some amazing responses and the great thing is we’re having as much fun as the audience.’ For such a big production, the cast, amazingly, only rehearses for seven weeks before hitting the stage. I’m curious to know what the rehearsal period is like for an opera- how do the cast manage the physical side of things whilst singing their lungs out? ‘During rehearsals you have to work out what is physically possible whilst maintaining the singing. Rehearsing is my favourite part – it’s like a big play room, but you have to do a lot of individual preparation beforehand.’ I also ask how Claire feels about playing Zerlina – how does it compare to her previous roles? ‘I’ve played so many different roles: children, priestesses and even animals.’ Even the theatrical superstars have to crawl around the stage, pretending to be a cat… ‘Zerlina is fun, she’s a really comedic character: a girl who can’t say no. She’s probably one of my favourite roles.’ Finally, the big question: how does the show appeal to students? For the majority of us the word opera is like saying ‘Voldemort’, I mean ‘the one who can’t be named’, so why should we go see ‘Don Giovanni’ when it comes to Theatre Royal in November? ‘It’s accessible with loads of modern elements that students can relate to such as puppetry, dick and dom, and it even features gangnam style! Also it’s really easy to understand and basically, it’s just such a giggle’. That’s me persuaded! See Claire in Opera North’s Don Giovanni at Theatre Royal 14 - 17 November
The very best of Jim Shaw Georgina Grant payed the new exhibition by the extremely prolific American artist at the BALTIC a visit
L However, the novel thrives on the ambiguities of human nature. The reader is in Scout’s head and shares her questions about the people around her, and their hypocrisies. The film could not do this successfully, whilst retaining its power, because of the difficulty of portraying the thoughts of a first person narrator. It means that the book feels more personal, but less outwardly dynamic. Both, however, are moving. In the novel, the reader is not informed of the trial until later; Scout is called names in the school-yard over the issue and then asks Atticus about it. We are slowly drip fed information about the trial, reflecting Scout’s own method of discovery. In contrast, the film does not withhold information from the audience, and, in my opinion, is lacking because of it. It adds tension to the novel and evokes sympathy for Scout as a character. Following the lives of the three children provides a welcome contrast to the seriousness of the trial. The characters Jem, Scout and Dill are also much more developed, as the novel takes time to introduce them at the beginning. As a result, the novel is substantially more complex than the film. Although Peck gives a fantastic performance in, arguably, one of the greatest films of all time, the book’s deep poignancy tips the balance for me. Lee not only created a commentary on racial issues, but a complex exploration of growing up and discovering the world around you. Join the discussion at www.thecourieronline.co.uk/arts
ast Friday, BALTIC hosted a party to celebrate the autumn/winter season of their exhibitions. In particular, it was a chance to have a sneak peek at Jim Shaw’s The Rinse Cycle before everyone else. Based in Los Angeles, Shaw is one of America’s most important contemporary artists. His exhibition spans two floors of BALTIC and for the first time, brings together the international extent of his work. It includes more than 100 paintings, videos, drawings and sculptures from the past 25 years. Shaw’s fascination with the imagery of popular culture, art history, religion, politics and his own unconscious mind, is reflected uniquely in his work. He is very much open to influences and is known to have no set style, moving quickly from
one project to the next to avoid what he sees as a ‘creative trap’. As such, the exhibition was a mixture of the weird and wonderful. There were vast paintings of flying hairdos, a sculpture of a giant nose and drawings of art objects he had dreamed about. There is no doubt that his work has huge visual impact. As for the party, the turnout was brilliant and the crowd was a diverse mix. The bar served exhibition themed cocktails (it was a tough choice between a Manlicker or an Octopus Vacuum) and DJ smooth provided excellent 90s funk-style music. All in all, it was a great preview party, promoting The Rinse Cycle as a must see exhibition; just make sure you give yourself enough time to look around - there’s a lot to take in!
above: Hairdo (2012) by Jim Shaw, a limited print sold at the Baltic to the left: Heap (2005) by Jim Shaw ‘The Rinse Cycle’ will be at the Baltic until 17 February 2013.
The Courier
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Monday 19 November 2012
thecourieronline.co.uk/arts c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_arts
Introducing Newcastle Uni’s Art Department
previews
Ersatz
Stand-up Comedy Show
omething has gone wrong with Sheila Cartmell. Behind the life that she has found herself living, is the life that she ought to have lived. After being suspended for her work at a school for attacking a pupil, she has begun to write letters that can never be read. While her family desperately try to turn back the clock and rediscover the person they feel they have lost, their lives begin to unravel until grief can only be relieved by revenge. Premiering at the People’s Theatre, Ersatz is Kevan Ogden’s first play and is also the winner of the People’s Play Award, which in conjunction with New Writing North aims to discover and develop new theatre writers from the North East Region. Previous winners of the award include Peter Staughan co-writer of the Bafta and Oscar nominated film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. This gripping drama, staged in the intimate Studio Upstairs promises to be both thought provoking and affecting and is a fantastic example of the wealth of new writing emerging from the North East today.
ancy something different this November? Then head down to the Live Theatre for some raw comedy talent. For the last six weeks graduates from the stand up comedy course in Newcastle have been perfecting their acts for this one night only performance in order to showcase their talent. The amateur performances are sure to expose some hidden gems, and equally a few awkward silences, making for a highly entertaining evening. Much cheaper than your average comedy show (tickets are only a fiver) and certainly more unpredictable, it’s bound to be a hilarious night and you may just discover the next big thing. The school is renowned for its high calibre performances and professionalism of its graduates, meaning you will not be left disappointed. Doors open from 8am on Tuesday 20th November so skip the trebles just this once and support the students in their work.
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Kate Foster uncovers Newcastle University’s best kept secret: the Fine Art Department
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ou may have recently seen some rather inconspicuous cardboard sculptures dotted around campus and wondered where on earth did the giant wedding cake come from? The answer is from our very own fine art students. They’re an elusive bunch and seem largely to work under the cover of darkness, but they are responsible for some really fantastic exhibitions and events held throughout the year.
People’s Theatre 20 - 24 November
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Live Theatre 20 - 27 November
Georgia Snow
Alice Comyn
The Nutcracker
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Tyne Theatre 22 November
o get us all in the Christmas spirit, the Moscow Ballet - La Classique will be bringing their new magical production of the Nutcracker to Newcastle, for an evening of beautiful and mesmerizing ballet. World-renowned soloists Nadejda Ivanova, Ekaterina Shalyapina, Dmitry Smirnov and Andrey Shalin will lead the production under the direction of the superb Erik Melikov. Moscow Ballet - La Classique was founded in 1990 and has since gained an outstanding reputation, exciting ballet lovers all around the globe. Recent tours have included trips to Italy, Morocco, Spain, Egypt, Taiwan, China and France. The infamous Nutcracker is a classical ballet in two acts. Originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, accompanied by music from Tchaikovsky, it impressively graces hundreds of theatres around the world each year. With a perfect mix of fantasy and comedy (and a little touch of Christmas) the production will be a stunning and memorable evening. Definitely not one to miss! Milli Atkinson
reviews
The Video Forum: every Wednesday, Digital Media Suite An exciting new project has been launched to help all students interested in working in Video, Live Art, Performance, or TimeBased Media. The ‘Video Forum’ runs every Wednesday, from 12:30pm to 2pm, in the Digital Media Suite. This student-led Forum aims to provide a regular space for all interested students to discuss ideas and share their skills, with specialists being invited to present workshops. You don’t have to be a fine art student to get involved, so if you are interested go and see what it’s all about.
BROADCAST ONE: 17 November, Tower House Sunderland Part of the New Curators North East exhibition in Sunderland, BROADCAST ONE is a unique collaboration of film, performance and sculpture, featuring work from Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland art departments. The students are given the opportunity to exhibit their pieces in an environment that functions as an autonomous, holistic artwork. Hop on the metro to Sunderland for a night of film and live performance on Saturday 17th November at 6pm. The event will also be streamed live on the web: www.ustream.tv/channel/trcbroadcast so you really have no excuse to miss it!
The Annual Postcard Auction: 7 December, Fine Art Department Newcastle University’s BA Fine Art students are holding their annual Postcard Auction on Friday 7th December. This exciting event features a range of artworks from students, alumni, and established artists alike – including Damien Hirst and George Shaw. Visit the Fine Art Department from 5pm to view the works, before the live auction begins promptly at 7:30pm. All proceeds go towards the 2013 Fine Art Degree Show, and absolutely everyone is welcome, so bring your friends and perhaps start your own art collection!
One Man, Two Guvnors
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o believe the hype or not to believe the hype? The answer to this question is usually no (best example: the Twilight series. What a pile of...), but in case of Richard Bean‘s critically acclaimed take on an 18th century Italian comedy, you definitely should. The story of the ever-hungry Francis Henshall, played by Celebrity Juice‘s Rufus Hound, who takes two jobs from two different criminals and has to keep them apart is a light-hearted and utterly hilarious play that lives up to its expectations and will even make those without enthusiasm for theatre slap their thighs. Set in Brighton in the 1960s, One Man, Two Guvnors is full of eccentric characters, great live music and slapstick comedy like hardly any other current show at the West End (or anywhere else for that matter). And in case you wondered: There is even some audience participation that will make you both cry with laughter and unbelievingly gasp for breath. It might sound like the ultimate cliche, but One Man, Two Guvnors is a show that should not be missed- you will leave the theatre in an exceptionally good mood with a belly aching from all the giggles. Lisa Bernhardt
Beautiful Burnout
Bunker Blues
Theatre Royal 6 - 10 November
Live Theatre 9 - 10 November
Northern Stage 13 November
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n a tiny studio room, a few rows of chairs, a wartime planning table and two lockers awaited the audience, who, for the purposes of Bunker Blues, became the new recruits of Bunker 13, situated under a turnip field in Kenton. After being welcomed by the loud and militaristic Sergeant, we were introduced to the three other young women in the four-piece cast, all of whom continued to interact with the audience throughout the play. From passing notes down the front row to reading out radio information for the control centre in the tense battle scene, the audience were always part of the story. The actors negotiated the sparse stage skilfully, incorporating inference and mime to clearly move the story through time and place. This was true even when they played multiple characters, prompting some selfreferential comedy with the line: “Your mam looks a lot like the Sergeant!” The comedy was interwoven with frequent musical interludes and dancing to classics such as ‘Run Rabbit Run’, which encouraged some audience members to sing along, lightening the more serious themes. Overall, ‘Bunker Blues’ provided a fun and interesting insight into the different stories of wartime life. Jess Kadow
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he audience expectation might have been high, yet once again, Scott Graham and Stephen Hogget of the formidable physical theatre company Frantic Assembly did not disappoint. Following a long tradition of self deprecating British writers, Bryony Lavery’s Beautiful Burnout follows the story of Glaswegian, aspiring pro boxer Cameron Burns (Stuart Ryan) and his long suffering Mum (Julie Wilson Nimmo). Better known for her role in Balamory, Nimmo wears her mother’s duty as a badge of honour, supporting her ‘stripy tomcat’ and bringing the mundane realities and maternal terrors of boxing to a largely ignorant audience. Underscored by Underworld, there is a sense of urgency throughout the 90-minute performance, with crucial pieces of dialogue and choreography being kept to the strict three-minute rule of boxing. There is of course a love interest, and what sporting story would be complete without a friend-turned-nemsis grudge match, grande finale? The real reason Beautiful Burnout reigns champion is the stunning choreography you come to expect from Frantic Assembly bringing a relatively niche sport to the masses, teamed with Lavery’s captivating characters and a heart rending performance from the cast. Rebecca Kadansky
32.musicreviews
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
Music Editors: Chris Haywood and Sam Summers Online Music Editor: Sophie Coletta
Take Me Home
How To Buy...
One Direction
Big Band Jazz
T Big Band Jazz is widely unappreciated across many sections of society, but those sections are wrong. If you feel you come under this banner, here’s what you can do to better yourself. For Beginners: Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band: Swingin’ For The Fences Gordon Goodwin’s album, released in 2001, brings together a supergroup of instrumentalists that, whilst aren’t household names, certainly should be. Remember folks, this is the same band that brought you the epic theme tune to the film “The Incredibles”, (also worth a listen in its own right). The key to awesome jazz is tightness, between the rhythm section (the drummer, guitarist, pianist and bassist) and the horn section (everyone else), and these guys really know how to play as one. For trumpeters out there, hit up “Hunting Wabbits” to enjoy a cheeky Super-D note (hint – that’s fricken’ high.)
he next step in One Direction’s ‘musical journey’ has been the subject of a lot of speculation in the press, which is somewhat impressive as they have only existed for two years, released their first album last year and are now releasing their second. While their songs are undeniably pop-tastic, iTunes feels the need to take this one step further by naming the new album a “jubilant celebration of youth and good times.” This rather elaborate statement is in fact half true as the new album is compiled of some hand me downs from the then youthful 17 year old Ed Sheeran (including new single ‘Little Things’). ‘Live While You’re Young’ is the first track to be released as a single and according to iTunes it has “already captivated the globe with its call for hedonistic abandonment.” As usual the intro sounds remarkably similar to another song, this time the Clash’s ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go’. It soon comes into its own, however, and is 1D at their air punching best. iTunes wasn’t far wrong in its description as the video broke the Vevo record for having the most views in a 24-hour period with 8.24 million, knocking Justin Bieber to second place. In typical 1D fashion (I say typical, there’s only one album to compare it with) there’s a balance between the pop anthems, the slow brooding ballads and the Ibiza dance tracks. Likewise, lyrical content is standard for 1D; swooning after ladies that they feel inferior to. They said that this album would have a rockier edge with more guitars and drums. The only place this is evident is in the Michael Jackson-esque “oooow!” thrown into ‘Heart Attack’. Unfortunately this move backfired, and instead of sounding heavier, it just sounds like it’s been edited in to spice things up. The album seems more like a return to the days of N-Sync/Backstreet Boys with tracks that tweens will love like ‘Kiss You’ and
‘They Don’t Know About Us’. Despite the supposedly high credentials of the songwriters (Tom Fletcher, Ed Sheeran, and various other instant pop hit writing machines), some of the lyrics leave a lot to be desired. This includes the track ‘Rock Me’ which begins with Harry singing the line “Do you remember summer ‘09?” This is a tad premature as it took Bryan Adams 16 years
Free Reign
The Motorcycle E.P.
Clinic
For Experts: Maynard Ferguson Conquistador
Maynard may have passed away in 2006, but his legacy most certainly lives on. An inspiration for any trumpet player, this album features his take on the theme from Rocky, as well as some other mental ones like The Fly making it one of the greatest Jazz Albums of all time. Of course Jazz is quite subjective and many people may be disagreeing with me right now; some suggesting possibly Buddy Rich (one of the greatest drummers in the world), or even claiming that this album ended up as ‘watered down pseudo-jazz pop’, but really, any Jazz artist who brings the genre to the masses as Maynard did in the 1970’s deserves the respect of Jazz-lovers the world over.
For The Bin: Pat Methany Imaginary Day This album doesn’t really come under “Big Band”, but it’s quite hard to suggest a Big Band album ‘for the bin’. Leaning heavily toward world fusion, Methany tries to draw upon a variety of global influences, such as Indonesian styles and even hints at Iranian folk music. Whilst it ended up winning the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album, it just doesn’t really sit nicely alongside the big names of Jazz. It’s the kind of music that if played at a jazz club, would leave you both confused and upset. However, if you like your Jazz served with a mixture of Iranian and Scottish Folk, then I suppose this is your thing. William Lilley
I guess they can’t really be blamed for sticking to what they do best... before he sang a song about a past summer. Ed Sheeran’s handiwork, ‘Little Things’, includes the inspirational “You can’t go to bed without a cup of tea, maybe that’s the reason that you talk in your sleep.” Another heart-warming line is “’Cause I can’t compete with your boyfriend, he’s got 27 tattoos” (‘I Would’). In ‘Over Again’ an incredibly evocative metaphor is used: “Hole in the middle of my heart like a polo.” All in all, this album is exactly like the first. I guess they can’t really be blamed for sticking to what they do best. Aiming to produce a new album every year or so and with the possibility of a career spanning the length of Take That, we can expect at least another 10 albums! With One Direction infection spreading across the globe, it looks like it’s going to be a very long time till we say goodbye to these five boys.
If you like this, try ... Justin Bieber Believe
With Bieber’s third full-length record, the child prodigy matures into a fully realised pop sensation and finally begins to appeal to adults as much as he did to children.
Recommended download: ‘Live While We’re Young’ Rosanna Hutchings
Classick
Angel Haze
Frankie Cocozza
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linic, the eclectic Liverpudlian noise-rock band, are known for their eccentric live shows where they wear surgical masks and perform sat down with low-level lighting. This strange experience is much like their music. Retaining their heterogeneous roots, they sprinkle something completely new into the mix with their 7th self-produced album. The hypnotic repetitiveness of their music means you’re sucked in without even realizing it was even happening, and from the first listen you find yourself humming along to the riffs you didn’t know you’d been picking up on. ‘Free Reign’ is no exception to this, and if the cover didn’t ease your eyes into the psychedelia theme of this album then the sleek opening with ‘Misty’ and ‘See-Saw’, moving from lustrous to fast-paced, will definitely lull you in. ‘Miss You’ is an obvious stand-out track, with synthesized chord progressions providing the tantalizing backbone to the sultry vocals of Abe Blackburn. Yet they don’t merely stick to their previous quirks - instead shoving a little bit of everything in. ‘For The Season’ has that late-night coffee shop jazzy sound to it, and yet at the other side of the spectrum ‘Sun And The Moon’ throws in some 60’s vintage organ. It’s never cut and dry, and every track offers the listener something completely different whilst retaining a well put-together flow to it.
have a friend who told me once that when Frankie Cocozza was doing his rounds milking coming 17th or whatever he came in the X Factor, he was spat at in Liverpool. I thought this was harsh, because even though he was clearly a bit of a prick, he was just doing what anyone would do, and didn’t deserve a facefull of VK, phlegm and crisps in the Liverpool equivalent of Bambu. However that was before he started throwing his music at us. The Motorcycle is Cocozza’s first EP, and I am assured it is soaring up the iTunes charts, hot on the heels of JLS’ new album. Well that may be the case, but I think this is Frankie remembering his abuse at the hands of a nightclub, and this music is the equivalent of him spitting back at us. ‘She’s Got a Motorcyle’ is the initial hocking up of the greenie, whilst ‘Catastrophic Casanova’ is the substance of the thing, just gathering in his vengeful mouth. ‘Little Miss No Name’ and ‘You Blew It’ are the spitting of the thing, and it hitting us right in the ear respectively. That is how much you will enjoy listening to it. It is chunky spit, hitting you in the face, ears, and even going in your mouth a little bit. Then you should watch the music video to ‘She’s Got A Motorcyle’ because that’s when it hits you that he is going to be appearing on TV shows, singing this for real, and you’re going to end up watching it. And the worst part is, the song’ll be in your head for days afterwards... the knob.
lassick is a free self-released mixtape from NYC rapper Angel Haze. The six-track compilation is the 21 year old’s third release of 2012 and is another demonstration of her quick, agile flow. The songs feature reworked beats from existing artists, amongst them Eminem and Missy Elliot. The stand-out track ‘Cleaning Out My Closet’ sees Haze recount growing up in a house where sexual abuse was rampant. It’s a difficult theme, but she handles it’s with panache. Rejecting pity, she raps about overcoming her past by finding innertruth. It’s a powerful song that demonstrates precocious storytelling talent In ‘Bitch Bad’ Haze describes domestic abuse in a relationship and its effects on the children. The song points to the growth of the victim (the mother) as the only means to prevent the son from continuing this cycle of abuse. It’s an empowering take on such a situation, placing the responsibility with the victim and not the perpetrator. Like much of Haze’s music it is refreshingly honest and bold. Unlike contemporaries Azealia Banks and Nicki Minaj, Angel Haze isn’t trying to make more clubfriendly Hip-Hop. Her music is deeply lyrical and showcases profound self-expression. This is an impressive statement of intent from an artist willing to buck mainstream trends. Expect big things from Angel Haze in 2013.
Recommended download: ‘Miss You’
Recommended download: ‘She’s Got A Motorcycle’
Recommended download: ‘Cleaning Out My Closet’
Beth Durrant
Kris Holland
Head over to www.thecourieronline.co.uk/music for loads of exclusive album reviews, live reviews, interviews and features...
Mike Slaski
The Courier
localmusic.33
Monday 19 November 2012
thecourieronline.co.uk/music c2.music@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_music
sceNE: The Lake Poets
Confessions of a
Delving into the region’s exploding music scene, Charlie Dearnley brings you a sample of what the North East can offer you... Martin Longstaff is at the forefront of the thriving North East music scene, and with his indubitably beautiful and pure sound he is turning heads and hearts with each move he makes. It would take a heart of stone to remain untouched by the melancholic, solemn sorrow that his music evokes. The beautiful simplicity in the songwriting renders his music easily accessible and comprehendible. His musical proficiency shines through in his adept voice and finger picked guitar, and there is very little to detract from the lyrics. Each song is a poem; an expression of emotion that tugs on your heartstrings, and with each word delves deeper into a poignant narrative. He takes inspiration from many great poets as well as songwriters, such as William Wordsworth and Johnny Cash. This firm belief in the importance of lyrics and profound love of poetry echoes across Martin’s music, resulting in powerful and moving songs that strike a deep chord with the listener. Martin’s impressive aptitude in songwriting is
Upcoming Release The Lake Poets Rain
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he Lake Poets new single release ‘Rain’ is haunting, sorrowful and irrefutably beautiful. Singer-songwriter Martin Longstaff has created a captivating and mournful sound, with themes of love and loss reverberating
epitomized and rightfully acknowledged in his recent winning of the 2012 Alan Hull award: a £1000 bursary given to a songwriter from the north east, who shows an outstanding level of potential. Martin won with a unanimous vote, which is justifiable regarding the amount of time and work he throws into both his own career as a musician, and helping others to progress. Martin has professed himself as “an advocate of the maxim “All for one, and one for all”… a right musketeer.” He is continuously looking to help young bands and performers in the North East scene in an attempt to encourage its growth. Having experienced at first hand how difficult it can be to get recognised, he offers support slots at his concerts, and is happy to support other people. His work is often collaborative, playing with many people around Sunderland, and frequently involves a multitude of other musicians in his live performances. His new single release “Rain” and the B-Side “Edinburgh” are prime examples of
through every note. The simplicity of ‘Rain’ contributes immensely towards its emotive power, built around just a few chords nothing is detracted from the lyrics and the vocals are propelled to the forefront of the song. Martin’s vocals are evocative and unwavering, softly rising above tides of harmonies, crisp, clear and bursting with a beautiful sadness. The addition of piano and strings steadily introduced throughout the song, contribute towards the signle’s softness, with the piano providing a strong rhythmic feature that counters the vocal melody.
this with the input of The Futureheads’ front man Billy Hyde on piano and additional vocals. Along with the inclusion of many other musicians on the release, the result is an elegant, multifaceted and intricate sound. The intimate and relatable songs that Martin has created result in a touching live performance, and one that is not easily forgotten or over looked. With his “haunting and honest acoustic music,” he is renowned for creating a spine tingling atmosphere; whereby silent, awestruck and attentive, the audience hangs on every word with almost palpable concentration. With an exceedingly successful single release and the consequential triumph with the 2012 Alan Hull award, the only way is up for The Lake Poets. Martin’s unequivocally unique and beautiful acoustic sound, and his recent success should bring about the recognition he deserves and propel him to a wider audience; allowing his soft melancholic music to grace the ears of many new listeners.
The single release is partnered with the B-Side ‘Edinburgh,’ with a very similar feel to ‘Rain’ and a heavy focus on sorrowful, meaningful lyrics, the track is an idyllic accompaniment. Edinburgh incorporates a deeper exploration of different sounds, resulting in an intricately dramatic climax at the song’s conclusion. The stripped down, minimal, acoustic feel of ‘Rain’ is beautiful, and its official release should be met with huge success. Release Date: 3 December 2012
Oh, What A Night
Anthrax and Motorhead: Newcastle City Hall, Thursday 8 November
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trict seating policies and chairs that were bolted to the floor didn’t stop the 2000-strong crowd breaking free and rushing down the front of the stage to get involved in the action as soon as Anthrax launched into ‘Caught in a Mosh’. Whilst Anthrax are a well oiled machine, playing with total metal fury and absolute conviction for their entire runtime, it must be said that over the past few years I’ve seen these guys perform fourtimes, and their setlist has barely changed. I’m willing these guys to have some more faith in the new material from last year’s critically-praised ‘Worship Music’, or reinvent something from 2001’s John Bush-fronted stormer ‘We’ve Come For You All’.
Ever since Joey Belladonna returned on vocals, Anthrax have been playing things very safe, with tonight being no different except one extra track from Worship in the form of the devil-horn throwing, community-rallying epicness of ‘In The End’. These guys are definitely professionals when it comes to firing out solid riffs from well-honed metal classics, but we’re all ready for something more current than the last 25 years if Anthrax are going to continue to show why they’re one of the most reliable thrash-metal bands of all time. “So I told him, you’ve gotta stop drinking to get a hangover” Lemmy quips after telling an anecdote to the 2000-strong crowd after last year’s lead single and set-opener ‘I Know How to Die’.
Failed Rock Star
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fter we had assembled our members and given ourselves a catchy name, albeit not a very original one, we could concentrate on the meat and bones of our future careers: the songs. We came to the point, after playing ‘Rock Show’ by Blink and again, ‘If You Got The Money’, that we realised that no band ever made their millions from playing covers in the back room of a place in Wakefield where we were pretty sure a guy was dealing out of the front room. As everyone knew at the time, the world was looking for a band that could write songs about things that happened to them in the North of England. This was something that the Arctic Monkeys attempted, but they never really did much, so The Ridings were going to take over their mantle. Our
Progress was being made, and we knew Johnny Borrell and Carl Barat were just waiting for us around the corner with their favourite solvents and friendships... first song was a lovely piece called Nippers. The song featured lyrics that referenced strongbow, knives and bizarrely, spitting at tramps. Hindsight being the beautiful thing it is, it wasn’t us writing about our lives. We weren’t hard; every time I drank I threw up loads (still do) and the song just made us sound very angry and a bit like a bellend. But the majority of 16 year old lads are bellends, so I won’t lose sleep over it. Anyway, after we had penned this hit, we found that we had enough material to have our first real life gig. We tried to get a show at one of the Academies, the Roundhouse in London and Wembley Arena but they were all too fucking blind to talent to take us in, so we had to settle for a decadent shithole in Pontefract called The Counting House.
With one of the most iconic figures in the history of music at the helm, Mr. Kilmister is on fine form as always. There’s a certain attitude that follows these guys whenever they’re in town, and as the baiting audience lapped up every morsel of Lemmy’s infectious personality, you start to realise just how many Motorhead shirts are in the crowd tonight. This isn’t just a gig for these people; it’s a rite of passage. With almost 40 years in the game, Motorhead tore into material both old and new, and with songs as monstrously anthemic as ‘Going to Brazil’ and the career-defining ‘Ace of Spades’, there’s nay a body that remained still through the entirety of their set. Lemmy’s gargled-razorblade tone compliments Wizzo’s penchant for raucous wah pedal-fuelled solos, and Micky D’s extended drum solo in the middle of the set totally retained Motorhead’s crown of “everything louder than everything else”. You just can’t knock songs as massive as ‘Overkill’ and ‘Killed by Death’, no more than you can praise Motorhead’s tried and trusted bluesy hard rock sound they’ve owned over the years. I remember the first time I heard the new live version of Ace of Spades years ago, where after the pre-solo ‘I don’t wanna live forever’ lyric, he now shouts ‘but apparently I am!’, but I can now say after seeing these guys in a more intimate venue, Lemmy and co. will most definitely outlive us all.
I wore a pink shirt with a waistcoat and was drunk. These were the stand out features of a relatively shambolic set that impressed few, and resulted in my mum telling me off because she couldn’t understand anything I said, partly because of the out of date Stella I’d put away beforehand and partly because I was apoplectic with fear. So, like our first practice, our first song and gig were not setting anything on fire just yet, but progress was being made, and we knew that Johnny Borrell and Carl Barat were just waiting for us around the corner with their favourite solvents and friendships. It was a matter of time.
Scott Tailford
Kris Holland
The Courier
musicfeatures.35
Monday 19 November 2012
The Ex Factor With both One Direction and Frankie bringing out albums this week to varying degrees of success, it’s time to break out the X Factor Alumni Top Trumps for a look at some of the most – and least – memorable post-show careers... We asked Misha B what she thought of her fellow alumni. Find out how they score on the Misha Scale... Read the full interview at www.thecourieronline.co.uk/music n Jordan Lebber
Jordan Lebbern
Tim Sewell
Matt Cardle
Leona Lewis
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36.tvlistings
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
TV Editor: Chris Taylor Online TV Editor: Ben Parkin
Troopers of Telly We’ve had one anthropomorphic character already, but that’s not enough to stop Matt Tate from praising everyone’s favourite plasticine pal, Gromit
I
would like this week’s edition of Troopers of Telly to be dedicated to the infinitely wise, yet silent canine icon, Gromit. Not the first anthropomorphic character to earn a space in this column, though the title of top dog in TV is a highly contested one. I think the one that stands out the most in the category happens to be moulded from fairly generic plasticine clay, and only really communicates with his eyes. Like most dogs, Gromit doesn’t talk, he doesn’t even have a mouth, but with the slightest movement of his peepers he tells us exactly what he’s thinking. He’s like a mime artist that doesn’t even need to try, and his subtle expressions are as legendary as they are explanatory.
Gromit goes above and beyond the call of duty. He’s so much more than ‘a man’s best friend’, and would be much more accurately described as a grumpy but very affectionate bodyguard. Because they are both made of clay, it doesn’t tend to worry you too much that his blithering fool of an owner, Wallace, owes much of his general well-being, and on numerous occasions his life, to his pet dog. But he does. That his heart is in the right place is never in doubt, but Wallace is too easily seduced by cheese and women (aren’t we all), and is often oblivious to the dangers that confront him daily. But luckily Gromit is far more astute than his pal, quick to question the motives of a suspicious urban penguin, where the oblivious Wallace is all too easily lured in. The bad guys in Wallace and Gromit don’t tend to worry a lot about Wallace interfering with their schemes, but they never like Gromit. He’s onto them at once. A dog that understands being the sidekick of a hapless inventor with a big mouth is always going to attract danger. He may occasionally be required to commandeer a plane with a porridge gun, or destroy a malfunctioning pair of robotic trousers, and he fully accepts his duties. You really have to commend him. He’s been framed, embarrassed, and even unlawfully imprisoned, but like all good dogs, he remains fiercely loyal throughout. And despite the enviable adventures the two play-doh protagonists seem to have in each and all of their TV outings, given the choice Gromit would rather stick some Bach on the radio, sit down in his armchair and read the newspaper. As highly cultured, intellectual, heroic and quintessentially British animated dogs go; I’d say he is the one to beat.
Friday Night Lights Sky Atlantic, Tuesday 8pm hen someone says, “Hey, go and watch a show primarily about American football”, it probably doesn’t sit too well. For those with no knowledge or interest in American football, it’s a daunting prospect. But fear not, because Friday Night Lights is not at all what you might think it is. OK, yes it is about American football but it’s only about football as much as The Sopranos is about the Mafia. Like The Sopranos, it’s the stuff behind the scenes that properly matters; the family re-
lationships and friendships. Set in the fictional town of Dillon in Texas, Friday Night Lights is an adaptation of the book (and also the film) of the same name. One of those towns that sets aside its Friday evening to come together and watch the local team, the Dillon Panthers, everyone in Dillon knows each other thus creating many of the tensions that drive the series forward. Season 3, which Sky Atlantic have just caught up to, focuses on the aftermath of another Panthers failure as they miss yet another State Championship title. Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) struggles with this new pressure while coping with his new-born baby. QB Matt Saracen is under more pressure too, as his position is threatened by freshman J.D. McCoy, a new arrival with a natural talent and a more than persuasive father. After confron-
tations with his mother last series, Smash Williams gets a tryout for Texas A&M. The rest of the players try achieving their scholarships for college while juggling relationships, many of which are strained by such a task. But football takes a back seat here, the main focus being the relationships. It provides nothing more than a catalyst for the show and for these relationships. Many episodes don’t even feature any football whatsoever but, when they do, the atmosphere is electric as the entire town descend on the stadium to watch the team. With fantastic, engaging characters (with some of the best sub-plots of the previous series being devoted to the smaller characters), Friday Night Lights is definitely a touchdown. Chris Taylor
Hunted BBC1, Thursday 9pm
Stephen Fry: Gadget Man Channel 4, Monday 8:30pm
Geordie Shore MTV, Tuesday 10pm
or the past eight weeks, Hunted has kept us on the edge of our seats with its relentless twists and turns and, as its conclusion airs on Thursday, it looks set to go out with a bang (possibly quite literally if the producers want to take even more influence from Spooks). Former Home and Away actress Melissa George plays our endlessly pouting heroine Sam Hunter who works for private security company, Byzantium. When an attempt on her life is made in Tangiers, she is determined to find which member of her team betrayed her. She is quickly told to enter the home of super-rich Jack Turner, by befriending his widowed son, Stephen, under the alias of Alex, an American visiting England whose accent is much easier to understand than Sam’s. Whilst juggling trying to find the mole and dodging untrustworthy ex-lover Aidan, she soon finds herself in hot water as Turner grows increasingly suspicious of her. The finale looks set to reveal what mysterious organization Hourglass actually is, the real story behind the horrifying flashbacks of Sam’s childhood, and why exactly the suitably creepy looking guy with bad hair keeps injecting people in the eye. Stephen has grown incredibly attached to the woman he knows as Alex and will more than likely get his heart broken. With the body count getting higher by the minute, could Sam end up six feet under? Seeing as the BBC has announced a second series, I wouldn’t put money on it.
ver intelligent QI quizmaster Stephen Fry returns to our screens on Channel 4 with his new six part series Stephen Fry: Gadget Man, where he explores his love for all things gadgety. Of course this just seems like a Channel 4 version of The Gadget Show with Fry instead of that annoying bald guy, right down to being produced by the same company ‘North One’, though the series promises to be quite different. Each week Fry will be joined by a famous face that also enjoys their gadgets, to talk about what their favourites are, and how technology has impacted their lives. There will also be weekly challenges which promises to take the form of making an everyday task easier with the use of technology, kind of similar to The Gadget Show challenges, but more pitting gadgets against the human and less seeing whether a cheetah is faster than a camera lens shutter. An interesting aspect of the series is the promise of ‘large scale consumer checks’, pitting rival products head to head for the viewer’s benefit. This series could prove to be a hit for Channel 4, a mixture of a more than pervasive part of our everyday lives and an intelligent and engaging host in Fry. With Fry getting access to some massive future technologies as well as high profile ones, similar to the BBC 2 series James May’s Big Ideas, the show could be more than just The Gadget Show’s older, more sophisticated brother.
Chloe Carroll
Tim Sewell
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fter three seasons of Geordie Shore, MTV decided to treat us and air a fourth just to get us through these winter months. Oh ‘tis the season! Back in Newcastle after a season in Cancun (“for birds and banter!” according to Gaz), we see the regular cast (minus Jay and Becka) boosted with the addition of two new members Daniel and Scott, two ‘proper lads lads’ with that same, almostlikeable, obnoxiousness as the rest of the boys. The torrid love-affair between Charlotte and Gaz (the girl who cries a lot and the guy who sleeps with anything that has a pulse) still provides the ‘backbone’ to the show and the addition of a pesky boyfriend turns this into another strange love triangle. Will they or won’t they? God only knows. It’s no lie that when you watch this show you know exactly what you’re getting: a group of people who’ve been paid to act like complete idiots for the sake of our entertainment. And let’s be honest, I can probably guarantee that I’d see the same stuff if I parked myself in Sinners on a Friday night with a few trebles. Yet every time I chance upon an episode I’m glued to the sofa unable to turn the channel, and I hate to admit it but I’ve got this morbid need to see who hooks up with each other next. I don’t really care but at the same time I really, really do care.
Beth Durant
The Courier
featurestv.37
Monday 19 November 2012
thecourieronline.co.uk/tv c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_tv
Oven racks on racks on racks
Celebrity chefs concoct culinary treats from just what’s in their cupboards. Becca Price looks at why what’s actually in their cupboard is so damn ridiculous
Exemplary Episodes # 1: A Study In Pink
Everyone has a favourite episode they go back and watch over and over again. After much deliberation, Chloe Carroll settled for Sherlock’s ‘A Study In Pink’ as hers and tells us why it’s so great
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e know it’s all lies when a TV chef joins some Cornish fisherman in a little boat, and magically catches the biggest fish of the day. This fish is then cooked on a kitchen counter that somebody has set up on a nearby scenic beach. We know it’s all lies when we watch those Christmas dinner specials, where the presenter is noticeably sweating under the July studio lights. The dinner is then served up to a bunch of extras pretending to be friends and family who have apparently just dropped by. Food cooked hours ago and tinsel in July. Merry Christmas guys! But most of all, the food itself is usually a bit ridiculous. Put it this way. How many types of vinegar are in your cupboard? Do you even have plain old vinegar? How many types of vinegar can you even name? Many TV chefs seem to list about seven as daily staples, several of them with wine in them (and not even red or white, but Chinese rice wine, which burns like Satan’s saliva). They cook pota-
toes with goose fat. They visit high-end delis like the rest of us nip to the off-license (looking at you Nigel Slater. Oh what’s that? You just “happened” to have some left over duck breast this week? All I have left over is three slices of stale bread, half an onion and a bit of milk). This is out of reach of mere mortals, and even more so for students. Stereotypes may dictate that we live on nothing but takeaways and pot noodles, but most of us can manage a decent variety of dishes, most of which can be fed to other people. Thing is, knowing how to make the world’s cheapest curry doesn’t make good TV. Fancy food does. Food programs are to adults what Art Attack was to children; it doesn’t matter what simple things they are presenting in easy-to-do-steps, nobody is going to bother to do them. We’re lazy, we’ve collapsed in front of a TV for a quiet evening, and just want to watch somebody else create something nice. Cooking programs are like half hour versions of those old ‘not just a…’ M&S adverts; a way of
daydreaming about any food that looks better than the 58p ‘melted dog food flavour’ instant lasagne you’re currently eating straight from the microwavable packaging. You want to watch River Cottage in the same way that you watch shiny dramas about millionaires or children’s’ TV - it’s a nice place to momentarily escape to. A happy land where pigs frolic in vegetable patches before peacefully moving into their next life as luxurious bacon sandwiches. I think celebrity chefs and their TV backers are secretly aware of the gap between the way they cook and how normal people cook. Even the Jamie Oliver style ones with campaigns to get the nation ‘back to real food’ are designed as entertainment first and outreach second. That’s why so many celebrity chefs sponsor instant pasta sauces and posh ready meals (granted, those Lloyd Grossman pasta sauces are brilliant). They know we’re lazy coach potatoes too.
Give us today our Daily Show With the US Election only just in our rear view mirror, Beth Durant discusses why The Daily Show is the most important source of news (and a bit of comedy) from across the Atlantic
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f you’ve ever been browsing the channels at 11pm when you’re trying desperately to put off coursework you should have started five hours ago, you’ve probably come across The Daily Show. You probably saw a silver-haired man shout animatedly and sarcastically at a clip of Mitt Romney. His name is Jon Stewart, your first port of call for daily American (and occasionally global) political satire, where seriousness is left at the door and the hosts offer you an insight into the crazy conservatism of our lovely Yanks across the pond. Debuting in 1996 and currently hosted by Jon Stewart, the faux-news show doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Instead of hiding from the so obvious-slap-you-in-the-face issues that traditional
journalism tends to sweep under the rug, Stewart and his team attempt to bring these ridiculous hypocrisies to light. He strips down all the political jargon and hits you with the cold, hard facts that plague the American system - all laced together beautifully with a biting shot of comedy. Whether taking the piss out of George Bushisms (“Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?”), or mocking the “real” journalists who seem intent on smoothing over the cracks, there’s always a scathing comment just waiting to be had. No-one is really safe. Although often times it does seem as though the show is quite left leaning, one of the major criticisms but people such as Bill O’Reilly, Stewart doesn’t allow the left to get off so easily. Sometimes there doesn’t even need to
be anything said after a clip of another politician blunder, just a well-raised eyebrow and an ironic stare at the camera is enough for you to deduce what exactly Stewart is trying to suggest. Yet it’s not all done for laughs. His most recent rant involved the people of FOX News, high up on what Stewart calls “Bullshit Mountain”. A harsh criticism of the lack of fairness and balance which their slogan touts, it resonated throughout the American media, cleverly summing up what many people have thought for years with some cursing for good measure. The impact of the viewership isn’t ignored by politicians, and leading figures make regular appearances, for example, the recent re-elected president Barack Obama. However with critics coming from left, right, and centre (literally), the show isn’t as cut and dry as it seems; politicians and “professional” newsreaders such as O’Reilly and Glenn Beck have been attacking it for years. Among those who agree with him, he is a highly influential figure as a source of news. Yet Jon Stewart claims to have no journalistic responsibility; instead turning this criticism back onto the people in question. News channels like FOX are known for their bear-baiting methods of Republican-biased reporting, so why should a show that airs on Comedy Central at 11pm be criticized for not providing a ‘good enough’ news service to the American population? It does exactly what it says on the tin, and who are people to criticize that? It strikes an odd middle ground between being an informative criticism of everything that is wrong in politics and the media while still trying to keep a charm and wit about it.
hen the BBC announced they were making a modern day interpretation of the famous Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, it’s safe to say that there were more than a few raised eyebrows. Would it really work without the Victorian fog and the deerstalker? Would the stories translate well when put in a 21st century setting? The answer after the first episode, ‘A Study in Pink’, was a resounding yes. The premise of the episode is simple; Dr John Watson has recently been invalided home from Afghanistan after being shot during the war. Leading a dull, monotonous life, he is looking for a flat share. Enter Sherlock Holmes. The mysterious consulting detective is currently investigating a series of apparent suicides and John is not so reluctantly roped into helping. It is quickly revealed that they are all murders and the work of a serial killer. Having found the danger he so desperately craves, John agrees to live with Sherlock and the pair start an unlikely friendship. While all six episodes of Sherlock are exceptional, A Study in Pink stands out just that little bit more, despite it having the simplest plot. Steven Moffat (also the main man of BBC’s other big drama, Doctor Who) has written the witty, clever and tense script that makes every scene jump out of the screen. Main actors, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, play their famous characters perfectly and establish themselves as one of the best on-screen Holmes and Watson duo for quite some time. The show also boasts an impressive supporting cast, who make a mark as their characters. This episode contains some of the best scenes of the entire series, including the hilarious drugs bust (‘I’m not a psychopath, Anderson, I’m a highfunctioning sociopath. Do your research’) and the thrilling taxi chase, which takes in some serious camera wizardry and shows off London’s alleyways as much as they can be. However, the main reason why I think this is the best episode of Sherlock is that it’s when we first fall in love with the show. While the other five episodes often match and even exceed the quality of this one, ‘A Study in Pink’ is the first time we meet the characters and see what makes them tick. The friendship between Sherlock and John is only just beginning and it’s exciting to know that they have many more adventures awaiting them. After it was first shown, Sherlock became a massive global success and, watching ‘A Study in Pink’, it’s easy to see why.
as hannel 4 h C : h s la F s New hth that the eig d e m r fi n in o c ow will beg h S p e e P f series o Sunday 25 airing this for Get ready November. to nd Dobby Mark, Jez a ll ur top te y become yo over again priority all
38.filmfeatures
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
Film Editors: Hayley Hamilton and Sam Hopkins Online Film Editor: Chris Binding
Top
5
Overrated films
Underrated Films
Master and Commander: the Far Side of the World
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A nautically-themed tale starring Russell Crowe and directed by Peter Weir can only mean one thing: a fantastic and gripping film that is often overlooked. Released around the time that those films starring Captain Jack Sparrow started gaining worldwide plaudits means this gem slipped through the net.
4
The Town
With Argo just released and Ben Affleck on everybody’s mind, it is well worth checking out his earlier directorial efforts, most notably The Town. Set in Boston and with bank robberies aplenty, this film personifies gritty and boasts a fantastic cast including Jeremy Renner and Ben Affleck himself.
3 Rescue Dawn Werner Herzog steps away from his recent love of documentary films and brings in Christian Bale to star in this Vietnam film based on a true story. A good story coupled with some brilliant acting makes this a worthy entry into the plethora of great, must-see Vietnam films.
2 Kung-Fu Hustle A blistering martial arts film with plenty of humour and craziness thrown in makes this a hectic yet brilliant film, whether a fan of martial arts or not. The final showdown fight is suitably epic and ridiculous in equal measure and involves some serious kung fu hustling.
1 Inside Man Starring the affable and ‘too cool for school’ Denzel Washington, Inside Man is definitely worth the watch, unlike some of his more recent films. This time Denzel plays a cop investigating a bank robbery. With more twists than a pretzel this a truly underrated film amidst his vast filmography. Jacob Crompton-Schreiber
How do we judge if a film is worth watching and why are so many awful films so financially successful? Muneeb Hafiz explores misplaced ‘hype’ Barrages of expensive ad campaigns, huge billboard teasers around every corner and floods of ‘making of...’ television programmes are all to be expected in the run-up to big release blockbusters. When the day comes, what are the essentials? 1.) Pre-book a ticket. 2.) Ensure the seats are perfect. 3.) Arrive with plenty of time. However, an overwhelming sense of disappointment can ensue having sat through the film itself and what is perhaps worse, it is often all too familiar. Regrettably, the past couple of decades are littered with films that bring with it sentiments of dissatisfaction, betrayal and annoyance. Thousands, even millions have left the cinemas nationwide with the word ‘SUCKER’ figuratively branded on their foreheads, and any film lover can attest to that sensation. Of course, what is regarded as overrated for one could be an absolute masterstroke for another, and that is the chief controversy that arises from labelling, and by extension, degrading any film as being oversold or overestimated. Nevertheless, there appears to be an overwhelming consensus that films such as Simon West’s Con Air (1997), M. Night. Shayamalan’s The Happening (2008) and, writing with a clenched jaw and through squinted eyes, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010). Relative to the tremendous, almost propaganda-like PR ploys and intense publicity, these films have left many feeling slightly befuddled and quietly asking
the question, ‘why all the hype?’ First of all, Con Air is widely thought of as an exhilarating, action-packed roller-coaster and perhaps most fatally, as one of the few (or one) Nic Cage films that are actually bearable. With its preeminence within vibrant social discourse and the suave world of movie moguls of the ‘90’s, Con Air arguably lacks precisely where it gains most of its high-praise. Perhaps most bizarrely is the great acclaim Nicholas Cage accrues. Yet, Cage as an army ranger-turned-criminal with a deep Southern American accent goes down as agreeably as a pint of sand. Similarly, Shyamalan is often exalted as the Sultan of scare. However, the proverbial chink in the chain is The Happening. As much of a thrill-fuelled fright fest as an episode of Pingu, this film fails in all the right places whilst enjoying success at the ticket booths and wallowing in advertising utopia. Most controversially is Tim Burton’s take on Lewis Carroll’s famed Alice in Wonderland. Burton is a veritable auteur and his films can be spotted from miles away, but his wonderland is closer to a ‘trippy’ nightmare. Completely unlike his subversively witty and innovative cinematic style, there is a general lack of surprise here. Yes, millions were spent on saturation advertising and it raked in a handsome bottom line, yet it disappointed where one would think it would shine.
Orillo: Profile
These films consensually disappoint and exemplify all that is a failed blockbuster. Admittedly, the grand picture painted by all the publicity surrounding the release of these films makes the emotions post-watch deeply anticlimactic and the flaws further exacerbated. Nonetheless, that is the burden such movies must bear and the criticisms are completely justified, however little the embarrassment is nursed. Assuredly, there are other films that fail just as dramatically, if not more so and these are forever to be publicised as cinematic faux-pas at every opportunity. But next time you find yourself about to click the ‘buy now’ icon for tickets to the next blockbuster, reflect on previous failures and ask yourself ‘why all the hype?’
Competition
Holly Abbotson takes a look at studentfounded film company Orillo Productions Four students from York St John University founded Orillo Productions: Rich, Sarah, Keenan and James. Their innovative idea of starting up a film production company all started in August 2010. Since then, their business has rocketed in performance and success. They quickly began working with the renowned Jack Wills, which became the catalyst for launching Orillo all around the globe. 2011 was an exciting year for the company; they introduced York to the very first Outdoor Cinema. This was located in the stunning Museum Gardens where 500 Days of Summer was screened, and inevitably this was a massive success. From this, they then decided to launch a Secret Indoor Cinema – this involved arranging the quirky location of York RI Gym and releasing the venue and film just hours before the screening. Endless success made Orillo want to push their events even further, which led to new members joining the team: Rob and Kate. Kate’s first task was organising the third Orillo Cinema, pushing it up to a whole new level. York’s Minster Gardens were transformed with a bigger screen than ever before, their very own hand-crafted bar, an art exhibition and even a band to set the atmosphere. Imagine hundreds of people all sitting in the sun in Minster Gardens, wearing ‘Orillo Sunglasses’, watching The Italian Job and drinking some bevies. For their most recent Orillo Cinema, they arranged a showing of Jaws, but instead of being in some impressive garden, the viewers were swimming in a pool! I also managed to achieve an exclusive interview with Events Organizer Kate, and got a little inside info on Orillo. What are the most memorable shoots for Orillo? I think all of us would agree there would be two favourite shoots, the first being a music video for the extremely talented Nancy Kent which we shot back in 2009. This was the very first video the four graduates undertook together and little did they know, this video was the beginning of a huge adventure for Orillo. The second shoot I’d say Orillo will always remember is the 2012 Jack Wills Varsity Polo. We were working on a tight time scale, leaving York
at 4am on a six-hour journey, followed by working solidly on filming. The event finished at 1am and Orillo were straight to their B&B to begin a long night/morning of editing. This continued on the car journey home and was finally complete at 11pm! Thirty odd hours of work and we were still all in high spirits and still talk about the fun we all had! This event was one of our highest production value jobs and really pushed Orillo’s skills. Who have you worked with and where in the world has this sent you? We’ve worked with Fifa, Jack Wills, Aubin and Wills, Garrard (oldest jeweler in the world and makers of the crown jewels), Bloom Gin, Mango Bikes, Off Your Face, BUSC, IMG, York St John University, York University, Samsung and Wakestock. Orillo have been all over the world in the last two years, with destinations including Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong (twice), America (nine times), Dubai, Italy, Sardinia, Brazil, Sicily, Brussels, Val d’isere and Salbaach. Anything exciting coming up for Orillo? 1. Two of the team are off to Australia over the Christmas period; one for a company called IMG where they will film a Rolex sponsored yacht race and the other is to film for a sports gap year company. 2. After the huge success of the most recent event, playing Jaws in a swimming pool we will be pushing the cinemas even further…watch this space! 3. Our up and coming vodka range by Rob, ‘Orillo Vodka’ will be launched in January/February and we’ll be travelling the UK spreading the word!
WIN: Tickets to see Sightseers at Tyneside Cinema, and assorted Sightseers goodies! From Ben Wheatley, director of brilliant, terrifying UK hitman thriller Kill List, and Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) comes Sightseers. A very dark comedy about when a rural caravan holiday takes a decidedly murderous tangent, it’s set to become a new British favourite. The Courier has two tickets to see the film at the Tyneside Cinema as well as Sightseers goodies, and they could be yours for the taking! To enter, tweet a picture of yourself by a Newcastle landmark with the hashtag #CourierSightseers - and tag @CourierOnline and @TynesideCinema in there. The most inventive entry will be the winner. The deadline is Thursday 29 November, winners will be chosen at the Editor’s discretion and notified via Twitter.
The Courier
reviewsfilm.39
Monday 19 November 2012
thecourieronline.co.uk/film c2.film@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Film
Argo (15) You might have thought he’d ‘gotten lucky’ with The Town, but it turns out Ben Affleck has genuine directorial ability. His third time in the director’s chair (as well as starring) is by far his strongest, probably because of his lack of influence on the screenplay this time. Chris Terrio makes his screenwriter debut with Argo. He has given the world a thrilling political drama skewed with a satirical Hollywood-saves-the-day undertone which is a no-brainer for awards season. From looking at the trailer, Affleck would have you believe you’re watching something that had been resurrected from a seventies archive. That’s the brilliance of Argo - because it’s so convincing through its grainy camera work and unscrupulous detail that it feels like the audience is almost watching a documentary formed around period footage. Affleck does an immaculate job of immersing the audience into an era of giant collars, facial hair and in-flight smoking. The attention to the most minor of details is what transforms Argo from typical political thriller into metaphorical trip back in time. It’s peppered with a dark sense of comic humour and raw performances. While you may think the story is too far-fetched to be plausible, it’s actually an honest retelling of the extrication of six US citizens from Iran during the American hostage situ-
ation of 1979. (The truth of this operation was unknown by the public for decades due to its sensitive content). While Iranian militants break into the US Embassy taking fifty-two US citizens hostage, six Americans manage to exit through the backdoor and take sanctuary at the Canadian Ambassadors house. With all traditional attempts of retrieving the escapees being unfeasible, the American government calls in Tony Mendez (Affleck) to come up with some audacious alternative options. Taking inspiration from Planet of the Apes, Mendez comes up with a Hollywood-esque alibi in which they disguise themselves as Canadian film scouts looking for locations to shoot their Star Wars ripoff film entitled ‘Argo’. Kamikaze mission - perhaps, or as Cranston says: “This is the best bad idea we have”. Mendez recruits Hollywood make-up artist John Chambers (John Goodman), who in turn recruits film producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) to give the operation some substance and believability. The casting choice here couldn’t be more perfect, as Goodman and Arkin bring an almost Cannon and Ball comedy duo to this film. They provide a lovely juxtaposition to the grizzly politics as deliciously cynical seen-it-all-before tyrants of the movie industry. This fits in remarkably amongst
the harrowing murky reality of the film. While you want to root for the Hollywood mavericks, Affleck cleverly brings a sense of sympathy to the Iranians with a masterful prologue justifying the outrage of the Tehran community. As the film leads to its climatic escape the tension builds with gloomy lighting and frantic editing making every gut-wrenching second an unblinkable experience.
Love Bite (15)
Private Peaceful (12A)
Here Comes The Boom (12A)
People Like Us (12A)
Regardless of ‘Twi-hard’ claims to the contrary, The Twilight films were nothing but a thinly veined masquerade of horny angst teens and their uncontrollable sexual drives. While the popular vamp series hid this beastly subtext behind Mormon dating rituals and prudish sexual restraint, the reality of high school is perhaps closer to the Inbetweeners scatological ‘dick’ jokes than we would like to think. Hence the release of Love Bite, a werewolf film that is less about silver bullets and more about ‘popping your cherry’. However the twist for Jamie (Ed Speelers) and his ragtag group of friends is that the werewolf preys on ‘virgin’ blood. This calls for a rush to get some action before the next full moon, while simultaneously trying to resist the charms of main suspect and town ‘hottie’ Juliana (Gossip Girl star Jessica Szohr). What follows is familiar teen comedy fare with mid–twenty something actors unconvincingly portraying teenagers, cringe worthy dialogue such as ‘it’s vagina time’ and horror clichés set against a dilapidated Blackpool-style coastal town. Predictably, there is no real substance behind the characters or plot, with teen stereotypes including the ‘shy sensitive type’, ‘sex–pest’ and ‘overcompensating stud’ all making an appearance. Although a guilty pleasure comes in the form of Van–Helsing werewolf hunter, the terribly animated title monster’s underwhelming appearance in the final act renders the one potential redeeming factor of the film futile. Then again this is a film as subtle and textually rich as its final image...two werewolves violently ‘making love’ against a full moon.
Following the roaring Oscar nominated success of War Horse, it was hardly surprising when another of Michael Morpurgo’s books was chosen for the big screen. This Armistice Day (Sunday 11th November) saw the screening of Private Peaceful, another heart wrenching look into the effects of World War One. Private Peaceful follows brothers Tommo (George Mackay) and Charlie (Jack O’Connell) as they leave behind rural Devonshire and the loves of their lives to face the cruel reality of war. Despite their arguments and Tommo’s jealousy, the bond of brotherhood is sympathetically portrayed as Charlie and Tommo stick together at any cost; together they survive everything and anything - they just can’t escape the British. Director Pat O’ Connor’s directing was well into War Horse league. The skilful cuts between the fields of Devonshire and the joys of youth and facing the war pushed home the horrific reality of their experience. The bond portrayed by Mackay and O’Connell was one that was truly believable, evincing extremes of laughter, love and heartbreak. As the two brothers face imprisonment and court martial, the audience are left in a state of tension and fear as we do not know which will face the firing squad. Don’t expect to see this film without needing a good cry afterwards. “One last big push at the Somme to send them all back to Berlin” rings out in the final sentences of the film, leaving those on screen with the harsh knowledge that his promise to return is most likely going to remain unfulfilled.
Only on occasion do sports and comedy play effectively within a film. When you do it right you get something like Dodgeball or Caddyshack, but more often than not you’re likely to feel robbed for investing your energy in something as predictable as Here Comes the Boom. The latest snooze-fest to come off the Happy Madison assembly line follows Kevin James as the fed-up biology teacher who aims to raise $48,000 in order to save his school’s music department. What better way to stir up some pity laughs than putting James in a leotard and throwing him around like one of the hippos from Fantasia. As to be expected from anything that has a hint of Adam Sandler attached to the credits you can expect to see plenty of vomit and potty humour. While Kevin James does a respectable job of making a likable lead, the film is awash with paper -thin supporting characters, an unnecessary love interest in the form of Salma Hayek and dialogue that packs less of a punch than James himself. While you can admire the positive message of the film - teacher inspires his students in an unorthodox manner, there isn’t anything remotely inspiring about the attempts at humour in this film. I almost threw in the towel myself during a scene involving four grown men and a food fight. Unless you’re an eight year old boy going through that ‘WWF’ phase in your life, then you won’t be able to appreciate this film for its message.
From director Alex Kurtzman, People Like Us tells the story of a businessman who discovers that his record-producer father has died. What follows is an overly long and complicated plot attempting to portray a simple story of a man’s quest to find his family. Opening with a dull and confusing warehouse scene, the lead character Sam, is having an argument with his boss. The script is lazy and amateurish and the plot goes from bad to worse with predictable ‘comedy’ moments which fail to even raise a smile. A pivotal and dramatic scene immediately follows a slapstick car park moment and loses significance. There are more random and unrealistic moments throughout the first hour, such as Sam’s nephew Josh blowing up the school swimming pool. Star Michelle Pfeiffer is under-used in the role of Sam’s long-suffering mother Lillian who provides some much needed emotion, particularly towards the climax of the film. As Sam tries to connect with his long-lost sister, single-mother Frankie, the audience are left wondering how their issues can be resolved. The two lead characters are looking at their relationship in different ways, which results in trouble for the pair. Banks’ portrayal of Frankie is a stand-out performance but is let down by badly written dialogue and serious pacing problems. The first part of the film is directed in the style of a low-budget American soap, although it does pick up during the final hour and the conclusion is satisfying which helps to redeem the otherwise tedious plot.
VERDICT: Sparing horror and comedy in favour of sex puns and crudities, Love Bite is a visual assault on good taste and nothing more than a cheap post–Halloween cash–in. For what it’s worth, it is still a preferable alternative Twilight series. Chris Binding
VERDICT: I went to the cinema with high expectations following a childhood love of the book. I’m thrilled to say I wasn’t disappointed or let down by this heartfelt and heart warming adaption, which highlights the brutal injustice of war. Alexandra Stonebanks
VERDICT: Argo is an intense and encapsulating ride which blends unlikely genres together with precision. Rarely do you find such a serious film with a sense of humour, but Argo does this flawlessly. While it may whinge on a bit in the middle, the execution and attention to detail throughout makes this a truly brilliant piece of cinema.
Still Showing Silent Hill: Revelation (15) For a Good Time, Call... (18) Rust and Bone (15)
Luke Hearfield
VERDICT: Unfortunately Kevin James’ latest attempt in the comedy sector is all Boom and no Pow. What could have been a delightful underdog tale is actually a minefield of slapstick sketches and mindless sight gags. You’ve seen it done a thousand times before and a thousand times better.
Luke Hearfield
VERDICT: A film of two halves which drastically improves when it stops trying to be funny. There are some impressive acting performances which are let down by other moments that are badly written and acted. Many scenes from the poor first hour should have been cut. Alex Gray
40.sportfeatures
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
The fantastic four
With the ATP Tour finals being wrapped up with a win for Novak Djokovic in London, the tennis season has come to an end, and so The Courier looks at the top four protagonists, which have made this year’s round of tennis so exciting and closely fought
Novak Djokovic’s impressive win at last week’s ATP Tour Finals in London signified the end of the 2012 tennis season, a year in which the top players in the game have once again played to an incredibly high standard, perhaps even surpassing what they have achieved previously. This season has confirmed that there is now a ‘top four’ in tennis thanks to the emergence of Andy Murray as an Olympic gold medallist and Grand Slam Winner. This group will be seriously difficult to break into over the next few years, despite there being many credible challengers such as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro. A particular highlight this season has been the matches between the top players such as the 5 set marathons between Murray and Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-final and the US Open final. The physical endurance required for these encounters is up there with anything seen in sport, and the ability to balance this with deft touch and skill makes them some of the most impressive athletes around. Whilst the other players on the circuit are able to produce a level of tennis that would not be recognisable ten years ago, the top four are able to play with a power and physicality that sets them apart, and makes them very difficult to depose as the regular victors of the significant tournaments; even with the injury to Nadal this year, it still seemed implausible that anyone but Federer, Djokovic or Murray would take victory at a Grand
Novak Djokovic
Slam or the Olympics. This pattern might seem dull to some, but anyone who has witnessed the matches between this upper echelon of players, particularly the 5 set epics, will have to concede that they are anything but boring. There are few examples in the history of sport of four individual superstars consistently competing against each other, and consequently this can be described as a golden era for tennis which consists of players who will be remembered long after their careers are over. Now we can have a look in more detail at how each of the top four have faired. Thankfully there is not long to wait before the next season begins in the New Year. Freddie Caldwell
Photography: Getty Images
Novak Djokovic has ended this year where he started, as the number one player in the world. After his record breaking season last year that saw him take 3 Grand Slams, 10 ranking titles and win 70 out of 76 games, including 41 straight wins, this year was always likely to fail to reach the dizzy heighof 2011. At the Australian Open, he started the season where he left off, winning two of the year’s most epic matches en route to the first major of the year. First he beat Andy Murray in the semi-finals, eventually triumphing in 5 sets after a 4 hour 50 minute contest. The final against Rafael Nadal proved to be the longest ever major final in the Open era; the contest consisting of 5 hours and 53 minutes of pulsating tennis. The Serbian carried this form into the early part of the season, defeating Murray in the final to take the title in Miami, before going on to have an impressive clay court season, losing three finals against Nadal, including the French Open final in 4 sets. The season’s next major, Wimbledon, saw Djokovic’s only failure to reach the final as he was knocked out by eventual winner Roger Federer in the semi-final. He also lost his number one ranking to Federe r as a result. At London 2012, Wimbledon again proved to be an unhappy hunting ground for ‘Djoker’, losing his semifinal in straight sets to Murray. He would leave the Olympics empty handed as he then l o s t to Juan Martin Del Potro in the bronze medal
match. Putting the disappointment of the English summer behind him, Djokovic then won in Toronto, beating Richard Gasquet in straight sets before losing to Federer in the final of the Cincinnati Masters in straight sets, including being ‘bagled’(losing 6-0) in the opening set. The final major of the year, the US Open, again resulted in Djokovic meeting Murray in the final. The final was another epic five-set contest, Djokovic coming back from two sets down to level the match before a resurgent Murray took the decider 6-2. The Masters tournament in Shanghai would see him extract a measure of revenge, beating the Scot in 3 sets. Djokovic’s low point of the season came in Paris as he lost in the 2nd round to Sam Querrey despite winning the first eight games. Despite the defeat, the complicated nature of the rankings system ironically led to Djokovic reclaiming his number one ranking. However, ‘the Serbinator’ ended the season in style, beating Federer in the ATP World Tour Finals in straight sets having already beaten Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Tomas Burdych, Murray and Del Potro. This meant he ended the season with a 75-12 record, taking 6 titles and also retaining the Golden Bagel, the award for winning the most sets to love throughout the year. Although this season might not have reached the heights of 2011, Djokovic can be proud of a year that saw him win his 5th major title and in winning the end of season tournament; he accomplished something he had failed to do last year.
Jack MacKenzie
Andy Murray What an incredible year it has been for British sport! The Olympics and the Paralympics that both saw Team GB finish in a blinding third position, the side-burned cycling sensation Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France and Rory McIlroy winning the PGA Championship, just to name a few defining moments.
only player apart from Murray to have reached four Grand Slam finals without a win, Lendl has been instrumental in pushing Murray through the psychological barrier to take the first Grand Slam title of his career. Having spent 2012 edging ever closer to Grand Slam success, a semi-finalist at the Australian Open and a quarter-
“...now he has finally got the Grand Slam monkey off his back, we are definitely to expect more from Andy Murray. Watch this space. ” Photography: Getty Images
But as the year draws to a triumphant close, one man the nation cannot fail to proverbially pat on the back for his nailbiting 2012 season is the Scottish tennis sensation that is Andy Murray. Much of his 2012 success has been attributed to the stewardship of new full-time coach Ivan Lendl. Being the
finalist at the French, Murray kicked off a sensational two-month period by becoming the first British man to reach the singles final at Wimbledon since Bunny Austin in 1938. Despite taking the first set against Swiss powerhouse Roger Federer, Murray unfortunately failed to battle his way to victory, losing
the last three sets 7-5, 6-3 and 6-4. Post-match with emotions running high, a whooping British crowd watched a sobbing Andy thank the nation for its unwavering support, from w h a t t r u l y seemed like the bottom of his heart. “I’m getting closer,” he croaked to tumultuous applause. As it happened, he wasn’t lying. Heading back onto Centre Court less than a month later, again to face
Federer, Murray became Britain’s first Olympic men’s singles gold medalist in over 100 years. Despite him and his brother Jamie taking an early exit from the men’s doubles, Murray also partnered young British hopeful Laura Robson to take the silver medal in the mixed doubles competition. Fresh from this fantastic London 2012 performance, the wait for Andy was finally over. In early September he spectacularly ended Britain’s 76-year wait for a men’s singles Grand Slam trophy, beating Novak Djokovic in the US Open final. This five-set thriller had every British tennis fan wide-awake at 2am, cheering bleary-eyed in front of the telly as Andy lifted his first major trophy. The defeat he suffered last week at the hands of Roger Federer in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, however disap-
pointing at the time, will not be sufficient to tar Murray’s vibrant 2012 campaign that has brought the Scot so much welldeserved success. With the close of 2012 looming, Andy can look back enthusiastically on his most successful season to date, but he will also no doubt be focusing on the future. His agility, quick reaction speeds and ability to anticipate play mean that he favours hard-court surfaces, and he will therefore undoubtedly be looking to strengthen his grass and clay-court game going into 2013. However, now he has finally got the Grand Slam monkey off his back, we can definitely expect more from Andy Murray. Watch this space. Izzy Rice
The Courier
featuressport.41
Monday 19 November 2012
Roger Federer After a lacklustre 2011, this season was a return to form for Roger Federer. Beginning as World Number Three and suffering the indignity of failing to win a grand slam for the first time since 2003, he used the off-season wisely to recover and prepare for a year including crucial Davis Cup matches and the London Olympics. The time spent with coach Paul Annacone developed his already economic technique and he bounced back from a semi-final loss to Nadal at the Australian Open to win four of his next five tournaments on the ATP Tour. Following a semi-final loss to Djokovic at Roland Garros, ‘Fed’ set his sights on the Grass Court Season, with a second place at the Gerry Weber Open preparing him for two consecutive tournaments at Wimbledon. The All-England Championships this year were no picnic. After easy straightset wins in the opening rounds, Federer battled throughout against 29th seed Julien Benneteau in five sets from two sets down. This scare pushed Federer
Rafael Nadal on to epic performances throughout the rest of the tournament – concluding with a four set win over Andy Murray to take his seventh Wimbledon Title (17th Grand Slam overall) and a return to the top of the ATP Rankings. After this thrilling win, which lead to Federer overtaking the legendary Pete Sampras’ record of 286 weeks as World Number One, he returned to London hoping to join Andre Agassi and Nadal as “Golden Slam” winners. Having won all four Grand Slam titles, Olympic Gold would be luster on an already sparkling career. Federer eased through the early rounds, beating Benneteau in straight sets along the way. However, in the semifinal he faced an in-form Juan Martin del Potro, who tested his skills in a final set 19-17 win. As is always the case, Federer was gracious in victory and complemented his opponent on such a testing match. The exertion for this no-doubt took its toll, as Federer found himself against an inform Andy Murray in the final, who capitalised on the crowd support to deliver a straight-sets defeat to Federer and leave his hopes of a Golden Slam unfulfilled. While this loss stung Federer, his professionalism once again shone through as he concluded the season in fine form. He helped the Swiss remain in the Davis Cup World Group, before finishing as runner up in the ATP World Tour Finals; pushing Djokovic to the limit in an amazing final. Federer is a man who has been at the top of his game for many years. At the age of 31 he still plays consistently brilliant tennis on all surfaces and against any opponent. His manner and professionalism are something every participant in sport should aspire to emulate and while his dominance in coming seasons is not assured, there is no doubt that he will be near the top of the rankings for several more years – with a Golden Slam in 2016 not out of the question. James Docherty
A seventh French Open triumph was unfortunately not enough to prevent 2012 from being a disappointing and frustrating year for Rafael Nadal. The second half of the year saw Rafa blighted by a knee injury which saw him play his final competitive match of the year at Wimbledon in June. That match was itself an enormous disappointment for Nadal as he was unbelievably beaten by Lukas Rosol, who was ranked 100 in the world at the time, in 5 gruelling sets of tennis at SW19. For the neutral it was a time to reflect on Rosol’s superb hitting which saw him pull off one of the biggest shocks in living memory. Yet the second round loss marked for Nadal the first time since 2005 that he had failed to advance to at least the third round of a Grand Slam tournament. The subsequent injury sustained in the aftermath of Wimbledon, tendinitis in the knee, caused the Spaniard to miss the Olympics, US Open and ATP Tour Finals at the O2 arena last week. Consequently Nadal has seen himself drop to fourth in the world rankings, admittedly an extremely admirable effort considering the amount of ranking points he couldn’t even compete for, but this does mark Rafa’s lowest ranking since 2010. The year had actually started with great for Nadal. In Janupromise ary he reached his fourth successive Grand Slam final, by defeating old foe Roger Federer in the semi finals, a n d
was part of a record-breaking duel with the Serb Novak Djokovic. The match lasted 5 hours 53 minutes, comfortably the longest Grand Slam final in history, as the Djoker triumphed 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 7-5. Nadal would however go a long way to avenging this loss by proving himself once again to be the King of the Clay. All of the Spaniard’s four titles in 2012 came on clay and included 3 victo-
ries over Djokovic in prestigious events. The two triumphs in ATP Masters 1000 series tournament finals over Djokovic came in Monte Carlo and Rome. The Monacan victory, 6-3 6-1, was a particularly crushing blow to Djokovic who was hoping to finally usurp Nadal as the clay court King. Sandwiched in between the defeats of the Djoker, with whom Nadal spent the first half of 2012 trading blows, was a tournament victory in his native Spain. In a Spanish derby, presumably pleasing for the home fans, Rafa secured a hard fought 7-6 7-5 victory over compatriot David Ferrer. The only blot on Nadal’s clay court copybook came in the Madrid Open where he was defeated in 3 sets by fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco (notice a theme of top Spanish tennis players!) before complaining that he was very unhappy with the new blue coloured clay employed in Madrid. Another superb clay court season was rather predictably rounded off with a four set victory over Djokovic in a rain affected final of the French Open. Nadal dismantled the draw with considerable ease on his way to his seventh Roland Garros triumph and most impressively dropped only five games in crushing Ferrer in the semi finals. Nadal, after plenty of setbacks, will be hoping to make his long awaited return to the court at the Australian Open in January and he will be looking to improve on what was, away from the clay court, perhaps Nadal’s most disappointing season in years. Joey Barton
Photography: Getty Images
Photography: Getty Images
Back of the net Video of the week
Spot the ball
Testing times
1) What male tennis player has won most Grand Slam singles titles? 2) What nationality is male tennis player Jo Wilfried Tsonga? 3) Which former tennis player coaches our very own Andy Murray? 4) Which of the Williams sisters has won the most titles with 46? 5) Rafael Nadal has featured in a music video with which female singer?
A
1 2 3
1.) Pete Sampras ; 2.)French 3.) NIvan Lendl 4.) Serena 5.) Shakira
Alan Hansen ruins Michael Owen and Jason Roberts on MOTD2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-s9oqBG5Jc The BBC’s dourest Scotsman isn’t impressed with the scoring records of his fellow guests in the studio on Sunday evening.
Long shot of the week
With the England vs India test series now underway and spin bowling set to dominate, perhaps a flutter on the newly“I can only say two words though: returned Kevin Pietersen to be England’s top wicket taker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.” (15 Nov) Having apologised to the fans and professed himself might be tempting. (Odds from to be ‘absolutely devastated’ after the Sweden game, the Eng- Betfair)
- Joe Hart - @JoeHart_01
land keeper acknowledged the man who caused him some considerable embarrassment.
47/1
4 5
B
C
D
E
F
42.sportintramural
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
Bullish Eco grind out win
Wednesday Cup Football Ecosoccer
5
Sub-Standard Liege
2
By Rob Stacey at Close Park This was an unconvincing and scrappy affair but Ecosoccer maintained their 100% record in the league against a battling Roman Villa. Any Intra Mural footballer that knows their 3Gs to their Close Houses’ will know this venue is often met with groans and isn’t perhaps the most favoured on the Intra Mural rota. Despite this, an in form Eco tried to knock the ball around in the early stages and Opta stats predicted 70% possession for the blues. Villa created the first big chance of the game against the run of play when a forward found himself through on goal but was denied by Chris Jones who saved well with his feet. Eco assist merchant Will Finelli clipped a through ball over the top and Goddard finished with the most delicate of lobs to put Ecosoccer
one up after 20 minutes. At this stage a rout may have been on the cards and a lot of bets with ‘Ecosoccer minus 4’ surely were placed. However, they were to be severely mistaken as Roman Villa rolled up their sleeves and began to grow in confidence as the first half progressed. A build up of free kicks thrown into the Eco box took its toll when a long free kick cannoned off an Eco defender and ricocheted into the path of a Villa player who made no mistake and placed it past the keeper. Not much quality was on show for the neutral in the opening moments of the second half as a resurgent Villa side came out fighting, with hope of getting the win. Despite off the pitch promo distractions, Joey Jesmond continued to work tirelessly for his team and with Jon Dennis putting a shift in at right back, Eco always had hope of finding the next goal. A rare moment of one touch football from captain and inspiration Tom Warren found its way to Finnelli floating on the left. The jinky winger’s deflected cross came to Stacey in the box, who headed over the keeper to put Ecosoccer in the ascendancy. The rest of the second half turned out to be an uneventful affair, with both teams struggling to string a couple of passes together and frustration was building for the Villa
fans. However, Ecosoccer’s answer to Petr Cech had to be in top form to keep them ahead. Typical from the game perhaps, a deflected shot from outside the area looked as though it was looping over the top of the towering keeper, however he expertly pushed the shot away for a corner to add to his montage of saves. As the Ecosoccer statisticians had informed the players before the game, a fourth straight win would have exceeded the previous record, so this was perhaps the reason for some uncharacteristic misplaced passes. Villa kept knocking on the door, with Hanson and Lawro saying a equaliser was deserved. However despite a few heart in mouth moments, a resilient display at the back kept Villa at bay. The final whistle was met with relief as Ecosoccer came away with 3 points. Villa meanwhile can take pride from their efforts and can be confident that the level of performance shown can secure themselves at the new bewildering heights of Division 2. Ecosoccer will continue to keep their feet on the ground with Captain Tom Warren stating at the post match press conference, “we’re gonna have a little chill and get our heads together, ready for the monumental game next Wednesday against Aftermath.”
Medics bypass Wednesday Cup Football Crayola
3
Boca Seniors
3
By Jack Gelsthorpe Online Sports Editor Dyslexic failed to learn from their loss a week previously. The two teams met once again for the second time in a week, in a league match on Wednesday. Despite Dyslexic’s work rate, the Medics bypassed their defence and put four goals past them, to win the match and keep their second clean sheet of the season. Medics 1st keeper Anderson was absent for the second straight game, due to an injury he picked in Belgium, whilst watching a Europa League game between Club Brugges and Newcastle United. Left-back Fretwell was handed the gloves this week, after some poor keeping by the stand-in keeper almost cost them the match last week. Captain Matty Anderson dropped from defence to midfield to fill in for Fretwell. Theo English got the nod to start on left-wing. Dyslexic set themselves up in a 4-5-1 formation with forward Ben Wheelhouse dropping to the bench. Playermanager Jamie Hudson did not travel with the team because of squad rotation. The last time these two sides faced each other, Dyslexic were overrun in midfield by Davison and Edwards. Dyslexic made three changes in midfield and Michael Slattery played in the hole
behind striker Dom Robson. After a quick round of opening exchanges that saw shots fly wide off target into the adjacent Close House golf course, Medics opened the flood gates. Matty Anderson’s clever lob soared above Dyslexic defence and fell into Nathan Campbell’s path. The forward dragged Dyslexic left-back Milton from his position and his shot was saved by goalkeeper Fletcher. Medics’ winger Watson followed up the shot and tapped the ball into the empty net. Campbell was causing all sorts of problems for the Dyslexic defence in the opening half hour. An excellent ‘onetwo’ passing between Theo English and Campbell sent the winger through on goal, and his square ball saw Edwards sky the ball. Dyslexic winger Jules Perkins had an excellent game last week, but he struggled to make an impact on this game. He switched midway through the first half and his game improved a little, but the linkup play was missing between the winger and forward Dom Robson. Meanwhile Medics were threatening to score again. A quick free kick taken by Niall Durkan from his ownhalf sliced the midfield, and Davison changed his direction and shot over the goal. The second goal finally arrived when Dyslexic left-back Yannis slipped, at the most inopportune moment, when a long ball found Watson with a free pass on the right. Slattery tracked back to cover the winger, but he proved too quick for him and his cross was headed into goal by Campbell. Dyslexic had a chance to get back into the match, but Jules Perkins failed to connect with the ball. Minutes later Medics almost scored against the run of play, when Titus English lost the ball in
The Courier
intramuralsport.43
Monday 19 November 2012
Student to face ‘The Power’ By Martin Reynolds at G Casino Newcastle University student Martin Osborne has qualified to play 15 times darts world champion Phil Taylor at an exhibition on Thursday 22nd November. Osborne qualified to play Taylor by registering the highest score in the Precision Sports 9-Dart Challenge held at G Casino in Newcastle. Osborne opened his account with a strong 140 and followed with a very unlucky 59 from his next 3 darts. Despite only scoring 40 from his final visit, Osborne – a 2nd year Biochemistry student – watched on as tens of other competitors incredibly failed to beat his overall score of 239 to land an upcoming fixture with ‘The Power’. North Shields based Osborne – colloquially nicknamed ‘Apollo’ in the society – describes his feelings about the
meeting with Phil. “When I hit 239 I thought that it might not have been enough but as the others failed to pass my score I realised that I had a chance. When the last person went and couldn’t beat my score I was ecstatic. Phil Taylor has been winning world titles before I was even born SO to be playing such a legend of the sport is a true honour.” Osborne was more pensive when asked about whether he thought he could emerge victorious, “I’m going to try and be as competitive as possible but most of all I will have fun and enjoy it”. The so-called ‘Tungsten on the Tyne’ event will also see cameos from current PDC world champion Adrian Lewis as well as fan favourite Raymond van Barneveld. It is set to be the largest nontelevised event of its kind in Europe with a near capacity 800 crowd expected at the Lancastrian Suite in Gateshead. Current President of Newcastle University Darts Society Martin Reynolds was quick to praise Osborne’s efforts explaining “ever since he joined us we
knew he was good but this is some achievement”, Reynolds continued “to beat not only other Uni students but also the general North East public is fantastic – playing ‘The Power’ will be arguably the biggest night in the darts society’s history.” Newcastle have enjoyed a successful start to the season –a recent 7-4 victory over city rivals Northumbria was a particular highlight - and look to take this forward into the following weeks with fixtures against Sunderland and Lancaster upcoming. “We’re always looking for new players” said Reynolds. “For all abilities – whether you’ve got genuine talent like Apollo or are just looking to meet new people in a relaxed environment, we cater for everybody. All are welcome to the exhibition on the 22nd and it would be nice to get vocal support from fellow students. We can offer a 50% discount on all bookings through the society so please get in touch if you are interested.”
Dyslexic winger Jules Perkins taking a freekick Photography: Leela Prasad
failing Dyslexic midfield, and Milton’s last ditch tackle stopped Campbell from scoring his second. It was 2-0 at half-time and Dyslexic’s plan to contain Medics midfielders worked in spells, but they always had their backs against the wall facing the Medics attack. Later on Medics scored once again on the counter, after a Dyslexic corner was cleared and the ball fell kindly to Campbell. He charged with the ball taking on Southall and captain Christopher Smith, before slotting the ball through the legs of the onrushing keeper. Within minutes they increased their lead with a goal coming from a corner
kick. Medics forward Watkinson scored with his head after a subdued performance in the match. Staying in tune with The Courier’s intra mural football preview: Dyslexic - compared with Arsenal FC - are faraway from mounting a title challenge this season and the big sides continue to beat them despite their strong work ethic. Medics 1st are comfortably on top of the table with the best goal difference in any division. Dyslexic captain Christopher Smith speaking to The Courier after the game said, “We were terrible. Our lack of fitness and lack of pace cost us the match.”
‘The Power’ in action Photography: Getty Images
League Tables
Wednesday 11-a-side Football
Division 1 1
Division 13
Division 2
Team
Pld
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Newcastle Medics 1sts
5
4
0
1
21
4
12
1
Team
Pld
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Aftermath FC
3
3
0
0
18
8
9
1
Division 41
Team
Pld
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Newhist FC
4
3
0
1
10
10
9
Team Team 1 1 Sub-Standard Barca Law NaLiege
Pld Pld WW
DD
LL
FF
4 12
11
02
2150 9 15 10 28
39
AA
Pts Pts
2
Newcastle Medics 2nds
4
3
0
1
16
5
9
2
Ecosoccer
3
3
0
0
9
3
9
2
Jesmondino FC
3
2
1
0
18
6
7
2 2 FCNewcastle Bayern Toonich Medics 1sts
3 12
28
12
02
22 36 6 20 726
3
Henderson Hall FC
4
3
0
1
9
6
9
3
The Hurricanes
4
3
0
1
13
11
9
3
Brown Magic FC
3
2
0
1
7
5
6
3 3 Thundercats Henderson Hall
3 12
27
01
14
18 41 4 29 622
4
Dyslexic Untied
3
1
0
1
4
10
3
4
Roman Villa FC
5
2
0
3
11
15
6
4
Politic Thistle FC
4
2
0
2
10
13
6
Dyslexic Untied 4 4 Geomatics FC
4 12
26
01
25
32 12 26 619 12
5
Barca-Law-Na
3
1
0
2
8
7
3
5
Lokomotiv
4
1
1
2
15
16
4
5
Newcastle Dynamos
3
1
1
1
4
5
4
5 5 The Establishment Crayola
2 12
15
00
17
7 18 6 22 315 2 14 23 47
6
Crayola
3
1
0
2
5
12
3
6
Boca Seniors
3
0
1
2
7
12
1
6
Multiple Scoregasms
3
0
0
3
5
10
0
6 (R) Crystal Phallus Aftermath
3 12
03
00
19
7
Borussia Forsyth
4
0
0
3
2
18
0
7
Castle Leazes
4
0
0
4
2
10
0
7
Bio Neverlosen
2
0
0
2
0
5
0
7 (R) Trigger CastleHappy Leazes
3 12
01
01
3 10 3 12 25 42 0 4
Top Goalscorers
5: Hurworth (Barca)
Top Goalscorers
8: Batham (Medic 2s)
4: Robson (Dyslexic)
4: Jones (Aftermath)
6: Campbell (Medic 1s)
Intra Mural Round-Up
2: Golzari (Aftermath),
Duckworth (Hurricanes), Wilson (Aftermath), McCory (Hurricanes), Stacey (Ecosoccer)
Top Goalscorers 6: Smith (Jesmondino) 3:Wren (Brown Magic)
2: Grosvenor (Scorgasms),, Top Goalscorers Walton (Newhist),, Thornton (Politic) 13: Wimhurst (SubStandard Liege) 7: Armor (Toonich)
09
6: Prichard (Thundercats) 3: Page (Toonich), Cornell, Harley (Thundercats), Holland (Geomatics)
The Courier
bucssport.45
Monday 19 November 2012
Toon triumph in Tyne Wear Derby drama Womens’ Football Newcastle 1sts Sunderland 1sts
By Helen Palfrey at Cochrane Park
4 3
The Royals started the derby with confidence off the back of their first league win. The first 10 minutes saw multiple chances for Newcastle who were unlucky not to go into the lead. The frustration started to show and the game became flat with the royals starting to lose their composure. Centre mid Autumn Colledge showed great footwork taking on 2 defenders before firing a long range shot into the top corner to open the scoring. Unfortunately this didn’t really boost the Royals who continued in their lull. The Sunderland attackers were relentless and the Royals remained pinned in their own half. A goal line clearance from Helen Knott meant that the Royals were lucky to stay in the lead. Eventually Sunderland got the goal they deserved with a lucky ball over the top finding their quick paced centre forward to bring things level before the half time break. With the score line equal the Royals started the 2nd half feeling the pressure. This pressure began to show with a fumbled clearance from the Newcastle keeper, which was capitalised on by the Sunderland attacker burying the ball to give Sunderland the lead. The Royals did not react well to going behind and remained on the back foot. An excellent defensive line lead by centre backs Helen Palfrey and captain Steph Dalby enabled the Royals to regain their composure and leave the opposition offside. Tiredness began to show with the roy-
Photography: NUWFC als having 2 weekend games however they battled on. Their valiant efforts were rewarded in the closing minutes of the game with Lizzy Campbell finishing an excellent through ball from Lucy Crann making it 2-2. Spurred on by the prospect of extra time the Royals came out with a vengeance after a quick break. The Royals rose to the challenge and kept the pressure on Sunderland. Sunderland’s frustration began to show with some reckless challenges one of which resulted in a penalty. Unfortunately the pressure began to show and Lizzy Campbell put her penalty round the post. This was just the boost the Royals needed and Campbell was able to redeem herself by smashing in a close range shot. She then went on and scored again to extend the Royals lead. A lucky lob over the keeper meant that Sunderland were able to score but it wasn’t enough. The welcome noise of the final whistle ended another nail biting cup-tie for the Royals.
The Newcastle Wildcats in action Photography: Matthew Whittle
Newcastle fall to Poly on Ice
Ice Hockey
Newcastle Wildcats Northumbria Kings By James Simpson at Whitley Bay
2 4
Last Wednesday, the Newcastle Wildcats took on the newly branded Northumbria Kings in the first game of Ice Hockey season. In what was a spectacle of a game, with penalty minutes being handed out like flyers for the Jazz café outside Campus Coffee, the game ended in a disappointing 4-2 defeat for the Wildcats losing out to a team who arguably belong in a higher league. Despite this, the Wildcats didn’t go down without a fight, but first, a brief introduction. Founded in 1994 Newcastle Wildcats is not usually recognised within ‘Team Newcastle’ despite having the largest University Ice Hockey team in the United Kingdom. The beginners programme could be considered the best in the country, introducing guys and girls alike to Ice
Hockey, many of whom have never played before. The beginner’s team compete in the Nationals tournament held in Sheffield annually. This diverse and adrenaline packed sport is played with 5 outfield players from each team, and a Net minder. The game is played with rolling substitutions, usually with around 16 players on each bench. There are 3 periods all 20 minutes in length, with 5 minute intervals in-between. Penalties result in the player who has committed the offence sitting off the ice, in the penalty box for 2 minutes. The puck dropped at midnight and the game began. With Newcastle dominant at the start, the Wildcats went straight on the attack. However a counter attack from Northumbria was all it took for the first goal to be on the board after only two minutes. After athletic saves from Wildcats’ net minder Tom Sproule, it came down to a goal line scrap which edged the puck over the line. Northumbria received a penalty in the tenth minute for holding (against the boards too long), leading to an unsuccessful power play for the Wildcats. Getting into their stride, Northumbria’s
breakthrough led to the second goal after 15 minutes. However, quick to respond, Wildcats’ James Simpson struck low towards goal, hitting the net minders pad, deflecting in and putting the Wildcats on the board after 17 minutes. As the game got underway again, an outburst of frustration from Northumbria’s number 28 led to a slashing (hitting with the stick) penalty for the Kings. A bad power play for the Wildcats as not only did they fail to convert but, Northumbria put another goal on the board with a sensational slap shot from around ten yards out, leaving net minder Tom Sproule in a spin. However it was still early in the second period, with the Wildcats only 3-1 down they were still very much in the game. A few long range hopeful attempts from Northumbria with some fantastic saves by Sproule kept them out. Max Redmond Roche was handed two minutes for a sloppy challenge. Shortly after returning to the ice Redmond Roche was held on the boards, and Northumbria again receiving another penalty and another one three minutes later for interference. Northumbria somehow managed to sneak another past Sproule, despite a valiant effort whilst short-handed,
making the score 4-1 after 32 minutes. Three minutes later a lone attempt on goal by Simpson was kept out by a fantastic glove save by Northumbria’s net minder, winning him man of the match. Attempts again came from Max Roche and, in his debut game, Alex Thompson. Third period came hard with hits flying in from all angles. Wildcats’ Christopher Clapham, dished out revenge, giving Northumbria’s winger a sit down on the ice. Northumbria hit back receiving three dirty penalties within ten minutes of each other. Jess Ward shot low and hard hitting behind the net. This was picked up by Joy Craighead, driving it in front of goal for Joe Boustead to neatly slot away. Wildcats were back in the game until Redmond Roche received two minutes for spearheading in the final few minutes. Wildcats battled it out until the very last whistle giving it all, but it was just too little too late. Finishing 4-2 Wildcats fought hard and did well not to retaliate to childish insults and sloppy play from the Poly. There will be high hopes for this Newcastle team after such a promising start to the season with new players, most notably Henry C. Todd and Alex Thompson.
JARGON BUSTER Body Check
Face-off
Fore check
Puck
Type of tackle where the defending player uses their body to push the other player out of possession
How play is started, two players line up facing each other and the referee drops the puck between them, each player trying to swipe the puck behind them
Where the attacking team launch an attack of all 5 players
Black rubber disc used on the ice much the same as a ball in field hockey
Net minder The equivalent of a goalkeeper
Power play
The 2 min advantage a team has when the opposing team has a player in the sin bin
Offside
Where the player crosses the attacking blue line before the puck
46.sportbucs
Monday 19 November 2012
The Courier
A tournament of ups and downs in Loughborough Trampolining By Barnaby Gush in Loughborough It’s not every weekend you’ll find hundreds of lycra-clad adults in one place, bouncing on trampolines, but this weekend in Loughborough was one of them. Just as you’d expect from the
breakfast on the list of things most likely to induce vomiting. In spite of this, some members of Newcastle University Trampoline Club pulled out some solid performances – Jessica Bayley came 8th out of 65 in the Novice Women’s category. In his first ever competition, Ali Hardy managed 4th place in Intermediate Men’s; Sophia Berry came a very respectable 7th place in Elite Women’s;
“Of course, special mention needs to be made to those who didn’t handle their hangovers quite as gracefully” opening event of the Northern English Universities Trampoline League, it was an eventful one: The team headed into Loughborough, fully decked out as Cops and Robbers. Taking full advantage of the free shots, we made Newcastle proud - with some classic dance moves and top-notch photobombing. As the smashing evening with our fellow trampoline teams drew to a close, Pres and Vice-Pres navigated the party bus home, while the more seasoned drinkers were left to fend for themselves! Naturally, the next morning we paid the price for our merriment – doing somersaults on a trampoline with a hangover comes second only to a Leazes
and Stuart Walker medalled in Advanced Men, achieving 8.0s to steal the silver by the skin of his teeth – he might’ve even managed gold had he donned his glittery leotard. Of course, special mention needs to be made to those who didn’t handle their hangovers quite as gracefully – Georgina Smith, whose unconventional style and dismount technique will soon be screening on You’ve Been Framed; myself, for landing a front somersault on my face; and finally, our leading light, Club Captain, Greg Lymar – whose inability to count to 10 will go down in trampolining history. Wish us luck for our next competition in Manchester – we’re going to need it!
Seconds and thirds on the ball as firsts caught off the boil Women’s Netball
Photography: Ralph Blackburn
By Sophie Haslam
Newcastle 1sts Loughborough 1sts
29 47
This was going to be the toughest game of Newcastle’s season so far, Loughborough 1sts being well known for their impressive play and ahead of Newcastle in the table. The game started off strongly and Newcastle were only down by 3 in the first quarter. The unfortunate injury of Rachel Saville meant that she had to be taken off and the team then had to re settle which shook things up a bit. With deadly accurate shooters, player of the match Mia Archer and GK Helen Jones did incredible holding them off in the circle. Unfortunately their shooting was too good and every centre was converted. Newcastle played hard up until the final whistle and managed to compete with Loughborough in parts; however by the end of the match they had been comprehensively beaten.
Newcastle 2nds Leeds Met 4ths
56 22
This cup match saw Newcastle 2nds meet Leeds Met 4ths, who are 2 divisions lower in the league. Going in to this game pretty much guaranteed of victory didn’t make the girls complacent and they started well and took advantage of every ball. More and more of Leeds centre passes were being intercepted by C Sassa Hamilton and GD Lauren Barnett, the feeding in to the circle flowed beautifully and player of the match Tesni Fellows didn’t
miss a shot. As the game went on Leeds tried their best to compete but the fitness and skill of the 2nds was too much to take and they took the win 56-22.
Seconds silence neighbours Mens’ Rugby Union
Newcastle 3rds Leeds Trinity 1sts
50 34
The 3rds came up against Leeds Trinity 1sts this week in the cup. The game started really strong and Newcastle took advantage of every loose ball. However the two teams were very tight to begin with until Newcastle began to pull away as more and more of Leeds’ centres were turned over. The ball flowed brilliantly down court with constant support from GD Freya Cromarty and WD Amy Hill. As the quarters rolled on Newcastle began to go ahead more convincingly, with strong shooting from Anna Rosenberg and player of the match Sophie Haslam. Leeds shooters didn’t miss a shot which made it difficult to defend in the circle but with constant pressure and a quick attack Newcastle emerged deserved winners are through to the next stage in the cup.
Newcastle 2nds
15
Newcastle 3rds
5
By Ralph Blackburn Sports Editor In the battle of the Toon, the 2nds refused to buckle under a late surge from the 3rds, denying a shock upset for the boys in blue. In a scrappy, physical encounter, first half tries from Luke Roberts and Lee Wallace were enough to see the 2nds home, despite a second half crossing for 3rds’ winger Andrew McCoy. The 2nds’ were far more clinical, with fly half Jack Cook’s mammoth kick getting them out of any trouble. By contrast, despite having large spells of pressure, the 3rds regularly knocked on or lost the ball just as the try line looked to be in their reach, with fly half Greg Wilkinson having a poor game with the ball in hand, and with the boot. The game stuttered into life, with the first quarter of the match being littered with penalties. The 2nds were repeatedly handling in the ruck, and were lucky not to get a man binned after getting penalised several times close to their goal line. The Blues however could not capitalise on these mistakes, losing their own line out after they had kicked the penalty into touch. By contrast the 2nds were 3-0 up after 18 minutes, when the 3rds
were caught off side and Andy ‘Goodesque’ Cook knocked over the points. 2nds captain Alex Potts kept his side well organised in defense, and when the 2nds got an opportunity they capitalised clinically. The 2nds had a scrum on the 3rds’ twenty two, and after a good push, the excellent Eddie O’Hare picked up off the back and broke tackles down the blindside, making good ground. Quick ball was moved from left to right, with winger Wallace going over in the corner. Cook missed the conversion from wide out by the left hand touchline. The 2nds began controlling the game, with Cook penning the 3rds back in their half with his massive boot. The Whites would then wait on a set piece mistake to capitalise and the 2nds’ second try again came from a scrum. The 2nds’ pack were unsurprisingly dominant, and shoved back the 3rds ten metres at another scrum on the twenty two. Cook popped the ball to inside centre Potts, who timed his run and line to perfection. The captain broke several tackles before passing the ball to his centre partner Roberts, who was under the posts. Cook added the extras to give the 2nds a 15-0 lead on the half hour. The 2nds continued to look to punish the 3rds at set piece time, however, they had to be aware of the threat from 3rds’ half back Tom Banks constantly sniping round the fringes. Banks put in an excellent performance, as did 3rds’ openside Tom Whitton, regularly making ground with big carries. Despite this threat, the 2nds went into the break 15-0 up. The Blues started the second half the strongest. With excellent pick up and carries, the 3rds’ back row made good
ground down the blindside, led by the excellent Whitton. After smashing their way up to the five metre line, they moved the ball left, and inside centre Robert McGowen sashayed through the gap putting McCoy over in the corner. Wilkinson failed to add the extras, giving the 3rds ten points to make up in the final 35 minutes. Despite large amounts of pressure through out the second half, with Banks making several 30m breaks to put the 3rds in commanding positions, they were unable to capitalise on their territory and possession. Wilkinson regularly moved the ball too slowly, allowing the well-drilled 2nds’ defense to stop them from getting to the gain line. The game got very turgid, with a large amount of set pieces, and little ball making it out to the teams’ back lines. The 2nds were able to weather most of the 3rds’ attacks, with Cook pinning back the Blues with his boot. With a minute to go, the 3rds mustered one final attack. Banks took a quick penalty on the twenty two, slipping and ducking out of tackles, he wriggled his way to the line however was held just short. The ball came back to the big 3rds’ tighthead Ed Finch who charged across the line, with many of the 3rds shouting for try, the referee called the ball held up, and blew the final whistle. 2nds’ captain Alex Potts, said after the game, “it was a very tough physical game, and there wasn’t all that much between the two teams. It’s a great testament to the depth that NURFC has on offer.” Man of the Match: Tom Banks
The Courier
bucssport.47
Monday 19 November 2012
Leeds edge comeback kings Mens’ Waterpolo
Leeds 1sts Newcastle 1sts
13 12
By Tom Connelly in Leeds With one loss in BUCS on the road already to their name this season the men’s waterpolo team went to Leeds requiring a win to ensure safety and keep the dream of semi-finals alive. The two encounters between these teams last season saw a win each so the Royals travelled away knowing they were in for a tough match. The game started quickly with attacks for both sides before a sin bin for the Leeds captain allowed fresher Nick Revin to capitalise with his 2nd of the campaign. The begrudged home captain re-entered the fray and hit back to level the game. Royals captain Mike Grantham regained the lead, however with the crowd behind them the home side scored twice to see the first quarter finish 3-2.
Keeping the momentum with them the Gryphons added another 2 to their tally before German fresher Daniel Richter earned a foul 7 metres out for the visitors allowing him to kick out and hit the top corner. Despite battling hard the Royals could not convert their chances and a ruthless Leeds scored twice more to make it 7-3 at half time. The 2nd half continued much the same as the first with the Gryphons having the majority of the chances, converting 5 times with only reply from Cypriot Alexis Georgiou and the ever consistent Grantham taking advantage of a Leeds sin bin. The 2 minute break between the 3rd and 4th quarter gave Grantham little chance t rally his team but knowing there was little hope as the deficit had grown to 12-5 there was only pride on the line. A goal mouth scramble gave the Gryphons chance to extend their lead to 8 and the visitors thought all was lost however a well earned penalty provided Grantham chance to convert and put his penalty miss from Edinburgh behind him. This provided all that was needed to spark a momentum change in the
match. Well worked counter attacks and superior fitness gave Georgiou opportunity to add a hat trick to his tally with only one reply from the home side. The Royals were still 5 adrift however a further 2 from attack minded Georgiou reduced this to 3 and the home crowd and tiring team knew they were under the cosh. A rampant Newcastle found Grantham with another goal scoring opportunity and suddenly with only a minute on the board Newcastle needed 2 to square the match. A nervy passage in defence for Leeds provided a sin bin advantage for the visitors and a prime opportunity to put them in touching distance which Grantham capably did. With only 20 seconds on the clock a last gasp effort to steal the ball from time wasting Leeds left Newcastle agonisingly close to an emphatic come back. Fresher Daniel Richter was awarded most valuable player for a fantastic individual goal and a solid performance in pit defence. Newcastle returned to the north rueing their missed chances but a fine show of ‘bouncebackability’ left them confident for their final BUCS match at home to Durham this Sunday.
Posh demolish derby rivals Womens’ Hockey
Newcastle 1sts
4
Northumbria
0
By Camilla Powers at Longbenton
Castledon
Wallace Roberts
Harding
Potts (c) Cook
Photography: Ralph Blackburn
Norris
O’Hare
Wheeler Holt
Furbank
Finch
Camara Gillen
Ruddlesdin
Newsham
Graham
Rahder
Smith
Sandler Whitton
Deehan Bunn (c) Banks Wilkinson
McGowen McCoy
Cooper Weddle
Turner
Another late start saw Newcastle take on Northumbria, once again, in the Cup. The Royals had previously beaten Northumbria twice, and were confident to get another good result. With a slight change in formation and personnel, Newcastle were ready to carry on their recent good form. Passing and movement was good early on, and Newcastle looked to have the upper hand. Forwards Rachel Fackey and Char-
lotte Howatson were passing and interlinking well. The Royals were piling on the pressure, and Northumbria were on the backfoot for a long time. A good passage of play down the right lead to a shot on target from Hattie Cunningham, which forced the keeper to make a save. Luckily new recruit Kirsty Walker neatly put away the rebound. The Royals continued to put pressure on the Poly and they were looking weak without managing to create many chances. Newcastle’s defense looked very strong and the Royals were on the attack again. An attack down the left side with both Vickys (Cole and Monk), finished in a goal from the duo. It was half time and Newcastle were 2-0 up, with confidence was high after another uplifting chat from captain Liv O’Malley. With large amounts of space and time on the ball, the Royals moved the ball with pace and authority. The forwards were continuing to make progress on
the Poly defense. Good work again from Laura Moore and Ailish Hendry finished with a good looking second goal from Walker. Three nil up, and Newcastle were still in the hunt for more goals. Defenders Suzanne Hill and Jess Kidd were putting in a good defensive stint, to ensure Newcastle could not get back in the game. More good progress up the right from Erika Coackley, and Newcastle were back in the D and winning short corners. A good effort from Hattie Cunningham forced the Poly keeper to make a good save. A number of good tackles were made in midfield, and the ball was distributed well between the players. After a number of chances for the fourth goal, Charlotte Howatson was able to finish again and put the final nail in the coffin. A brilliant team performance all round, the confident emphatic win was well earned.
Sport
www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 19 November 2012 Issue 1259 Free
thecourieronline.co.uk/sport
Sports Editors: Ralph Blackburn, Nick Gabriel and Lucy Williams Online Sports Editors: Freddie Caldwell and Jack Gelsthorpe courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Sport
Wise Owls win again
BATTLE OF THE TOON
P46
Mens’ Rugby League
Liverpool JM 1sts Newcastle 1sts
16 23
By Chris Griffiths in Liverpool A second trip to Liverpool in three weeks saw the AU’s most successful team take on a fresh looking Liverpool John Moore’s side. An early departure from the student union saw last week’s hero Dan Capaross turn up tired, moody and with numerous hairs out of place, but on time nonetheless. Rocked by numerous injuries and unavailability, the Owls took a small squad with two debutants. Despite crashing over for a try, which even Jonny Watts could have scored, home wrecker Rob Corner was brought into the centres and lived up to expectations by having a tirelessly average game. Tommy Schofield came into the halves and loved up fresher Matt Fry made his second appearance on the wing for the undefeated Owls. After a mid-week identity crisis, fresh and edgy looking halfback Chris Griffiths darted over for the first of his two tries of the day, breaking through some shoddy John Moores defence. Crowd favourite Andreas ‘The Greek’ Methenitis played a part in the second powering his way to the line before a clever offload left Griffiths with the simple job of downward pressure. Half time arrived and the Owls knew set completion was the key to yet another victory. While ‘old codgers’ Dave Knox and Micky Ward rallied the troops at half time two young ladies approached the sidelines from over the hill. With a twinkle in his eye and a grin as wide as the Cheshire cat Rob Corner informed the team of his two ex girlfriends presence on the sidelines. All eager to impress the stunning spectators, NURL once again found another gear and hit cruise control this time with Man of the Match and Mummy’s boy Myles Hudson taking charge of the wheel. Micky Ward found himself over the whitewash twice to continue his fine try scoring record and a late trademark drop goal was kicked to seal the win for NURL on a glorious afternoon in Merseyside. Still top of the league, still undefeated and still the AU’s most beloved, the Owls have one hand on the league title yet again. Not to get complacent though, Newcastle must remain on song to defeat the academic students of Leeds Met next week at Fortress Cochrane.
FIGHT THE POWER ICE HOCKEY EPIC: CATS FAIL TO KILL KING P 45 Mens’ Football 2
Durham 1sts
0
By Nick Gabriel Sports Editor
BUCS National North League 1
Newcastle 1sts
Team
Pld
W
Pts
L
Newcastle 1sts
6
6
12
0
2
Liverpool 1sts
5
3
6
1
3
Edge Hill 1sts
5
3
6
1
4
Leeds Met Carnegie 2nds
6
1
4
1
5
Liverpool John Moores 1sts
6
1
2
1
6
Sheffield Hallam 1sts
4
1
2
1
Last Wednesday, Newcastle’s first team upset the odds to overcome Durham by two goals to nil in the first round of the BUCS trophy. The 3G pitch at Longbenton provided the backdrop, as a header from Henry Scutt and a late penalty from Tom Stapleton confirmed the Royals’ shock victory over the league leaders. Supporters of the Royals could F A be for entering into the tie with 9 forgiven 3 relatively low expectations, with the 12 4 side only having picked up one point 10 3 from their opening three games. 1 2 By contrast, Durham had enjoyed a 1 4 better start to their league cammuch 1 8 boasting an unbeaten record and paign, sitting pretty atop of the BUCS Northern 1A Division.
As such it came as no surprise that it was the visitors who started the brighter. Five minutes in they managed to fashion the game’s first opening, as a bouncing ball in the Newcastle penalty area was headed goalwards by Durham’s Chris Musgrave, only to be cleared off the line by a retreating defender. The narrow escape spurred the home side into life, as they began to enjoy some success down the left-hand side with lively winger Ben Wheeler in particular providing a constant threat. Indeed it wasn’t long before the Royals created their first chance. On this occasion a Jonny Sexton free kick was only half cleared by the Durham defence. Subsequently Alex Ames and Stapleton combined well but weren’t quite able to scramble the loose ball home. Newcastle continued their spell of pressure and came close once again. This time Wheeler saw his goal bound strike heroically blocked, before rightback Michael Spencer drilled the follow up effort straight at Durham goalkeeper, Paul Shearer. However it was then Durham’s turn to press, ending the first period strongly. Winger Tom Spurling killed a dropping ball superbly before gliding inside the full back. Fortunately
for the hosts, his toe poked effort was well kept out at the near post by goalkeeper, Nick Irvine. Soon after, away midfielder Tom Almond saw his first time effort deflected narrowly following a neat cutback. The second half began with Durham continuing to threaten. Musgrave was well denied by an advancing Irvine following a neat slide rule pass, before Spurling proceeded to divert the rebound into the sound netting. Moments later the away side came close once again. This time the vivacious Spurling was unfortunate to see a speculative effort from 25 yards come back off the bar. As the away side looked increasingly threatening, it came as a surprise when Newcastle eventually managed to open the scoring in true ‘smash-andgrab’ style. A superb inswinging corner from Sexton was met by the head of Scutt, who excellently glanced the ball into the net, giving Shearer in the Durham goal no chance. Newcastle struggled to retain the ball in the period that followed, dropping continually deeper as Durham pushed on in search of an elusive equaliser with chances aplenty falling their way. First, centre-half Oliver Gill
P43
blazed an effort over the bar following a well-worked corner. Soon after, Irvine pulled off a stunning save to deny substitute winger Dan McWilliams, reacting well to smother the rebound. Durham continued the spell of heavy pressure, with Spurling and substitute Ben Cohen also coming close for the visitors. Somehow however, the Royals managed to hang on and were rewarded for their exhibition of hard graft and defensive organisation by way of snatching a second late on. Striker James Swainston, an earlier replacement for Ames, showed great endeavor to chase down a seemingly overhit through ball, eventually managing to latch on to the pass before being brought down by the onrushing Shearer. Stapleton then showed a cool head to smash the ball down the middle to make sure of the surprise result. Coach Mark Woodhall will undoubtedly be elated with the manner of the victory, with his side demonstrating the kind of grit and determination that has so far been lacking from their league performances. It is now a case of the Royals hopefully being able to translate this cup success into equally positive results in the league.